E-Paper PDF 6th March 2020 (KHI)

CMYK

Friday, 6 March, 2020 I 10 Rajab, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 247 I 16 Pages I Karachi Edition

SixTh caSe of coronaviruS reporTed in pakiSTan g

69-yeAr-OlD PATIenT IS A reSIDenT OF KArAChI AnD hAD reTurneD FrOM IrAn On FeB 25

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PM’S AIDe SAyS 760,000 PeOPle enTerInG PAKISTAn SCreeneD FOr COrOnAVIruS

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD

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staff report

he Sindh health department on Thursday reported the country’s sixth case of novel coronavirus in Karachi. The patient was identified as a 69-year-old male residing in the city’s District east.

Taking notice of the case, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed officials to trace and test all those who have been in contact with the patient.

“The patient had returned from Iran on February 25. The health department was already monitoring the situation, so when he started showing symptoms, officials took his samples and sent them for testing.

“The patient is currently in isolation at a hospital, while his family members have been quarantined for the time being,” said a health official, adding that there are now three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sindh.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on health Dr Zafar Mirza had confirmed Pakistan’s first two cases of coronavirus on February 26, from Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Three days later, the PM’s aide had confirmed two more cases of the virus, once again from Karachi and GB. On March 3, Pakistan’s fifth case had emerged in a woman from GB. Meanwhile, chairing a meeting of the Coronavirus emergency Core Group in Islamabad on Thursday, Dr Zafar Mirza said that the government has screened more than 760,000 people, who were entering the country, for the novel coronavirus. he reassured that every possible step is being taken to cope with the outbreak.

“The federal and provincial governments, as well as other institutions, are fully ready to

meet the challenge and protect the people from the virus,” he said.

In addition, separate rooms are being allocated at hospitals to combat COVID-19, he said.

More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories.

Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home, with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out, global offensive against the epidemic.

PMl-n discusses ‘new governance model’ with MQM-P STORY ON PAGE 03

US urges halt to Afghan violence but puts faith in Taliban STORY ON BACK PAGE

PM orders ‘emergency’ measures to address energy, petroleum woes STORY ON PAGE 11

290m students out of school as global coronavirus battle intensifies

14 dead, 17 injured as five-storey building collapses in Karachi

STORY ON BACK PAGE

STORY ON PAGE 04

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Friday, 6 March, 2020

NEWS

Bill prohiBitiNG corporAl puNishMeNt to Be tABled iN NA, MAzAri tells ihc ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

INISTER for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Thursday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the federal cabinet had approved a bill to ban corporal punishment for children, adding that the same would be introduced for debate and passage by the parliament.

During the hearing of a petition, filed by singer and activist Shehzad Roy, against corporal punishment for children, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah questioned what had become of lawmaking on the issue by the federal government.

The court wondered why – despite the federal cabinet having approved a bill on the issue in March last year – the relevant bill was not brought to the Parliament and directed the law ministry to appoint an officer to determine the reasons behind the

delay.

He also inquired whether laws in provinces were being enforced to stop violence against children.

Responding to the court’s queries, Mazari confirmed the federal cabinet had approved the bill and it had to be sent to Parliament now.

Roy’s lawyer informed the court that lawmaking had been done in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh to stop violence against children.

“What is the problem with the federal government then?” questioned Justice Minallah.

Mazari told the court that while her ministry “fully supports” Roy’s petition, the “law ministry said it is out of your [ministry’s] jurisdiction”.

Ensuring the safety of children from such violence was the “job of the federal government and it is a human rights issue”, remarked Justice Minallah.

Explaining why the bill had not been tabled in Parliament despite being okayed by the cabinet, Mazari said the ministry of interior had sent the bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CCI) and the council had “raised objections” on it.

At this, Justice Minallah remarked that “Islam teaches about the dignity of humans, not violence [against them].”

He further remarked that he could not “understand why the interior ministry had sent good lawmaking to the council for approval”.

The court observed that the CCI had objected to the bill “without citing relevant Islamic teachings” and that “all incidents of violence against children are a result of not following Islamic teachings.”

“The mindset of punishing children physically must be changed. It is this mindset that becomes the foundation for violent crimes against children,” the chief justice observed.

NA body calls for withdrawing security from unentitled persons

India facing international scrutiny like never before, says Qureshi

ISLAMABAD APP

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules, Procedure and Privileges on Thursday directed the provincial administration to withdraw security from unentitled persons and submit a compliance report within 15 days. The committee meeting, chaired by Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, also sought details of the persons getting ‘unauthorised’ security from the provincial governments. The body directed provincial administration to provide security to members of National and Provincial Assemblies on priority. “Each lawmaker should be given two police personnel for the security purpose.” “Officials of interior ministry, representative of home ministry from the provinces and police should sit together and bring required amendments in the rules and regulations regarding the provision of security to people’s representatives,” the committee directed. The officials from the provinces apprised the committee that security of VVIPs which included President, Prime Minister and visiting foreign heads of states and government was covered by Blue Book. They said the security of VIP which included Chairman of Senate, Speaker of National Assembly, Chief justice of Pakistan, judges of Supreme Court, federal ministers, governors, Chief Minister and visiting VIPs, and equivalent status and persons was covered under “Rules for security and protection of VIPs and visiting VIPs and equivalent status.” They said provincial intelligence and threat assessment committees had been constituted under the chairmanship of respective Home secretaries and chief commissioner of Islamabad.

“Even if a law does not exist to protect them, physical punishment of children cannot be allowed,” he said, adding that The interior ministry’s representative told the judge no case of violence against children had been reported from the school’s in the capital.

A police spokesman also confirmed the same to the court, citing a report by the Islamabad police chief.

At this, Justice Minallah said, “complaints are only made when something big happens.”

Justice Minallah, adjourning the hearing till March 30, said he would reserve his decision on the petition in the next hearing and directed the law ministry to submit a written reply by March 12 on the progress of the bill to stop violence against children.

Speaking to reporters outside the IHC following the hearing, Mazari said Roy’s petition Roy was “very important” and that her ministry fully “supports it”.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday stated that ‘Incredible India’ is now being viewed as “intolerant India”, and ‘Shining India’ as “burning India”, adding that the country is now facing international scrutiny like never before.

The foreign minister expressed these views while speaking at a seminar, organised by the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies.

During his address, Qureshi stated: “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies are taking a bloody and dangerous turn, as predicted by Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

Referring to the country’s con-

tentious bill that sparked deadly riots in the Indian capital, he said: “India’s Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens are aimed at disenfranchising the country’s 200 million Muslims.”

Referring to the 2002 riots in Gujarat, Qureshi said: “The pogrom of Gujrat is being replayed on the streets of New Delhi. This is a matter of deep concern to Pakistan and should be to the entire world. Hindutva and its capture of Indian state institutions poses the single, gravest threat to global and regional peace and security.

“Pakistan has not sought conflict with India, but we have not appeased either. We have not shied away from lending our full voice and support to the beleaguered people of occupied Kashmir. We have not shied away from exposing the real Indian intent and agenda to the world.

“Today, after decades of hiatus, the Kashmiri issue is fully alive and internationalised. The world’s opinion is turning in favour of the Kash-

miris, and against ruling Hindu supremacists.

“We have no doubt that the world community can clearly see the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government in India for what it is; an ideologically driven, hate-filled, majoritarian clique that is destroying the societal fabric, and deeply hurting minorities, especially Muslims.

“They must be held accountable for the crimes against humanity they are committing everyday,” he said.

The foreign minister also stated that Pakistan remains committed to its core objective of lowering tensions and promoting peace and stability in the region, Radio Pakistan reported.

Pakistan will not become involved in any regional conflict and will continue to support negotiated settlements of all regional disputes, the report quoted him as saying.

“Dialogue is the only viable option to bring peace and stability to the region,” he added.

China rejects Indian allegations of seizing Pakistan-bound equipment for ‘nuclear proliferation nexus’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

China has debunked Indian media claims of seizing industrial autoclave seized from the Chinese ship Da Cui Yun that was being shipped to Pakistan that could be used for the “manufacture of very long-range ballistic missiles or satellite launch rockets” suggesting ‘nuclear proliferation’ between China and Pakistan.

When contacted, Zhao Lijian, a spokesman of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Pakistan Today that China had noted the Indian media claims.

“We have noted the relevant (Indian media) reports.

The Pakistan bound merchant vessel from China was detained by India, but the autoclave on the ship that India claimed to be material for ballistic missiles is neither military supplies nor dual-use items under non-proliferation and export control,” he said.

After seeking the information, Zhao Lijian said that China believes that the seized item is “actually a heat treatment furnace shell system”, produced by a private

company in China.

“This is not for military use and it is not a dual-use item under the non-proliferation and export control,” he said.

He said the Chinese merchant ship and its owner had also declared this item truthfully beforehand with the Indian authorities. “So there is no concealment and forced declaration”.

Reports said the ship bearing Hong Kong flag was detained by Customs Kandla Port in Gujarat while en-route to Port Qasim, Karachi on February 3. The cargo of the Chinese ship has been offloaded and kept in a godown at the port.

The spokesman said that as a responsible major country, China faithfully fulfills its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments.

“We have learned that the cargo involved is actually a heat-treating furnace shell system made by a private Chinese company. It is by no means a piece of military equipment or a dual-use item covered by China’s nonproliferation export control regime,” he said.

NA panel thinks slogan ‘Mera Jisam Meri Marzi’ is ‘immoral’ BODY URGES PEMRA TO IMPOSE BAN ON TELECAST OF ‘INDECENT’ SLOGAN LINKED TO AURAT MARCH ISLAMABAD: In a supposed attempt to curb ‘moral indecency’ allegedly linked to the Aurat March, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting urged the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to direct all media channels to stop telecasting slogans like “Mera Jism Meri Marzi”. The NA body Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting held a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mian Javed Latif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The committee asked the government to check the telecast of indecent and controversial content on television channels with a special reference to the slogans related to the Aurat March annually held on the International Women Day. The committee decided to take up the issue with PEMRA and owners of the electronic media houses. A lawmaker, Aftab Jahangir, expressed ‘concern’ over the language used by “certain people in news channel programmes” were repugnant to the Islamic teachings, which no person could “watch in the presence of family members”.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Islam was the champion of women’s rights, and anything against the religion and socio-cultural values would not be allowed. The constitution gives the right of freedom of speech but being the citizens of an Islamic and democratic country “we have some responsibilities and values”.

“Nobody would be allowed to ridicule the ‘Islamic way’ of life in the name of freedom of speech,” the SAPM stressed. Dr Firdous said it was not an issue of the government but that of the entire society. The government, however, was committed to protecting the constitutional, legal, political, social and economic rights of women. STAFF REPORT

Govt fully supports women’s rights, says Firdous ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday took to Twitter and highlighted the steps taken by the current government to ensure women’s rights in Pakistan. SAPM Awan said that each and every Muslim man and woman’s role models are Hazrat Fatima (AS) and the wives of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). She also said that the first Independent businesswoman of Islam’s history was Khadija (AS) which is a testament to the rights and empowerment Islam gives to its women.

She added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government was dedicated to ensuring women’s rights with benchmark achievements like the ‘Zainab Alert Bill’ and provisions ensuring women’s rights to family property. She said that such actions are clear indicators that the government is all for empowering the country’s women but spreading vulgarity and immorality in the garb of free speech and women’s rights were not permissible. Admonishing the media, SAPM Awan said that the media needs to have a moral and ethical compass that needs to adjust itself when it comes to sensitive topics and play a responsible role. APP

Current agreement with IMF to be last one, says Asad Umar ISLAMABAD APP

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Thursday said that the current arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Pakistani government would be the last one.

Talking to senior journalists in the federal capital, the minister said that indicators were showing green signals as various sectors of the economy had shown progress and industrial activities had also increased.

He said that there had been around 13 per cent increase in foreign remittances as inflation also dropped down from over 14 per cent to 12.4 per cent. “The in-

dustrial sector witnessed positive growth. The usage of cement has also increased manifold,” he added.

The minister said that the establishment of economic zones was one of the important features of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and during the current year, three special economic zones would be set up. Asad said that Pakistan was becoming a centre of attraction for investors. Meanwhile, talking about the issues of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he said the construction work on Islamabad Metro would be completed during this month. Regarding water shortage, he said that both cities had right to 103 million gallons of water from the Khanpur Dam, whereas they were only getting 2.5 million gallons.

He said that there existed a scheme under which 5

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million gallons of water could be transported. A committee had been constituted to check water theft of around 2.5 million gallons of water to improve water availability situation. He said that instructions had been given for the development of infrastructure for transporting around 100 million gallon waters to the twin cities. In addition, he said, approval was also given to a scheme for providing water from Ghazi-Brotha Hydropower Project. The work on the project’s feasibility had been initiated whereas advertisements were floated for hiring a consultant of international repute. He said that the supply of water from Khanpur Dam would be ensured by the end of the current year whereas the Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project would start supplying water in three to four years.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

NEWS

03

PML-N dIsCusses ‘New goverNANCe ModeL’ wITh MQM-P PML-N’S ABBASI SAYS THEY ARE NOT LOBBYING TO TOPPLE GOVT, WANT TO RESOLVE LONG-STANDING NATIONAL CHALLENGES KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

DELEGATION of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) on Thursday visited the Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P) headquarters in Karachi to discuss the long-standing issues of the country and develop a consensus on a new “governance model” to solve these challenges.

“We came here [Karachi] on the directives of party president Shehbaz Sharif… and we did not meet them [MQM-P] as the PTI government’s ally but they are our democratic partner for the last 32 years,” PML-N

MQM-P’S SIDDIQUI SAYS ‘PSEUDO-DEMOCRACY’ CANNOT RESOLVE PAKISTAN’S CHALLENGES

Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while addressing a joint press conference with the MQM-P’s senior leaders.

Minister for Information Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Amir Khan and other MQM-Pakistan leaders were also present on the occasion.

Despite political difference, Abbasi said that both the parties held discussion over the “economic and democratic challenges” the country is facing and “to a greater extent we are on the same page about their resolution”.

“Democracy is the only way forward and the country can only develop and prosper by implementing

the Constitution,” he added.

The former prime minister also said that his party just did not want to come into power through fresh elections “but we want all stakeholders to sit together to find out a viable solution to resolve long-standing issues as the previous model adopted by the country has failed to do so”.

Dispelling the speculations that the PML-N is lobbying to topple the PTI’s government, Abbasi said that he wanted Prime Minister Imran Khan to complete his fiveyear tenure so that his “real face” could be unmasked before the masses. Refuting a reporter’s question that the PML-N did not deliver in Karachi, he said: “It is on record that our government released a lot

of funds for provinces and supported them. You will not find an example like that.

“There has been no deal with anyone,” he said, while referring to the PML-N leaders being released on bail. “We always talk about the country’s problems.

“Sadly, we are looking suspiciously at the top judiciary that it grants bails after people strike deals. There is no divide between the leadership of PML-N, we stand by our stance,” he said confidentially.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM-Pakistan’s Dr Siddiqui said the meeting between the two parties was a step forward towards a “genuine democracy”.

Only a real democracy can re-

Fawad wants technology to play important role in moon-sighting ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

PIA extends flight suspension to China till Mar 31 NEWS DESK Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday announced it was extending the flight suspension to China till March 31. Last month, the national flag carrier had announced the suspension of flights till March 15, however, the date was extended as the virus spread to more countries. According to a PIA spokesperson, the decision to extend or end the flight suspension will be taken at the end of current month. On February 27, Pakistan also suspended Iran flight operations after two cases of the pandemic were confirmed in the country from travellers who had been to Iran recently. Pakistan on Thursday confirmed its sixth case of coronavirus amid strict safety measures to contain the spread in the country. Three cases of novel coronavirus have been reported from Karachi, two from federal areas and one from Islamabad. All of the patients had travelled to Iran where at least 92 people have died from the virus including senior government functionaries with over 2,922, confirmed cases.

Pakistan ranks 76th on internet inclusiveness NEWS DESK Pakistan ranked 76th out of 100 countries in the 2020 Inclusive Internet Index, conducted by the UK-based The Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by Facebook. The index assesses on four key categories – availability, affordability, relevance and readiness – and 56 indicators. ‘Availability’ means the quality and breath of infrastructure available for Internet usage, while ‘affordability’ examines the cost of access relative to income and competition in the market, ‘relevance’ looks at the existence and extent of local language content online and ‘readiness’ examines the skills, cultural acceptance and local supporting policies for the Internet. “Pakistan falls into the last quartile of index countries overall,” states the report, “and it ranks 24th out of 26 Asian countries.

A joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly’s standing committees on religious affairs has once more shed light on the inability of various parties to come to an agreement on the country’s lunar calendar.

A briefing on the scientific version of the calendar was provided by the science and technology ministry during the meeting held on Thursday.

On the occasion, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry expressed his regrets that Mufti Muneebur Rehman and Maulana Popalzai were not in attendance despite an invitation extended to them.

“We are inviting people on the basis of knowledge and technology. We are a nation state and such groupings and divisions cause ideological damage,” he said. Chaudhry said that in Saudi Arabia and Iran, decisions revolving around the sighting of the moon are always centred on the use of science.

He said that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee had provided wrong lunar dates for three months, namely, Zilqad, Safar and Rajab. The minister said that the work of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) was not up to the people’s standards. “It’s not as if they are working for free,” he said.

“We have been crippled as a nation without the use of knowledge and wisdom.” Speaking of his ministry’s activities, Chaudhry said that work on a manned mission to the moon for eight months is underway.

“We have to think of how those who are sent to the moon will celebrate Eid there.” Following the meeting, Chaudhry held a press conference in which he reiterated his ministry’s aim of uniting the nation for Eid celebrations.

“Our religious festivals are becoming the cause for our differences. As

solve the issues of the country “where only a common Pakistani sit in the Parliament House not only feudal lords”, he added.

“Pseudo democracy cannot solve Pakistan’s issues,” Siddiqui said. Earlier, Abbasi had visited Quaid’s Mausoleum alongside Iqbal and other senior party leaders.

He had said the country in its present state was far from Jinnah’s vision of a democratic state.

“There is no democracy in Quaid’s Pakistan but dictatorship” at the moment, he had said.

“Karachi was the city of lights in 2018 and there was peace” in the metropolis.

“There was no inflation during PML-N’s tenure,” he emphasised, referring to the record inflation in Pakistan at the moment.

“Today, the public suffers because of record inflation. [Prime Minister] Imran Khan is responsible for the price hike in the country.

We have never seen inflation like

per promises made by the PTI, we have worked for Eid to be celebrated in unison throughout the country.

“We made a website and an app on scientific parametres,” he said, adding that the website continues to receive a lot of visitors.

He said that the website provides all necessary information pertaining to the moon, rooted in science.

“Mufti Muneeb, with spectacles on his nose, is refusing to accept scientific methods,” he said.

“Our religion ties us to intellect and reason,” Chaudhry pointed out.

He said that according to the ministry’s calendar, the moon will be sighted on April 24 and the month of Ramadan will begin on April 25.

Chaudhry said that a powerful telescope will soon be installed. “The Ulema insist that the sighting of the moon is necessary,” he said, before adding: “Our app can [also] show the moon’s visibility.” The minister said that nine Islamic countries were making use of science for this tradition.

“This is not a matter of my person but that of the state,” he said, to dispel the notion that egotistical considerations might be at play.

Chaudhry said that the lunar calendar of up to 2024 had already been prepared. He said that differences with the ministry of religious affairs and various ulema “will be resolved”.

The minister assured the nation that the ministry does not want to insert itself into a needless debate and wishes to be a facilitator. He said that another meeting will be held on April 2.

Imran thanks Iran, Turkey over Kashmir support ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday thanked Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for speaking against the oppression and massacre of Muslims in India and occupied Kashmir. “I want to thank Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Erdogan for speaking against the oppression and massacre of Muslims in India and Kashmiris in IOJK [India Occupied Jammu Kashmir] by the Hindu supremacist Modi regime,” the prime minister said in a tweet. He said it was sad to see that few voices from the Muslim world were speaking out and condemning it, while more voices were being raised in the West condemning the Hindu supremacist regime led by Narendra Modi. Khamenei had asked the Indian government to confront the extremist Hindus and stop the massacre of Indian Muslims to prevent its isolation from the Muslim world. The Iranian supreme leader had said the hearts of Muslims all over the world were grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. He was reacting to the ongoing riots in New Delhi against the discriminatory citizenship law, which had so far claimed 46 lives and left more than 200 injured. The tweet by the Iranian leader came two days after the Iranian Ambassador in New Delhi was summoned to lodge a protest over Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemning the “wave of organized violence against Indian Muslims.” STAFF REPORT

‘Ambiguities’ in US-Taliban deal may disrupt peace deal: moot ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Experts on Afghan affairs Thursday feared the recently signed agreement between the US and Afghan Taliban contains certain ambiguities that potentially could lead to the disruption of the Afghan peace deal, pushing the region into another era of military confrontation and internal strife.

The apprehensions were expressed at a discussion titled ‘US-Taliban Deal: Prospects of Peace in Afghanistan and Way Forward for Pakistan’, which was held here at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).

The speakers were appreciative of Pakistan’s role in getting the deal done, but advised the country against being very

vocal in taking credit as that will only attract pressure in case the agreement fails to hold.

The agreement on various issues among the local tribes within Afghanistan was another uncertainty pointed out by the experts, stating that it will be a big challenge for the Taliban to bring all the local stakeholders on the same page given the complexity of the region.

Afghan Taliban, according to the speakers, had expertise in fighting wars but bringing all the stakeholders within the country to an agreement will be a real test of their leadership and political acumen.

Considering the changing realities of the region and the unpredictable nature of both the Taliban and the US, the speakers urged Pakistan to stay vigilant and be wary

this in the country. The situation is not normal.”

The former prime minister added that PML-N would win the next elections. “We are not power hungry, we just want to restore order in the country,” he said.

“The country cannot progress in this current environment. In 2018, we had said election was controversial and that Pakistan was facing dangers from inside.

“There is no democracy in Quaid’s Pakistan but dictatorship,” he added. “We do not power; we just want the country to progress.

The world is going somewhere else and Pakistan somewhere else.

“This is everyone’s country and we want it to go forward and progress,” he added.

When asked whether a great alliance was being formed to remove the government, Abbasi said there was no need for one. “We came to Karachi to meet everyone. Our doors are open for everyone.”

of any adverse consequences should things fail to settle as per expectations.

The development in general was however seen as a positive sign for Pakistan, as it will not only help in improving the security paradigm of the region, but will also enable Pakistan to focus on its Eastern border, and in providing better moral support to the Kashmiris in their struggle against Indian occupation. Improved connectivity and trade prospects, continuation of suspended projects such as TurkmenistanAfghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline, de-weaponization in the region, and better control of drugs were pointed out as some other areas that could be to the country’s advantage after stability in Afghanistan.

The speakers saw the evolving regional situation as an opportunity for Pak-

istan to benefit from, advising the government to make a comprehensive plan for all possible outcomes of the peace deal, aimed at reconstruction of its relations with Afghanistan and improved management of its borders.

The deliberation was chaired by Executive President IPS Khalid Rahman whereas the speakers included Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain, Brig (r) Said Nazir, security analyst, Justice Dr Mohammad AlGhazali, Jumma Khan Sufi, renowned author and scholar, Abdul Hadi Mulla Khal and Tahir Khan, senior journalists and experts on Afghan affairs, and Dr Sadia Suleman, faculty member of Quaidi-Azam University, Islamabad.

The experts were unanimous that there were enough ambiguities and uncertainties in the agreement which any of the involved stakeholders could exploit to further their own interests.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

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11 deAd, over 30 injUred AS FiveStorey BUilding collApSeS in city KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

T least 11 people were killed and several others injured when a five-storey residential building in Karachi’s Gulbahar area — formerly known as Golimar — collapsed on Thursday.

According to Karachi Metropolitan Cooperation Director Medical and Health Services Dr Salma Kauser, 11 people had so far been killed due to the collapse, while some 30 others had been brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in injured condition.

Dr Kauser added that some of the injured were given first aid and discharged from the hospital while others were referred to the orthopaedic and surgery departments.

Police and Rangers reached the area as a large crowd from neighbouring buildings had gathered in the streets.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the building collapse and directed Commissioner Karachi ensure that rescue and relief operations to are executed smoothly the area.

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, while taking notice of the incident, ordered that the injured should be provided the best possible medical care.

Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar had also directed Central Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arif

Aslam Rao to head the rescue operation in the area, a police press release said.

A contingent of police and rangers was dispatched to the area to help with the rescue operation as a number of area residents

KARACHI: A scheduled anti-encroachment drive near Karachi’s NIPA flyover was deferred Thursday on intervention of Firdous Shamim Naqvi, the leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly. Pakistan Railway officials had to clear the railway track by digging the land as the track was buried at three to five feet in depth from the surface. The anti-encroachment staff had to also clear the area from encroachments under the court orders by demolishing houses built over the track. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi intervened and stopped railways officials from clearing encroachments on the railway land. The residents should be provided an alternative place first before demolition of their houses, Naqvi told the officials. The PTI leader had also intervened in earlier anti-encroachment operations and has been summoned by the court to face contempt of court proceeding on March 6. STAFF REPORT

KARACHI: A man was killed after the balcony of a building in Federal B Area collapsed Thursday morning. The balcony was on the 16th floor of the building. Six other people were injured in the incident.

Central SSP Arif Aslam Rao says they aren’t sure if the balcony collapsed because of structural issues or if it was because of an exploding gas cylinder. The bomb disposal squad was called to the scene and the SSP said their report would make things clearer. The people injured in the collapse were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.STAFF REPORT

gathered in the street.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail took notice of the building collapse and asked Commissioner Karachi and Sindh Building Control Authority to compile detailed re-

KARACHI APP

Sindh Education and Labor Minister Saeed Ghani has said that out of 49,000 public schools across the province13,000 were closed while there was a short fall of 37,000 teachers.

He expressed these views while talking to the media after appearing in a case related to lack of teachers in some schools in Tando Allahyar at Sindh High Court in Hyderabad on Thursday.

He said that in the past, some schools were built on wrong plans that were closed. Educational institutions have shut down as a preventive measure to prevent the Corona virus from spreading, he added.

He said that an estimated 13,000 visitors have come to Pakistan and most of them came in the Sindh province.

"Misinformation is being spread on social media, the government is providing accurate information and nothing is being hidden," he noted.

Saeed Ghani said that the Sindh High Court Hyderabad had summoned him in this regard.

Saeed Ghani said that the court has been told that the recruitment of teachers on merit has begun as well as steps are being taken to improve the school

ports on the incident.

The chief minister also asked for a detailed report on the building’s construction to be compiled after the relief operations are concluded.

13,000 out of 49,000 public schools closed in province, says minister

system.

He said that in the past some teachers applied for recruitment but they did not get appointment. We were also looking at them if they have complied with the policy, he added.

In reply to a question, Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that educational institutions have been shut down as a preventive measure to prevent the spread of the Corona virus.

He said most of the countries around the world have banned public gatherings and closed educational in-

KARACHI The government lawyers here Thursday sought time on a constitutional petition of Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) seeking justice for victims of Keamari gas release tragedy and compensation for affected families.

Pasban Democratic Party (PDP)

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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Unpaid young doctors stage protest at ASH

stitutions.

Saeed Ghani said there were two cases of corona virus in Sindh. A large number of pilgrims from Iran have come to Pakistan via Taftan, Balochistan.

The Minister said that symptoms of Corona virus appear in 14 days. The health of these families and children has been reviewed and educational institutions have been closed as the precautionary measures.

In response to another question, he said that false information was being circulated on social media regarding the Corona virus. The government is providing accurate information that nothing is being hidden.

Saeed Ghani said that many projects are underway for the development of education sector. The condition of 49000 schools cannot be fixed with a magic knife.

He said that improvement in condition of those schools that have high enrollment of children would be done on priority basis.

Man kidnaps, 'hypnotises' woman before sexual assault KARACHI: A man repeatedly assaulted and raped a woman here after hypnotising her in the city's Sachal area, according to a first information report (FIR) registered over the matter. In her statement to the police, based on which the FIR was filed, the woman said she was waiting at the Punjab Bus Adda (or Stand) in Gulzar-e-Hijri when a car stopped and two men forced her to sit inside. At that time, there was another unconscious woman inside the car, she observed, adding that the kidnappers threw the other woman on the Punjab Bus Adda before driving off with her. She mentioned that the men took her to an apartment complex in the same area. As the door opened, "a man looked into my eyes and blew something on my face that made me fall unconscious on the spot", she said, adding that the man in the house severely beat her and sexually assaulted her multiple times and filmed the ordeal as well. "That same man," she continued, "left me in the public around 7pm," which is when she called her sister who informed the woman's husband. Police subsequently carried out a raid at the apartment the survivor told them about and found another unconscious woman there. The alleged rapist escaped by climbing down the buildings' pipes, they added. STAFF REPORT

SHC annoyed at police for harassing family KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday expressed displeasure at the police for interfering in a family matter and harassing it. A SHC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard a petition filed by parents against their son, advocate Salman Rind, who allegedly harassed them through the police.

The parents in the court got emotional while telling about the harassment made by their son. Their son, however, hugged his parents in the court and denied harass-

ment charges leveled by them.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked while arguing with advocate Salman Rind: “They are your parents who educated you, and now what are you doing with them”?

Rind replied that he did not register any case against his parents. The parents stated that some cops of Sir Syed Police Station came to their home and harassed them.

The court expressed annoyance at the policemen and stopped them from harassing the family. The parents stated before the bench that they educated son by working in homes, but now they are living in a little hut while their

Govt seeks time to respond to plea against Keamari gas tragedy STAFF REPORT

FAJR SUNRISE 5:35

KARACHI: House Officers of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) on Thursday staged a protest demonstration outside the Medical Superintendent Office and also boycotted the OPDs in protest to demand release of their four-month stipend. The protesters carrying banners and placard inscribed with different slogans chanted slogans against MS Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and other authorities concerned of KMC. The hospital's OPDs were partially disturbed due to the protest.The House Officers working in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in three shifts have not been paid their stipends for last four months. The protesting doctors said excuses were given whenever they ask about their stipends.Senior Director, Medical & Health Services Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Dr Salma Kauser said necessary directives have already been issued for early provision of stipends to house officer working in this health facility. STAFF REPORT

Anti-encroachment drive in city deferred

Man killed in balcony collapse in FB Area

PRAyER TimingS

through its chairman Altaf Shakoor here Monday filed a constitutional petition in Sindh High Court (SHC) requesting lodging of FIRs against those responsible for loss of human lives due to release of poisonous gas in Keamari area.

On Thursday a bench of Sindh High Court comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Irshad Ali resumed hearing of the petition.

Advocate General, Attorney General and KPT lawyer appeared before the court. However, the government side sought more time and the court instructed them to file their comments by April 08, and adjourned the hearing till then.

It may be noted that PDP chairman Altaf Shakoor in his petition held through Advocate Aziz Irfan had made Federation Of Pakistan, through the Principal Secre-

son is living in a bungalow. The advocate replied that his parents are innocent who are being misguided by his brothers and sisters. The court ordered him to sit with parents to take tea with them and correct misunderstandings.

tary; the federal minister for ports and shipping through Secretary, Ministry of Ports & Shipping; Chairman Karachi Port Trust; M.V. Hercules through the Chairman KPT; Province of Sindh, through Chief Secretary; Inspector General of Sindh Police, Director General Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, Commissioner Karachi Division, Registrar Karachi University, and Director, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) respondent maintained that many people including women, children and elderly persons died and fell ill due to negligence, careless-

ness, slackness without the aid and intervention and preventive measures by the respondents federal minister for ports and shipping, and chairman KPT. He said the affected people of the area became so afraid that they left their homes and shifted to other places due to the sheer negligence of the respondents who did not respond and failed to help these citizens of Pakistan. He said the affected families demand removal of federal minister for ports and shipping and chairman of KPT. They also demand compensation and relief to the affected families.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

CJP GuLzaR GRiLLS iSLamabad mayoR oVeR faiLuRe To mainTain CLeanLineSS in CaPiTaL SC ORDERS TO STOP STONE CRUSHING ON MARGALLA HILLS, ENSURE PLANTATION ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday grilled Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz as it took up a case pertaining to environmental pollution in the capital.

The court has taken up a 2007 public petition against pollution caused by industrial units in I-9 and I-10 that was a serious health hazard to these sectors’ inhabitants.

A day earlier, the apex court had summoned Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed and Islamabad mayor on Thursday with directions to devise a roadmap to rid the capital of environmental pollution.

During the hearing, the top judge remarked that the city’s cleanliness is an obligation of the mayor and district government.

Justice Gulzar said that the city should have a standard adding that it should be maintained.

“The [capital] city needed to be exemplary in all aspects,” he remarked.

The chief justice emphasised that people of Islamabad deserved for amenities along with more footpaths, parks and benches. He also asked Mayor Aziz to ensure that all resources are exhausted to keep the capital clean and green.

At one point during the proceeding, the chief justice asked Aziz that why there was no cheap transport mechanism available for people to commute around the city. “At least rickshaws should be readily available across the city so that people could commute with ease,” he said.

The mayor said that dearth of funds had been a major hindrance in implementing his ideas for development projects in the city.

Chief Justice Gulzar noticed that the city does not merely need roads, one should now focus on underground trains and transportation via the sky as the next logical step. The court also ordered the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to ensure plantation on stone crushing site and directed to stop stone crushing on Margalla Hills.

The court directed the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC)

Contempt of court notice served to SSGC suspended ISLAMABAD APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday suspended the contempt of court notice, served to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) by Sindh High Court (SHC) in a case regarding gas supply to ten nearby areas of gas fields. A threemember bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprised Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Faisal Arab, heard the case. During the course of proceedings, the court suspended the contempt of court notice issued by SHC and said under Article 158 of the Constitution, gas would be supplied to the area from where it was being extracted. Justice Yahya Afridi said the gas field was bound to supply gas to nearby areas on priority basis. Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman said the high court had ordered for supply of gas to nearby areas in six months which was not possible. He said gas was being supplied to Ghotki, Badin and other areas. Justice Faisal Arab asked why gas was not being supplied to nearby areas.

The additional attorney general said gas would be supplied to all areas but for that purpose time was required. Justice Yahya Afridi said the court had to look at the Constitution and it could not direct for provision of gas to nearby areas. He said the company should fulfill its constitutional mandate. He asked that had the company stopped using powder to eliminate gas odor?

The counsel for the gas company said use of powder was essential and this could not be stopped. Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the provision of gas to urban and industrial areas was mandatory. The court asked the gas company to continue its projects.

to decide the cases of CDA employees regarding transfer and submit report in this regard in two weeks. It also asked the NIRC to decide all cases of CDA in six months.

The court also sought a reply from the

interior secretary on the transfer of municipal powers.

He asked the secretary interior to appear before the court on next date of hearing and inform about steps taken for implementation of Article 140 A.

Monal violating environmental laws, says EPA ISLAMABAD APP

The Monal restaurant established in the scenic Margalla Hills has been found violating plastic bags ban, national environmental quality standards (NEQS) of air, noise, effluents and poorly managing solid waste.

According to a document available with APP, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during its inspection of the restaurant found that Monal Restaurant excavated about 9-12 Kilometers land for sewage pipelines starting from their restaurant to Saidpur village alongside the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) without getting prior approvals from civic authorities and discharging untreated sewerage water directly into nullahs.

It further mentioned that solid or garbage waste was not being properly managed by Monal Restaurant whereas the NEQS of air emissions and noise

for generators were not being complied.

The federal government for the last several months had banned the single time use plastic or polythene bags where the restaurant was also found violating the Plastic Bags Ban. In order to verify the level of pollution created by the restaurant EPA also collected samples of the site as EPA’s Environmental Monitoring Team (EMT) collected the samples of sewerage or municipal liquid of the restaurant on February 10, 2020 and conducted the chemical analysis in CLEAN Lab of EPA. EPA took all these measures as per the recommendations of National Assembly’s standing committee on Climate Change that had expressed its serious reservations on environmental breach made by the restaurant in the national park’s vicinity.

“It has been observed that all the collected-samples are exceeding the NEQS for Municipal liquid effluents.

SHC adjourns Vawda dual nationality case after ECP takes up issue KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Thursday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hear the dual nationality case of Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda

on Mar 10.

An ECP official appeared before the SHC bench during the hearing of a petition against dual citizenship of Vawda who informed the bench that the ECP will hear the case on Mar 10.

The court said that it will take up the matter after the ECP hearings and,

Whereas, as far as legal status of Monal Restaurant in view of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act also PEPA 1997 is concerned, no Environmental Approval in respect of the Monal Restaurant has been issued by EPA,” the document noted.

After sample collection and necessary observations made by the EPA team, the environmental watch dog issued a personal hearing notice to the Monal Restaurant to appear before the Director General EPA with the proper response over the issue.

The Monal administration informed the EPA head through its letter, available with this scribe, that the Monal Restaurant land falls into the jurisdiction of military grasslands. Therefore, as per the terms and conditions of the lease agreement made by Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 2006, the lessee was not permissible to carry out any encroachment, modification, construction and deviation from the approved building plan.

subsequently, adjourned proceedings for an unspecified period. Previously, the SHC was hearing a petition seeking disqualification of Vawda over allegedly concealing his dual nationality at the time of filing of nomination papers before the general elections in 2018. A petition was also filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking Vawda’s disqualification on similar grounds. The ECP had asked Faisal Vawda in a recent hearing to clarify allegations against him and submit a reply by Mar 10.

LHC grants interim bail to Rana Sanaullah till Mar 25 LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted interim bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah Khan in the assets beyond means case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused the former Punjab law minister of acquiring assets through corrupt practices. In his response, Sanaullah, through his petition, had questioned: “How the same matter of acquiring assets could be investigated by two departments?”

During the proceedings on Thursday, defense counsel implored that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) accuses the PML-N leader and his family members of acquiring assets through narcotics trade. Despite the timely submission of challan, the proceedings are pending before the special court constituted under the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997.

Interestingly enough, another inquiry has recently been initiated

by NAB on the same assets under the allegation of having been acquired through corruption or corrupt practices which is tantamount to the mockery of law, the petition

added.

The counsel further lamented that a vilification campaign was launched to propagate the accusations and was false propaganda against the accused.

The formal orders of freezing all the assets of the petitioner, his family members and other relatives were passed by the investigating officer during the investigation and thereafter the said orders have been submitted before the learned trial court for confirmation, which are since pending. The petitioner had hardly reached his home after he was granted bail on December 24,

2019, by LHC when he was served with a call-up notice on December 27, 2019, by NAB whereby he was required to appear in person before the combined investigation team (CIT) on January 2, 2020, in connection with an inquiry against the petitioner and others on the allegations of accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The NAB chairman gave approval of the inquiry in violation of his jurisdictional power, the counsel added. Granting bail to Sanaullah till Mar 25, the divisional bench ordered him to submit two surety bonds of Rs0.5 million each.

NEWS

05

TV channel suspends Khalilur Rehman Qamar’s contract KHALILUR REHMAN SAYS HE WILL NEVER WORK WITH GEO TV Geo Entertainment on Thursday announced that they had suspended their contract with writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar after he swore at rights activist Marvi Sirmed two days ago on live television, saying the deal would remain suspended until Qamar apologised.

Qamar, who is working with other TV channels as well, is also involved in a movie project that features renowned actors Mehwish Hayat and Humayun Saeed and is being shot these days. “Geo believes in exchange of ideas and promoting the culture of Live and Let live (Geo our Jeenay do) we believe that everyone has the right to express their opinions and the culture of healthy debate should be encouraged,” a statement from the channel read. The statement further said such debates should be held in the norms of decency and with respect.

“He [Qamar] not only used abusive language against a woman but also refused to accept his mistake and apologise for it,” read the statement. “GEO has always aimed to create an enabling environment for thought and debate even if that includes criticism on the organisation itself. GEO Aur Jeenay Do.”Following Geo’s announcement, Qamar responded by saying that he will not apologise for his comments and assured his followers that he will “not work with this institution for my life to come”. On Wednesday, the topic of discussion on the news channel was none other than Aurat March and Qamar expressed his disdain towards the kind of slogans that are raised during the yearly protest. In response to a question by the host, Qamar started off by saying, “When the court has denied the usage of slogans like ‘Mera jism, meri marzi’ (My body, my choice), then it hurts me deeply when figures like Marvi Sirmed use these slogans.” As soon as he said this, Sirmed interrupted his response by reiterating the same slogan over and over again. This left Qamar baffled and he started yelling at her in a demeaning manner.

“Tere jism men hai kya? (What is in your body) Don’t talk in between. Thookta nahi hai koi tere jism pe (No one would even spit on your body). Shut up you b****. Beech men nahi bolo (Don’t talk in between),” he said.

The host, a woman herself, chimed in asking Sirmed to stay quiet, without calling out Qamar for his vulgar use of language. The incident, of course, has ignited a fierce debate on social media, with a number of people supporting Qamar’s blatant disrespect, while a number of women are rallying to get him banned from TV. NEWS DESK

Contempt of court: LHC summons health secretary for indictment LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday started contempt proceedings against Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Capt (r) Muhammad Usman for ignoring the court orders. The court summoned the secretary for indictment on March 9, besides appointing an assistant advocate general as prosecutor in the matter. Justice Shahid Waheed passed the orders while hearing a contempt petition, filed by Azhar Ahmad, a resident of Pakpattan. Earlier, the secretary appeared before the court and submitted a reply in the matter. However, the court rejected the reply terming it unsatisfactory. The court expressed annoyance with the secretary and questioned his behaviour. APP

Friday, 6 March, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

How to leave afgHanistan IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE US SIGN A SEPARATE PACT WITH AFGHANISTAN’S GOVERNMENT. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THAT AGREEMENT SPECIFY WHAT CRITERIA MUST BE MET AND WHAT CONDITIONS MUST EXIST BEFORE US TROOPS WITHDRAW Project Syndicate

a

RichaRd N haass

fter nearly two decades, 2,400 American soldiers killed, another 20,000 wounded and as much as US$2 trillion spent, the United States is understandably eager to withdraw from Afghanistan. President Donald trump wants to be able to claim in advance of the November election that he fulfilled his campaign promise to end the country’s longest war, and his Democratic challengers share his desire to extricate the US from the conflict. towards that end, following a one-week period of relative calm, the US and the taliban—the ‘students’ whose Sunni fundamentalist political and military movement has been fighting for power or ruling Afghanistan for a quarter of a century— signed an accord. One imagines it took as much time to settle on what to call the pact

as on any of its provisions: it is the ‘Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the taliban and the United States of America’.

As the accord’s name suggests, the government of Afghanistan is not a party to it, although the document does call for a political dialogue between the government and the taliban to start by 10 March. the agenda for this intra-Afghan dialogue includes arranging for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire as well as ‘the completion and agreement over the future political roadmap’ of the country. No details about a roadmap are set forth. the agreement outlines two sets of commitments. the US has pledged to withdraw one-third of its approximately 13,000 troops in 135 days, and the remaining 8,600 before the end of April 2021. America’s coalition partners would withdraw their troops by then as well. the US further agreed to withdraw all ‘private security contractors, trainers, [and] advisors’ from the country and work

towards removing sanctions on the taliban and releasing taliban prisoners. for its part, the taliban has committed to doing all it can to ensure that terrorist organisations don’t use Afghan territory to target the US or its allies. the taliban also agreed not to cooperate with or support individuals associated with such groups, including al-Qaeda, which was based in Afghanistan when the taliban were in power and used the country to train those responsible for the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US that killed nearly 3,000 people. the taliban did not agree, however, to any limits on their military capabilities now or in the future.

Nor did they agree to recognise the legitimacy of Afghanistan’s current government. the accord is ambitious (and then some), in the hope that political arrangements can be sorted out before the withdrawal of American troops. With respect to elections, power sharing, a constitution, and the role of religion and the rights of women within Afghan society, the agreement is silent.

It’s also worth noting that the Afghan government in recent days has raised questions about its preparedness to release 5,000 taliban prisoners. More important, the relative calm already has been broken by renewed taliban armed attacks. None of this bodes well for the future of the agreement.

But whatever happens from this point on, it is essential that the US sign a separate pact with Afghanistan’s government. It is essential that that agreement specify what criteria must be met and what conditions must exist before US troops withdraw. And it is essential that the US promise to provide the Afghan government with long-term economic, diplomatic, intelligence and military support—something unfortunately made more difficult by the commitment to the taliban to withdraw all advisers from the country.

Such a side agreement would constitute a hedge against the all-too-real possibility that the taliban’s pledges are tactical, designed to bring about America’s military withdrawal rather than peace or an end to

‘There was no reconquest. No military campaign lasts eight centuries’ IN HIS NEW BOOK, BRITISH HISTORIAN HENRY KAMEN DEBUNKS THE MYTHS THAT ARE BOUND UP IN SPAIN’S IDENTITY, ARGUING THAT ‘CURRENT POLITICIANS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MAKES A NATION’

el PaiS RicaRdo de QueRol

British historian Henry Kamen is irritated by the debate among politicians over whether Spain is one nation or a collection of nations – some say as many as eight. He is also disturbed by the tendency of those in power to manipulate the past, from the reconquest to the defeat of Catalonia in 1714, allowing them to bolster their arguments with selfserving versions of history. “today’s politicians have no idea what a nation or a nation of nations might be,” says Kamen, who was born in Burma in 1936 and now lives in Barcelona. “they have done no research into the term, nation. It’s just a play on words.”

Not only has Kamen earned a doctorate from Oxford University and membership of the royal Historical Society of London, he has also penned around 30 books on Spain and warns that most experts have abandoned the debate on what a nation is because it will always be a moot point. Politicians, he adds, would do well to do the same.

Kamen has just published La invención de españa (the Invention of Spain, espasa), which unmasks the myths on which the country’s national identity has been built. It’s not that invention is bad; all modern states have had to create an identity over the last two centuries based on fantastical interpretations of the past. It’s just that some, such as france, have been more successful at it than others, such as Spain. “In the 19th century, france also had problems concerning cohesion, nationalism and linguistic unity,” he says. “As late as 1870, they were unable to recruit peasants for the army because they did not understand their language. there was no reason why Spain could not have followed the same path.” the basic problem, he argues in his book, is that “to unite Spain, a nation had to be invented while simultaneously trying to assimilate a thousand years of diversity and contradiction.” the British author makes no bones about debunking each and every one of the nation’s legends, from Sagunto and

Numancia to Covadonga and Lepanto – figures as ambiguous as el Cid and concepts as vague as the Hispanic race and its inexorable decadence. the greatest myth of all may be that which surrounds the medieval reconquest. Kamen explains that not everything that has happened on the Iberian Peninsula over eight centuries can be considered part of the same phenomenon. “No military campaign in the history of mankind has lasted that long,” he writes. the term reconquest does not even appear until 1796 and has been used ever since by conservatives “to emphasize the supposed glory of Spain, using a mistaken concept to serve an ideology,” he says. the circumstances of Granada’s capture in 1492 have nothing to do with those affecting the outcome of the battle of Navas de tolosa almost three centuries earlier in the context of an international crusade. “ferdinand and Isabella did not restart a process that had been interrupted; they embarked on a different one,” he says. And that’s without going back further to the rebellion of Pelayo in Covadonga, which was never documented and is probably fictitious.

Kamen doesn’t buy the story of an idealized Al-Andalus either, which he says is the fabrication of 19th-century foreign romantics who were fascinated by Spain's Islamic heritage. the splendor of Al-Andalus, he says, is limited to a very brief period in Cordoba during the 10th century and another subsequent spell in Granada. the Catholic Monarchs have long been viewed as symbolic figures in Spain on both sides of the political divide. the 19th-century liberals considered them to be exemplary monarchs compared to those who came in their wake – foreigners, incompetents and absolutists. And franco placed Queen Isabella I of Castile on his private altar.

“When I was a student I didn’t like studying Isabella – I thought she was a fascist queen,” Kamen jokes. “there was little in the way of culture when it came to those who triumphed in the Spanish Civil War, with the exception of a handful of intelligent falangists such as José Antonio [Primo de rivera]. Nor did they expect to come to power, so they had to search the past for the essence of an ideology that didn’t exist. franco had no ideology because he had no idea about anything.” the author refuses to accept the union of Castile and Aragon as the moment when the

Spanish nation was founded. “In reality, it did not even create a state. In the two centuries and more that came after the merging of Isabella and ferdinand’s crowns, no measures were taken to achieve the political union of the Peninsula,” he says. It was only from 1700 onwards that the Bourbons undertook the gradual political unification, which was initially confined to administrative issues. It was a slow process.

“It was not until the Cadiz Cortes of 1810 [Spain’s first national assembly to claim sovereignty] that the spark of patriotism was ignited in Spain, but even then the fusion of the regions into one nation was a process that depended a lot on myth and legend,” says Kamen. for example, Spain did not have a flag until well into the 19th century, and the royal March was not adopted as the national anthem until the 20th century, which Kamen believes was due to weak national sentiment. the Bourbon unification did not, according to Kamen, completely do away with the provincialism that was so deeply rooted in the Peninsula. As far as he is concerned, the Spanish identity was built around that of Castile, but he questions whether the Bourbon centralization policy was as repressive as it is depicted to have been. for example, Catalan remained the common language in Catalonia both among the people and in the churches after the Castilian language had been introduced as the official language of governance.

Kamen refuses to be drawn into the controversy between empirephobia and empirephilia, the books written by elvira roca

Barea and José Luis Villacañas, respectively, which present clashing interpretations of the “black legend” – anti-Spanish and antiCatholic propaganda allegedly generated by Spain’s north european rivals, starting in the 16th century. “I don’t see any reason to use the concept of the black legend. It doesn’t make sense. If unpleasant things happened in a country, they need to be analyzed. A lot of the strongest and most sweeping criticisms were made by Spaniards.”

Kamen denies that the Inquisition played as important a role in Spanish history as is often made out and estimates that the Holy Office carried out no more than 3,000 executions in Spain in total. the persecution, he maintains, never gripped the entire land and the aim was mainly one of social control. In his view, the reason Spain lagged behind culturally and scientifically lies in education.

He even minimizes the influence of the Catholic religion in the modern age. In the 16th century, he says, members of the Church complained about people’s general ignorance regarding their own religion. “the Church had power and wealth, but the people had little in the way of devotion,” he says, while adding that there were of course folkloric manifestations of faith. the image of a profoundly Catholic Spain is rather due to thinkers such as Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo, who in the late 19th century “exaggerated the reality of the religiosity of the Spanish people in order to confront the anticlerical liberals.”

Kamen takes a critical view of the Spanish empire, but rejects the idea of the conquest of America. “there is a misconception

terrorism. A commitment to the Afghan government would also reassure its leaders and citizens that they are not being abandoned like the Kurds in Syria. America’s friends and allies everywhere would welcome such a commitment.

In an ideal world, the US would also require that the taliban end their use of Pakistani territory as a military sanctuary. the problem with this and other sensible demands is that the US has done much to weaken its own leverage with the taliban by its obvious desire to end its military presence in Afghanistan.

It is possible that calm in Afghanistan can be restored nonetheless, that intraAfghan talks bear fruit, and that a ceasefire materialises. this would of course be welcome. But it is more likely that the US–taliban agreement to bring peace to Afghanistan does nothing of the sort. In that case, the US and its coalition partners would be wise to fall back on a strategy that protects their core interests, above all ensuring that Afghanistan does not once again become a haven for terrorists planning and carrying out attacks against the West.

Such a strategy would require keeping several thousand troops in the country to continue to build and train the Afghan security forces and to conduct select counterterrorism missions. for some, this would be too expensive. But, given what’s at stake, it would be a price worth paying. It would not end the ‘forever war’ that has been Afghanistan—but nor, almost certainly, will the just-signed agreement. richard N. Haass is president of the Council on foreign relations and author of A world in disarray.

that all empires are based on conquest, but that cannot be said of any of them following the roman empire,” he says.

Colonization, he adds, was not a conquest, but trade with international participants. Locals fought on the side of Hernan Cortés against enemies in America, just as in flanders troops of many nationalities were pitted against one another; and the Spanish occupied no more than a small portion of the territory in the Philippines. “Nor did england conquer India, because she wouldn’t have been able to. today the United States dominates the world without having conquered it,” he concludes.

Kamen’s new book may be irreverent about the idea of a Spanish nation, but it also scoffs at the idea of Catalan independence.

He is particularly irritated by the myth of September 11, 1714, the date Barcelona fell in the War of Succession, which is presented by some as a heroic resistance by the Catalans against Castilian absolutism. “they have produced a mythical version of a mass uprising of the people that never happened; it is a total falsification,” he says.

In his view, what did happen was a plot conceived by a handful of Catalan leaders to invite the British to occupy Catalonia and help separate it from Spain. “Did the British find a people eager to free themselves from their Bourbon oppressors? Not at all,” he writes, adding that the conflict was rather a civil confrontation between Catalans within the framework of an international war. the same can be said of the War of Independence. “What these two conflicts have in common is that the decisive element was foreign intervention,” he says, remarking that from 1808 onwards, it was english interests that were imposed on the french, unlike in 1714. Kamen debunks what he considers the myth of the Cadiz Cortes while he is at it, recalling the words of José María Blanco White to describe the 1812 Constitution as “a fantasy on a piece of paper.”

A resident of Barcelona since the 1990s, Kamen is surprised by the way “Catalanism” has evolved recently from nationalism to separatism, which, he believes, is far from being the same thing. According to the author, the classic aspiration of nationalism was “to play a strong role in the destiny of Spain, to be important in Madrid.” He says it’s a shame that the electoral system in Catalonia favors the countryside over the city, thereby ensuring the nationalist dominance of the Catalan Parliament. He also notes that political fragmentation has led to a weak central government, which in his opinion makes it difficult to find solutions to stabilize the country.

So after studying all Spain’s monarchs does he believe the Spanish monarchy still has a future? “I think the current one works very well,” he says. “It does what it has to do.” He adds that the Spanish royals have a complicated history behind them because the Spanish “are always expelling their monarchs, inviting or rejecting royal families, and declaring republics.” He concludes that this has led to the Spanish royals to have less support than their British counterparts. “It’s a shame,” he says. “But it’s a very important institution that has to be maintained.” english version by Heather Galloway.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

PutiN, ErdogaN look to dEfusE sYria Crisis at MosCow talks MOScOW

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Agencies

HE leaders of Russia and Turkey met in Moscow on Thursday after a surge in fighting in Syria raised fears of their armies clashing and launched a new migrant crisis.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hoping Russia’s Vladimir Putin will agree to a rapid ceasefire in Idlib, the northwestern province of Syria where Ankara is battling Moscow-backed government forces.

“The entire world has its eyes fixed on us,” Erdogan said at the start of the talks, stressing that decisions were needed to “calm the region and our two countries”.

Putin said the situation in Idlib had become so tense that it was time for “a direct personal conversation” between them.

Pointing to the losses suffered by both Turkish and Syrian forces, Putin said: “We need to talk about everything, so that nothing like this happens again and it does not destroy Russian-Turkish relations.”

Intense fighting has killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib in recent weeks, as Ankara for the first time launched a direct offensive against President Bashar alAssad’s forces.

The Syrian government’s attempt to take Idlib has forced close to a million civilians to flee their homes and prompted Erdogan to open Turkey’s border with Greece to refugees and migrants.

Turkey has demanded European Union support for its actions in Syria and some in the bloc have accused Erdogan of using migrants as “blackmail”.

Trading accusaTions: Ankara wants Assad’s forces to cease their assault on the province, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, and pull back behind lines agreed under a 2018 deal with Russia brokered in Sochi. Turkey has long backed some rebel groups fighting against Assad but its priority now is to stop another influx of refugees.

The Kremlin, which launched an air war in support of Assad in 2015, sees it as a key success of Putin’s foreign policy — with newfound clout and military bases in Syria

that establish Moscow as a major player in the Middle East.

Experts say Putin is not looking for a full confrontation with NATO member Turkey but will make it clear that Ankara cannot stand in the way of Syria retaking full control of its territory.

“Victory in Syria has become a matter of prestige for Russia — and for Putin personally,” said Yury Barmin, a Middle East analyst at the Russian International Affairs Council.

Despite supporting opposing sides in the war, Russia and Turkey have worked to try to resolve the nine-year conflict and avoid direct confrontation.

But that relationship has been strained in recent days, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the Sochi deal, which created a buffer zone and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts.

Ankara says Russia is not fulfilling part of the deal that guaranteed no attacks on Idlib and the status quo on the ground.

Moscow says Turkey is violating the deal by supporting “illegal armed groups”

Russian strikes kill 15 civilians in northwest Syria BEIRUT Agencies

Nirbhaya rape case: Convicts to be hanged on March 20 The four convicts who were found guilty of raping and killing a 23-year-old medical student, Jyoti Singh dubbed Nirbhaya, in Delhi seven years ago will hang on March 20, ruled a Delhi court on Thursday. This is the fourth death warrant issued by a Delhi court, a day after Indian President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the mercy petition of Pawan Gupta, the last of the four convicts. This means that the convicts cannot avail any relief after the president’s rejection of the mercy plea. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana set the date of the convicts’ hanging on March 20. The convicts’ lawyer argued that there was no legal impediment for the court to fix the date of their execution. Authorities hoped that the guilty will be executed on March 20 and the date will not be further extended. Nirbhaya’s mother, Asha Devi, hoped for the same. “I hope this is the final date and they would be hanged on March 20. While dying Nirbhaya asked to ensure they get such punishment that such crime is not repeated ever,” she said.

Thousands of Indians had come out in protest against Nirbhaya’s rape-and-murder when on December 16, 2012, six men gang-raped her in a bus when she was travelling with her friend Awindra Pratap Pandey and tortured her with an iron rod. One of the accused, Ram Singh, hanged himself in jail while another was sentenced to serve three years in reform school as he was short of 18 when the crime was committed. The court had earlier dismissed an application to stay the execution of Akshay Thakur, 31, Pawan Gupta, 25, Vinay Sharma, 26, and Mukesh Singh, 32, who had filed petitions challenging their death sentence. Agencies

Russian airstrikes Thursday killed at least 15 civilians including a child in the last major opposition bastion of Idlib in northwestern Syria, a Britainbased war monitor said.

The strikes after midnight targeted an area where displaced Syrians had gathered outside the town of Maaret Misrin in Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

An AFP correspondent saw the bodies of some of the victims wrapped in thick winter blankets at a local hospital.

A rescuer carried in the body of a baby girl, her mouth filled with grey debris and her pink pajamas caked in dust.

At the site of the strikes, two large one-storey out-buildings lay

mostly in rubble near green orchards.

The strikes destroyed the poultry farm where the displaced families had been living. Dozens of surviving white chickens picked through the dust, as rescuers operated bulldozers to comb through the debris.

The Observatory said the toll was likely to increase as many wounded were in a critical state.

Moscow-backed regime forces have since December waged a deadly battle against the rebel-dominated Idlib region, causing almost a million people — mostly women and children — to flee their homes and shelters.

Even before that offensive, Idlib was home to three million people, around half of them already displaced from other parts of the war-torn country.

The Observatory says it determines what plane carried out a strike

and has accused Turkish forces of mingling with “terrorists” who are legitimate targets.

MigranTs Mass on border: Turkey said on Wednesday that at least two more Turkish soldiers had been killed in Idlib, after 34 died in an air strike last week blamed on Damascus.

Turkey officially declared an operation against the Assad government over the weekend. It has since downed three Syrian warplanes and killed dozens of soldiers and allied fighters, according to monitors.

Fighting continued in the province on Thursday, with Russian air strikes killing at least 15 civilians gathered outside the town of Maaret Misrin, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

according to flight patterns, as well as ammunition and aircraft involved.

The strikes comes as the leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow to discuss the situation in Idlib, where Ankara backs some rebel groups and has become directly involved in fighting in recent weeks.

Syria’s war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression on anti-government protests.

Earlier, A Turkish drone strikes in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province killed 19 government soldiers on Sunday, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara. The 19 died in strikes on a military convoy in the Jabal al-Zawiya area and a base near Maaret alNuman city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The report came hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes, in an escalating offensive against the Damascus government in Idlib, where armed groups backed by Ankara pose the biggest obstacle to Damascus seizing back control over all of Syria.

Trump says he will block US funds to 'sanctuary' jurisdictions WASHINGTON Agencies

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would withhold money from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions after a U.S. court ruled that his administration could block federal law enforcement funds to states and cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan granted the move on Feb. 26, but three other federal appeals courts have agreed to uphold an injunction against the withholding of such funds, setting up a possible ap-

peal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“As per recent Federal Court ruling, the Federal Government will be withholding funds from Sanctuary Cities. They should change their status and go non-Sanctuary. Do not protect criminals!” Trump tweeted, although he gave no other details.

The 2nd Circuit overturned a lower court ruling directing the release of federal funds to New York City and the states of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington. The states and city sued over a 2017 policy conditioning receipt of the funds by state and local governments on their giving fed-

'Potentially lethal' tear gas shells found on Greek border ATHENS/ISTANBUL Agencies

Greek riot police deployed to the border with Turkey to hold back thousands of migrants trying to push through maybe using potentially lethal tear gas, a report said Thursday.

Investigative website Bellingcat said expended gas cannisters with pointed tips had been found in the vicinity of protests by asylum-seekers at the border between Greece and Turkey.

It also posted a picture apparently showing a helmeted man standing behind Greek riot police, loading such a cannister into a tear gas launcher.

“Unlike normal tear gas rounds, which have a limited range and would be unlikely to cause significant injuries, these long-range munitions… usually have significantly more kinetic energy than normal tear gas rounds,” the website said.

“The combination of greater kinetic energy and a pointed tip make this kind of round potentially lethal to anyone hit by it,” it said, adding that similar rounds have caused “serious injury or death of scores of protesters in Iraq”.

Turkey has already accused Greece of firing live rounds against migrants, claiming injuries and deaths among those on the Turkish side of the border.

Athens has dismissed the allegation as “fake news”.

Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Greece’s deputy migration minister Georgios Koumoutsakos denied that live rounds had been fired near migrants, saying it was just “probably some rubber bullets”.

In an effort to curb the influx, which began after Ankara said last week it would no longer stop refugees from entering Europe, Athens has suspended asylum procedures and reinforced its border forces.

The Greek government said border guards had prevented nearly 7,000 attempted entries over the last 24 hours, and nearly 35,000 over the last five days.

eral immigration officials access to their jails, and advance notice when immigrants in the country illegally are being released from custody.

Three federal appeals courts in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco have upheld injunctions barring enforcement of at least some of the administration’s conditions on the funds.

The latest ruling set up a possible battle at the U.S. Supreme Court, which often resolves legal disputes that divide lower courts.

The Republican president, who is seeking re-election in the Nov. 3 election, has taken a hardline stance toward legal and illegal immigration.

His battle against Democratic-led “sanctuary” jurisdictions focuses on laws and policies making it harder for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to find and arrest immigrants they consider deportable.

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen urged Putin and Erdogan to find an “immediate diplomatic solution” to the crisis “that could spare civilians further suffering”.

Erdogan warned Europe on Wednesday that it must support Turkey’s “political and humanitarian solutions in Syria” if it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis.

Thousands of migrants have massed at the Turkish-Greek border since Erdogan gave them the green light to try to enter Europe, leading to clashes with Greek police.

Turkey hosts roughly 3.6 million refugees from Syria — and hundreds of thousands from elsewhere — and Erdogan’s move has sparked concern in Europe of a renewed influx of migrants.

$194 for hand sanitizer? You must be joking LONDON Agencies

Britain’s competition watchdog has warned retailers against price gouging on highly sought after goods in the coronavirus outbreak, as prices of disinfectants and hand sanitizers online soared to as much as 40 times normal rates. “We urge retailers to behave responsibly throughout the coronavirus outbreak and not to make misleading claims or charge vastly inflated prices,” UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli. Reuters checks on Amazon on Thursday found a 600ml bottle of Defendol hospital grade antibacterial hand gel on offer by three different sellers at either 129 pounds ($166.63) or 150 pounds ($193.76). The same product was selling for 19 pounds last week, according to price tracking website camelcamelcamel and was also still available on high street pharmacy Superdrug’s website at 3.49 pounds. Italian authorities last month began an investigation into rocketing online prices for hygienic masks and sanitizing gels following the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy. Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) has barred reut.rs/3cIqSPM more than 1 million products from sale in recent weeks that inaccurately claimed to cure or defend against the coronavirus, the company told Reuters last week. The CMA said it would take direct action in appropriate cases and assess whether it should advise the government to consider taking action to regulate prices.

Britain has so far registered 90 cases of novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, but has held off from introducing measures to restrict movement or to cancel large gatherings for fear of hurting the economy.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

08 COMMENT

Another date with death

Relapse into anarchy After another US blunder in Afghanistan

India is getting dangerous for non-Hindus

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He US-Afghan Taliban peace deal in Doha was seen by many as a major step towards ending the 19-year-long war in Afghanistan. An intraAfghan dialogue was to follow within weeks to negotiate a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire and the USA was to begin to withdraw more than 4000 troops from Afghanistan in the next week or so. Among other things the US-Taliban agreement appeared to commit Kabul to releasing up to 5000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1000 prisoners from the other side. It seems that the commitment was made without taking Afghan President Ashraf Ghani or US Defence Secretary Karl esper into confidence, as both had earlier on the same day issued a joint statement in Kabul with an altogether different position on prisoner exchange. According to the Kabul statement, the Afghan government was to take part in a US-facilitated discussion with Taliban representatives on CBMs that would include determining the feasibility of releasing significant numbers of prisoners on both sides. President Ghani rejected the proposal to release the Taliban prisoners whom he wanted to use as a leverage during the intra-Afghan talks with the Taliban.

This turned out to be the second setback to the Afghan peace process within months. Unhappy over the Afghan government’s refusal to release their prisoners, the Taliban have initiated attacks on Afghan security forces. On Wednesday, the USA conducted its first airstrike against the Taliban in support of the Afghan forces. The intra-Afghan peace talks are for the time being off the agenda. Fear has returned to Afghanistan; so has uncertainty.

Pakistan has over the years adhered to its oft repeated “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” peace formula. This time Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi chose to advise the Afghan President to show flexibility in his approach to the peace efforts. Kabul, however, objected to Mr Qureshi’s advice, calling it interference in the internal matters of Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s best interests are served by letting the Afghans make their own decisions. Pakistan should be willing to welcome and work with any government that takes over in Kabul, irrespective of whether it is headed by Mr Ghani, or Mr Abdullah Abdullah or someone else. It should show no special inclination for any of the several contenders for power.

At Penpoint

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M.A. NIAZI

He sectarian riot in New Delhi was the worst in decades, ever since the slaughter of Sikhs in 1984, following the anger at the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by the two Sikh police officers who were her bodyguards. However, the recent riot was not caused by anyone’s assassination, but by the desire of the ruling BJP to suppress the antiCitizenship Amendment Act protests that had rocked the whole of India.

Observers in Pakistan were obviously resentful of the slaughter, but uncertain about whether the creation of their country was the result of the spirit behind it, or was the cause of the resentment. On the one hand, an important reason for Partition, and for the solid support of Muslims for the Pakistan demand, was the fear of Hindu domination. It was not a desire to rule, for that was long in the past, but the decades leading up to Partition had led to this feeling that Muslims would get the short end of the stick. There had already been a taste of the shape of things to come, in the Congress Ministries which took office after the 1935 elections, which resigned in 1939, following which the Muslim League announced a Day of Deliverance. even though the League had been rejected by the Muslim electorate in the elections, that the Muslims of the Subcontinent felt harried by the Congress Ministries was shown by the response to that call. Indeed, that response played a part in convincing the League that it should hold an extraordinary session and demand a separate homeland. It did so in March 1940 in Lahore, and the rest is history.

Delhi has been the scene of bloodletting for nearly four centuries now. It is not far from the tercentenary of the first massacre of recent times, the Massacre of Delhi in 1739, by Nadir Shah, the emperor of Persia, who had already entered it after defeating Muhammad Shah Rangila at the Battle of Karnal. It was not quite a sack, for it started after a rumour of Nadir’s death had led to the slaughter of 3000 of his troops. After entering on 20 March and maintaining good order, the Persian troops were unleashed for six hours on 22

Who’s minding the store?

March, in which they killed as many as 30,000 people. That was not the first time Delhi was sacked, the first time being by Tamerlane himself, back in 1398, when he had given up the city to plunder for 15 days.

Then in 1788, Ghulam Qadir Rohilla took Delhi, sacked it, and deposed the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, after blinding him. The city was next sacked in 1857, when the British recaptured it after the Mutiny. That in fact was the last sack of a great city after its capture, by the capturing soldiery, and the last occasion when the capturing general gave a city he had captured into the hands of his forces.

That was not the last occasion when the British oversaw slaughter in New Delhi, though it was perhaps the first time that the breakdown of law and order had nothing to do with a foreign invasion. In 1947, New Delhi was also the scene of a bloody communal riot. It was exceptional even by the barbarous standards of that year.

Like the British, Congress also kept careful control of the capital, but the mask slipped in 1984, and Delhi’s Sikhs were slaughtered, about 3000 of them. This was part of a general anti-Sikh movement, with between 8000 and 17,000 more killed in another 40 cities of India. All of this was supposedly done with the complicity of the Delhi police, then under the control of Congress. By those standards, the recent bloodshed in New Delhi was basically just a blip, with 42 killed. But again, the police did not lose control, as they did in 1947, but were complicit.

An important factor seems to have been the presence of US President Trump in the city. The anti-CAA riots had been going on for some time before his visit, and had led to the killing of 26 people in UP, where the BJP is in office with a Swami for CM. The Trump visit coincided with what had become the tail-end of the protests, and the BJP was ready to strike back at the base of the rioters, which it perceived to be the Muslim community.

At the same time, the slaughter served a more sinister motive than merely saving the BJP from embarrassment in front of a foreign guest. Trump is known as an Islamophobe, and seeing such a slaughter must be satisfactory. Trump had one need met in the form of a big rally in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, which was meant to parallel the Houston rally for Modi, which Trump attended, last year when Modi visited for the UN General

Assembly.

That means the USA is willing to go to very far, perhaps to any length, to keep India happy.

Not only will the USA not exert any influence on India about the anti-CAA protests, but it will also do nothing about another hot-button issue: the annexation of Kashmir. By extension, Trump’s mediation offer to India and Pakistan should be taken within the context of the USA’s fascination with India. Perhaps only Trump could praise Indian multi-faith secularism while the massacres were taking place, but it probably reflects Indian, or at least Hinduextremist, attitudes.

The riots in Delhi should also put paid to the image of Congress as a secular, somehow proMuslim party. About 90 years ago, Congress President Motilal Nehru was dickering with the Hindu Mahasabha. Not only has the BJP absorbed the Mahasabha, but it carries the antiMuslim politics of that era. Hindu fundamentalism is on the rise, and Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, recently re-elected Delhi CM, in his campaign stressed he was a devout worshipper of Hanuman. The mosque burnt in Ashok Nagar first had a Hanuman flag flown from its minaret before it was burnt down. It is difficult to portray Hanuman as a peaceful character, as he provided Ram the muscle when he destroyed Ravan and Lanka.

With a Hanuman bhakt ruling New Deli, and the god of war made human (Nar-Indra), the Muslims of New Delhi didn’t really have a chance. It’s only now a matter of time, no matter which party is in power. The creation of Pakistan begins to look sensible, because beyond the debate on how far it was to be a ‘laboratory for Islam’, it certainly played a large part in keeping a lot of Muslims of what was India, safe. One only needs to think about having BJP governments in Punjab, Sindh, and KP. There is only one problem with fuelling Hindu extremism. It will only end up fuelling Muslim militancy. India might learn from Kashmir, its only Muslim-majority state. Muslims will not take to violence in defence of secularism.

They will be forced into violence so long as Hindu extremists offers them no space. So far, there has been no backlash, but when the penny drops, and Muslims realise that their religion offers them a militant path, thy will take it.

The writer is a member of staff.

ECC ‘defers’ government promise

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Outlawing Corporal Punishment

He government has been giving off mixed signals about the electricity tariff, and the economic Coordination Committee (eCC) of the Cabinet failed to approve restoring a subsidy to ensure textile manufacturers got a tariff of Rs 6.60 per unit. The subsidy’s removal had forced the textile industry up in arms, and to demand the subsidy be restored, so manufacturers might reduce prices, and export more, as the country needs to reduce its forex deficit. It does not suit them to shut down, as they threatened. The eCC failure to approve, disguised as a deferral to the next meeting, was caused because both the Finance and the Water and Power Ministries simply said they didn’t have money for the subsidy. The subsidy had been promised by the government to the textile exporters’ representatives, and the objections by the two ministries most closely involved, is a sad, indeed worrying, comment on the government’s functioning, especially its economic management team.

That is not the only problem the government faces on the economic front. The interest rate is expected to be cut by 25-50 basis points, not so much in fulfilment of the clamour by industry for some time now, but because the inflation rate seems to have declined, and also because interest rate cuts are the steps being taken in both developed and developing countries to stimulate an economy faltering because of the coronavirus epidemic. Another sign of the decline can be seen in the lower bids by the banks for government paper. However, that means that ‘hot money’ will leave for greener pastures, as had been predicted, with $263 million already having left, and more likely to follow. Simply denying that ‘hot money’ is ‘hot’ will not stop it leaving, and the interest rate as a means of propping up forex reserves will be exposed as the broken reed it is. The government has no apparent fallback for this.

Textile makers will find it hard to export even with lower interest rates and power tariffs, because with the global economy in turmoil from the epidemic, markets will be tougher than usual. That is just symbolic of the times. At such as time, the government has to ensure its word can be relied on.

The Islamabad example should be followed thoughout the country ALI HASSAN BANGWAR

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he Islamabad High Court has recently suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code in the Islamabad Capital Territory and subsequently banned the practice of corporal punishment employed by teachers, parents and guardians in a bid to correct or punish children’s conduct. Though it was a welcome move, it should be repliated all over the country for the physical and mental well-being of our so-called ‘future of nation’. The suspended section had permitted parents, guardians and teachers to use reasonable corporal punishment as a tool for the correcting the conduct and behaviour of children under 12. It reads “Nothing which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person under twelve years of age, or of unsound mind by or by consent, either express or implied, of the guardian or other person having lawful charge of that person, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause or be known by the doer to be likely to cause to that person.…”

The practice of corporal punishment desperately failed in its objective of disciplining children and generating in them set and acceptable patterns of behaviour. Hence it has been done away with in most of the developed world. But sadly enough, in Pakistan its uselessness and harmful impact on the behaviour and personality of children is yet to be realized.

What exactly corporal punishment is and how is it detrimental to children’s psychology and behaviour patterns? Corporal punishment, according to the US National Association of School Psychologists is "the intentional infliction of pain or discomfort and/or the use of physical force upon a student or child with the intention of causing the child to experience bodily pain so as to correct or punish the children’s behavior." Punishment techniques, among others, include hitting with sticks, slapping, pinching and many other inhuman measures like putting a pencil between fingers and pressing them hard, hitting with a stick hands with palms turned down on a table, and ear pulling.

Generally, the practice of corporal punishment is

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viewed to be employed in the school setting alone.

But what one may fail to know or focus on is that the same practice, perhaps more severe in intensity is also employed in other settings; like Alternative Care Settings like in places of safety, foster care emergency care, day care setups, crèches, kindergartens, nurseries, preschools, family centers, penal institutions like borstals and juvenile prisons, madrassas and in homes.

The brutal death of teenager Hunain Bilal, who succumbed to death due to torture from teacher September last year in a private school in Lahore should have come as an eye-opener for all having a stake in policymaking in the country. According to the police report of the incident, the teenager was badly slammed against the wall, repeatedly punched in face and grabbed by hair by his teacher in the classroom.

Honestly speaking, a number of the likes of Hunain become victims (though not killed) of this barbaric act of ‘civilizing children’’ in all settings and these are barely reported because of the contacts of the perpetrator.

The brutalities of physical assault and punishment leave almost indelible detrimental thought patterns and behaviour throughout the lives of the victims. According to a new piece of research, the youth violence rate is less in countries that banned corporal punishment. The learning and grooming of the mind and body of a teenager is left badly traumatized by such punishment leaving the creative, inquiring free-will facilities are badly affected. It makes children irrationally phobic that ‘a mistake will cause them shame or pain’. Subsequently, they are not apt to try, take chances and risks to the extent that life these days requires them to do to survive and thrive. They learn less as learning is but the output or sum of the mistakes one makes in life to learn and earn from.

Moreover, corporal punishment makes children to learn to take revenge; they assume that an injustice was meted out to them, and hence they become less forgiving or patient in their later life.

Additionally, children are highly likely to lose respect for teachers, parents or guardians who physically assault them.

Various researches have repeatedly shown that a child experiencing corporal punishment de-

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velops increased aggressive behaviour towards their fellows, tend to approve violence and torture in their relationships, bullying of others and more aggression to their parents. Increased bad behaviour patterns are among the other detrimental impacts of physical punishment. Cheating, lying, bullying and involvement in crime are some the behaviours resulting from corporal punishment.

Additionally, psychological traumas, mental health challenges, behavioral disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, emotional instability, lowered self-esteem and hostility also result from torturing a child in any setting.

According to Unicef data, laws banning corporal punishment exist merely in 60 countries, putting around 600 million children under five liable to physical assault and punishment. The research further shows that the countries that ban smacking children altogether experience 69 prcent less physical fighting and violence.

Despite being among the first to ratify United Nations Convention on Rights of Child, which declared corporal punishment a legalized form of violence to be eliminated from all types of settings with through legislative, administrative, educational and social endeavours, Pakistan failed do away with this horrific menace. There is to date no coherent and uniform policymaking and legislation in Pakistan that may bar physical punishment in all settings.

The IHC’s move should serve as an impetus to create ‘violence-free space for children in all settings’. Taking ahead the IHC verdict, the colonial era’s Section 89 should be abrogated altogether.

Merely abrogating a section will not eradicate physical violence against children unless it is penalized through a coherent and uniform legislation and its effective implementation.

Apart from legislation, awareness programmes and social mobilization campaigns about corporal punishment must be initiated at all administrative levels and the significance of violence-free child rearing be highlighted in all settings. Only through coherent and directed efforts, a non-violent, conducive and child friendly atmosphere can be created where the future of the nation could grow and thrive to the fullest.

Freelance Columnist based at Kandh Kot

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Friday, 6 March, 2020

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

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

Delhi­is­on­fire The violence blew across the North - east of India’s capital for five six days as Mosques were set alight , Muslims were burned alive in their homes or dragged out in the streets and lynched. Muslims businesses and property were also set alight. In streets where hindus and Muslims had lived peacefully side by side , bodies lay bloodied alongside discarded and burned-out. Cars , bikes , shattered glass.

The Police have been accused of enabling , encouraging or even joining in with hindu mobs. hindu men were one of the most shocking images of the brutal religious riots that deteriorates Delhi, where hindus were pitted against Muslims, thousands were injured and 43 people killed.

There has been brutality on both sides , but it was the Muslims community of Delhi who were overwhelmingly targeted by hindus.

Harum Shujauddin Siddiqui, Karachi.

Plastic­pollution

Mov­ement­of­Hindus­to­India

I would like to present the attention of those bodies who are selected for it.

As we all know that plastic pollution is the main reason of many accumulation of illness affecting adversely in Pakistan. It is the duty of the authority to take grievous action as soon as possible if not, the pollution of plastic decompose wildlife in Karachi.

Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan, is also the most polluted city. however, the gradual pollution of plastic will damage the shape of Karachi gruesome. As the cleanliness is half of faith by which a country will bring beauty and healthy life of wildlife; it should be every Pakistanis statement to break the overgrowing usage of plastic bags in our society but unfortunately it is not, rather they are creating worse conditions. Pakistanis are so customized with the idea of using plastic bags that no one is paying attention over the disadvantages of plastic highly and indirectly affecting human life; on the other hand, seaside, it is that place which is fame for picnic points in Karachi.Nowadays, it appears a passion to stroll and do picnics in beaches;consequently, plastic pollution causes the disturbance of marine life. Similarly, the scientists predicted that there will be more plastic in the sea as compare to species in 2050 if this process carries on. it is a request to all the citizens of Karachi to take care of plastic pollution for the sake of marine and wildlife and lead a fresh environment.

Ahsan Nazir Turbat

A major difference between India and Pakistan is their treatment o minnorities in October 2019, also visited Kafiristan in Chitral. They were amazed at the preservation of the lifestyle of the “Kafirs” of Chitral, he minorities in Pakistan have been where the literacy rate is 98 percent while granted freedom to practice their re- women empowerment in this region is the ligion while their places of worship highest in Pakistan. have been guaranteed protection by Under these circumstances, the minorithe Constitution. It is true that there ties feel secure in Pakistan. India is trying were sporadic attacks on to run propaganda camChristian churches and paigns based on the falhindu temples when terlacy that Pakistani rorism was at its peak. hindus are migrating to however, following MiliIndia which is welcomtary operations Zarb-uling them. In fact, India Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, is trying to divert attenthe back of terrorism has tion from the gross malLast week, US been broken and the treatment of its preservation of the rights minorities. The MusPresident Donald of minorities has been relims of Kashmir are sumed with full zeal.

Trump made his being brutalized. On 5 Imran Khan’s govAugust last year, Artiernment has bent backmaiden visit to India. cles 370 and 35A of the wards to provide Indian Constitution, While royal protocol additional privileges to providing autonomy to the minorities. The inauwere abrowas being offered to Kashmir, guration of the Kartarpur gated and Jammu, Corridor, providing Kashmir and Ladakh the visiting dignitary, Sikhs the opportunity to have been merged into visit the holy shrine of Indian territory. Since extremist Hindus were Guru Nanak at Nankana the illegal Indian action, Saheb last year on the the Valley of Kashmir burning mosques, occasion of the 550th has been in a state of birth anniversary of the lockdown.

Kashmiri houses belonging to founder of Sikhism, has children are being debeen hailed by the entire prived of food and nuMuslims, numerous world. trition and men, women UN Secretary Genhouses, schools, gas and children are coneral Antonio Guterres, fined to their homes. during his visit to Pakstations and tyre To make matters istan last month, also worse, in December 2019, visited the Kartarpur factories. The death two other acts of the curCorridor. he was so imrent ruling dispensation in toll was 46 while over New Delhi have brought pressed by the facility that his spontaneous roars of protest in 250 were injured. This about comment recounting India. The contentious Pakistan’s journey from anti-Muslim Citizenship is a far cry from the “terrorism to tourism” Amendment Act (CAA) became a meme. allows hindus, Christians tolerant India of Pakistan has also and other religious mimade conscious efforts to norities who are in India Gandhi and Nehru renovate and revive anillegally to become citicient hindu temples. A zens if they can show they visit to Katas Raj Temple were persecuted because last week was like a whiff of their religion in Musof fresh air, seeing the anlim-majority Bangladesh, cient temple fully renoPakistan and Afghanistan. vated and beckoning to It does not apply to Musthe hindu faithful as well as tourists. Imran lims. The National Register of Citizens Khan’s government is also making arrange- (NRC), which excludes 1.9 million of northments to ensure corridors similar to Kartarpur eastern Assam state's 33 million population, for Indian hindus to make pilgrimage visits demanded the citizens to register themselves to their holy sites in Pakistan. but the Muslims of Assam and elsewhere The Royal couple of the Duke and were barred from it. Thus, they remain outside Duchess of Cambridge, who visited Pakistan the reach of registration, deprived of their

S.M. Hali

T

basic rights and if deemed necessary, and are being forced to leave India.

Prima facie India is offering asylum to hindus to migrate from Pakistan to India but Pakistani hindus feel safe here. They are aware of Indian machinations and will not fall in the trap being laid by the BJP to ensnare them.

Throughout India, there have been massive rallies protesting the promulgation of both pieces of legislation, which were deemed a usurpation of human rights.

Interestingly, it is not just Muslims who are protesting the NRC and CAA, but also citizens of various faiths including hindus.

The rallies have been led by the student community, who have been fired upon and a number of them have been killed.

The US Congress and european Parliaments have taken cognizance of the draconian piece of legislature in the form of CAA and NRC. They have asked India to reconsider.

Last week, US President Donald Trump made his maiden visit to India. While royal protocol was being offered to the visiting dignitary, extremist hindus were burning mosques, houses belonging to Muslims, numerous houses, schools, gas stations and tyre factories. The death toll was 46 while over 250 were injured.

This is a far cry from the tolerant India of Gandhi and Nehru.

Renowned India human rights activist Arundhati Roy, in her hard-hitting Clark lecture titled ‘The graveyard talks back’, stated: “the Muslim graveyard, the kabristan, is a ghetto of the new hindu India— and Kashmir, covered with graveyards after 30 years of war, is almost a graveyard itself.”

She further states: “Graveyards in India are, for the most part, Muslim graveyards, because Christians make up a minuscule part of the population, and, as you know, hindus and most other communities cremate their dead. The Muslim graveyard, the kabristan, has always loomed large in the imagination and rhetoric of hindu nationalists. “Mussalman ka ek hi sthan, kabristan ya Pakistan!”—Only one place for the Muslims, graveyard or Pakistan—is among the more frequent war cries of the murderous, sword-wielding militias and vigilante mobs that have overrun India’s streets. As the hindu Right has taken almost complete control of the state, as well as non-state apparatuses, the increasingly blatant social and economic boycott of Muslims has pushed them further down the societal ladder and made them even more unwelcome in “secular” public spaces and housing colonies”.

The author is a retired Group Captain and author of the book Defence & Diplomacy.

Currently he is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host.

Spread­love­and­beat­terrorism­ The damage done by the terrorists should serve as an eye-opener for India to tackle the menace effectively. It seems India is now one of the most dangerous countries to live in. It has not been able to draw up an effective national security policy and many of the suggestions made after each terror strike have not been implemented. We do have all instruments in place, but unfortunately we have no political maturity which is required to put these instruments to use. Indian criminal laws also need to be brought up to date and justice needs to deliver within a specific time frame. Intelligence agencies must be restructured and properly equipped, and police vigilance intensified to ensure efficient exchange of information as well as better monitoring of the terrorists’ movements. It is our duty to be together and fight against the curse then only we can emancipate humanity from the nexus of terror and crime.

The whole world must be united to fight against this menace against humanity. Time has come that all public gathering places all over the world must have high security frisking and banning entry of firearms and ammunition with special attention to in-house staff. Global powers should come under one umbrella united to thwart the terrorist network and remove their presence once for all from the face of this planet. Let us Spread Love, Ignore Terrorism. Let our political leaders realise the seriousness of the peril and think of a permanent solution Vinod C Dixit Jodhpur

Suicides­in­Indian­forces IN a report, India’s defence ministry has indicated that despite psychological counselling and compulsory yoga exercises, suicides and fragging (fratricidal killing) among forces remained unabated. even 40 per cent of women, rarely deputed for combat duty, in para-military forces committed suicides. More servicemen are killed in suicides than in action. One jawan committed suicide every three years. “During the last six years, approximately 700 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces have committed suicide and the rate of voluntary retirement is approximately 9,000 personnel per year.” The suicides and killed in action ratio is highest in Sashastra Seema Bal (1:8), followed by Central Industrial Security Force, (1:63) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (1:4).

The ministry attributed fragging and suicides to ‘personal or family stress’. But, the ex-servicemen blamed ‘undemocratic’ payand-allowance differential between officers and other ranks. Their main demands, as highlighted in a peaceful sit in, are: (a) one rank, one pay. Parity between pay and perks of commissioned officers and non-commissioned ranks. They claimed that the jawans are always in ‘line of fire’ and face ‘maximum threat to their life. (b) The untouchability and ghetto system practiced by all Armed forces and Ancillary services to be abolished. (c) elimination of sewadari (batmanship) system from army. Soldiers are for fighting wars not serving as domestic servants. (d) Re-structuring and modernising forces in professional manner by removing colonial discrimination by their roots, akin to American army. (e) Abolition of VVIP racism in armed forces where even decent washrooms are not provided to jawans. (f) Providing secure platforms to jawans to complain about Officers’ corruption without fear of retribution (whistle-blower protection).

ZAHiDA PArVEN KHAN islamabad

Friday, 6 March, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ICC­SayS­InveSTIgaTIon­InTo­war CrImeS­In­afghanISTan­Can­proCeed THE HAGUE

J

Agencies

UDGES at the International Criminal Court on Thursday ruled that an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan military and US forces may proceed.

The decision, which comes days after the United States agreed to pull its troops from the long-running conflict, overturns a lower court decision and opens the way for prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to launch a full investigation, despite US government opposition.

“The Appeals chamber considers it appropriate to…authorise the investigation,” said presiding Judge Piotr Hofmanski, noting that Bensouda’s preliminary examination had found reasonable grounds to believe war crimes were committed in Afghanistan and that the court has jurisdiction.

Afghanistan is a member of the Hague-based court, though the United States is not and US President Donald Trump’s administration imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees a year ago.

A pretrial panel last year had rejected Bensouda’s 2017 request to open an investigation, arguing that the odds of success were low, given the passage of time, a lack of cooperation from Kabul and Washington, and because it would not “serve the interests of justice”.

But Hofmanski said Bensouda should

­ oronavirus:­Japan C to­quarantine passengers­from China,­South­Korea TOKYO Agencies

proceed and not limit her investigation to preliminary findings, as that would “erroneously inhibit the prosecution’s truthseeking function.”

Bensouda believes there are grounds to open an investigation into abuses committed between 2003 and 2014, including alleged mass killings of civilians by the Taliban, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and to a lesser extent by US forces and the CIA.

US forces and other foreign troops entered Afghanistan in 2001 after the September 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States and overthrew the Taliban government, which had been protecting al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

In what has become the United States’ longest war, about 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan.

The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement on Saturday to

withdraw thousands of US troops still in the country, but Washington carried out an airstrike on Taliban fighters on Wednesday.

The ICC, which began operations in The Hague in 2002, is a court of last resort for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity when committed by nationals of a signatory state, or if they took place on the territory of one of its member states.

Panic buying follows coronavirus across the globe despite calls for calm

HONG KONG Agencies

Shelves are being stripped bare of toilet rolls, hand sanitiser and surgical masks everywhere from Japan to France to the United States as panic buying criss-crosses the globe with the coronavirus, defying repeated calls for calm and disrupting supply chains.

Obsessively documented on social media, scrambles to the shops and empty shelves are adding panic and confusion to the fight against an epidemic that has killed thousands, placed millions under quarantine and battered global markets.

Australia's biggest supermarket this week began rationing sales of toilet paper after police had to be called to a shop in Sydney when a knife was drawn in a scuffle over the scarce commodity.

On Saturday Japan´s prime minister took to Twitter to calm fears of a national shortage, while social media photos from the US show toilet paper shelves lying bare. Psychologists say a mix of herd mentality and over-exposure to coverage of the virus is to blame.

"We might be less irrational if we weren´t being reminded so much of the potential dangers by the news," Londonbased consumer psychologist Kate Nightingale told AFP. "We either avoid the topic or we go completely nuts and stock up on anything we might just need."

Panic buying of non-medical items like toilet paper "gives people this sense of control that ´I will have what I need when I want´," Andy Yap, a psychologist and Charlene Chen, who specialises in marketing and business in Singapore told AFP in an email.

The city-state experienced its own recent run on toilet paper, traceable, they said to a "believable" rumour of an impending shortage due to shutdowns in virus-stricken China, a major producer.

Endlessly scrolling through social media also "distorts our perceptions and makes us think that things are a lot more serious than they truly are," they said.

As the uncertainty grows, they added, items such as surgical masks and hand sanitiser transform into "problem-solving goods... that seemingly help people gain control over the virus."

'The odd one out' Single-use surgical masks that typically retail for just a few US cents are also hot property, exacerbated by restrictions on exports from China, the leading producer, as the government keeps more back for domestic usage.

Last month ten thousand people queued outside a Hong Kong shop that had secured a shipment, and days later masks were voted the most desireable gifts to receive for Valentine´s Day. In London, masks are now going for more than 100 times their normal retail price, while French authorities said they will requisition all face mask stocks and production.

The demand is being "driven by panic buying, stockpiling and speculation," World Health Organization spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told AFP.

This is despite the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying it did not "recommend the use of facemasks" to help combat the outbreak. But in crowded, paranoid cities where others are already wearing them, donning a mask can be comforting -- if ineffective.

"You don´t want to be the odd one out," Nightingale said. "At the end of the day, we do need our social groups for survival so it´s a primal instinct to obey whatever needs that society imposes on us."

'Trusted faces' As more countries report new cases, Yap and Chen said it was important for authorities to "re-establish control" over information and rumours that spark hoarding and panic-buying.

"In times of uncertainty, it is good to set rules because rules provide a sense of order and control." Governments also need to be clear in explaining any new rules and why they are important in the fight against the virus.

But, Nightingale said, with distrust of health authorities on the rise in the West over mandatory vaccinations and with governments and companies "among the least trusted institutions," this might be difficult.

"Hiring trusted faces could help...

David Attenborough might work for a certain kind of customer profile, like the over 40s. For younger profiles, you could turn to social media influencers."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday that his country will quarantine all passengers coming from China and South Korea as the government has amplified efforts to fight the new coronavirus. “We will strengthen immigration quarantines on people from the two countries,” Shinzo Abe told a cabinet-level taskforce meeting on the virus.

“We will ask them to stay in designated areas for two weeks and not to use public transport,” Abe added, saying the measures would come into force from March 9.

Turkey­jails­ two­journalists behind­bars­for reporting­intel officer's­funeral ISTANBUL Agencies

Two Turkish journalists face up to nine years in prison for reporting on the funeral of a Turkish intelligence officer apparently killed in Libya, local media reported Thursday.

News director Baris Terkoglu and reporter Hulya Kilinc were detained earlier this week after a video was published on the OdaTV website claiming to show the officer's quiet burial, the Hurriyet newspaper reported. The journalists were taken to an Istanbul court on Wednesday which formally arrested them on suspicion of disclosing the identity of an intelligence agency official, state news agency Anadolu said. OdaTV published the officer's first name and the initial of his last name, reporting that he was buried in the western province of Manisa, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. The news site responded that an opposition lawmaker had already revealed the officer's identity. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu criticised the report in an interview with CNN Turk.

"There is such a thing as state secrets, national security secrets," he said. Terkoglu served 19 months in jail in 2011-12 on accusations of taking part in an alleged plot to topple the government. He was later released along with many others at the time and the case later fell apart. Turkey says it has sent dozens of military personnel for training purposes to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli as it heads off an assault by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, but denies they are engaged in active fighting.

RSF ranks Turkey 157th out of 180 countries for press freedom, and the CPJ said 47 journalists were behind bars in December.

Iran harassing, intimidating families of children killed in 2019 protests: Amnesty PARIS Agencies

Human rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday alleged that the Iranian authorities were intimidating the families of at least 23 children killed during the November 2019 crackdown on anti-government protests through a "ruthless campaign of harassment".

In its new report, Amnesty said it had evidence that at least 23 children were killed, with 22 of them killed by the security forces "unlawfully firing live ammunition at unarmed protesters and bystanders."

The children killed included 22 boys, aged between 12 and 17, and a girl reportedly aged between eight and 12. Protests had broken out across Iran from November 15, 2019, after the announcement of a surprise petrol price rise. The authorities responded with a crackdown that Amnesty has already said left 304 people dead — a

figure vehemently disputed by Tehran.

'Independent and ImpartIal InvestIgatIons': Amnesty added that the relatives of some of the children killed described being subjected to harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and interrogations by intelligence and security officials.

"Families of children killed during the protests are facing a ruthless campaign of harassment to intimidate them from speaking out," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa, denouncing a "state cover-up".

The group said this corresponded with a broad pattern of families of those killed in protests being intimidated by the state to prevent them talking openly about the deaths.

'Quash dIssent at any cost': "There must be independent and impartial investigations into these killings, and those suspected of ordering and carrying

them out must be prosecuted in fair trials," Luther added.

Twelve of the 23 deaths — recorded in 13 cities in six provinces across the country — took place on November 16, another eight on November 17, and three on November 18, according to Amnesty.

"The fact that the vast majority of the children's deaths took place over just two days is further evidence that Iranian security forces went on a killing spree to quash dissent at any cost," said Luther.

Metal pellets to face?

Amnesty's report was based on evidence from videos and photographs, as well as death and burial certificates, accounts from eyewitnesses and victims' relatives as well as information gathered from human rights activists and journalists. In one child's case, there were conflicting reports on the cause of death, with one source referring to fatal head injuries sustained by beatings by security forces and another referring to the firing of metal pellets

at the victim's face from a close distance, it said.

It said it had written to Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli with the names of the 23 children recorded as killed but had received no response.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

BUSINESS 11

CORPORATE CORNER Samsung introduces Galaxy S20 SAN FRANCISCO: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S20, a new series of flagship devices that fundamentally change the way we capture and experience our world. The Galaxy S20 series introduces a brand-new camera architecture that combines AI with Samsung’s largest image sensor yet for stunning image quality. Along with the camera, the Galaxy S20 makes the experience of everything we love to do with our phones, easier and better—enjoy personalized music for every moment of the day, watch videos the way they are meant to be seen and play console-style games on-the-go. “As we enter this new decade, 5G will completely change how we communicate and how we experience the world around us,” said Dr TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. PRESS RElEASE

LAHORE: Fatima Fertilizer recently signed a partnership agreement with Multan Sultans to officially support them during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020. PRESS RElEASE

PM orderS ‘eMerGencY’ MeaSureS to addreSS enerGY, PetroleuM woeS ISLAMABAD

P

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Thursday ordered to devise an emergency programme to address the energy and petroleum sectors' challenges and to ensure that the reformation process puts minimum burden on common man.

“The common man would not be made to bear the brunt of an inefficient and corrupt system, which has been enforced for years,” he remarked while presiding over a meeting to review the measures being taken to improve the efficiency of state-owned institutions.

Energy Minister Umar Ayub Khan, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Privatization Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and SAPM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar attended the meeting.

Govt mulls selling 10pc of OGDCL shares BUSINESS DESK

ISLAMABAD: Middle East Institute (MEI), the oldest Washington-based institution dedicated solely to the study of the Middle East, invited Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui to speak on the prospects of forging a sustainable US-Pakistan relationship. P R E S S R E l E A S E

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority Chairman Umer Tanveer inaugurated a rehabilitated water filtration facility.

PepsiCo Pakistan & Afghanistan CEO Furqan Ahmed Syed was also present on the occasion. P R E S S R E l E A S E

The federal government on Thursday mulled over the plan to sell out 10 per cent shares of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) under the government’s privatisation initiative.

The decision was reportedly taken at a meeting that considered a divestment plan of the OGDCL. Privatisation Minister cum Privatisation Commission Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro chaired the meeting that was attended by the representatives from the company, privatisation and petroleum ministries.

Soomro said it was decided last year to sell out 7pc shares of the company.

“The revenue earned from the selling out of the shares will benefit the country’s econ-

PESHAWAR

ISLAMABAD: Interwood, Pakistan's leading furniture and lifestyle brand, has recently launched its biggest showroom in the federal capital. PRESS RElEASE

omy,” he said. The meeting also discussed in detail the current prices of OGDCL shares and impact of divestment on the company.

The proposal to sell out OGDCL shares under divestment initiative would be tabled before the federal cabinet for approval.

MEETING WITH IFC DELEGATION: Soomro met with the delegation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and discussed the privatisation process of the state-owned entities.

The two sides discussed the importance of privatisation under the prime minister’s initiative for economic revival.

On 17 February, the federal minister had announced that they were moving towards privatisation of Punjab-based Balloki and Bahadur Shah power plants by April this year.

KP’s PDWP approves 20 projects worth Rs20.44bn STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: The management of Allied Schools and EFA Schools held a Principals’ Briefing Session at Punjab College.

A motivational speaker, Nusrat Baqi, was also invited to motivate the newly hired principals. PRESS RElEASE

The meeting was apprised of the administrative reforms in the auxiliary institutions of the ministries of petroleum and energy during the last 18 months, raise in revenue, and the measures taken to improve the overall performance of these institutions.

The participants were also briefed about the problems, faced by the ministries of petroleum and energy as well as the proposals currently under consideration to address those issues.

The prime minister said the present government, since taking over, was taking measures to tackle the challenges faced by the energy sector on an emergency basis. He said the present government, despite inheriting the grave administrative and financial challenges in the energy sector, had been striving from the very first day to save the masses from the burden of those problems.

The prime minister called for emergency measures to address the challenges of energy sector also stressed the need to run a public awareness campaign so that not only the people could be taken into confidence about measures being taken by the government

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) approved on Thursday 20 projects worth Rs20.44 billion, including Rs2.43 billion for land record computerisation and science laboratories projects in the schools of tribal districts.

The projects were approved at the PDWP’s meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Department, KP Shakeel Qadir Khan. During the meeting, different uplift programmes for the tribal districts were also reviewed.

The approved development projects belonged to different sectors that included energy and power, roads and bridges, housing, agriculture, elementary and secondary education, IT, law and justice, excise and taxation, multisectoral development, and health sectors.

The forum approved 20 projects with an estimated cost of Rs20442.265 million and deferred and returned two others to their respective departments for rectification.

The repair of old transmission lines and installation of new transformers in Bajaur and North Waziristan to the tune of Rs277 million were also part of the approved projects.

A project valuing Rs1.14 billion was also approved for science laboratories in newly merged districts under the ‘Literacy for All’ programme. For the digitilisation and computerisation of land records in the newly merged seven tribal districts, a Rs1.29 billion worth project was also approved.

The PWDP also approved a project worth Rs2.093 billion for the reconstruction of old roads in Orakzai, Haripur, and Lakki Marwat districts besides Rs464 million approved for Sakra to Gabin Jabha road in Swat district.

The PDWP also gave an approval to spend Rs10.5 million on the construction of the boundary walls on Hangu Township Scheme and Sorizai check post in Peshawar.

To set up the synthetic biology laboratories in KP, an amount of Rs450 million was approved by the forum, while a special uplift project with Rs750.6 million was also approved for Torghar district to provide basic

to address the energy issues but also bring the elements involved in power and gas thefts to justice.

Talking about reforms in the current administrative structure, he said since changes at administration level alone would not be enough in the current situation, they would have to hire the services of best professionals and technical experts at every level in the ministries of petroleum and energy so that best human resources could be utilized to address the problems.

He said as years of corruption and inefficiency had weakened the foundations of system, the emergency situation required out-of-box measures.

The meeting proposed to hand over policy, regulation, implementation, and the matters relating to finance and administration in the ministries to the people having expertise in different sectors so that every office holder could fulfill his responsibilities in a best way while living within his jurisdiction.

The PM directed to link the performance of every head of institution with the achievement of targets so that the performance could be reviewed on the basis of target achievement within the stipulated time.

Huawei to strengthen foothold in Pakistan with Y7p launch LAHORE TAIMOOR HASSAN

Huawei, a global frontrunner of innovative technology, is poised to introduce HuaweiY7p in Pakistan to build a ‘Huawei ecosystem’ as it steps up efforts to surpass competitors Apple and Google. Boasting a 48MP Triple Artificial Intelligence (AI) Camera and other features, it is the first smartphone based on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) to be launched in the country that promises seamless functionality and features. HMS is essentially a set of applications and services providing many advanced features like Huawei ID, push notifications, payments and other services from Huawei for its device ecosystem, in competition with Google Mobile Services (GMS). The Chinese company was in a fix after Google suspended its business with it last year and locked the company out of Google’s Android ecosystem. But while Huawei plans on taking Google and Apple head-on in the mobile market, old players such as Blackberry tried to build a similar ecosystem but succumbed to Google, Apple duopoly.

When asked what are the chances that Huawei will be able to do it successfully, Huawei Pakistan Country Manager Scott Huang said unlike Blackberry, Huawei invests heavily in research and development in addition to a skilled workforce. "Around 3,000 scientists working on R&D and above all the Chinese market of over a billion people, where Google and Apple are not dominant," he added. “Today's launch is a step towards a new age of technology. The Y7p smartphone also has Huawei AppGallery, which is ranked third among the app marketplaces around the world with more than 400 million monthly active users (MAU),” he said at the launch. The smartphone comes with a 48MP Triple AI camera with an f/1.8 wide-aperture lens, capable of capturing the most vivid images with high-resolution. The 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera in this phone supports a 120-degree field of view for landscape shots or videos. It has a separate 2MP camera to realistically capture depth in pictures, portraits and videos. The large 1/2-inch sensor and night-mode allow clarity and details even in the dark, while it also stabilizes handheld, long-exposure shots. The Huawei AppGallery – the world’s top third app marketplace comes pre-installed on the device featuring top global and local apps and a wide range of HMS. Moreover, this device also features system-level optimisations, such as EROFS along with a Full Scene Acceleration technology for better app experiences. It runs on a long-lasting 4000mAh battery with AI powersaving, on-the-go and carries a price tag of Rs28,999/-.

The event was also attended by representatives from JazzCash and Daraz.pk, both of which are collaborating Huawei for its AppGallery.

NGOs, state entities ineligible for SMEDA grant LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Small Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) has excluded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and all government organisations from availing an organisational grant (OG) under its new project.

The authority’s staff, blood relatives and spouses have also been excluded from the list of beneficiaries of OG that has been given under the project of the National Business Development Programme (NBDP), Pakistan Today has learnt.

The focus of the OD is to improve man-

agerial efficiency and organizational systems of SMEs by offering support to acquire services in the areas such as accounting manuals, software, financial management and general management etc. The grant size will be 80pc of the total cost of service, up to maximum of Rs500,000.

The grants will be given on reimbursement basis and no advance payment will be made under the grant, while the payment to guarantee will be made through banking transactions.

The SMEDA has also prepared the criteria for improving the SMEs’ internal capacities in five core areas i.e. financial management, employee management, regu-

latory compliance, production management, and general business management.

According to an official document, under the financial service category the SME must have the activities of accounting, bookkeeping, accounting software ERP systems, manuals for financial controls and management, and product costing.

Similarly, under the general management category the SME must have the activities of task management, project management, contract management and procurement system, while the SME also have the activities of inventory, warehousing system including software, supply chain management, worker and workplace safety

manuals under the same category.

In production management area, the SME must have the activities of production planning and control, production management, whereas under the HR management category, the SME must have the activities of HR policies and procedures, time attendance management system, sales force management system, and employee internal training manuals.

However, in the category of regulatory services, the SME must have the activities of sales tax registration services, business licensing, business registration, copyright, trade mark, patent and design registration, import export procedure and others.

The document further states the OD

grant will be given to only Pakistani nationals having a valid CNIC, and that the SME should have a total of 250 employees with a paid-up capital up to Rs25 million and annual sales up to Rs250 million.

Only manufacturing, services, trading, IT/ICT, mining and mineral processing, and agriculture processing areas would be able to get the grant, whereas the SMEs of Balochistan may also apply for livestock and dairy farming.

For getting the OD grant, the SME must have a valid NTN and operational business for at least one year from the date of the application of grant, the document further states.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

12 BUSINESS Market Daily

Bulls regain control as KSE-100 accumulates 475 points

Sindh govt PlEdgES to EnhancE cotton Production

KARACHI

LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

HASSAN NAQVI

After two lacklustre sessions, bulls managed to regain control of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday, as the indices headed north as soon as the opening bell rang while volumes improved significantly from the last session. Foreign investors continued to offload equities on Wednesday, recording a net outflow of $3.81 million. On the economic front, foreign investors during the week ended 28th Feb 2020, withdrew a net amount of Rs18.8 billion by selling local securities. According to a weekly report on Special Convertible Rupee Accounts (SCRA) released by the State Bank of Pakistan, gross sale of securities during the week under review was recorded at Rs43.58 billion, while the total purchase of securities stood at Rs24.76 billion, Meanwhile, analysts believe that in line with the global trend, Pakistan is also likely to make a cut in its interest rate following a reduction in profit rate for government debt securities. Gaining 836.10 points, the KSE-100 Index recorded its intraday high at 39,742.50. It closed higher by 475.71 points at 39,382.11. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index appreciated by 1,598.34 points to end at 62,521.67, while the KSE All Share Index accumulated 309.00 points, settling at 27,228.79. Out of the total traded shares, 227 advanced and 98 declined. The overall market volumes improved from 186.99 million shares in the previous session to 340.72 million. Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL +6.75pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -0.21pc) and Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBTL +8.68pc) remained the volume leaders of the day, exchanging 29.96 million, 25.98 million and 21.49 million shares, respectively. Sectors that painted the 100 index green included cement (+176.65 points), fertilizer (+117.12 points) and oil & gas exploration (+80.96 points).

Among the companies, Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +88.84 points), Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO +75.07 points) and Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC +54.90 points) ended as top positive contributors. The cement sector gained 5.88pc in its total market capitalization, with Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +6.21pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +5.98pc), D G Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +5.62pc) and Bestway Cement Limited (BWCL +5.29pc) closing with decent gains.

Pakistani businessmen urged to explore Polish market ISLAMABAD APP

Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Poland Malik Muhammad Farooq on Thursday visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) where he discussed with ICCI President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed ways that could help enhance Pak-Poland bilateral trade. Farooq said that Pakistan's trade with Poland was negligible as compared to the actual potential and stressed that the business community should focus on further enhancing the volume of exports in the Polish market. He assured the business community of his complete support in this regard. Noting that around 90pc of Pakistan's exports to Poland were comprised of textiles products, he urged the business community to tap other mutually beneficial areas for trade promotion. "Both countries possess great potential to cooperate in the IT sector, and Polish companies can contribute towards the growth of 5G and telecom infrastructure in Pakistan," he stated. "Pakistan can also import heavy machinery and high-tech products from Poland." The envoy recalled that Poland in the past had cooperated with Pakistan in establishing various institutions, including PIA, and that Pakistan could receive more benefits by developing a close liaison with Poland.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that foreign missions of Pakistan have an important role in promoting Pakistani products aboard. He said the Pakistani embassy should identify new opportunities for Pakistani products in the Polish market, adding that the embassy should also share information on a regular basis with ICCI about prospects of investment and joint ventures for Pakistan's private sector in the Polish market.

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INDH Agriculture Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo on Thursday assured the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) of his complete support in increasing the per-acre yield of cotton in the country.

He expressed these views during a meeting with the APTMA officials, led by its Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir, at the association's Lahore office.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that the introduction of modern farming techniques had become imperative for Pakistan to get a better yield of the cotton crop.

The agriculture minister said that the Sindh government was seeking support from international experts so that it could train the local farmers, adding

APTMA SAYS WILLING TO PAY COTTON CESS PER BALE, PROVIDED THE FUNDS ARE UTILISED ONLY FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES that the provincial government was also seeking help in introducing new farming technologies that could enhance cotton production.

The APTMA leadership requested the Sindh government to invest heavily in the research of cotton and develop good quality seeds on war footings.

Rahoo further briefed the APTMA leadership on the Sindh government's precautionary measures against the attack of locusts. "The government is

PM approves establishment of five economic zones in Punjab BUSINESS DESK Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the establishment of five economic zones in Punjab. Out of the proposed special economic zones, four zones have been assigned to the Punjab Industrial Estates Development & Management Company (PIEDMC).

The PIEDMC has already completed the construction of three economic zones while the land has been acquired for the fourth zone in Bahawalpur.

PIEDMC Chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi has lauded the PM's decision, saying said that it was a step in the right direction, as it would facilitate local and foreign investors to import their machinery in all these economic zones without taxes and duties for ten years.

He also endorsed the PM that the establishment of these economic zones would not only provide fa-

cilities and incentives to the business community but would also usher a new era of development in the province.

"The decision is also in line with the vision of PM Imran to create 20 million jobs."

He also thanked Punjab Industries Minister Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal for his support and guidance towards the industrialization in the province.

"These economic zones will be developed on the pattern of Sundar Industrial Estate in Lahore, where all infrastructure including electricity, roads, sewerage and other developmental facilities have been provided, keeping in view the international construction standards," the PIEDMC chairman said.

"Upon completion of the economic zones, more than 200,000 jobless people will be employed directly while about one million would be facilitated indirectly."

Dawood for utilising Brazilian expertise in ethanol production ISLAMABAD APP

Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday highlighted the importance of enhancing Pakistan-Brazil bilateral cooperation to exploit the existing potential of bioenergy (Ethanol) and to enhance value addition in the agriculture field.

He was addressing a technical seminar on "Sustainable Mobility: Ethanol Talks-Pakistan", jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Apex-Brazil. The objective of the seminar was to promote ethanol as a modern and sustainable option for mobility.

Dawood said Brazil was the largest sugarcane and second-largest ethanol producer in the world, whereas Pakistan was also having huge production in those agriculture commodities. Pakistan could utilise Brazilian experience and technology for the benefit to the country’s economy, he added.

“We need to learn from Brazilian experience and take benefit of their technology in ethanol sector for the long-term benefit,” Dawood said, adding

that the government was taking measures to facilitate sugarcane and ethanol sector of the country.

He said Pakistan had huge sugarcane farming sector, hence it had no choice but to invest in the agriculture sector and ensure best possible processing of the agricultural produce to boost exports.

The minister said the technology could help the country produce better fuel in the form of ethanol, highlighting the need to sensitize people about the benefits of this kind of fuel, which could also be used in the pharmaceutical sector.

He was of the view that the country’s exports could be enhanced manifold through the value-addition of agriculture products that would support in improving the balance of payment situation, enhance energy resources and in addition reduce environmental pollution. The adviser informed that this was the first conference in Pakistan on this particular topic and expressed hope that it would come up with workable suggestions to promote this sector.

Talking about the balance of trade situation, he said although Pakistan was facing a trade deficit, there was now a considerable improvement in the country’s exports.

also working on introducing quality pesticides."

APTMA office bearers thanked the Sindh government for extending its support to the association's efforts in increasing cotton production in the country.

APTMA Punjab Chairman briefed the minister on the efforts undertaken to enhance the quality of cotton.

"Due to the deteriorating quality of cotton in the country, the millers had to import the commodity. Pakistan can save billions of dollars in foreign exchange if good quality cotton is produced," he remarked.

During the meeting, APTMA also agreed to pay the cotton cess per bale, provided the funds were utilized completely for research purposes by the cotton research institutes and also based on their performance (in terms of research on cotton).

Talking to this scribe, APTMA Group Leader Gohar Ijaz said that APTMA would fully support cotton research as it was the only way forward to bring self-sufficiency in cotton.

100 KP doctors issued notices for having ‘assets beyond means’ The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has served notices to around 100 doctors from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for having assets more than their known sources of income.

According to media reports, the FBR had recently prepared a list of "those physicians whose tax returns are less than their income".

Around 100 physicians from Abbottabad, Bannu, Mardan and other districts are included in the list. As per the FBR, the alleged doctors will be scrutinized after the audit. The revenue board claimed that there are thousands of doctors who do not pay taxes, adding that stringent action [in phases] would be taken against defualters. In 2019, the FBR had issued notices to renowned hospitals of Karachi, asking them to disclose the income of their doctors. A large number of doctors and surgeons have been found involved in tax evasion despite being registered with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), an FBR document had revealed. BUSINESS DESK

SBP reserves up $166m to $12.8bn KARACHI: Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased $166 million to $12,757 million during the week ending February 28, 2020, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday. The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $18,869 million.

Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks recorded a dip from $6,151.3 million in the week ending February 21, to $6,111.5 million in the succeeding week. The central bank did not cite a reason for the increase in state bank reserves, or the decrease in net foreign reserves held by commercial banks.

The total liquid foreign reserves have consistently been on the rise for the past seven months. The total reserves initially crossed the $15 billion mark in July 2019, crossed the $16 billion mark in November 2019, and finally crossed the $18 billion mark in January 2020. STAFF REPORT

FFC further reduces urea price by Rs75 per bag ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

A month after reducing the price of urea by Rs300 per bag, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) has now decided to further reduce the price by Rs75 per bag in order to pass on the benefit of GIDC removal to the consumers.

Although FFC had earlier announced to lower the price of 50kg urea bag by Rs400 following the relief it got from the removal of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC), the company had only reduced the price by Rs300. Other market competitors, however, claimed to have fully passed on the benefit to the consumers.

According to sources, FCC opted for a

'IN THE WAKE OF GOVT'S DECISION TO REMOVE GIDC, FFC HAS NOW COLLECTIVELY REDUCED UREA PRICE RS375 PER 50KG BAG' further cut in urea price following a meeting with the concerned ministries.

Meanwhile, the FCC officials claimed that the company has maintained its pledge to farmers by reducing another Rs75 per urea bag.

"In the wake of the government’s decision to reduce GIDC, FFC was at the forefront to answer the government's call for a reduction in urea prices," a statement issued by the company reads.

"The company had earlier reduced its

urea price by Rs300 per bag (effective from 28th January) to immediately pass on the benefit of GIDC removal to the farming community. Furthering the commitment to ensure food security in the country, FFC has now additionally reduced Rs75 per urea bag, tantamounting to total relief of Rs375 per bag."

As per the statement, "The decision truly reflects on the company's commitment and efforts to align with the cause of the government for providing necessary agri relief and

improving farm economics in the country."

It is pertinent to mention that Engro Fertilizers had earlier announced that “it had fully passed on the benefit of the change in GIDC rates by reducing the price of each 50kg bag by Rs160 (effective from Feb 1)”.

The impact of GIDC waiver varies for different fertiliser manufacturers; Engro Fertilizer and Fatima Fertilizer claimed that the cess does not apply at their plants as they were established under the 2001 Policy.

Engro maintained that GIDC was applicable at its 0.63 million tonne plant and that the price reduction would help the farmers during the ongoing Rabbi season.

‘REDRESSAL OF FARMERS’ WOES’: Moreover, National Food Security & Re-

search Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, while talking to Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mehmood Khokhar on Thursday, said that his government was cognizant of the issues being faced by the farmers' community and was undertaking measures to resolve them at the earliest.

He stated that development and modernization of the agriculture sector was among the top priorities of the government, as evident from the initiation of various agriculture programmes.

He said that prices of fertilizer have declined considerably following the government to waive off GIDC, adding that measures are being taken to ensure uninterrupted supply to farmers.

IN TIME FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, SHARMEEN OBAID-CHINOY, YOUTUBE ORIGINALS AND GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN RELEASE

‘FUNDAMENTAL. GENDER JUSTICE. NO EXCEPTIONS.’

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HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

o commemorate International Women’s Day, two-time Academy Award Winner Sharmeen obaid-Chinoy proudly launches “FUNDAMENTAL. GENDER JUSTICE. No EXCEPTIoNS” – a five-episode international documentary series shot and produced by documentary film-makers from SoC FILMS, Safyah Zafar Usmani and Shahrukh Waheed and directed by Sharmeen obaid Chinoy, in Brazil, Georgia, Kenya, USA and Pakistan. This is the first time an all Pakistan Crew has created a global series. Indeed, with this series, SoC Films aims to present and empower the next generation of non-fiction filmmakers in Pakistan. This is also the first global series to be officially presented and released by YouTube originals and Refinery29.

A production of SoC Films and Global Fund for Women, FUNDAMENTAL follows dynamic activists from five countries who are disrupting the status quo and radically altering the course of history for women and girls – and all historically marginalized people and communities globally.

“FUNDAMENTAL takes us into the lives of gender justice activists around the world who are working to create change at the grassroots level.

The activists you will meet in the series are on the front lines of human rights issues, risking everything, yet they are rarely made visible. our films provide a better under-

standing of their struggles and show us an intimate portrait of what it means to be a frontline advocate in today’s volatile world. Within movements there is great community, and there is solidarity in knowing there are others alongside you –your neighbors in your city as well as those across the globe –who are also fighting for justice.

From Brazil and the United States to Kenya, Pakistan and Georgia, these inspiring activists refuse to accept the status quo, agitating and organizing to create safe spaces and a safer world for other women. It is my hope that the series will inspire viewers to learn more about these issues, and join the fight for gender justice alongside these incredible activists.” said Sharmeen obaid-Chinoy.

At a time of unprecedented political uprisings around the globe, FUNDAMENTAL, a character-driven documentary series, invites global audiences to engage directly with grassroots movements and community leaders who are standing up for gender justice and fundamental human rights. Each of the five episodes profiles a distinct set of remarkable leaders mobilizing to write new futures for themselves,

their societies, and the world - working on issues from ending child marriage in Pakistan, to pursuing LGBTQI liberation in Georgia, and racial justice in the United States. Indeed, these incredible leaders are at the front lines of fighting for gender justice, and mobilizing to write new futures for themselves, their societies, and the world.

In FUNDAMENTAL, the first episode from Pakistan, “Rights Not Roses” focuses on ending child, early, and forced marriages in Pakistan and how community leaders are addressing the root causes of the issue. In this episode, the audiences get to hear directly from Zarmina, her family, and a network of community activists fighting to end the scourge of early and forced marriage in Pakistan, where 21% of girls are married before the age of 18.

These include Rukhshanda Naz, a human rights attorney and long-time gender rights leader who is fighting in Pakistan’s courts to extricate girls like Zarmina from early and forced marriages, and whose passionate advocate for ending child marriage is formed by her family’s own experiences with the issue.

Presented by YouTube originals, the series is a production of SoC Films and Global Fund for Women in association with Fork Films and Secret Sauce Media. Executive Producers include Julie Parker Benello (Secret Sauce Media), Catherine King (Global Fund for Women), Abigail E. Disney (Fork Films), Maria Nunez, Susan Sherrerd, Patty Quillin, and Lynda Weinman. The project has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Levi Strauss Foundation. Partnering with Refinery29 on the series, the episode of FUNDAMENTAL will be released of Refinery29’s official YouTube channel and YouTube.com/Learning.

No Time To Die: Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie pushed back 7 months due to coronavirus outbreak The release of the James Bond film No Time To Die has been pushed back several months because of global concerns about coronavirus.

MGM, Universal and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced on Twitter Wednesday that the film would be pushed back from its April release to November 2020.

The announcement cited consideration of the global theatrical marketplace in the decision to delay the release of the film. No Time To Die will now hit theatres in the U.K. on November 12 and worldwide on November 25.

The Bond films make a significant portion of their profits from international markets. The last film, Spectre, made over $679 million from overseas theatres in 2015 with over $84 million of that total coming from China.

Concerns had already been brewing around the imminent release and the global outbreak. Publicity plans in China, Japan and South Korea had previously been cancelled.

Rabab Hashim names Moneygram’s Pakistan Brand Ambassador The stunning actress & host Rabab Hashim has just been signed on as the new face of Moneygram, the leading global money transfer company, for Pakistan. The launch of Rabab Hashim’s collaboration with the global financial brand includes A series of television commercials targeting the expatriate Pakistani populace around the world namely North America, Middle East, Europe & Australia.

“I am so proud to be MoneyGram Ambassador for Pakistan.” stated Rabab Hashim on this new collaboration.

“The company provides a very important service to my fellow Pakistani’s around the world and I feel good about this association,” she further said. In addition, being featured in their marketing communications, Rabab will also be attending a host of exclusive meet & greets around the globe, representing the brand & Pakistan, first of which will be in Melbourne, Australia at the Women’s T20 Finals on March 8th, 2020.

Juicy Fruit gum, an early version of Cracker Jack, and the Ferris Wheel all made their debuts at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Haseeb Hasan & Umera Ahmed’s Upcoming Blockbuster ‘Aan’ The renowned Director and Producer, Haseeb Hasan of Hamdan Films, is gearing up to bring another blockbuster feature film titled ‘AAN’.

The film features Fawad Khan in the lead, a worldrenowned actor that lives in the hearts of many people.

Fawad Khan is the biggest name in the Pakistan Film Industry who has not only gained a name for himself but also for our beloved country, Pakistan. The megastar will be seen in an avatar like never before.

The ensemble cast will also include Sanam Saeed, Zara Noor Abbas, Jawed Shaikh, Navid Shehzad, Nayyar Ejaz, Naeem Tahir, Aly Khan among many others.

Haseeb Hasan has many projects that are famous worldwide, one of which is

“Parwaaz Hai Junoon”. A 2018 war-combat film that hit cinemas worldwide and won the hearts of millions.

The film made the highest gross of 40+ crore at the worldwide box office and is set to be the first ever Pakistani film that will be released in China.

The new project, ‘AAN’ will be no exception. The script has been penned down by Umera Ahmed who has helped in turning this little dream into a big reality, with her exceptional writing skills. Some of her famous projects, amongt many others are, Zindagi Gulzaar Hai, Laal, Shehr-e-Zaat and Meri Zaat Zarra Benishan.

“AAN” will also be featuring some of the best and intense dialogues that will leave your heart throbbing.

In late May or early June of each year, the synchronous fireflies of the Great Smoky Mountains flash in sync. The light show is made up of males blinking for the females on the forest floor below.

The Eiffel Tower leans slightly toward the shade on sunny days.

Karisma Kapoor says people were shocked to see her dance on screen

Guilty: Kiara introduces her movie, Alia Bhatt poses with bestie Akanksha Ranjan

Karisma Kapoor has said that she likes to keep a low profile in real life and people would be shocked to see her onscreen persona. In an interview with Film Companion, she said, “I have always been a very private person, even though I am an actor. When people meet me, they are like, ‘How did you these songs and work in David Dhawan films?’ I never used to like to wear sleeveless also. It was very odd. I was very conservative, or I don’t know what to call it, personality wise.”

With more than five million followers on Instagram, Karisma is quite active on the photo-sharing platform, despite her reserved nature. However, she is clear about the fact that she will never put her entire life online, for the world to see.

“I also feel that I have been a person who likes to move with the times. That’s really important also for me, as a person. This is the digital age but yes, I am a bit particular about what I post and what I don’t. I like certain things to be private and people respect that about me,” she said. Karisma’s last major Bollywood release was Vikram Bhatt’s supernatural thriller Dangerous Ishhq in 2012.

The makers of upcoming Netflix film, Guilty, held a screening in Mumbai on Wednesday. The film is a thriller starring Kiara Advani in the lead.

Spotted at the function were Alia Bhatt, who came with sister Shaheen and mother Soni Razdan; War actor Vaani Kapoor, Sairat actor Rinku Rajguru, Sunil Shetty’s daughter Athiya, Rajkummar Rao’s girlfriend Patralekha, director Zoya Akhtar and Kedarnath director Abhishek Kapoor’s wife Pragya Yadav were among the many who made it to the screening.

The many members of Guilty team were spotted at the screening; writer-director Ruchi Narain, known for her work Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was seen at the event. Also seen were Alia Bhatt’s best friend Akanksha Ranjan Kapur (her sister Anushka Ranjan was also present) and Gurfateh Singh Pirzada was also present at the screening.

Guilty, a Netflix film produced by Dharmatic, the digital arm of Dharma Productions, is about a songwriter whose boyfriend is accused of rape. Speaking about her role in Guilty, Kiara had told IANS, “I play a character called Nanki in Guilty.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

14 SPORTS

PCB ReSChedUleS BangladeSh OdI; MaShRafe StePS dOwn aS CaPtaIn LAHORE/DHAKA

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Agencies

HE Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday confirmed it had accepted the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to reschedule a one-off one-day international (ODI) to allow its team more time to prepare for the second Test between the two sides, which starts on April 5 in Karachi.

The ODI, which was originally planned for April 3, will now be held on April 1 at the same venue — National Stadium. The Bangladesh cricket team will now arrive on March 29 in Karachi.

PCB’s Director of International Cricket Zakir Khan said, “The PCB is always happy to facilitate wherever it can and will be delighted to host the Bangladesh men’s national team for additional days in Karachi.”

“There is already a lot of excitement and buzz about the upcoming international matches and the PCB expects the quality of cricket will live up to the expectations of the fans and followers,” he added.

MASHRAFE STEPS DOWN AS BANGLADESH CAPTAIN: Bangladesh pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, one of the

country's biggest sports stars, stepped down Thursday as captain of the national one-day side, possibly ending his international career. Friday's 50-over game against Zimbabwe in Sylhet will be his last as captain, said the 36-year-old, who already has a new career as a member of parliament.

Mashrafe said he would remain avail-

Rooney will have point to prove against Manchester United: Solskjaer LONDON Agencies

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United great Wayne Rooney will be a threat in Thursday’s FA Cup clash against Championship side Derby. Rooney, United and England’s all-time top scorer, will line up against the club where he enjoyed so much success when lining up for the Rams at Pride Park.

Rooney joined the second-tier side as playercoach after a stint in the United States with DC United and former team-mate Solskjaer is wary of the 34-year-old’s threat in the fifth-round clash. “He gave absolutely everything for this club and we all appreciate that,” the Norwegian manager said. “But any goal he scores against us will be chalked off his goal tally. He doesn’t want to score too many of them. “He’s a threat, in and around the box, set plays, and of course this game Wayne will show what he can do and he wants to prove that there’s still fight in an old dog. “We’ve got to be on our toes, don’t give him any space in and around the box or in midfield.” “At the latter end when he played in midfielder, you can see he’s got Scholesy-like passing range,” he added, in reference to former United midfielder Paul Scholes. Asked if Rooney is underappreciated in some quarters, the United boss said: “He’s been a fantastic player for Man United and he played here for so long, he’s the club’s top scorer, he’s won so many trophies. “For me, I don’t think the fans underrated him. I think everyone really, really appreciates what he did for us.

able for selection as a player, but selectors are under pressure to bring in fresh blood ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India.

"I would like to thank Bangladesh Cricket Board for keeping confidence in me for such a long period," said Mashrafe.

"I will try to give my best as a player if I get the opportunity."

Mashrafe had not played any one-day

internationals since last year's World Cup until the current Zimbabwe series. He claimed three wickets in the first two matches.Bangladesh won both to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Mashrafe, who withdrew from a lucrative national team contract in January, said the decision to rebuild the team for the next World Cup had convinced him to step down. "Until yesterday I was undecided, but this morning I thought 'that's enough'," he said. Mashrafe, who has had seven operations on his knees, acknowledged that he had been lucky to play so long.

The bowler has cult status in Bangladesh for his role in taking the team from being international whipping boys to becoming a respected limited-overs side.

He led Bangladesh to 49 wins in 87 matches, making him Bangladesh's most successful one-day captain. Mashrafe also led Bangladesh to 10 Twenty20 wins before retiring from the format in 2017. He has not played a Test since 2009 due to injury. Mashrafe won a seat in parliament for the ruling Awami League party in an election in December 2018.

The Bangladesh board wanted to organise a grand farewell last year, but Mashrafe rejected the offer.

Rapinoe praises US men in support for equality fight ORLANDO Agencies

Megan Rapinoe thanked the US men’s national team for showing solidarity in their fight for equal pay on Thursday, adding she was “very confident” of a positive outcome in the long-running dispute.

The US women have been fighting since 2016 for equality with their male counterparts and are seeking backpay totalling nearly $67 million.

On February 12, the union representing the US men’s team issued a statement in support of the women, accusing the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) of engaging in a “false narrative” as the legal battle rumbles on. A group of 28 players from the US women’s national team has filed a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer with a trial expected to begin in May. Rapinoe, who has been leading the demands for equality, said the US women were grateful for the support from the US men.

“It was much appreciated,” Rapinoe told reporters ahead of the USA’s SheBelieves Cup opener on Thursday. “(The men) have been a little light on statements before, you need to be educated if you weigh in and it seems like they took time to make the statement they wanted but I have been saying for a long time that we all have to stand together.

“They think they deserve more money too and they said that. If they are being underpaid it’s likely we are being underpaid too so it was a nice show of support and I look forward to more solidarity between the two teams.”

Asked by AFP if a positive resolution will be forthcoming shortly, Rapinoe added: “I don’t know about sooner rather than later but I am very confident of a positive outcome.”

Rapinoe’s team-mate, midfielder Julie Ertz also thanked the men for their support.

“We know our platform and how

important it is to make it better on and off the field. You fight for what you believe is right,” Ertz said. “The support from the men is incredible. It’s important. We can’t do it alone. That was huge and great to hear.”

In last month’s statement, the US National Soccer Team Players Association said the USSF contined to “discriminate against the women in their wages and working conditions.”

“They’re trying to protect their monopoly, their massive revenue streams, and their continued ability to exploit US national team players,” the statement said. “It’s time for this to stop.”

Sarfaraz might play world t20, says Misbah Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq on Tuesday revealed that former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was under consideration for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.In a TV show, Misbah said that the 32-year-old was performing well in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 and added that the wicket-keeper batsman was on track with his fitness which could lead to a possible call-up.Furthermore, the chief selector said that there will be additional matches following the conclusion of the PSL 2020 in order to determine who gets picked in the World Cup squad.“Sarfaraz has been playing very well in the PSL 2020 and he is also fit. While he is in consideration for the World Cup, there will be matches after the PSL to decide which player will get the call,” he said. The former skipper was revoked of his role of leading the national side in Test and T20 cricket in October last year over his poor fitness and declining performance of the team. sports Desk

asian world Cup qualifiers face postponement over virus: fIfa DuBAI: FIFA and Asia's football governing body are considering postponing upcoming World Cup qualifiers over the novel coronavirus, a statement said on Thursday. A "formal proposal" has been circulated among Asian countries, FIFA said after talks with the Asian Football Confederation, with a decision expected in the coming days. "For both FIFA and the AFC, the well-being and health of all individuals involved in football matches remains the highest priority, and as such, a formal proposal to postpone upcoming matches in the Asian FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers will now be shared with the relevant member associations," the FIFA statement said. "FIFA and the AFC will provide an update on these fixtures in the coming days following consultation with the AFC member associations." The women's Olympic playoff between China and South Korea, both hard-hit by the virus, is also up for discussion, as well as the AFC Futsal Championship in Turkmenistan.

Asia's next qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup are scheduled for March 26 and 31. The women's Olympic playoff, already postponed once, is set for April 9 and 14 and the futsal championship is due to start on February 26. Asian football has been badly disrupted by the COVID-19 epidemic, with the region's Champions League club competition thrown into chaos and leagues suspended in China, South Korea and Japan. Agencies

Defending champions Australia to face India in women’s T20 World Cup final CANbERRA Agencies

Four-time champions Australia will meet India in the women's Twenty20 World Cup final after rain-marred semi-finals Thursday sparked calls for reserve days to be included in future events.

The title holders stormed into their sixth final with a five-run win over South Africa in a tense battle that saw the last overs played in drizzle. Unbeaten India were due to face 2009 champions England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the first semi-final, but heavy showers began early in the day and barely let up. A minimum of 10 overs per side were needed for a result and the umpires called it off without a ball being bowled.

With no reserve day, the highest-ranked teams from the two groups moved into the final if play was not possible, putting India through to their first-ever decider.

"From day one, we knew we had to win

all the games in case the semis didn't happen," said Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

"First T20 World Cup final means a lot for us. But as a team, we just want to play our best cricket in the final."

The rain eased for the second semi and defending champions Australia hit 134 for five off their 20 overs, with skipper Meg Lanning top-scoring on 49 and Nadine de Klerk taking 3-19.

But rain briefly returned at the interval, and the Proteas were set 98 from 13 overs to win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, but could only manage 92 for five.

"It was extremely tense. Even in the last couple of balls it just wasn't safe. We felt we had a good total without it being great," said Lanning. "India are a class side, they have been playing excellent cricket. But we have been improving each day," she added.

Big-hitting opener Lizelle Lee smacked a huge six to get the South African run chase underway but, tempted into another, holed out to Ashleigh Gardner on the boundary

ropes. Skipper Dane van Niekerk looked dangerous but pace spearhead Megan Schutt clean-bowled her for 12, then Lanning took a difficult catch to remove Mignon du Preez and leave South Africa struggling at 26 for three. But Laura Wolvaardt (41 not out) and Sune Luus (21) got them back on track to set up an exciting finale with 32 runs needed off the last three overs, only to fall short.

Earlier, Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy aggressively set about building a big total for Australia. Healy fell after a quickfire 18 and fellow opener Mooney blasted 28 before being clean-bowled by de Klerk.

South Africa successfully put the brakes on the run rate and grabbed two more quick wickets before Rachael Haynes (17) and Lanning guided them to a winning total. "It was very emotional to see the ladies like that.

To come short every time is difficult," van Niekerk said of her devastated team.

'PRESSuRE ON ICC': A reserve day is allowed for the final and the lack of one for the semis was criticised by some players,

with Kaur among those calling for change.

"Having reserve days in the future will be a great idea," she said.

England captain Heather Knight suggested before the match that "there will be a

lot of pressure on the ICC to change" the rules. "Really frustrating," she said after the washout. "Not how we wanted the World Cup to finish for us. No reserve day, no chance of getting play."

Friday, 6 March, 2020

SPORTS 15

PSL 5: PEShAwAr ZALmI dEfEAt QuEttA GLAdIAtorS by 30 runS

scoreboArd

Q

UETTA Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and as expected chose to field first in a match reduced to 15 overs after a 90-minute delayed start due to a wet outfield. The big news before the start of play was that Daren Sammy officially stepped down as Peshawar Zalmi captain to take on a role as playercoach. Sammy was left out of the XI for the second match in a row, with Wahab Riaz formally taking over as captain following his stand-

in role in Zalmi's loss to Karachi Kings when it was communicated that Sammy was being rested.

Zalmi made two changes to their lineup. Imam-ul-Haq comes in at the top of the order in place of Tom Banton while Liam Dawson replaces Carlos Brathwaite for an extra spin option. Gladiators have also made multiple changes. Ahmed Shehzad enters the lineup at No. 3 in place of Ahsan Ali while a bowling reshuffle sees Anwar Ali and Fawad Ahmed left out in favor of

England captain Harry Kane vows: ‘I’ll be at Euros’ LONDON Agencies

It would be foolish to write off Qalandars: Akhtar

England captain Harry Kane is confident he will be fit for Euro 2020 and has targeted a Tottenham return early next month.

The striker has been sidelined since New Year’s Day with a torn hamstring tendon, which required surgery. But Kane is ahead of schedule in his recovery and Spurs manager Jose Mourinho has said he could be fit for the final “three, four or five” matches of the season.

In an interview with the Evening Standard Magazine,

Kane said: “In my head, I am definitely at the Euros.

“Unless something pretty drastic happens between now and then, I’ll be there. I’m still not back training with the first team but I’m working hard in the gym, I’m getting stronger all the time.

“We’re talking a few more weeks, and I’ll be playing again. I don’t want to make a prediction for which game I might be back, but I am hoping somewhere between the start and the middle of April.”

Tottenham travel to Bournemouth on April 18 before the north London derby at home

Sohail Khan and Tymal Mills.

Peshawar Zalmi: Kamran Akmal (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Haider Ali, Liam Livingstone, Shoaib Malik, Lewis Gregory, Liam Dawson, Wahab Riaz (capt.), Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali. Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Shane Watson, Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt./wk), Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Ben Cutting, Sohail Khan, Tymal Mills, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain. Agencies to Arsenal the following Sunday, their fourth-last league match of the season.

They end the campaign with trips to Newcastle and Crystal Palace, either side of a visit from Leicester. Kane has recovered quickly from a string of injuries in recent seasons.

While insisting that he would not be rushed back, Mourinho said last week that Kane was a player who “doesn’t accept protocols”.

“Let’s see with Harry,” he said. “He’s obviously a great professional and a fighter and he wants to be back as soon as possible. What’s ‘as soon as possible?’ I don’t know.”

Euro 2020, which is scheduled to take place in 12 venues across the continent, kicks off on June 12.

PSL TODAY’S MATCH VS 7:00 PM kArAchI kInGS

LAHORE

muLtAn SuLtAnS

England boss unfazed by pressure despite slump ORLANDO Agencies

England manager Phil Neville shrugged off speculation about his future on Wednesday as his players prepare for their SheBelieves Cup opener against the United States. Neville’s position has come under scrutiny following a post-World Cup slump that has seen his team win just twice in seven matches.

The former Manchester United and Everton defender is likely to face further pressure if England fail to mount a strong defence of the SheBelieves four-nation tournament, which kicks off in Orlando on Thursday. Neville, however, remains unfazed and is confident in a squad which has been refreshed since last summer’s World Cup. “When I first got the job, it seemed to take a massive upwards curve,” said Neville, whose team play the world champion USA on Thursday. “The first SheBelieves match we beat France and I thought this will not last forever, there is always going to be a downturn. “The best managers can get the sack. Even in the World Cup I remember beating Norway and thinking ‘This is really good’ but there has to be a balance because ultimately there will be dips. “Now I see a set of players who have their mojo back and we’re in a good place.” Neville, who is without injured full-back Lucy Bronze, has introduced some fresh faces into his squad for the tournament which also includes games against Japan and Spain. Seven new players who were not involved in the 2019 World Cup have been taken to the United States with the likes of Beth England and Lauren Hemp eager to stake their claims. “People talk about development and when you come out of Under-21 football it becomes about winning,” Neville added. “When I got into the first team at Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel and Roy Keane didn’t come and put an arm around my shoulder every time I gave a bad pass away, they told me in no uncertain terms it was about winning. “That’s what the senior players have done with this crop now.” England captain Steph Houghton, who missed a late opportunity to equalise with a penalty in the World Cup semi-final defeat to the USA, said the team had tried to learn from that shattering loss.

SpORtS DeSk Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said Lahore Qalandars can still qualify for the playoffs of the ongoing Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL). While talking in a YouTube video, Akhtar said that it would be foolish to write off the Qalandars at this stage because rain could play a major role in who qualifies for the next phase of the tournament. “The chances of rain in Pindi are high and in case matches of Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi are washed out, Lahore Qalandars can still qualify for the playoffs which is why it would be foolish to write them off,” said Akhtar. “But Lahore needs to stop losing and win at least four of their last five games,” he added. The 44-year-old also lashed out at the Qalandars after their poor show in Wednesday’s match against Islamabad United. Colin Munro’s unbeaten 87 helped Islamabad United beat Lahore Qalandars by 71 runs on Wednesday, which is the biggest victory margin, in terms of runs, in the history of HBL PSL. The previous biggest winning margin was 67 runs achieved by Quetta Gladiators against Karachi Kings in 2018. “People walked out of the stadium as soon as Islamabad posted a total around 200 because they did not expect Qalandars to chase it down,” he said. “It was a pathetic performance by Lahore and for God’s sake they should start playing smart cricket or else they will finish at the sixth position once again.” Qalandars will play their next match of the HBL PSL against Quetta Gladiators on March 7 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Haaland, Sancho key as Dortmund go to Gladbach LONDON Agencies

Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho carry Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of wining their first Bundesliga title since 2012 with their scintillating goal-scoring performances this year. The Ruhr valley club are bidding to continue their stellar start to 2020, which has brought six wins out of seven league games since the winter break, when they travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Dortmund’s run has helped them climb back up the table after a wobbly end to the year and they sit in third place, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

The 19-year-old Haaland took the league by storm after arriving in the winter break and became the first player in Bundesliga history to score nine goals in his first six league appearances before being rested last week. His speed and raw power is again expected to be on full display against Moenchengladbach, who are

led by Haaland’s former Red Bull Salzburg coach Marco Rose. Sancho has been even more impressive with 14 goals and 14 assists to his name amid widespread speculation he will be moving to the Premier League next season. “I think he has the feeling that the club does have a good future,” Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told the BBC. “In my opinion, I don’t think he wants to leave. It’s not a question of money. We have enough money. We want to have titles. I think this team has a lot more potential with Jadon than without Jadon,” he said.

Dortmund, in third place on 48 points behind Bayern and RB Leipzig, have won nine straight games against Gladbach.

They have scored 25 of their total 66 goals this season — a club record — since the start of 2020. Gladbach could be without forward Marcus Thuram who is nursing a knee injury and missed training earlier in the week. “This will be an ab-

CMYK

solute top game,” Gladbach captain Lars Stindl said. “We are looking forward to it and we will have to go to our limits. We will also need a full stadium to push us forward.” Bayern, 6-0 winners at Hoffenheim

last week, host fellow Bavarians Augsburg in Munich on Sunday after racking up six wins in seven league games this year.

Leipzig, on 49 points, travel to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Friday, 6 March, 2020

news

US UrGeS halt to aFGhan vIolence bUt pUtS FaIth In talIban WASHINGTON

U

AGENCIES

NITED States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday demanded an immediate reduction in violence in Afghanistan but said he still had confidence that Taliban insurgents were committed to a landmark agreement to end the war. Just days after Pompeo joined the signing of a deal with the Taliban in Qatar, the militants resumed attacks on Afghan government forces, leading US forces to carry out an airstrike on Wednesday.

But the US is still hoping that the Taliban will open talks with the Afghan government – set under the accord to begin next week – and the top US negotiator flew to Kabul in hopes of pushing through an accompanying massive prisoner swap.

"The upsurge in violence in parts of Afghanistan over the last couple of days is unacceptable," Pompeo told a news

conference in Washington.

"Violence must be reduced immediately for the peace process to move forward." Under Saturday's deal with the Taliban, the United States will start to pull out troops with a goal of a complete withdrawal in 14 months, ending the longestever US war.

In a scenario that would have been unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks that triggered the US invasion, President Donald Trump has spoken by telephone to Taliban political leader Mullah Baradar and praised the insurgents as a partner.

TALIBAN 'WORKING DILIGENTLY': US officials have sought to play down the violence, describing the Taliban as more of a ragtag rebel force than an organized military that can control all of its members.

"We have seen the senior Taliban leadership working diligently to reduce violence from previous levels," Pompeo said.

"So we still have confidence the Tal-

iban leadership is working to deliver on its commitments. We're working to deliver on ours." According to the Afghan interior ministry, the Taliban had carried out 30 attacks over a 24-hour period that resulted in the deaths of four civilians and 11 Afghan soldiers.

KHALILZAD SPEAKS ‘CANDIDLY’ TO TALIBAN CHIEF: As the Pentagon played down the gravity of new Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Khalilzad on Thursday said that he met with the insurgent group’s political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his team for a “candid discussion” on next steps.

The recent attacks on Afghan forces had cast doubts on a four-day-old peace deal between the insurgent group and the United States.

In a tweet, Khalilzad said that his conversation with the Taliban chief was followed with a “constructive phone call” with US President Donald Trump.

“We all agreed the purpose of the US-Taliban agreement is to pave the path

KHALILZAD SPEAKS ‘CANDIDLY’ TO TALIBAN CHIEF AS PENTAGON DOWNPLAYS NEW ATTACKS

to a comprehensive peace in Afghanistan,” he said. In a subsequent tweet, he said, “Increasing violence is a threat to the peace agreement and must be reduced immediately. In addition to discussing the need to decrease violence, we also talked about the exchange of prisoners.” Khalilzad said that the US was committed to facilitating the prisoner exchange, which he said was agreed in both the US-Taliban Agreement and the US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration.

“We will support each side to release significant numbers,” he said.

“We must act on all fronts to clear the road of obstacles that slow our progress toward intra-Afghan negotiations. I once again call on all Afghans to rise to the occasion, put country first and not to lose this historic opportunity,” Khalilzad concluded.

290m students out of school as global coronavirus battle intensifies Over 290 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged an allout, global offensive against the epidemic.

More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories.

The vast majority of global deaths and infections are in China, where the virus first emerged late last year, prompting the country to quarantine entire cities, temporarily shut factories and close schools indefinitely.

As the virus spread, other countries have also implemented extraordinary measures, with Unesco saying on Wednesday that 13 countries have closed schools, affecting 290.5 million children,

while nine others have implemented localised closures.

While temporary school closures during crises are not new, UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said, “the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education”.

Italy on Wednesday ordered schools and universities shuttered until March 15, ramping up its response as the national death toll rose to 107, the deadliest outbreak outside China.

South Korea — the country with the largest number of cases outside China with nearly 6,000 — has postponed the start of the current term until March 23.

In Japan, nearly all schools are closed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for classes to be canceled through March and spring break, slated for late March

through early April.

Some 120 schools closed in France this week in areas with the largest numbers of infections.

In Pakistan, where five cases have been reported so far, provincial governments have announced school closures.

Schools in Sindh will remain shut till Mar 13, in Balochistan till March 15 and in Gilgit-Baltistan till March 7.

The government of New Delhi has decided to close all primary schools in the Indian capital as a precautionary measure, according to a tweet by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. He said all government and private schools in the city will remain closed until March 31.

DEATH TOLL TOUCH 11 IN US: At least 11 people have died of the COVID-19 disease in the US, all but one of them in Washington state, and most of them from a

single nursing home in the Seattle area. The other death occurred in California, just outside Sacramento. The coronavirus has been confirmed in 17 states so far.

S AFRICA CONFIRMS FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASE: According to BBC, South Africa has detected its first case of the coronavirus in a 38-year-old man who visited Italy with his wife. The South African couple, who have two children, were part of a group of 10 who returned from Italy on March 1, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

82 CASES IN THE NETHERLANDS: The number of patients infected with the coronavirus in the Netherlands has more than doubled to 82, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) has confirmed. The number of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands increased from 38 a day earlier. AGENCIES

IMF provides $50bn to fight coronavirus outbreak

Makkah's Grand Mosque emptied for 'sterilisation'

The International Monetary Fund has announced $50bn (£39bn) of support for countries hit by the coronavirus. The organisation also warned that the outbreak had already pushed this year’s global economic growth below last year’s levels.

The emergency measure came after the virus has spread rapidly outside China to more than 70 countries. This week governments and central banks around the world have taken action to ease the impact of the virus. The IMF said it is making the money available to help poor and middle-income countries with weak health systems respond to the epidemic. At the same time the fund said the spread of the coronavirus has erased expectations of stronger economic growth this year, and will push 2020 global output gains to their slowest rate since the financial crisis in 2008. But IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that it is hard to forecast just how big the effect will be: “Global growth in 2020 will dip below last year’s levels, but how far it will fall and how long the impact will be is still difficult to predict”. She also declined to say whether the escalating health crisis could push the world economy into a recession. It is the latest move by global financial bodies, world governments and central banks to protect economies from the impact of the outbreak. AGENCIES

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday emptied the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus, an unprecedented move after the kingdom suspended the year-round Umrah pilgrimage. State television relayed stunning images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba — inside Makkah’s Grand Mosque, which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims. The move was a “temporary preventive measure” but the upper floors of the Grand Mosque were still open for prayers, a Saudi official told AFP. He called the measure “unprecedented”. On Wednesday, the kingdom halted the Umrah pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents. The move came after authorities last week suspended visas for the Umrah and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Makkah and Madina. Saudi Arabia on Thursday declared three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of reported infections to five. The decision to suspend the Umrah comes ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramzan starting in late April, which is a favoured period for pilgrimage. It is unclear how the coronavirus will affect the Hajj, due to start in late July. Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to perform the Hajj. AGENCIES

US panel hears of risks to Indian Muslims WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Experts warned a US government panel on Wednesday that India’s Muslims face risks of expulsion or other persecution under a citizenship law that has triggered major protests. The hearing held inside Congress was called by the US Commission on International Freedom, which has been denounced by the Indian government as biased. Ashutosh Varshney, a prominent scholar of sectarian violence in India, told the panel that the law championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalists amounted to a move to narrow the democracy’s historically inclusive and secular definition of citizenship. “The threat is serious, and the implications quite horrendous,” said Varshney, a professor at Brown University. “Something deeply injurious to the Muslim minority can happen once their citizenship rights are taken away,” he said.

Varshney warned that the law could ultimately lead to expulsion or detention — but, even if not, contributes to marginalization. “It creates an enabling atmosphere for violence once you say that a particular community is not fully Indian or its Indianness in grave doubt,” he said. The Indian parliament in December passed a law that fast-tracks citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from neighboring countries. Responding to criticism at the time from the US commission, which advises but does not set policy, India’s foreign ministry said the law does not strip anyone’s citizenship and “should be welcomed, not criticized, by those who are genuinely committed to religious freedom.” Fears are particularly acute in the northeastern state of Assam, where a citizens’ register finalized last year left 1.9 million people, many of them Muslims, facing possible statelessness. Aman Wadud, a human rights lawyer from Assam who traveled to Washington for the hearing, said that many Indians lacked birth certificates or other documentation to prove citizenship and were only seeking “a dignified life.” The hearing did not exclusively focus on India, with commissioners and witnesses voicing grave concern over Myanmar’s refusal to grant citizenship to the Rohingya, the mostly Muslim minority that has faced widespread violence. Gayle Manchin, the vice chair of the commission, also voiced concern over Bahrain’s stripping of citizenship from activists of the Shia majority as well as a new digital ID system in Kenya that she said risks excluding minorities. More than 40 people were killed last week in New Delhi in sectarian violence sparked by the citizenship law. India on Tuesday lodged another protest after the UN human rights chief, Michele Bachelet, sought to join a lawsuit in India that challenges the citizenship law’s constitutionality.

Afghan political rivals divided over release of Taliban prisoners KABUL AGENCIES

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s main political rival supports a Taliban demand for the release of thousands of their prisoners before they will take part in peace talks with the government, his spokesman said on Thursday.

A dispute over the prisoner release threatens a US-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, days after the militants and the United States signed an agreement on the withdrawal of US forces.

The adoption by Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani’s main rival in the past two, disputed presidential elections, of a position on the prisoner dispute at odds with that of Ghani’s will increase suspicion between them when they should be focusing on a united front for

the proposed talks with the Taliban.

The pact that the United States and the Taliban signed in Doha on Saturday calls for a

phased withdrawal of US-led foreign forces in return for a Taliban commitment to preventing militants from using Afghan soil to threaten the

security of the United States and others.

The accord – to which Ghani’s government was not a party – also provides for the release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for up to 1,000 Afghan government captives, by March 10.

But Ghani has rejected that, saying the release of prisoners should be negotiated. The Taliban are demanding their prisoners be freed before any peace talks begin and Abdullah agreed with that, his spokesman said.

“We believe that all the issues on the draft of the agreement are confirmed and agreed, by both sides, after long and careful discussions, so the things on the peace agreement should be implemented without any delay,” said the spokesman, Fraidoon Khwazoon.

“Trust-building is very important to take the peace talks forward and releasing the

5,000 Taliban and 1,000 ANDSF members is a must,” he added, referring to Afghan government forces.

A spokesman for Ghani did not immediately respond to a request for comment but a senior government official reiterated that it was not practical, and nor a prerequisite for the so-called intra-Afghan talks, that the prisoners be released.

“Over the years, we’ve released hundreds of insurgents as a gesture of good faith but it didn’t help with peace,” said the official, who declined to be identified. “The government has to be sure the release guarantees peace negotiations with the Taliban,” the official said. Ghani and Abdullah are old rivals who both held roles in the previous government under a US-brokered powersharing agreement.

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