E-Paper PDF 8th January (ISB)

CMYK

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020 I 11 Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 189 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Key military bills sail through NatioNal assembly g

govt spokesperson lauds opposition for keeping ‘national interest above politics’ ‘Darkest day’: PTM’s Mohsin Dawar walks out of NA in protest against Army Act STORIES ON PAGE 03

Two killed, 13 injured in blast near fc vehicle in Quetta STORY ON PAGE 02

Zardari, Talpur to be indicted on Jan 22 STORY ON PAGE 03

PPP wIThdrawS recommendaTIonS on bIllS ‘keePIng In mInd coUnTry’S and regIonal SITUaTIonS’

g

JUI-f, JI, mnaS from erSTwhIle faTa voTe agaInST bIllS, walkoUT from SeSSIon In ProTeST

g

SenaTe defence body aPProveS all Three bIllS whIch wIll now be Tabled In SenaTe Today

ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

he three bills regarding the tenure of the services chiefs — chief of army staff, chief of air staff and chief of naval staff and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee — sailed through the national assembly and were later also accorded approval by the Senate’s Standing committee on defence on Tuesday.

The bills — the Pakistan army (amendment) bill 2020, the Pakistan air force (amendment) bill 2020 and the Pakistan navy (amendment) bill 2020 — will be tabled for approval by the Senate on wednesday.

In a session of the Senate, all three bills had been presented by federal minister azam Swati. during the presentation, members of the opposition Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-fazl (JUI-f), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakhtunkhwa milli awami Party (PkmaP) and national Party (nP) opposed the bills, chanting slogans of “no, no”.

Subsequently, Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani forwarded the three bills to the committee for approval. later, minister for defence Pervez khattak said that the bills had been passed unanimously by the committee. when asked if any amendments had been put forth by the PPP, khattak replied in the negative.

NA ACCORDS APPROVAL TO BILLS: as the national assembly session began earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) mna amjad ali khan presented the report of the national assembly’s Standing committee on defence regarding the Pakistan army (amendment) bill 2020. later, defence minister khattak requested the PPP to take back their recommendations regarding amendments to the bills “in light of the regional situation”.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan was in the House on Tuesday. STAFF PHOTO

“This will create unity in the house and will create a better situation,” he said.

Taking the floor, PPP mna naveed Qamar took back his party’s recommendations regarding all three bills. “keeping in mind the situation in the country and the new situation in the region and after consulting with the rest of the opposition, […] in order to send a unified message, we (PPP) have decided not to press these amendments,” he said.

Speaker asad Qaiser conducted a clause by clause reading of each bill, one after the other, putting them up for a voice vote. despite religious party members, including JUI-f, JI and representatives from the erstwhile federally administered Tribal areas (faTa), walking out of the na declaring the lower house to be “fake”, all three bills were approved.

The session was later adjourned till 4pm on wednesday. a meeting of the Pml-n parliamentary group was also held before the session. meanwhile, a

government delegation met with PPP chairman bilawal bhutto-Zardari in his chamber. a day earlier, the national assembly’s Standing committee on defence unanimously approved the bills during an in-camera session, an indication that the government and opposition had reached an accord on the passage of the bill.

“The amendments were passed unanimously by the body. I congratulate the entire country and the opposition parties,” khattak had said.

The Supreme court had while deciding on the legal challenge to the second tenure for chief of army Staff (coaS) gen Qamar bajwa asked the government to define the tenure, terms and conditions of service of the army chief and to get their approval from the parliament within six months.

In an unusual haste, the federal cabinet had approved the proposed amendments at an emergency session last wednesday.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

government injects rs7 billion in Utility Stores corporation

50 killed, 213 injured in stampede at Iranian general’s funeral procession Pompeo defends legality of US killing Iran’s Soleimani

g

ToP US offIcIal PlayS down TrUmP’S ThreaT To aTTack IranIan cUlTUral SITeS, SayS anyThIng US doeS wIll adhere To InTernaTIonal rUleS of war STORIES ON BACK PAGE CMYK

STORY ON PAGE 11

Trade deficit shrinks 30.67 per cent in first half of FY20 STORY ON PAGE 11

Prices of 89 medicines reduced by 15 per cent STORY ON PAGE 11

CMYK Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

02 NEWS 2 pilots martyred as paF training aircraFt crashes near mianwali

two killed, 13 injured in blast near Fc vehicle in Quetta QuEttA

MIANWALI STAFF REPORT

An aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed while on a routine operational training mission crashed near Mianwali, PAF reported on Tuesday. Both pilots, Squadron Leader Haris bin Khalid and Flying Officer Ibaadur Rehman, aboard the PAF FT-7 aircraft lost their lives in the crash. A board of inquiry has been ordered by the Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident. The last trainer plane crash was reported in October 2019 when a trainer aircraft belonging to the Army Aviation crash-landed in a paddy field near Wazirabad in Punjab’s Gujranwala district.

However, both pilots aboard the plane remained safe.

two policemen killed, two injured in firing incident RAWALPINDI APP

Two policemen were killed while two others, including a woman, were injured in a firing by a suspected robber on Tuesday.

According to details, the policemen were on routine duty at a picket in Saddar Bazaar when the robber opened fire on them, killing head constable Muhammad Ali and constable Saeed on the spot.

The police returned fire, killing the assailant.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Suhail Habbeb Tajik, City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Ahsan Younas and other officials rushed to the crime scene.

Speaking on the occasion, CPO Muhammad Ahsan Younas said that police have rendered sacrifices in line of duty adding that it is responsibility of police to protect the lives and properties of the people.

a

STAFF REPORT

T least two people were killed and 13 others injured as FC vehicle targeted here in the provincial capital Quetta on Tuesday.

According to details, the blast occurred at McConaghey Road of Quetta where explosive material installed on a bike was detonated closer to an FC ve-

hicle. The blast resulted in the death of two people besides leaving 13 others injured. Due to intensity of blast nearby shops were damaged and a motorcycle parked nearby caught fire in the explosion. The area was cordoned off and investigation teams took over the site.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal condemned the incident, saying that miscreants were trying to ruin the peace established in the city and the province.

Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim passes away in Karachi at 91 Former chief election commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim passed away in Karachi on Tuesday. He was 91 years old. Ebrahim served as an eminent jurist, constitutional expert, senior advocate of the Supreme Court, former federal law minister, former Attorney General of Pakistan, former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and former Governor of Sindh.

He was born on February 12, 1928, in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat. Ebrahim attended the Gujrat Vidyapith and received an undergraduate degree in law in 1949. He also studied courses based on the philosophy and attended lectures given by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. It is believed that his advocacy for non-violence and peace comes from Gandhi’s teachings.

In the year 1950, Ebrahim migrated to Pakistan and attended Sindh Muslim College.

He received an LLM degree and an honorary Juris Doctor in 1960 and later established his own law

firm by the name of Fakhruddin G Ebrahim & Company.

Ebrahim also served as the Attorney General of Pakistan during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s regime and later as the Governor of Sindh. In March 1981, he was amongst the very few judges who refused to take oath under Provincial Constitutional Order (PCO) drafted by General Ziaul-Haq, along with Justice S. Anwarul Haq, Justice Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain and Justice Dorab Patel. The PCO not only negated the independence of the judiciary but also prolonged martial law by nullifying the effect of a judgment giving General Zia regime’s limited recognition. The establishment of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee in 1989 remains one of Ebrahim’s prolific achievements. In 1996, Ebrahim served as law minister in the caretaker cabinet of President Farooq Leghari, following the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. NEWS DESK

He said authorities will ensure peace at any cost in the province.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove condemned the blast.

He said miscreants were trying to disturb the peaceful environment in the province.

Langove said the injured will be provided the best medical treatment. He directed law enforcement agencies to take stringent security measures so that such incidences do not happen again.

“It was a bomb blast,” said one of the injured persons, speaking to our correspondent. “I was sitting outside when the blast occurred all of a sudden.”

Another said he was carrying goods into his shop, located on the same road, when the explosion occurred.

“The blast broke all the windows inside our shop, injuring me. Shattered glass lay everywhere. I sealed my shop and went to the hospital for treatment,” he said.

Lawyers and doctors bury the hatchet LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Lawyers and doctors on Tuesday agreed to end the hostilities between the two communities days after a mob of lawyers attacked the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), resulting in the deaths of six patients. A group of more than 200 lawyers, who had an ongoing tussle with the doctors of the PIC, had stormed the hospital on December 11, vandalised the property and damaged dozens of vehicles. They also set ablaze a police van during their assault.

According to reports, the recent negotiations were held between the top representatives from both sides where they agreed to bury the hatchet. Some top police officers facilitated the settlement between the two fraternities. However, both sides agreed that legal action against the elements involved in attacking the cardiovascular hospital would continue. The doctors agreed to remove graf-

fiti against lawyers from a memorial erected to remember the PIC incident.

Two FIRs were registered against over 250 lawyers who attacked PIC of which only 52 were arrested and presented before the court.

On December 24, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted bail to 25 lawyers against surety bonds of Rs100,000. The ATC had granted bail to 17 lawyers on Dec 20.

Indian troops martyr Kashmiri youth in Pulwama SRINAGAR: In a fresh act of state terrorism, Indian troops on Tuesday martyred a young boy in Pulwama district of occupied Kashmir. The youth was killed during a cordon and search operation in the Charsoo Awantipora area of the district. In a statement on Twitter, police said that one militant was killed in a gunfight in Charsoo village of the district. “The operation is going on,” the tweet said. INP

Key military bills sail through National Assembly cONtINuED fROM PAgE 01 GOVT’S HASTE SPARKS CONTROVERSY: The lower houses’ standing committee on defence had deliberated upon the bills for a second time on Monday after their approval in less than an hour at a joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly committee members on Friday had sparked controversy. When the opposition had protested over the “undue haste” being shown by the ruling coalition, the government had to postpone the sessions of the two houses convened for Saturday.

The government then agreed to a new timeline on the demand of the opposition parties.

EXPECTED AMENDMENTS: As per the amendments approved by the NA committee, the appointment of the services chiefs and chairman of the joint chief of staff committee would be the prerogative of the prime minister and his decision to appoint, reappoint or extend the tenures of chiefs and the chairman cannot be challenged in any court of law. The upper age limit for a four-star appoint-

CMYK

ment has been fixed at 64 years in the case of reappointment and extension, otherwise, the officer will retire at the age of 60 years.

Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem had briefed members of the NA standing committee on various aspects of the three bills.

The main opposition parties — PML-N and PPP — had intended to introduce some amendments to the bills but the law minister told them at the meeting that the proposed changes would require a constitutional amendment. According to a committee member, the opposition parties did not later press for the amendments and the bills were approved with consensus.

Through one of their proposed amendments, the opposition parties had sought “a role for the parliamentary committee on national security” for the reappointment of the services chiefs and chairman.

The amendment required the prime minister to appear before the parliamentary committee on national security to record reasons for giving an extension to or for reappoint-

ment of the services chiefs and chairman, joint chiefs of the staff committee.

EXTENSION CONUNDRUM: Prime Minister Imran Khan had previously extended Gen Bajwa’s tenure through a notification in August 2019, but the top court suspended it on Nov 26, 2019, due to irregularities in the manner of extension. After three days of heightened uncertainty, the apex court, through a short order on Nov 28, 2019, had announced that Gen Bajwa would remain the COAS for another six months during which the parliament would legislate on the army chief’s extension/reappointment.

In its detailed verdict released on Dec 16, 2019, the top court had emphasised that it was up to the parliament to carry out legislation that would provide “certainty and predictability” to the post of the COAS for all times to come.

In the wake of the apex court’s order, the government had introduced the three bills regarding the services chiefs’ tenures in the National Assembly on Friday.

CMYK Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

NEWS

govt spokesperson lauds opp For keeping ‘national interest above politics’ ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

S the National Assembly passed the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2020, with a simple majority, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan was all praises for the opposition on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media minutes after the legislation was approved in the Lower House, the prime minister’s aide said: “The lower house passing the bills is illustrative of the fact that when it comes to national interest and safety, all political parties are ready to set aside their interests and stand with the government.

“Today, I salute all political parties and the role that they have played [in passing the bills in the National Assembly], especially the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). “They [PPP] withdrew their proposed amendments to the bills

in the greater national interest and stood with the national cause,” she said.

“Today is also an eye-opener for the enemies of the state. Whenever the country has needed its political leadership, they have stood by the country and acted in the greater national interest.

“I am hopeful that this show of unity from the Parliament will also be demonstrated on other matters related to the national interest. “It is time we sit together and brainstorm on developing a strategy for defining and protecting our national interest,” she stressed, adding that the “wave of unity demonstrated today should continue going forward”. Awan was of the view that the most important issue facing the country currently was national security. “You can see what is happening in the region,” she said in an apparent reference to a rise in tensions after the US assassination of top Iranian Gen Qasem Soleimani. “In such a scenario, if there is instability or uncertainty

sc asks nab why it arrests suspects first and hunts for evidence later ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday questioned the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) culture of arresting suspects before searching for evidence.

The remarks were made during the hearing of a bail plea filed by NAB suspect Faisal Kamran Qureshi. A threemember bench presided by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah noted that the anti-graft watchdog took suspects into custody before collecting evidence. Justice Alam questioned why the country’s top accountability regulator does not expedite its inquiries.

“Why does NAB not make arrests once it has completed its inquiry and legal proceedings?” asked Justice Alam. “It appears that the bureau first places the suspect behind bars then looks for evidence and testimonies against them.”

NAB prosecutor Imranul Haq explained bureau’s practice as a pre-emptive measure to prevent record tampering. He said Qureshi had been arrested in an inquiry pertaining to fraudulent practices at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. “A reference will be filed soon,” he added and promised that NAB would conclude proceedings soon. However, Qureshi’s counsel maintained that his client was innocent and had already faced a Federal Investigation Agency probe into the matter. “He has returned the amount.” But Haq argued that Qureshi had not returned the entire sum.

The apex court dismissed the appeal after the suspect’s counsel withdrew it. STAFF REPORT

in institutions responsible for national security and their leadership […], it ultimately sends a message to Pakistan’s enemies about your weakness and vulnerability. This serves to perpetuate the propaganda of your enemies.

“Today the parliament has sent a message to the enemies of the state by unanimously passing these bills.” Senator Fasial Javed, who spoke on the occasion, called for a move towards a “constructive opposition” in the country.

“When the government goes astray, guide it. But when they are headed in the right direction, support it,” he said in his message to opposition parties. Referencing the Zainab Alert Bill, 2019, the senator said: “Certain pieces of legislation, which are in the greater public interest, are dragged through committees. The opposition should make an active effort to not let bills concerning the well-being of people drag on in committees.”

Later, speaking to reporters, Federal

Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the bills will now be tabled in the Senate after which it will be presented to the Senate’s defense committee. “It will be passed in the Senate tomorrow and become the law.” Chaudhry said following the passage of these bills, the government will begin talks with the opposition regarding amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

He said some talks had already taken place, adding that Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser will lead the process of consultations. Following this, the appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan will be looked at, he added. “These are the three important issues regarding which the government and opposition are in contact currently,” he said, adding that there was a “mechanism” in place regarding these key bills.

FO summons Indian envoy over allegations of maltreatment of Sikh community ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to convey Pakistan’s rejection of India’s allegations concerning the maltreatment of the Sikh community and attacks on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. During the meeting, Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri conveyed Pakistan’s denouncement of the Indian government’s allegations of “vandalism and desecration” of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and the “targeted killing” of a Pakistani Sikh youth in Peshawar. The DG termed these allegations as a part of India’s “desperate attempts to divert attention from the continuing state terrorism” in India-occupied Kashmir (IOK) and “systematic discrimination against minorities in India,” the statement said.

The DG further said that Pakistan’s constitution guarantees equal rights to all its citizens and the government is committed to protecting the rights of minorities, with zero-tolerance against any discrimination. According to the FO state-

ment, the Indian official was told that “rather than pointing fingers towards others, India should focus on ensuring effective protection of its own minorities and their holy places of worship — including mosques — from repeated instances of desecration, hate crimes and mob lynchings.” The Indian allegations had surfaced after police had to step in on Friday amid rising tensions in Nankana Sahib after a heated debate at a tea stall threatened to blow into a big law and order issue.

Reports said four customers, while taking tea at Zaman’s stall in front of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, started a conversation about his nephew, Muhammad Ehsaan who, just a few months ago, came into the limelight for marrying a Sikh girl after allegedly forcing her to convert. Zaman reportedly reacted with anger, which led to a confrontation between two groups. A small crowd gathered to raise slogans. A team of Nankana Sahib police had to intervene briskly to control the situation. In a statement issued later that day, the Foreign Office had clarified that the incident in Nankana Sahib was the result of an “altercation between two Muslim groups” and that it should not be portrayed as a communal issue.

03

'darkest day': ptm's mohsin dawar walks out of na in protest against army act Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader and MNA Mohsin Dawar on Tuesday walked out of the National Assembly session which approved the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2020, calling it “one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s parliamentary history”. Taking to Twitter following the session, Dawar, who is a staunch supporter of parliamentary democracy, wrote: “This parliament acted like a rubber stamp,” claiming the “speaker didn’t even allow the few dissenting voices to make their case”. “This is one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s parliamentary history. It will take a long time to recover from this,” he added. However, Dawar mentioned that he voted against the proposed legislation before walking out of the session. NEWS DESK

Zardari, talpur to be indicted on january 22 ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Tuesday decided to indict Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister MNA Faryal Talpur and other suspects in the Park Lane and mega money laundering cases on January 22.

Accountability Judge Azam Khan conducted the hearing of the cases. Talpur appeared before the court whereas Zardari’s counsel Farooq Naek filed a petition on his client’s behalf, seeking exemption from appearance on medical grounds. Naek told the court that the former president is undergoing medical treatment in Karachi.

The court directed all suspects to ensure their presence during the next hearing as it will issue indictments. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation officer told the court that nine more suspects have been included in the supplementary reference in the money laundering case whereas five suspects have been removed from the list. Notices were served to Zardari, Talpur, Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani Majeed, Nimar Majeed, Hussain Lawai, Younus Kidwai and others accused in the supplementary reference.

The hearing in the said cases was adjourned till January 22. STAFF REPORT

Murad appreciates Imran’s support for Sindh in 41st CCI meeting ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

Weeks after the federal government started warming up towards the provincial government in Sindh despite the rivalry between Pakistan the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in order to develop a working relationship, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to express his gratitude. On December 23, 2019, as a gesture of centre’s willingness to cooperate with the Sindh government, the premier had accepted the latter’s demands which were tabled by CM Shah in the 41st meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The chief minister had asked the federal government to stop deducting Rs19 billion from the provincial consolidated fund by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and to immediately halt work on 25MW Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal hydel proj-

ect. He had also asked the centre to appoint members of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) on the recommendation of the provinces while ensuring proper water apportionment among provinces. He had further pushed demands pertaining to import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Alternate and Renewable Energy Policy 2019, etc. All of these conditions were accepted by the premier.

In his letter on Tuesday, CM Shah said, “I reiterate that Sindh shall be forthcoming and reciprocate to bring about improvements in the policies for the betterment of the people of Pakistan and further strengthening of inter-provincial harmony in our country.” He also said that he is looking forward to hosting Adviser to Prime Minister on Energy Nadeem Babar to further streamline the import of LNG. “I am grateful to the CCI for appreciating the stance of Sindh that LNG comes under the domain of CCI,” he added.

Requesting the prime minister to immediately notify a committee comprising attorney general, four advocate generals and technical people from the provinces to jointly review the long-standing issue of provinces regarding water apportionment, the chief minister advocated that a report presented by attorney general in CCI had vindicated the stance of Sindh that “water has to be distributed pro-rata between the provinces of 10-daily statements which were made a part of the Water Apportionment Accord by the CCI on 16-09-1991”.

He also said that all members of the CCI had agreed with the report except for Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar as his province had certain reservations over the matter. Regarding the deduction from the provincial consolidated fund, CM Shah appreciated PM Imran’s directives issued to the finance adviser and FBR chairman to resolve and refund the due payments to the provinces. “I will be following up with

CMYK

Ministry of Finance on this,” he wrote.

CM Shah also highlighted that Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal was nonperennial, therefore, it may not be advisable to construct a power plant there due to insufficient water inflow and the no-objection certificate earlier issued by Indus River System Authority (IRSA) shall have no effect till the issue is deliberated and decided by the CCI. Assuring fullest cooperation for the implementation of Article 158 of the Constitution, the chief minister thanked the CCI for recognising that the gas producing province has the first right to use that gas.

“I assure you our fullest cooperation in this regard,” he added.

About Alternate and Renewable Policy, 2019, CM Shah appreciated the premier for being kind in entertaining the concerns of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan by directing the Power Division to resolve the concerns of the provinces and resubmit a consensual

draft for consideration and resolution. “I look forward to the Power Division to initiate necessary consultation at the earliest,” he said. He further assured the PM that the amendments put forth by Sindh in the draft of Alternate and Renewable Policy, 2019, shall be in compliance with the desire to safeguard national interest.

While requesting the premier to instruct the Ministry of Water Resources to prepare the draft amendment for placement and consideration in the next CCI meeting, the chief minister further appreciated the premier’s acceptance of the provinces’ proposals for amending the WAPDA Act for the post of chairman and members so that the authority comprises one member each from all provinces and the chairman can be appointed on rotation basis among members. He said that the chief executive officer (CEO) of WAPDA shall be a professional and would be appointed by the federal government.

04 ISLAMABAD

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES 0 WEDNESDAY

19 C

15 injured in PeshAwAr gAs leAK incidents

PESHAWAR: At least 15 people received burn injuries in different gas leak incidents here during last 24 hours. Five people were injured when a fire broke out in a flat in Afghan Colony due to gas leakage. They were shifted to local hospital. In another incident in a house at Inqilab Road five people were injured. However, gas leak fire was also reported in a house at Essa Khan Garhi area, injuring two women and three children. Another fire incident was reported at a private hospital in Nasir Bagh area but no injury was reported. STAFF REPORT

10C

THURSDAY

210C

10C

FRIDAY

210C

30C

SATURDAY

210C

60C

KP Assembly seeKs Provision of fAcilities on PAK-AfghAn border Points PESHAWAR

K

APP

H y B E R Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Tuesday unanimously passed three resolutions seeking provision of trade and other facilities on all points of Pak-Afghan border, setting up of food testing laboratories across the province.

Shafiq Sher Afridi of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) moved a resolution in the House chaired by Speaker Mushtaq Ghani, seeking

equal facilities at all border points on Pak-Afghan like available at Wagha border in Punjab, Chamman border in Balochistan, Gawardar PakIran border, Siri Nagar border point in Muzzafarabad and Kasghar border point in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The resolution recommended the federation to ensure provision of all trade and other facilities at all border points on Pak-Afghan border including Torkham border point in Khyber district, Gorsal border point in Mohmand district, Ghulam Khan border point in North

Waziristan and Angoor Adda in South Waziristan to provide business and other opportunities to local people.

The resolution said that tribal people have rendered great sacrifices for the sake of motherland in war against terror. Now, after merger of tribal areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the government should have to provide them all basic facilities in recognition of their sacrifices.

Meanwhile, Zinat Bibi of PTI moved a resolution recommending setting up of food testing laboratories across the province with a

view to ensure provision of quality food stuff to the masses. The other resolution moved by parliamentary leader of PMLN Sardar Mohammad yousaf, saying, the people of KP were facing discriminatory treatment in Sindh province in provision of basic facilities and in jobs despite having their temporary address of Karachi on CNICs. The resolution said KP people should be given equal opportunities in Sindh. All the three resolutions were adopted and passed unanimously by the House.

Businessmen ask CDA to address concerns of traders of G-11 Markaz ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Headed by President Traders Welfare Association, G-11 Markaz, Islamabad Ch. Aftab Gujar, a delegation of the businessmen visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) on Tuesday and highlighted key issues of their market that needed urgent attention of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI).

President ICCI Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, Senior Vice President Tahir Abbasi, Vice President Saif ur Rahman Khan, Chairman Founder Group Zubair Ahmed Malik, former President ICCI Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Khalid Chaudhry and others attended the meeting. Speaking at the occasion, Ch. Aftab Gujar President and Syed Qaiser Abbas Kazmi Secretary General, Traders Welfare Association, G-11

Police detain two as children stab, kill friend over mid-game dispute in Peshawar PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Police detained two children on Tuesday after a group of kids stabbed and killed one of their friends over a midgame dispute in the city's Pir Bala Chowki area.

Authorities said a 10-yearold boy's tortured body was recovered from the area.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Zahoor Babar Afridi, the minor boy was playing with his friends when they got in a fight. As the clash escalated, some of the children attacked him with a sharp object and stabbed him. The child died on the spot. SSP Afridi added that police had gathered evidence and started an investigation, following which they detained two children. Both confessed to the crime and the murder weapon was also recovered from them, he added.

Markaz, Islamabad said that due to inattention of CDA and MCI, traders of their market were facing many problems. They said that filtration plant was not installed in their market due to which people of the area were deprived of clean drinking water.

The office bearers of the Traders Welfare Assocation said that water shortage, broken roads, footpaths, insufficient parking, sewerage system, sanitation, street lights, lack of public toilet etc. were the major issues in G-11 Markaz. They stressed that CDA and MCI should address these issues and focus on development works in G-11 Markaz in order to facilitate the growth of business activities.

Addressing the delegation, President ICCI Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that G-11 Markaz was one of important business centres of the federal capital and urged that CDA and MCI should urgently resolve highlighted is-

sues of traders of the area. He said the business community of Islamabad was not satisfied with the performance of CDA and MCI as both were not resolving their major issues. He stressed upon the government to bring reforms in these organizations so that they could deliver better services to the citizens.

He said that IESCO should proper organize electric wires in G-11 Markaz in order to avoid any fatal incident.

Senior Vice President Tahir Abbasi and Vice President ICCI Saif ur Rahman Khan assured the delegation that ICCI would fully cooperate with TWA G-11 Markaz in redressal of their key issues. Zubair Ahmed Malik Chairman Founder Group, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi former President ICCI, Asif Shah, Waqar Malik, and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed for the need of undertaking developmental works in G-11 Markaz to facilitate the business community.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

NEWS

23 buildings in Sukkur declared extremely dangerous SUKKUR: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has completed its survey of dilapidated buildings in Sukkur and declared that 23 buildings are in extremely dangerous condition, which need to be demolished, while 56 others are dangerous needing immediate repair. On the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, a SBCA conducted a survey of the buildings and found the condition of 23 buildings most dangerous dilapidated. Sukkur is the third largest city of Sindh and had been deprived of proper city planning since its establishment. Recently two buildings collapsed in the city. A threestorey building collapsed in Sukkur last week that killed nine people and injured 12 others. Despite being third largest city of Sindh, Sukkur has been deprived of its due status due to lack of political wisdom and poor city planning. The city has even not been given basic facilities of life as it faces problems of water, air, and noise pollutions; traffic jams and over flowing gutters at several places.

The city, located on the western bank of mighty Indus River, the lifeline of Sindh’s people, needs attention from all relevant authorities to wake up from slumbering and adopt positive development approach to resolve the city’s problems on priority basis. There is need to ensure city planning and ensure evacuation of people from old and dilapidated buildings. This could be done by providing house building loans to the citizens. The city needs sufficient annual budget for ensuring its beauty and making roads, streets and other infrastructure as per standard. There is need to make city planning in better way to widen the roads and end traffic jams which cause air and noisy pollution in congested areas. The roads and streets are not being cleansed properly on daily basis as heaps of garbage could be found on many roads while many streets are littered with sewerage and garbage. PPI

three killed as speeding bus collides with motorcycle KARACHI: As many as three persons, including a motorcyclist, were killed on the spot when a speeding bus crashed into a motorcycle near Landhi area of the metropolis in the wee hours of Tuesday. The police and rescue officials said that the accident was caused due to speeding. Rescue 1122 personnel immediately reached the scene, shifted the bodies to nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities. The bus driver, however, managed to escape. The police were investigating the case. According to eye-witnesses, the accident was caused due to negligence of bus driver and was so severe that all three victims died on the spot. STAFF REPORT

05

Sindh cabinet approveS $25 miLLion wetLandS ecoSyStem Service project KARACHI

t

File photo

STAFF REPORT

He Sindh cabinet which met here under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday at New Secretariat decided to re-vegetate degraded wetlands to provide full spectrum of wetlands ecosystem services for benefit of poverty-stricken coastal communities through Public Private Partnership (PPP) by investing$25 million.

The cabinet meeting was attended by all provincial ministers, advisors, acting chief secretary Mohammad Waseem and other concerned officers.

BlUe CARBon: The Minister Forest & Wildlife, Nasir Shah briefing the cabinet said that Blue Carbon is the carbon stored and sequestered in costal ecosystem such as mangrove forests, sea grass meadows, intertidal salt-marshes or wetlands. These valuable ecosystems hold vast carbon reservoir; they sequester atmospheric CO2 through primary production, and then deposit it in their sediment.

The cabinet was told that the blue carbon was found in the soils or sediments beneath the vegetation.

These degraded wetlands, if properly re-vegetated have the potential to provide full-spectrum of wetlands ecosystem services for the benefit of poverty-stricken coastal communities and the provincial government.

Secretary Forest Rahim Soomro said that Public Private Partnership was the only way forward for rehabilitation and restoring these vast chunks of degraded wetlands in the Indus Delta Area. At this the chief minister said that budgetary and techno-managerial constraints in re-vegetating these areas could be addressed through private sector partnership. He directed the forest department to start work through PPP mode.

Minister Forest & Wildlife Nasir Shah said that a private fir has already shown their interest. They have committed to develop and sustainably manage the wetlands in due recognition of their social, economic and ecologic significance, including carbon sequestration and storage.

The private firm has proposed a Sindh Blue Carbon initiative (SCBI) been told to be implemented over 0.20 to 0.25 million hectares of Indus Delta land falling Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts. The proposed project period is for 60 years which may be extendable upto 100 years. The project would cost around $25 million.

TRopHy HUnTIng: The cabinet also approved trophy hunting. In trophy hunting animals sought as trophies have large weapons such as horns, antlers or tusks.

Consequently, trophies so counted are invariably old age males, and the animals most frequently considered as trophy species are the ungulates. The Minister Forest Nasir Shah told the cabinet that Trophy Hunting was not carried out at protected areas such as National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries but only at Game reserves, private lands & state lands. The chief minister said that it was not an attempt to generate revenue but to manage, conserve and protect wildlife & their habituates.

The cabinet was informed that in early 199s, community-based trophy hunting started in Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan. This attracted a large number of international

hunters to Pakistan. It was pointed out that in the nonprotected areas the population of Ibex have been counted at 797 at different areas, including Surjan/Duban, Sumbak Game Reserve, eri Game, Hothiyano, Pachran and Uth Palan. Minister Forest told the chief minister that five Urial have been allowed for trophy at a fee of $14,000 each (only for foreigners) , 20 Sindh Ibex, including 15 by foreigners at a fee of $5600 each and 5 Ibext by Pakistani national at a fee of $300,000 each.

JeTTIeS RegUlARIzATIon: The Fisheries Minister Bari Pitafi told the cabinet that there were 33 illegal jetties, including 12 in Ibrahim Hyderi, five at Mauripur, six at Thatta, Badin, Sakro and Gharo and 10 Balochistan Coast Belt. These jetties were being managed by influential people and charging Rs100 to Rs5000 from every boat. Thus they were causing around Rs4 to 5 billion loss to the government.

The chief minister directed the fisheries department to make necessary arrangements for installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in phases.

Necessary amendment was made to regularize the illegally developed jetties so that they could be managed by the government instead of private people. pTDC ASSeTS: The Sindh cabinet observed that after the passage of 18th Constitutional amendment the assets of PTDC should have been devolved automatically. The PTDC has 8 kanal dilapidated condition Motel at Hawksbay, 32 acres land at Sukkur, 9 Kanal at Hyderabad, Tourism Faciulitation Center Karachi, Motel at Moen-jo-Daro, Tourism Information Center Thatta and 6 Kaanal land at Bambhore.

The cabinet decided to write a letter to the federal government to transfer the assets and meanwhile maintenance of these assets would be looked after by the provincial government.

SAfeTy RUleS: The Minister Labour Saeed Ghani presented draft Sindh Occupational Safety & Health Rules, 2019 framed under the act of 2018. The rules have 26 sections in which workers, labourers and agricultural workers have included. The employers have been bound to provide neat and clean atmosphere in their establishments and adopting safe and security measures, including installation of illuminations, ventilation, maintenance eof temperature, noice control, dust control etc.

The cabinety approved the rules and directed labour department to implement them in true letter and spirit. exempTIon of feeS: Minister Labour Saeed Ghani requested the cabinet to exempt all the shops and other commercial establishments from registration fee under ease of Doing Business Reforms.

The cabinet discussed and decided to exempt all the shops and such other commercial establishments from registration fee all over Sindh. However, the shops would have to get them register through business portal free of cost.

BlooD BAnK CenTeRS: The health department told the cabinet that Regional Blood Center (RBC) Jamshoro was being operated by Indus Hospital with attached seven Blood Banks, LUMS Hospital Branch Hyderabad, DHQ Matiari, Civil Hospital Thatta, Civil Hospital Badin, Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas, Civil Hospital Tharparkar, and Civil Hospital Jamshoro.

The Indus hospital performed a gap analyses wherein it was found that the total requirement of all the attached hospital-based blood banks was 70,000 bags, Hence the quantity of 20,000 bags mentioned in the contract. This would cause an impact of RS8.2 billion in next 10 years. The cabinet approved the proposal and gave go ahead signal to the Indus hospital.

No compromise on national security, says MPA KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Haleem Adil Sheikh has said that all political parties are one page as there is no compromise on national security.

Addressing a press conference outside Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, he said that they congratulated the Prime Minister, Army Chief, and all political parties, including opposition, on passing of the Army Act. He said: “We all are on the same page including our armed forces, government, opposition and Pakistani masses when it is the matter of our national security.” He said in

December last, Maulana was saying something about January, now would he like to comment what is going to happen in this month. He said if the government of Sindh wanted to do something for welfare of people, it should come forward and we will support it. He said we are elected representatives and it is our duty to speak on the real issues of masses. He said we will fully support if the government of Sindh comes forward with some positive lawmaking to bring a visible improvement in lives of the poor people of this province. He said on the national issues all political parties are united. He said we see betterment in behavior of Sindh government and we are ready to support it on public issues.

Haleem Adil said ongoing tension between the US and Iran is very dangerous and if it

is not stopped urgently it may spread like the jungle fire of Australia. He said these issues should be resolved with a dialogue process. He said the matters of security we fully support our armed forces. On the issue of Kashmir and tension in India, he said Indian channels today should see the unity of Pakistani masses with their armed forces. He said Modi should also see this unity with his own eyes. He said recently we arranged a rally from Hyderabad to Khokhrapar border which was largely attended by the Hindu community living in Sindh. He said we also visited Hindu temples and talked to their leaders who said they were happy and safe in Pakistan. He said all religious minorities living in Pakistan are patriotic and they are ready to lay sacrifices for the sake of the nation and country.

NICH facing shortage of drugs, surgical equipment KARACHI PPI

National Institute of Child Health (NICH) has been facing acute shortage of medicines for several months, while many major diagnostic tests are also not being performed in the health facility owing unavailability of funds, sources at NICH told PPI on Tuesday.

The largest children-care hospital of the province has been facing acute shortage of life-saving drugs and disposal surgical items for several months due to negligence of Sindh health department bureaucracy.

The patients are being compelled to purchase medicines from private medical stores. The shortage of medicine has badly affected the patient-care and also

doubled the miseries of poor patients who come from far flung areas of Sindh for treatment of their ailing children. The OPD patients have to stand in queues for hours to get medicines but they do not get all medicines prescribed by doctors due to shortage.

Sources further said even gloves and syringes are not available in operation theaters in the healthcare. The attendants of

patients have to purchase gloves and other disposal items from private medical stores.

Some major tests are also not being carried out in the institution for several months due to shortage funds. The poor patients are being referred to private laboratories for their diagnostic tests.

Director, National Institute of Child Health, Prof Jamal Raza was not available for comment.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

Why a US-Iran War ISn’t goIng to happen THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS MAY SEE IRREGULAR WARFARE PROSECUTED WITH NEWFOUND VIGOUR THROUGH FAMILIAR UNCONVENTIONAL WAR MAKING METHODS

NatioNal iNterest

W

JAmeS HOLmeS

ILL Tehran and Washington let slip the dogs of war following last week’s aerial takedown of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s IRGC) Quds Force? You could be forgiven for thinking so considering the hot takes that greeted the news of the drone strike outside Baghdad. For example, one prominent commentator, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Richard Haass, opined that the Middle East “region (and possibly the world) will be the battlefield.” Haass is right in the limited sense that irregular military operations now span the globe. Terrorists thirst to strike at far as well as near enemies in hopes of degrading their will to fight. They respect no national boundaries and never have. Frontiers are likewise murky in the cyber realm, to name an-

other battleground with no defined battlefronts. The United States and Iran have waged cyber combat for a decade or more, dating to the Stuxnet worm attack on the Iranian nuclear complex in 2010.

The coming weeks and months may see irregular warfare prosecuted with newfound vigour through such familiar unconventional war making methods. It’s doubtful Tehran would launch into conventional operations, stepping onto ground it knows America dominates. To launch full-scale military reprisals would justify full-scale U.S. military reprisals that, in all likelihood, would outstrip Iran’s in firepower and ferocity. So the outlook is for more of the same. That’s a far cry from the more fevered prophecies of World War III aired since Soleimani went to his reward. To fathom Tehran’s dilemma, let’s ask a fellow who knew a thing or two about Persian ambitions.

The Athenian historian Thucydides chronicled the Peloponnesian War, a fifthCentury B.C. maelstrom that engulfed the Greek world. Persia was a major player in that contest. In fact, it helped decide the endgame when the Great King supplied Athens’ antagonist, Sparta, with the resources to build itself into a naval power capable of defeating the vaunted Athenian navy at sea. But Thucydides also meditates on human nature at many junctures in his history, deriving observations of universal scope. At one stage, for instance, he has Athenian ambassadors posit that three of the prime movers impelling human actions are “fear, honor, and interest.”

Fear, honor, interest. There are few better places to start puzzling out why individuals and societies do what they do and glimpse what we ought to do. How does Thucydides’ hypothesis apply to postSoleimani antagonism between the United States and Iran? Well, the slaying of the Quds Force chieftain puts the ball squarely in the Islamic Republic’s court. The mullahs must reply to the strike in some fashion. To remain idle would be to make themselves look weak and ineffectual in the eyes of the region and of ordinary Iranians.

In fecklessness lies danger. Doubly so now, after protests convulsed parts of Iran last November. The ensuing crackdown cost hundreds of Iranians their lives—and revealed how deeply resentments against the religious regime run. No autocrat relishes weakness, least of all an autocrat whose rule has come under duress from within. A show of power and steadfastness is necessary to cow domestic opponents.

But fear is an omnidirectional, multiple-domain thing for Iranian potentates.

External threats abound. Iranians are keenly attuned to geographic encirclement, for instance. They view their country as the Middle East’s rightful heavyweight. Yet U.S. forces or their allies surround and constrain the Islamic Republic from all points of the compass with the partial exception of the northeastern quadrant, which encompasses the ‘stans of Central Asia, and beyond them Russia.

Look at your map. The U.S. Navy commands the westerly maritime flank,

backed up by the U.S. Air Force. America’s Gulf Arab allies ring the western shores of the Persian Gulf. U.S. forces remain in Iraq to the northwest, where Suleimani fell, and in Afghanistan to the east. Even Pakistan, to the southeast, is an American treaty ally, albeit an uneasy one. These are forbidding surroundings.

Tendrils of U.S. influence curl all around the Islamic Republic’s borders.

And yet. However fervent about its geopolitical ambitions, the Iranian leadership will be loath to undertake measures beyond the intermittent bombings, support to militants elsewhere in the region, and ritual denunciations of the Great Satan that have been mainstays of Iranian foreign policy for forty years now. Iranian leaders comprehend the forces arrayed against them. A serious effort at a breakout will remain premature unless and until they consummate their bid for atomic weaponry. The ability to threaten nuclear devastation may embolden them to try—but that remains for the future.

Next, honor. Irregular warfare is indecisive in itself, but it can provide splashy returns on a modest investment of resources and effort. Having staked their political legitimacy on sticking it to the Great Satan and his Middle Eastern toadies, the ayatollahs must deliver regular incremental results. Direct attacks on U.S. forces make good clickbait; so do pictures showing IRGC light surface combatants tailing U.S. Navy task forces; so do attacks on vital economic infrastructure in U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia. And headlines convey the image of a virile power on the move. The honor motive, then, merges with fear. Iranians fear being denied the honor they consider their due as the natural hegemon of the Gulf region and the Islamic world.

And lastly, interest. Mischief-making

must suffice for Iran until it can amass the material wherewithal to make itself a hegemon. It’s fascinating that Thucydides lists material gain last among forces that animate human beings. After all, foreign-policy specialists list it first. Interest is quantifiable, and it seems to feed straight into calculations of cost, benefit, and risk.

It makes statecraft seem rational! For Thucydides cost/benefit arithmetic takes a back seat to not-strictly-rational passions— some of them dark, such as rage and spite, and others bright—that drive us all.

And indeed, for Iranians material interest constitutes the way to rejuvenate national honor while holding fear at bay.

Breaking the economic blockade manifest in, say, the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy would permit Tehran to revitalize the country’s moribund oil and gas sector. Renewed export trade would furnish wealth. Some could go into accoutrements of great power such as a high-tech navy and air force.

In turn Iranian leaders could back a more ambitious diplomacy with steel.

They would enjoy the option of departing from their purely irregular, troublemaking ways and competing through more conventional methods. Or, more likely, they would harness irregular means as an adjunct to traditional strategic competition.

And the American side? Repeat this process. Refract U.S. policy and strategy through Thucydides’ prism of fear, honour, and interest, consider how Iranian and American motives may intersect and interact, and see what light that appraisal shines into the future. My take: perhaps World War III will come one day—but today is not that day.

James Holmes is J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College.

Trump’s shadow secretary of defence

Politico NAHAL TOOSI

In recent days, one aide to President Donald Trump has blitzed the media to talk about troop deployments, deterrence and the likelihood of American bombs raining down on Iranian soil. It’s not the man who leads the Pentagon.

Instead, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has seized the spotlight amid the escalating U.S. confrontation with Iran. As he’s done so, he’s come across to some observers as an unofficial secretary of defense, overshadowing the actual defense secretary. Pompeo’s omnipresence illustrates the extraordinary influence he wields in Trump’s inner circle three years into the Republican president’s tenure.

His prestige within the administration has been enhanced by multiple leadership changes at the Pentagon and National Security Council. It has continued despite questions about his role in the Ukraine scandal that led to Trump’s impeachment, and amid questions about his political aspirations. And it has raised eyebrows at the Defense Department, which is led by Mark Esper, a former West Point classmate of Pompeo’s who has kept a relatively low profile in his six months on the job.

Pompeo is “first among equals in the national security team, and others defer to him,” said Tom Wright, a Brookings Institution scholar who has been tracking the Trump team’s dynamics. “He doesn’t have a competing center of power.”

Pompeo appeared on all the major talk shows on Sunday to field a slew of tough questions

about the Trump administration’s decision to kill Qassem Soleimani.

A long-time Iran hawk, Pompeo fiercely defended the strike, which took out Soleimani as he was visiting Baghdad, even as it has led to vows of Iranian revenge and calls from Iraqi politicians for U.S. forces to withdraw. Pompeo, who graduated first in the class of 1986 at West Point, sounded more like a swaggering military leader than America’s top diplomat. “We took a bad guy off the battlefield.

We made the right decision.

There is less risk today to American forces in the region as a result of that attack,” Pompeo said while on CNN’s State of the Union. “Previous administrations had allowed Shiite militias to take shots at us, and at best, we responded in theater, trying to challenge and attack everybody who was running around with an AK-47 or a piece of indirect artillery,” he said on ABC’s This Week. “We’ve made a very different approach.”

Aides to Pompeo did not respond to a request for comment.

But a Trump administration official defended Esper in comments offered after this story was first published. The official noted that under his leadership, the Pentagon “flawlessly” carried out the strike against the Iranian general, and that the secretary’s low profile over the past several days has been intentional.

“The administration chose to put Secretary Pompeo, the chief diplomat, out to de-escalate tensions and make room for negotiations,’’ the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Secretary Esper has worked diligently to keep [the Department of Defense] out of politics. Your metric — Sunday show appearances — uses the most political media metric available to judge influence. It is the exact opposite of what DOD does.’’ The secretary of defense

did appear in the media in the hours ahead of last week’s strike on Soleimani. He told reporters on Thursday that the United States, “will take preemptive action as well to protect American forces,” warning Iran that “the game has changed.” And he popped up on Monday to clarify that U.S. troops were not planning to leave Iraq, despite a letter suggesting otherwise from an American brigadier general. But Esper, who served in the 101st Airborne Division during the first Gulf War, has largely vanished from sight otherwise.

Given the dangerous situation in the Middle East now, his absence has led to griping among some military reporters, who’ve also long complained about the dearth of press briefings at the Pentagon.

Former military officials and others who track the Defense Department say that Esper appears to have made the calculation that it’s best to stay behind the scenes in an administration where few people have Trump’s ear, and where anything you say could be easily undermined by a presidential tweet moments later.

Plus, Esper, a former Capitol Hill staffer and lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon, took over as defense secretary with a thinner executive branch resume than many who’ve held the position in the past. And while he can point to his time as an infantry officer and at West Point, some Pentagon watchers wonder if even that is helping Pompeo overshadow him.

Several people from the 1986 West Point class hold key administration positions. Because he was first in that class, Pentagon observers say it’s possible that others from the 1986 crew at West Point take a back seat to Pompeo.

“The worry at the Pentagon is that [Esper] defers to Pompeo,” said Mark Perry, author of “The Pentagon’s Wars: The Military’s

Undeclared War Against America’s Presidents.” He said there were other reasons for that beyond the West Point dynamics, including that “Pompeo has the president’s ear and Esper doesn’t.”

Pompeo is one of the few Trump aides able to deal with tough media questions without showing any personal differences with the president — even if that means his answers are sometimes misleading. And Trump clearly trusts him.

“I argue with everyone,” Trump said in a 2018 account in New York magazine. “Except Pompeo... I don’t think I’ve had an argument with Pompeo!”

A senior Trump administration official confirmed that it was the White House that requested Pompeo appear on the Sunday shows. Given that Pompeo is passionate about the issue of Iran — U.S. diplomats say he gets deep into the weeds on the topic — he requires little prep work.

But the latest Iran crisis isn’t the first time Pompeo’s actions have startled Pentagon officials.

On June 18, in an odd move for a secretary of State, Pompeo traveled to Florida to meet with leaders of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations command. The meetings focused in part on Iran, which the U.S. was accusing of attacking international oil tankers. But the visit also came the same day the president withdrew the nomination of then-Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to serve in the role on a permanent basis.

Shanahan’s nomination was shelved after some family troubles came to light. His withdrawal was another low point for the Pentagon, which had already seen James Mattis quit as defense secretary after the president in late 2018 ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria.

Pompeo said the purpose of his Florida visit was to “make sure that the State Department and the Department of Defense were

deeply coordinated across a whole broad range of issues.” But, according to Perry, the visit “still roils” some military officials.

A former senior Pentagon official described it to POLITICO as “a very unusual way for a secretary of State to spend an entire day,” not least because he could have gotten similar briefings at the Pentagon itself.

While he was in Florida, some in the Washington foreign policy establishment wondered if he was auditioning to be the next secretary of defense. (Pompeo’s first job with Trump was as CIA director.)

Even at the State Department, Pompeo, who served as an Army cavalry officer after West Point, often takes a military-style approach. He refers to his diplomats’ having a “mission set” and tells his “team” to “keep crushing it.”

People who know him say his military training appears to influence his willingness to defend Trump in public and implement whatever the president – the commander-in-chief – wants.

In his first major address to his workforce after he became secretary of State in 2018, Pompeo raised the military concept of “commander’s intent” in pledging to craft a vision for what he wanted to achieve. The concept describes the end-state a commander seeks so that his troops can do what they need to get there.

Some in the military world downplayed questions about whether, in staying below the radar, Esper and the Pentagon were ceding anything to Pompeo.

Pentagon officials are busy dealing with the technicalities of ramping up the U.S. troop presence in the Middle East amid threats of reprisals from Iran.

Esper needs to focus more on that than public relations, they argued.

“It goes more to the relationship between Pompeo and Trump than any sort of emasculation of the Pentagon,” said Peter Mansoor, a retired U.S. Army colonel.

MIKE POMPEO HAS ASSUMED AN OUTSIZED ROLE FROM HIS PERCH IN FOGGY BOTTOM “The Pentagon leaders realize they need to stay under the radar and get on with their business.”

Another former Pentagon official pointed to critiques that over the past two decades – especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks – the Department of Defense has taken an outsized role in setting the U.S. foreign policy agenda.

He acknowledged that the State Department remains a weak institution under Trump, who views it with suspicion as stronghold for Democrats. But the former official said it was refreshing to see the top U.S. diplomat out front on an issue of international relations. “Isn’t this more of a restoration of the way the system is supposed to work?” he asked.

Pompeo’s willingness to be so public also might have to do with politics as much as policy.

The former Kansas congressman is believed to have ambitions to run for office again someday, though the latest indications are that he won’t make a run for the Senate this year. Republicans view him as a potential White House contender in 2024. Getting face-time on national television helps, especially when he can sound tough on a country loathed by many in the GOP base. Also unusually for a secretary of State, Pompeo often takes indirect partisan shots.

Pompeo stressed the scope of his relationship with the president. “I’ve been with President Trump through the entire strategic planning process related to our entire campaign – diplomatic, economic, and military,” he said on CNN, adding later: “The American people should know that we will not waiver.”

Wesley Morgan contributed to this report.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

With clocK ticKing, BritiSh MPS ScrutiniSe Brexit deal LONDON

B

AGENCIES

RITISH MPs on Tuesday resume scrutiny of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal as he races to get it ratified in time for Britain to leave the European union on January 31.

After his stunning victory in last month’s general election, Johnson is expected to have little trouble getting the legislation enshrining his Eu divorce terms through parliament. But the Conservative leader is still up against the clock, as both the British and European parliaments must ratify the deal before departure day in just a few weeks’ time.

Britons voted in the 2016 referendum to end more than four decades of integration with the Eu, but the process has been plagued by political rows over how, when and even whether Britain should leave.

After years of uncertainty that weighed on economic growth, Johnson now looks set to finally make it happen

— even if a potentially bigger battle awaits on future ties with the Eu. MPs gave their initial approval to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in a vote on December 20, a week after Johnson se-

cured a majority of 80 in the 650-seat House of Commons.

Starting on Tuesday, they will have three days of debate before the bill passes to the unelected House of Lords for fur-

ther scrutiny next week.

Opposition lawmakers and troublesome peers will try to amend the text, but Johnson is virtually certain of getting it through on time.

In a sign of his confidence, his government announced it would hold a new post-Brexit budget vote on March 11, to “seize the opportunities that come from getting Brexit done”.

Johnson meanwhile will hold his first meeting with the new European Commission President, ursula von der Leyen, in London on Wednesday.

Both sides are keen to prepare for talks on their future trading relationship, although these cannot start formally until Britain leaves the Eu. The Brexit deal includes a transition period in which ties remain unchanged in practice until December 31, 2020, to provide continuity until a new economic partnership can be agreed.

Eu officials — including von der Leyen herself — have warned this is a very tight timeframe, but Johnson insists

he will not opt to extend the transition period. Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said Monday that von der Leyen would “discuss with the prime minister how to try to overcome these challenges and make sure that we can come out with a positive agreement at the end of the year”.

The meeting, which will also be attended by Eu Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, will “set the scene”, he added, but would not go into details.

Many opposition MPs believe Johnson cannot negotiate a new trade deal with Brussels in 11 months, and are seeking to amend the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to allow for more time.

Other amendments put forward include stronger rights for around 3.5 million Eu citizens living in Britain after Brexit.

Expatriate rights are already covered in the Brexit deal, alongside Britain’s financial liabilities, the transition period and new trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Australia firefighters Russia's Putin makes rare visit race to contain blazes to Syria, meets Assad as heatwave looms MELBOURNE AGENCIES

Firefighters raced to contain massive bushfires in southeastern Australia Tuesday, taking advantage of a brief drop in temperatures and some much-needed rainfall before another heatwave strikes later this week.

Exhausted volunteers cleared ground vegetation and carried out controlled burns before temperatures and winds were expected to pick up again by Friday.

“It really is about shoring up protection to limit the damage potential and the outbreak of the fires over the coming days,” said New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. He described current conditions as “much more favourable” but warned “we are expecting hotter weather to return later in the week”.

Dozens of vast blazes continue to burn out of control across the east of the country and there are growing fears that two fires in New South Wales and Victoria could connect to form another uncontrollable megablaze. Rainfall on Monday offered modest relief, but it was not heavy enough in most areas to extinguish the fires, and in some places it hampered firefighters’ preparations by making backburning more difficult.

Twenty-five people have died since the start of the disaster in September, more than 1,800 homes have been destroyed, and some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometres) has burned, an area the size of Ireland or South Carolina.

Smoke from the fires has been spotted more than 12,000 kilometres (7,400 miles) away in Chile and Argentina, weather authorities in the South American countries said. The cost of the disaster is still not clear, but the Insurance Council of Australia said claims worth Aus$700 million ($485 million) had already been filed and the figure was expected to climb significantly. The government has earmarked an initial Aus$2 billion ($1.4 billion) for a national recovery fund to help devastated communities.

The human toll was again laid bare Tuesday, as firefighters held a memorial in Sydney for 36-year-old colleague Andrew O’Dwyer who died battling blazes in late December.

Volunteers in bright orange fire suits lined the road as his cortege passed — with the coffin draped in a Rural Fire

More than 10,000 camels to be shot because they drink too much water Indigenous leaders in South Australia have given their nod to the mass culling of feral camels by an army of shooters, News Corp Australia reported on Tuesday.

Professional shooters will begin the five-day air operation tomorrow (Wednesday) which will see 10,000 camels shot down from helicopters, according to the Australian publication.

South Australia’s northwest region has seen the animals overrun the drought-hit area.

The managers of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands gave the go ahead, citing the “havoc” caused by the creatures in the local communities.

“We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air conditioners,’’ Marita Baker, board member of the APY executive, told The Australian.

Baker’s Kanypi community is one of many to have been invaded by the parched camels in search for water. AGENCIES

Service flag. Conditions in the next week are not expected to match the worst days of the crisis, but Fitzsimmons told public broadcaster ABC it was important not to “get lulled into a false sense of security”.

Many of the blazes are too big to be put out, so only sustained rainfall would end the crisis. There were some faint signs Tuesday that a reprieve may be on the way, as tropical cyclone Blake brought heavy rain to the northwestern coast.

Blake is not expected to have an impact on the bushfires raging in other parts of the massive country, but could signal a change in hot and dry conditions that have fuelled the fires.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare vist to Syria where he held talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syrian state media and Russia’s Interfax said on Tuesday.

“In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the country’s territorial integrity,” the agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov said that Putin visited the

Russian command post in Damascus and met President Assad there. The two leaders were presented with military reports on the situation in different regions of Syria. Meanwhile, Syrian news agency SANA gave no further details about Putin’s visit, only saying that he met with Assad in a Russian military base in the capital.

The visit marks Putin’s first trip to Syria since he visited Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Latakia province in 2017 and comes amid heightened tensions between Iran — a key Syrian

ally — and the united States, following the killing of a top Iranian general in a uS airstrike in neighbouring Iraq.

Revolutionary Guard Gen Qassem Soleimani’s death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America. uS troops are based in eastern Syria, making the country a potential site of conflict with Iran.

Russia deployed its air force to Syria in 2015, decisively turning the against rebels who were battling to topple Assad in the country’s civil war. AGENCIES

Power-starved Ethiopia rallies around Nile dam as Egypt dispute simmers CAIRO AGENCIES

Cell phone batteries constantly dying, health centres bereft of modern equipment, a dependence on flashlights after sundown — Kafule Yigzaw experienced all these struggles and more growing up without electricity in rural Ethiopia. So five years ago, he leapt at the chance to work on a project designed to light up his country and the wider Horn of Africa region: the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a 145-metre-high, 1.8kilometre-long concrete colossus that is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa.

“Our country has a huge problem with electricity,” Kafule, 22, told AFP recently while taking a break from reinforcing steel pipes that will funnel water from the Blue Nile River to one of the dam’s 13 turbines.

“This is about the existence of our nation and, in my opinion, it will help us break free from the bondage of poverty.”

The dam is expected to begin producing energy by the end of this year.

Across Ethiopia, poor farmers and rich businessmen eagerly await the more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity offi-

cials say it will ultimately provide. Yet as thousands of workers toil day and night to finish the project, Ethiopian negotiators remain locked in talks over how the dam will affect downstream neighbours, principally Egypt. The next round of negotiations starts Thursday in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and is likely to renew focus on Cairo’s fears that the dam could bring water and food insecurity for millions of Egyptians.

Ethiopians at the dam site say they are doing their best to focus on the task at hand, though they bristle at suggestions that their country is overstepping in its bid to harness the Blue Nile for its development. “When we do projects here it’s not to harm the downstream countries,” said deputy project manager Ephrem Woldekidan. “There is no reason that the downstream countries should complain (about) it because this

is our resource also.”

The Nile River’s two main tributaries — the Blue and White Niles — converge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum before flowing north through Egypt toward the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt depends on the Nile for about 90 percent of its irrigation and drinking water, and says it has “historic rights” to the river guaranteed by treaties from 1929 and 1959. Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the dam in 2011.

The International Crisis Group warned last March that the countries “could be drawn into conflict” given that Egypt sees potential water loss as “an existential threat”. In October, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, fresh from winning the Nobel Peace Prize, assured lawmakers that “no force can stop Ethiopia from building the dam” and said “millions” of troops could be mobilised to defend it if necessary.

The united States stepped in to jumpstart a tripartite dialogue with Sudan that is supposed to resolve the dispute by January 15.

The biggest initial hurdle is the filling of the dam’s reservoir, which can hold 74 billion cubic metres of water.

Egypt is worried Ethiopia will fill the reservoir too quickly, reducing water flow downstream.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

08 COMMENT

Modi versus the Indian Constitution

The wizard’s wand lines up (almost) all Will it also tamp down polarisation in the country?

Waning charisma

amjed jaaved

T

he Army Act Amendment Bill was passed in the national Assembly through majority vote after the JUI-F, the JI and two erstwhile Fata MnAs staged a walkout in opposition to the Bill. The legislation however received overwhelming support after the PPP and PML-n voted for it en bloc.

Only a day before PPP co-chairman Bilawal-BhuttoZardari had accused the Treasury members of playing games with his party by ignoring the amendments suggested by it. On Tuesday the party voluntarily withdrew its amendments in view of the regional situation and because it wanted to send the message of unity.

The PML-n parliamentary party abandoned the timeline for final vote suggested by former PM nawaz Sharif in a letter sent to party leaders, accepting instead the government’s timeline. It also ignored the advice given a day earlier by detained leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal. The former had accused the government of mishandling the issue of the COAS’ extension through a flawed and hastily tabled document and insisted that his party would not support the bill blindly. Ahsan Iqbal too had expressed identical views.

The JUI-F said a fake Parliament could not make the important law. The JI maintained that supporting the law was tantamount to endorsing the doctrine of necessity.

MnA Mohsin Dawar said the Speaker didn’t allow the few dissenting voices to make their case which showed that Parliament was being treated as a rubber stamp.

Whether the PPP and PML-n agreed to support the Bill under duress or there was a quid pro quo remains to be seen. While asking the PPP to withdraw its proposal and support the Bill, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak had assured the party that this would create unity in the house and lead to a better situation. Will this result in the reduction of pressure on the two parties’ leadership, release of their ranking members against whom nothing has been proved so far, and establishment of normal working relations between the Government and the opposition, remains to be seen. Unless this happens, the two mainstream parties could face internal conflict and loss of face while political tension will exacerbate in the country.

The clouds of war thicken The economic costs have already started kicking in

‘S

eCULARISM’, even if a later innovation, is intertwined into the design of the Indian Constitution, and rooted in the ethos of the freedom movement and the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. The design embraced diversity and pluralism with reservations for disadvantaged groups, to cultural rights for religious minorities.

Faith-based discrimination militates against spirit of Indian Constitution. It may lead to unforeseen injustices. Ready instances are the sealing or confiscation of properties in Yogi Adityanath’s la-la land, Uttar Pradesh, and the deportation of foreign students epitomised by German student Jakob Lindenthal, studying at Institute of Information Technology, Chennai.

Speaking to The Indian Express from Chennai airport shortly before his scheduled flight back home, he disclosed he received “oral directions” to leave India from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Chennai. Modi denied existence of any detention centres in a speech. But, The Hindu reported last month there are six jails, including Goalpara (Assam) that serve as detention centres also. An ex –army officer, Mohammed Sanaullah, on bail, declared them “hell”.

Articles 5-11 on citizenship in the Constitution and the Citizenship Act1955 embodied freedom-movement sentiments. The Constituent Assembly held the principle of jus soli (‘law of the soil’– citizenship based on birth on the soil of a country) to be the more “enlightened modern civilised” principle, than the “racial” principle of jus sanguinis (‘law of blood’– citizenship based on descent). The Citizenship Act, though a combination of jus solis and jus sanguinis, is compatible with Constitutional design. It confers equal rights on all citizens without discrimination on grounds of caste, creed, tribe or gender. however, when Atal Behari Vajpayee was PM, an amendment was enacted to undermine jus soli in favour of jus sanguinis. It excluded people born in India with one illegal-migrant parent. Modi 2.0 could have followed Germany that moved in a more inclusive direction, combining elements of both jus soli as well as jus sanguinis, instead of majoritarian Donald Trump, fearing minorities. narendra Modi won office on a wave of slo-

Fatima Zubair

P

eRhAPS the most dangerous result of the USA’s killing of Iranian military commander Gen Qassem Soleimani has been the tanking of stock markets the world over. As Iran’s neighbour, Pakistan could not remain unaffected, and on Monday, the Karachi Stock exchange lost 1116 points on the KSe 1000 index, or 2.71 per cent. Obviously, the fear of conflict breaking out in the sensitive Persian Gulf was behind this highly negative sentiment. There was a rush worldwide towards so-called safe havens, as the fund managers who had cash available from stock sales desperately places to invest that would yield maximum returns. There was a rise in the price of gold, which reached a seven-year high, as well as in the rates of the yen, the euro and the Swiss franc. Oil prices also went up, a development Pakistani policymakers must regret, both because it is a safe haven, and because a conflict would lead to shortages. Incidentally, this would show how ‘hot money’ seeks high returns as well as safety, and how quickly it flees a country.

Markets worldwide could not find much assurance from the moves of world leaders. US President Donald Trump’s threat to respond strongly to any Iranian response to General Suleimani’s death would not help calm the markets. he also rejected the Iraqi parliament’s call for US troops to withdraw, another red rag to the markets. however, closer home, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was not reassuring when he addressed the national Assembly on this issue, and though he said that Pakistan would not take part in any conflict, this crisis also reflected the failure of its attempts to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The impression that comes across is of a government in disarray, unable to formulate a response in the face of the challenge that is posed. The government seems at sea, and let alone formulate a response, it seems not to understand what is happening. Most important, what seems to have escaped its attention is what is happening on the economic front. Unfortunately for Pakistan, it is already going through a rough patch economically, and there does not seem there is much breathing-space. At this point, all it can do is hunker down and prepare for the real world– or the worst.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

‘…I know that imprisonment will be harder for me than it has ever been for anyone, filled with cowardly threats and hideous cruelty. But I do not fear prison, as I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades.

Condemn me. It does not matter.

History will absolve me.’

– Fidel Castro

W

hen Castro led an armed revolt against the Moncada Barracks, he was caught; his 70 comrades killed; and he left alone before the court. his tone is aggrieved, yet he defies the base instrument of imprisonment as a way to crush his spirit. he talks of his return as foreboding, yet, is didactic when he talks about justice, love and humanity. But the question is, does history really absolve everything? Is it that easy to deal with the skeletons in one’s cupboard-at a national level? nations emerge in history through playing active roles: in their own citizens’ welfare; and bettering the world. Pride springs from a nation’s contribution: in education, politics, technology, architecture, and peace. Blunders by nations include social discrimination, ethnic cleansing, corruption, or draconian laws.

Moguls are known for exquisite architectural designs. Though in part due to the length of their rule and the lands they invaded, their renown is mostly due to structures like the Taj Mahal, and the Red Fort. Their rival Sher Shah Suri founded a postal and canal system, and the Grand Trunk Road, which the Moguls continued. Thus, social welfare, too, can be attributed to the Moguls.

While we see nations pose to the world as achievers, there is always a flipside; however, some have more positives to celebrate and fewer negatives to lament. The USA is taken as a land of opportunities. Take Bill Gates. At a mediocre post in a firm,

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

gans. Amending citizenship laws is aimed at diverting popular attention from his performance.

The history of elections in both India and Pakistan tells that slogans help win gullible vote banks– roti, kapra aur makan (bread clothing and shelter), or tabdeeli (change). Likewise India has seen numerous slogans in 16 elections during 72 years of independence_ nehru’s slogan of “aaraam haraam hai.” (rest is not kosher), Lal Bahadur Shastri’s “jai jawan jai kisan” (long live the soldier, long live the peasant), Indira Gandhi’s “garibi hatao” (eradicate poverty), the Janata Dal’s echo “Indira hatao, desh bachao” (remove Indira, save the country), post-Indira-assassination “Jab tak suraj-chaand rahega, Indira tera naam rahega” (as long as the sun and moon shine, Indira will live on) , BJP (1996) slogan “sabko dekha baari-baari, abki baari Atal Bihari” (We’ve seen them all one by one, this time it’s Atal Bihari), BJP (2014) “achchhe din aane waale hain” (good days are coming), BJP (2019) Modi hai to mumkin hai (If Modi is there, then it’s possible).

Modi brazenly bags credit for all achievements of previous Congress governments. Yet it was Jawaharlal nehru who abolished the zamindari system. he had the nerve to face the reality that minor kings, princely states and feudal landlords were still influential after independence. It is nehru, not Modi, who set up India’s space centre.

A new class of political leaders, hand in glove with corporations, replaced the royals and zamindars.

Like our nouveaux riches they are unchallenged.

A bitter truth is that we drifted away from the doorsteps of the Medina State to knock at the IMF’s portals. But, Modi 1.0 and 2.0 stayed the course. In his very first cabinet meeting, Modi enhanced educational scholarships, and extended the scope of his income support to farmers. now 145 million farmers, instead of the previous 125 million owning under two hectares, get Rs6,000 annually, costing an additional Rs 12 billion. Several ministries have been merged into one to provide piped water supply to every Indian by 2024.

Despite such populism, Modi’s magic appears to be waning. Jharkhand is the fifth state in which opposition parties have managed to unseat the BJP in the past year, even though Modi campaigned personally. At least seven states are

hostile to his faith-based citizenship amendment.

The anti-Congress wave is petering out. In national elections, saffron snatched away even Congress-ruled Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. even Rahul Gandhi lost its citadel, Amethi. In the gory West-Bengal contest, the formidable Mamata Banerjee lost many seats to the BJP. Congress has proved it is not just a dynasty. It embodies an ideology of secularism, socialism and pluralism. It could spring a surprise in coming mid-term polls or state assembly elections.

To win national elections, the BJP hoodwinked Muslims. Muslim munch, distributed RSS leaflets at RSS enclaves. even after winning the elections, BJP stalwarts visited Madrassa Deoband. Modi captivated popular imagination as a strong leader. Modi gave tickets to nine Muslim candidates who lost because of banal Muslim caste–structure (ashraf, ajlaf and arzal).

Indira Gandhi, a charismatic leader, fell because of her authoritarian attitude and reliance on intelligence agencies. Modi 2.0, also, is threatened with resurgence of authoritarianism and hindutva nationalism in his party. Legislators were sworn in amid shrill ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. even Muslim MPs Asaduddin Owasi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Shafiqur Rahman Barq of the Samajwadi Party were heckled with Jai Shri Ram slogans. Owaisi defiantly shouted “Jai Bheem, Allahu Akbar, Jai hind. The hooted Trincomalee Congress MPs chanted Jai Maa Kali. In stark contrast, Modi2.0 bowed his head in worshipful namaskar, before a bedecked copy of the India’s Constitution.

Modi2.0 showcased the ‘Jai Constitution’ pledge. however, BJP MPs displayed allegiance is to ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Modi’s confidante Amit Shah has directed intelligence agencies to report directly to him. RSS leaning is now the sine qua non for appointment to political offices.

Modi2.0 has a herculean challenge to realise his tall promises. Congress has an opportunity to capitalise on unfulfilled expectations to rout the BJP in coming elections.

Amjed Jaaved is a freelance journalist, has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law. He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

‘History will absolve me’ Does history forgive everything? he went on to take it over and developed the renowned Microsoft Corporation, becoming one of the world’s richest men. The lesson is that individual effort does not go in vain in the USA, success rewards hard work, incentivising the populace. The way basic human rights are given to each citizen in the USA, and the freedom, pluralism, and egalitarianism in terms of speech, action, and religion, is worthy of pride for it.

Similarly, The USA has come full circle from its treatment of slaves. emerging from their inherent bias, in 2008, Americans elected Barack Obama president. This shall go into history as a great leap in the struggle to free African-Americans from racial discrimination. however, a look at the state of affairs in the USA for African-Americans will reveal a continuum of suffering. The skeleton of racial prejudice in the US cupboard will haunt them for generations to come. And that keeps manifesting itself; as when Obama was called a ‘nigger’ openly by a representative; or, how blacks living in rundown conditions in the USA are forced into crimes of all categories to alleviate their abject poverty. nevertheless, the apparent emancipation of Blacks from the old draconian laws remains better and brighter. national histories are thus strewn with flipsides!

Similarly, the British and european principles of social equality are laudable. These are indeed welfare states. Old-age benefits are enjoyed there and, consequently, the sense of security imparted to old people is commendable. In addition, their advances in technology are a benchmark. however, David Cameron’s apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, showed a flip side, how nations after decades cannot overcome the ill-repute and guilt of past misdeeds.

In 1947 the world witnessed the

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

largest migration till date, at the partition of India. Millions of Muslims rallied behind Muhammad Ali Jinnah for a separate homeland.

Again, this was a move that transformed the lives and fates of many.

There are also uncountable incidents and twists in the history of countries that yield disappointment more than achievement. Such nations have more to lament than celebrate, and hence are looked down upon by the world as aggressors and rogue states: the “axis of evil”!

The existence of political turmoil, corruption, and hypocrisy in terms of political agendas, and the denial of the very basic human rights across all spectra of the society, are highly regrettable for any nation. Pakistan, for whose sovereignty our forefathers who fought tooth and nail again finds itself enslaved by foreign powers and their vested interests, its basic right to decide our own destiny denied!

The US prisons– among which Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and Abu Ghraib in Iraq rank highest in brutality– are responsible for gross human rights violations and dehumanisation.

Stripping men and perceived criminals of their dignity, they are doing more harm to world peace than good.

The seeds of discontent will grow into blazing brands of retaliation, which will eventually spread their branches worldwide, and then no hollow claims of these champions of “human rights protection” will help. If the shoe were on the other foot, and Iran had prisons full of US “terror” suspects subject to torture, the US would not hesitate in exercising its might in both retaliation and punitive retribution.

Injustice breeds injustice. This can be witnessed in Kashmir. The forces on either side have been exhausted for too long. To an ordinary bystander, it seems a lost cause that augurs more destruction. The

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

voices of Kashmiris have long been throttled out of existence- what remains are the “burnt shadows” of the slightest prospect of a brighter tomorrow. The Kashmiris probably need another century to cope with the losses inflicted on them, before they can learn to stand on their own two feet. It is a failure more of India that went to the Un first and keeps backing off at Pakistan’s reminders.

Israel continues to oppress Palestinians. Gaza is being taken apart by the Israeli tanks and gunship helicopters. This, and the many infractions of international law by Israel, will always be remembered as their share of darkness gifted to the world.

The disintegration of the USSR in the Afghan War is irrevocable, and in this faltering Soviet policies are culpable. So was the 1971 break-up of Pakistan. We, like all nations, have a history of unparalleled blunders. no nation can be considered free from these incongruities, injustices, and inequities; but none is a total failure either. Failures polish the talent contained in a nation; which lets it achieve the heights. The world never forgives those who fail to learn. It turns on them and teaches them a lesson.

Pakistan today is a classic instance of our joint failures and negligence, thus creating for us a Frankenstein that has more or less gone beyond our practical control. The sad tragedy is that the world has finally turned on us.

While nations walk om a tightrope, between the good and evil of their history, intelligent nations learn from their failures, instead of lamenting them. history cannot be compartmentalised into success for some and humiliation for others. history is a mirror to the manipulations of individuals, whose actions determine the strengths or the weaknesses for any nation and, hence, its history.

So while we debate whether history does absolve misdeeds, memory is a major obstacle to bringing nations to account. Years blur memories of oppression. While misdeeds and their records remain in history books, memory absolves past events.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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

The impact of bullying on a child’s development

Communal spin to Nankana incident mischievous India is trying to cover up its own crimes

malik muhammad ashraF

I

n the wake of the condemnation of the communal policies of the Modi regime within India as well as at the global level, the Indian embassy in Islamabad in an attempt to get even with Pakistan, tried to give a communal spin to the nankana incident.

In a statement issued on 3rd January it alleged “Members of the Sikh community have been subjected to violence and India strongly condemns such wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place and enjoins the government of Pakistan to protect and preserve the sanctity of the holy nankana Sahib Gurdwara and its surroundings.” The Indian allegations were rejected outright by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which termed the statement not only false but mischievous. The Indian statement was also contradicted by MPA Mohinder Paul Singh who, addressing a press conference at nankana along with federal Interior minister Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah and Punjab housing Minister Mian Mehmood Rashid, said that that minorities had complete religious freedom in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet on Sunday condemned the nankana incident and explained how it was different from the statesponsored oppression of minorities in India. The tweet observed “On Friday, dozens of demonstrators had protested over alleged unjust treatment of police in a case involving the marriage of a young couple, which was portrayed as a communal issue by the Indian media. The incident is against his vision and will find zero tolerance and protection from the government including police and judiciary. The ongoing attacks across India on Muslims and other minorities are backed by Modi’s RSS vision which supports minorities oppression and these targeted attacks against Muslims are part of this agenda. RSS goons are conducting public lynching. Muslims being violated by mobs are not only supported by Modi Government but antiMuslim attacks are led by the Indian Police.”

The observations of the Prime Minister re-

garding the Indian police leading attacks on Muslims are endorsed and corroborated by a former Indian civil servant, human rights worker and teacher, harsh Mander, who in an article published in The Hindu on 31 December claimed “Uttar Pradesh is in the throes of what is fast becoming a gravely culpable crime against humanity. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the Chief Minister has declared war on the minority communities of his State, inciting and encouraging his police forces to unleash upon them an unlawful and brutal reign of terror. It is not as though police bias and violence against the minorities is unusual in communal violence. On the contrary, as I have often maintained, communal violence cannot sustain for more than a few hours unless it is actively encouraged by the state and the police. But it accomplishes this, most of all, by culpable inaction; by deliberately standing by as mobs attack minorities. Often the police inflict grievous hurt on a disproportionately large number of minorities, in firing while dispersing mobs. But what we are witnessing in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh is the police force itself becoming the riotous lynch mob. I have handled, as district officer, the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom and the violence resulting from the movement to demolish the Babri Masjid. Since I left the civil service, I worked closely with the survivors of the Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar (U.P.) carnages, and the earlier communal massacres of nellie (Assam) and Bhagalpur (Bihar). What is unfolding in U.P. is on a scale and with a methodological deliberateness which I have not witnessed so far outside Kashmir and the north-east— touching a highly dangerous new low. I walk through many Muslim homes in U.P., my eyes clouding, my heart sinking in shame, witness to their ruin after a rampage of hate by men in uniform. Cars and scooters are overturned and burned, television screens and washing machines smashed, cash and jewellery

looted, crockery, even toys shattered, a lifetime of a family’s belongings devastated in minutes, the family inconsolable. I have borne painful witness to these scenes too many times, in 1984, 2002, 2013. The difference in U.P. is that the marauding mob which mercilessly wrecked home after home of its Muslim residents was police personnel in uniform.”

There could not have been a more exhaustive depiction of what was being done to the Muslim community in India. hindutva philosophy is akin to the supremacist philosophy of hitler and aims at making India a hindu state. It is not only a threat to the secular identity of India, but also poses a grave danger to peace and security in the region. The repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act are also the outcome of the same philosophy.

Through these measures the Modi government has not only repudiated the Un resolutions on Kashmir but has also started the process of changing demographic realities of the state.

Through the killing spree and oppression it is also trying to subdue the freedom struggle of the Kashmiris. The Indian action constitutes an affront to the conscience of the world and the Un which, as a peace-making body, is under obligation to facilitate the exercise of the right of self-determination by the people of Kashmir.

The world community and the Un must wake up to the dangers to peace and security in the region and act decisively before it is too late. Indian action in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, and its continued belligerent posture against Pakistan as expressed through continued violation of the ceasefire agreement ever since the Modi regime has come into power, has brought the two nuclear states face to face with each other.

The world community and the UN must wake up to the dangers to peace and security in the region and act decisively before it is too late. Indian action in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, and its continued belligerent posture against Pakistan as expressed through continued violation of the ceasefire agreement ever since the Modi regime has come into power, has brought the two nuclear states face to face with each other

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic.

He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com

ChILDhOOD is often equated with joy and happiness but for some the mere mention of the term can serve as a reminder of traumatic incidents. While some rejoice over memories that bring them face to face with the cheerful moments of their parents singing them to sleep or telling them bedtime stories, there are those who wish to avoid any mention of their childhood because of the pain it inflicts upon them.

This is what bullying does to a child. Children who are bullied because of their appearance, race, gender, class and religion are robbed of their childhood and they grow up with a number of psychological problems, including aggressive behaviour and poor self-esteem. According to a World Federation for Mental health’s study, those who were bullied as children were at increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, poor school performance and suicidal behaviour. While on the other hand, those who grew up in a comparatively positive environment were on the opposite end of the spectrum with low stress levels and greater self-esteem.

Therefore, it is important for parents and teachers to take measures to curb bullying in schools and society. Children should be educated about the negative impacts of bullying in order to stop them from bullying others and to enable them to stand up for other children. Children should also be raised in an atmosphere of tolerance, respect and compassion so that a healthier generation can be raised. It is only through collective effort that we can eradicate this menace from our society.

WASIF KAZMI Lahore

Kashmir: A nuclear tinderbox SOMe people wish than an Indo-Pak nuclear confrontation was a myth rather than a reality. But, John Thomson, in his article ‘Kashmir: the Most Dangerous Place in the World’ thinks otherwise (Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu, Bushra Asif and Cyrus Samii (eds), ‘Kashmir: new Voices, new Approaches’). he gives cogent arguments to prove that the Kashmir issue could once again spark another Indo-Pak military confrontation with concomitant risks of a nuclear war.

Carnegie endowment for International Peace, also, inter alia, points out that ‘avoiding nuclear war in South Asia will require political breakthroughs in India-Pakistan’. India has been gearing up for a nuclear attack. It held mock exercises to withstand a nuclear attack (the Washington Post, January 22, 2013). The former Indian national Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra during an interview with the nDTV revealed that a letter given to President Clinton by PM Vajpayee had hinted that India was contemplating crossing the LoC as well as using nuclear weapons if Pakistan did not pull out its fighters from Kargil (Foreign Policy news, July 31, 2016). President Bill Clinton, on the eve of his visit to the subcontinent, called the ceasefire line that divides Kashmir ‘the most dangerous place in the world’ (the Independent, UK, dated March 18, 2000).

In an editorial, the Hindustan Times of January 28, commented that Indian Army Chief’s statements ‘provided Pakistan with an excuse to build short range, nuclear-capable missiles, like nasr, to target Indian formations undertaking conventional strikes. Pakistan is now flaunting nasr.’ Besides nasr, Pakistan now has 52 Chinese Sh-15 howitzer Guns (American equivalent M-777). These guns could fire nuclear tactical-nuclear-weapon projectiles up to a distance of 53 kilometres. India is unmindful of the possibility that its belligerence could lead to a nuclear confrontation.

MoHAMMAd ASAd MALICK Rawalpindi

A reason to be proud We love our country for many reasons and we are proud to be a part of this nation. I never knew I had another reason to be delightedly proud of my country until I visited Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer hospital and Research Centre (SKMCh&RC). I would have never imagined that place to be so comfortable and home like which we apparently see as a hospital. From the entry gate to the reception counter, from nurses to doctors, every single person was extremely welcoming and generous. I happened to visit SKMCh&RC with my friend with the purpose of volunteer work and instantly fell in awe with the place. It was clean, wellorganised and structured. everything seemed to function with a perfect mechanism and yet so effortlessly. We engaged with a few patients and they were hundred percent satisfied with their treatments and the facilities they were being provided with. They were happy with each and every thing and there was not a single person who had complaint which makes the hospital one of the best cancer hospitals across the country.

We closely witnessed the underprivileged people who were getting the most advanced and high-quality treatments which are fully sponsored by the hospital. Those people had not faced any discrimination in the conduct and treatment as well. The hospital is the best institution in terms of all quality variables and most importantly it is a vision of a leader which makes it the leading welfare cancer hospital in the region.

Since this hospital has completed 25 year of serving humanity on December 29th, I would like to congratulate all doctors, nurses, staff, management and everyone who supported this cause and make the nation proud to have such world-class cancer treatment facility in the country.

ASHJAH SALEEM PCSIR Society, Lahore

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

South Korea'S Moon SeeKS KiM Jong un’S viSit to Seoul

SEOUL

S

AGENCIES

OuTH Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for better relations with the North so leader Kim Jong un can visit Seoul, despite Pyongyang’s abandonment of its nuclear and missile test moratoriums. Moon’s appeal came after Kim threatened a demonstration of a “new strategic weapon” at a four-day ruling party meeting last week, where he never mentioned South Korea.

Since the breakdown of Kim’s summit with uS President Donald Trump in Hanoi last year — which left nuclear negotiations largely deadlocked — Pyongyang has repeatedly lashed out at the

Spain's parliament elects Sanchez as PM to head coalition govt Spain’s parliament has chosen Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez to form a new government and head a leftist coalition government. Tuesday’s vote ends almost a year of political limbo for the eurozone’s fourthlargest economy. Sánchez won a cliffhanger confidence vote by 167 votes against 165, with 18 abstentions. The confidence vote was already forecast to be extremely close, but Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez’s administration was widely expected to be elected by this exact difference. Sánchez has been caretaker prime minister since early last year. His narrow margin of victory has raised doubts about how long the coalition government will last, as its policies require parliamentary approval. Sánchez’s Socialists won two consecutive general elections last year, but both times they failed to capture a parliamentary majority. That meant they couldn’t win the parliamentary confidence vote that is required before taking office. AGENCIES

South, saying it has “nothing to talk” about any more with Seoul. One senior official has gone as far as describing the South’s presidency as a “shy dog barking more wildly”.

But Moon, who has long favoured engagement with the nuclear-armed North, doubled down on his dovish approach.

“I hope South and North Korea can make efforts together so that the conditions for Chairman Kim Jong un’s reciprocal visit can be arranged at an early date,” Moon said in his annual New Year address.

The invitation for Kim to visit Seoul dates from the two leaders’ last summit, in Pyongyang in September 2018, when the peninsula was basking in a diplomatic rapprochement.

Analysts suggested Moon’s call was now unre-

alistic. “I’m willing to meet repeatedly and talk ceaselessly” with the North, Moon said in his halfhour speech, which was broadcast live.

He also suggested Pyongyang and Seoul should consult on fielding a unified team at the Tokyo Olympics in July, which would march together at the opening ceremony.

The two Koreas’ athletes took part together at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South two years ago, and subsequently formed a series of joint teams in other events.

A possible joint bid for Seoul and Pyongyang to co-host the 2032 Summer Games has even been mooted, with Moon on Tuesday calling the prospect “a golden opportunity for the South and North to show to the world that we are one people”.

But the two capitals have held no discussions on the candidacy, and sporting ties have since entered a deep freeze — North Korea gave up any prospect of its women’s football team playing in Tokyo rather than take part in a qualifying competition in the South next month.

Pyongyang has also demanded the demolition of South Korean-built tourism facilities at Mount Kumgang in the North, saying it will operate tours there itself, and rejected discussions with Seoul on the issue.

But Moon said he would push for the resumption of South Korean visits to the peak, along with the re-opening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex where Southern firms employed Northern workers.

Both projects would currently violate the international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute in Seoul, said it was “highly unlikely” the North would respond to Moon’s address.

Arrest warrant issued in Japan for Carlos Ghosn's wife TOKYO AGENCIES

Prosecutors in Japan on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled the country.

The warrant was issued as the fallout from the escape of one of Japan’s most high-profile criminal suspects continues, with authorities pledging tighter border controls and seizing the bail money that Ghosn forfeited by fleeing the country.

He had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his wife.

In a statement, prosecutors said

they had obtained the warrant on suspicion that Carole Ghosn “made false statements” during April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual. He had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk. The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country in an elaborately planned escape that has outraged Japanese officials.

Ghosn’s second wife, Carole vocally led the campaign for her husband’s freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed illtreatment after his shock November 19, 2018 arrest. She was initially prevented from seeing her husband,

who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House in seeking his release.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto titan who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a “plot” to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault. The warrant for Carole’s arrest comes as Japanese authorities piece together how Ghosn was able to evade surveillance and airport security.

Snippets have emerged suggesting he was aided by a security expert, and took advantage of loopholes in security at Japan’s Kansai airport.

French pension talks resume as govt seeks to end standoff PARIS AGENCIES French officials prepared to restart talks with unions Tuesday over a pension overhaul that has sparked the country’s longest transport strikes in decades, which labour leaders say could force millions of people to retire later than they thought.

Public support appears to be shifting in the government’s favour, with just 44 percent backing the strike in an Ifop poll released Sunday, down seven points from the previous survey on December 19-20.

The reform would eliminate 42 separate pension schemes that offer early retirement and other advantages, mainly to public-sector workers, in favour of a single system.

It would also create a “pivot age” of 64 to benefit from a full pension, penalising those who stop working at the official retirement age of 62 — one of the lowest in Europe.

The government insists the measure is necessary for ensuring sufficient financing for the deficit-plagued system.

Yet officials have seized on an offer by France’s largest union, the moderate CFDT, to hold separate talks on how to finance the plan later, in order to end the impasse over the pivot age.

“That’s a very good idea,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Monday. “Never has a compromise seemed so close.”

But the hard-line CGT and Force Ouvriere unions have vowed to derail the plan, urging a new day of mass walkouts against the reform on Thursday, which could see schools shut and public transport even more impacted than usual.

Train operator SNCF says it has lost more than 600 million euros ($670 million) in ticket sales since the strike began on December 5, and Paris commutes have been headaches for millions who rely on the RATP’s metro, bus and suburban rail lines.

Austria's Kurz to return as world's youngest chancellor VIENNA AGENCIES

Austria’s conservative Sebastian Kurz will return to office Tuesday as the world’s youngest democratically elected leader heading an unlikely coalition with the Greens after his previous far-right alliance collapsed.

Vowing to “protect the climate and the borders”, the 33-year-old will become chancellor of a government — termed as “exotic” and “unlikely” by Austrian media — that marks the first time the Greens rule in the small Alpine country.

Kurz’s People’s Party (OeVP) and the Greens agreed last week to govern together after the last administration with the far-right fell apart in a corruption scandal, and both the OeVP and the ecologist party made key gains in September snap polls.

The alliance aims to please both sides by pushing for Austria to be carbon neutral by 2040 and also continuing its strict

anti-immigration measures.

Some observers think the alliance could become a possible model for other European countries if it succeeds as nations across the continent grapple with populist sentiments but also climate change.

‘BEST OF BOTH WORLDS’: Kurz — whose conservative OeVP has been in government for more than three decades — has defended the undertaking as combining “the best of both worlds”.

The OeVP has 10 ministers in the new coalition, while the Greens have four with its party chief Werner Kogler, 58, taking on the vice-chancellor post.

Among the ministers being sworn in Tuesday more than half are women, including the defence minister, and many are in their 30s and 40s.

A Greens politician and former activist will head an enlarged environment ministry, which includes traffic, energy and technology as well.

The Greens have also nominated an

openly lesbian party veteran to hold the culture portfolio, while a Greens legal expert of Bosnian origins, who arrived in Austria as refugee as a child, will head the justice ministry.

But for all that’s new, it’s not a

“love marriage”, according to analyst Johannes Huber.

“As he (Kurz) says at every opportunity, they are very different parties”, which have always been rivals rather than allies on a national level

until now, Huber told AFP. And their detractors are many, besides some from their own ranks.

Far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) — the third strongest party in parliament after the OeVP and the Social Democrats (SPOe) — was quick to denounce Kurz’s “swing to the left” and the “dangerous experiment” out of which “nothing good” can come for the country of 8.8 million people. The SPOe too criticised the new government’s programme, saying social questions hadn’t been addressed well enough.

Kurz first became the world’s youngest chancellor in a government with the FPOe from December 2017 until May last year, driving a hard line against immigration and brushing off a steady stream of racist and anti-Semitic incidents involving his far-right colleagues. But then the FPOe leader and vice-chancellor became engulfed in a graft scandal, leading to the collapse of the coalition and snap elections were called.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

GovT mUllS AUCTioninG UnUTiliSed CAPACiTY oF lnG TeRminAlS ISLAMABAD

T

AHMAD AHMADANI

HE government has been considering leaving Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports to the private sector and planning to auction the unutilised capacity of the two LNG terminals to streamline LNG business in the country, Pakistan Today has learnt.

According to sources, by leaving the LNG import to the private sector and auctioning the unutilised capacity of the two LNG terminals – Engro Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited (EETPL) and Pakistan Gas Port Consortium (PGPC), LNG consumption in the country would increase significantly in the near future.

They said the Petroleum Division has agreed to the abovementioned proposals, but the permission of the federal cabinet was yet to be taken in this regard.

"Following the merger of Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and PLTL, it is up to PLTL now to decide as to how much capacity it will keep with itself and how much LNG terminal capacity it will auction," sources said.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that two private LNG companies – Energas and Mitsubishi (Tabeer Energy) – have already obtained Letter of Interests

(LoIs) to install new terminals at Port Qasim without any government commitment to buy LNG from them.

"As the government is importing 1,200 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of LNG and paying heavy capacity payments to the already working LNG terminals, the auction of the unutilised capacity [of the terminals] will help the government earn a heavy amount," sources said. "Also, the private sector is expected to bring more LNG to the country which will provide a much-needed impetus to the country's LNG market."

According to a former PLL official,

the two existing terminals were currently operating at 50pc capacity due to issues pertaining to gross mismanagement. He maintained that LNG was the cheapest, cleanest and most easily usable commodity in Pakistan, adding that the lowest prices in the world were procured by PLL under Adnan Gilani.

As per the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), which regulates the oil and gas sector in Pakistan, the demand-supply of gap during 2017-18 was 1.45bcfd, which was expected to rise to 3.7bcfd in this fiscal. "LNG imports helped reduce the total gas deficit of over 2.5bcfd by 25pc; without gas im-

ports, the gap is forecast to reach 4.6bcfd in 2022-23 and 6.7bcfd in 2027-28."

OGRA stated that LNG was considerably a more efficient and cheaper fuel with average domestic prices in 2019 being $11.1/mmBtu for RLNG, $12.6/mmBtu for furnace oil, $19.8/mmBtu for liquid petroleum gas, $20.2/mmBtu for high-speed diesel, and $20.4/mmBtu for mogas (petrol).

Sources said there was a consensus among market players that gas imports must be increased so that the requirements of all segments of consumers could be met. “Industrial expansion is the only way to counter rising trade deficit and other macroeconomic challenges.”

In the past, they said, industries were forced to use other expensive energy sources, increasing the cost of production and leaving Pakistan’s products less competitive in the international market.

Reportedly, sources added, jobs of four million daily wage-earners in Punjab alone were under threat due to gas shortages which affect industrial productivity.

It is pertinent to mention that despite all imports, natural gas supply gap in the country stands at around 2bcfd, resulting in increased gas holidays for industry and CNG sectors, and unannounced load shedding for domestic consumers.

MARKET DAILY

Stocks stage 608-point comeback rally KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Govt injects Rs7bn in Utility Stores Corporation ISLAMABAD: The government has given a package of Rs7 billion to Utility Stores Corporation (USC) of Pakistan in order to ensure the provision of daily items to people at reasonable rates. This was announced by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan while giving a media briefing on Tuesday. USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan and Managing Director Umer Lodhi were also present on the occasion. The SAPM said that the PTI government was committed to providing relief to the downtrodden and poor segments of society under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Speaking on the occasion, USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan said flour, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses would be available to people at reduced rates under the new package. He said the restructuring of USC was being done on modern lines but "no employee has been fired from the job". He said the present wave of inflation was linked with high prices of commodities in the international oil market.

"The government will soon introduce a ration card scheme in which USC outlets will play a key role," he said, adding that corporation aims to enhance its network from existing 4,000 stores to 10,000. PPI

Prices of 89 medicines reduced by 15pc KARACHI: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) has decreased the prices of essential medicines by 15pc.

According to a notification issued by the ministry on Tuesday, "In continuation of Drug Pricing Policy 2018, the ministry has reduced the prices of 89 life-saving drugs by 15 per cent." Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Zafar Mirza said the decision was taken on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, and that reduction in price would be implemented immediately.

Earlier, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and another health watchdog monitoring drug regulation in the country had criticised the exorbitant prices of medicines, besides lamenting the lack of implementation on government orders in this regard. PPI

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a strong comeback on Tuesday after taking a hammering a day before.

Foreign investors also changed their pattern and closed the previous session (Monday) as net buyers with a net inflow of $2.02 million.

On the economic front, Pakistan's trade deficit dipped by 31pc to $11,628 million in the first half of FY20 mainly on the back of import contraction. The country's imports fell by 17.13pc to $23,163 million while exports remained almost flat, up 3.16pc in July-Dec 2019 as compared to the same period last year.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index, which opened the day at 41,445.96, touched its intraday high at 41,967.94 (+671.70 points) in the final trading hour. It closed higher by 608.23 points or 1.47pc at 41,904.47.

The KMI-30 Index gained 1,202.15 points to settle at 68,187.68, while the KSE All Share Index accumulated 230.23 points at 29,375.75.

Sectors that painted the KSE-100 Index green included banking (+205.27 points), fertiliser (+82.71 points) and cement (+67.87 points).

BUSINESS 11 Trade deficit shrinks 30.67pc in first half of FY20 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's trade deficit witnessed a significant reduction in the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year (FY20), as it fell by 30.67pc when compared with the corresponding period of last year. During the period under review, the country's exports registered 3.17pc growth, whereas imports reduced by 17.13pc, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. During the JulyDecember 2019 period, the country's exports were recorded at $11.535 billion as against the exports of $11.181 billion in the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the country's imports went down from $27.952 billion in first six months of the last financial year to $23.163 billion in the same period of FY20. On a month-on-month basis, the trade deficit shrank 15.99pc in December 2019 as compared to December 2018.

Exports reduced by 3.96pc while imports decreased by 10.33pc. During the month under review, Pakistani exports were recorded at $1.990 billion as compared the exports of $2.072 billion in the same month of last year, while imports came down from $4.405 billion to $3.950 billion. The trade deficit grew by 1.61pc in the month of December when compared with November 2019. The exports from the country witnessed a decrease of 1.04pc in December 2019, whereas imports increased by 0.25pc. The country's exports were recorded at $1.990 billion in December 2019 as against the exports of $2.001 billion in November 2019. On the other hand, imports enhanced to $3.950 million from $3.940 million in November 2019. STAFF REPORT

Atif Bajwa appointed Bank of Punjab president LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

Among the companies, Habib Bank Limited (HBL +93.10 points), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +60.23 points) and Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited (DAWH +56.43 points) contributed maximum points to the index.

The overall trading volumes were recorded at 206.89 million (down 22pc on a daily basis). Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL 1.45pc), K-Electric Limited (KEL +1.10pc) and Siddiqsons Tin Plate Limited (STPL -5.33pc) led the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 19.04 million, 16.09 million and

12.28 million shares, respectively.

The refinery sector (+4.29pc) ended as top gainer on Tuesday. National Refinery Limited (NRL +4.99pc), Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL +4.96pc), Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL +5.00pc) and Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited (BYCO +3.71pc) closed with decent gains.

In a notification sent to the exchange, Bolan Castings Limited (BCL +0.78pc) announced an extension in the shutdown period from January 12, 2020, to February 02, 2020. The plant would resume its operations from February 03, 2020.

Atif Bajwa has been appointed as the president of the Bank of Punjab after a meeting of the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday.

Chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, the PTI’s government in Punjab held its 23rd meeting to discuss a 19-point agenda, which included the appointment of president of the Bank of Punjab and upgradation of different posts on the recommendations of committee headed by the additional chief secretary. Sources informed this scribe that the name of Atif Bajwa, who is the former president, CEO & executive director of Bank Alfalah, was confirmed as BOP’s new president. Other names in contention included Zafar Masud and Adnan Ghani. Atif Bajwa is a veteran banker who has remained the president & CEO of MCB Bank Ltd and Soneri Bank Ltd, regional head for Central & Eastern Europe at Citibank (Bangladesh), manager at RBS Pakistan, chairman of Pakistan Business Council and president of Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry in addition to his last association, which was with Bank Alfalah.

Amid failed talks, Sindh transporters’ strike enters second day KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The goods transporters’ strike entered the second day on Tuesday as the talks between Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and representatives of transporters ended in a deadlock.

Cargo supplies across the country came to a halt on Monday when transporters suspended their operations in protest over a hefty increase in fines, forcing the federal government to send in its top guns for holding talks to resolve the crisis.

Governor Imran Ismail, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen were given the task to woo the transporters.

Transporters said that they decided to halt the cargo supply as a last resort after their several appeals had failed to convince the authorities to take action

on their concerns.

They said they paid millions of rupees in taxes and play a key role in the overall economic activity of the country but they were never taken on board by the government where the making of the recent policy was concerned.

“For instance, the government has changed the fine from Rs750 for every violation to Rs5,000,” said Agha Jawad Raza, a spokesman for the United Goods Transporters Alliance — an umbrella body of different goods transporters’ bodies.“The transporters cannot afford this and the same was our stance from the very first day. From power corridors in Islamabad to authorities in the National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP), we have been pleading [with] everyone for the last couple of months but in vain.

“We are left with no choice but to suspend our operation as part of a coun-

trywide strike. Right now, more than 7,500 heavy vehicles involved in goods transport are parked in Kathore and Hawkesbay truck stand,” he said.

The federal government had recently approved revised rates of fines against traffic violations on highways.

The penalty, which was Rs750 on every kind of violation, is now being cate-

gorised. For speeding, the fine would be Rs1,500 for motorbikes, Rs2,500 for cars, Rs5,000 for trucks, and Rs10,000 for public service vehicles.

On the other hand, the NHMP said that higher penalties on traffic violations were resulting in safer roads and lesser violations by the heavy traffic which most of the time caused fatal accidents.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

12 BUSINESS

GovT FeARS diFFiCUlTieS AT FATF AS SenATe BodY RejeCTS AmendmenT in lAw SENATE BODY EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER AMENDMENT THAT EMPOWERS FIA TO ARREST ANYONE CARRYING OVER $10,000 IN THE COUNTRY ISLAMABAD

T

GHULAM ABBAS

HE government may face more difficulties in meeting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) conditions, as a parliamentary committee on Tuesday unanimously rejected some of the proposed amendments in Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, saying that the same could be misused.

Through the proposed changes in the Foreign Exchange Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2019, which were approved by the National Assembly, the government had proposed restriction on carrying over $10,000 cash within the country.

Terming it against the freedom of individuals, the Senate body unanimously rejected the proposed amendment in the

existing law, saying that the law would be misused to create problems for the public, especially the businessmen.

Despite repeated requests and justifications made by the finance secretary as well as the officials of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), committee chairman Farooq H Naik outrightly rejected the amendment and said, "Even I could be arrested by law enforcement agencies in case the same is approved." Other members also termed the amendment unnecessary.

The government officials were of the view that the restriction was necessary to control terror financing and money laundering, as identified by FATF. "I can say it on record that we may face problems at FATF in case such amendments are not made," Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch said. "The amendments are being made to save Pak-

PTA allows non-commercial trials of 5G ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has granted six months permission to PMCL (Jazz) and CMPak (Zong) to conduct test and trial of 5G Technology under limited environment.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the permission is limited to testing purpose only on non-commercial basis. “In line with the policy directive of the government, PTA has issued ‘Framework for Test and Development of Future Technologies (Particularly Fifth Generation (5G) Wireless Networks in Pakistan)’ in June 2019 to facilitate testing/trial only of 5G technology and related services in the country,” the statement read. PTA has always supported and encouraged introduction of new technologies and enhanced services.

However, any impression given beyond the stated purpose by any Cellular Mobile Operator (CMO) would be considered misleading and may invoke appropriate regulatory action. The statement further said that commercial launch of 5th generation services in Pakistan would be done in due course following a process involving policy directions by government and necessary regulatory approvals. APP

Russian consortium to replace TmK in $2bn Karachi-lahore gas pipeline project A new consortium of two Russian companies will undertake the construction project of the 1122 km-long gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore after the Federal Law Ministry on Tuesday denied clearance to Russian consortium TMK. TMK, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, was refused clearance by the ministry as the name of its chief, Dmitry Pumpyansky, was placed on the US sanctions watchlist. Following the Law Ministry’s decision, the Petroleum Division requested the Russian government which provided a consortium of two new companies -- LLC Eurasian Pipeline and Federal State Unitary Enterprise – to take part in the $2bn project. The government is expected to sign a deal for the pipeline with the companies in April 2020. The existing gas infrastructure of Pakistan lacks capacity to transport additional large volume of gas supplies from southern to northern regions of the country. Therefore, keeping in view the expected additional gas supplies in near future, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has planned to undertake the laying of gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore under the title “North-South Gas Pipeline Project”. The ECC in its meeting held on January 10, 2015 approved the North-South Gas Pipeline Project under government-to-government arrangement. The proposed N-S pipeline will be laid down with diameter of 42 inch will have the capacity to evacuate 1.2 bcfd gas. NEWS DESK

Corporate Corner

LAHORE: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd announced the ‘Age of Experience’ during the opening keynote at Consumers Electronic Show 2020. pr

istan from blacklisting by FATF...it is a national issue."

Realizing that the senators were not ready to consider the proposed amendment, the finance secretary and FIA officials suggested the members propose changes in wordings of the law so that the bill could be cleared from the Senate body. However, their requests were not accepted by both the opposition members as well as the members of the ruling party.

The committee was earlier informed that a new section '8A' was inserted in the forex act to restrict the free movement of foreign exchange within the country without any limit. Therefore, Foreign Exchange Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2019, duly vetted by the Law and Justice Division, ratified by the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Cabinet Cases (CCLC) and approved by the Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on December 20, 2018, was introduced in the National Assembly on 22nd April 2019.

The National Assembly had referred the bill to the NA Standing Committee on Finance. After approval from the body, the same was introduced in Senate on January 1, 2020, which later referred it to

the Senate committee.

Interestingly, the members of the body, despite the warning by the chairman that the same could be misused, approved an amendment in Section 23 of FERA 1947, and addition of new provisos to provide explicit powers to the FlA for taking prompt action against illegal foreign exchange operators and others without requirement of any formal complaint from SBP. In the existing law, it was mandatory for FIA to take SBP’s staff along for any raid and inspection related to financial transactions and money laundering.

Meanwhile, the committee also approved amendment in Anti Money Laundering Act related to enhancing the punishment, making any offence punishable under the law as cognizable and non-bailable. The committee further approved FIA’s request to increase the investigation period of any case from 90 days to 180 days.

According to officials, the amendments were being made in the act to have largely-compliant rating from the FATF on the implementation of its 27 action points, which might help the government get more time from the watchdog for full

ECC likely to constitute price negotiation committee for TAPI project ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) is likely to constitute a price negotiation committee for the TurkmenistanAfghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project.

According to documents available with this scribe, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has summoned the ECC meeting today (Wednesday) to deliberate upon seven agendas of different ministries. Sources said that the forum would deliberate on the Petroleum Division’s summary regarding the constitution of a price negotiation committee for TAPI project.

"The purpose of constituting the committee is to determine the gas prices with Turkmengaz, as the Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) between Inter-State Gas System Limited (ISGSL) and Turkmengaz for the supply of 1.3bfcd gas to Pakistan was signed in 2012, however, the prices were not determined at that time," sources added. The TAPI project aims to bring natural gas from Galkynish and adjacent gas fields in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The federal cabinet had executed the Inter-Governmental

Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA) for implementation of the project on December 11, 2010.

Meanwhile, the ECC would also take up two more summaries of the Petroleum Division, including allocation of gas from PGNiG's Rizq gas field to Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL); and exchange losses incurred by Pakistan State Oil on FE-25 loans booked on the instructions of the Ministry of Finance. The committee would deliberate upon the Cabinet Division's proposal pertaining to approval of technical supplementary grant of Rs1 billion for Pakistan Tourism Development Endowment Fund during 2019-20.

Moreover, the committee would take up the matter of Industries and Production Division regarding extension of government guarantee against credit facility of National Bank of Pakistan, amounting to Rs5 billion, in favour of Utility Store Cooperation. The forum would also consider the summary regarding the release of funds for payment of outstanding amount gas bills to SSGC. Lastly, the committee would discuss the agenda of Water Division, as a request was made to settle the financial facility amounting to Rs38.12 billion raised by WAPDA from HBL for the settlement of net hydel profit.

compliance. Earlier, the committee was briefed that all amendments were in line with FATF recommendations and if enactment takes place before the scheduled meetings it would strengthen Pakistan’s compliance position.

The committee considered the amendments clause by clause and approved some of them without amendments. Some amendments were rejected right away while some were approved partly. "For the plenary meeting of the FATF in February 2020, our target is to be largely complaint on most of the action points," officials of finance ministry informed the parliamentary panel. "Pakistan will be judged by FATF plenary next month on the basis of the joint group’s report.”

To exit the grey list, Pakistan needs to show full compliance on all the action points by Feb 2020, according to the FATF statement issued in Oct last year.

The Senate committee meeting was attended by Senators Syed Shibli Faraz, Mohsin Aziz, Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Muhammad Akram, Sherry Rehman, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Imamud Din Shouqeen, Anwarul Haq Kakar and Dilawar Khan.

Getz Pharma denies report about acquisition of mitchell’s Fruit Farms We have received a written clarification by the spokesperson of Getz Pharma and is being published here for the information of our readers: “Reference is made to the article written by Hassan Naqvi published by Pakistan Today dated January 6, 2020 titled ‘Getz Pharma finalizes deal to acquire Mitchell’s Fruit Farms’. It is clarified that the subject article is misleading and factually incorrect. Getz Pharma has not placed, nor does it intend to place, any bids or offers for the acquisition of Mitchell’s Fruit Farms Limited.

The following statement contained in the subject article “the acquisition deal is already locked between the two companies while necessary documents in this regard would be signed soon” is factually and substantially false. It is further confirmed that Bioexyte Food (Private) Limited is not a subsidiary of Getz Pharma.

No official of Getz Pharma has spoken with or confirmed any news on the subject matter with Pakistan Today, or any other electronic or print media forum.” PRESS RELEASE

Junaid Murtaza succeeds Musharraf Hai as L’Oréal Pakistan MD MUSHARRAF HAI BEGINS NEW INNINGS AT KHAADI KARACHI HASSAN NAQVI

Junaid Murtaza has been appointed L’Oréal Pakistan managing director replacing Musharraf Hai who has joined Khaadi as the consultant. The change of guards took place on 1st July 2019 but was announced on Tuesday.

It is strange that a lady who had served as chairman and CEO of Unilever Pakistan and was also the face behind the launch of L'Oreal in Pakistan has joined Khaadi, a smaller concern, as a consultant.

Profile of Musharraf Hai Musharraf Hai was the first female to head Unilever operations in Pakistan which she had left to launch L'Oreal in Pakistan.

Ms. Hai, a graduate of London School of Economics and Boston University, joined the Marketing Department of Unilever Pakistan in 1983 where her major

assignments were in Unilever's Personal Care and Detergent businesses. From 1993 to 1996, she was designated to serve at Unilever Headquarters in London, where she worked for Unilever's East Asia-Pacific and Africa/Middle East operations.

On her return to Pakistan, she was assigned to look after Unilever Pakistan's Ice Cream Division after which she was appointed as Director for Home and Personal Care Division. Following which Ms. Hai was moved to the position of Sales Director of Unilever and on July 1, 2001, she was finally elevated and appointed as the chairman and CEO of Unilever Pakistan.

Profile of Junaid Murtaza Junaid Murtaza, a LUMS alumnus of 2008, began his career with Unilever Pakistan and led an accelerated career path through various successful stints in Marketing & Sales.

His journey in L’Oréal began in 2013 in Pakistan, where he last held the position of Marketing Director - Consumer Products Division, bringing strong transformation and acceleration for the business and extending the reach of L’Oréal Paris and Garnier

brands to the consumers of Pakistan.

In 2016, he moved to the Global L’Oréal Headquarters Paris, France as Zone Marketing Director for Pan Africa & Middle East region. Mr. Murtaza returned to Pakistan in October 2018 as the General Manager for L’Oréal Pakistan Consumer Products division. In just a span of 9 months, Mr. Murtaza succeeded the position of Country Managing Director where he is the Chief Executive for L'Oréal Pakistan subsidiary, being one of the youngest Country Managing Director in the L'Oréal world.

“Being the global leaders in beauty, L’Oréal has been able to build a strong foundation in Pakistan in the last 10 years. Our ambition is to take this further and democratize the best of beauty for the Pakistani consumer, building more Relevance, Reach and Purpose. Pakistan and our people have an immense potential to be on the global stage.

Through our Brands, “Sharing Beauty With All” and “Beauty for a Better Life” platforms, we have made great inroads, and there is a huge opportunity to do more. Women Empowerment and Sustainability will be key areas of our focus,” said Mr. Murtaza.

5 most anticipated movies to watch in 2020 UndeRWATeR

The gRUdge

Top gUn : MAveRick

Kristen Stewart has come a long way since Twilight. After appearing in Elizabeth Banks' 2019 Charlie's Angels reboot, Stewart will be seen in Underwater, a film about an underwater research crew who find themselves trapped following a devastating earthquake.

As much as one may want to compare it to other sci-fi thrillers like Alien or The Abyss, Stewart explained that the film deals not only with how strangers react during traumatic situations, but with the existential questions that arise in that life or death scenario as well.

Underwater's cast also includes Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher, Jr., Mamoudou Athie, and Gunner Wright. It's directed by William Euban.

The Grudge originally known as Ju-On- was one of the key movies in the wave of Japanese horror of the 2000s. There have been no fewer than 12 Japanese movies and three American versions to date, and in January, a new Grudge reboot arrives. The film focuses on new characters, but like previous movies, the plot centers on a deadly curse that can be passed from person-toperson like a virus. It stars John Cho (Star Trek), Andrea Riseborough (Mandy), Demián Bichir (The Nun), and Betty Gilpin (GLOW), and it'ss directed by Nicolas Pesce, who previously helmed the acclaimed horror movie The Eyes of My Mother.

Top Gun's sequel Top Gun: Maverick is introducing a new love interest for the iconic fighter pilot. Jennifer Connelly will romance Maverick, as a single mother who is the owner of a bar. No other details have been shared about the character, including her name. While there are theories that she might be Penny Benjamin, who is mentioned in the first movie but never shown, the addition of this new love brings up the question of why Top Gun actress Kelly McGillis won't reprise her role as Charlie.

Sonic The hedgehog

An episode of Peppa Pig was pulled from Australian television for teaching children not to fear spiders.

doliTTle

Before he wrote Goosebumps, R.L. Stine wrote the jokes for Bazooka Joe wrappers.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

Sonic the Hedgehog is such an iconic character that it's surprising it's taken until 2020 for a Sonic movie to be made. But blue-furred turbocharged Hedgehog finally makes his live-action big-screen debut in February, following the infamous character redesign that caused that movie to be delayed by a few months. The new-look CG Sonic is voiced by Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz, and the human cast is headed

by Jim Carrey as the evil Dr Robotnik and Westworld star James Marsden as a small-town sheriff who ends up befriending Sonic. The movie focuses Sonic trying to escape from Robotnik and the US government while collecting the franchise's iconic rings.

Did someone say a character with a weird history? The physician who could talk with animals was created by author Hugh Lofting in letters written home to his children from the trenches of World War I. Dolittle is an upcoming American fantasy adventure film directed by Stephen Gaghan, from a screenplay by Gaghan and a story by Thomas Shepherd. A number of adaptations appeared over the following decades, including cartoons, radio plays, stage productions, and a lavish 1967 movie musical starring Rex Harrison.

Now, the good doctor is returning to the big screen in the form of Robert Downey Jr. The animal cast will be voiced by a star-studded lineup that includes Rami Malek, John Cena, Emma Thompson, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, and Ralph Fiennes.

Ronda Rousey Rumored For She-hulk Ronda Rousey is again being rumored to play She-Hulk in the upcoming Disney Plus series with it claimed the news is "confirmed."

Back in September saw the MMA fighter turned WWE Superstar first rumored to play the cousin of the Hulk, Jennifer Walters, who upon getting a blood transfusion from Bruce Banner, becomes She-Hulk.

Now users on Reddit are posting that Ronda Rousey as SheHulk is confirmed for the Disney Plus series, though it should be noted no official announcement has been made by Disney or Marvel Studios, nor have the Hollywood trade sites reported on the casting.

Ronda Rousey does have a bit of acting under her belt as she was recently featured in Charlie's Angels, appeared on the 911 TV series, was in Mile 22 with Mark Wahlberg, appears in Furious 7, and she was set to star in the Roadhouse reboot before it got canceled.

Prior to the casting of Brie Larson, Ronda Rousey also made it known that she wanted to play Captain Marvel, so we see at the least that Rousey has her sights set on a superhero role.

In 1998, the U.S. Army tried developing a telepathic ray gun "where words could be transmitted to be heard like the spoken word, except that it could only be heard within a person’s head."

Hrithik Roshan takes a dig at himself, reveals disha patani and Aditya Roy kapur Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon role was difficult film is all about killing and adventure Actor Hrithik Roshan had a superb 2019, with not one but two of this releases — Super 30 and War — hitting the bull’s- eye.

With two very different films and roles, he proved his versatility. Now, in a new video, he cracks a joke about one of the most difficult roles in his career so far.

Speaking to film critic Anupama Chopra, Hrithik was asked if there was ever a time when he had difficulty playing a character and if he ever had a method that he followed to play such characters. The actor acknowledged that he had once tried hard to do a role which he found to be very difficult to play.

He said, “Yeah, and I failed terribly. There was a film that I did called Main Prem Ki Deewani (audience laughs and Hrithik looks at them with a glint of a mischievousness in his eyes). A very happy, very uppity... (makes a funny sound of being super-excited) It doesn’t come very naturally to me...even if you try really hard, which I did (goes on to behave the way he did in Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon as audience and the host burst out laughing).”

CMYK

The trailer of Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur’s upcoming film Malang is out and revolves around four diverse characters who have their own definition of living life and claiming one.

While killing is a drug for Aditya, it is a necessity for Kunal Kemmu and is in the nature of Anil Kapoor, who plays a cop.

Disha is in a mysterious role as she uncovers her face to reveal that killing is all about fun for her.

While Malang looks like a thrilling adventure, the makers refuse to give away the story in the trailer. All three male characters claim to be killers but have their own purpose behind it.

It also shows several glimpses of Aditya and Disha’s wild love story as they enjoy water sports and other adventurous activities. But how the two share their love for killing remains to be known. The film goes with the tagline ‘Unleash The Madness’.

Director Mohit Suri had teased the audience by sharing a poster of the film with the caption, “Two Wild Souls...One Love...MALANG!” On the poster, Disha is seen kissing Aditya while sitting on his shoulders, as they get intimate on the beachside.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

14 SPORTS

SerenA POwerS PAST GiOrGi fOr 'SOlid' STArT TO 2020 AUCKLAND

S

AGENCIES

ERENA Williams found her power game after a sluggish start as she overcame qualifier Camila Giorgi to open her 2020 season with a straight-sets victory at the Auckland WTA Classic on Tuesday.

With an eye on the Australian Open later in the month, the 38-year-old worked her way into a blistering performance that proved too much for the 1.7 metre (5ft 6in) Italian.

She described her first match since losing the US Open final in September as "solid" rather than spectacular.

"Spent a long time off from tournament play, match play, so solid is pretty good. It's a great start to build on," she said after sealing her 6-3, 6-2 victory with her eighth ace against the 99thranked Giorgi.

"It's really good that I still have some power left in my arms and my legs." Williams, originally drawn to play two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova before the Russian pulled out due to a virus, said her preparation had been helped by playing dou-

bles with Caroline Wozniacki the previous evening which allowed her to adapt to the blustery Auckland weather.

"I knew it was going to be really tough but I think the doubles really helped. I got to come out here and play a little bit in these conditions and get used to them."

GRAND SLAM RECORD: After more than three months off court, Williams took time to settle and was

forced to save an early break point with the first six games all going with serve.

But at 3-3 in the first set, Williams found her range and from there on the result was never in doubt.

Auckland is an important tournament for the veteran as she prepares for the Australian Open later in the month with her eyes firmly on a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam title.

While Williams is the undisputed

face of American tennis, she has been joined in Auckland by the new wave of US tennis stars, headed by the tournament third seed Amanda Anisimova who did not disappoint.

The 18-year-old, who captured world attention reaching the semi-finals of the French Open last year where she lost in three sets to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty, needed 78 minutes to dispose of KaterynaKozlova of the Ukraine 6-3, 6-4.

Unlike Williams, Anisimova said she felt quite at home in the Auckland wind. "I've been training in Miami and it's really the same," she said.

The top five seeds were all in action on Tuesday and along with Williams and Anisimova, Petra Martic, defending champion Julia Goerges and Caroline Wozniacki also progressed to the second round. Second seed Martic from Croatia had trouble at the start against 21-year-old American UsueArconada and dropped the first set before prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Wozniacki cruised against New Zealander Paige Hourigan with a 6-1, 6-0 victory in 53 minutes while Germany's Goerges came from 25 down in the second set to beat Greet Minnen of Belgium 6-1, 7-6 (7/4)

Lukaku double keeps Inter top after Ronaldo's first Serie A hat-trick TURIN AGENCIES

RomeluLukaku scored twice as Inter Milan held on to top spot in Serie A on Monday with a 3-1 win over Napoli to keep the pressure on Juventus who earlier swept past Cagliari with Cristiano Ronaldo netting his first hat-trick in the Italian top flight.

Antonio Conte's Inter ended their 23-year wait for a league win in Naples to stay in pole position, level on points with Juventus after 18 games, but ahead on goal difference. Lazio are third, six points adrift but with a game in hand, after stretching their winning run in the league to nine matches on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Brescia.

"It's an important victory, winning away to Napoli is never easy," said Conte after his 100th Serie A win as a coach but first in Naples.

"Napoli have in recent years always been behind Juventus, while Inter was a long way back. This year we have reduced the gap."

Inter's three goals all came from mistakes from Napoli, runners-up the past two seasons but only eighth this term. Lukaku broke through on 14 minutes with a powerful solo run through the Napoli defence, with goalkeeper Alex Meret fumbling the second into goal in the 33rd minute.

Polish striker ArkadiuszMilik pulled a goal back for Napoli four minutes before the break.

But Lautaro Martinez added the third after the hour mark, following an-

other mix-up in the Napoli defence, to give Inter their first win at the Stadio San Paolo since October 1997.

"We made lots of mistakes and scored three goals on our own," said Napoli coach GennaroGattuso.

"The lads are worried because they are used to challenging for the Scudetto and this year it's like this."

In Turin, Ronaldo struck for the fifth consecutive league game as the champions bounced back from their Italian Super Cup defeat by Lazio.

"Amazing feeling to kick off 2020 with a hat-trick and a victory," tweeted Ronaldo, who brought his league tally to 13 goals. Ronaldo, 34, broke the deadlock just after the interval.

The Portuguese striker added a second from the penalty spot on 67 minutes then set up substitute Gonzalo Higuain nine minutes from time, before completing his hat-trick a minute later.

Lukaku and Ronaldo's goals overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return for AC Milan as the Swedish star came off the bench in the 55th minute in a goalless draw against Sampdoria.

The 38-year-old had not played since leaving MLS side LA Galaxy in October. He came on for Poland striker Krzysztof Piatek to deafening applause from the San Siro crowd after rejoining the club last week.

But there was little else to cheer for the hosts who extended their winless run to three games and remain 12th in the table. "I felt a lot of adrenaline, emotion, it brought me back nine or 10 years," said Ibrahimovic, who was top

Osaka opens year with tough win over Sakkari BRISBANE: Japanese star Naomi Osaka came from a break down in the third set to overcome Greece's Maria Sakkari in the first round of the WTA Brisbane International on Tuesday. Sakkari sniffed an upset when she won the second set in a tiebreak then broke Osaka's opening service game of the third set, but the former world number one dug deep and won 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in a twohour opening-round clash. Osaka, the tournament's third seed, said she was pleased with her first match of the year, after she was forced out of the WTA Finals in October with a shoulder injury. "I'm really happy with how I served -- I had to retire from my last match because of my shoulder thing, so I wasn't really sure how I was going to serve today," she said. "But I was told I hit 16 aces, so that's pretty good for me." Sixth-seeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens also progressed in three sets, beating Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Eighth seed Madison Keys served brilliantly in her impressive 6-3, 6-2 win over Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova. The American made 70 percent of her first serves as she eased to a comfortable victory in just 66 minutes. "I think it (my serve) was just working pretty well today," she said. "I probably took a little bit of pace off but more just because I felt like I was kind of feeling my slider a little bit more. "It's always nice when you can not only make your first serve, but it feels like it sets up the point really well for you." Russian qualifier LiudmilaSamsonova caused an upset when she beat former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Samsonova, playing only her seventh main draw WTA tournament, recorded her first victory over a top-30 player with her 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win. In other matches, YuliaPutinseva of Kazakhstan beat Croatia's Donna Vekic 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 and Estonian AnettKontaveit overpowered Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei 6-4, 6-1. AGENCIES

More misery for Zverev with Shapovalov loss at ATP Cup

scorer in Serie A with Milan in the 2011-12 campaign before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.

"I wanted to get on the pitch, score a goal and then celebrate like a God in front of the Curva! But it will happen next time." The seven-time European champions are 13 points off Champions League qualification, a competition they have not played since the 2013-14 season. Milan coach Stefano Pioli said the team were still reeling from their 50 defeat by Atalanta last time out.

"The disastrous defeat in Bergamo has remained within us," said Pioli. "It

is a shame not to have won. Ibra's impact was absolutely positive.

"He immediately gave support, but the team is not yet used to his presence, we could look to him more."

Atalanta continued their fine form, closing to within a point of fourthplaced Roma, who lost 2-0 to Torino on Sunday, with another 5-0 rout, this time of seventh-placed Parma.

Atalanta were already three goals up before the break thanks to Papu Gomez, Remo Freuler and Robin Gosens, with Josip Ilicic adding a second-half double.

BRISBANE: Alexander Zverev's terrible run of form showed no signs of abating Tuesday after the German surrendered meekly to Canada's Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-2 in the ATP Cup's third round. Canada won the tie in Brisbane 2-1 to keep alive their hopes of reaching the inaugural event's quarter-finals after Shapovalov teamed with Felix Auger-Aliassime to win the deciding doubles rubber. The pair edged Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in a high quality match. Shapovalov cruised to his win in just 70 minutes to level the tie after Jan-Lennard Struff had earlier got Germany away to a winning start with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Auger-Aliassime. Zverev needed to beat Shapovalov to keep Germany in the hunt for a quarter-final spot in Sydney later this week. But Shapovalov took control from the outset against an opponent whose serve was misfiring and whose body language suggested a player badly out of form, with less than two weeks before he appears at the Australian Open. AGENCIES

Smoke delays unlikely at Australian Open, say organisers MELBOURNE AGENCIES

Smoke from bushfires is unlikely to delay the Australian Open tennis Grand Slam, organisers said on Tuesday, insisting they have pulled out all the stops to protect the health and safety of players.

With the opening major of 2020 due to start at January 20, Melbourne has been blanketed by haze in recent days from blazes burning to the east -- part of Australia's bushfire crisis that has left 25 people dead.

Novak Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said organisers

should consider delaying the tournament, as a last resort, if conditions did not improve. But Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said he did not see this as likely.

"There has been a lot of speculation about whether the smoke from the bushfires will affect the Australian Open," he said. "All the information we have at the moment, with qualifying coming up next week, is that the forecast is good, we don't expect any delays and we've implemented additional measures to ensure the Australian Open will be able to run as scheduled."

Tiley said that while images of the fires, which have destroyed hundreds of

properties, were distressing, there was no danger to people in Melbourne.

"The closest fires are several hundred kilometres (miles) from the city," he said, while stressing that the health and safety of players, staff and fans was a priority.

"We've committed substantial extra resources to analysis, monitoring and logistics to ensure this throughout the tournament," he said.

"There will be meteorological and air quality experts on site to analyse all available live data and assess in real-time the air quality at Melbourne Park, and we always work closely with our medical personnel and other local experts."

CMYK

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

SPORTS 15

PieTer MAlAn diGS in TO Give SA A fiGhTinG ChAnCe CAPE TOWN

M

AGENCIES

ARK Boucher encouraged his South Africa side to channel the spirit of the 2008 Perth Test last night, and Pieter Malan's battling, unbeaten 63 left them dreaming of an improbable escape on the fourth evening of the Newlands Test despite James Anderson's late wicket.

After England looked to hammer their advantage home in the day's first session, with Dom Sibley completing his maiden Test hundred and Ben Stokes clubbing 72 off only 47 balls, South African heads began to drop with the lead soaring past 400.

But after the declaration came 20 minutes after lunch, Malan and Dean Elgar were resolute, leaving the ball well and blunting England's attack on a pitch that looked to possess few demons by the close. Elgar fell for 34 after struggling against the part-time legspin of Joe Denly, but Malan put on 52 with Zubayr Hamza to push South Africa towards the close before Anderson coaxed an edge out of Hamza to give England a vital breakthrough.

That wicket left South Africa needing 312 more runs on the final day. If that target seemed a tall order, then the fact that conditions have become increasingly favourable for batting suggests that a draw is by no means impossible.

After Dom Bess's dismissal to the final ball of the third day, Stokes wasted little time in signalling England's attacking intentions in the morning session. He

bludgeoned the eighth delivery he faced to the midwicket boundary off Dwaine Pretorius, and hit the same bowler for six down the ground and through third man with a delicate reverse-lap in consecutive balls at the start of his next over.

Unexpectedly, Faf du Plessis had declined to take the new ball as soon as it became available, instead hoping that KeshavMaharaj might lull Stokes into a false stroke. Stokes took the bait, ripping it clean off while avoiding the hook as he deposited him over midwicket for six.

The new ball then came, but Stokes showed no signs of slowing down as Vernon Philander's 14th over of the innings went for as many runs (12) as his previous 13 combined. KagisoRabada fared little better, and at one stage, Stokes was on 38 off 26 balls at the same time that the unmoved Sibley had added only three from the 31 deliveries he had faced.

After edging through the vacant thirdslip area for four, Sibley nailed a sweep shot off Maharaj to bring up his maiden Test hundred, the first by an England opener at Newlands since Jack Hobbs in 1910. He began to move through the gears himself, perhaps inspired by the carnage unfolding at the other end as Stokes smote four, six, four off three Maharaj balls to move to 70 from 42.

But he was soon to go, slapping the left-arm spinner to Rassie van der Dussen at long-on after 75 destructive minutes to start the day. Ollie Pope dragged on while looking to force the ball through the off side before Jos Buttler edged the unwell Anrich Nortje through to Quinton de Kock while scooping, and Sam Curran picked out Hamza at midwicket three

england opener Burns out of Sri lanka tour LONDON: England opening batsman Rory Burns will miss the tour of Sri Lanka in March after undergoing successful surgery on ruptured ligaments in his left ankle, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday. The 29-year-old suffered the injury playing football -- part of the squad's warm-up routine --last Thursday on the eve of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. There was a lot of criticism of England's practice of playing football following the injury to Burns and it has now been banned by head coach Chris Silverwood with the support of Ashley Giles, England's director of men's cricket. Burns' injury was the second relatively serious injury to an England cricketer playing football prior to a game in just over a year. Jonny Bairstow was injured and missed several matches during a tour of Sri Lanka in October 2018. "England opening batsman Rory Burns has undergone successful surgery on ruptured ligaments in his left ankle," read the ECB statement.

"Surgery took place in London on Monday afternoon.

"The Surrey captain is expected to be out of action for up to four months. "He will miss England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in March and is aiming to return to play with Surrey in the County Championship at the beginning of the 2020 season in April." AGENCIES

balls after lunch.

Sibley, however, stuck to his task, hitting a rare six and reverse-sweeping four more off Maharaj, before Joe Root decided he had seen enough and called his men in with 438 the target.

Malan and Elgar started watchfully, showing good judgement in leaving the ball and looking to score when England erred from their lengths. England thought they had made the breakthrough only ten balls into the innings, as Stuart Broad rapped Malan on the pad, but Kumar Dharmasena shook his head and was proved right when Ultra-Edge revealed a large spike as the ball passed the inside edge following England's review.

Root turned to spin early in the piece, bringing Bess on to bowl the ninth over

DHAKA AGENCIES

Amid uncertainty over Bangladesh's scheduled tour of Pakistan, it has emerged that the BCB has started taking consent from players to travel to the country. While this is a standard government-mandated procedure for every overseas tour, this is the first concrete sign of preparations for this particular one.

Equally significant is that a Test specialist confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he had signed up to tour Pakistan; the BCB had earlier said that the national team is unlikely to take part in the Test series - and only play T20Is - and also denied reports that it had offered to play one Test in Pakistan and the other in Bangladesh.

It's understood that the BCB will likely take the final decision after their board meeting on January 12. If the tour does go ahead, the departure date will be January 18, the day after the BPL final. It's also learnt that BCB president Nazmul Hassan will meet some of the team's senior players on Tuesday evening for a final round of discussions on the matter.

There have been question marks around the tour since the BCB said it wanted to split the tour in two legs

was left to rue what he perceived to be his misfortune.

It seemed like a big moment, with Hamza SOUTH AFRICA struggling against 126 FOR 2 (MALAN 63*) Broad throughout the AND 223 REQUIRE 312 MORE series - the No. 3 had been dismissed by RUNS TO BEAT ENGLAND 269 him in all three inAND 391 FOR 8 DEC nings - and South Africa's first fifty (SIBLEY 133*, ROOT 61, stand for the first wicket STOKES 72) in 17 Test innings coming to an end. But despite both batsmen taking regular body blows, and Malan in particular leaving several deliveries that seemed almost certain to hit the top of his off stump, South Africa were set to survive until the close.

But Anderson re-wrote the script's finale, after finding a fraction of reverse swing late in the day. After shaping the of the innings, but it was not until Denly's ball in towards Malan in the first over of introduction immediately before tea that his final spell, the second ball of Anderson's next over nibbled away off the Elgar looked particularly troubled.

Perhaps by a quirk of fate, Elgar had seam, finding the outside edge as Hamza only faced 106 balls of legspin in his Test pushed at the ball expecting it to come career before this game, despite playing back in. It was Anderson's 92nd wicket as many as 104 innings, and he immedi- against South Africa, taking him past ately struggled to read Denly'slegbreaks, Shaun Pollock (91) as the leading wicketwhich turned and bounced appreciably taker in England-South Africa Tests.

It seemed as though Malan in particout of the rough. He survived until the interval after being struck on the thumb, but ular would prove a tricky man for England then feathered an edge through to Buttler to dismiss: as Boucher had hoped, he was when lunging forward in defence to give positive in using his feet against the spinners, and survived a short-ball barrage England the breakthrough.

Elgar reviewed Paul Reiffel's deci- from Stokes in the final session to make it sion almost immediately, but Ultra-Edge to stumps unscathed. While victory seems suggested he had got the faintest of highly improbable, South Africa will be scratches on the ball, enough evidence for hopeful that their new opener can lead the the on-field decision to be upheld, and he charge towards a crucial draw.

BCB seeks players' consent for Pakistan tour, decision expected soon - it wants to play the T20Is first - but the PCB has been firm in its stance that the series must be played in one go, promising state-level security for the visitors like it did when Sri Lanka toured last month for a twoTest series.

Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB's chief executive, said last week that the BCB wanted the squad to travel for the T20Is first and get a clear idea of the security arrangements. "We want our players, coaching staff and security team to see what it's like, after which we want to decide if we want to play Tests in Pakistan or at a neutral venue," he had said, while Hassan had said earlier that a few senior players had voiced their concerns over touring Pakistan even for the T20Is. While Sri Lanka's tour to Pakistan was always going to be split in two legs, with an Australia tour thrown in between, the PCB swapped the formats to give Sri Lanka time to think about the Test

series after a second-string side toured for the T20Is. The full Test side toured thereafter. But Pakistan's packed schedule may not allow them to split the Bangladesh tour.

The PSL is set to run from February 20 to March 22, after which the

PCB will host its domestic one-day competition. Early in the summer, Pakistan will tour the Netherlands and Ireland, followed by an England tour. They then play the Asia Cup in September in preparation for the T20 World Cup.

Confusion over South African position on four-day Tests JOHANNESBURG AGENCIES

LAHORE: The 68th Mr Lahore bodybuilding competition was organised by Lahore bodybuilding association, which took place at the University of South Asia, Cantt campus on January 5, 2020.

Hamza Ahmed Alvi won the title of Mr USA 2020. PR

Cricket South Africa issued a one-paragraph statement on Tuesday stating it was official policy to support four-day Test match cricket.

But the statement appeared to surprise both the acting chief executive of Cricket South Africa and the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association.

The full statement by CSA read: "In view of an unsourced and misleading report in the media this morning please be advised that it is Cricket South Africa’s official policy to support four-day Test match cricket. "We, in fact, hosted the first official four-day Test match between ourselves and Zimbabwe a couple of years ago."

Asked to elaborate, a spokesman for CSA said he was not aware whether CSA had taken a formal decision to support a suggestion that the World Test championship should consist of four-day matches from 2023. The proposal appears to have the support of England and Australia. The statement was made in response to an article in the London Daily Mail which claimed South Africa

was opposed to four-day Tests.

Jacques Faul, the acting chief executive of CSA, said he believed all stake-holders needed to be consulted before an official position was taken.

"I was not privy to any discussions which might have taken place on this issue before my appointment," he said.

CMYK

Andrew Breetzke, chief executive of the SA Cricketers’ Association, said SACA aligned itself with the position of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (Fica). "We believe this is an issue which needs extensive research and discussion," he said. CSA has been hit by controversy in recent months, with SACA, at least two sponsors and two former chief executives all calling for the board to resign. Three of five independent directors resigned in the wake of the withdrawal of accreditation, quickly rescinded, of five journalists who had been critical of the organisation.

In the wake of the controversy, the chief executive, ThabangMoroe, was suspended and Faul was appointed for a six-month acting period, while former captain Graeme Smith was appointed interim director of cricket and former international Mark Boucher was named head coach of the national team. It was not clear whether Smith, Boucher or captainFaf du Plessis had been consulted on the issue of four-day Tests.

Ironically, the statement was issued shortly before play started on what promised to be an intriguing fifth day of the second Test between South Africa and England at Newlands.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2020

NEWS US denies Iran's foreign minister visa to attend UN meeting WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The United States has denied a visa to Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have allowed him to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said. Monday’s comments by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, came as tensions escalate between the two countries after the United States killed Iran’s most prominent military commander, Qasem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday.

Under the 1947 UN “headquarters agreement,” the United States is generally required to allow access to the United Nations for foreign diplomats. But Washington says it can deny visas for “security, terrorism and foreign policy” reasons. The US State Department declined immediate comment.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations said: “We have seen the media reports, but we have not received any official communication from either the US or the UN regarding Foreign Minister Zarif’s visa.” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric declined to comment on the US denial of a visa for Zarif. Zarif wanted to attend a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday on the topic of upholding the UN Charter. The meeting and Zarif’s travel had been planned before the latest flare-up in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The Security Council meeting would have given Zarif a global spotlight to publicly criticise the United States for killing Soleimani.

Dozen hurt in fresh Indian student clashes At least a dozen people were injured on Tuesday in fresh clashes between student groups loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opponents with the main opposition Congress party, police said. Student politics has turned ugly in recent weeks over several issues, including a new citizenship law, heavy-handed police tactics and hikes in university fees. The latest confrontation, in Modi’s home state, came two days after attackers rampaged through a Delhi university, leaving 34 injured and sparking nationwide protests.

Critics and media reports blamed the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student body linked to Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, for the violence on Sunday evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Police reportedly stood by and did nothing to stop the attack, while videos purportedly from the scene showed masked men swinging batons as students screamed in terror. Police in Gujarat state in western India said fresh violence broke out on Tuesday when members of the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a protest outside the ABVP’s offices. “Some 10 to 12 people have been injured in the clash,” K.N Damor, deputy commissioner of Ahmedabad police, told journalists. One unverified but widely shared video suggests members of the ABVP chasing and hitting an NSUI activist with sticks. The ABVP accused the NSUI of instigating the clashes. Beyond universities, almost a month of violent protests across the country against the new citizenship law has left more than 25 people dead. AGENCIES

50 killed, 213 injured in stampede at iranian general's funeral procession SOLEIMANI'S BURIAL POSTPONED IN THE AFTERMATH OF STAMPEDE WASHINGTON

a

AGENCIES

ROUND 50 people have been killed and 213 others injured in a stampede that erupted at a funeral procession for Gen Qasem Soleimani, slain in a US airstrike, two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported on Tuesday.

Iranian news agencies Fars and IRNA quoted Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran’s emergency medical services.

According to the report, the stampede erupted in Kerman, the hometown of Soleimani where the procession was under way.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Soleimani’s body was brought to his hometown for burial on Tuesday as the US defence secretary denied reports that the US military was preparing to withdraw from Iraqi territory.

The death of Qasem Soleimani, who built up Tehran’s network of proxy forces across the region, has prompted mass mourning in Iran and led to renewed Iranian threats to drive US troops from Iraq, where Tehran has vied with Washington for influence.

US and Iranian warnings of new

strikes and retaliation have stoked concerns about a broader Middle East conflict and led to calls in the US Congress for legislation to stop US President Donald Trump going to war with Iran.

“We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge,” the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Hossein Salami told tens of thousands of mourners in Soleimani’s hometown of Kerman, many of them chanting “Death to America” and waving the Iranian flag.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military commanders have said Iranian retaliation for the US action would match the scale of Soleimani’s killing but that it would be at a time and place of Tehran’s choosing.

“The martyr Qasem Soleimani is more dangerous to the enemy than Qasem Soleimani,” Salami said, after the general’s body ended a tour of Iraqi and Iranian cities following his death on Fri-

day that clogged streets with mourners.

Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the US military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them that American troops would be repositioned in preparation to leave, drawing a swift denial from the Pentagon.

“There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Defence Secretary Mark Esper told reporters. “I don’t know what that letter is.”

US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter was a “poorly worded” draft document meant only to underscore increased movement by US forces.

The letter, addressed to the Iraqi Defence Ministry’s Combined Joint Operations and confirmed as authentic by an Iraqi military source, had caused confusion about the future of the roughly 5,000 US troops still in Iraq, where there has been a US military presence since

Pompeo defends legality of US killing Iran's Soleimani TOP US OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN TRUMP’S THREAT TO ATTACK IRANIAN CULTURAL SITES, SAYS ANYTHING US DOES WILL ADHERE TO INTERNATIONAL RULES OF WAR WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended on Tuesday the legality of the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and any future military action against Iran.

“I have never seen this administration engage in an activity of this nature without a thorough and complete legal review of what the basis would be if the president were to make a serious decision,” Pompeo told reporters.

Asked whether lawyers were consulted ahead of the strike which killed Soleimani while he was in Baghdad on Friday, Pompeo said he did not know of the specifics.

“Often the lawyers review all of the options that are being presented to the president of the US in advance

of them being presented,” ensuring full legal vetting, the top US diplomat said. “I’m confident that was the case here, although I don’t have specific knowledge of that,” he said.

He ridiculed Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Javad Zarif’s assertion that Soleimani—a commander in charge of external relations for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — was on a diplomatic mission while he was in Baghdad.

“Anybody here believe that? Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order Qasem Soleimani, had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?”

Pompeo rejected as well the story that Soleimani was travelling to help with a peace deal backed by

the Saudi Arabian government.

“We know that wasn’t true. We not only know to the history, we know in that moment that was not true,” he said.

Asked about President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates for Soleimani’s death, Pompeo said anything the United States does will adhere to the international rules of war. A number of experts have said that deliberately attacking Iranian cultural sites would constitute a war crime. “Every target that is being reviewed. every effort that is being made, will always be conducted inside the international laws of war,” Pompeo said.

“It’s completely consistent with the president has said.”

On Twitter later, Pompeo said the United States had “great respect for Persian history and its symbols, like Persepolis, Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the Tomb of Cyrus.”

But he charged that Iran’s Islamic Republic “has defiled everything Iranians hold dear.”

US ties with Iraq, allies take hit after drone strike WASHINGTON AGENCIES

A deadly US drone strike in Baghdad has rocked America’s ties with allies on the ground, left diplomats scrambling to contain the fallout and Iraqi officials outraged at the airspace violation.

The strike on the outskirts of Baghdad’s airport early Friday killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, among others.

The US has hailed it as a win for “peace and stability” in the region, in contrast to Western diplomats and US military officials in Baghdad.

None had received prior warning of the pre-dawn strike and learned of it when they woke up, sending them into crisis talks to salvage ties with Iraqi officials. “The strike was such a surprise to all of us,” one Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Speaking to the Americans now is extremely complex. We’re talking a lot together as the European Union but the Americans have their own problems now,” the diplomat said.

Most ambassadors were still outside Baghdad for end-of-year holidays on the day of the strike, so political staff still in Iraq began a flurry of outreach to Iraqis.

They declined to comment due to the sensitive nature of current ties with Washington but expressed outrage at a statement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“Frankly, the Europeans haven’t been as helpful as I wish that they could be,” Pompeo told Fox News hours after the drone strike.

“The Brits, the French, the Germans all need to understand that what we did, what the Americans did, saved lives in Europe as well,” he said.

‘MAJOR FISSURES’: Even at the military level, the strike strained ties between the United States and its other partners in the coalition fight-

ing the Islamic State jihadist group.

“As for our Western allies, in the grand scheme of things, it appears we screwed them over,” a top US defense official deployed in Iraq told AFP. Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of IS. They make up the bulk of the broader coalition including troops from dozens of countries, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.

On Sunday, in reaction to the strike, Iraq’s parliament voted in favor of rescinding that invitation and ousting all foreign troops.

Khamenei vows revenge for Soleimani killing through direct attack on US interests Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a direct attack on US interests — rather than relying on Iranian proxies instead — as he made a rare appearance at a meeting of the government’s National Security Council to lay down the parametres for any retaliation. It must be a direct and proportional attack on American interests, he said, openly carried out by Iranian forces themselves, three Iranians familiar with the meeting told New York Times. In a startling departure from Iran’s usual tactics of allegedly cloaking its attacks behind actions of proxies it cultivates around the region, Tehran was willing to cast aside those traditional cautions to openly retaliate for the US drone strike that killed military commander, Major General Qassim Suleimani — who was a close ally and personal friend of the supreme leader — on Friday. The nation’s anger over the commander’s death was on vivid display on Monday, as millions of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran for a funeral procession and Khamenei wept openly over the coffin. AGENCIES

Muslims should unite after Iran commander's killing: Malaysian PM KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim countries should unite to protect themselves against external threats, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday after describing the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani as immoral. The world’s oldest premier, who has in recent months stoked diplomatic tensions by speaking out on issues concerning the Muslim world, also said the US drone attack on Soleimani was against international laws.

Soleimani’s killing in Baghdad last Friday has sparked fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. Mahathir, 94, said it could also lead to an escalation in “what is called terrorism”. “The time is right for Muslim countries to come together,” Mahathir told reporters.

“We are no longer safe now. AGENCIES

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

CMYK

Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

Iran’s long-repeated demand for US forces to withdraw had gained traction on Sunday when Iraq’s parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Shia groups, passed a resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the US ambassador to Baghdad on Monday that both sides needed to work together to implement the parliamentary resolution, the premier’s office said, without giving a timeframe.

‘REPOSITIONING’: The letter, signed by a senior US Marine Corps officer, had referred to “repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement”. Tensions between Iran and the United States have been ratcheting higher since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other world powers. The United States has since imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran.

Iran said on Sunday it was dropping all limitations on uranium enrichment, its latest step back from commitments under the deal. The US administration has denied a visa to allow Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said.

“The United States will get the decisive, definite answer for its arrogance at the time and place when it will feel the most pain,” Zarif said in a speech on regional developments that was broadcast on state television.