E-Paper PDF 28th January 2020 (LHR)

CMYK

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020 I 2 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 209 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

PM IMran agrees to rePlace sIndh IgP after MeetIng cM g

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musHTaq meHar exPecTed To Be noTIfIed as Ig In Place of Kaleem Imam afTer federal caBIneT’s nod Today

Pakistani students in coronavirus-hit wuhan plead govt for evacuation

Imran dIrecTs auTHorITIes To exPedITe worK on develoPmenT ProjecTs In sIndH PremIer urges ProvInces To follow wHo guIdelInes To ProTecT THemselves from deadly coronavIrus

5 suspected coronavirus patients reported in Pakistan

KARACHI:

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STAFF REPORT

rIme minister Imran Khan on monday agreed to replace sindh Inspector general of Police (IgP) dr Kaleem Imam with mushtaq mehar, and promised to address other concerns raised by sindh chief minister murad ali shah regarding provincial matters.

The matter had been a bone of contention between the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI)-led federal government and the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) sindh government for weeks, with the provincial government earlier recommending Imam’s removal claiming he had failed to perform satisfactorily. The federal government had snubbed the sindh government, saying Imam would continue to serve as IgP until further notice. according to reports, Pm Imran and cm murad reached a consensus over mehar as Imam’s replacement during a meeting at governor’s House, with sindh governor Imran Ismail also backing the decision. sources said that a notification in this regard is likely to be issued on Tuesday following a meeting of the federal cabinet. according to sources, cm murad also told the prime minister that differences and uncertainty were causing problems. The chief minister also put forward reservations and decisions of the provincial cabinet.

The chief minister told the premier that some of the important projects of the province were pending before the Planning and development ministry, adding that some of the ongoing projects of the federal government in Karachi were also moving at a slow pace. at this, the premier directed federal minister for Planning and development asad umar to expedite the process of the sindh government’s schemes. He also assured the chief minis-

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ter that the federal government’s projects would be completed at the earliest. cm murad also raised the issue of a swarm of locusts that wreaked havoc on crops in the country, particularly in sindh. He said that it was high time to destroy them in the desert area where they have settled for breeding. Pm Imran said that he will direct the Plant Protection department to take necessary measures and start aerial spray in the desert areas. The two also discussed increasing polio cases after the premier expressed serious reservations over the issue.

The prime minister said that he would call a meeting of the national Polio eradication Taskforce to devise another strategy.

They also discussed the emergence of deadly coronavirus in china. The cm pointed out that a similar case had been detected in multan and there was a high possibility that it might spread in Pakistan since a number of chinese citizens work in the country.

“The chinese are engaged in Thar and Karachi, therefore, it is necessary to issue a travel advisory for them and the people of Pakistan,” he added.

The Pm directed the national Institute of Health, Islamabad, to develop a testing mechanism and directed all provinces to follow the precautionary guidelines issued

by the world Health organisation (wHo). He also said that the chinese citizens working in Pakistan should also be guided accordingly.

IMRAN MEETS PAGARA: Prime minister Imran also met Pir Pagara sibghatullah shah rashdi at the Kingri House. during the meeting, the grand democratic alliance (gda) chief expressed confidence in the leadership of Imran and assured his complete support and cooperation. gda, mainly an anti-PPP alliance, had earlier conveyed to the PTI leadership that if the government does not respond with positive frame of mind to the issues being raised by it, it may become hard for it to face PPP in sindh.

The gda leadership had also expressed its concerns in respect of core issues of sindh like gas, electricity, water, agriculture, federal government jobs etc.

govt wants to financially empower country ’s youth, says Pm

Taliban say they shot down US ‘surveillance plane’ in Afghanistan

STORY ON PAGE 03

Railways 'most corrupt' dept in Pakistan, SC observes STORY ON PAGE 02

Three sacked KP ministers hold Khattak responsible for ouster STORY ON PAGE 02

senate passes bill for maternity, paternity leave for employees STORY ON PAGE 02

IMF team to evaluate Pakistan’s 2nd quarter progress from Feb 3 g

a deTaIled revIew of nePra acT on THe cards

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fBr lIKely To requesT uP To rs150Bn reducTIon In revenue TargeT STORY ON PAGE 12

FORGET POLICY RATE CUT

Is a hike likely?

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Palestinians decry Trump peace plan before he meets Israeli leaders STORY ON PAGE 07

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as mosT researcH Houses PredIcT an uncHanged InTeresT raTe, few IndIvIduals see a PossIBle HIKe STORY ON PAGE 12

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

02 NEWS

PreSidenT violaTed oaTh by Signing referenCe againST JuSTiCe iSa, CourT Told ISLAMABAD

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HE Supreme Court (SC) on Monday was informed that President Dr Arif Alvi had violated his oath by signing the misconduct reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa since the documents of his alleged properties had been obtained illegally.

A 10-member larger SC bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard the case regarding proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Justice Isa. The reference filed against Justice Isa alleges that he acquired three properties in London on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015, but did not disclose them in wealth returns.

During the course of proceedings, Rasheed A Rizvi, counsel for the Sindh

High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), said that he wanted to submit some documents. Justice Bandial asked about the types of documents. Rizvi responded that he wanted to submit some judgments of the Sindh High Court (SHC). The president and the prime minister had taken an oath to protect the Constitution, he added.

Justice Faisal Arab asked whether the president and the SJC could take action on media reports against the judge. In response, Rizvi claimed that the president

Senate passes bill for maternity, paternity leave for employees ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2018, which makes it mandatory for employers to grant 6-month paid maternity leave and 3-month paid paternity leave. As per the bill, the leaves policy will be applicable in both public and private establishments in the federal capital territory. The bill, presented by Senator Quratulain Marri, was passed with a majority of votes, even as government senators opposed the move. It will now be sent to the National Assembly for debate.

“The employees of every establishment shall be provided six-months paid maternity and three-months paternity leave as and when applied by employees, separately from their leave account, commencing from the date as applied by the applicant in the application and supported by a medical certificate,” reads the bill. Besides, the bill also provides for additional three-month maternity leave and one-month paternity leave, both of which would be unpaid. The provision for paternity leave “seeks to provide fathers the opportunity to be there at a crucial time without the added responsibility of the workplace,” the bill states, adding that, “the early close relationship between father and child has long-term implications.” Not everyone was in favour of the bill, however, with government lawmakers questioning its utility, given there was already a provision for maternity leaves in the law. Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, while opposing the bill, said that there was already a law to give 90-day maternity leave to female employees, while male government employees could avail 48-day leaves in a year. STAFF REPORT

did not read newspapers.

He said that there had been a change in the SJC as Justice Umar Atta Bandial had now become its part.

Rizvi alleged that the president had not applied his judicial mind as he sent the reference to the SJC on the prime minister’s recommendations, he added.

Justice Bandial said that the president had to apply only his mind, not the judicial mind.

Rizvi alleged that the president did

not even apply his non-judicial mind.

Any inquiry other than the ones conducted by the president and the SJC would be illegal, he added.

He said that illegally obtained documents had no legality as the superior judiciary had laid down rules in that regard in customs and income tax cases.

Rizvi said that the Asset Recovery Unit was an illegal body. The illegally submitted content could not be processed under Article 209. The Asset Recovery Unit could not get authority itself, and if that was the case then in future station house officers (SHO) would also start proceedings against the judges.

He said that the president signed the reference and violated the oath.

Justice Bandial asked whether the president could exercise any option other than forwarding a piece of of advice. The complaint against the judge was sent to the president by the government, he added. Rizvi alleged that the prime minister’s advice was malicious.

Justice Bandial observed that the SJC was an independent body. The court then adjourned the hearing of Justice Isa’s petition challenging the presidential reference till Tuesday.

Cabinet likely to ban multiple residences for president, PM ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

In a bid to stop the misuse of state resources, Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to impose a ban on establishing multiple residences as camp offices for the president and prime minister.

The federal cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday at Prime Minister’s Office with a 15-point agenda that includes amendments in the president and the salary, and allowances and privileges. From 2008 to 2018, the national exchequer faced a burden of approximately Rs20 billion due to multiple residences of the president and prime minister.

According to sources, a bill pertaining to the matter will be tabled in the National Assembly (NA) after gaining approval of the federal cabinet. “The premier earlier told the cabinet that he was annoyed at the extravagance displayed by past leaders in their official residences and their foreign trips. Therefore, he decided to impose a permanent ban on multiple residences for the president and the prime minister so that the state resources can be used for the welfare of masses,” sources added.

Sources also said that once the bill has been approved by the cabinet, the premier will direct the chief ministers to follow suit. “So far the PM has not declared Bani Gala as his camp offices and all expenditures incurred on meetings are not being collected from the national exchequer,” sources added.

According to documents, the Cabinet Division has proposed that the federal cabinet may in principle approve the legislation proposed in terms of section 16 (1) (a) of the Rules of Business, 1973, and, subsequent to the approval of the federal cabinet, Law and Justice Divisions will be asked to prepare a bill for necessary legislation in terms of rule 27 of the Rules of Business 1973 to amend the acts.

Moreover, in its meeting on Tuesday, the federal cabinet will take up summaries forwarded by Establishment Division, Cabinet Division, Housing and Works Division, Commerce Division, Human Rights Division, IT and Telecom Division, Information and Broadcasting Divi-

Sindh police book 4 for vandalising temple in Thar NEWS DESK A first information report (FIR) was registered on Monday against four unidentified suspects for vandalising the Mata Deval Bhittani temple in a village near Thar’s Chhachro town. According to the FIR, registered on the directions of Thar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdullah Ahmedyar, the temple was vandalised late Sunday night, resulting in desecration of idols of deities. A complaint of the incident was lodged by a citizen, Prem Kumar. Chhachro Station House Officer (SHO) Hussain Bux Rajar said that the police were looking for the culprits and had sought help from “local experts” who were examining the footprints of the miscreants to identify them. The FIR has been registered under Sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a landmark fixed by public authority) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Commenting on the incident, advisor to Sindh chief minister, Advocate Veerji Kolhi, said that the miscreants had meant to disturb communal peace in the area and urged people of all communities to stay calm. He promised that those responsible will be taken to task.

Court summons Zardari in Thatta water scheme reference ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

sion, Interior Division, Aviation Division, and adviser to the prime minister on institutional reforms and austerity.

The meeting will also discuss posting and transfer of Sindh IGP, ratification of the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet in its meeting held on January 8, 2020, ratification of the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) in its meeting held on January 8, 2020, ratification of the decisions taken by the ECC in its meeting held on January 20, 2020, ECC’s decision regarding import of wheat (January 20, 2020), designating Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) vice chairman, signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Housing and Works for 5 million low cost housing units, one time permission for import of Paraxylene from India, establishment of National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), implementation of section 27-A of Pakistan Telecommunication Re-Organisation Act, 1996, amendment in the respective acts/rules and replace the words “federal government” with appropriate authority, issuance of prohibited bore and non-prohibited bore arms licences under Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965, nomination of directors on Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) board, and progress report on institutional reforms.

An accountability court on Monday summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Thatta water supply scheme reference, an offshoot of the money laundering through fake bank accounts scam. The accountability judge also issued a notice to Nadeem Bhutto, in-charge of the Naudero House and co-accused Ashfaq Leghari. They have been instructed to show up on Feb 12. According to the reference, the instant case pertains to the illegal award of a contract by Sindh’s Special Initiative Department for the water supply scheme in Thatta to a private contractor. Zardari was released after being granted bail by the IHC on Dec 11 on medical grounds. Over the course of the hearing, CJ IHC Justice Athar Minallah had asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Jahanzaib Bharwana to review the medical report of the petitioner. The chief justice directed the prosecutor to read it out loud in the courtroom. Bharwana read the report which stated the symptoms of diseases and recommended immediate medical treatment to the patient. The report was prepared by the medical board of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital constituted over directives of the court.

Later, the IHC bench approved the bail plea of Asif Ali Zardari on medical grounds.

IHC dismisses plea after resolution of ECP appointment issue ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition regarding the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and two members after the government submitted its response on the matter .

The federal government, in its reply, informed the high court that the government and the opposition have agreed

over the names of the CEC and two members of the election commission.

Petitioner Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha during the hearing said, “credit goes to the court.” To which IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah responded: “The credit goes to the people of Pakistan.”

“The parliament is a supreme state institution, which has representatives of the people. A strong parliament will make Pakistan strong,” the judge remarked.

It is to be mentioned here that the government on Friday notified Sikandar Sultan Raja as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for a five-year term.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification after President Arif Alvi signed the appointment.

The appointment of Nasir Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi as members of the election commission from Sindh and Balochistan respectively were also confirmed and notified by the ministry.

CMYK

The appointments come in light of the November 2, 2019, order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Earlier, President Alvi had appointed Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui as ECP member for Sindh and Munir Ahmed Kakar for Balochistan against the ECP vacancies. The decision was challenged in the IHC which suspended it.

The court on Jan 15, had granted 10 more days to the government to finalise the appointments.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

NEWS

Three SaCked kP MiniSTerS hold khaTTak reSPonSible for ouSTer SHAHRAM TARAKAI SAYS FORMER MINISTERS WERE NOT GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND ALLEGATION OF CONSPIRING AGAINST CM

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NEWS DESK

UHAMMAD Atif Khan, who is among three ministers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet sent packing by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, has claimed that Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak was conspiring against him and does not want him to be a minister.

Talking in a TV show on Monday, Khan said that he and fellow former ministers Shahram Tarakai and Shakeel Ahmed were not conspiring against KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

“How can we think of ousting a chief minister backed by PM Imran?” he said, adding that Pervez Khattak wanted someone else to have their ministries.

Speaking in the same show, Shakeel Ahmad said that they have never violated party discipline in seven years of their association with Imran Khan. He said that people should ask the reason from those who ousted them. He added that he went to Hayatabad for a dinner and not a meeting, where Khan, Tarakai and a few other people were also present.

Tarakai, who was also present on the occasion, said that their stance was not even heard in this issue. He added

that others benefited from their fights within the party, and no one listened to them when they emphasized on reform to improve governance.

Atif held the portfolio of the senior minister for sports, culture and tourism whereas Tarakai was the health minister and Shakeel held the revenue and estate portfolio.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday sought a report on the

performance of the KP provincial cabinet.In a statement, the premier said that every leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) whether he is a minister or adviser has to follow party discipline. There will be no compromise on rules and regulations set by the party, he asserted.

KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, while referring to the issue in his talk to the media, revealed that the three former ministers had opposed the policies set by the government and were involved in the grouping for a long time, including an attempt to form a group within the provincial cabinet.

“There was no support from these ministers in the merger of erstwhile FATA with KP […] merging FATA with the province was a great achievement of Chief Minister Mehmood Khan,” he said, adding that in the former provincial government, these ministers did not maintain good relations with former KP CM Pervez Khattak.

Govt wants to financially empower country’s youth, says PM Professor Sharif ul Mujahid passes away KARACHI: The founder chairman of Karachi University’s mass communication department, Prof Sharif Al Mujahid, passed away on Monday at the age of 93. His funeral prayers were offered at the Karachi University’s Ibrahim Mosque followed by burial at the university’s graveyard.

Professor Al Mujahid founded the mass communication department in 1956 and remained the head till 1969. He was an honorary director of the Freedom Movement Archives, University of Karachi. The author of numerous books, Prof Al Mujahid was awarded the Aizaz-e-Kamal/Fazilat in 2001 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2006 for his contributions to the academic world. He was born in 1926 in Madras.

IMRAN LAUNCHES KAMYAB JAWAN PROGRAMME IN KARACHI, TERMS YOUTH AS COUNTRY’S BIGGEST ASSET KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that youngsters are the biggest asset of Pakistan and his government is giving due to attention to financially empower them for the country’s progress.

Addressing the launch ceremony of the Kamyab Jawan Programme in Karachi, he said that such programmes are vital in the development of all countries. “A society can only develop when its youth is given opportunities to lift the nation out of

poverty,” he added.

He also said that Pakistan ranks second in the world when it comes to its population of youngsters and it is important that their talent is harnessed for progress and prosperity of the country.

He further said that under the Hunarmand Jawan Programme, the government started schemes for skill development of youngsters. “Pakistan’s youth can change its economic circumstances,” he added.

Speaking about the programme, the prime minister said that it is aimed at empowering the youth and

its success will depend on awarding loans on merit. “Merit defines the success of any society. Programmes fail when dishonesty prevails and meritocracy is ignored,” he added.

He said that the country is blessed with rich mineral deposits, cultural sites and other blessings.

“Our country is endowed with rich talent but that was not given attention in past,” he added.

Citing the success of overseas Pakistanis, the premier said that is only due to merit in those societies.

He regretted that in past institutions of the country weakened due to ignoring merit and giving preference to people on the basis of nepotism.

He said that Ehsaas program started by the government at the cost of Rs190 billion was helping the government in uplifting the downtrodden and poor masses of the country.

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railways ‘most corrupt’ department in Pakistan, SC says ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed in a deficit case, observing that “nothing in the institution is functioning properly”. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed presided the three-member bench hearing the case related to the railway audit report.

Expressing annoyance at the performance of the strategic institution, the court remarked that “a person should first travel by train before taking over the ministry”.

The bench further added that the railways was the most corrupt institution of Pakistan.

“The records are not computerised,” SC remarked. “The stations and railway tracks are not in order. Every passenger travelling by train is in danger. The freight trains are also not operating.” CJP Gulzar also criticised the minister and said that he should do a better job of handling the ministry. “The whole institution is politicised,” CJP added. The counsel representing the railways ministry claimed that the matter had been investigated and action has been taken against two officials.

The apex court, adjourning the hearing till Tuesday, summoned the secretary railways in the next hearing. STAFF REPORT

PM imran to visit Malaysia on feb 3 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will leave for Malaysia on a two-day official visit on February 3. As per reports, Prime Minister Imran will be leading a high-level delegation to Kuala Lumpur. A one-on-one meeting between the premier and his Malaysian counterpart Dr Mahathir Mohamad is also scheduled in which bilateral ties, including trade and investment, will be discussed. Earlier in December last year, Prime Minister Imran cancelled his visit to Malaysia to participate in the Kuala Lumpur Summit that took place from Dec 19 to 21. It was reported later that the much-anticipated visit was cancelled over alleged pressure from Saudi Arabia who viewed the summit as a threat to its regional dominance. STAFF REPORT

CPEC’s second stage to help Pakistan collaborate with China, 60 BRI countries CPEC’S SECOND PHASE OFFERS CHANCE FOR PAKISTAN’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR TO RECOVER ONLY IF TARGETS AND STRATEGIES CAREFULLY MADE ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

With the second phase of the multi-billiondollar China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) launched, Pakistan would now have opportunities to collaborate with China and 60 other countries partnering in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Experts attending a policy dialogue titled ‘National Agriculture and Food Security in Pakistan’ held here at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) said that the CPEC is improving Pakistan’s connectivity not only within itself and China, but with over 60 other BRI countries as well.

“We can collaborate with our partners in the social sector. There is a need for substantial emphasis on the development of the country’s agriculture sector, which offers huge prospects of growth and trade,” said Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan here at the event held in collaboration with Pakistan Agriculture Scientists Forum (PAS Forum).

University of Haripur Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) ex-chairman Professor Dr Anwar-ulHasan Gilani, Faisalabad University of Agriculture Professor Dr Amanullah

Malik, IPS Executive President Khalid Rahman, and PAS Forum President Dr Abdul Wakeel also spoke on the occasion.

Presenting an overview of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, Dr Azeem Khan emphasised the need of enhancing the productivity of various potential sub-sectors of agriculture, not only with an aim to address the country’s food security concerns, but also to alleviate it for international trade.

Khan rued that Pakistan was a food exporting country till 2013 but became a food importing country thereafter. However, he observed that CPEC’s second phase offers a good opportunity to help the agriculture sector to recover, but the onus largely lies with the nation to set targets and strategies carefully in order to benefit from the forthcoming opportunities.

The PARC chairman was all for alleviating the agriculture sector via businessoriented model, which in his opinion, could only be done through value addition

i.e. converting raw materials into standard commercial products and brands.

He highlighted that combinations of different commodities and products being produced alongside the CPEC routes boast significant prospects in this regard.

There is a huge potential for the production and export of fodder, edible oils and palm oil, whereas pulses and oil seeds are some other lucrative areas to invest in.

The speaker, however, pointed out that the post-harvest losses still remain a concern in the country, before adding that the solution lies in careful measures taken in the areas of production, diversification, post-harvest handling, processing, certification, and value addition – all aimed at converting the harvest into high-value products while enabling them to maintain apex standards for international trade.

Khan also spoke fervently about the prevalent state of malnutrition in Pakistan, terming it unprecedentedly high while maintaining that a nutritionally

food secure Pakistan should be the country’s top most goal.

Dr Malik spoke about potentials and opportunities for Pakistan’s agricultural sector in relevance to CPEC mega projects. He mentioned several agriculture items in which Pakistan could enjoy a competitive advantage over the rest of the world, especially when it comes to China.

The professor said that China is the world’s biggest farm produce importer, with its imports making up to 10 per cent of global farm produce trade. The country is a net importer of bulk agriculture products and there has been rapid growth in its imports from Belt and Road countries off-late.

Pakistan too can target some of its exports to China such as soybean, barley, corn, wheat and cereals. Rice is the country’s major export to China but there is a lot more potential to it as well. In terms of fruit, cherries, grapes, mangoes, guavas and oranges are some of the products that can be looked at.

04 LAHORE

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES TUESDAY

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Bangladeshi journalists praise Lahori hospitality, say Pakistan safe for cricket LAHORE APP

Visiting Bangladeshi sports journalists have praised unprecedented security provided to the visiting Bangladesh cricket team and are awed by the love and hospitality of the people.

A ten-member media team had accompanied the Bangladesh cricket team on the first leg of the Bangladesh team to play three Twenty20 international matches series in Lahore. The journalists, during their five-day visit watched cricket, saw Lahore and interacted with people.

Talking to APP at the Gaddafi stadium here on Monday, the journalists admitted that they were confused initially whether to visit or not but the love of cricket pushed them to visit Lahore despite fears.

Mahmudur Rahman of DBC News Dhaka said they found unprecedented security wall during the visit in Lahore, adding Pakistan is very safe for cricket and tourism.

"Not only Mushfiqur Raheem but the all major cricketing nations including South Africa, England and Australia

should come and play in Pakistan", he said in his appraisal whether Pakistan was safe for cricket.

"I was pleasantly shocked to see the love of people for Bangladesh and would carry fondest memories of my sojourn in Lahore", said Humayun Kabir Rose of the Somoy TV. He expressed his delight on visiting the historic sites like the Lahore Fort and Minar e Pakistan during their visit, adding he was pleased to find people loving and accommodating.

He said he was happy to be part of the contingent to bring cricket back to Pakistan.

Nayir Iqbal of the Pothom Alo, Dhaka said he felt very safe in Lahore and moved around without any fear, regretting that he could not visit Badshai mosque and Mianr e Pakistan along with other Bangladesh journalists the other day.

"I have been receiving phone calls from my colleagues in Dhaka to know about the security and I have told them Lahore is one of the safest countries in the world", Nayir said, adding people are crazy about cricket in Pakistan and cricket fans should not suffer.

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Commuters to soon be free of traffiC jams at firdous market signal LAHORE

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APP

HE city's traffic woes at the Firdous market signal may soon be resolved as Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday gave clearance for the execution of two development projects in the city, including an underpass near Firdous Market in Gulberg area.

The decision was made during a meeting held by the authority on Monday. LDA Chief Engineer Habib-ulHaq Randhawa, Project Directors Abdur Razzaq Chohan and Iqrar Hussain and representatives of the provin-

cial Finance, as well as Planning and Development (P&D) Departments besides consultants of the projects, attended the meeting.

According to the details, the development working party would execute two development projects at a total cost of Rs2.13 billion whereas the second project is that of setting up an entertainment park in Johar Town area.

According to the LDA spokesperson, a two-lane dual carriageway full depth underpass would be constructed near Firdous Market at a cost of Rs1.80 billion in order to avoid frequent traffic jams and vehicular congestion from Centre Point to Cavalry Ground and for

facilitating vehicles going towards M M Alam Road. The underpass would be 540 feet long for which special arrangements would be made for rainwater drainage. No existing structure in the area would be affected as a result of the project and around seven kanals of land would be acquired for the project.

The spokesperson further informed that an entertainment park would be set up at 140 kanals of land adjacent to Aleem Dar Cricket Academy in Johar Town. Costing Rs330 million, it would be the first of its kind in the city and include a jogging track, lake, open gym, basketball court, tennis court and facilities for other outdoor games.

67 petrol pumps, CNG stations issued NOCs in 10 years LAHORE: 67 petrol pumps and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations were issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) by the explosives department in the provincial capital during the past 10 years.

Interestingly, only two complaints were registered against these newly-established pumps and stations during the past decade. Taking action on one of these complaints, the district administration sealed one petrol pump near Bhatta Chowk over the unavailability of a licence.

According to a letter written by the district administration to the Punjab Information Commission (PIC), an NOC for the establishment of a petrol pump is issued by the district petrol pump committee and subsequently, a licence is issued by the explosives department. Therefore, according to the letter, the office of Lahore DC is practically net in practice as to whether licences were granted by the explosives department or otherwise. The district administration also sought a list of petrol pumps from the explosives department. Moreover, as per the new policy, the DCO is no longer empowered to grant NOC for the establishment of petrol pumps and CNG stations. However, if any person or entity violates the rules and regulations, the action is taken against them.

When the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (ORGA), explosives department or a private person files a complaint to the district administration, the complaints are examined by a sub-division of the assistant commissioner’s office and if they are found to be genuine, they are immediately ad-

Buzdar directs all possible steps, necessary measures to combat coronavirus LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to take all possible measures, besides making necessary preparations, in the province to combat with the threats of coronavirus.

He issued the orders while chairing a high-level meeting held at his office on Monday to review the preventive measures for controlling coronavirus. It was decided to arrange diagnostic kits of coronavirus on an emergent basis. While giving approval of importing diagnostic kits, the chief minister directed to take all necessary measures for making the scanning system at airports more effective besides making close liaison with line departments. Buzdar directed Punjab Food Authority to strictly check fish markets and other food points and said that special attention should be paid for the cleanliness of such areas.

dressed and necessary action is taken.

When contacted, District Commissioner (DC) Afzal Danish told Pakistan Today that the reason behind the low number of complaints was the explosives department's proactive attitude of resolving issues on their own, whereas those related to enforcement are brought to his department for resolution. “We quickly resolve these to avoid unnecessary accumulation,” he added.

When asked about the mushrooming of illegal petrol pumps, he said that the department’s teams were actively taking action against them but they somehow resumed operations by approaching civil judges. SHAHAB OMER

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

PARC ReINstAtes OffICIAls fIRed ON CORRuPtION ChARges ISLAMABAD

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SHAHZAD PARACHA

HE Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), an attached department of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, has reinstated officials who were earlier fired on corruption charges.

Former project director olive Dr Nasir Mahmood Cheema and senior account officer Sakit Saleem were fired by the department after they were found guilty of corruption in an olive project.

The olive project was started with the aim of promoting olive cultivation in the country and for this purpose high-quality plants worth millions of rupees were imported from other countries.

Dr Cheema embezzled millions of rupees through tampering and using duplicate papers for plant imports. In addition to this, he along with his accomplice, Saleem, opened a fake bank account in Loralai in March 2015 under the name of Raziya Sultana, who was the mother of one department employee named Tahir Jamshed. Meanwhile, they won the tender on Kaista Khan Enterprises and transferred Rs100.64 million to this account.

The matter surfaced in 2016-17 and subsequently, a committee headed by NARC DG confirmed the corruption in its report and suggested that the officials involved in this scam be compulsorily retired. Furthermore, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also confirmed the corruption in this project.

Later, the officials wrote to the former minister for national food security and research Sikandar Boson and requested that they should be reinstated. The minister accepted their appeal

without listening to the counsel and soon their reinstatement letters were issued. However, former PARC chairman refused to implement the minister’s orders.

Sources told this scribe that the officials then moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the non-implementation of the minister’s orders but they could not get any relief from the court either as it directed the ministry to get approval for the reinstatement order in the meeting of the board of directors.

However, the PARC chairman reinstated the officials without informing the BoD and this caused one of his close aides to tender his resignation, sources added.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, PARC Chairman Dr Azeem said that in 2018, the appellate authority had set aside the decision of the previous PARC chairman. “The officials were reinstated in the light of the authority’s decision,” he added.

“The board of directors is a policy forum and not an appellate or competent authority. The court had only observed that if the competent authority (PARC chairman) was not implementing the decision, the board of directors could be involved for intervention,” he concluded.

Govt to consult media owners, journo bodies on new advertising policy: Akbar Durrani ISLAMABAD APP

Federal Secretary Information and Broadcasting Akbar Hussain Durrani said that media owners and journalists bodies would be taken into confidence on all important issues including new advertising and digitalization policy.

Establishment of strong media in the country are among my top priorities, he said in an exclusive interview here with IMI News Agency on Monday.

“Strengthening the media is very important for any government and state to strengthen, so strengthening the media is my top priority,” he argued. Media and media persons are not new to me, as I already have experience of working with the media in other positions, including as Director General Public Relations, he added.

The government is moving towards dig-

italization, he told saying that a digital media wing has been set up in the ministry after the approval of Prime Minister of Pakistan.

He said that National Media Centres would be established in all the districts of the country to mobilize the youths in the country and discuss various issues related to the society beyond politics.

On the question of the foreign posting of information group officers abroad, he said that the process of deployment of Press Ministers, Press Counsellors and Press attachees would be completed in next one month after final approval of Prime Minister of Pakistan.

After the verdict of the Supreme Court in favor of the Information Group in the case of allocation of 25% quota to private sector in foreign posting, he informed that six more posts of Press Ministers, Press Counsellors and Press attachees would be added for information group officers.

Ehsaas Kifalat project to be launched on Jan 31: PM's aide ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan will launch the Ehsaas Kifalat programme on Jan 31.

Under the program, Rs2,000 will be given to each deserving family per month and about 0.5 million people will benefit from this program. Chairperson Sania Nishtar told Pakistan Today said that the project will be launched in 15 districts to empower

the poor segments of society.

This is the most comprehensive program of the government for the welfare of poor people, she added. Nishtar said transparency will be ensured in this program as bank accounts would be opened for the provision of cash grants to the deserving families under this program. We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bank Alfalah and Habib Bank Ltd. for disbursement of the amount.

PIA aircraft grounded at Karachi airport catches fire KARACHI: A fire mysteriously broke out in a grounded plane at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Sunday night. According to sources, the fire erupted suddenly in one of the inactive planes parked around one kilometer away from the runway. The airport authorities, after being informed, called the fire tenders which extinguished the blaze.

The sources said that bushes near the grounded planes caught fire, which eventually engulfed one of the planes parked in the compound. The Civil Aviation Authority has taken notice of the incident and launched an investigation. Earlier on Jan 7, a Karachi-bound flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had suffered serious damage after a bird hit near Jinnah International Airport. According to details, PIA flight PK311 coming from Quetta had been hit by a bird while landing at Jinnah International.

The pilot, however, had successfully made landing as no human injury was reported. In 2019, more than 19 planes were affected by bird strikes which caused millions of rupees loss to the national flag carrier. STAFF REPORT

CMYK

NEWS

05

NAB Ordinance could be extended after four months, says PM's aide ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said the NAB Ordinance is not going to be taken back. The ordinance is here for four months and could be extended, he said. Speaking to the Islamabad High Court Journalists’ Association on Monday, Akbar said changes have been made in the NAB law. He said the accountability process was neither slow nor fast before. These changes have been brought in to improve the process, he said. There can be second opinion on freedom of expression, he said, adding that today, you can’t curb freedom of expression. Nor does our government have this kind of mind-set, he said. He also told journalists that he would do everything possible to ensure they get their rights. Akbar said the government cannot bring in any law that is not accepted by society. He said each matter should be debated.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

AnAtomy of A lie: How irAn covered up tHe downing of An Airliner new York times

w

Farnaz Fassihi

hEN the Revolutionary Guards officer spotted what he thought was an unidentified aircraft near Tehran’s international airport, he had seconds to decide whether to pull the trigger.

Iran had just fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at American forces, the country was on high alert for an American counterattack, and the Iranian military was warning of incoming cruise missiles.

The officer tried to reach the command center for authorization to shoot but couldn’t get through. So he fired an antiaircraft missile. Then another.

The plane, which turned out to be a Ukrainian jetliner with 176 people on board, crashed and exploded in a ball of fire. Within minutes, the top commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards realized what they had done. And at that moment, they began to cover it up.

For days, they refused to tell even President hassan Rouhani, whose government was publicly denying that the plane had been shot down. When they finally told him, he gave them an ultimatum: come clean or he would resign.

Only then, 72 hours after the plane crashed, did Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, step in and order the government to acknowledge its fatal mistake.

The New York Times pieced together a chronology of those three days by interviewing Iranian diplomats, current and former government officials, ranking members of the Revolutionary Guards and people close to the supreme leader’s inner circle and by examining official public statements and state media reports.

The reporting exposes the government’s behind-the-scenes debate over covering up Iran’s responsibility for the crash while shocked Iranians, grieving relatives and countries with citizens aboard the plane waited for the truth.

The new details also demonstrate the outsize power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which effectively sidelined the elected government in a moment of national crisis, and could deepen what many Iranians already see as a crisis of legitimacy for the Guards and the government. The bitter divisions in Iran’s government persist and are bound to affect the investigation into the crash, negotiations over compensation and the unresolved debate over accountability.

Around midnight on Jan. 7, as Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic-missile attack on American military posts in Iraq, senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps deployed mobile antiaircraft defense units around a sensitive military area near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport.

Iran was about to retaliate for the American drone strike that had killed Iran’s top military commander, Gen. Qassim Suleimani, in Baghdad five days earlier, and the military was bracing for an American counterstrike. The armed forces were on “at war” status, the highest alert level. But in a tragic miscalculation,

FOR THREE DAYS, IRANIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS KNEW THEY HAD SHOT DOWN A UKRAINIAN JETLINER WHILE THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED FALSE STATEMENTS, DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY the government continued to allow civilian commercial flights to land and take off from the Tehran airport.

Gen. Amir Ali hajizadeh, commander of the Guards’ Aerospace Force, said later that his units had asked officials in Tehran to close Iran’s airspace and ground all flights, to no avail.

Iranian officials feared that shutting down the airport would create mass panic that war with the United States was imminent, members of the Guards and other officials told The Times. They also hoped that the presence of passenger jets could act as a deterrent against an American attack on the airport or the nearby military base, effectively turning planeloads of unsuspecting travelers into human shields.

After Iran’s missile attack began, the central air defense command issued an alert that American warplanes had taken off from the United Arab Emirates and that cruise missiles were headed toward Iran. The officer on the missile launcher near the airport heard the warnings but did not hear a later message that the cruise missile alert was a false alarm.

The warning about American warplanes may have also been wrong. United States military officials have said that no American planes were in or near Iranian airspace that night.

When the officer spotted the Ukrainian jet, he sought permission to fire. But he was unable to communicate with his commanders because the network had been disrupted or jammed, General hajizadeh said later. The officer, who has not been publicly identified, fired two missiles, less than 30 seconds apart.

General hajizadeh, who was in western Iran supervising the attack on the Americans, received a phone call with the news. “I called the officials and told them this has happened and it’s highly possible we hit our own plane,” he said later in a televised statement. By the time General hajizadeh arrived in Tehran, he had informed Iran’s top three military commanders: Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the army’s commander in chief, who is also the chief of the central air defense command; Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Armed Forces; and Maj. Gen. hossein Salami, commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards.

The Revolutionary Guards, an elite force charged with defending Iran’s clerical rule at home and abroad, is separate from the regular army and answers only to the supreme leader. At this point, the leaders of both militaries knew the truth.

General hajizadeh advised the generals not to tell the rank-and-file air defense units for fear that it could hamper their ability to react quickly if the United States did attack. “It was for the benefit of our national security because then our air defense system would be compromised,” Mr. hajizadeh said in an interview with Iranian news media this week. “The ranks would be suspicious of everything.”

The military leaders created a secret investigative committee drawn from the Guards’ aerospace forces, from the army’s air defense, and from intelligence and cy-

The quest to sell Air India Hindustan times The government has yet again announced an attempt to privatise Air India. This is a good idea; it always was; a government has no business running an airline. Worse, running a loss-making airline that is loaded with debt (around Rs 60,000 crore) definitely falls in the category of a moral hazard. Can the State then, in all conscionability, allow a private airline to go bust?

The deal, this time, is sweeter — which isn’t surprising because there were no takers last time. In summary, the government will sell its entire stake, not just 76% like it planned to last time, and also all of its budget airline subsidiary, Air India Express, and 50% of a ground handling unit; transfer about Rs 23,000 crore of debt (a full Rs 10,000 crore lower than what it wanted to transfer last time); allow sale-and-lease back of aircraft;

berexperts. The committee and the officers involved in the shooting were sequestered and ordered not to speak to anyone.

The committee examined data from the airport, the flight path, radar networks, and alerts and messages from the missile operator and central command.

Witnesses — the officer who had pulled the trigger, his supervisors and everyone involved — were interrogated for hours.

The group also investigated the possibility that the United States or Israel may have hacked Iran’s defense system or jammed the airwaves. By Wednesday night, the committee had concluded that the plane was shot down because of human error. “We were not confident about what happened until Wednesday around sunset,” General Salami, the commander in chief of the Guards, said later in a televised address to the Parliament. “Our investigative team concluded then that the plane crashed because of human errors.”

Ayatollah Khamenei was informed.

But they still did not inform the president, other elected officials or the public. Senior commanders discussed keeping the shooting secret until the plane’s black boxes — the flight data and cockpit voice recorders — were examined and formal aviation investigations completed, according to members of the Guards, diplomats and officials with knowledge of the deliberations. That process could take months, they argued, and it would buy time to manage the domestic and international fallout that would ensue when the truth came out.

The government had violently crushed an anti-government uprising in November.

But the American killing of General Suleimani, followed by the strikes against the United States, had turned public opinion around. Iranians were galvanized in a moment of national unity.

The authorities feared that admitting to shooting down the passenger plane would undercut that momentum and prompt a new wave of anti-government protests.

“They advocated covering it up because they thought the country couldn’t handle more crisis,” said a ranking member of the Guards who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

“At the end, safeguarding the Islamic Republic is our ultimate goal, at any cost.”

That evening, the spokesman for the Joint Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, told Iranian news media that suggestions that missiles struck the plane were “an absolute lie.”

On Thursday, as Ukrainian investigators began to arrive in Tehran, Western officials were saying publicly that they had evidence that Iran had accidentally shot down the plane. A chorus of senior Iranian officials — from the director of civil aviation to the chief government spokesman — issued statement after statement rejecting the allegations, their claims amplified on state media.

The suggestion that Iran would shoot down a passenger plane was a “Western plot,” they said, “psychological warfare” aimed at weakening Iran just as it had ex-

ercised its military muscle against the United States.

But in private, government officials were alarmed and questioning whether there was any truth to the Western claims.

Mr. Rouhani, a seasoned military strategist himself, and his foreign minister, Javad Zarif, deflected phone calls from world leaders and foreign ministers seeking answers. Ignorant of what their own military had done, they had none to give.

Domestically, public pressure was building for the government to address the allegations. Among the plane’s passengers were some of Iran’s best and brightest. They included prominent scientists and physicians, dozens of Iran’s top young scholars and graduates of elite universities, and six gold and silver medal winners of international physics and math Olympiads.

There were two newlywed couples who had traveled from Canada to Tehran for their weddings just days earlier. There were families and young children.

Their relatives demanded answers.

Iranian social media began to explode with emotional commentary, some accusing Iran of murdering its own citizens and others calling such allegations treason.

Persian-language satellite channels operating from abroad, the main source of news for most Iranians, broadcast blanket coverage of the crash, including reports from Western governments that Iran had shot down the plane.

Mr. Rouhani tried several times to call military commanders, officials said, but they did not return his calls. Members of his government called their contacts in the military and were told the allegations were false. Iran’s civil aviation agency called military officials with similar results.

“Thursday was frantic,” Ali Rabiei, the government spokesman, said later in a news conference. “The government made back-to-back phone calls and contacted the armed forces asking what happened, and the answer to all the questions was that no missile had been fired.” On Friday morning, Mr. Rabiei issued a statement saying the allegation that Iran had shot down the plane was “a big lie.”

Several hours later, the nation’s top military commanders called a private meeting and told Mr. Rouhani the truth.

Mr. Rouhani was livid, according to officials close to him. he demanded that Iran immediately announce that it had made a tragic mistake and accept the consequences. The military officials pushed back, arguing that the fallout could destabilize the country. Mr. Rouhani threatened to resign.

Canada, which had the most foreign citizens on board the plane, and the United States, which as Boeing’s home country was invited to investigate the crash, would eventually reveal their evidence, Mr. Rouhani said. The damage to Iran’s reputation and the public trust in the government would create an enormous crisis at a time when Iran could not bear more pressure.

As the standoff escalated, a member

and require bidders to have a net worth of only Rs 3,500 crore (down from Rs 5,000 crore). Most of these are welcome changes.

No one wants to be in a joint venture with the government in a business like aviation (and definitely not in Air India with all its unions). It is unfair to expect buyers to take on too much debt from the airline. Allowing sale-and-lease back opens up a financing option that most airlines use for capital. And a lower net worth threshold will expand the universe of potential buyers. Sure, buyers may not want to buy part of the ground handling subsidiary, but what’s on offer this time is all of a proper airline. Better still, Indian airlines that are bidding will not have to meet the net worth criterion. Foreign airlines can bid as long as their bids are in keeping with India’s rules governing foreign investment in airlines (though that was the case the last time too).

Will this get investors to bite? That depends on what the buyer is looking for, and its ability to fund and manage a turnover. Air India, along with Air India Express, has 146 aircraft, of which it owns 82, but its fleet isn’t contemporary. It has slots, although it has given away many on key routes to foreign airlines. It has a

of Ayatollah Khamenei’s inner circle who was in the meeting informed the supreme leader. The ayatollah sent a message back to the group, ordering the government to prepare a public statement acknowledging what had happened.

Mr. Rouhani briefed a few senior members of his government. They were rattled.

Mr. Rabiei, the government spokesman who had issued a denial just that morning, broke down. Abbas Abdi, a prominent critic of Iran’s clerical establishment, said that when he spoke to Mr. Rabiei that evening, Mr. Rabiei was distraught and crying. “Everything is a lie,” Mr. Rabiei said, according to Mr. Abdi. “The whole thing is a lie. What should I do? My honor is gone.” Mr. Abdi said the government’s actions had gone “far beyond” just a lie. “There was a systematic cover-up at the highest levels that makes it impossible to get out of this crisis,” he said.

Iran’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting and drafted two statements, the first to be issued by the Joint Armed Forces followed by a second one from Mr. Rouhani.

As they debated the wording, some suggested claiming that the United States or Israel may have contributed to the accident by jamming Iran’s radars or hacking its communications networks.

But the military commanders opposed it. General hajizadeh said the shame of human error paled compared with admitting his air defense system was vulnerable to hacking by the enemy. Iran’s Civil Aviation Agency later said that it had found no evidence of jamming or hacking. At 7 a.m., the military released a statement admitting that Iran had shot down the plane because of “human error.”

The bombshell revelation has not ended the division within the government. The Revolutionary Guards want to pin the blame on those involved in firing the missiles and be done with it, officials said. The missile operator and up to 10 others have been arrested but officials have not identified them or said whether they had been charged. Mr. Rouhani has demanded a broader accounting, including an investigation of the entire chain of command. The Guards’ accepting responsibility, he said, is “the first step and needs to be completed with other steps.” his spokesman and lawmakers have demanded to know why Mr. Rouhani was not immediately informed.

Mr. Rouhani touched on that concern when he put out his statement an hour and 15 minutes later. The first line said that he had found out about the investigative committee’s conclusion about cause of the crash “a few hours ago.”

It was a stunning admission, an acknowledgment that even the nation’s highest elected official had been shut out from the truth, and that as Iranians, and the world, turned to the government for answers, it had peddled lies. “What we thought was news was a lie. What we thought was a lie was news,” said hesamedin Ashna, Mr. Rouhani’s top adviser, on Twitter. “Why? Why? Beware of cover-ups and military rule.”

brand, but one that needs to be refurbished. It is also unclear whether the buyer will have the freedom to prune the number of employees, although the airline now has only 14,000-15,000 employees. The sweeter deal signals the government’s intent. But it now needs a buyer with the intent to close.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

PalesTInIans decry TrUMP Peace Plan Before he MeeTs IsraelI leaders WASHINGTON

U

AGENCIES

S President Donald Trump is expected to disclose details of his Middle East peace plan to Israeli leaders on Monday as Palestinian officials decried it as a bid “to finish off” the Palestinian cause.

Trump will meet separately with right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz in Washington over his long-delayed proposals, which have been kept secret.

Palestinians fear the plan will dash their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Palestinian leaders say they were not invited to Washington and that no peace plan can work without them. Ahead of the US-Israeli meetings, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Trump and Netanyahu were using the plan as a distraction from their domestic troubles. Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives last month and is on trial in the Senate on abuse of power charges. Netanyahu faces corruption charges and a national election on March 2, his third in less than a year. Both men deny wrongdoing.

“This plan is to protect Trump against being impeached and to protect Netanyahu from going to jail, and it is not a peace plan,” Shtayyeh said on Monday at a cabinet meeting in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

“We reject it, and we demand the international community not be a partner to it because it contradicts the basics of international law and inalienable Palestinian rights,” he added.

“It is nothing but a plan to finish off the Palestinian cause.”

Neighboring Jordan, which along with Egypt is one of two Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel, said on Thursday that annexation of the occupied Jordan Valley – as Netanyahu has pledged to do – “will blow up the peace process”.

WASHINGTON MEETINGS: Trump’s initiative, whose principal author is his son-in-law Jared Kushner, follows a long line of efforts to resolve one of the world’s most intractable problems.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks col-

Bolton says Trump wanted to tie Ukraine aid to probe WASHINGTON: Former national security advisor John Bolton alleges in a book draft that President Donald Trump wanted to freeze Ukrainian military aid until Kiev investigated his political rivals, The New York Times reported Sunday. Democrats quickly seized on the report to press demands that Bolton and other key people in the Trump administration be called testify in Trump’s impeachment trial. Citing Bolton’s unpublished manuscript, The Times wrote that Trump told Bolton he wanted to keep frozen $391 million in aid to Ukraine, until Kiev officials helped with a probe into his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Trump was impeached last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. House of Representatives prosecutors have spent the three days laying out a detailed case that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine and a White House meeting to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart to open an investigation into political rival Joe Biden and the former vice president’s son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. A key point of Trump’s impeachment defense has been that there was no quid-pro-quo. Trump’s team has maintained that the holdup in aid was separate from his requests for an investigation into the Bidens. Bolton’s reported assertion in the manuscript would undercut this. The Democrats want key Trump administration officials to testify, including Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, in the belief that they know a lot about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.

Bolton has said he is willing to testify if subpoenaed. In response to The Times’ report, the lead House manager in the trial, Adam Schiff tweeted that Trump had “blocked our request for Bolton’s testimony.” “Now we see why: Bolton directly contradicts the heart of the President’s defense,” Schiff wrote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Senate Republicans’ refusal to hear Bolton or other witnesses and documents is “now even more indefensible.”

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer urged Senate Republicans to call for witness testimony during the impeachment trial. But Republicans, who hold a 53-47 edge, have shown little inclination to break ranks with a president who has a history of lashing out ferociously at his perceived enemies. Sixty-seven senators, a two-thirds majority, are needed to remove Trump from office. AGENCIES

lapsed in 2014. The United Nations and most governments around the world back a blueprint for a two-state solution – an independent Palestinian state living sideby-side with Israel, the foundation of every peace plan for decades.

Trump hoped to release his own plan last year but was forced to delay as Netanyahu twice tried unsuccessfully to form a governing coalition after inconclusive elections. After Monday’s meetings with Netanyahu and Gantz, Trump will on Tuesday deliver joint remarks with Netanyahu at the White House, where the president may reveal details of his proposal. But whether it truly will jumpstart the long-stalled effort to bring Israelis and Palestinians together is far from certain.

Palestinians have refused to engage

the Trump administration and denounced its first stage – a $50-billion economic revival plan announced last June. The White House hope was that if Trump could get the support of both Netanyahu and Gantz for the plan, it would help provide some momentum. A US official said Trump wants to know they are both on board with the plan before announcing it.

Gantz, Netanyahu’s principal domestic political rival, last week lifted his objection to having the plan published before Israel’s March election. “I am looking forward to meeting the president – a president of utmost friendliness to the State of Israel – on a matter that is very important for the State of Israel – with national, strategic and security ramifications,” Gantz said as he landed in Washington on Sunday. But Trump, preoccupied with November’s re-election bid, can ill afford to wait months for Israel to decide its next prime minister, a US official said.

HONEST MEDIATOR? : Palestinians have called Trump’s proposal dead in the water even before its publication.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said Washington can no longer be regarded as an honest mediator, accusing it of pro-Israel bias. This followed a series of Trump decisions that delighted Israel but dismayed and infuriated Palestinians. These included recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and slashing hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

One protester killed in south Iraq as anti-government tents torched BAGHDAD AGENCIES

One protester was killed early on Monday in Iraq’s flashpoint city of Nasiriyah, a medic told AFP, as gunmen stormed the square where antigovernment demonstrators had been camped out for months. The men arrived in Habbubi Square just after midnight, torching the tents where protesters had been sleeping and leaving nothing but charred shreds of fabric and metal frames, an AFP correspondent there said. The unidentified gunmen fired on protesters, killing one and wounding four others, a medical source said.

Hours later, determined protesters had rallied again and shut down two main bridges in the city, some 350 kilometres south of the capital

Baghdad.

The main protest camp in the holy city of Najaf was also burned down overnight by unidentified gunmen, AFP’s correspondent there said on Monday.

Mass protests erupted on October 1 in Baghdad and across Iraq’s Shiamajority south in outrage over lack of jobs, poor services and corruption.

They spiralled into calls for a total government overhaul and are now specifically demanding snap polls, an independent prime minister and the prosecution of anyone implicated in corruption or recent bloodshed.

Protesters tried to ramp up pressure on the government starting a week ago by sealing streets with burning tyres and metal barricades, but riot police responded with force.

They fired live rounds and tear

gas to disperse clusters of young demonstrators, and 21 protesters have been killed and hundreds wounded in the last week.

That brought the toll from the last four months of rallies close to 480 dead, according to an AFP rally.

On Friday, security forces began moving in on the main protest camps across the country after influential Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr said he would drop support for the youthdominated reform campaign.

Sadr supporters swiftly began dismantling their own tents, prompting fears by the remaining activists that they had lost their political cover and would face a crackdown.

But thousands of students turned out on Sunday across Iraqi cities to insist on their movement’s resilience and political independence.

Magnitude 5.4 quake hits southern Iran DUBAI: A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Fars province in southern Iran on Monday, Iranian state TV reported.

There were no fatalities, but there was structural damage to homes in the area of the quake, which hit near the town of Khane Zenian, the head of emergency services for Fars province said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Assessment teams have been dispatched to the quake site, which is not a very populous area, the head of rescue for Iran’s Red Crescent, Morteza Salimi, told state TV. Posts on social media said that the earthquake had been felt by residents of the provincial capital Shiraz, approximately 50 km (30 miles) away from the epicenter. AGENCIES

Turkey ends rescue efforts after earthquake toll reaches 41 ELAZIG: Turkey called off rescue operations on Monday in eastern areas hit

by Friday’s earthquake after emergency workers recovered the body of a final person they were searching for in a collapsed building, bringing the death toll to 41, authorities said. The magnitude 6.8 quake caused 37 deaths in Elazig province, about 550 km (340 miles) east of Ankara, and four in neighboring Malatya. More than 1,600 others were hurt, including 86 still being treated in hospitals, though none were in serious condition, the government said.

Forty-five people had been rescued from under ruined buildings, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) said. Authorities have warned residents not to enter damaged buildings because of the danger of collapse and further aftershocks, leaving many without a home in a region where temperatures fell to -6C (21F) on Monday morning. Addressing reporters in Elazig, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the government would provide financial support to those whose homes were damaged. Some 1,000 temporary homes would be built, and some schools and mosques were now being used as shelters, he added. Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said authorities had started demolishing 22 damaged buildings in Elazig. Construction of some 2,000 new houses in the province was expected to be completed by year end, he added.

Turkey has a history of powerful earthquakes. More than 17,000 people were killed in August 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Izmit, a city southeast of Istanbul. In 2011, a quake in the eastern city of Van killed more than 500. AGENCIES

‘Draconian’ travel curbs needed to halt spread of virus, scientists say HONG KONG AGENCIES

Governments need to implement “draconian” travel curbs to stop a mystery coronavirus in China becoming a global epidemic, a team of experts mapping the outbreak said on Monday.

Scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) presented a briefing warning that the spread of the deadly SARSlike virus that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan was accelerating. “We have to be prepared that this particular epidemic may be about to become a global epidemic,” said Gabriel Leung, head of the team.

“Substantial, draconian measures limiting population mobility should be taken sooner, rather than later.”

Leung leads a group of researchers who are mapping the virus, which has so far infected more than 2,700 people in China and killed 81 people.

While the epicentre remains in Wuhan and the central Chinese province of Hubei, it has since spread to some of the country’s biggest cities — including

Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, and the southern cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou. “We are expecting to see epicentres of self-sustaining epidemics in these other major city clusters on the mainland,” Leung predicted.

Given those cities have major regional and international transport links it was “highly likely” they would spread the virus further afield once those cities have self-sustaining outbreaks, he added. The Wuhan virus has been detected in a dozen other countries — as far afield as North America and Europe — but only via a handful of people who travelled primarily from the epicentre in Wuhan.

The latest models from HKU warned that the number of actual infections was likely to be much higher than the official tolls, which only account for those who have been found and have tested positive.

HKU believes as many as 44,000 people may have been infected as of Saturday after evidence emerged suggesting people may be infectious even when they are not showing symptoms.

Leung said the number of infections would likely double every six days, peak-

ing in April and May for those places currently dealing with an outbreak, although effective public health measures could bring that rate down. The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people, in a bid to contain the virus. But some experts have warned those measures came too late, with millions leaving the region for the annual Lunar New Year holiday before the lock-

down. Leung said the lockdowns implemented by China were “absolutely correct”, although he said the measures “may not be able to substantially change the course of this epidemic in the other major city clusters”. The HKU team is part of the World Health Organisation’s Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, a network of academics around the world that help monitor new virus outbreaks

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

08 COMMENT

Mere Paas Tum Ho

The rebellion in Punjab Imran Khan’s dilemma

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he PTI’s dissenters have rejected PM Imran Khan’s formula of ruling Punjab through bureaucracy. There is little likelihood of the rebellious lawmakers cooling down as a result of Imran Khan’s direction that the Chief Secretary and IGP work as a team headed by CM Buzdar. even the appointment of two PTI MNAs to act as coordinators between the party’s lawmakers and the Punjab government would not pacify them. The PM has called the arrangement a comprehensive and effective mechanism for better liaison among elected representatives and civil bureaucracy.

The 20 PTI lawmakers forming a group of dissidents represent the majority of PTI parliamentarians who would be satisfied with nothing short of getting the lion’s share in development funds and having government servants of their own choice appointed in their constituencies. There is a perception that even CM Buzdar is not happy with the PM’s reliance on bureaucracy for running the province. The Punjab Governor has publicly complained of bureaucracy giving no importance to him.

The rebellious feelings in Punjab PTI have not been engineered by the opposition and in fact spring from an internal fountainhead. The PM however believes that an organised mafia is spreading negativity and crippling positive administrative changes in the country. Further, that it is trying to forestall change by replacing CM Buzdar with their nominee. The PM says he knows who wants to replace CM Buzdar but he does not name him to avoid a head on clash with the allies. he also suspects that the move against Mr Buzdar is in fact the thin edge of the wedge and the only way to counter it is to keep the present CM in place for whatever it costs.

To gain power In Punjab PM Imran Khan recruited turncoats with no scruples and issued them party tickets. he then entered into alliance with traditional politicians who depend on development funds and support from a pliant bureaucracy to reach the corridors of power. For all these elements election spending is an investment which has to be repatriated along with profit. The situation Imran Khan faces is the outcome of his own opportunistic policies. he has made the bed and will have to lie in it.

Conducting LG polls Legal problems and concerns of allies need to be addressed first

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M Imran Khan has directed Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar to hold Local Government (LG) polls as soon as possible, at least at the village level in the first phase. Before that can happen, some legal issues need to be addressed. The 2018 census results have not been officially published after the MQM-P and PPP rejected the results; meaning that the constitutional requirement to delimit constituencies before LG polls can be held cannot be fulfilled.

Provinces, particularly KP, have been dragging their feet on the matter and the allotted four month deadline within which fresh LG elections are to be held in all provinces after expiry of local bodies, has lapsed.

Then there are concerns of PTI’s allies as well. The government has not forced LG polls in Sindh just yet because the MQM-P is a crucial ally in the center and ignoring their rejection of the census result would alienate them. A major ally in Punjab, PML-Q also wants some amendments to be made to the new local government law passed by the provincial assembly before polls are held. One of the flaws the party has highlighted is the already significantly high number of 4,000-plus union councils being increased to 24,000plus village councils/panchayats. Their contention is that this would increase administrative expenses by over six times. Short of these changes, the PML-Q has threatened to boycott any LG polls. It would suit the PTI well to address these legitimate concerns of its allies as they are already disgruntled and on edge over various unfulfilled promises that PM Imran Khan has now himself had to personally step in and resolve, in both the provinces his party is in power; KP and Punjab.

It is another matter whether or not the PTI has the numbers in terms of popularity and candidates to successfully contest LG polls, but the elections need to take place immediately. PM Imran Khan believes local governments can ‘resolve people’s problems at the grassroots level’. That might be the case but will only be possible if LG polls are held at all levels, from district administration to the tehsil and union levels as well.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

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Deputy Editor

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Some observations regarding its immense popularity

haSaN aFTaB SaEED

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heTheR you were a fan of the recently concluded Mere Paas Tum Ho, hated its guts or were simply indifferent to it, there’s no denying that it was a huge hit.

The ratings, the controversy, the discussions in talk shows and living rooms, and the full houses at theatres were unprecedented. It’s not every day that the death of a fictional character is reported as breaking news on live TV. Since it had become a social media sensation as well, even those who could swear they hadn’t watched a single episode (this scribe included) couldn’t help knowing about each development as and when it happened.

There’s a theory that the exact recipe for a hit production is unknown; because if the ingredients were known, nobody would ever make an unsuccessful play or film. In hindsight however, one can analyze the factors that contributed to the success of Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar’s latest offering.

Qamar’s personality played no small part in making the play a success. It wouldn’t be too much to say that he doesn’t suffer unnecessarily from the weaknesses of modesty and self-effacement. he is certainly not averse to exaggerating his own merits. The controversy generated by the play was complemented perfectly by his noholds-barred interviews; which meant that the feminists who otherwise could possibly have ig-

nored the play were left with no option but to the feminists. Many of his shortcomings can be take notice, which was a major factor behind the overlooked considering this alone. The fact that the play couldn’t be accused of being nuanced or success of the play.

Another thing that worked in the play’s favor sophisticated was also a major factor behind its was the fact that it wasn’t original, never mind success. Whether by design, accident, or the auQamar’s insistence that it was based on real events thor’s limitation the rather crude treatment meant – art imitating life. Well, if it was his personal ex- that it didn’t go over the heads of feminists, who perience; apparently, he wasn’t the first man to have aren’t the brightest bulbs imaginable. The disthis experience. Art imitating older art would be a course was just intelligent enough to offend the more accurate way of describing it, which was great liberal crowd, and not an iota more.

Not to say that the feminists were the only offor the show because it’s a safe bet that had it been fended parties. The tradioriginal, it would have left tionalists who believe that the viewers scratching their life imitates art also comheads. For it’s very easy for plained that by showing a something to be before its Qamar’s personality character such as time in our part of the Mehwish, the producers world. As for originality, played no small part in were putting ideas into the Albert einstein famously making the play a success. heads of impressionable defined it as the art of hidFor the creators ing one’s sources. Qamar It wouldn’t be too much to girls. though, there’s nothing like didn’t do too well on that count. Amitabh Bachan’s say that he doesn’t suffer publicity – good, bad or any other variety. So long Do Anjaane (1976), which unnecessarily from the as the play isn’t taken off was based on an earlier the air, controversy is Bengali story, essentially weaknesses of modesty good. It would have been a had the same theme, albeit and self-effacement. whole different story, of with a tinge of crime. In course, if it was banned; or Qamar’s defense however, He is certainly not some cleric was asked to few things are original decide whether it was under the sun. One must averse to exaggerating ‘safe’ for public (the fate of also give credit to him that his own merits Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi he knew that crime won’t Tamasha). Of course, with work for his audience.

ARY there was little Love and its afterefchance of that happening. fects are popular themes For good measure, Qamar had also thrown in everywhere; but in other parts of the world they have developed other genres too: romantic com- a hackneyed child character; which for some unedy, courtroom drama, detective story, psycho- known reasons our audiences can never have logical thriller, horror, historical drama, war film, enough of, in plays as well as in ads. In fact, the black comedy, spy story, science fiction and what cheesier his lines (‘Will you marry my father?’ for not. In our evolution, we seem to be perpetually instance, with the whole on-his-knee routine) the stuck in love-marriage-infidelity-love triangle. more his popularity and hence the popularity of This play had all these ingredients in abundance. the show. In short, the play had everything for the Our feminists are famous for faux outrage Pakistani audience. and political correctness taken to ridiculous exHasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, tremes; but their collective chagrin triggered by phrases such as ‘Do take ki larki’ was a sight to literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be behold, making Qamar the ultimate nemesis of reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

Amidst a sea of poverty Islands of prosperity and affluence will soon be devoured by inequality and want

Shah Nawaz Mohal

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eT us start with a cliché, ‘If you’re born poor it is not your mistake, but if you die poor it is your mistake’. God knows what Billionaire Bill Gates had in mind when he uttered these lines to motivate a breed of geeks of our Brave New World who idolized him and dreamt of making billions by virtue of a revolutionary idea that would potentially alter the world for all times to come. Well, like all pearls of wisdom, the essence of this one too withered and it became just another feel-good hackneyed quote thoughtlessly used by countless motivational gurus who are part time entrepreneurs and full-time headaches for their family, friends and the world at large.

Now whether you’ve laughed or not, let us put the whole amusing side of one-liner rags to riches advice-cum-warnings aside and put our sober, serious hats on. Any modern state, for all intents and purposes, is condemned to be either a welfare state or aiming to become one regardless of countless adjectives preceding the word ‘welfare’. The point is, in our day and age no state can be excused from its responsibility towards the poor, unfortunate masses braving life within its boundaries. States are ultimately responsible for its populace that finds it hard to make ends meet; we are talking about the lot who can’t fend for itself.

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For quite a long time, we have been measuring poverty by gauging, weighing and tabulating people’s income, their earnings, the wealth they’ve accumulated and how much they spend as consumers. In other words the line between marginally prosperous and certainly poor was one of spending capacity lack thereof and not of overall social reality one has to live and die in.

Back in 2010, UNDP and Oxford Poverty & human Development Initiative developed Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) that replaced human Poverty Index. The new MPI covers three dimensions, namely health, education and Living Standard that further evaluates ten more indicators ranging from nutrition to sanitation and years of schooling. MPI is considered as a tool to identify the poorest among the poor and thus furnishing data that helps policy makers to devise schemes to reduce the debilitating destitution that mars generation after generation.

Pakistan had its first ever official MPI in 2015. According to which a palpable decline in poverty has been witnessed all over the country for over a decade. In 2015, the national poverty rate stood at 39% while a decade back it was around 55%. I wonder how it feels to criticize Benazir Income Support Program for offering too paltry an amount while roaming around in a German car worth millions and spending 20K per sitting on food for their entourage at a restaurant in Kohsar Market, Islamabad. I request such ‘critics’ to ask any one of more than 5 million beneficiaries what this ‘paltry, insufficient’ amount means to their families and how it supplements the precious little they make through incessant toil and tillage in shabby workshops and fields.

It is estimated that billions of rupees are being spent on many projects to assuage poverty by funding micro credit loans and spending in health and education sectors. In Pakistan we have two very strong institutes in the shape of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and Zakat. Jointly, both these institutions will contribute directly and indirectly around 10 billion rupees to uproot poverty in both rural and urban areas.

It is estimated that one out of four Pakistani

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lives in multidimensional poverty, meaning that poverty is affecting a sizable chunk of our populace. Another worrying aspect is that the RuralUrban divide is nothing short of a whopping chasm as majority of those who dwell in our villages and work in our agriculture sector are living in abject poverty. Government should take notice of this and address the root causes that are hindering farmers and field workers from getting out of cyclic and inter-generational poverty.

While we are at it, the age old perception (and reality sides this time with the perception) in the minds of other provinces that Punjab is way better off than the rest of Pakistan gets confirmation as multidimensional poverty is lowest in Punjab while highest in Balochistan and FATA. To criticize because one feels better afterwards has never been my forte. I believe that one must point out the things that went awry, applaud the things well done, and do one’s bit to fight the rotten, bad things that blight our kind.

State, government and individuals must all do their bit to annihilate both incidences and intensity with which poverty handicaps one in four of us.

It is possible only if every single one of us strive towards a zero poverty goal within next decade.

During my bachelors, while studying Political Science I came across the famous ‘Four Freedoms Speech’ by American President Roosevelt.

Among those Four Freedoms, freedom from want caught my imagination more than freedom of speech and worship and freedom from fear.

I solemnly believe that a belly without bread, a body sans clothes, a father without a job and a family deprived of a house of their own can neither speak their minds out nor worship the Almighty with respect and reverence he deserves. As to live hedonistically amidst the millions of souls who are vying for their next meal, the next coin, the next shopper of rice, the next morsel while hoping that one day, someday things will change is nothing short of supreme sacrilege in the eyes of the Creator.

Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and journalist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at mshahnawazmohal@gmail.com.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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

Really, a race against time

Welcome brutal February, welcome The month’s historical brutality remains unmatched

alI SUKhaNVER

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eBRUARY is at a distance of a few days; a month that always reminds us of some very bitter and very brutal incidents which simply marred the face of peace and calm of the South-Asian region. The cruel judicial murder of Afzal Guru, brutal hanging of Maqbool Bhatt, burning of the innocent passengers of Samjhota express and above all the Massacre in Gujarat; February always proved very callous. Maqbool Bhatt was the first victim to February’s brutality. he was one of the most prominent leaders striving for freedom and liberty of Indian Occupied Kashmir. If today, the movement for the liberation of Kashmir is still alive, it is because of Maqbool Bhatt’s fiery speeches, charismatic guidance and the seed of desire for freedom he sowed in the hearts of the Kashmiri youth. he was accused of killing a CID officer Amar Chand and in 1968 was awarded the death sentence by Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo. his punishment could not be acted upon for the next 16 years and ultimately he was hanged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi on 11 February 1984. The Indian authorities were so frightened of Maqbool Bhatt’s dead body that they buried him in the jail premises.

The Gujarat massacre started on 27th February 2002 and its basic target was the Muslim community living in that vicinity. The bloodshed ended with 1,044 dead, 223 missing and 2,500 injured. According to an official report, 790 Muslims and 254 hindus were among the dead in the Gujarat Riots. The Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report estimated that as many as 1,926 might have been killed. Other sources estimated death tolls in excess of 2,000. Many brutal killings and rapes were reported as well as widespread looting and destruction of property. The Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time and the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was accused of initiating the violence. Reports say that police and other government officials were involved in giving instructions to the rioters and providing them lists of Muslim-owned properties. Mr. Modi simply turned a blind eye to whatever was happening there in the streets of Gujarat and his deliberate ignorance added a lot to the damage.

More brutal and heart rending story is of Samjhauta express burning. That was somewhere around the midnight on 18 February 2007 when the train was heading towards Pakistan. Just after the train had passed Diwana near the Indian city of Panipat, bombs already fixed in two carriages started exploding. Both carriages were over-loaded with passengers.

Blazing flames of fire engulfed the fast moving train. Some of the passengers lost their lives in an attempt to jump out of the train; others who could not jump out also had to meet the same fate but in a more agonizing way; they were all burnt to ashes alive. There were reports that when the train slowed down, some unknown people were witnessed pouring kerosene oil to the already burning carriages. Most of those who lost their lives in the incident were Pakistanis. India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged eight people in the terrorist attack, including Swami Aseemanand, a hindu cleric formerly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but he was very soon released on bail. Three others charged in the case remained absconding. The alleged mas-

termind, Sunil Joshi, was killed in 2007 by unknown assailants. Overall a hindu fundamentalist group in India, Abhinav Bharat, was held responsible for this brutal incident.

Mohammad Afzal Guru was a very popular Kashmiri freedom-fighter. he was accused of planning and designing the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. his confession statement presented before the court became the basis of death penalty sentenced to him. he was executed on 9 February 2013. Guru’s advocate Sushil Kumar later claimed that Guru had written a letter to him in which he had told him that he had made the confessions under duress as his family was being threatened. he claimed in his interview with a journalist Vinod K. Jose in 2006. Guru had said that he had been subjected to extreme torture which included electric shocks to his genitals and being beaten up for hours along with threats regarding his family after his arrest. During the investigation he was continuously warned that in case of his non-cooperation, his brother would also be fixed in the same case as he was already in the custody of security agencies. Recently, the Indian security agencies have arrested a DSP of J&K police Davinder Singh on charges of having links with the freedom-fighters and cooperating with them.

Afzal Guru had revealed in his interview that the same police-officer was the central character behind all that torture inflicted upon him. It is something very astonishing that the same police officer involved in torturing Afzal Guru was awarded National Police Medal for his gallantry a few months back. Now he has been arrested for his links with freedom-fighters.

The story starting from Maqbool Bhatt has reached the recent arrest of DSP Davinder Singh of J&K police. There are so many hidden links among all these incidents which certainly make the situation more complex and more complicated but one thing is very much clear; life for Muslims in India was never a smooth sailing and never will it be.

Ali Sukhanver is a freelance journalist.

NATURe’S fury seems to have no end and natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes have been playing havoc with countries and human race all along the line.

Speaking of the earthquake aftermath, Turkey has become the latest victim, having been hit by a mighty earthquake measuring 6.8 on Richter scale. As for casualties, so far over 29 people have been killed and many more, nearly 1,100 persons injured. As a matter of fact, my workstations like Mumbai, Bangalore, hyderabad have encountered a lot of floods and other natural disasters, whereas my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Marthandam, Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu have been in the grip of weather vagaries – sometimes hit by floods and by drought-like situations on various occasions. In all these cases/situations, all we are in need of is to be helped through rescue efforts and makeshift arrangements. Damage control has so far come to the rescue of the people be it in my workstations like Mumbai or in my native areas like Tirunelveli, Korkai, all for the common good.

Right now, elazig province in Turkey is crying for help as this magnitude 6.8 earthquake was centred in that province. Immediate help from neighbouring countries aside, the international community, world agencies and NGOs should send and transport relief material, rescue teams, urgent foodstuff and medical assistance/equipment to the affected and the needy in Turkey in this unfortunate time of a crisis of large size.

SENTHIL SArAvANA DurAI Mumbai

PM Davos trip IF memory serves us right it was in 2012, Arsalan Chaudhry son of former Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry according to Shoaib Suddle headed commission admitted receiving favors from Land Mafia tycoon for two sponsored foreign trips to Monte Carlo and London in June-July of previous year. There is a moral code of ethics which require holders of public office and their next of kin from getting favors from private individuals, especially those involved in business contracts, public dealing etc.

While it is a generally accepted perception, amongst people that PM Imran Khan is a man of integrity, who also claims trying to establish a welfare state on lines of Medina Welfare Concept, it came as shock when he stated that his visit to Davos was sponsored by old friends. The office of the PM is a constitutional office which empowers to exercise immense executive powers and clout. Therefore, when two individuals involved in commercial business and contracts offer to sponsor his official trip, it raises doubts and eyebrows. Perhaps it is simplicity and lack of experience, along-with absence of saner advice by his advisors, who should have advised him that as PM he can no longer indulge in sponsored events, which he used to do before assuming this office, while on fund raising trips for his cancer hospital. PM must exercise a lot of discretion, even when getting involved in fund raising for philanthropic purposes, ensuring that those who sponsor them are clean and above board with no conflicts of interest. Those who sponsored this trip must restrain from doing any business with federal or provincial governments, to save embarrassment or mudslinging by his political opponents.

There is no such thing as a “free breakfast”, especially by those involved in commercial ventures.

T A MALIk Lahore

Raising awareness The well-known and one of highest paid actors of bollywood Aamir khan, hosts a show in India by the name of Satyanev Jayate. In this television show, Aamir khan interacts with general public of India and aims to enlighten citizens about the social issues present in the country.

In some of the episodes, mostly high qualified doctors come to enlighten the public about vital diseases such as Cancer, Jaundice, Asthma, Thalassemia and Plague etc.

They also instruct victims about recovery from such deadly diseases.

Last Sunday, Aamir Khan was teaching children about different signs of sexual abuses and safety from culprits.

The only a purpose of my write-up is to appeal to the government and SAhIL (an NGO working for child safety) to conduct seminars and nurturing shows in television for general public because it is the best way to make public aware of such heinous impacts of diseases, helpful for controlling child sexual abuse cases and solving social issues in the country.

SAMEEr uMrANI Malir karachi

Coronavirus?

ReCeNTLY, in many countries like China, Japan, America, Thailand, Canada, France, Australia and some others countries which are affected by a virus, that is known as Coronavirus.

The virus has spread from Wuhan city of China to other countries. According to a report, more than 2000 people are infected from the virus globally and 56 people died in China. So, this is the time to act and do something special for the eradication of the virus and prevent the human beings from this evil.

ZAHEEr AHMAD Lahore

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

sTocks, oIl PrIces TUMBle as deadly chIna vIrUs raTTles MarkeTs WUHAN

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AGENCIES

LOBAL stock markets and oil prices plunged Monday as panicked investors bolted into safer assets such as gold after China warned that the spread of a deadly new coronavirus was accelerating. China extended its traditional Lunar New Year holidays to buy time in the fight against the epidemic, prompting neighbouring Mongolia to close its border after the death toll spiked to 81 despite unprecedented quarantine measures.

Fears of a repeat of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which also began in China, spooked investors who only recently pushed markets to record highs — meaning there was plenty of room for a reverse. All sectors were hit but luxury goods makers and airlines suffered particularly as Chinese tourist spending is a key factor for them.

Wall Street opened lower, quickly losing nearly two per cent as the global sell-off continued, adding to the pressure on Europe.

In mid-afternoon trade in Europe, London was down some 2.2 per cent, with Paris and Frankfurt doing even worse with losses of some 2.6 per cent each. Oil prices were down around 2.5 per cent, coming off early lows hit on

concerns over demand from the world’s top energy consumer China.

MAJOR PANIC: “Market participants in Europe have grave concerns about coronavirus,” said Ava Trade analyst Naeem Aslam.

“The bottom line is that the virus has become deadly and it has caused a major panic in markets.” Chinese President Xi Jinping warned over the weekend that China was facing a “grave situation” given the “accelerating spread” of the new SARS-like virus that has infected nearly 3,000 people across the country.

Analysts said there were growing fears the crisis could become as bad as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that hammered markets and the global economy in 2003.

“Coronavirus fears have gripped the markets… as all the major European equity benchmarks are nursing big losses,” said analyst David Madden at trading firm CMC Markets UK. “Stocks that are connected to China are feeling the pain… as traders are afraid the health crisis will curtail economic activity.” The outbreak has led China to lock down the epicentre of the disease, Wuhan — a city of 11 million people — while imposing tight travel restrictions on a number of other cities including Beijing. The move comes during the Lunar New Year holiday when hundreds of mil-

lions of people criss-cross the country and spend billions of dollars.

The government decided late Sunday it would extend the holiday and related school closures beyond the January 30 end date to “reduce population flows”, state media said.

Most Asian markets were closed for the Lunar New Year break but Tokyo was open and fell two per cent. Bangkok

plunged nearly three per cent on worries about the Thai travel sector.

The flight to safety saw the yen rally against the dollar, with the unit now up more than one per cent from eight-month lows touched earlier this year.

Gold, another go-to asset in times of turmoil and uncertainty, is heading back towards $1,600 per ounce and the sixyear peaks touched at the start of January.

US feds, states may join forces on Google probes NEW YORK AGENCIES

The US Justice Department and state attorneys general are meeting this week for talks on their concurrent investigations into possible anti-competitive practices by Google, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. The Journal said the talks could eventually lead to the two groups joining forces as their investigations progress.

The Justice Department and the state attorneys general have not so far shared investigative materials from their respective probes, but officials said that

could change.

At least seven state attorneys general have been invited to the meeting, according to the Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.

A focus of the probes is Google’s dominant position in the online advertising market, the report said.

Another subject of scrutiny, it said, is possible anti-competitive behavior by Google in its Android operating system.

The meeting is likely to include discussions of those issues as well as the scope of the investigations and how the work might be divided among them, the

Journal said.

Neither the Justice Department nor the state attorneys general commented on the report, nor did Google. Google dominates the US market for online advertising with a 36 percent share, compared to 19 percent for Facebook.

Facebook is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer protection bureau, which is looking into the impact on competition of the company’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The House Judiciary, meanwhile, is examining the practices of Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

France Michelin Guide overshadowed by shock downgrade PARIS AGENCIES

It is the annual event that has accomplished chefs quaking in their toques: Monday’s 2020 edition of the Michelin restaurant guide for France reveals the winners and losers of its coveted ratings stars.

This year’s edition of the so-called gastronomy “bible” caused a stir even before its official release, when it was revealed Michelin has stripped renowned chef Paul Bocuse’s flagship restaurant of one of its three stars.

The red guide, which can make or break culinary reputations, angered many in the industry by downgrading the iconic Auberge du Pont de Collonges — the oldest three-starred restaurant in the world created by Bocuse, nicknamed the “pope” of French cuisine.

He died in 2018.

But Michelin boss Gwendal Poullennec defended the move by insisting stars are not “inherited”, and “must be earned every year”.

“We obviously understand the emotion that the loss of a star can provoke, but there is no exceptional treatment,” he told AFP. “All establishments are evaluated anonymously by our inspectors every year… whether you are an iconic chef or a young chef who takes the risk of being plunged into debt by opening a restaurant.”

Poullennec told AFP no other threestarred restaurants ran the risk of being downgraded in this year’s guide.

According to Michelin, restaurants are selected on four criteria: the quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the

personality of the chef reflected in their cuisine, and lastly value for money and consistency between visits. One star denotes “high quality cooking”, two stars “excellent cooking”, and three stars “exceptional cuisine”.

COOKING UNDER PRESSURE:Of 30,000 restaurants listed worldwide, only about 130 have attained the highest distinction.

Critics say the process has rendered Michelin stars untenable as more and more diners baulk at spending a fortune on a meal.

A handful of French restaurateurs have in recent years relinquished their prized three-star status because of the stress of being judged by Michelin inspectors. The 2003 suicide of three-star chef Bernard Loiseau was linked,

CMYK

among other reasons, to speculation that his restaurant was about to lose its three-star status.

Last year, Michelin downgraded three three-starred restaurants: the Auberge de L’Ill in Alsace, which held the highest accolade for half a century, Pascal Barbot’s Parisian restaurant l’Astrance, and Marc Veyrat’s Alpine restaurant the Maison des Bois, which was awarded its third star just a year earlier. Veyrat sued the guide for suggesting — wrongly, he insists — that he had used cheddar cheese in a souffle.

His lawsuit was rejected.

FROM FRANCE TO JAPAN:The guide was born in a very different guise, when brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin, founders of the eponymous tyre company, brought out a travel guide in 1900 to encourage motorists to take to the road and so boost business.

There were fewer than 3,000 cars in France at the time.

Initially free, the red guidebook included maps, a how-to on changing tyres and lists of petrol stops, mechanics, hotels and eateries along the route.

The first run of 35,000 copies was such a success that guides for Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain followed.

The three-star ranking for restaurants was introduced in 1931.

In 2005, the Michelin Guide branched out of Europe with a New York guide, followed in 2007 by editions for San Francisco then Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

It moved to Asia with a Tokyo version in 2008 when 90,000 copies, in English and Japanese, flew off the shelves in 48 hours. More than 30 million Michelin Guides have been sold, according to its website.

While the main focus is on the spread of the virus, traders will also be keeping an eye on the release of earnings this week from top companies including Apple, Facebook and Samsung.

The oil market had already tumbled more than six per cent last week owing to concerns about the effects on demand in China, which is the world’s number two economy after the United States.

Portuguese hacker says he is behind angola corruption leaks LUANDA: Lawyers for a Portuguese computer hacker said on Monday he was responsible for revealing the dealings of Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, a corruption scandal with fallout across Europe and Africa. The hacker, Rui Pinto, handed over a hard drive “containing all data related to the recent revelations concerning Ms Isabel Dos Santos’s fortune” to a whistleblowing organisation in 2018, his lawyers said. The tycoon daughter of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos now faces a slew of corruption allegations stretching across Angola’s state oil and diamond industries and banks — all of which she has denied in interviews from London. Rui Pinto — described by his lawyers as a “very important European whistleblower” — is also behind the socalled Football Leaks, a series of stories about financial dealings and transfers involving clubs in Europe’s top leagues.

The football revelations, which first appeared in 2015 and were eventually published in Germany’s Spiegel and other European outlets, sparked criminal investigations in countries including Britain and France. AGENCIES

new delhi to sell full stake in debt-ridden air India NEW DELHI: New Delhi intends to sell its entire stake in the debt-crippled national carrier Air India, the government announced on Monday, after failing previously to secure any bids for a majority share. The airline, which owes more than $8 billion, has been struggling to pay salaries and buy fuel, with officials recently warning that it would have to shut down unless a buyer was found. On Monday the civil aviation ministry released a document inviting bids for a 100 per cent stake, setting March 17 as the deadline for initial submissions. Potential buyers would have to assume around $3.26 billion in debt, the document said. The government was forced in 2018 to shelve plans to sell a 76pc stake in Air India after failing to attract any bidders. India’s Tata Group, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and IndiGo were all linked to a takeover but subsequently ruled themselves out. Founded in 1932 and formerly India’s monopoly airline, the company was once known affectionately as the “Maharaja of the skies”. AGENCIES

11-12 -Business 28 January 2020_Layout 1 1/27/2020 11:54 PM Page 1

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

BUSINESS 11

LNG SCaM: aCCuSeD eMPLOyeeS Get 'LeGaL aiD' frOM OGra

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Italian Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo inaugurates the three-day ‘Pakistan Mega Leather Show 2020’, organised by the Pakistan Footwear Manufacturing Association (PFMA) and Pakistan Tanners Association, at the Expo Centre. p r e s s r e l e a s e

RAWALPINDI: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, along with Pearl-Continental Rawalpindi General Manager Rashid Banday, recently inaugurated the ‘Chinese Food Festival’ at PC Hotel. The festival will continue till February 8th.press release

KARACHI: Alkaram has launched its new store in Dolmen Mall, Clifton. The store offers all-new Alkaram men, women, kids, home and MAK collection.p r e s s release

LAHORE: MCB Bank Chairman Mian Mohammad Mansha and President/CEO Imran Maqbool, along with the MCB management team, pose for group photo after the bank’s Annual Conference 2020.p r e s s r e l e a s e

LAHORE: Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan, collaborates with Miracle School Ministries to donate food and warm clothes to 50 families in need.press rele a s e

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aHMaD aHMaDaNI

he Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has allegedly allowed its sitting chairperson and other accused in the LNG scandal to "officially hire the services of a lawyer of their choice" to deal with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases/enquiries.

"The legal counsel will be hired at the cost of taxpayers' money," a source privy to this development told Pakistan Today.

On 12th December 2019, NAB had filed a reference in an Accountability Court (AC) for the trial of OGRA's sitting chairperson Uzma Adil, an accused in a scam regarding the award of LNG terminal to a private company.

Uzma Adil, in a letter written to the Cabinet Division's secretary on 19th December 2019, had requested to allow her to officially hire the counsel to defend the charges against her.

Subsequently, the regulatory authority, in its administrative meeting held on December 26, unanimously decided to provide full legal support in case of any litigation, criminal investigation, and prosecution instituted against its serving or retired employees.

"The accused person(s) shall be at liberty to utilize the services of any competent lawyer of choice to defend their respective cases, the

cost of which shall be paid/refunded by OGRA provided that such cost does not exceed a total of Rs2 million for each case at each forum until final conclusion thereof," reads OGRA’s decision, a copy of which is available with this scribe.

The authority, however, stated that the accused persons, who were entitled to this facility, were expected to be judicious in negotiating the fee with the counsel of their choice keeping in view the nature and complexity of the case and the level of the forum.

Similarly, the authority also decided to provide the accused (OGRA employees) access to the official record in case any agency or institution started proceeding.

Furthermore, OGRA stated the cost would be refunded by the relevant person in case any of the retired or in-service employees (Members or Chairman/Chairperson) was convicted after completion of the trial or final conclusion of the case by the highest legal forum.

Commenting on OGRA’s decision pertaining to giving access to the official record, a former official, seeking anonymity, said the decision of granting access to all documents in the presence of Uzma Adil could lead to tampering by her and her co-accused.

The official said such sort of permission was exceptional as in the past, OGRA employees, who were accused of various scams, were not

Shahid Salim Khan assumes charge as OGDCL MD

Ehsaas digital payment system for KP women in the offing PESHAWAR staff report

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar on Monday visited Bank Alfalah’s Shuba Chowk branch to oversee final preparations for the launch of new Kifalat cash-transfer programme.

The programme will enable cash disbursements under the Ehsaas Kifalat Programme and use a fully biometric payment system to provide safe, digital cash payments to millions of women across the country, giving them access to a bank account for the first time in their lives.

The women having no other source of income are the beneficiaries of the programme. They are being identified through door-to-door surveys to be completed in three phases across Pakistan.

The programme has an option that allows missed households to appeal their exclusion.

“The Ehsaas Kifalat programme is a major component of the government’s plans to build a welfare state which supports the poorest in society,” Dr Sania said during the visit.

“Under previous cash transfer programs, the women were forced to travel

granted access to public record.

"How can an accused be granted the right to access those documents on the basis of which NAB filed an interim reference against them?" the ex-official questioned.

OGRA chief Uzma Adil in her letter had sought the Cabinet Division's opinion over the official hiring of an outside counsel to deal with the NAB cases/enquiries.

The Cabinet Division had requested OGRA to defend the case as per its own rules/regulations as the writ was against the chairperson in her official capacity.

Talking to this scribe, Advocate Ammar Sehri said the OGRA’s decision was ultra-vires to the OGRA Ordinance as the state does not bear the cost of legal counsel to save the skin of a public servant for his/her personal act.

"And the government departments too can’t indemnify its employees for abuse/misuse of power/authority," he maintained.

Sehri said the OGRA rules and regulations also disallowed the authority to bear such costs, adding there was no implicit or explicit provision in the OGRA Ordinance to cover the lawyer’s fee in case a legal proceeding began against the OGRA employees.

"This decision by the authority can be framed as a basis of another NAB reference or FIA enquiry as it is sheer misuse of taxpayers' money," Advocate Ammar Sehri opined.

long distances to access retail shops, and too often were subject to abuse by greedy retail agents. Under the new system, the women will be able to go to biometric ATMs and branches, empowering them through financial inclusion and protecting them from corrupt financial mistreatment.”During her visit, the PM’s special assistant observed as to how Bank Alfalah had planned to provide a welcoming environment for those people who had not previously used a bank, including their methods for guiding beneficiaries through the new system of finger-print security.

The new system would no longer rely on money orders or payment cards besides provide an option that didn’t previously exist for women to build up a savings account.

Beneficiaries would now have a choice of going to a biometric retail shop, a biometrically enabled ATM or any biometrically enabled branch of the relevant banks.

Bank Alfalah was one of two banks selected to distribute the payments across Khyber Pakhthunkhawa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad and Jammu Kashmir following a transparent 10-month long open procurement process. The other is Habib Bank Limited.

Shahid Salim Khan on Monday assumed his charge as the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

OGDCL had appointed Shahid Salim Khan as the company’s new head following the approval of the federal cabinet.“It is hereby informed that OGDCL Board of Directors in its 219th meeting held on January 21, 2020, has approved the appointment of Shahid Salim Khan as Managing Director/CEO in place of Dr Naseem Ahmad,” read an OGDCL filing at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).The company informed that Shahid Salim Khan has been appointed for a period of three years (to be reckoned from the date of his joining – Jan 27). Shahid Salim Khan was second in the list proposed on preferences by Board of Directors for OGDCL’s chief. BUsINess DesK

Conducive environment for investors among top govt priorities: PM ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday the provision of a conducive environment for businessmen and investors was his government's top priority."The business-friendly policies and ease of doing business are a source of encouragement for the overseas businessmen to invest in Pakistan," he said in a meeting with prominent businessman Arif Habib, who was leading a delegation of Pakistanis working in Qatar.He termed the overseas Pakistanis a valuable asset for the homeland, as they contribute immensely to the national economy through foreign exchange.app

EDB, NTC to consult steel industry for tariff rationalisation ISLAMABAD GHUlaM aBBas

As anomalies in the existing tariff regime are badly affecting the steel industry, the Engineering Development Board (EDB) and the National Tariff Commission (NTC) have started holding consultations with industry stakeholders to chalk out ways to rationalise tariff structure.

According to a letter sent to different associations in the steel industry on January 23, the EDB, under its programme "Competitiveness/Efficiency Improvement & Export Enhancement Exercise 2020-21" had informed the stakeholders that the top EDB officials would visit industrial units and offices of various associations to get input from the industry regarding the existing tariff structure and to generate meaningful proposals in each tax category.

"EDB has initiated the said exercise in order to enhance the competitiveness of the

local engineering/manufacturing industry by reducing the cost of doing business through tariff rationalization. The board is also starting a consultation process with the industry to discuss a number of issues, including matters concerning customs duties, sales tax, regulatory duties, newly generated anomalies, customs procedures (SROs), challenges in exports and any other proposal/grievance of the industry," the EDB stated.

The said letter was sent to Pakistan Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association, Pakistan Steel Melters Association, Pakistan Steel Pipeline Industry Association, All Pakistan High Carbon Steel Wires Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Flat Rolled Products Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers, Engineering Components & Machinery Manufacturing Association and All Pakistan PVC & Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association.

According to industry sources, a number of tariff-related issues were created after the government’s decision to abolish Sales Tax Special Procedures Rules for steel and some other sectors in the budget of 2019-2020.

In a letter sent to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Ministry of Industries (MoI&P) and the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) had informed that the steel industry was suffering severe financial crises due to inordinate delay in agreeing to a fair valuation formula for steel meltable scrap.

It said the Import Trade Price (ITP) of raw material (shredded scrap) was fixed by Customs at a much higher rate (25-35pc) compared to the prevalent scrap prices in the international market. “The net effect of the above practice is that the whole steel industry is paying 17pc GST extra sales tax at import stage on enhanced import value

which is equivalent to Rs11,000 per tonne.

Further, paying 10pc cash GST along with tax return is causing huge stuck up of extra taxes with FBR and thus causing liquidity crunch within the steel industry.”

PALSP had proposed to set variable rates of ITP as per prices set by international publications on a daily basis as the same are accepted by customs authorities worldwide for trading of steel meltable scrap.

Through another letter the MoIP, FBR and NTC, the steel industry had also identified anomalies in customs duty, additional custom duty and regulatory Duty on import of billets and re-rollable material.

As per the letter, “Re-rollable material, which is also an intermediary good, is attracting 7pc duties & taxes at the time of import, whereas billets is subject to 28pc duties and taxes. Therefore, it is suggested that regulatory duty, custom duty or additional custom duty be increased on re-rollable material by 21pc.”

According to the industry, this anomaly has resulted in increase in imports of re-rollable material, resulting in decrease in imports of scrap. “Increase in tariff by 21pc on re-rollable material will equalize the disequilibrium between both the materials and will also help in increasing the revenue for the government.”

Meanwhile, NTC, through its letter sent to steel industry’s associations on January 13, 2020, under the subject of “Removal of Tariff Anomaly for the Domestic Industry manufacturing Steel Billets/Steel Bars and Road” had also sought details about tariff anomalies to make required changes in the existing tariff structure.

The NTC had sought information about production of steel billets and bars during the last three years, cost to make & sell of billets and re-bars for the year 201920, data of imported raw materials/inputs required for manufacturing finished product and quarterly accounts of steel melters.

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Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

12 BUSINESS MarkET Daily

KSe-100 drops 93 points ahead of monetary policy announcement KARACHI: Investors of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a lacklustre start to the trading week, as the indices, after swinging in both directions, ended in the negative zone. Analysts believe that the investors' confidence remained subdued on Monday as they wait for the State Bank of Pakistan's monetary policy announcement, due on Tuesday (today). The interest rates had remained unchanged at 13.25pc in the last two meetings. Gaining 105.53 points, the KSE-100 Index touched its intraday high at 42,738.56 earlier in the day. However, failing to sustain the gains, the index slipped by 160.87 points to mark its intraday low at 42,472.16. It closed lower by 93.80 points at 42,539.23. The KMI-30 Index was down by -424.14 points or -0.62pc to settle at 68,532.62, while the KSE All Share Index fell short by 67.29 points. Out of the total traded scripts, 157 advanced and 153 declined. The overall market volumes were recorded at 198.48 million. Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +5.48pc), Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBTL +4.05pc) and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL +2.31pc) emerged as the volume leaders of the day, exchanging 25.96 million, 25.18 million and 12.15 million shares, respectively. Sectors that drove the index south included oil and gas exploration (93.05 points), power generation and distribution (-36.56 points) and textile composite (-14.85 points). Among the companies, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC -40.67 points), Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC -30.67 points) and Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL -24.40 points) dented the index the most. The refinery sector closed the session as the top loser (-2.76pc), with Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL -3.43pc), Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited (BYCO -2.85pc), Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL -2.11pc) and National Refinery Limited (NRL 2.02pc) closing in the red zone. On the market front, Fauji Foods Limited (FFL -5.98pc) announced its financials for the second quarter of FY20. The company's revenue shrunk by 25pc from 2QFY19 to Rs5.74 billion, its gross loss increased by 131pc, while finance cost jumped from Rs674.79 million to Rs1.69 billion. As a result, FFL's earnings per share deteriorated from Rs-5.39 to Rs-10.96.

Meanwhile, JDW Sugar Mills Limited (JDWS +2.95pc) announced its financial performance for the first quarter of FY20. The company's sales increased by 62pc to Rs13.19 billion YoY, which resulted in its gross profit margin surging from 6.59pc to 10.98pc. The company's earnings per share improved from Rs-5.91 in 1QFY19 to Rs2.32 in 1QFY20.staff report

Compliance with fatf not to hurt CDNS business: Mof Clarifying a recently published media report titled 'National Savings and FATF', the Ministry of Finance has claimed that the contents of the report "are likely to be misconstrued by the account holders and clients of the Central National Saving Scheme (CDNS)".In an official statement issued on Monday, the Finance Division has maintained that the CDNS is committed to improving customer service delivery and complying with the FATF recommendation to safeguard investors' interests. "Banks under the supervision of SBP have already put in place all the required systems and KYCs (Know Your Customers) processes to comply with the FATF recommendations. In order to implement this requirement, the Finance Division, through the promulgation of National Savings Schemes (AML-CFT) Rules, 2019, has decided to engage an AML-CFT compliant bank, through competitive bidding, to put in place the requirements as well as the necessary training of employees of National Savings," the statement read. "Accordingly, Expression of Interest, in consultation with SBP, has been sought from the interested bank to conduct KYC and other requirements of new as well as existing clients of CDNS. BUsINess DesK

iMf teaM tO evaLuate PaKiStaN’S 2ND quarter PrOGreSS frOM feb 3 A dEtAilEd rEviEw of nEPrA Act on thE cArds fbr liKEly to rEquEst uP to rs150bn rEduction in rEvEnuE tArgEt ISLAMABAD

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sHaHZaD paraCHa

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) team would start the evaluation of Pakistan's second-quarter progress under the $6-billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) from February 3, 2020.

According to sources privy to this development, the IMF team, under the supervision of its Mission Chief for Pakistan, Middle East and Central Asia Ernesto Ramirez, would stay in Islamabad from February 3 to 14 to review the country's 2nd quarter performance.

The global lending organization had cleared Pakistan during the first quarter review in November last year. Subsequently, the IMF board gave approval to release the first tranche of $450 million to Pakistan.

Sources said that Pakistan would brief the visiting delegation on the workings of the State

Bank of Pakistan as well as on the recently approved National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Act. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had earlier this month approved an amendment in the NEPRA Act; the amendment would be tabled before the federal cabinet in tomorrow's (Tuesday) meeting.

As per the amendment, the government would not only recover the losses from consumers by imposing new surcharges but would also generate more than Rs250 billion in annual revenue to "address" the mounting circular debt.

Besides this, NEPRA would be empowered to determine and automatically notify quarterly tariffs under the IMF benchmarks.

Sources said that the finance ministry has also prepared an SBP Autonomy Bill, which would be shared with the IMF team.

The Fund had asked Pakistan to improve SBP's governance, including clear delineation

between management and oversight functions, establishment of the executive board, and protection of SBP Board and MPC members' personal autonomy. In addition, the lender had also asked Pakistan to enhance SBP's financial autonomy by prohibiting any form of direct credit to the government.

Meanwhile, sources said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) team would appraise the visiting delegation about the revenue collection during the second quarter. The IMF had agreed to decrease the revenue target for the current fiscal year from Rs5,598 billion to Rs5,238 billion due to Rs287 billion shortfall in revenue from July to December. The tax department had collected Rs2,080 billion, as against the revised target of Rs2,367 billion.

As per the sources, the tax department is likely to request the IMF team to further reduce up to Rs150 billion the revenue target, as the revised target of Rs5,238 billion would not be achieved owing to high tariffs on imported items.

They said the Pakistani side would also share a report pertaining to the increase in gas and electricity prices, besides giving a presentation on progress with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

PiTC develops software to charge arrears from export sector LAHORE HassaN NaQVI

The Power Information Technology Company (PITC) has developed a designated software to charge the export-oriented sector with financial cost (FC) surcharge, fixed charge (F/C), Neelum Jhelum (NJ) surcharge, fuel charge adjustments (FCA) and Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA), from January 1 to December 31, 2019, with retrospective effect.

The software, to be used by power distribution companies (DISCOs), would charge the export sector with arrears of one year in 12 equal instalments. The arrears will be charged with F/C of Rs0.60/KWh, NJ surcharge of Rs0.10/kWh, FC of Rs0.43/kWh, while QTA will be charged with Rs1.80 in the first and second quarters and Rs0.63 in the third and fourth quarters.

Earlier, the PITC, which falls under the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), was tasked to develop this software to charge the export-oriented sector with retrospective effect.

"The Power Division had decided to add these surcharges to the concessionary rate of 7.5 cents/kWh for the export-oriented sector," a senior official, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed. "That's why we were asked to develop this software at the earliest."

APTMA MOVES LHC: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) on Monday moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) with a civil miscellaneous (CM) application for the redressal of notices being served to the textile millers to pay QTA and other arrears with retrospective effect. DISCOs had warned of power disconnections from January 25.

Sources said the APTMA members held a detailed meeting with their counsel Salman Akram Raja on Sunday and had decided to take up the matter with the LHC. The LHC, upon APTMA's request, would take up this issue on the already scheduled hearing against a writ regarding QTA on January 30.

Referring to clause 6.2 of NEPRA, a senior APTMA member said, "The due date for payment of bills will be within 15 days from their date of issue. However, the consumer will have seven days to clear from the date of actual delivery of the bill for the purpose of payment."

Those arrear notices were a clear-cut violation of the NEPRA laws, he maintained.

A worried textile miller from Lahore, who

wished not to be named, said the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) wasn't ready to accept the LHC stay orders regarding QTA and other surcharges to the export sector.

"We are left with no choice but to move to the court again regarding the arrears sent to us with retrospective effect on January 24," he said.

"How will we achieve the target of $50 billion exports in the next 10 years if we are not getting energy at competitive rates like our regional competitors – Bangladesh, India, China and Vietnam," the miller questioned. He said that if they (millers) got the energy at 11.5 cents to 12 cents/kWh, they would be unable to book any ew export orders."No textile miller is ready to face heavy losses due to high cost of energy," he added.

Forget policy rate cut: is a hike likely?

As most rEsEArch housEs PrEdict An unchAngEd intErEst rAtE, fEw individuAls sEE A PossiblE hiKE KARACHI MeIrYUM alI aND arIBa sHaHID

As the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is all set to announce its monetary policy tomorrow (Tuesday), almost all major brokerage and analysts have predicted that the policy rate will remain unchanged, at 13.25pc.

In fact, all 29 research houses surveyed on policy rate expectations predicted that the SBP would maintain the status quo on the policy rate.

But some disagree, according to a recent survey by the CFA Society of Pakistan of CFA Charter holders (and not brokerage houses, as reported elsewhere).

These are not house stances, but are instead individual stances, who may be associated with houses.

As many as 97pc of those surveyed believe no change will happen in the policy rate, while a small sliver (3pc) predicted that the rate will increase by 25 basis points, or even 50 basis points.

This would bring the interest rate up to 13.5pc, or 13.75pc.

Why would a hike be on the cards? According to Adnaan Sheikh, AVP Research & Development at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company, IMF clauses categorically state that the SBP must maintain positive interest rates.

“Inflation is expected to outweigh the policy rates for the month of January. The gas price hikes, along with supply shock inflation in food prices suggest that the upside risks outweigh the downside risks,” he said.

According to Profit analysis, this rising inflation means the real interest rate (or the interest rate minus inflation) is going into negative territory. Since tackling inflation head on has proved a challenge for the government, one immediate solution to keep the IMF happy is to hike the policy rate.

According to Sheikh, “The chances of a rate hike are higher than those of a rate cut as inflation is likely

to persist for the coming months. Thereby giving the SBP the chance to take preemptive action.”

Even if a rate hike seems a little far-fetched, rising inflation still has affected the status quo predictions.

For instance, the list even includes BMA Capital, the outlier in the last monetary policy announcement, that had predicted 50 basis points cut to 12.75pc. This time around, they too, have toed the status quo line of 13.25pc. According to Saad Hashmi, the Executive Director of research and business development at BMA Capital, BMA’s mainstream stance was because food inflation has been higher than expected. Though he disagrees with the idea of a rate hike, dismissing it as “going against the very directives of the central bank so far”, he added that “with inflation rising, it is difficult to expect central bank easing”.

Even the date at which a predicted cut in the policy rate has also shifted. Many analysts at the start of 2020 predicted a rate cut any time between end-Janu-

ary to mid-March. But now, due to rising inflation in Pakistan, that predicted date has also shifted to July or September.

In a survey conducted by the CFA Society Pakistan, almost 42pc of people surveyed believe the rate cut will happen in July, and 21pc believe the cut will happen in September. Only 18pc believe the cut will happen in May, and a paltry 8pc believe the cut will happen in March.

The SBP had last changed the policy rate on July 16, 2019, to 13.25pc, a rise of 100 basis points. At the time, it cited increased potential inflation, owing to a rise in utility costs. The central bank kept the policy rate unchanged in its review on September 16, 2019, and also in its review on November 2, 2019.

At the start of the year 2019, the policy rate was 10pc. Subsequent policy reviews – in January, March, May and July – increased the policy rate by a total of 325 basis points.

Sublimity with OOmph and Grace- anaam chaudhry

By Rohama Riaz

We sat down with the lovely and beautiful Anaam Chaudhry and talked about her luxury pret-a-porter line, future plans and personal style statment. We have to say, her work is absolutely stunning and praiseworthy. In the world where starting a clothing business has become a hobby, she stands tall with her phenomenal craftsmanship and wonderful aesthetics.

1

Your personal style statement in wedding\formal wear?

In wedding wear, I love old school clothes. I think when you dress up in eastern clothes, one should go all traditional. So I would say my style statement is very ethnic.

2

In this modern age, where contemporary and traditional go hand in hand, how difficult is it to maintain both elements in an outfit?

I don’t know about others but for me, it can get a little tricky because like I said I love going all traditional with my eastern wear. So to add contemporary in it can be a task. But as many people love modern and fun clothes, I like to play around with my cuts and silhouettes.

3 4

What makes You, as a designer, a cut above the rest?

I don’t think there is anything as being above the rest.

We all are trying to represent our style and our work in the best way we can. So everyone is above in their own genre.

Which prominent designer is your role model?

Coco Chanel. The brand has always been loyal to their type of fashion.

5

Do you like the idea of showstopping with an actor\actress rather than a renowned model?

I think fashion shows look the best with models being the showstoppers as that’s their job and they know to carry a designer’s show-stopping outfit as well.

6

How the modernised era has affected wedding trends? Do you see a drastic change??

I love new trends and I’m happy to see how modern brides are willing to experiment on their big days. I love the simplicity of some brides but I love how some want to go all out and extra!

7

Which clothing trend was predominant in this wedding season and which one you liked the most?

I think shalwar kurta really made its debut this wedding season and I’m glad it did. I’m my opinion, long kurtas and shalwars are a classic.

8

How the trends in clothing have changed over time and according to you what is missing nowadays?

Like I said before everyone is becoming more daring when it comes to experiments so that gives designers a free hand to explore their creativity as people are willing to wear new things.

Nothing much is missing but yes, I really hope that individuality becomes a trend again.

9

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

What keeps you motivated every day to design and do the same task again and again?

I have a passion for what I do. It genuinely makes me happy to make beautiful clothes and it makes me even happier when people wear my thoughts which eventually change into the clothes they wear.

Namor Rumored For Eternals Namor, Marvel's first mutant, aka the Submariner, is being rumored and speculated for an appearance in Eternals.

15-year-old Zein Al Rafih, a Serbian refugee known for the Oscar-nominated Lebanese film Capernaum, reportedly stated on social media that he has been cast in Eternals and teased his role, which is leading to speculation on Reddit that Al Rafih is playing the young Atlantean prince: I play the role of a kid whose father gets killed by sea monsters then when my character gets a bit older it’s played by a different actor.

Last year also saw Salma Hayek, who plays Ajak, seemingly confirm Zein Al Rafih for Marvel's Eternals when Hayek posted a photo on Instagram of the 15-year-old along with Lia McHugh, who is playing Sprite in the movie.

“Hanging with the Eternals’ youth,” Hayek said.

Worth a mention, as some of the Redditors have pointed out, is that Atlantis is a vital part of the Eternals story as the Celestials are the ones that sunk Atlantis and Lemuria in the first place.

If anything, the character description might simply confirm the use of Lemuria in the movie, which was an underwater city ruled by the Deviants and their human slaves.

10 11 12

If you could change one thing about today’s fashion industry, what would It be?

I feel there is a very fine line between (ideally positive) criticism and bullying.

We all need to mind it.

The hashtag symbol is technically called an octothorpe.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the "octo-" prefix refers to the eight points on the popular symbol, but the "thorpe" remains a mystery. One theory claims that it comes from the Old English word for "village," based on the idea that the symbol looks like a village surrounded by eight fields!

What does it take to be a good designer?

Individuality is very important. Being expressive about your designs and sticking to your style is key for me.

Have you ever sensed any kind of monopoly in the fashion industry since you are relatively new?

Yes, of course. That’s in every field. Old brands cash on their names not quality.

Whereas new brands have to work double to make a name and sell the best quality. As in our society, it’s all about the brands even if they serve you nothing.

The 100 folds in a chef's hat represent 100 ways to cook an egg.

Yes, that tall, pleated white hat that chefs wear — technically called a toque — has 100 folds for a reason!

According to Reclutant Gourmet, the pleats used to signify a chef's level of experience, like the number of ways he or she knew how to prepare eggs.

13

Do you think that we are losing old school charm with these budding trends in the wedding and formal wear?

Mostly, we are. But there are some people who still love wearing ethnic wear at weddings.

Plus, I think very soon the old school style will make a big come back.

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What is your main philosophy while designing a dress?

For me, it’s all about playing around with colours and different kinds of thread and embellishments. It all begins with that one colour.

The longest wedding veil was longer than 63 football fields.

If you thought Meghan Markle's wedding veil was long, get this: there's a woman in Cyprus who set the Guinness World Record for the longest wedding veil.

How long was it, you ask? Nearly 23,000 feet, which is the same length as about 63.5 football fields.

Robert Pattinson Shows Off Batman Muscles Rhea Chakraborty on relationship rumours with Sushant Singh Rajput Robert Pattinson shows off his muscles for The Batman as the actor participated in a photoshoot with Dior Homme.

There has been a rumor that Robert Pattinson has been having trouble bulking up with it claimed it's causing a delay in production, possibly due to having to wait on the design of the new Batsuit which would need to fit Battinson's new Batman bod.

Users on social media have posted some of the images of Robert Pattinson which do show the former Twilight actor looking a bit more buff, though they are in black and white and it's obvious shadows are used to make the muscles look better developed.

A promo video from Christian Dior has also been posted to YouTube from a couple weeks ago showing off the Battinson bod. See below.

Regarding the new Batsuit, it's thought the big reveal will be coming next month along with a look at the new Batmobile, as it has been reported Glasgow, Scotland is getting transformed into Gotham City where the new Batmobile will be first seen on set when the flick films there this month and in February.

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Actor Rhea Chakraborty didn’t have a single release last year, but that doesn’t bother her a tad. She wouldn’t do films “just for the sake of being visible”. The 27-year-old, who has been a part of films such as Mere Dad Ki Maruti (2013) and Sonali Cable (2014), talks about how she feels as being tagged as “a bubbly actor” and her bond with her rumoured boyfriend actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Was it a conscious decision to not take up projects in 2019?

Yes, I have been very choosy about my projects. After my first Hindi film, Mere Dad Ki Maruti (2013), where I played a girl from Chandigarh, I was tagged as “a bubbly girl” and was offered similar roles. People told me, ‘you can’t do intense characters’. Some said ‘you look too commercial’, and I would wonder what a ‘commercial look’ is. A few films came my way last year, which I could have done to be visible, but I don’t want to take up anything for the heck of it. The industry confines us in boxes, but we have to prove that we are women of substance.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

14 SPORTS

NaDal pRaiSeS KyRgioS aFteR weatheRiNg StoRm to maKe opeN quaRteRS MELBOURNE AGENCIES

w

orld number one Rafael Nadal praised showman Nick Kyrgios Monday after weathering a fierce storm to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals and keep alive his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title.

The Spanish top seed came through a riveting clash on Rod Laver Arena 63, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) to end the gallant hopes of the basketball-mad Australian, who came on court wearing an LA Lakers shirt in honour of Kobe Bryant.He will now face fifth seed Dominic Thiem after the Austrian swept past Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

"When he wants to play tennis, when he's focused on what he's doing, I think he's a very important player for our sport because he has a big talent," said Nadal, the 2009 champion who is looking to match Roger Federer's record 20 Slam crowns.

"I am never against his way or style to play. When I criticised him in the past it's because I think he did a couple of things that are not right and are not the right image of our sport and for the kids."But when he's doing the right things, I am the first one who supports this."Their clash was billed as a grudge match after a series of bad-tempered exchanges last year when Nadal accused Kyrgios of lacking respect and the Australian fired back that the Spaniard was "super salty".But Kyrgios struck a con-

ciliatory tone beforehand, and the match was played with respect.

The Australian said he was "shattered to lose" but hailed Nadal for "the champion he is, the player he is" and said he was working hard to keep up his new-found positivity.

"The trouble for me is being able to actually just produce the same attitude over and over again," he said. "I mean, hopefully I can keep doing it. I'm just taking it day by day, trying to be positive, just bring positive vibes."

There was little to split them on paper, with Nadal leading their career head-to-head 4-3 but Kyrgios 2-1 up on

hardcourts and an even 1-1 in their Grand Slam matches, both at Wimbledon.

The second of those, last year, was a torrid affair, with Kyrgios ranting at the umpire, serving underarm and deliberately firing a forehand at the Spaniard.

The Australian walked out on Rod Laver Arena wearing a yellow Bryant singlet as a mark of respect to the legend who tragically died in a helicopter crash, and a short video tribute was shown.Both held their opening service games before Nadal got a break in game four.

He was reading Kyrgios' monster

serve well and getting returns back over the net.Kyrgios began talking to himself, never a good sign, and with Nadal too strong from the back of the court he comfortably took the set.

But the Australian calmed down and crucially held his opening second set service game in a 10-minute slog, and as his boisterous fans got behind him he broke Nadal with a looping forehand, punching the air in delight for a 3-1 lead.

Feeding off the crowd energy, he sealed the set with an ace.

Kyrgios was enjoying himself, grinning and applauding Nadal as the pair played some mesmerising rallies in a high-quality third set.

But he began unravelling at 6-5 down, becoming irritated with a line judge and telling the umpire: "We're giving 130 percent and he can't get line calls right. It's embarrassing."

And when Kyrgios went 3-1 down in the tie-breaker, he slammed his racquet, leaving it a mangled mess.

At 5-5 in the tie-break Kyrgios double faulted, giving Nadal a set point. In bizarre scenes, the Spaniard responded by double faulting himself before finally taking the set.

Kyrgios appeared spent and was broken for Nadal to take 2-1 fourth-set lead, and the Spaniard appeared headed for the finish line.

But he amazingly sent down a double fault when serving for the match and it again went to a tie-break, where Nadal finally sealed victory.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL) officials discuss the Pakistan Boxing League’s upcoming launch ceremony in Islamabad. PR

Roger Federer wary of Sandgren as Djokovic semi looms MELBOURNE: Roger Federer has faced most top players on tour but never his Australian Open quarter-final opponent Tenny Sandgren, and he is wary of the American as he attempts to set up a potential last-four clash against Novak Djokovic.

The Swiss great swept into the last eight for a record 15th time at Melbourne Park after a first-set wobble against unheralded Hungarian Martin Fucsovics. He now goes toe-to-toe on Tuesday with the last American in the men's draw who has belied his 100 world ranking by beating eighth seed Matteo Berrettini and 12th seed Fabio Fognini. The Australian Open is Sandgren's favourite Major and he came from nowhere to make the quarterfinals in 2018, eventually losing to South Korea's Chung Hyeon. Federer has never played the 28-year-old, and is not underestimating the challenge as he looks to win his first Grand Slam since Melbourne in 2018 and seventh in Australia. "I wonder why he's not ranked higher, to be honest. Every time I see him play, I feel like he plays very well. He's got a lot of stuff in his game that he's deserving of being higher," said the world number three. "I didn't follow him that closely. I mean, I remember he played Chung in the quarters the last time I played the semis, to play Chung with his blisters and all that. "I remember watching that closely because I was going to maybe play the winner." Federer, who is chasing a 21st Grand Slam title, was also watching as Sandgren tamed firebrand Italian Fognini on Sunday. "It was impressive how he was competing. I'm looking forward to a tough one." The odds are heavily stacked in the 38-year-old's favour. Of the 14 Australian Open quarter-finals he has made, Federer has won them all. AGENCIES

World mourns basketball legend Kobe Bryant after helicopter crash LOS ANGELES AGENCIES

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash along with his teenage daughter sparked an outpouring of grief across the worlds of sports and entertainment on Monday.

Bryant, 41, was traveling Sunday with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers and crew when their helicopter slammed into a rugged hillside in thick fog in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles. There were no survivors.

A five-time NBA champion and twotime Olympic gold medalist, Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.

He was an iconic figure who became one of the faces of his sport during a glittering two-decade career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

All-time basketball great Michael Jordan said Bryant was "like a little brother" to him.

"Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling," the former Chicago Bulls star said. "We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much."

Dozens of firefighters and paramedics battled across hilly terrain to reach the flaming wreckage of the Sikorsky S-76 but found no survivors, officials said.

Fans and mourners descended on the area but police warned people to stay away."As you can imagine, it's a logistical nightmare in a sense because the crash site itself is not easily accessible," Los

Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told reporters.

The National Transportation Safety Board said an 18-strong team of investigators would be sent to California to probe the crash.

WORLDWIDE TRIBUTES : Tributes to Bryant flooded in from former US presidents, pop stars and athletes from different sports, a sign of how the man known as the "Black Mamba" had transcended basketball.

"Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act," Barack Obama tweeted.

"Laker Nation, the game of basketball & our city, will never be the same without Kobe," former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson tweeted.

American football star Tom Brady wrote simply: "We miss you already Kobe."At the Australian Open, Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios wore a Lakers jersey before he took on Rafael Nadal.

At the Staples Center in Los Angeles, crowds of shocked fans gathered to pay tribute as the venue which witnessed many of Bryant's career highlights hosted the music industry's Grammy Awards.

Hundreds, many wearing purple and gold Lakers shirts, placed flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial for their hero."This dude is everything to me man.

It makes no sense," said distraught Lakers fan Bobby Jimenez.

Singer Alicia Keys paid a somber tribute at the Grammys.

"To be honest with you, we're all feel-

ing crazy sadness right now," Keys told the audience. "Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. And we're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built."

Across the NBA, tributes were held at several of the eight games played Sunday.Denver Nuggets fans began chants of "Kobe, Kobe" as a minute's silence was held before their game against the Houston Rockets.In New York, Madison Square Garden was lit up in purple and gold alongside a giant image of Bryant captioned: "Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020."

The crash came only hours after Bryant was passed by current Lakers star LeBron James for third on the all-time NBA scoring list in a Saturday game at Philadelphia.

Bryant's final post on social media had been a tweet congratulating James.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote.

"Much respect my brother #33644."

FIVE-TIME CHAMPION Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school and lasted until his retirement in 2016.

He also was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, helping spark the US squad of NBA stars to titles in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London.

Bryant bowed out of the NBA in 2016, scoring 60 points in a fairytale farewell appearance at the Staples Center.

The son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, the Lakers legend was born in Philadelphia while his father

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played for the 76ers.The elder Bryant played from 1984 to 1991 in Italy, giving young Kobe a global worldview as he grew up dreaming of following his dad into the NBA.He would eventually join the ranks of professionals at the age of 17, jumping directly into the NBA, only the sixth player to make such a leap.

At 18, Bryant became, at the time, the youngest player or starter in an NBA game and the youngest winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Bryant's career was almost derailed in 2003 when he was arrested in Colorado over a sexual assault complaint filed by a

19-year-old hotel employee where Bryant was staying ahead of knee surgery.

Bryant was accused of rape. He admitted to adultery but said he did not commit rape. The case was dropped in 2004 after the accuser refused to testify in a trial. A separate civil suit was settled under terms kept private.

After his playing career, Bryant successfully branched out into the entertainment industry.

In 2018, he won an Oscar for his animated short film "Dear Basketball", a love letter to the sport which brought him fame and fortune.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

RaiN FoRceS aBaNDoNmeNt, paKiStaN taKe SeRieS 2-0 LAHORE

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AGENCIES

HE third Twenty20 international between Pakistan and Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled Monday because of bad weather in Lahore, giving the home side a 2-0 series victory.

Murky conditions and drizzle delayed the scheduled 13:00 pm (0830 GMT) toss at the Gadaffi stadium pitch, but play was called off three hours later.

Pakistan won the first match by five wickets on Friday and the second by nine wickets the next day.

The series win helped Pakistan hang on to their number one ranking in Twenty20 internationals with 270 points, leading Australia by just one point.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said the series win will help the team’s confidence.

“Our bowling was outstanding in both the games... helped us keep them down to low totals,” said Babar who lost 2-0 in Australia last year in his first series as skipper.

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah said the loss was disappointing.

“Before the series we knew that Pakistan will be favourites because they are world number one and we are nine.

“We managed to put a good fight in the first match, but in the second match they won convincingly because they have a good bowling side.”

Bangladesh will fly out late Mon-

day but return on February 5 to play the first of two Tests, in Rawalpindi.

They play a one-day international on April 3 in Karachi, and the second Test starting April 7.

SPORTS 15 Stokes and wood lead england push for victory in final test SANDTON: Ben Stokes and Mark Wood made a double strike shortly before tea as England pushed for a series-clinching victory on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday. Set to make a world record 466 to win, South Africa were 188 for four at tea, still 278 runs adrift.Rassie van der Dussen and captain Faf du Plessis batted together for all but 13 minutes of an extended two-and-ahalf hour afternoon session before Stokes bowled Du Plessis for 35 with a ball which hit a crack and kept low, deflecting off the toe of his bat into the stumps.Van der Dussen looked set for a maiden Test century but in the next over he was caught off Mark Wood for 98.Van der Dussen batted impressively, hitting 15 fours and two sixes in a 133-ball innings but both he and Du Plessis were given a torrid time by Wood, bowling at express pace on a pitch where the bounce was gradually becoming more unpredictable. With tea looming, England set a field which suggested a short-pitched barrage was likely but Wood then bowled a full-length delivery which Van der Dussen drove awkwardly to short cover where Stuart Broad held a good diving catch. It was the second wicket for Stokes – both at crucial times shortly before an interval. His first victim was opening batsman Dean Elgar, who was caught and bowled playing an awkward pull shot in the penultimate ball before lunch. Stokes had taken two for 28 at tea. England lead the series 2-1. AGENCIES

Real Madrid go top with gritty win over Valladolid MADRID AGENCIES

Bold Zimbabwe attack on opening day against Sri lanka HARARE: Some brave, attacking batting from Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams gave Zimbabwe the upper hand on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Harare on Monday, as they reached 214 for four at tea.

After the early losses of Prince Masvaure and Craig Ervine, Taylor counter-attacked boldly, hitting 10 fours and one six over long-off from left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya in a run-a-ball 62. Taylor scored the lion’s share of the runs in a 65-run partnership with opener Kevin Kasuza who played in spite of being ‘substituted’ for the second innings in last week’s first Test after being hit on the head while fielding at short leg. Kasuza batted through the morning before losing his off-stump to Suranga Lakmal for 38. Zimbabwe captain Williams backed up his decision to bat first after winning the toss by reaching 36 from just 36 balls. He slowed slightly to reach his third Test half-century and was 57 not out from 71 balls at tea, having hit five fours and two sixes. He shared an unbroken partnership of 81 with Sikander Raza who was 30 not out at tea. Sri Lanka began the day well with Lahiru Kumara finding the edge of Masvaure’s bat for nine before Irvine nudged Dhananjaya de Silva to short-leg where Oshada Fernando snapped up a sharp catch. AGENCIES

philander suffers hamstring injury in final test appearance SANDTON: Vernon Philander’s Test bowling career has come to an unfortunate end after he suffered a hamstring tear in England’s second innings at The Wanderers.The injury limited him to nine balls in England’s second innings, though South Africa’s head coach Mark Boucher confirmed he will be available to bat.Philander, who starred on the second day of his farewell series with 4 for 16 in 14.2 overs at Newlands, has struggled since, taking four wickets at 49.25 in 87.3 overs since that innings.innings, and after bowling one more ball went off the field for a scan, which revealed the extent of the injury. “Vern will be able to bat,” Boucher confirmed. “I believe he has got a grade two tear. I’m sure that Vern in his last innings will definitely go out and bat and try and add value to the team.” As a general rule, grade two tears rule players out for somewhere between four and eight weeks. AGENCIES

Real Madrid moved top of La Liga for the first time since October on Sunday after grinding out a 1-0 win away at Real Valladolid to make Barcelona pay for their surprise defeat to Valencia.

It is 16 weeks since Madrid last finished a round top of the pile and it looked like a scrappy contest at the Jose Zorilla would end goalless until Nacho Hernandez headed in the winner with 12 minutes remaining. Victory means Zinedine Zidane’s side pull three points ahead of Barca, whose 2-0 loss away at the Mestalla on Saturday under new coach Quique Setien could prove a turning point in a nip-and-tuck title race.

“Nothing changes, we are happy with the win,” said Zidane. “There are 16 games left and we will have to fight until the end if we want something. Nothing changes.”

Madrid now have the luxury of hosting their struggling city rivals

Atletico Madrid, who are 10 points back after a goalless home draw with

Leganes earlier on Sunday, with a cushion next weekend, not to mention on the back of a 19-game unbeaten run.

“We are top of the table again after being there a long time ago,” said captain Sergio Ramos. “We have to keep going.”

That streak included them drawing a game they arguably should have won at Camp Nou in December and then lifting the Spanish Super Cup earlier this month in Saudi Arabia. As Barcelona pursue a more entertaining style of football under Setien, Madrid march on, gaining momentum with wins that based largely on solidity and a stubborn defence. “Defensively what we are doing we are doing very well, it is our strength,” said Zidane.

Their form has been even more impressive given the absence of key players, with Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale starting only four times together this season.

PCB denies deal with Bangladesh over hosting Asia Cup LAHORE AGENCIES

It is “totally incorrect” that the PCB had to Pakistan by promising them hosting rights for the Asia Cup later this year, board CEO Wasim Khan has said, adding that it’s for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to figure out what would happen if India refuse to travel for the tournament.

The PCB had earned the Asia Cup hosting rights for the first time in over a decade for the 2020 edition, but at the time of the allotment of the tournament in 2018, it wasn’t clear whether it would take place in Pakistan or in the UAE. Now, after successfully hosting a number of international series and Pakistan Super League matches - the entire tournament is scheduled to be played at home this year - on their soil, the PCB wants to organise the Asia Cup in Pakistan in September this year too.But there could be a question mark over India’s participation then - the 2018 edition was supposed to be held in India but was moved to the UAE to ensure Pakistan’s participation in it.

“This is totally incorrect and we haven’t spoken with Bangladesh about the Asia Cup at all,” Khan told reporters in Lahore when asked if the PCB had used the Asia Cup as a bargaining chip for Bangladesh to travel to Pakistan.

The BCB was initially apprehensive about travelling to Pakistan but, after lengthy negotiations, agreed to play a series of three T20Is, an ODI and two Tests . “This is ACC tournament and the hosting rights were allotted to us by them, and we can’t change it,” Khan said. “It’s in our mind

and it’s our wish to host the Asia Cup in Pakistan.”

When asked about India’s participation in the Asia Cup later this year, keeping in mind the strained political relationship between the two countries, Khan suggested that the ACC would take the final call and that Pakistan would try to work out a plan including holding the tournament

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across two venues.

“Maybe two venues for these circumstances,” Khan said. “When we are supposed to go to India for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, we also might face a reverse situation because of the safety and uncertainty on players’ visas. But we are confident that things will ease out over the period of time.”

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020

NEWS

Pakistani students in coronavirus-hit Wuhan Plead govt for immediate evacuation

taliban say they shot down us ‘surveillance plane’ in afghanistan

CHINESE ENVOY TO ISLAMABAD SAYS STUDENTS ARE ‘SAFE AND SOUND’

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Monday claimed that their militants have shot down a US military aircraft over Ghazni in central Afghanistan, “killing many senior officers of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)”. The Taliban’s claim, if proved right, may jeopardise the Afghan peace dialogue between the Taliban and the US government with assistance from Pakistan. The US military has said that it is investigating the crash, and has not yet confirmed the loss of the plane. “Enemy intelligence aircraft crashed in Sado Khelo area of Deh Yak district #Ghazni noon hours today resulting in all crew & high-ranking CIA members killed. Wreckage & dead bodies laying at crash site,” tweeted Zabihullah Mujahid, using the hashtag of #AlFath, meaning ‘victory’. Zabihullah said that the aircraft was being used for “surveillance”. He claimed that the bodies of those killed were lying at the site. The US forces are yet to comment on the matter. Earlier in the day, footage of charred remains of a crashed aircraft emerged online. It appears to be the Bombardier/Northrop Grumman E-11A — a surveillance and communications plane, employed by the US Air Force. The wreckage features distinctive markings used by the US military.Initially, a provincial spokesman told local media that the plane crashed and caught fire due to technical reasons. The plane was earlier reported to have belonged to Ariana Airlines but the company later denied this.“Ariana planes that have left, have reached their destination and have not crashed,” a representative for the airline said. “The plane that crashed, therefore, does not belong to Ariana Airlines,” the representative added. No details about casualties were given. In September 2019, US President Donald Trump had announced to call-off the dialogue process after Taliban insurgents had claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier and 11 other people. The Taliban on January 16 announced a 10-day ceasefire with U.S. troops, a reduction in violence with Afghan forces and discussions with Afghan government officials if it reaches a deal with US negotiators in talks in Doha. If an agreement was sealed between the Taliban and the US, it could have revived a long-term solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

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STAFF REPORT

group of Pakistani students has demanded that the government make efforts to rescue them from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan, according to a video uploaded on social media, as the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan said that over 500 Pakistani students were being “well attended and looked after by local authorities”.

Wuhan has been under a virtual lockdown for days, with transport suspended and citizens told to stay home as the death toll from the viral epidemic that originated in the city soared to 80.

New infections are being reported as major countries step up efforts to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. The United States, Germany and France are among several countries planning to take such measures.

Hafsah Tayab, one of the students stuck in the city of Wuhan, told a local news channel that other countries are planning to get their citizens out of the city through airplanes.

“Embassies of other countries [excluding Pakistan] are rescuing their citizens. There are over 500 Pakistani students in Wuhan. If even one of them gets affected, the others will be in danger,” she warned.

“There is a shortage of essentials and if this situation persists, we will run out of food very soon,” Tayab said in the video message, adding that she and her fellow students have been confined to the city. “We plead that the authorities take notice of our situation on a humanitarian basis and do something about it. We will be grateful to you all our lives,” another student can be heard saying in the video.

According to a student from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology, there are about 200 Pakistani students in the institute, and a total of 2,000 in other universities of the city.

“A few days ago, Pakistani students stuck in Wuhan were very scared. However, the Pakistani embassy in Beijing has made efforts to provide us with what we need,” Tayab said while speaking to the news channel. “The Pakistani authorities have assured us that they will get us out of the city like other countries,” Tayab added.

The Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that efforts are being made to help out the students.

“The officials are in constant touch with Chinese authorities in order to make necessary arrangements for Pakistanis struck in affected areas, and a special briefing for all the embassies in Beijing has been scheduled today,” FO Spokesperson Aaisha Forooqui said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing on Monday said that the Pakistani students stranded in Wuhan were “safe and sound” from coronavirus.

“They are well attended and looked after by the local government of the province as well as the central government. The Pakistani Embassy in Beijing

is also following the situation and providing whatever assistance it can to the Pakistanis in Wuhan,” said the ambassador amid reports of the outbreak of the deadly virus.

The envoy said that since the outbreak, the Chinese and Pakistani governments are working closely to manage the situation. “Right now, the Chinese and Pakistani governments are in close coordination to extend all due and necessary assistance for their life, study and stay in China. We are also following the Chinese community in Pakistan and have found three suspicious cases but there is no confirmed

case of the virus in Pakistan as yet,” the envoy said.

“We appreciate the Pakistani government, in particular, the Ministry of Health, for monitoring the situation very closely. Both governments are exchanging and sharing information regarding possible medical assistance and medial preparations,” the ambassador added.

“We believe that with the understanding and support of the Pakistani nation, the Chinese government and people will have the confidence, determination to overcome this temporary difficulty.

And we will restore normal life very soon,” the ambassador concluded.

5 suspected coronavirus patients reported in Pakistan LAHORE: The number of individuals suspected to have contracted the deadly coronavirus has risen to five in Pakistan, with three of them admitted to the Services Hospital in Lahore, and two of them admitted to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan. According to reports, one of the two patients at the Nishtar Hospital is a Pakistani national. The three persons admitted to the Services Hospital are Chinese, hailing from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, and their relevant samples have been sent to a laboratory in Hong Kong for confirmation. Treatment can be initiated only after their medical reports are received within 24 to 48 hours, sources told the media. All suspected patients are kept in isolation and intensive care to keep the possible spread of the virus. The death toll from a coronavirus outbreak in China rose to 81 on Monday, as the government extended the Lunar New Year holiday and more big businesses shut down or told staff to work from home in an effort to curb the spread. The total number of confirmed cases in China rose about 30% to 2,744, about half of them in Hubei province, whose capital is Wuhan.

The number of deaths from the flu-like virus in Hubei climbed to 76 from 56, health officials said, with five deaths elsewhere in China, including the southern island province of Hainan, which reported its first fatality on Monday.

While a small number of cases have been confirmed in more than 10 countries, linked to people who traveled from Wuhan, no deaths have been reported elsewhere. Wuhan is already in virtual lockdown and severe limits on movement are in place in several other Chinese cities. The city of 11 million clamped down further on Monday, announcing the suspension of visa and passport services until Jan. 30. INP

Sikandar Sultan Raja sworn in as CEC ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Monday administered the oath to Sikandar Sultan Raja as the new chief election commissioner of the country.

The former bureaucrat took oath of office at the Supreme Court.

President Arif Alvi on Friday formally appointed Raja as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for five years.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said President Alvi made the appointments under Article 213 and 215 of the Constitution.

After months of deadlock, the government and the opposition had agreed on Tuesday to appoint Raja to

the key ECP post.

The post of the CEC had been lying vacant since the retirement of Justice (r) Sardar Raza on December 6, whereas the positions of the two ECP members were empty for a year now.

The delay in the appointments on the key posts had left the ECP rudderless and stopped it from functioning.

PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen arrested on sedition charge PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Monday arrested Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen on various charges, including sedition, and later sent him to Peshawar’s Central Jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

The court will hold a hearing on Tuesday to decide whether a transitory remand can be granted in order to move Pashteen to Dera Ismail Khan, where a first information report (FIR) has been registered against him.

According to details, the FIR was registered on Jan 18 under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 124 (sedition), and 123-A (condemning the creation of the country and advocating the abolishment of its sovereignty) of the Pakistan Penal

Code (PPC). However, the police failed to arrest PTM chief until Monday.

The FIR alleges that Pashteen and other PTM leaders had attended a gathering on Jan 18, in DI Khan where the PTM chief had allegedly said that the 1973 Constitution violated basic human rights.

The FIR added that Pashteen also made derogatory remarks about the state.

Police has also arrested nine other PTM workers who were identified as Muhammad Salam, Abdul Hameed, Idrees, Bilal, Mohib, Sajjadul Hassan, Aimal, Farooq and Muhammad Salman.

Taking to Twitter, PTM leader and MNA Mohsin Dawar said: “This is our punishment for demanding our rights in a peaceful and democratic manner. Manzoor’s arrest will only strengthen our resolve. We demand the immediate release of Manzoor Pashteen.”

He urged PTM workers and supporters to remain calm in the wake of the arrest. “We will devise a strategy after

consultations. We are up against those who are most troubled by demands for constitutional rights, and we will continue doing that.”

PTM TO LAUNCH COUNTRYWIDE PROTESTS: Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Dawar said that he had called the police to ask on what grounds Pashteen had been arrested but they did not give any reasons and refused to cooperate.

Terming the arrest as “abduction”, Dawar said: “We think that Manzoor Pashteen has been arrested for the speech he delivered in Bannu in which he said he will gather all Pashtun leaders.” He urged PTM workers to stay “peaceful like always” and announced that the group will hold protests across the country as well as abroad on Tuesday.

“FIRs will not frighten us. Resistance will balloon now,” Dawar declared.

Also speaking on the occasion, PTM leader Ali Wazir recalled that Defence

Minister Pervez Khattak had recently offered to hold dialogue with the rights group in order to address their issues and yet Pashteen had been arrested.

“It means the government and state are not on the same page,” Wazir said.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former senator Farhatullah Babar, who was also present at the presser, said that his party had condemned Pashteen’s arrest and demanded the “immediate release” of the PTM chief as well as his supporters, who had been taken into custody.

“It is strange that the defence minister had offered dialogue to PTM but [now] the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen is an eyeopener,” Babar said.

“Political detentions will deteriorate internal security,” the PPP leader warned.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Senator Usman Kakar also condemned Pashteen’s arrest and said: “Manzoor Pashteen’s narrative and popularity have given sleepless nights to the

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government and those at the helms of affairs.”

Khattak termed Pashteen’s arrest as a “dangerous” move, saying, “the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen has turned him into a reality.”

“Why are you not ready to book Musharraf who sabotaged the Constitution?” the politician demanded and called upon rights groups to take notice of Pashteen’s “illegal arrest”.

“How will you sell atrocities in occupied-Kashmir when you are treating your own people in the same manner?” Khattak added.

Following Pashteen’s arrest, #ReleaseManzoorPashteen started trending on Twitter with various politicians and human rights activists calling for his release.

In a tweet, Amnesty International South Asia also called for the “unconditional” release of Pashteen who, it said, was arrested for “exercising his human rights to freedom of expression”.