Epaper_17-04-2023 KHI

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PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday accused the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of deliberately interrupting the development pace initiated by the PMLN, saying the people of Punjab were avenged for their support to PML-N government

Instead initiating new development projects, the PTI government deliberately interrupted the development projects initiated by the PML-N government Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed while chairing a highlevel meeting held to review the ongoing public welfare projects

Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister

Syed Mohsin Naqvi Advisor to PM Ahad Khan Cheema and federal and provincial authorities attended the meeting, said a press release issued by the PM Office Media Wing on Sunday

The meeting was given a detailed briefing over the construction work on Imamia colony flyover project The prime minister directed for early completion of the project for the public use

A d d r e s s i n g t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s t h e prime minister said that during the last four years of the previous government, the affairs of the province were handed o v e r t o a n i n c o m p e t e n t a n d p u p p e t chief minister

Instead focusing on the progress of province, the office of the chief minister was misused for political maneuvering at the federal level he opined

The prime minister further observed that these public welfare-oriented projects which should have been completed and alleviated public woes continued to hit snags for years during the previous government s tenure

He directed the early completing of all such ongoing projects

The meeting was further briefed about the proposed Lahore-Sialkot motorway link road to facilitate the people of Gujranwala

The prime minister directed the chief minister to constitute a three-member committee in this regard that would give a detailed briefing over the project in the next meeting

Earlier,

S:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday visited the under-construction Lahore Bridge and CBD underpass to review the pace of work and directed for fast-paced completion

During his visit to the construction site of Lahore bridge the prime minister was apprised that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) project worth Rs1,712 million was started in 2021 but delayed for two years due to the non-issuance of a no objection certificate

The prime minister expressed his displeasure over the pace of work and the shutdown programme by the LESCO The prime minister directed for initiation of legal action against the offi-

Punjab polls won’t be held on May 14 ‘come what may ’ , says Sanaullah

ment will be failed and the elections will not be held on May 14 at any cost,” Rana Sanaullah said while talking to the media in Faisalabad on Sunday Elections will be held in the country on the same day It would be conducted under supervision of caretaker setup in the whole country concurrently during this year Lashing out at PTI Chief Imran Khan, Sanaullah said that this ‘evil’ was imposed on the country through a conspiracy and his policies destroyed the national economy He claimed that the prices of essential commodities like flour, sugar and petrol were low at the end of the PML-N government in 2018

He further claimed that the PML-N government had eliminated loadshedding and terrorism from the country blaming the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for current skyrocketing inflation

He added that the IMF set conditions to end subsidies on petrol, electricity and gas

The interior minister said that Nawaz Sharif had steered the country out of crisis and prevented it from facing default, saying the economic crisis will be over soon

PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif would come back when election process would start in the country and would lead the election campaign ” he claimed

Earlier addressing an Iftar Dinner hosted by a PML-N leader Ghulam Mustafa Bhatti at Sitara Colony here on Sunday, he said that whenever, the nation posed confidence in PML-N, it delivered a lot even during odd situation too

The minister said that the PML-N was a time-tested political party and the people should repose confidence in it during upcoming general elections to overcome the present economic as well as political turmoil

Elaborating he said that India had made five atomic explosions in 1998 after which its minister LK Advani said that Pakistan should learn how to talk with India

The entire nation was worried but PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time conducted six atomic explosions in response of five explosions of India to equalize power balance in the region

Similarly, electricity load shedding couple with terrorists activities was rampant in the country in 2013 but PML-N government under dynamic leadership of Nawaz Sharif overcame the situation and put the country on road to progress and prosperity he added Comparing prices of essential commodities and petroleum product, he recalled that flour was available at Rs35 per kilogram (kg) while petrol was at Rs65 per liter The people were leading their lives honorably in 2018 when PML-N government was removed and an incompetent person was clamped under a deep-rooted conspiracy

Sanaullah threatened CJP directly in ‘unserious statement’: Fawad Ch

I S L A M A B A D:

Reacting to the interior minister s statement regarding Punjab polls, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday alleged that Rana Sanaullah directly ‘threatened’ the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) in his recent remarks

Rana Sanaullah has directly threatened the CJP and he is running a campaign against the Supreme Court (SC) through Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Fawad Ch alleged while reacting to interior minister s statement that Punjab polls would not be held on May 14 at any cost

The PTI leader pointed out that it was Supreme Court s bench led by CJP that ordered conduct elections in Punjab on May 14 but the government was opposing these orders He further alleged that media houses are being forced to take up a fake reference claiming that Sanaullah was leading this campaign against the judges

The PTI vice president said that the SC can take notice of Sanaullah s statement He criticised the interior minister delivered an unserious statement regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Fawad Ch posed a question that had the PTI government signed an agreement with IMF on wrong conditions, the incumbent government should have stopped reviving the loan agreement now Earlier Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah that elections will not be held on May 14 at any cost and the opposition cannot pressurise the government While talking to the media, Rana Sanaullah said that the opposition’s tactics to pressurise the government will be failed and the elections will not be held on May 14 at any cost Elections will be held in the country on the same day Polls will be conducted this year under the supervision of the caretaker government ” s ta f f r e p o r t

cial concerned for the delay

and desired completion of the process in two weeks

The officials were given one month time to complete the construction work instead of a period of two months

The prime minister was accompanied by Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Syed MohsinNaqvi chief secretary and other senior officials

The prime minister also visited CBD underpass and termed the delay unfair He questioned the hiring of third-party for validation and directed the appointment of a renowned third party at the cost of a construction company

The prime minister directed for expeditious completion of the project by advising the relevant officials to give special incentives to the workforce

The premier, visited the Arfa Kareem underpass first and then Kalma Chowk underpass where he directed to expedite the construction work He asked the authorities concerned to ensure complete safety and protection of common citizens in the project Shehbaz Sharif reviewed all parts of the project

Both the underpasses have been opened for regular traffic however some finishing work is undergoing, the prime minister was informed Chief Executive Officer of Central Business District Development Authority Imran Ameen informed the Prime Minister in briefing that all link roads of Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project were operational and the remaining work would be completed after Eidul Fitr Punjab s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi also accompanied the Prime Minister during the inspection

PTI MNAs’ resignations can’t be reviewed, says NA speaker

I S L A M A B A D: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Sunday said that the resignations of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) cannot be reviewed until the court gives any verdict in favour of the lawmakers

While talking to a US news channel NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said elections have apparently become an issue of “personal ego for someone ” He said that the government should listen to the opinions of all stakeholders instead of exhibiting stubbornness He said that the judiciary will be weakened if political matters are taken up in the courts Ashraf said that if one party is not ready to hold talks in one place then dialogues should be conducted in another place

The NA speaker said that division in the Supreme Court (SC) will ruin the whole judiciary

Commenting on the army chief ’s statement, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) assured the supremacy of the Parliament and the Constitution s ta f f r e p o r t

P M d i r e c t s o f f i c i a ls t o a c c e l e r at e w o r k

o n d e v e lo P M e n t P r o j e c t s

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

PR I M e Minister Shehb a z S h a r i f S u n d a y v i s i t e d t h e u n d e rc o n s t r u c t i o n L a h o r e b r i d g e a n d C B D u n d e r p a s s t o r e v i e w t h e p a c e o f w o r k a n d d i r e c t e d f o r f a s t - p a c e d c o m p l e t i o n A c c o r d i n g t o o ff i c i a l s , t h e L a h o r e

D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y ( L D A ) p r o j e c t w o r t h R s 1 7 1 2 m i l l i o n b e g a n i n 2 0 2 1 b u t faced a two-year delay due to the issuance o f n o o b j e c t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e s D u r i n g h i s v i s i t t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r e x p r e s s e d d i s p l e a s u r e o v e r t h e s l o w p a c e o f w o r k a n d t h e L e S C O s s h u t d o w n p r o g r a m m e H e d i r e c t e d t h e o f f i c i a l s t o i n i t i a t e l e g a l a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r

Petrol bomb dropped on people to dampen eid festivit y: sh rashid

RAWALPINDI

S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Sunday that petrol bomb of ten rupees had been dropped on people to dampen their eid festivity Another 3 9 million people had gone below the poverty line and the foreign exchange reserves were not enough even for one month s imports he said while taking to social media website Twitter He said, If elections are to be held in one day, dissolve the National Assembly like we dissolved the provincial assemblies, otherwise the crisis will become very serious Senior lawyers of Lahore have warned the government that Supreme Court is their red line and the elections will be held on April 14 ” He said that Shehbaz Sharif was moving towards contempt of court and the minefield of Article 6 The confrontation with judiciary instead on focusing on reducing people s electricity and gas bills indicates their mental balance Mr Sheikh added The former federal minister said that he had already predicted that Nawaz Sharif will not come to Pakistan Mr Rashid said he was not seeing any agreement with the IMF even in April The AML head further said that if any misadventure was undertaken by the government to hoodwink the judiciary, it will use its constitutional authority He maintained that people who were not able to show their faces to the people, were challenging the judiciary Mr Rashid said elections would be held, otherwise the decision would be taken on the streets

Pakistanis among 16 dead in dubai apar tment fire

DUBAI S ta f f R e p o R t

A fire in a residential building in Dubai has resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including three Pakistanis, and injured nine others according to local media reports The incident occurred on the fourth floor of the building in the Al-Ras neighbourhood and it took the firefighters around two hours to control it The Dubai Civil Defence Operations Room received the first notification about the fire at 12:35 pm on Saturday and a team reached the site within six minutes to start evacuation and firefighting operations Teams from the Port Saeed and Hamriyah fire stations provided backup to the operations Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was caused by a lack of compliance with building safety and security requirements according to a statement by the Dubai Civil Defence force The authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation to provide a detailed report on the causes of the accident Social media was flooded with videos showing thick black smoke and flames leaping out of an apartment window as multiple fire engines and first responders reached the area An eyewitness reported hearing a loud bang before the flames started The spokesperson for the Dubai Civil Defence expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said that urgent medical aid was provided to the injured Social worker Naseer Vadanappilly told local media that some bodies have been identified by relatives and at least three people are in the hospital with stable conditions The Dubai Civil Defence has urged building owners and residents to comply with safety and security requirements to prevent such accidents in the future Naseer Vatanappally, an Indian social worker who was at the Dubai Police mortuary to help identify the victims on Saturday night, said he was coordinating with Dubai Police the Indian Consulate in Dubai other diplomatic missions and friends and relatives of the deceased He said that four Indians including a couple from Kerala and two men from Tamil Nadu who worked at the building, three Pakistani cousins, and a Nigerian woman had been identified so far

t h e d e l a y a n d o r d e r e d t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e p r o c e s s w i t h i n t w o w e e k s A d d i t i o n a l l y t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r g a v e t h e o ff i c i a l s o n e m o n t h t o c o m p l e t e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k i n s t e a d o f t h e o r i g i n a l l y p l a n n e d t w o m o n t h s T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r w a s a c c o m p a n i e d b y C a r e t a k e r C h i e f M i n i s t e r P u n j a b S y e d M o h s i n N a q v i , t h e c h i e f s e c r e t a r y, a n d o t h e r s e n i o r

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

President Dr Arif Alvi while upholding the decision of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), directed the Federal Board of Revenue to dispose of the refund application of a private food company after providing it with a hearing opportunity as per law on a matter where the company had filed refund claims after a delay of 5 to 8 years

The President gave this decision while rejecting FBR’s representation against the decision of FTO in a case where a private food company had requested the Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) Karachi in 2020 for condonation in delay under the Sales Tax Act 1990 for filing refund claims relating to the period of 2012 to 2016 as the Sales Tax amount of Rs 88 5 million was not claimed/adjusted in their previous Sales Tax Returns due to some technical issues at the company FTO had directed FBR to provide a hearing opportunity to the company on the matter The

o f f i c i a l s H e a l s o v i s i t e d t h e C B D u n d e r p a s s a n d e x p r e s s e d d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e d e l a y q u e s t i o n i n g t h e h i r i n g o f a t h i r d - p a r t y f o r v a l i d a t i o n H e d i r e c t e d t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f a r e n o w n e d t h i r d - p a r t y a t t h e c o s t o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y a n d a d v i s e d t h e o ff i c i a l s t o g i v e s p e c i a l i n c e n t i v e s t o t h e w o r k f o r c e t o e x p e d i t e t h e p r o j e c t s c o m p l e t i o n

President in his decision pointed out that as per a Supreme Court’s judgment (PLD 1998 SC 64) a genuine refund could not be refused even if refund applications were filed late He added that the fundamental rights as enshrined in Article 24 (1) of the Constitution postulate that no person shall be compulsorily deprived of his property save in accordance with Law He stated that the principle evolved and approved by Judicial pronouncements was that it was the duty of the State to return what had been taken erroneously or wrongly; and that a democratic Government could not take a plea of limitation to deny what was due to a citizen

The President referred to the Supreme Court’s decision (PLD 1998 SC 64) in M/s Pfizer Laboratories Ltd Vs Federation of Pakistan case that held that if one party under a mistake whether of fact or law paid some money to another party (which included a Government department) which was not due by law or contract or otherwise that must be repaid in view of Section 72 of the Contract Act 1872

Maulana Shakoor ’s death: Cour t remands accused driver in custody for two days

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

A local court on Sunday remanded in police custody for two-day physical Rao Gul Khan, the driver of the car involved in the accident in which Maulana Abdul Shakoor lost his life

According to details the police produced the driver Rao Gul Khan before Magistrate Malik Aman at the District and Sessions Court Islamabad

Fahim Haider counsel for the driver and the Investigation Officer (IO) of Secretariat Police Station also appeared before the court with records The investigating officer requested for a seven-day physical remand of the driver

The Investigation Officer informed the court that there were five persons in the vehicle that hit Maulana Abdul Shakoor’s car The driver was arrested at the scene while two other passengers who sustained severe injuries are currently under-treatment at the hospital Furthermore the investigating officer informed the court that the driver s other two accomplices had fled the scene

last night The investigation is still pending for the accused s drug test and the arrest of the other two accomplices This is a sensitive matter and it requires sufficient time for investigations and inspections,” the officer pleaded After the hearing, the court granted a two-day physical remand of the accused driver Rao Gul Khan to the police POLICE PREPARE INITIAL REPORT: The Secretariat Police registered the registered on the complaint of Haji Qudratullah who in his statement in FIR said that Mufti Abdul Shakoor came to his house before Iftar The minister left his residence in Parliament Lodges at 8:22 pm and later around 10, the driver of the minister informed Qudaratullah’s employee about the fatal road crash

A Vigo driver hit Abdul Shakoor s vehicle while driving recklessly, which resulted in the death of the minister on the spot, the FIR read and added that the incident should be investigated from every aspect

Meanwhile, the police have formed an initial investigation report into the death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor the source said The vehicle that hit the JUIF s vehicle was moving at speed of 110 kilometers per hour against the fixed speed of 60km at Constitutional Avenue

The vehicle that hit the federal minister s vehicle was of a squad of a personality associated with the poultry business There was no technical fault in the Vigo, the sources said The Motor Vehicle examiner report said the signals were off at the time of the accident

Punjab governor congratulates agronomist on new rice varieties

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Punjab Governor Baligh ur-Rehman has congratulated the CeO of Guard Agricultural Research and Services, Shahzad Ali Malik, on the development of two new high-quality varieties of rice in the private sector

The governor emphasized that the government will fully support and encourage the private sector to develop new varieties of seeds for all crops, as agriculture is the backbone of the national economy

He also said that to achieve food self-sufficiency a high provincial seed committee has been formed to help evolve new best-quality seeds for bumper crops under the explicit direction of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

Malik expressed his gratitude to the governor for congratulating him and informed that the Punjab

Seed Council has approved two new varieties of rice, Guard 101 and Guard 102 after the successful completion of the thorough process These “Open Pollinated extra long grain rice varieties ensure a 20-25 percent higher per-acre yield with maturity within 90 days of sowing

He also highlighted that the new varieties have high export potential and are attractive for farmers due to the low cost and higher per-acre yield

Malik also mentioned that they have been engaged in rice seed research since 1989 in collaboration with China in the private sector without any government support They have already successfully developed 5 hi-tech hybrid rice seed varieties that suit the country’s climate and give better production They are also conducting research and development on cotton and wheat hybrid seeds in collaboration with Chinese academic institutes and hope to make a breakthrough in the near future

Neither a hairc ut nor a trimmed moustache City NoteS

The painful drama of Sardar Tanvir Ilyas being disqualified for contempt of court as Prime Minister of AJK seemed tied in a strange way to his former Kashmir Affairs Minister Ali Amin Gandapur

It has been disclosed by highly unreliable sources that the AJK Supreme Court did not object so much to his remarks, as that they were made by someone with his mustachios, and it was on the table that if he shaved them off, he would have his appeal accepted and would not be removed as AJK PM That job means a lot to him, for he got the job only after ousting Abdul Qayyum Niazi Well live by the sword die by the sword Now Qayyum Niazi was

hirsute but did not have mustachios as contemptuous of the superior judiciary as Sardar Tanvir

While Ali Amin Gandapur is not in any court trouble, he has been arrested The PTI foot soldiers are protesting this arrest

Rumours that they are protesting why it took so long are unfounded The PTI has never wanted him arrested He might have harboured the wish, because the optics of not being arrested were not good

However it seemed wrong when pictures appeared on the net of him crying

Those pictures it turns out were fake Thus the rumours that Ali Amin was crying because the authorities had threatened to give him a haircut were untrue Imagine Ali Amin with a buzzcut He would hide it with a cowboy hat, which is what he would like to have He has the sort of hairstyle that goes with an overcoat and full boots, as

worn by the villains in Urdu movies He favours the PTI look which involves wearing Peshawari chappals and leaving the straps undone Don t underestimate Ali Amin If the PTI ever forms a government, and Ali Amin is in the National Assembly or Senate, he ll probably be Interior Minister, not Sh Rashid ‘Bell’ Sh Rashid himself has got a hair story of his own, his toupee, which is painfully obvious Previous holders of that portfolio have included Ch Nisar Ali who invested more on his toupee and Ch Shujaat and Ahsan Iqbal who showed off bald pates without any concern for those with weak eyesight or weak hearts The present holder Rana Sanaullah is decent enough to have some male-pattern balding but he does not flaunt it, as the Sharif brothers used to do , nor has he tried to hide it with toupees or transplants

It added that where some money was received by t h e G o v e r n m e n t n o t l a w f u l l y d u e t h e p l e a o f l i m i t a t i o n b y i t s d e p a r t m e n t s w a s o n e w h i c h t h e Court always looked upon with disfavour as it was violative of the principles of morality and justice It further stated that there may not be a legal liability o n t h e p a r t o f a G o v e r n m e n t f u n c t i o n a r y t o r e f u n d any amount received by it as a tax or other levy by virtue of certain special provisions under the special law but keeping in view that we lived in a democratic s o c i e t y g o v e r n e d b y t h e r u l e o f l a w a n d e v e r y G o v e r n m e n t , w h i c h c l a i m e d t o h a v e e t h i c a l a n d moral values, must do what was fair and just to the citizens regardless of legal technicalities The President reiterated that as per Indo-Pak laws the fact that the amount of tax of which the refund was claimed was voluntarily paid did not preclude the right to claim the refund if it was not lawfully payable He also pointed out that the Commissioners of two different Zones in the company s matters of identical nature [M/s Zakariya Traders (M/s Unilever Distributers) and M/s Unilever Pakistan Foods Ltd (UPFL)] had passed orders contrary to each other i e in the former case the delay was condoned whereas in the latter it was rejected Such contrary approach in identical matters raises suspicions which as far as possible must be avoided , he stated and rejected FBR s representation

Pak-china collaboration helps Pakistan combat water woes: Pcrwr

Pak-China collaboration could help Pakistan combat water woes “Pakistan is among the top ten most vulnerable countries to climate change One of the consequences of climate change is water scarcity ChinaPakistan water cooperation can help Pakistan cope with climate change and its derived disasters by managing water sources through the application of technical means said Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) according to a report published by Gwadar Pro on Sunday The UN Children s Fund (UNICeF) said last month that more than 10 million people, including children, still lack access to safe drinking water after the catastrophic flood in 2022 Flooding, the worst in 30 years, is threatening even the soil and vast groundwater reserves Pakistan has a chronic water shortage problem, which has been exacerbated by the floods Since the floods began the China-Pakistan Youth exchange Community has been providing food temporary shelters and drinking water stations in the worst-affected areas In the flood-ravaged Dadu district where many families have been displaced the community has constructed 260 tent villages and is constructing a purified water station which will provide clean water to nearly 10 000 people across eight villages Ma Bin head of the community said improving water management and infrastructure requires a lot of money, and he called for more assistance from Chinese and international organizations Last year, PCRWR signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design, and Research Co Ltd (BIDR) to contribute to Pakistan’s development in water management and smart irrigation Dr Ashraf told Gwadar Pro that fruitful exchanges and cooperation had been held in the water sector and the next step was to demonstrate and disseminate these technologies to a wider range of stakeholders in Pakistan including universities farming families and communities The scientific and green water management measures adopted in China in recent years are delivering significant benefits Chinese enterprises are constantly exploring new modes of efficient water recycling and smart agriculture Dr Ashraf said that PCRWR is trying to introduce the concept of agricultural services in Pakistan, make these services more widespread, and gradually realize the transfer of technology from China to Pakistan Dr Muhammad Ashraf, commenting on the outcomes of water cooperation under CPeC, stated that these hydropower projects helped regulate water within the Pakistani system particularly by storing water during periods of high flow and using it in subsequent years and over a long period of time In the long run this will aid in the resolution of Pakistan s water scarcity crisis which is expected to reach critical proportions by 2025 China has established sound mechanisms for water resource cooperation with its neighbors including Pakistan and Pakistan can learn from the effectiveness of China s water diplomacy in cooperating with neighboring countries to manage crossborder water resources, Dr Ashraf continued

Well, at least there’s been no discrimination Ali Wazir went through his long imprisonment without being subjected to the indignity of a crewcut That means Mian Nawaz Sharif, whose late mother insisted that his hair was beautiful need not fear for his lush locks at the hands of the jail authorities, no matter where his platelet count goes

Let’s take a look at the USA where a very bad example was set when a bank employee pulled out a gun and offed Five colleagues, injuring nine people including three cops as well as getting killed himself That was a variation on that old American classic, the school shooting I thought bankers were these overweight bald guys with stuffy expressions I didn t know they were these wild-eyed fellows in the corner who occasionally emitted a wild laugh, all the while caressing an assault rifle (The Louisville shooting was done with an AR15 assault rifle) Louisville is a violent place I

had previously associated it with its most famous son Muhammad Ali who was initially called the Louisvbille Lip because of his verbal pyrotechnics Well, Muhammad Ali has passed on, as has his brand of mayhem which only had light gloves to do the deed not AR15s

The last picture will have to be of Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa who was at the Constitutional Convention, which irritated a lot of people With Parliament and the Supreme Court at daggers drawn maybe he shouldn t have gone But then he was invited And so were the other judges After all the passing of the Constitution is something they should celebrate as much as politicians

Actually, we should all be celebrating, shouldn’t we? The Constitution belongs to us all doesn’t it? Is it supposed to be for us or the politicians or the Supreme Court? Maybe the answer lies with the people who twice held it in abeyance but did not abrogate it What do they like about it that they didn t about the two previous ones?

But more of that later Perhaps

Upholding FTO decision, President Alvi direc ts FBR to dispose of food company ’s refund plea

PPP forMed reconciliation coMMittee for sake of national interest: kundi

for

Alleviation and Social Safety Pakistan Faisal Karim Kundi on Sunday said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had formed a reconciliation committee for the

karachi Zoo’s ailing elephant recovering

KARACHI

Talking to a private news channel he said that a two-member reconciliation committee led by former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani had been formed which include Qamar Zaman Kaira and Naveed Qamar as its members The committee will talk with collations and the Opposition parties for the sake of national interest

He said that the PPP senior leadership

assumed that we need for reconciliation to break the current political deadlock between political parties “If this deadlock prevails political parties must suffer he added He said that PPP had always talked about reconciliation and even today we believed that the solution to the political crisis in the country is possible only through negotiations The minister further said that this

committee will try to convince all its supporting parties to negotiate and then go to the Opposition so that the country and the people can get rid of this conflict He said that the problems could not be solved on the streets therefore the Opposition should leave the politics of abuse and threats and sit in discussions and the present the demand for elections with political understanding

Regarding the separate election in Punjab and KPK, he said that elections should be held in the whole country one day otherwise the country will go towards further instability

R awa l p i n d i s t r o n g h o l d o f P M L- N : l e a d e r s

The Leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have said that Rawalpindi is the stronghold of PML-N and National and Provincial Assemblies elections should be held at the same time

The PML-N united under the leadership of Quaid Nawaz Sharif These views were expressed by the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-N while speaking on the occasion of the iftar dinner at Liaquat Bagh in honour of the well-known activist of PML-N Nasir Butt here on Sunday

On the occasion the leader of PML-N Nasir Butt said that Rawalpindi is the stronghold of the Pakistan

Muslim League-N, adding that I am here on the directions of Quaid Nawaz Sharif to carry the mission and to unite all workers on one platform Member of National Assembly MNA Tahira Aurangzeb said that after a long time a party has been organized in Liaquat Bagh and the love of Quaid Nawaz Sharif is still alive in the hearts of people I wished to pray that Nawaz Sharif should return to Pakistan safely and his party was united under his leadership and would get thumping majority in the next general elections

Former MNA Malik Abrar welcomed Nasir Butt and said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the national economy is on the way to progress

This gathering at Liaquat Bagh demanded that the National and Provincial assemblies elections should be held at the same time Senator Dr Afnanullah Khan recalled that sugar was sold at 35 rupees per kg and petrol was cheap during the previous government of the PML-N but the country was destabilized due to immature politics and redundant policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Now he said inflation was high but very soon the people will get relief due to public-friendly policies

He, however, said Quaid Nawaz Sharif was the only leader who will pull the country out of the crisis

Former MNA Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while welcoming Nasir Butt praised the local leadership of PML-N for hosting a great reception

The Karachi administrator has said the 17-year-old ailing elephant Noor Jahan lying is recovering according to a report on Sunday A 17-year-old African elephant fell into a pond inside her enclosure, earlier this week Administrator Karachi Dr Saif-ur-Rehman said that the staff is adhering to the instructions of the foreign NGO’s medical specialists and expressed the hope that Noor Jahan will soon make a full recovery experience veterinary doctors are examining Noor Jehan, who are also in contact with Four Paws The ailing elephant was lying on the ground and although she has not yet been able to stand on her feet she is still moving her limbs which is a sign of some improvement It may be noted that a seven-member team of international experts of Four Paws on last Wednesday started the treatment of Noor Jehan at the Karachi Zoo Their visit follows an order by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in Karachi last year for Four Paws to assess the health of the animals after local animal rights activists had raised concerns in court about their well-being It is pertinent to mention here that all four African elephants arrived in Pakistan in 2009 elephant Noor Jehan and Madhubala were moved to the Karachi Zoo, while Malika and Sonu were taken to the Safari Park

Gov t decides to shut down karachi Zoo permanently

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

The federal and Sindh governments are mulling shutting down Karachi Zoo permanently due to poor living conditions for animals This comes after Noor Jehan an elephant in Karachi Zoo, is critically ill after the 17year-old fell in a pond on Thursday in a small enclosure

Sources said that the Federal Minister for Climate

Change Senator Sherry Rehman has urged the Sindh government to shut down the Karachi Zoo due to its incapacity to take care of wild animals Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also supported this proposal and suggested moving the animals to safer places, they say It may be noted that a sevenmember team of international experts of Four Paws on last Wednesday started the treatment of Noor Jehan at the Karachi Zoo Their visit follows an order by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in Karachi last year for Four Paws to assess the health of the animals after local animal rights activists had raised concerns in court about their well-being It is pertinent to mention here that all four African elephants arrived in Pakistan in 2009 elephant Noor Jehan and Madhubala had been moved to the Karachi Zoo while Malika and Sonu had been taken to the Safari Park

Thousands attend funeral prayers of Federal Minister Abdul S hakoor

LAKKI MARWAt S ta f f R e p o R t

Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life attended the Namaz-i-Janaza of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor at his ancestral village in Lakki Marwat on Sunday

The burial took place at the minister ’s native village Tajbi Khel in Lakki Marwat The federal minister died in horrible accident in Islamabad on Saturday night A case has been registered over the death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor

The case was registered with the Secretariat police station on the complaint of Mufti Shakoor s friend Qudratullah The first information report mentions the provisions of accidental murder overspeeding damage to the vehicle Mufti Shakoor died on the spot after being hit by a high-speed vehicle the report states According to the preliminary investigation, the vehicle which hit the minister s car was being driven at a speed of 110 kms per house while Abdul Shakoor s car was moving at a speed of 30kms per hour

The federal minister ’s official vehicle was also

Punjab polls won’t be held on May 14 ‘come what may’: sanaullah

CoNtINUeD fRoM PAge 01

completely destroyed in the accident the FIR added

Moreover the traffic police has submitted its initial report on the accident to the Islamabad police chief

As per the report the cause of the accident was overspeeding The speed of the double cabin vehicle was high and the chance to apply brakes was very low

A preliminary report of the Motor Vehicle examiner of both the vehicles has also been received According to the Motor Vehicle examiner, the speed of Mufti Shakoor s car was 30kms per hour, while that of the Vigo that collided with it was 110 km/h

The speed limit at the site of the accident on Constitution Avenue is 60 km/h Moreover, the report states that traffic signals were in-operational on the road at the time of the accident

There was no technical problem with the vehicle that hit the minister s car the Motor Vehicle examiner reported The tyre and axle of Mufti Shakoor s car got detached due to the accident the report said A report has also been submitted regarding the airbags of the vehicles The remains of both the vehicles involved in the accident have been moved to the Secretariat police station

He said that PML-N had delivered a lot to the nation in the shape of construction roads, motorways, hospitals, educational institutions, etc whenever it came into power but the incompetent ruler (Imran Khan) only befooled the people during his four-year tenure through his hollow slogans of 10 million jobs and 5 million houses The present inflation and price spiral were also outcome of the deal made by his government with International Monetary Fund (IMF) on harsh conditions he said adding that the coalition government tried its optimum to save the country from default and it also succeeded in this goal He said People of my constituency elected me five times for provincial assembly seat Three times I remained MPA but on opposition side However two time PML-N succeeded in establishing Punjab government in 2007 and 2013 and during this period I completed a number of development projects in my constituency to provide all urban facilities to the residents of this area including a state-of-the-art General Hospital, two women colleges, community center, construction of roads and streets” “Later, my constituency was divided into three parts in 2018 only to defeat me but the people elected me on National Assembly seat instead of provincial assembly seat due to service delivery” he added A large number of PML-N leaders activists workers and notables of the area were also present

Pakistan

Railways to run five special trains on Eidul Fitr

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Railways has announced the operation of five special trains to facilitate the travel needs of the public during the upcoming eid-ul-Fitr holidays

These trains will operate from Karachi to Lahore and Karachi and Peshawar to various locations across the country, providing a comfortable and convenient mode of transportation for passengers

The schedule for these trains was recently released by the railway department The first of these special trains will leave Karachi for Peshawar Cantt on April 18 while the second will depart from Quetta to Rawalpindi on the same day On April 19 the third special train will run from Karachi to Lahore providing a convenient and affordable option for those travelling between the two cities

The fourth train will be from Rawalpindi to Quetta on April 26, offering a comfortable journey

iftar, conference, photo exhibition mark ‘al-Quds day’ at khana farhang

PeSHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t

for those who need to travel between these two cities during the eid holidays

Finally the fifth and last special train will run from Lahore to Karachi on April 27 enabling passengers to travel from Lahore to Karachi with ease and comfort

Planning ministr y releases Rs129b for development projects under PSDP ’s 4th quarter

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Despite financial constraints and disruptions caused by super floods last year, the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives has released Rs 129 billion for development projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fourth quarter of (2022-23)

The Water Resource Division and Higher education Commission (HeC) have been given top

priority in the PSDP a news release said on Sunday

In the last quarter of 2021-22 there was a zero release for the PSDP which resulted in the government shrinking the PSDP from Rs 700 billion to Rs 550 billion

According to the latest data provided by the Planning Ministry, an amount of Rs 129b has been released for development projects under PSDP for the fourth quarter (2022-2023), including Rs 27b for Azad Jammu & Kashmir AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan GB and ex-FATA

An amount of Rs 30 billion was released to the Power Division to speed up the projects like Diamer-Bhasha

Dam Mohmand Dam Kachi Canal Nai Gaj Dam Rs 22 billion for the Ministry of Communications to expedite the projects like Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road Dualization & Improvement of Old Bannu Road and Rs 8 billion for the HeC projects Similarly an amount of Rs 4 billion was released for the Ministry of Housing and Works, Rs 8 billion for the Ministry of Railway, and Rs 5 billion for the Power Division Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who has been constantly struggling to cope with the economic challenges, has taken several initiatives for the country’s development

HEC claims funds disbursement to universities made transparently

Khana Farhang of Islamic Republic of Iran in Peshawar in cooperation with the Imamia Council for the Unity of the Inter-Muslims of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the National Peace Jirga for Inter-Religious Harmony marked Al-Quds Day titled Reputation and Recognition of the Holy World of Islam A grand conference photo exhibition and Iftar were organized, said a press release issued here on Sunday In the conference, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Peshawar Ali Banafsheh Khah, Director General Khana Farhang Iran Peshawar Mehran eskandarian, Vice Chairman Qaumi Watan Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Vice President Tabligh Islam Institute Syed Fayyaz Ali Shah, Chairman Islamic Ideological Council of Pakistan Dr Qibla Ayaz former Director of Pakistan Studies Peshawar University Dr Fakhrul Islam Central Vice President of Shia Ulema Council Allama Ramzan Tawqeer Provincial President of Majlis Wahdat al-Muslimeen Allama

Indian duplicit y confirmed

Th e press interview of Indian politician Satya Pal, who was the last Governor of Indian Occupied Kashmir before it was broken into two Union territories after the abolition of its special status under article 370 of the Indian Constitution is explosive, and portrays Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a garish light Mr Pal told Wired’s Karan Thapar, how Mr Modi almost took India to war over the Phulwama incident he disclosed he was told by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to keep quiet about the refusal of the home Ministry to provide a plane for the CRPF soldiers killed in the road, the failure to man the roads where a car with 300 lbs of RDX explosive wandered for days, and the intelligence lapse which left the vehicle undetected Mr Pal agreed that, as soon as the incident happened, Mr Modi had decided to blame Pakistan It has been alleged that the attack was staged by the Indian government for this purpose Mr Pal’ disclosures support this allegation, or else it shows the Indian forces as incompetent indeed Mr Modi seems to have two things in mind First was the general election he faced later that year he appeared ready to risk the peace of South Asia and run the risk of a war with a nuclear-armed Pakistan just to boost his electoral chances By blaming Pakistan for this incident, he also hoped to isolate Pakistan internationally, building its reputation as a sponsor of terrorism, and specifically build pressure for FAQTF to blacklist it, or at least keep it on its grey list It was only the desire of Pakistan’s leadership for peace that prevented war when they returned the pilot of the MiG 21 shot down while attacking Pakistan

Mr Pal has disclosed nothing new, though his confirmation of facts that had been circulating already was useful It should not be forgotten that Mr Modi s actions were not just inspired by a desire to win elections but also by a visceral hatred of Muslims and thus Pakistan Pakistan needs to be wary because Modi faces elections again, and there is no sign that his second term has instilled in him the responsibility that his first clearly didn t The risk was not just to the 1 7 billion people of the two countries, but because of the global nuclear winter caused by a nuclear exchange between the two all the 7 8 billion people on earth

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Saudi Arabia’s Thriving Tech Industr y

areas such as e-commerce fintech and artificial intelligence Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs could leverage their expertise in these areas to develop solutions that meet the needs of the Saudi market

There are already examples of successful collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan s tech industries In 2019, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) signed an agreement with the Pakistan Software export Board (PSeB) to promote collaboration between the two countries tech industries The agreement aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge expertise and resources between the two countries and to promote joint ventures and investment opportunities

One area of potential collaboration is in the development of e-commerce platforms Saudi Arabia has a large and growing e-commerce market, and Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs have expertise in building e-commerce solutions

SA U D I A R A B I A is on a mission to transform its economy, and one of the key areas it has identified for growth is the technology industry The Kingdom is investing heavily in developing a thriving tech ecosystem, and the results are starting to show Saudi Arabia is now home to a growing number of successful startups and its tech industry is attracting investment and attention from around the world Saudi Arabia s tech sector is projected to contribute over 20 percent to the country’s GDP by 2030

This presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan, which has its own thriving tech scene Pakistan is home to a large and tech-savvy population, with a growing number of startups and entrepreneurs entering the market By collaborating with Saudi Arabia s tech industry, Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs could tap into a larger market and access funding and resources that could help them scale and grow The Vision 2030 agenda, a notable Saudi initiative that aims to reduce Saudi Arabia s oil-dependency and diversify its economy highlights the tech sector ’s growth as a priority Consequently Saudi Arabia has launched several schemes and initiatives to endorse and assist tech startups and entrepreneurs

One of the most significant of these initiatives is the Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) which was launched in 2018 with the aim of investing in Saudi startups and helping them grow The SVC has already made several investments in Saudi startups and it has also attracted investment from international firms Another key initiative is the MiSK Innovation programme which was launched by the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2016 The programme provides training, mentorship, and funding to young Saudis with innovative ideas, and has already supported a number of successful startups

These initiatives are paying off According to a report by Magnitt, a Dubai-based startup data platform, Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem saw a recordbreaking year in 2020 with $152 million invested across 71 deals The report also noted that Saudi Arabia has the largest number of active investors in the Middle east and North Africa (MeNA) region This growth in the Saudi tech industry presents many opportunities for Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs Saudi Arabia has a large consumer market, and there is growing demand for innovative tech solutions in

By partnering with Saudi businesses Pakistani startups could develop innovative online marketplaces that meet the needs of the Saudi consumer

Another area of opportunity is in the development of fintech solutions Saudi Arabia has been working to modernize its financial sector, and there is growing demand for innovative digital payment solutions Pakistani fintech startups have already made significant strides in this area, and could potentially partner with Saudi banks and financial institutions to develop new products and services

There is also potential for collaboration in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in these areas, and Pakistani tech talent could contribute to the development of cutting-edge AI applications that could be used across various industries

Arabia and Pakistan has grown even stronger In

2019 Saudi Arabia announced a $20 billion investment in Pakistan s economy which included investments in the energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors The investment was seen as a major boost to Pakistan s economy and its efforts to attract foreign investment The collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the tech industry could build on this strong relationship and lead to further investment and economic opportunities By working together to develop innovative solutions, the two countries could tap into new markets and create new business opportunities

However, the success of this collaboration will depend on various factors, such as government policies, regulator y frameworks, and the availability of talent and resources. Both countries need to work tog ether to create an enabling environment for star tups and entrepreneurs to thrive

Saudi Arabia s push for digital transformation extends beyond its domestic market The Kingdom is also positioning itself as a technology hub for the wider Middle east and North Africa (MeNA) region, with initiatives such as the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA) which aims to attract foreign investment in the Kingdom s tech sector This presents an opportunity for Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs to not only access the Saudi market but also potentially expand their reach to other countries in the region By collaborating with Saudi businesses, Pakistani tech companies could establish themselves as leaders in the MeNA tech scene and benefit from the growing demand for innovative solutions in the region In recent years, the relationship between Saudi

Moscow needs Tehran’s suppor t more than Beijing

Russia and Iran both are under Western sanc tions

and Russia is considerable

Th e Islamic Republic of Iran has long been following the principle of neither east nor West as its foreign policy however, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has supported “Look east” especially after the US withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018 It became clear to the Supreme Leader that preference of europe for the JCPOA would not prevail Many european companies withdrew from the Iran deals due to secondary US sanctions Thus Iran’s interest in closer trade relations with China increased Iran s relations with China came to the fore in March 2021 when the two countries signed a long-term agreement A key provision of the deal guarantees China access to subsidized oil purchases for the next 25 years in exchange for hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese investment in Iran China has considerable economic influence over Iran as one of the few countries willing to defy Western sanctions on Iran’s energy sector Iran s relationship with Russia came under the microscope when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 Iran offered Russia diplomatic, economic and military support including supplying attack drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine US officials have also said that Iran may send surface-to-surface missiles to Russia Iran’s experience in sanctions evasion and indigenous weapons production makes it an attractive partner for Russia Over the past year, Tehran s Islamist government has doubled down on its “Look east” policy betting China and Russia will be Iran s main backers against the West It s a big gamble and, so far, there are few signs that it will produce more tangible benefits for Tehran in 2023 than in 2022 Still it s a fact that remains here

With China, it has been a difficult road Beijing has promised Tehran the right things, including during President ebrahim Raisi’s visit to China in February But mere expressions of political solidarity are no substitute for Iran s need for strong economic ties The Chinese by all accounts are refusing to commit to longterm plans, apparently due to Tehran s lack of big economic vision, sanctions-related hurdles, and doubts about the viability of the regime Russia is the second pillar of Iran s look east policy Moscow needs Iranian support more than Beijing, and cooperation is cheap

Today Russia has more sanctions than Iran And Moscow, unlike Beijing, doesn t have to worry about offending Western sensibilities in its dealings with the Islamic Republic At present the growing breadth and depth of ties between Iran

What should matter most is that, as with China, Russia s economic cooperation is a source of frustration for Tehran Both countries are cash-poor and dependent on selling oil to markets like China and India This leaves military relations as perhaps the most natural approach Tehran has already sent drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine further alienating Western powers, and there are confirmed reports that Moscow will soon hand over its advanced Su-35 fighter jets to Iran

While such military transactions are important and closer geopolitical alignment between Tehran, Moscow would represent an even bigger leap When Raisi met President Vladimir Putin in July 2022, Tehran officials described the summit as the birth of a new regional understanding between Tehran and Moscow So far it has been difficult to find any significant signs of this restructuring, but Tehran seems optimistic In particular Iran hopes that rising tensions between Russia and Israel may limit Israel s free hand over Syrian airspace

While Russian priorities may not have changed to protect Iran, it is hard for the Russians to ignore the fact that Iran is the only large and relatively resource-rich state in the region that is almost unconditionally ready to side with Moscow against the West

For a long time, Russia-Iran relations can easily be described as heavy with promises and slogans, but lacking in substance Officially, Moscow and Tehran say they want to challenge the USA in general from fighting separatism and drug trafficking to establishing stability in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq,

the South Caucasus and Central Asia so they are determined to face many threats together But its war against Ukraine no doubt gave Moscow a reason to move Tehran closer to the Russian orbit Iran s prospects as a regional hard power player in places like Syria, the South Caucasus or Central Asia would be greatly reduced by a Russian military defeat in Ukraine After all it was not Moscow that shaped Iran s prospects in these fields so much as Iran’s ability or lack thereof to become a partner What a Russian defeat in the war might do, however, is a pressure on politics in Tehran to fundamentally reassess the value of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s pet “Look east” policy That said the Look east policy is unlikely to be moved from its policy For Khamenei and senior IRGC officers, Russia has long been the West s biggest counterweight even though Moscow has long refused to participate in any major confrontation in the Middle east

While Russian priorities may not have changed to protect Iran it is hard for the Russians to ignore the fact that Iran is the only large and relatively resource-rich state in the region that is almost unconditionally ready to side with Moscow against the West

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo com

Many Pakistani tech professionals and entrepreneurs have historically left the country to pursue opportunities abroad, often due to a lack of resources and support in Pakistan By collaborating with Saudi Arabia’s tech industry and attracting investment and resources Pakistan could provide its tech talent with more opportunities to stay and contribute to the country s economy Saudi Arabia s thriving tech industry presents significant opportunities for Pakistani startups and entrepreneurs By collaborating and leveraging each other ’s strengths the two countries can create innovative solutions that have the potential to transform various industries and benefit both their nations Overall, Saudi Arabia s efforts to promote and support its tech industry offer great potential for collaboration and growth between the Kingdom and Pakistan s tech scenes however, the success of this collaboration will depend on various factors, such as government policies regulatory frameworks and the availability of talent and resources Both countries need to work together to create an enabling environment for startups and entrepreneurs to thrive and to promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration across borders

The writer is Software Engineer at LoadzPro Inc USA and former Google DSC Lead PK He tweets @UAsulehri

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today, 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

Toshakhana in its true perspective

T h e government has made public the details of foreign gifts received by ex- presidents prime ministers and government officials from 2002 to 2023, and more such details are expected to surface in the days ahead There is an unbelievably long list of expensive items gifted to the ‘servants of people’ who stepped into the corridors of power on the strength of the vote of the poor

Instead of depositing all those gifted items in the Toshakhana, these greedy so-called ‘leaders’ took them away either at a throwaway price or simply free of cost Toshakhana is a subject of discussion on electronic and print media, with the world laughing at us At this time of disgrace and dishonour because of greedy political leadership, the media must highlight leaders of the past with honesty and integrity

Among them is the first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan and her wife Begum Ra ana Liaquat Ali Khan Liaquat not only left his entire estate in India, but also gifted his newly-constructed, fully furnished house, Gul-iRa’ana in the most expensive area of Delhi to the government of Pakistan for establishing the high commissioner s office in India his wife, when she was serving as ambassador in the Netherlands, was gifted a castle by the then Dutch queen upon winning a game of chess, which she very generously gifted to the government of Pakistan and even today the Pakistan embassy is housed in that lavish villa

Surprisingly, learned scholars in talk shows on television screens never mention such gestures of integrity and generosity on the part of the leaders of the past Generosity even though praiseworthy is optional but integrity is an essential prerequisite to leadership AAMIR AQIL LAHORE

Casual invigilators

MAJORITY of students are aware of the unethical practices that are observed during board examinations Instead of actual academic learning, our students collect notes and books that may help them cheat the system So prevalent has been the practice that cheating has all but become a norm; it is no more taken as a sin

The menace, or what was once taken as a menace, has now crossed the barrier of academic exams and has entered the domain of even publicsector professional testing

I recently sat a test for the post of sorter in post office and was appalled to see how it was being conducted In the Naval Rai school a heritage building ironically there was not a single invigilator who was even keen on stopping students from cheating even the seating was crowded; two to three candidates were sharing a bench and soliciting assistance from one another, much like they did during board exams

They were utilising their mobile devices in a different room to find the right answers to multiple choice questions (MCQs) as well as other objective and essay-type questions The invigilator ’s order to “don’t speak loudly” was the lone instance of strictness in the room

And even that order implied that speaking was acceptable; it was only the loudly part that was bugging the invigilator

The effect of such invigilators would be felt by the applicants who had actually studied for the exam but had no access to the internet

Many of the candidates would believe that there is no merit in the system, and that all vacancies are ‘sold’ to those who are willing to make some ‘investment’

Satya Pal confirms how Modi almost took the world to war

Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer

lA S T evening one of my schoolfellows who teaches at a european university called me and he was almost shouting at me while telling people who were running the state affairs in Pakistan are jokers I had to remind him that I am neither a responsible government official nor a politician so please do not shout at me I am a simple powerless writer and whatever I consider harming my country I pen it with full honesty and fearlessly this is the maximum I can contribute I advised him to read my latest book

How Does Superclass rule the Nations? -A Case Study from Pakistan before shouting at me he was angry over what was going on inside and outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan I told him that everybody who loves this country is annoyed over this situation but nobody has the power to stop them who are staging this comedy theatre The sum total of our discussion was that confused political leadership, self-interests gaining models of Governance elitism Feudalism Cronyism and lack of boldness to demand civil rights by the public have resulted in what we are facing today

I do not remember any series of protests by the public in Pakistan demanding their civil rights or against the delay of legal cases in courts but you can find thousands of news items in the last three decades where people had been burning public vehicles over something that happened somewhere in europe or North America My friend is right in stating that the majority of people in decision-making positions are simply Jokers! Who cares about Pakistan? My friend was of the view that right now Pakistan is a laughing stock for the situation where the higher judiciary is taking all powers that fall into the realm of the executive and the Parliament I told my friend that politicians media law practitioners and even judges of the Supreme Court and members of Bar Councils are worried about the situation and are raising a series of questions but there is nobody to listen to these concerns

The Mocker y and the my th COMMENT 05

There is no doubt since long the judiciary has been taking over the State s functions and politicians had been sitting as scary ducks One prime minister was hanged in one of the most controversial legal case s including one popularly known as the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case two prime ministers were sent to their homes as punished and disqualified” Do we want to continue giving unlimited and unchecked powers to our judges? I believe this time the Supreme Court looks in the mood to send the entire federal cabinet or at least another prime minister home as disqualified and punished because the Parliament is trying to be bold and the current law by Parliament is an attempt to reduce the misuse of power by any individual Parliament is not asking to take any powers away from the judiciary rather it is only saying that instead of one person deciding critical matters, it should be combined wisdom So where is any attempt to interfere in judicial powers as claimed by the CJP?

The unfortunate divide in the Supreme Court is of course not in favour of the country but it has given a chance to the public to raise some sensitive questions that it was not allowed to raise in Pakistan

Such questions include:

Who takes an average of more than 20 years to decide a case and still has no regrets?

Who have accumulated hundreds of thousands of pending cases in the judicial system and have no concern to give timely justice which is their primary job?

Who has failed to develop any effective system to decide business and economic cases –a significant contributor to our economic collapse today?

Who is failing to improve the court infrastructure and systems and is still using the infrastructure and systems mostly left by colonial masters over 75 years ago?

Who commits the highest level of conflict of interest by refusing to be accountable to anyone except their own selves which is no accountability?

Who has consistently proven to decide cases based on the sides which suited them in the last 75 years?

Who has failed to ensure rule of law due to their changing interpretations of the law?

The issue of Justice Delayed is Justice Denied has been an important point of discussion among law practitioners and academia but the Constitution of Pakistan protects the conduct of the judiciary and states that criticizing the judiciary is unlawful This is one of the reasons that debating the rule of the judiciary is discouraged in Pakistan resulting in almost no accountability of the judiciary This is one of the reasons that critical work on this issue is being produced mostly outside of Pakistan by Pakistani academicians living abroad and by foreign writers

The Myth of Justice in Pakistan, authored by Dr Muhammad Bilal who has his LlM and PhD degrees in Law from the UK indicates that justice in Pakistan has become a myth and an unachievable goal he believes that there are several reasons for delayed justice including complex procedures, old and ineffective laws the attitude of judges and lawyers, and the backlog of pending cases in the superior as well as lower judiciary of Pakistan Another academic paper that is written by hafiz Muhammad Ihsan Zafeer of Shaanxi Normal University China published in November 2020, titled Delaying Factors Regarding Civil Justice in Pakistan (Lower Courts)” indicates that because of procedural as well as practical loopholes and existing defective administration of Justice, our Judiciary is not proficient enough in delivering Justice Because of this, people lost their trust in the Judiciary and such a situation creates social disorganization Dr Bilal is more straight and critical and in his re-

Lo a n s u rc h a rg e s c r i p p l e a l re a d y - s t r u g g l i n g e c o n o m i e s s u c h a s Eg y p t, Tu n i s i a , a n d J o rd a n Th e y c o n f l i c t w i t h h u m a n r i g h t s l aw a n d t h e I M F ’s o w n s t at u t e s a n d h ave t o g o

and length of loans and can more than double countries’ loan costs Globally, 14 countries are impacted by surcharges all in severe financial despair In the MeNA region Jordan, egypt, and Tunisia all face surcharges

more than $167m in surcharges every year in addition to its annual debt servicing and loan fees to the IMF

The country is also one of several in the region at serious risk of defaulting

If the IMF was to end its surcharge policy the egyptian government could use those funds to extend its social protection scheme to include more than 688 000 egyptian families living below the poverty line

This would lift 2 7 percent of all egyptian households above the poverty rate dec r e a s i n g t h e n u m b e r o f p o o r b y m o r e t h a n nine percent Surcharges are additional payments, on top of regular interest payments and other fees Countries are required to pay them to the fund if they have high levels of IMF debt

The additional cost is based on the size

ASyluM In uK

DIRE NEED: According to the IMF the reason behind the surcharge policy is to increase countries’ motivation to repay their loans It is also framed as a needed contribution to the IMF s precautionary balance however given the unfavourable policy conditions that follow the loans (such as deep cuts to social spending) countries are not likely to keep up IMF assistance unless they are in dire need Furthermore, such additional income is not needed to ensure the IMF’s precautionary balances: there is currently no need for financial bolstering, as its balances are more than healthy Additionally, surcharge income makes up around 0 18 percent of the IMF’s total resources available for lending Therefore, such income does not impact the fund s lending power And even if the fund was in need of additional financial security why should it be the most crisis-stricken countries shouldering that responsibility?

The MeNA region is very vulnerable to shocks: inequality is rampant there are little to no universal social safety nets and economies are highly dependent on food imports The region has already been rocked by economic crises Covid-19 and political and armed unrest

A global debt crisis is forewarned, but the MeNA region is already living this crisis: it’s the most indebted region counted by percentage of GDP And of the three MeNA countries impacted by surcharges, two, egypt and Tunisia are among the top five in the world at the highest risk of defaulting on their debt

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

LAW: The region’s vulnerability is also reflected in the large number of loans made with

Polic y vexing as separatists, economic offenders take refuge Tribune

PR I M e M I N I S T e R Modi’s talk with his British counterpart

Rishi Sunak is the latest in the flurry of activity to restore trust in India-UK relations The ties had become strained after the March 19 incident in London, triggered by the Amritpal issue back home emerged as an irritant for India

There was a breach of security at the Indian high Commission as some Khalistan supporters desecrated the Tricolour hoisted atop the building and smashed its windows In apparent retaliation, New Delhi removed the ‘extra’ security barricades around the British high Commission in New Delhi and hinted at more action The British government was quick to respond and assured India of security for its missions and personnel, saying that such acts were completely

the IMF: 18 agreements were signed with Arab countries between 2010 and 2021, and hence the IMF has an enormous policy imprint on the region Surcharges are not just inconvenient additional fees that would be nice to do without They conflict with human rights law as well as the IMF s own statutes The fund s very first article states that IMF lending cannot be “destructive of national or international prosperity” Surcharges also contravene international human rights law dictating that countries should not be discriminated against based on their economic status

In addition, international financial institutions must not undermine the ability of states to generate allocate and use their resources to the maximum potential for investment to achieve human rights, as they are required to do under international human rights law, according to article two of the International Covenant on economic Social and Cultural Rights

The involvement of eU member states in this debate is crucial They must demand that the IMF places respect for human rights front and centre in its policy and practice

In December, the executive board of the IMF discussed the role of the surcharge policy but rich countries like the United States and Germany ruled against any changes european member states must wield their leverage to make sure that the IMF evolves to better align with democratic values and human rights The best way of doing thiswhich is also the lowest-hanging fruit - is to end surcharges And their next opportunity to do so is at the IMF spring meeting in Washington, DC, which began meeting this week

Frederik Johannisson is Coordinator of Economic Social and Cultural Rights Programme at EuroMed Rights Rasmus

Alenius Boserup is EuroMed Rights Executive Director

unacceptable however, the UK’s subsequent position of allowing the protests though now a bit away from the Indian embassy and under the watch of cops betrays the lending of political legitimacy to the demonstrators cause Raising this issue at the India-UK home Affairs Dialogue forum on Wednesday, India expressed concern over the misuse of UK’s asylum status by pro-Khalistan elements for aiding terror activities in India The separatist pot has been kept boiling due to the asylum policies of the UK, as also of Canada, Australia and the US frequently manifested by attacks on Indian diplomatic missions religious shrines and Indian-origin persons They would do well to increase monitoring and take appropriate proactive’ action, as demanded by India It is vital to building trust between nations especially in the light of India’s growing cooperation in strategic and trade ties with these countries

While reviewing the progress of the India-UK Roadmap-2030 with Sunak on Thursday, Modi not only once more sought action against anti-India elements but also touched upon the other category of people who have sought refuge in the UK the economic offenders Their prompt extradition to India to face the law has been a point of friction The outcome of negotiations between India and the UK in various fields such as cementing the FTA hinges upon the resolution of these outstanding issues

search, he claims that the research of F S Khan, Pakistani courts require the continuous visits of the suit s parties and normally for the decision of any conflict a defendant makes 72 visits to the courts and a decision of a case costs nearly Rs 0 2 to 0 3 million to such a party Continuous visits to courts not only cause a financial crisis but can also have a psychological impact on the suit s parties Dr Bilal also claims that judges are the backbone of the judiciary and in Pakistan, they have no professional attitude and perform their function only for salary but not for justice (Sherwani 2006)

This is the first time that the military establishment is categorically clear on supporting the Parliament and the parliamentary system though it had been trying its best to roll back the parliamentary system in the country and introduce the Presidential form of government The military leadership cannot be as supportive of the parliamentary system as it is today and this is a historic moment in the hands of politicians

On April 14, COAS Gen Syed Asim Munir, while addressing the parliamentarians during an in-camera briefing on the national security situation in the National Assembly, asked the nation to give up the debate of Naya and Purana and instead talk about our Pakistan” A number of politicians who attended the session claim that COAS was very clear about what he was talking about and he also stated that the elected representatives of the people should determine the country’s destination and the Army would fully support them in the journey to development and success he was of the view that people exercise their right to express an opinion through the Constitution and Parliament, while absolute sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah he was of the view that the Constitution states that the power will be exercised by the elected representatives of the people

In one of my articles I mentioned that this is the moment in Pakistan s history where parliamentarians can change things for the better by reducing the powers of individuals and giving them the combined wisdom of a few And if parliamentarians do not make the right decision today and continue giving any institution unlimited powers, then Parliament will continue to suffer and there is fear that it would dissolve like salt in the gushing waters of history

The writer is an international award winning journalist who has been in the field since 1988 and appears in national and international media as analyst and political scientist

B e i j i n g d o e s n’t s e e k w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n , o n l y a r i g h t f u l p o s i t i o n a m o n g g l o b a l p o w e r s

where it is today

X“I is fixated on ending China s century of humiliation” – reads an article in Politico one of the commentaries condemning emmanuel Macron for his decision to visit Beijing depicting him as a traitor to the US cause for doing so and for his later statements

The article goes on to describe the motivations of China’s leader Xi Jinping: he apparently wants China to emerge as the greatest power on earth, and he fears the US is equally determined to do everything it can to ensure he fails

What is the century of humiliation?

Why does it matter to China and what is its relevance today? The term has become a commonly mentioned concept in Chinese political discourse which is used to evaluate the country’s past in the early modern era China is depicted as having suffered existentially at the hands of foreign powers which “humiliated it from a misplaced sense of greatness in an era of national decline

The discourse of humiliation is used to draw a contrast with the current “revival as the ruling Communist Party frames it, in China today

The century of humiliation is understood as the era when foreign colonial powers subjugated, coerced and exploited the declining Qing Dynasty, forcibly opening up China in order to economically exploit and attain political influence over it The period is typically considered to have begun with the opium wars of the mid-1800s whereby the Qing s refusal to import opium from British India led to war, which ended with the signing of an “unequal” Treaty of Nanking This not only forced British trade interests on Chinese ports, but also annexed hong Kong island

The opium wars were followed by many other conflicts directed against Beijing, including the forcefully created “treaty ports” that were quasi-colonial annexes where foreign law was applied over Chinese law and atrocities such as the 1860 burning of the Old Summer Palace occurred The impact of the century of humiliation unleashed ideological and political change in China and led to the birth of new revolutionary ideologies which sought to revive the country one of which became the Communist Party On obtaining power following the 1927-1949 civil war, the Communist Party framed itself as the driving force of China s revival and modernization, and the humiliation of the past as a backdrop to the rebirth of the country bringing the country to

In doing so China s leaders consider American attempts at containment of the country as an effort to impose a new century of humiliation US efforts in blockading the rise and development of China through military encirclement and technological embargoes and sanctions are designed to prevent it from overtaking the US as the world s largest economy This naturally draws comparisons in China to the old foreign aggression against it The US does not want China to do well, it wants to politically and economically dominate it to its own advantages but it has only hardened the political resolve in Beijing that the failures of the past must not be repeated China’s determination to be an independent world power in itself immensely raises the risk of war and conflict Beijing is not seeking hegemony as some Western commentators choose to portray it but is nonetheless seeking to restore what it deems its rightful status following its national decline in the past China does not want sagas such as the opium wars to ever be repeated, and in doing so is likely to accelerate its own military development and size in a bid to deter the US and its allies Critical to all this is that Taiwan remains an unresolved legacy of what Beijing perceives to be part of the century of humiliation

T h e J a p a n e s e a n n e x e d t h e i s l a n d from the mainland in 1895, and China sees the reunification of that territory as its right and sees attempts to block s u c h r e u n i f i c a t i o n , s u c h a s t h o s e b y the US as an effort towards a new humiliation This means that the politic a l s t a k e s a t t a c h e d t o t h e f u t u r e o f Taiwan are significant Therefore, is it wise to try and push China to the absolute limit?

War and conflict, after all, are very much aspects of China’s own national confidence For example its success in the Korean war of 1950-1953 is heralded, from the Chinese perspective, as the end to the century of humiliation and the rise of China as a modern power in the world Attempts, either deliberately or unintentionally, to “humiliate” China again is inherently dangerous because it involves trying to corner a nation that does not want to be cornered and is strong enough to fight back every effort should be made to cooperate and co-exist with a rising China, as opposed to trying to suppress it At this stage of China’s rise it’s clear that in economic and military terms it is not to be underestimated, and in turn attempting to relive the era of “humiliation ” Any attempt to add a new legacy of Western powers imposing their will on China wantonly, may prove to be a huge error

This is the moment in Pakistan’s histor y where parliamentarians can chang e things for the better by reducing the powers of individuals and giving them the combined wisdom of a few. And if parliamentarians do not make the right decision today and continue giving any institution unlimited powers

The IMF’s punitive loan system makes struggling countries poorer. It must end

China’s century of humiliation is over, and trying to repeat it is a grave mistake

THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS FLOCK TO JERUSALEM FOR ORTHODOX EASTER ‘HOLY FIRE’ RITE

TEL AVIV A F P

TH O U S A N D S of Christians

thronged Jerusalem on Saturday for the traditional Holy Fire rite ahead of the Orthodox Easter despite a security clampdown in the holy city

The ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the thousand-year-old rite takes place was built over the site where Christian tradition says Jesus Christ was crucified buried and resurrected

The ceremony, when a flame which the faithful believe sparks miraculously each year is brought from the tomb marks the most important event in the Orthodox calendar Clutching candles so the flame can be passed from one to another, pilgrims attended the church this year in reduced numbers

The church is in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and for the second consecutive year, Israeli police had told church leaders access would be considerably restricted

In the past about 10 000 worshippers would fill the church with many more crowding outside before the flame was flown to Orthodox communities internationally

This year ’s ceremony also comes after deadly attacks and clashes in Israel east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, and cross-border fire several days ago between Israeli forces and militants

in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria

On Wednesday Israeli police said attendance inside the church would be limited to 1,800 people including 200 police officers as a safety measure AFP journalists said thousands of Palestinian believers and foreign pilgrims also gathered in the square outside the church, in adjacent streets and outside the walls of the Old City on Saturday

Theophilus III the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem emerged from the Edicule built over the presumed tomb of Jesus shortly before 3:00 pm (1200 GMT), bearing two bundles of lighted candles Cries of joy cheers and singing broke out as the flame was passed be-

Former Indian lawmaker and brother shot dead on live T V

NEW DELHI

A F P

A former Indian lawmaker convicted of kidnapping and facing murder and assault charges was shot dead along with his brother in a dramatic attack that was caught live on TV in northern India officials said Sunday

Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were under police escort on their way to a medical checkup at a hospital on Saturday night when three men posing as journalists targeted the two brothers from close range in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh state

The men quickly surrendered to the police after the shooting, with at least one of them chanting Jai Shri Ram” or “Hail Lord Ram,” a slogan that has become a battle cry for Hindu nationalists in their campaign against Muslims Uttar Pradesh is governed by India s ruling Hindunationalist Bhartiya Janata Party Police officer Ramit Sharma said the three assailants came on motorcycles posing as journalists

They managed to reach close to Atiq and his brother on the pretext of recording a byte and fired at them from close range Both sustained bullet injuries on the head, he said “It all happened in seconds ” Sharma said On Thursday Atiq Ahmad s teenage son and another man, who had both been blamed for a recent murder, were killed by police in what was described as a shootout

Atiq Ahmad 60 was jailed in 2019 after he was convicted of kidnapping He was a local lawmaker four times and was also elected to India s parliament in 2004

His lawyer, Vijay Mishra, said the incident was shocking as “it is a clear failure of the police in ensuring the safety” of his clients Opposition parties criticised the killings as a security lapse

tween believers ‘I F E E L I N H E AV E N’: “It’s like I’m dead and alive again [ ] I feel in heaven, said Laura, a 47-year-old Romanian tourist Georges, a Palestinian retiree living in the Old City said he regretted that “many Christians from the West Bank cannot come because of the lack of permits issued by Israel Police say the restrictions are intended to ensure safety after a stampede left several dead during a 2021 Jewish pilgrimage to Israel But many Palestinian Christians say they are proof of discrimination against them Ahmad Tibi an Arab-Israeli member of parliament said on Saturday: All Palestinians in east Jerusalem Muslims

and Christians, are suffering from the occupation We must do more to end these restrictions, violations and police violence ” Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said the event was very special including for us the police Of course we want a lot of people to be able to come But our number one priority is human life ” he added We want to ensure that people can come and celebrate safely, Elsdunne said of the restrictions FA S T I N G F O R 55 D AY S: Palestinian teacher Tamar Ashariyeh 45 said she could only get within 100 metres (yards) of the site I m a local here, so I have to be inside this church, praying I’ve been fasting for 55 days It’s Easter time so we have to celebrate she said Abed, a Palestinian merchant in the Old City, accused Israel of having “closed everything” for the ceremony But Maria 25 said she lives in the area and was used to the measures

It s a security issue It s much safer that way, she told AFP Last year there were scuffles between worshippers and police who had set up barriers throughout the city s Christian quarter Christians made up more than 18 per cent of the population of the Holy Land when the state of Israel was created in 1948 but now they are fewer than two percent, mostly Orthodox

At least 56 civilians killed as S udan battles rage for second day

KHARTOUM SUDAN

AG E N C I E S

Fighting in Sudan raged for a second day Sunday in battles between rival generals in control since their 2021 coup leaving at least 56 civilians dead, hundreds wounded and sparking international alarm

Deafening explosions and intense gunfire rattled buildings in the capital Khartoum s denselypopulated northern and southern suburbs as tanks rumbled on the streets and fighter jets roared overhead witnesses said

Violence erupted early Saturday morning after weeks of deepening tensions between army chief Abdel Fattah alBurhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the large and heavily-armed paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with each accusing the other of starting the fight

Both sides claim they control key sites with state television broadcasting patriotic songs without commentary

Daglo s RSF say they have seized the presidential palace, Khartoum airport and other strategic sites but the army insist they are in charge with the air

force late Saturday urging people to stay indoors as it continued air strikes targeting RSF bases

Footage obtained by AFP showed heavy smoke billowing from a building near the army headquarters in Khartoum with the military saying a building had caught fire amid the clashes but that it had been contained

Created in 2013, the RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia that then-president Omar al-Bashir unleashed against nonArab ethnic minorities in the western Darfur region a decade earlier drawing accusations of war crimes

The RSF s planned integration into the regular army was a key element of talks to finalise a deal that would return the country to civilian rule and end the political-economic crisis sparked by the military s 2021 coup

“The total number of deaths among civilians reached 56 ” said the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, adding there were also tens of deaths among security forces, as well as around 600 wounded Medics on social media have continued to call for help, pleading for safe corridors for ambulances and a ceasefire to treat the victims warning the streets were

too dangerous to bring many casualties to hospitals

On Sunday the stench of gunpowder wafted through Khartoum s streets, deserted except by soldiers as frightened civilians sheltered inside their homes

We had a very difficult night and we couldn t sleep well because of the sound of the explosions and gunfire,” said Ahmed Seif who lives in east Khartoum with his family of five

He said he fears his building was hit by gunfire, but said it was still too dangerous to go outside to check

The situation is very worrying and it doesn t seem like it will calm anytime soon, he added Bakry, 24, who works in marketing said Khartoum residents had never seen anything like this unrest with the power out across swathes of the city

“People were terrified and running back home said Bakry who gave only a first name Fighting has also erupted outside Khartoum, including in the troubled western Darfur region

In the eastern border state of Kassala, army fired artillery at a paramilitary camp, witness Hussein Saleh said

Gunmen storm Mexic an resor t, kill 7, including child

MEXICO CITY

R E U T E

Armed men on Saturday killed a child and six others after storming a resort in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato authorities said in a region increasingly plagued by drug cartel violence Footage widely shared on social media showed the aftermath of the attack in a palm-studded resort in the small town of Cortazar, about 65 km (40 miles) south of Guanajuato city

It was not clear who was behind the shooting that killed the seven-year-old three men and three women, Cortazar s local security department said One person was seriously injured in the La Palma resort

But in recent years rival drug cartels have been waging brutal battles to control territory and trafficking routes through the state

Video taken soon after the attack showed shocked adults and children walking past piles of dead bodies near a swimming pool

“Heavily armed sicarios arrived and this is what happened ” said an unidentified man using a word for hired assassins as he filmed at the resort in a video shared on the internet Reuters could not independently verify the contents of the video

“After the attack (the attackers) fled but not before causing damage to the resort store and taking the security cameras and the monitor, Cortazar s security department said in a statement

Fit zpatrick soars

to

lead at PGA Heritage on eagle wings

Reigning US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick of England fired a PGA Tour career-low eight-under par 63 to seize the lead after Saturday s third round of the Heritage tournament

Fitzpatrick’s bogey-free round highlighted by holing out for eagle from 149 yards in a fairway bunker at the par-4 third hole gave him the 54-hole lead on 14under 199 at Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island

South Carolina

“This is a golf course that has shown there are low scores around here this week and to do that for myself is a big positive Fitzpatrick said

World number four Patrick Cantlay fired a 66 to stand second on 200, one stroke ahead of fellow American Jordan Spieth

World number two Scottie Scheffler who could recapture the top spot after losing it to Masters winner Jon Rahm last week, fired a 69 to share fourth with fellow Americans Taylor Moore, Mark Hubbard and Jimmy Walker plus England’s Tommy Fleetwood

Spain’s Rahm shot 69 fading to a share of 21st on 205

Fitzpatrick sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 second then made his spectacular eagle from the sand

It was obviously a great start to the round, Fitzpatrick said “It puts you in great position, 3-under through three For me that’s ideally the start you need on a Saturday Fitzpatrick blasted out of a bunker within three feet to set up a birdie at the par-5 fifth, then birdied from just inside six feet at the par-3 seventh and made a 23-foot birdie putt at the par-4 eighth

After adding a six-foot birdie putt at the 13th hole Fitzpatrick made his final birdie at the par-5 15th blasting out of a greenside bunker to 16 feet and rolling in the putt

At the par-3 17th, Fitzpatrick sank a 24-foot putt to rescue par

It s important for the par save for the round but just for me personally, I like to have a bogey-free round, Fitzpatrick said Fitzpatrick, who first came to the course on family holidays in his youth likes the layout

Aside from Augusta it s my favourite golf course he said I love coming here to play it I ve not had the best results around here but I really enjoy the design, enjoy the test It’s a great golf course ”

Cantlay birdied three of the last six holes to shoot a bogey-free 66

Gave myself a lot of chances and was able to hole some putts on the back nine, Cantlay said Made a few I didn’t expect to make so it’s nice to see some putts go in ”

Three-time major winner Spieth also birdied three of the last six to shoot 66 but missed a par putt at 17 from just inside 17 that left him two off the lead I thought it was really solid,” Spieth said “Didn’t like dropping one on 17 Wish I hit a better putt but it was a good day ”

China’s kite festival draws enthusiasts from home, abroad

JINAN

AG E N C E S

The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival, which kicked off Saturday in Weifang in east China’s Shandong Province has drawn kite fanciers from China and beyond The coruscating festival featuring an array of kites in various shapes and sizes ranging from a gigantic trilobite to a 50-carriage high-speed train, has become one of the most iconic international events held in China since the country initiated reform and opening up in the late 1970s According to the organizers more than 600 kite enthusiasts from 59 countries and regions are attending this year s festival, including many from overseas who missed the annual event over the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic Weifang is very famous among kite lovers around the world, said Stanislav Kolbintsev from Russia, who was seen with a giant bird-shaped kite Amazed by China s long history of kite flying and the huge public enthusiasm for the sport he said he hopes to visit more Chinese cities to fly kites I ve loved flying kites since I was a child Flying kites has many good meanings in India, said Arindam Adhikary, an Indian expat He was one of the dozens of foreign students from Weifang Medical University who attended the event as spectators

The main activities of the festival, which include competitions for kite making, flying and fighting, are scheduled over the weekend The first Weifang International Kite Festival was held in 1984 The festival has since grown in scale and international influence together with China s continuous opening up Known as the capital of kites, Weifang has a long history of kite making, with some records suggesting the first wooden kite was invented there during the Spring and Autumn period more than 2 000 years ago

The city boasts a thriving kite industry, employing more than 80,000 people in its 600-plus companies involved in the manufacture and sale of kites

Former Olympians want stern measures to bring hockey back on track

Former Olympians have asked for stern measures to be taken in bringing the national game back on track through proper planning from the grassroots to the top level as to regain hockey s lost glory

There were times when Pakistan was the most successful team in World Cups, Olympics and Champions Trophy winning four World Cups in 1971 1978 1982 and 1994 Pakistan also has three gold medals in Olympic Games field hockey tournaments in Rome in 1960, Mexico City in 1968 and Los Angeles in 1984

Then its downfall began and an alwayswinning team that played all World Cup editions, could not qualify for the 2014 and 2023 mega-events

Speaking on the revival of the national game Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed Sr emphasised proper education of players as he deems that an illiterate cannot carry on in in-

ternational sports without education

“There is also a need to build four to five hockey centres in the country directly operated under the federation he added Youth must be spotted from grassroots, educated and fed properly and trained at these centres according to international standards ”

Shahbaz further pleaded that the PHF must have a proper annual budget and the federation should itself manage its affairs

“Every time we have to request the government for grants to participate in national and international championships or preparation of training camps abroad He said Young players must also be offered regular jobs as was happening during our times when all players had jobs in different departments ”

Shahbaz advocated organizing Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) as he believes it would prove a key step towards reviving the national game “Besides providing financial support to PHF the league will help explore new talent for regaining our lost glory Once an unbeaten center-forward and a

star Olympian Shahnaz Shaikh pleads to blend young players with experienced hands for forming a squad that owns the potential to beat any team in the world Players need to improve their movements and points marking in the D area They should avoid counterattacks and improve the conversion of penalty corners If we get three to four penalty corners at least two must be utilized, Shahnaz said

“We need to strongly work on all these things if we want to improve our game Our players must play with unity and avoid individual point scoring in any game he commented Further suggesting measures for improvement, he said, there were around 28 Education Boards in the country with hundreds of schools affiliated with each Board Therefore if each government school is allowed to participate in tournaments, the total number of participating teams would be in the hundreds This practice would be a sort of talent hunt bringing new players to the national squad

He also suggested designated hockey fields to promote the game as he recalled “in our times plentiful of national and district tournaments were held annually for improvement of players mental and physical strength “Then there were different departments,

offering jobs to players But, rapid changes in the hockey setup affected the game badly At present the Pakistan national hockey team holds the 16th spot in International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings which is painful,” he said

corporate corner

UMT, AKF host Iftar dinner, Eid gifts distribution ceremony for orphans

LAHORE: University of Management and Technology (UMT) hosted Pakistan's largest orphans’ grand Iftar dinner and Eid gifts distribution ceremony The event was organized in collaboration with Al-Khidmat Foundation (AKF) Pakistan Ibrahim Hasan Murad

Minister LG & CD Punjab and Member Board of Governors UMT and Prof Dr Hafeezur Rehman

President Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan were the chief guests at the event Dr M Mushtaq Ahmad Mangat, Vice President Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan and senior management of UMT were also present A large number of orphans from various orphanages attended the event Ibrahim Hasan Murad, Minister Local Govt distributed the Eid gifts among orphans During the event, the orphans were also treated with a grand Iftar dinner Ibrahim Hasan Murad, Minister Local Govt and Community Development Punjab expressed that "We are delighted to have organized this event for the orphans He said that I am an orphan myself so I can understand their pain

It is important to remember that these children are an important part of our society and we must work together to ensure their health safety and well-being so that the country can develop We hope that together we will bring some happiness and joy into their lives; Ibrahim Murad Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dr Hafeezur Rahman, President of Al Khidmat Foundation Pakistan, paid tribute to Ibrahim Murad and UMT administration and said that the organization of this event was made possible by the joint efforts of UMT administration and our team and I am deeply grateful to Ibrahim Murad for this good initiative

CDA

set to develop several new parks

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to develop several new modern parks in Islamabad to provide better recreational facilities to the residents The civic authority has already developed around 37 public parks in the federal capital during the last ten years and is working on a policy to increase their number in the coming years “We need three to four months to develop a new park after completion of the codal formalities,” official sources in the CDA told APP At present, they said the federal capital had six amusement parks which were considered sufficient to cater to the recreational needs of Islamabad residents But the policy has been made that whenever a new sector will be developed an amusement park will be constructed along they added The sources said that the CDA was developing several new sectors including I-11 I-12 I-14 I-15 I-16 D-12 and Park Enclave adding that Model Villages and parks were also being developed in those areas a p p

SAP ex tends par tnership with Imtiaz Supermarket for seamless operations

ISLAMABAD: SAP has joined hands with the biggest retail chain, Imtiaz Supermarket for seamless operations of the latter M/s Imtiaz is the biggest retail chain with massive sales and a huge customer base, with almost 14,000 employees, 850K+ customers across Pakistan, and 26 branches across Pakistan While the store started off as a small corner shop, it has grown into a retail giant, earning the title of the fastest-growing retail chain in Pakistan SAP has offered a one-stop solution to Imtiaz Supermarket, where its solutions will cover not just the basis modules like finance, costing, materials management and sales, but will also provide a specialized module for Retail Management as well as integration with the POS and multichannel strategy Asher Zahid, CIO, Imtiaz Supermarket, said on the occasion, “SAP’s one-stop solution has enabled us to take advantage of cost efficiencies, and standardization of service with error-free services, allowing the 26 stores to have an integrated inventory, payroll I N p

NOT-BY- PROFIT W i l l Pa k i s ta n ’ s e c o n o m i c W o e s d e e P e n ?

ISLAMABAD N e W S D e S K

PA k I S TA N ' S e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e s a r e m o u n t i n g a n d i t a p p e a r s t h a t a f r e s h I M F l o a n p r o g r a m i s i n e v i t a b l e Wr i t i n g f o r D a w n k a z i m

A l a m h i g h l i g h t s t h a t a n a l y s t s p r e d i c t that negotiations for the next IMF program will begin shortly after the count r y s O c t o b e r e l e c t i o n s T h e p r i m a r y r e a s o n f o r t h i s f o r e c a s t i s P a k i s t a n s h i g h e x t e r n a l f i n a n c i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s for the next fiscal year The IMF estimates that Islamabad will require $36 6 billion in gross external financing for 2023-24 Given the country's expected current account

deficit of $10 billion the IMF assumes that Pakistan will raise as much as $22 billion from private creditors next year

However experts believe that raising such a considerable amount from private creditors without IMF support will be a daunting task for Pakistan

Yousuf M Farooq, the Head of Research at Topline Securities, states that "It looks very difficult for Pakistan to arrange that much financing from private creditors unless it's under the IMF umbrella That's why I believe another IMF program is unavoidable " The fresh programme will likely be an Extended Fund Facility a lending facility designed to provide financial assistance to coun-

tries facing medium-term balance of payments issues due to structural weaknesses that require time to address Pakistan has a debt crisis looming

The country faces dollar-denominated loan repayments of $73 billion in the next three years amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves In the last seven years, Pakistan has doubled its external borrowings, increasing from $65 billion in 2014-15 (24% of GDP) to $130 billion (40% of GDP) in 2021-22

Of the country s total external public debt of $99 billion multilateral debt accounts for 42% while bilateral debt mainly country-to-country loans accounts for roughly 38% Within the lat-

Y iwu fuels new boom in Pak- C hina trade

BEIJING

I N p

Yiwu, city in China known as the “world supermarket”, export of Pakistan’s specialty products to China fuels new boom in Pak-China trade

“With the inauguration of the Pakistani national pavilion in Yiwu a city in China known as the “world supermarket” export of Pakistan’s specialty products to China and the world will be promoted

We a n t i c i p a t e t h a t m o r e e n t e r p r i s e s w i l l l e a r n about Pakistani products through this window and furthermore invest in Pakistan emphasized Ghulam Qadir Commercial Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing according to a report published by Gwadar Pro

The pavilion displays a range of products including handmade carpets, jewelry, sports goods, rice, Himalayan salt lamps, textiles, handicrafts, dried fruits, and more, all of which are among the featured products exported by Pakistan to China

Cotton yarn grains and mineral sand have long been Pakistan's top three exports to China accounting for approximately 60% 10% and 6% respectively

Yiwu is a vital crossroads for trade between China and Pakistan The city is home to a significant number of Pakistanis and Yiwu China has the highest number of Pakistani registered foreign companies among world cities

Imports and exports between Pakistan and China in Yiwu reached $180 million in the first two months of 2023 a 49 4% year-on-year increase including $11 million in imports a 3 2-fold year-on-year increase

According to the Yiwu Municipal Bureau of Commerce the import and export from Yiwu China to Pakistan in 2022 was $1 057 billion an increase of 81 3% year on year with import amounting to $83 million an increase of 7 6 times year on year

At the Pakistan Economic and Trade Information Sharing Conference held by Yiwu Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Pakistan Purchasers Service Center on Wednesday, the Commercial Counsellor introduced trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan and hoped more enterprises in Yiwu to tap the huge potential of Pakistan, which is predicted to be the 6th largest economy by 2075

Next Canton fair to be bigger: envoy

BEIJING

Although this year Canton fair is the largest ever in history, it is still not at full scale A lot of people from different countries want to come this time It is expected that the 134th Canton Fair in October might be at full scale, Trade and Investment Counsellor, Pakistan Consulate Guangzhou, Muhammad Irfan said “Joining canton fair can get you double effect You can get not only Chinese buyers, but also international buyers from here People here love Pakistani Products 33 % of Pakistan exports are in the five provinces of our consular district We need to focus on this area by branding by improving our quality and by standardizing he said Scheduled from April 15 to May 5 the 133rd China Import and Export Fair also known as Canton Fair was held in Guangzhou China The event has attracted buyers to Guangdong Province from over 220 countries and regions this year About 35 thousand enterprises have set up nearly 70,000 booths, making it the largest-ever Canton Fair in history, China Economic Net (CEN) reported

“Everything here is nice We came here for electronic products Its my first time here at the Canton

Fair The arrangement is good which makes it easy for buyers to buy anything ” said a Yemen buyer

“The Canton fair has gathered everything here so the buyer can save a lot of time on traveling

The price and technologies of the products here are also competitive Thanks to the Chinese organizer to give us such an opportunity his companion from Jordan added The first time that I participated in the Canton fair was in 2015 I am an old participant I have a trading company providing services for customers trying to expand the Middle East market Here you can see a lot of new technologies and new industries ” An Egyptian buyer told us that the last time he participated in the Canton fair was still before the COVID-19 epidemic, and he is looking forward to meeting old factories and new customers at this event

“I think Canton Fair is the biggest fair in the world Here you will find everything you need in the world from needles to heavy machinery

A P akis tani buyer s ugges ted that s uch kind of trading fairs should also be held in Pakistan I come to see engineering-related products used in different industries China has developed a lot The quality s t a n d a r d o f t h e i r p r o d u c t s h a s b e c o m e q u i t e h i g h Here you can get something of European standard at a low price

CM approves Balochistan’s first SME development strategy

QUETTA

S ta f f R e p o R t

Feeders, Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, Chahan, Chontra, Rajar, Chakri, SPD, SPF, Shahigan, Adiala Jail, Shahpur, Khasala Feeders, Jhelum Circle, Domeli Feeder, Attock Circle, Shadi Khan, Shamsabad Feeders and surrounding areas will remain closed IESCO management apologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage If the work is completed ahead of time the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time p R

Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has accorded approval to Balochistan’s first Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development strategy Press Secretary to the CM told media on Sunday The Chief Minister gave this approval on a summary sent by the Department of Industry and Commerce Under the National SME Policy 2021 a Provincial SME Working Group was formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary

The handout said that the working group will facilitate business development in the province by pro-

viding an easy and accessible SME environment Besides, the Group will monitor the implementation of the SME Policy/Strategy It may be recalled that the National SME Policy has been prepared by the Federal Government and the Policy Action Plan is divided into short and medium-term action plans The provincial SME Working Group meeting was held on 05 December 2022 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Balochistan Abdul Aziz Uqaili wherein the technical paper of the SME Development Strategy of Balochistan was discussed During the meeting the provincial working group considered the technical paper establishment of the implementation management structure and other activities

ter category China holds the largest share with Pakistan owing $23 billion

When considering the $6 7 billion in loans from Chinese banks the largest Asian economy is Pakistan s biggest bilateral creditor In conclusion, with high external financing requirements and a debt crisis on the horizon, Pakistan has few options but to seek assistance from the IMF A fresh IMF loan program appears to be unavoidable if Pakistan hopes to address its economic struggles and avoid a potential sovereign default

To read the full article visit www dawn com

Steps taken to deal with transpor ters indulging in overloading, over charging on Eid: DIG NHMP

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police Muhammad Yousuf Malik said on Sunday that the motorway police has taken steps to strictly deal with transporters indulging in overloading and overcharging on the occasion of Eidul Fitr In a statement he said that on the occasion of Eid the traffic pressure on the highway increases due to people going to their native areas In the arrangements orders have been issued to increase the number of personnel establish a special squad and be on high alert to the briefing and patrolling officers present at the toll plazas the DIG said He advised the transporters to avoid overloading and overcharging and follow the traffic rules strictly Otherwise, strict legal action will be taken, he maintained He said that people travelling in private vehicles should ensure that they have complete sleep and rest while driving on the highway because there was a risk of dozing at the wheel on the highway He said that while driving, drivers should focus on the road t should never use a mobile phone and use seat belts and follow traffic rules During the journey they should ensure that the condition of the vehicle was good and that they have extra water and extra tyre and tyre-changing tools present in the vehicle In case of any help the commuters can contact Motorway Police Helpline 130 S ta f f R e p o R t

Float of police with SMD screen educ ates road users about traffic rules

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Capital Police (Traffic) has introduced special measures to ensure discipline on roads and made traffic float more attractive by installing SMD screen on it for creating awareness about traffic rules among road users The special education campaign has been launched following the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan and staff of traffic police is disseminating information about traffic laws Traffic Police float having SMD screen is delivering messages to the road users and special announcements about road safety tips are being made at important boulevards, chowks, commercial centres and main avenues of the city During last 24 hours, the citizens at sectors G-7, G-9, G-10, F-7 and F-10 were educated about traffic rules Chief Traffic Officer Syed Mustafa Tanveer said that national songs are played on SMD screens of float while trained and experienced staff of ITP disseminates messages related to road safety on it It is to mention that citizens were provided awareness about traffic rules related to bike riding, pedestrians rights, driving on round-about, use of seat belts and risks of amateur driving as well as using fancy and non-pattern number plates and use of mobile phones during drive Chief Traffic Officer said the purpose of this campaign was to ensure better traffic discipline through cooperation of citizens and create traffic sense among them Islamabad Capital Police (Traffic) is striving hard for safety of citizens and to overcome the traffic accidents by ensuring safe road environment in the city Special campaign is being run to educate citizens who are appealed to cooperate with traffic police in its efforts for disciplinary traffic system Chief Traffic Officer maintained This initiative of the Islamabad Capital Police is being appreciated by the citizens and it has been appealed to cooperate with traffic police by obeying rules to protect themselves and others from accidents S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistani auto dealers to explore new avenues of collaboration with C hina

ISLAMABAD

Pakistani auto dealers are moving ahead to explore new avenues of collaboration with Chinese companies

In recent years made-in-China products and Chinese brands have begun to become real players and drivers in the global auto industry With the help of China s leading automotive industry communication platform, we can learn about the latest exciting trends in the automotive industry, said Bilal Chaudhary, a Pakistani auto dealer in Gujarat while expressing his excitement to participate in the Automobile show in Shanghai and Chery s Annual Global Dealer Conference according to a report published by Gwadar Pro on Sunday Chery will present its latest products create live experiences and host user-salon co-

creation sessions at the Shanghai International Automotive and Manufacturing Technology Exhibition, one of China’s most authoritative and influential auto shows on April 18

It will coincide with its 2023 Global Dealer Conference which is also the first face-to-face meeting between Chery and its global partners in three years

The conference aims to strengthen Chery s internationalization strategy listen to the needs of the global market and negotiate future development plans with its global partners It also means that Chery will once again accelerate its global marketing strategy

The year 2022 was full of both risks and opportunities Despite numerous uncertainties, such as chip shortages and logistics constraints, the

has consistently impressed Pakistani customers We propose launching more Tiggo models and variants in our region so that customers have more options to choose from The internationally successful Arrizo could be a good project to launch in the Sedan category, Bilal added

B i l a l b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n w i l l p r o v i d e a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r P a ki s t a n i d e a l e r s a n d C h e r y t o r e c o n n e c t , s h a r e i n s i g h t s a n d e x p l o r e n e w w a y s o f w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r

“We will work with nearly 1 000 Chery dealers from Europe South America the Middle East and other regions to closely appreciate Chery new energy products hybrid platforms and other scientific and technological exhibits exchange on industry trends cooperative products and models and bring the advanced concepts back to Pakistan

Another driving force of Bilal s visit to China is the upcoming on-the-spot exchanges with Chinese partners “The Chery team has always been highly professional, responsive and easy to work with Chery may consider investing in training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of our local sales force ” Bilal added

SAT YA PAL’S REVEL ATIONS VINDICATED PAKISTAN’S STANCE ON PULWAMA ATTACK: FO

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

TH E latest revelations made by Satya Pal Malik the so-called former Governor of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), have once again vindicated Pakistan’s stance on the Pulwama Attack of February 2019

His disclosures demonstrate how the Indian leadership has habitually used the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan to advance its sham victimhood narrative and the Hindutva agenda clearly for domestic political gains the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday

The spokesperson further said that Pakistan hoped that the international community would take cognizance of the latest revelations and see through India s propaganda campaign against Pakistan driven by selfish political considerations and based on lies and deceit

India must answer the questions raised in the latest revelations

It is time India be held accountable for the actions that imperiled regional peace in the aftermath of Pulwama attack it was stressed

Pakistan the spokesperson said for its part, would continue to counter India’s false narrative, and act firmly

and responsibly in the face of different provocations

In an interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire Satya Pal Malik the Modi government s former so-called governor of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) painted a damning picture of the PM and his closest advisors Malik, the last so-called governor of IIOJK before it was divided and reduced to Union territory status said Mein safely keh sakta hoon Prime Minister ko corruption se bahut nafrat nahin hain ( I can safely say the PM

has no real problem with corruption ) Malik who was governor during the Pulwama terrorist attack of February 2019 and the scrapping of Article 370 in August that year, said the prime minister was ill-informed and ignorant about Kashmir and told him not to speak about the Union home ministry’s lapses which led to the devastating terrorist attack on soldiers in Pulwama in February 2019

During the interview, Malik revealed that the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama was a result of incompetence by the Indian system and specifically the

CRPF and the home ministry

At the time Rajnath Singh was home minister Malik gave extensive details of how the CRPF had asked for aircraft to transport its jawans but was refused by the Union home ministry

He also spoke of how sanitisation of the route was not done effectively More importantly, he said all of these lapses were raised by him directly when Modi called him from outside Corbett Park shortly after the Pulwama attack

He said the prime minister told him to keep quiet about this and not tell anyone Separately, Malik said that NSA Ajit Doval also told him to keep quiet and not talk about it Malik said he immediately realised that the intention was to put the blame on Pakistan and derive electoral benefit for the government and the BJP Malik also said that there was grave intelligence failure in the Pulwama incident because the car carrying 300 kilograms of RDX explosives had come from Pakistan but was travelling around the roads and villages of IIOJK for 1015 days without being detected and without anyone knowing Malik also gave details of how, when he was governor of J&K, he was approached by the BJP-RSS leader Ram Madhav to clear a hydro-electric scheme and a Reliance insurance scheme

AGP repor t pinpoints PIA admin’s negligence as cause for two ATR aircrafts’ accidents

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

The Auditor General Pakistan (AGP) compiled audit report 2021-22 declared the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s administration responsible for the accidents of two ATR aircrafts

The AGP pinpointed that negligence of the PIA administration caused the accidents of two ATR planes at Gilgit and Karachi airports, causing a huge financial loss of Rs2 796 million to the national airline

It is to be recalled that an ATR plane met an accident at Karachi airport on November 24 2018 causing a financial loss of Rs10 1398 million to the airline while another accident took place at Gilgit airport on July 20 that caused financial loss of over Rs10 1398 to the national airline

According to the audit report different reasons were mentioned for the plane accidents in the investigation report compiled by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) The AGP audit report however blamed negligence of the PIA administration for the accidents

The auditors said that the aviation authority mentioned the reasons for the accidents due to malfunctioning technical equipment required for maintenance, the lack of professionalism in the airline’s maintenance crew failure in the implementation of the SOPs flawed decisions and the role of the first officer

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

After petrol,

goes dearer by Rs10 per kg

In a recent interview with a TV channel, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the deputy chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) defended the policies of his party s government regarding the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) He said that criticism of the decision to hold talks with the banned outfit was unwarranted

Qureshi, who served as the foreign minister in the PTI government claimed that the party had decided to mainstream the TTP fighters as they had to return, but certain conditions were set for the group’s mainstreaming He said the TTP must accept the Constitution of Pakistan and not bring arms from Afghanistan, and that they would have to come to Pakistan, live in peace, and be rehabilitated

Qureshi also said the National Assembly had been

briefed on this matter during an in-camera session

He shifted the blame to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government saying the meetings were attended by everyone, including the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari the then-army chief ISI chief and all others

He further claimed that it had been decided after this meet-

The report also stated that the inquiry conducted by the PIA administration had also mentioned the mistake of the pilot The auditors directed to share the inquiry report and disciplinary action against the responsible officials

PTI forms committee for dialogue to end political impasse

ing that they had to move forward and make a plan of action regarding the return of the Taliban but right after that the PTI s rule was toppled The leadership of the PDM holds the past government responsible for the recent spike in terrorism in the country with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stating that the former government had adopted a policy to “appease”

TTP in January

LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t

Rs186 07 per litre

Traffic collision kills seven police officers in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD t h e a s s o c at e d p r e s s

A head-on traffic collision in Balochistan killed seven police officers who were returning home for the Eid ulFitr holidays, an official said

They died at the scene of the crash on a national highway in Khuzdar city on Saturday night according to police official Fahad Khoso

Khoso said the collision was between the officers vehicle and a truck The seven men had finished a course at a police training college

In a separate incident a shootout in Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa killed two soldiers and eight militants

The army said late Saturday there was an intense exchange of fire between security forces and militants during the raid on a hideout in South Waziristan

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants the army said

The country is seeing a rise in militant attacks since the end of a cease-fire last November between the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government The government said earlier this month it will carry out a massive anti-terrorist operation across the country to counter the wave of violence

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Encouraged by ‘fruitful’ meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has planned holding an all-party conference (APC) after Eidul Fitr on one-point agenda “to hold simultaneous elections across the country ”

On Saturday JI Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq held fruitful meetings with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan with the objective to bring both sides closer for holding talks on the “issue of elections ” Sirajul Haq along with a three-member delegation held separate meetings with PM Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan and urged both parties to sit on the negotiation table

In a statement issued on Sunday, the JI Ameer said his party believes in holding simultaneous elections urging the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and PPP to sacrifice and dissolve national and provincial assemblies

Sirajul Haq also asked institutions to remain ‘neutral’ on election issue “Political parties should sit together and hold dialogue to end the political turmoil damaging the country he stressed Meanwhile, sources claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami will hold separate meetings with political parties after Eidul Fitr over consultation on one-point agenda of holding simultaneous elections

All major political parties including Pakistan People s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will be invited to the proposed All Parties Conference

Meanwhile talking to a private Tv channel JI

Chief Sirajul Haq said that the ultimate objective of the dialogue was to conduct a uniform election with results accepted by all parties He said that JI aimed to reduce bitterness and create a favourable environment for dialogue as the JI chief believed that it s crucial to establish the rules of the game

Answering the question about the date of the election, he said, they have made just initial contacts for dialogue while neither the government nor PTI set any conditions in that regard he added

On the question of the way forward and agenda of the All Parties Conference (APC), he said that right now, they were trying to reduce polarization and after that, the rest of the issues would be discussed

Later Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) constituted a three-member committee to hold dialogue on the ongoing political crisis in the country The three-member committee includes: Pervaiz Khattak, Ejaz Chaudhary and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed

PPP STARTS GRAND DIALOGUE: Recently

Pakistan People s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has formed a committee to engage with allies in the coalition government to reach a consensus on dialogue with all political parties

The three-member committee includes former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and SAPM Qamar Zaman Kaira

The development came after former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman

Asif Ali Zardari urged Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to hold talks with opposition party –Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that the nation cannot afford any odd situation

PM authorises major crackdown on sugar smuggling, hoarding

monitor the situation in order to control the price of sugar in the province

He said the provincial government should devise a method to provide at a standard price the sugar confiscated from smugglers and hoarders

The prime minister also instructed the chief minister Punjab to hold a meeting with sugar mills owners for taking steps with them to stop the prices of sugar from rising

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party has formed a three-member committee including former ministers Pervaiz Khattak Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mehmood ur-Rasheed to engage in a dialogue with Jamaat-i-Islami on the political crisis in the country

This development comes after Siraj ul-Haq, leader of the religious group, launched a “consensus offensive” aimed at bringing the government and opposition closer announced Asad Umar secretary general of the party Haq recently met with former prime minister Imran Khan and his successor Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore, where he suggested the creation of a committee to develop a larger consensus for holding elections in Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eventually the whole country Khan has accused the government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition of trying to get him out of the way to contest the elections after thousands of his supporters have been picked up from across the country Elections in Punjab as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due on May 14 were announced after the dissolution of the parliaments of both provinces which together account for 70 percent of the nation’s population

The two assemblies were governed by PTI Khan had called for their dissolution in a bid to force early national elections in Pakistan which are scheduled for October The government of Sharif has dismissed the demand, saying the vote will take place as scheduled later in the year

During the meetings both Sharif and Khan appreciated Haq s efforts and assured him of their full cooperation

They agreed that elections were the way forward to pull the country out of prevailing economic, political, and constitutional crises Reports citing sources within Jamaat have also revealed that Haq plans to meet with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari after Eid ul-Fitr and is hopeful for a breakthrough in the next two weeks

Haq is committed to bringing all parties to the negotiating table and finding a solution to the political crisis

will take action against those who are causing difficulties for the people

He instructed Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi to take effective steps and

He also held a meeting on the issue last week in Islamabad and measures taken by him brought the price of sugar to Rs 92 per kilogram

JI likely to hold APC on ‘simultaneous elec tions’ in countr y after Eid