“Miftah Sahib, i was kind to you in my presser but, you stooped to a new low by getting personal and calling names. Shame on you. Our economic performance is well documented in your own economic survey. And your disastrous handling of the economy with the highest ever inflation,” wrote Tarin. “discount rate, Lowest rupee value,r/s 9.7 trn debt in 4 months, crippling power and gas tariffs, food prices before floods, should be a case study in ineptitude. Fiscal deficit was rs2.5 trn in our 9 mths and rs2.6trn in your 3 mths,” he added.
TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani in a statement on Sunday claimed that Pakistani government made no efforts to make the negotiations successful “so it is not possible to continue the ceasefire”.
Tarin, MifTah exchange barbs as econoMic MelTdown goes unabaTed
The reasons cited by the TTP for ending the ceasefire include non-release of prisoners, continued military operations and lack of communication from the government of Pakistan. Moreover, the militants claimed that the government released some of their prisoners but re-arrested them “in violation of the agreement”.
The talks between Pakistan and the outlawed TTP had reached a deadlock as the militant group refused to budge from its demand for the reversal of the merger of erstwhile FATA with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. There has also been a stalemate over the issue of TTP laying down their arms in case of a peace deal, which would enable them to return to their homeland.
Last month, sources familiar with the development had revealed that there had been a series of meetings between the two sides in recent weeks to break the impasse yet there had been no breakthrough made thus far.
“But no progress has been made during these negotiations. Therefore, the armed struggle will continue and if the negotiations are successful, the future course of action will be announced later,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 Accusing govt of accord breach, TTP ends ceasefire’‘indefinite
On the announcement of the end of the ceasefire, TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali said that they had never refused meaningful negotiations and it is a part of Sharia law.
ISLAMABAD MiAn AbrAr a Ta time when country is faced with worst crises of its history, top financial gurus of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTi) on Saturday exchanged barbs and blamed each other for the economic meltdown, reflecting the growing political temperature. Taking to social media blogging site, Twitter, former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin blamed Finance Minister Miftah ismail for using objectionable language against him in his media interaction earlier in the day in Karachi.
g MiFTAh SAhiB, i WAS KiNd TO yOu iN My PreSSer BuT, yOu STOOPed TO A NeW LOW: TAriN g ‘NATiON FOrgiveWON’TyOu’: MiFTAh
“Their top leadership had said that the iMF agreement should be torn and called it an attack on the sovereignty. But we never called them traitors, instead, we took it as political discourse.” expressing disappointment at the accusations of being a traitor, Tarin said that it was high time all the political parties, including the PTi, moved past it. “in a democracy, you have the freedom to voice both agreement and dissent.We have a disaster in front of us and it calls for us to unite and fight it together,” he said and advised the government to provide relief to the people in these testing times. “i am seeing that our common folk will see more burden in the upcoming days because they [the government] will increase taxes and it will have a ripple effect […] and the reason is that they have accepted iMF’s special conditionalities,” he pointed out, citing increasing inflation and appreciating dollar.
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced an end to the months-long “indefinite ceasefire”, accusing the government of beaching the agreement brokered by the Afghan Taliban.
“Subsidies were rs575bn in our 9 mths and additional rs1575bn in your 3 mths. People of Pakistan will not get impressed with your bluster. i could see frustration on your face. Packup and go home,” said Tarin. earlier in the day, Shaukat Tarin urged the government to renegotiate and seek relief from the international Monetary Fund (iMF) in the wake of disastrous floods, as he called it out for “leaking” the audios attributed to him regarding the programme. Tarin’s presser was met with a scathing response from his successor Miftah ismail later. On Monday, two audio clips surfaced via Tv channels and social media in which a man said to be Tarin can be heard guiding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab’s finance ministers to tell the federal government and the iMF that they would not be able to commit to a provincial budget surplus in light of the recent floods that have wreaked havoc in Pakistan. Last week, KP Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra had written a letter to the Ministry of Finance conveying his administration’s inability to provide a provincial surplus this year. The audios triggered criticism against the PTi as the ruling coalition alleged that they were nothing but a conspiracy to derail the state’s deal with the global lender. Later, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that a forensic audit of the leaks would be conducted. Tarin claimed that those who leaked the tapes mere hours before the iMF board meeting were the people who “wanted to jeopardize the deal”. “Who leaked the tapes? We did not. We didn’t make the tapes, so how would we leak them,” he argued. “So were we jeopardising the programme or were you, by leaking the audios? you could have done it on Tuesday or later on. Why did you do it just before the meeting?” Tarin claimed that the real problem would have arrived if the iMF would have heard the tapes. “Although it wouldn’t have affected the programme because the surpluses from provinces are in the form of an Mou (memorandum of understanding),” he asserted. elaborating on the matter, Tarin said that the PTi’s aim behind writing the letter was to spend money on the provinces — in the light of the floods. “So that we could go and tell them to give us relief the way they did during Covid-19. “We believe in the well-being of the country,” the PTi leader said. he recalled that in January when the previous government was going to the global lender for the sixth review, it had faced massive criticism from the opposition.
Sunday, 4 September, 2022 I 7 Safar, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 66 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PESHAWAR Agencies
LAHORE: A nomadic child enjoys a bath from hand-pump near Band Road. photo by zubaiR Mehfooz ISLAMABAD app Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday said Imran Khan wanted to save his skin in corruption cases by spreading anarchy in the country. “Imran Khan has launched Tehreek-e-fasad (movement to spread anarchy) to save himself in the corruption cases,” the minister said in a news statement while reacting to the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf chairman’s address to a public gathering in Bahawalpur.Thepeople were facing flash floods, but Imran Khan did only think about himself and his politics, she added. The minister said Imran Khan seemed to be obsessed with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz during his visit to the South Punjab. Instead of announcing any relief for the flood affectees, Imran Khan only did politicking during his visit to the South Punjab which was under water, she added. She said Imran Khan wanted to introduce a system in the country which could help him avenge his political Marriyumopponents.saidthe coalition government had foiled Imran Khan’s conspiracy to turn Pakistan into Sri Lanka. The country was witnessing economic and political stability by the grace of Allah Almighty.
The 2011 killing in northern Pakistan by US forces of top terror suspect Osama bin Laden — who had taken refuge near a military complex — caused deep rifts between Islamabad and Washington. But since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan one year ago, the United States has sought to strengthen ties. Monsoon rains have submerged a third of Pakistan, claiming over 1,200 lives since June and unleashing powerful floods that have washed away swathes of vital crops and damaged or destroyed more than a million homes.
WASHINGTON afp
‘We’ve gone back 50 years’: farmers count damage from devastating floods
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt
sunday, 4 september, 2022 IsLAMABAD 02 news ISLAMABAD/KARACHI ReuteRS t HEarmy rescued a further 2,000 people stranded by rising floodwaters, they said, while the nation’s best-known charity warned that only a small fraction of millions affected by the floods had been reached so far. Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains brought floods that have killed at least 1,208 people, including 416 children, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said. The inundation, blamed on climate change, has swamped about a third of the nation and is still spreading. “90 percent of people are still awaiting any kind of assistance; the situation is serious, people are starving,” the head of the Edhi Foundation charity, Faisal Edhi, told reporters on Friday. Edhi, who has spent the last nine days in the flood-hit areas, described the situation as grim and called on the government to lift a years-old ban on some international NGOs it had accused of “anti-state activities”. “The situation is very bad, and it seems it will worsen,” he said. Pakistan is struggling to respond to the floods given their unprecedented magnitude. The government has said 33 million people — 15 percent of its population — have been affected. The United Nations has appealed for $160 million in aid to help tackle what it said was an “unprecedented climate catastrophe” as Pakistan Navy has fanned out inland to carry out relief operations in areas that resemble a sea. The UN children’s agency UNICEF said on Friday many more children could die from the disease. “There is now a high risk of water-borne, deadly diseases spreading rapidly — diarrhoea, cholera, dengue, malaria,” UNICEF Pakistan Representative Abdullah Fadil told a Geneva press briefing. “There is, therefore, a risk of many more child deaths,” he said. In the Dadu district of Sindh, one of the worst-affected provinces, several villages were under as much as 11 feet (3.35 m) of water, according to Bashir Khan, a local resident who is in contact with people remaining in the area.
Five awarded 43-year prison term in Quetta youth lynching
PDMA predicts heavy rains in Malakand, Hazara regions
QUETTA Staff RepoRt
The United States is conducting a military aid mission to flood-devastated Pakistan, the US armed forces’ Central Command said. “CENTCOM is sending an assessment team to Islamabad to determine what potential support DoD (the US Department of Defense) can provide (…) as part of the United States’ assistance to the flooding crisis in Pakistan,” spokesman Col. Joe Buccino said in a statement. The decision followed a telephone conversation between CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the spokesman said. The United States is the top arms supplier to Pakistan, but relations between the two countries are often rocky.
Imran wants to save his skin by spreading anarchy: Marriyum
Imran stresses more dams, drainage system to avoid floods
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Saturday said the nation was generously contributing to the Army Flood Relief Fund as Rs417 million were collected in the fund so far for the flood victims while Rs44 million were collected during the past 24 hours. Addressing a joint media briefing flanked by the Federal Minister for planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Akhter Nawaz and National Coordinator National Flood Response and Coordination Centre (NFRCC), the ISPR DG briefed the media on the Relief and Rescue Activities of the Pakistan Army in the flood affected areas. Major General Babar Iftikhar said since the beginning of the crisis caused by the recent monsoon rains, the Armed Forces were working day and night in the affected areas for the last 2 months to help their brothers and sisters. “Every soldier and officer of the Pakistan Army is trying to reduce the problems of the people by considering it as a sacred obligation rather than a duty,” he said. He continued, “This was the spirit under which Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali, Major General Amjad Hanif, Brigadier Muhammad Khalid, Major Saeed Ahmed, Major Muhammad Talha Manan and Naik Mudassar Fayyaz helped their flood-affected brothers and sisters in Lasbela (Winder) area of Balochistan last month and embraced martyrdom in a helicopter accident during the relief activities.” In the Corps Commanders’ Conference held in July and August, it was also resolved to provide all possible help to the flood victims and the Army Chief gave special instructions in this regard, he told the media. According to the Army Chief’s instructions, he said the Armed Forces would not leave the people alone in this difficult time, “no matter how much time and effort it takes”. At the Army level, he informed that the Army Flood Relief Coordination Center was established under the leadership of Commander Army Air Defence Command who was also performing the duties of National Coordinator of National Flood Response and Coordination Centre. “Under the RRR Strategy i.e. Relief, Rescue & Rehabilitation, Pakistan Army is serving under a comprehensive strategy along with Civil Administration, Disaster Management Authority and other welfare institutions.” General Babar said the Army Chief had made detailed visits to the flood-affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab and reviewed the ongoing relief operations on ground. However, all formations and senior commanders of Pakistan Army were present in the flood affected areas and were engaged in relief operations, he added. The helicopters of Pakistan Army Aviation were continuously engaged in rescue & relief activities in the affected areas, he said, adding, “So far 276 helicopter sorties have been operated in different areas.
The navy airlifted more than 150 people from villages in Dadu on Thursday, it said in a statement. On Friday, the military said it had evacuated about 50,000 people, including 1,000 by air, since rescue efforts began. “During the last 24 hours, 1,991 stranded individuals have been evacuated,” the armed forces said in a statement, adding that nearly 163 tonnes of relief supplies had also been delivered to the flood-affected. Several humanitarian relief flights are set to arrive on Friday from Middle Eastern nations such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Foreign Office said. Weather officials predict more rains and flash flooding in September, with southern regions bracing for a surge of water from the IndusSindhriver.has asked relief camps to deploy additional female doctors and medical officers, to ensure adequate care as more pregnant women and young mothers are displaced by the waters. Pakistan received nearly 190 percent more rain than its 30-year average in the quarter from June to August, totalling 390.7mm (15.38 inches). The Pakistan country director for the UN World Food Programme Chris Kaye said the floods were also likely to disrupt relief work in neighbouring Afghanistan, given the country’s role as a key transit route.
PESHAWAR afp Farmers are still counting their losses from the devastating floods that have put a third of the country under water, but the long-term impact is already clear. “We have gone back 50 years,” said Ashraf Ali Bhanbro, a farmer in Sindh whose 2,500 acres of cotton and sugarcane — on the verge of being harvested — have now been wiped out. More than 33 million people have been affected by the floods caused by record monsoon rains, and Sindh is one of the worst-hit areas. The province is bisected by the mighty Indus River, along whose banks farming has flourished for millennia with records of irrigation systems dating back to 4,000 BC. Sindh’s problems are two-fold. The province was drenched by record rains locally, but that water has nowhere to drain because the Indus is already at full flow, swollen by tributaries in the north, and has burst its banks in several places. “At one stage it rained continuously for 72 hours,” said Bhanbro, adding he has lost at least Rs270 million on inputs alone. “That was the cost incurred on fertilisers and pesticides … we don’t include profit, which might have been much higher as it was a bumper crop.” Unless flooded farmlands can be drained, farmers like Bhanbro will not be able to plant a winter wheat crop — vital for the country’s food security. “We have one month. If water is not discharged in that period, there will be no wheat,” he said at his farm in Sammu Khan village, around 40 kilometres northeast of Sukkur.
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday informed that monsoon currents are penetrating into the region, which may result in heavy rainfall in Malakand and Hazara divisions from Sep 4-7. A notification issued here while quoting the Regional Met Office has said that thunderstorms with isolated heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds will occur in Mardan and Peshawar divisions from Sep 4-6. Similarly, the districts including Kohat, Bannu and DIKhan will receive thunderstorms with moderate rainfall from Sep 5-6. The impacts of forecast triggered flash flooding in local nullahs, land-sliding in hilly areas and may also cause urban flooding in some major cities of the province. PDMA has directed the district administration to take precautionary measures to avoid human losses and infrastructure damages. Furthermore, other concerned authorities have also been directed to ensure availability of all emergency services including manpower and machineries.
US military deadlyassessmentsendingteamamidfloods
Nine PML-N leaders granted interim bail in PA ruckus case
An additional district and sessions court here on Saturday granted interim bail to nine PML-N lawmakers including Rana Mashhood. Another PMLN leader Attaullah Tarar secured his bail on Friday. It is to be noted that the Punjab, led PTI-PML-Q, has lodged cases against PML-N lawmakers over the uproar in the Punjab Assembly in April during the election of the chief minister. On Saturday, PML-N lawmakers including: Mashood, Saiful Malook, Rukhsana, Mirza Javed, Mian Rauf, Malik Habib, Awais Leghari, Khizer Khagga and Raja Sagher were granted interim bail until September 14, against the surety bonds of Rs50,000 each. The court directed the lawmakers to appear before police officers investigating the case. Speaking to reporters outside the court, Rana Mashhood said that Pakistan was hit by massive flood but the Punjab government is occupied with political witch-hunt. He said that the central government was trying to provide relief to flood victims.
AiD groUPS WArN oF groWiNg PLigHt iN FLooD - Hit PAkiStAN
LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday visited flood-hit areas in Rojhan city of Rajanpur district and again reiterated the need for improving drainage system and building more dams in the Speakingcountry.after meeting flood affectees and reviewing arrangements for them in Rojhan, Khan said that if there would have been two dams in the city, the devastation from floods could have been minimized.“Weneed to build dams for storing water but Wapda unfortunately only invests in reservoirs that produces electricity,” he said, adding that improved drainage system was also need of the hour for the proper release of flood water. He said that floods have devastated the country and thousands of acres of agricultural land is now under water. “PDMA should now actively play its role to assess the losses of infrastructure and harvest so that proper rehabilitation could be carried out keeping in view the data,” he said. Imran Khan asked the PTI lawmakers to stay among the flood affectees in their respective areas so that their needs could be catered on immediate basis. “I know the people in flood-hit areas are in distress but once these areas are de-watered, it will increase harvest in their area,” Khan said.
02-03 NEWS 4 SEPTEMBER_Layout 1 9/4/2022 1:06 AM Page 1
A local court in Quetta awarded 43 years of rigorous imprisonment to five accused each for the murder of Bilal Noorzai, a young man from Kharotabad area of the provincial capital. Bilal Noorzai was brutally lynched to death in May 2020 in Quetta’s Hazara Town. Asadullah Khan Kakar, the additional district and sessions judge announced the verdict on Saturday. The judge also sentenced four other accused involved in the cold-blooded murder of the young man to 10 years each. Police shifted all accused to district jail Quetta after the announcement of the judgement. Bilal Noorzai’s murder had sparked protests in Quetta and the angry protesters had blocked the Red Zone of the city to mount pressure on the government to arrest the culprits. The former chief minister, Jam Kamal Khan had ordered the formation of a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) to probe the killing of the young man. The JIT presented itsreport to the provincial government and held the accused responsible for the murder of Noorzai.
Army flood relief fund receives Rs417 million so far: DG ISPR
“My house is underwater, I left my place four days ago with my family,” he told Reuters. In neighbouring Mehar, residents were building a dike in an attempt to prevent floodwaters from entering the town, he said.
03news sunday, 4 september, 2022 IsLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
PM PrAIses AutHorItIes for restorINg servIces IN flooDHIt AreAs: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday appreciated all the relevant authorities for making efforts to restore the essential services in the floodaffected areas across the country. On his Twitter handle, the Prime Minister said that despite of the heaviest odds, all the concerned departments including National Highway Authority (NHA), power distribution and supply companies, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other federal departments had done ‘amazing work’ by largely rehabilitated the damaged infrastructure.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt o Nthe directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the administration is working on war-footing to restore electricity in flood-hit areas across the country. PM Shehbaz himself is monitoring the work of power restoration in areas hit by large-scale deluges and the authorities will report him about the progress on work on daily basis. All the high-ups in power division have been directed to accelerate efforts in this regard. The distribution companies have so far restored power supply from 46 grid stations out of 81 grid stations.
Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has assured all-out support for flood-affected people in Pakistan. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities had contacted Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and pledged 20 aircrafts carrying relief items for flood victims. China has also remained a steadfast partner in supporting Pakistan during the worst-hit floods and recently two Chinese planes carrying flood relief items reached Karachi. According to a statement issued by a CAA spokesperson, two planes filled with flood-relief items reached the Jinnah International Airport Karachi on Wednesday.
Fazl collectiveunderscoresefforts to deal with post-flood situation
Four planeloads of relief goods from UAE and Qatar arrived on Saturday to help flood victims in Pakistan. The planes carrying relief goods have arrived at Jinnah International Airport Karachi from Doha and UAE while the latter has also provided a field hospital to deal with the water-borne diseases among the victims. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed relief goods from the friendly Muslim countries. Pakistan is receiving flood relief goods globally, especially from Qatar, UAE, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. United
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Four planeloads of relief goods from UAE, Qatar arrive in Karachi PM briefs Sri Lankan President on floods in Pakistan
karachi by-polls: ECP asks Sindh igP to reverse cops transfers
19 people in the city of around 200,000 are confirmed to have died in the flooding, including children, according to the city’s deputy commissioner, while local hospitals reported many more were sick or injured.
Nadra relaxes CNiC expiry date for flood affectees
British High Commissioner Christian Turner Saturday visited flood-hit villages in Nowshera, where a UK Charity Islamic Relief is providing lifesaving aid to flood-affected people. HC Dr Turner also visited village Kakol Abad where he met with the affected communities. Expressing sorrow at the losses incurred during the flooding, he assured that the UK continued support, said a spokesperson for the British High Commission in Islamabad. Talking to the media, the British HC said: “The people I have met today are strong and will rebuild. But they need urgent support with water, sanitation, and shelter. The UK is helping provide that. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”
DI KHAN: Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday stressed the need for collective efforts to deal with situation aroused after the recent record floods and heavy rains, which caused widespread destruction to the infrastructure of the country. Talking to media here at Nizami House, he said the whole nation was passing through mental agony due to the loss of lives and property caused by the recent floods. He lauded the services of all JUI-F organizations regarding the relief activities in flood-hit areas, saying the workers of his party were active at union council level and extending relief to the flood victims as a movement. He said the tough and very important phase of rehabilitation of flood victims has yet to come. On this occasion, Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood, Parliamentary Leader of JUI-F in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Engineer Ziaur Rahman, Maulana Obaidur Rahman, JUIF’s former candidate for City Mayor in Tehsil Dera Kafeel Ahmed Nizami, well-known Businessmen Haji Nizamuddin, Haji Imam Deen and other representatives of trade unions were also present. Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe here on Saturday and discussed matters of mutual interest. President Wickremesinghe offered sympathies on the widespread devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan and condoled with Prime Minister Sharif on the loss of lives. He expressed solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan braving the unforeseen natural calamity withPrimeresolve.Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Wickremesinghe for his compassion and expression of support in these testing times and briefed him on the large-scale destruction caused across Pakistan by unprecedented rainfall resulting in floods and landslides. The prime minister highlighted that the floods had caused extensive loss of human lives, livelihoods, livestock, crops, property, and critical infrastructure. He also apprised President Wickremesinghe of the government’s well-coordinated humanitarian response including the establishment of a Relief Fund in which people in Pakistan and overseas could donate to the flood relief efforts. He reiterated the need for enhanced awareness in the international community about the scale of the floods which had deluged one-third of the country.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
In Khan’s neighbourhood in the east of the city, houses have been badly damaged. On Thursday, she said she heard cries from a neighbour’s house when the roof collapsed from water damage, killing their nine-year-old son.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police to withdraw transfers of police officers from Karachi constituencies where by-elections are scheduled for September 25. The Sindh Election Commissioner has sent a communique to the Sindh IG Police, informing him that there is a ban on transfer and postings in three constituencies of National Assembly in Karachi: including NA-239, NA-246, and NA-237. It said that SSP Shabbir Ahmed, SP Muhammad Imran were transferred despite a ban and therefore their transfers should be withdrawn immediately. It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh government transferred SSP District South Shabbir Ahmed to Larkana while SP South Muhammad Imran was also posted outside Karachi. Recently, the Election Commission of Pakistan decided to postpone local government elections in Karachi after receiving inputs from the Sindh government. The decision was taken by the chief election commissioner citing reports received from the election commissioner Sindh and district administration. However, the by-elections on 11 constituencies across the country including three in Karachi will go on as usual on September 25 and the ECP has not yet decided to postpone the by-polls.
Jacobabad, world’s hottest city, now under water
At Nowshera relief camp, HC reaffirms UK’s commitment to support Pakistan
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
PM ProDS DiSCoS to rEStorE PoWEr SUPPLy oN WAr - FootiNg iN FLooD - Hit ArEAS
02-03 NEWS 4 SEPTEMBER_Layout 1 9/4/2022 1:06 AM Page 2
On the directions of Premier Shehbaz, the contact numbers of Discos’ chief executives and information about power division website have been given in the newspapers.Inhis tweet today, Prime Minister Shehbaz wrote: “A massive national effort is underway to restore essential services in the flood-hit areas. NHA, DISCOs, PTA & other federal departments have done amazing work against the heaviest of odds & largely rehabilitated the damaged infrastructure. My appreciation for all public servants.” According to details, initially, a total of 881 feeders of 11 KV power had been affected during the monsoon rains and floods affecting supply to about 975,000 consumers, however, 475 feeders had been restored, with power being supplied to 70600 consumers. To avoid power electrocution incidents, work on 35 grid stations in the flood-affected areas had not commenced yet. These included; 25 grid stations in Balochistan, 5 in Sindh, 5 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two transmission line of 220 KV of National Transmission and Dispatch Company had been affected from Sibi to Quetta and from Dadu to Khuzdar. The work on Dadu to Khuzdar transmission lines would be completed which would restore 300 MW power supply in the affected areas whereas the work on Dadu to Khuzdar would be completed by September 10. Flood water had damaged 10 towers in these areas. The restoration work was also in progress from Sibi to Mach transmission line. Two supply lines of Peshawar Electric Supply Company from Chakdarra to Barikot and from Swat to Matta would be restored till September 10 whereas Madyan power grid station would be restored with power supply from Daral Khwar power generation plant. In Sindh province, 5 grid stations and 2 grid stations in Balochistan had been still inundated under 3-4 feet of flood water and the power in these stations would be restored with the recession of flood water.
Accompanied by Islamic Relief Worldwide’s CEO Waseem Ahmad and Islamic Relief Pakistan’s Country Director Asif Sherazi, the UK HC witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the climate catastrophe. Expressing solidarity with the people at the camp, Dr Turner reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Pakistan and observed the community’s challenges and efforts to support those affected. He visited Nowshera, days after the UK announced an additional £15 million to help affected communities. This money will be spent for urgent lifesaving support and will go towards water and sanitation, shelter and home repairs, and primary healthcare, especially for women and girls. On the occasion, Islamic Relief Country Director Asif Sherazi also talked with media and said “the situation is worsening with every passing day and in terms of damages, it is surpassing the floods of 2010.
Many of her students are unlikely to return to school for months, having already lost class time during the brutal summer heatwave. “Jacobabad is the hottest city in the world, there are so many challenges … before people had heatstroke, now people have lost their homes, almost everything (in the flood), they have become homeless,” she told Reuters.
JACOBABAD ReuteRS Not long ago, Sara Khan, principal at a school for disadvantaged girls in Jacobabad, looked on in alarm as some students passed out from the heat — the city was the world’s hottest at one point in May. Now, after heavy monsoon rains submerged large parts of the country, her classrooms are flooded and many of the 200 students homeless, struggling to get enough food and caring for injured relatives. Such extreme weather events in a short space of time have caused havoc across the country, killing hundreds of people, cutting off communities, wrecking homes and infrastructure and raising concerns over health and food security. Jacobabad has not been spared. In May, temperatures topped 50 Celsius, drying up canal beds and causing some residents to collapse from heatstroke. Today, parts of the city are underwater, though flooding has receded from its peak.
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Saturday relaxed National Identity Card (CNIC) expiry date for flood-affected people. Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik said that all those people whose NICs expired after May 1 are able to use their NICs till December 31st. Nadra took this decision keeping in view the devastating floods that wreaked havoc and killed over 1,200 people from north to south in the country.
“A massive national effort is underway to restore essential services in the flood-hit areas. NHA, DISCOs, PTA & other federal departments have done amazing work against the heaviest of odds & largely rehabilitated the damaged infrastructure. My appreciation for all public servants,” he posted a tweet. The prime minister in a related tweet also lauded the efforts of Chairman NHA Khurram Agha and DG Frontier Works Organization (FWO) Major General Kamal Azfar and his teams for reopening of the all the major highways including Karakorum Highway in the shortest period of time.
KARACHI Staff RepoRt
DC urges promotion of female entrepreneurship
Charlie Hebdo and Other Poems is
(Col. (R) Ghulam Sarwar) ‘Ejaz Rahim has evolved his own theory of poetry. According to his thinking, a short poem is a mysterious entity which lies hidden between the fingers of the writer. A short poem flies though the air and comes into being through the writer’s pen. In his earlier writings, Ejaz Rahim had the view that the poem lies within the poet, and longs for its being while externalizing itself in words.’ (Prof. Gilani Kamran) ‘Mr. Rahim’s poem I, Confucius reflects the vitality of Asia’s past, along with respect for Confucian learning. Confucian teaching seeks to provide grounds for stimulating individuals to foster in themselves the ability to act with keen moral and political acumen — along with the ability to foster the key Confucian values of ren, translated commonly as benevolence, goodness, humanity, human-heartedness/humanity or as authoritative person or human becoming.’ (Jocelyn Marinescu, PhD)
Ejaz Rahim’s latest poetic collection comprising 88 poems on a vast variety of subjects enclosing the harsh existentialistic realities of our times apart from some vital abstractions like truth, love, friendship, hope, folly, wisdom, hubris, and logical positivism. In his ‘Preface’ to the book, Ejaz Rahim poses a valid question as to the evaluation of literature: ‘Do values matter in the realm of literary appraisal?’ His answer is that ‘values matter because Art, Literature and Poetry are significant sources of wisdom for the benefit of the human race. Viewed in this context, the poems in the collection exemplify the poet’s innate urge to coalesce ethics, philosophy and science with art, literature and poetry into an organic entity as opposed to the one that is ‘propagandist or instrumental’.
SyED AfSAR SAjID Ejaz Rahim, a versatile English poet and critic is an international literary celebrity, with his moorings in the native soil. He has some 26 books of poetry and prose to his credit. His credentials as an eminent poet of English have been recognized at global level, the University of Toledo (US) taking the lead in holding a series of literary symposia in his honour at its campus with Ejaz Rahim as a special guest. Here are some excerpts from acclaimed critics and connoisseurs of the literary art that highlight his literary calibre and ‘Ejazcontemporaneity.Rahimisaveryhumble person in spite of his extraordinary academic and distinguished civil service career. His humility is the result of his search for good education and human excellence by his heroes like Iqbal to serve the cause of the eradication of poverty and ignorance. He is one of the little Davids who are fighting the many-faced Goliath in our troubled times.’ (Prof. Dr. Anwar Dil) ‘The themes of his poetry are rooted in contemporaneity as life in its kaleidoscopic enormity happens to be its warp and woof. His perception of life, far from being dreamy or hallucinatory, is founded on humanism whose fountain lies in anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, egalitarianism and ethics — romantic love in its earthly form excluding which reflects the poet’s predilection for objectivity.’ (Syed Afsar Sajid) ‘The absence of love from our lives in Ejaz’s vision, lies at the root of all our distortions and deprivations. He sees love in all its facets, ranging from the personal to the universal and the cosmic.’ (Nazie Rahim) ‘With him (Ejaz Rahim) poetry is a device to reveal the hidden side of life and for him the revelation is brought home to the reader not so much by fighting the curtain that hides the mystery of life as by illuminating the curtain itself. By so doing, we begin to see not only the curtain itself, but the image of reality that is printed upon it.’
Author: Ejaz Rahim
ISLAMABAD INp After experiencing torrential rains, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being pummeled by floods as the gushing waters are leaving a trail of destruction behind them. The 1,982-foot deep Khanpur Dam, which has reached full capacity, is expected to receive more inflow during the day. The administration opened its spillways to let the peak pass without causing damage to the dam and the adjoining areas. Besides this, the Tarnawa Bridge was also closed for traffic from both sides. The city’s assistant commissioner has directed the motorists not to use the motorway between 9 am and 12 pm for travelling to Khanpur Taxila. Baro drain will also experience a low-level flood today.In Qambar, the flood situation has worsened. In the Ghar Wah drain, breaches measuring 100 to 150 feet long occurred at several places. In Gaji Kharo city, a dyke was broken near Achii Mosque and the flood water entered the houses. The inundated city was cut off from other cities. The city administration could not be seen anywhere and people were stranded over there waiting for help. A peak of water coming from Balochistan is heading to Sarh Hamal Lake from Zero Point at Qambar Shahdadkot. On the other hand, the water level goes another 2 feet up in Khairpur Nathan Shah. The whole area presents a picture of a large river. The rural health centre of Babo Saeed Khan was also submerged in flood water. People were stuck in many villages. Many areas in Tehsil Dorr were deluged.
Consignments of onions, tomatoes from Afghanistan, Iran reach Karachi market
MIRPUR Staff RepoRt Local residents in Azad Kashmir city of Mirpur have killed a 15-foot-long python when it tried to swallow a goat. According to media reports, the python appeared in Chittarparri, a suburban area of Mirpur city and tried to eat up a goat. The locals spotted the python’s action and beat it to death with batons. The news spread like a jungle fire in the city and a large number of people gathered at the scene to see the python. They also took selfies with the dead snake. There have also been incidents in the past of pythons appearing in the area which were caught by the locals and handed over to wildlife officers.
MUZAFFARGARH: Deputy Commissioner Ali Anan Qamar has said facilitating young girls in receiving an education is the responsibility of both the parents and society so they could be become self-dependent and play role in the economy. He expressed these views at an event organised by the Literacy Department and National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) at Zila Council Hall on Saturday in connection with World Literacy Day which falls on September 8. He cited the example of Bangladesh’s progress where women entrepreneurs played a key role in economic development. He said literacy was needed for every individual to eradicate poverty. He said every person needed to learn how to write and read. Qamar lamented the trend of child marriages, saying such menaces could be fought only through education. He said women entrepreneurs were full of talent and promoting them was the key focus of the district administration so that they could increase exports and play a more effective role in the economic development of the country. Scores of teachers, students and civil society representatives participated in the vent. Qamar said Pakistan had a 6o percent literacy rate and luckily Muzaffargarh district had a better enrollment of students in the past few years. Staff RepoRt
04 NEWS 4 ISLAMABAD_Layout 1 9/4/2022 12:19 AM Page 1
Khanpur Dam spillways opened to avert destruction
KARACHI Staff RepoRt
It is pertinent to mention here that the annual inflation rate in the country, after a 1.31% weekly increase, reached a historic high of 46.10%, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed. According to the PBS data, the weekly inflation rate in the country in the last week was 1.31%. Prices of 31 essential items increased in the last week while prices of three items fell in the last week, PBS data shows.The data showed that the price of onion increased dramatically as a result of devastating floods in the country, the price went up by Rs51.52 in the last week. While the price of tomatoes went up by Rs20.87, it added. The PBS Weekly Inflation report shows an increase of Rs17.21 in Moong pulse prices while Chickpea pulse went up by Rs6.76. Potatoes increased by Rs4.55, eggs by Rs8.39 per dozen while the price of chicken went up by Rs8.91, it added. The price for Liquid Petroleum Gas cylinder increased by Rs118.63 in the last week while a 20 kg bag of four went up by Rs18.33. The prices for garlic, milk, yoghurt and sugar also went up in the last week. However, the price for a 2.5kg box of cooking oil dropped by Rs5.81 and Masoor pulse by Rs0.10. While the price of 17 essential items remained unstable.
‘Ejaz Rahim’s Poems – Views and Reviews: Verse and its revaluation’
LAHORE Staff RepoRt As many as four deaths were reported on Saturday from novel corona across the country during the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll from Covid-10 to 30,588. According to the latest figures released by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 251 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country during the past 24 hours, raising the number of confirmed positive cases to 1,569,788. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 17,207 tests were conducted during the past 24 hours out of which 251 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID positivity ratio was recorded at 1.46 percent.
The consignments of onions and tomatoes imported from Iran and Afghanistan started arriving at the vegetable market here on Saturday. According to officials and market sources, over 50 tomatoes-laden trailers and 70 trailers of imported onions reached Karachi vegetable market, which has helped to bring the onions price down by Rs100 and tomatoes price by Rs120. Onions are being sold at Rs50 per kilogram and tomatoes Rs110 per kg in the wholesale market. The Ministry of Commerce in a session last Tuesday decided to import onions and tomatoes from Afghanistan and Iran to control soaring prices of the commodities in the country after flooding damaged the crops in the country. “The country will face shortage of onions and tomatoes in the next three months,” the meeting was informed in a briefing. “Current flooding has damaged crops and a shortage and hike in prices is expected,” the participants briefed. Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar on Wednesday told the Senate committee on commerce that the government has not yet decided about import of onions and tomatoes from neighboring India. “The vegetables will be imported through private companies from Iran and Afghanistan and the government will act as facilitator,” Naveed Qamar said. “The decision with regard to import from India will be taken after consultation with stakeholders,” minister said.
KARACHI Staff RepoRt t HEflour prices across the country have reached record high after a 20kg bag of the commodity is being sold at Rs2,140 in Karachi, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed on KarachiitiesSaturday.arebeing forced to buy costliest flour in the country as the citizens are forced to buy the flour at Rs1,160 more than in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad.During the last week, the price of flour saw Rs180 hike on 20-kg bag in Karachi and Rs140 increase in Hyderabad. The price of 20-kg flour bag saw hike by Rs120 in Quetta, Rs100 in Khuzdar, Rs40 in Sukkur, and Rs20 in Larkana. The PBS data further showed that the price of 20-kg bag is being sold in Hyderabad at Rs2080, Rs1950 in Khuzdar, Rs1920 in Quetta and Larkana, Rs1800 in Sukkur, Rs980 in Peshawar, Bannu, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Sunday, 4 September, 2022 ISLAMABAD 04 NEWS
Ejaz Rahim’s Poems – Views and SyedReviewsAfsar Sajid
Covid claims 4 more lives; 251 new cases reported
Villagers beat to death python15-foot-longinMirpur
KaraChiites forCeD to buy Costly flour as CoMMoDity priCe reaChes its peaK
Senior journalist and founder of People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) Network, P Sainath, returned the Basavashree Award conferred on him by the Murugha Mutt, a Lingayat religious organization.
Theforward.breakdown in talks led to a spike in crossborder terrorist attacks by the TTP. In April, two dozen Pakistani security forces were martyred in a series of cross-border attacks. Some of the attacks filmed by the TTP showed the terrorists using sophisticated weapons. The increase in attacks prompted Pakistan to launch air strikes across the border targeting the TTP’s hideouts. Islamabad also in a rare move issued a stern warning to the Afghan Taliban not to allow the Afghan soil to be used against the neighbouring country.
In a push to take the process forwards, Pakistan last month sent a second delegation in a week’s time to break the stalemate. Following the visit of a delegation of Ulema led by Mufti Taqi Usmani, a tribal jirga visited Kabul. The purpose of the Ulema delegation’s visit was to use the good offices of the religious clerics to persuade the TTP to withdraw their demand for FATA merger and other contentious issues. However, the TTP leadership did not give any firm assurance as Ulema also pressed them to lay down their arms and return to Pakistan. Usmani had termed his visit positive but did not mention his interaction with the TTP. “There is a deadlock. And the prospects of a peace deal are not bright,” a source connected to the peace efforts had said.
“Did Imran Khan not say to the Finance Division that ‘I will raise petrol prices after the first week of April’? If this was not said and I’ve been lied to then I apologise,” Ismail said in a fiery statement. He called on Tarin to tell if he had allegedly informed the IMF of such an increase or not. “We know your reality and the nation does too now. The reality is that you’ve been selling this mixture of lies,” he added. “If you want to do politics then go ahead but the nation won’t forgive you because it has seen your reality.” Regarding economic issues, Ismail said the country was saved from default and the economy had stabilised, although inflation was very high. The finance minister assured that inflation would be absolutely brought under control in the next two months.
KaracHi stAff report Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that the Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service will become operational from September 10. According to details, the trial run of Orange Line buses from Orangi Town to North Nazimabad Edhi Green Line station has started. Meanwhile, passengers are getting free service during the trial run. The provincial minister mentioned that the construction of the Orange Line BRTS had been 100 per cent funded by the Sindh government for the people of Karachi. The Orange Line corridor is 3.88 kilometres long and provides connectivity from Orangi Town to the Board Office intersection. It has five stations while its depot has the capacity to park 30 buses. It is likely to get a daily ridership of 50,000 passengers. The project was launched by former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in June 2016 to facilitate about 50,000 residents of Orangi Town. The project was supposed to be completed within a year since its groundbreaking in 2016.
iSLamaBad stAff report T HEChina Cultural Center in Pakistan has launched a series of online activities to celebrate the global “2022 China Tourism and Culture Week” in September.Theofficial “2022 Chinese Tourism Culture Week” launch ceremony is scheduled to be held in Beijing on 6thMinisterSeptember.ofCulture and Tourism Hu Heping will attend and address the event. In conjunction with the launch ceremony, the 2022 China Tourism and Culture Week will start in September and end on September 15. The event intends to promote Tourism and Culture on six themed topics including “City Constructions”, “Intangible Cultural Heritage for Poverty Reduction”, “Yellow River Culture”,
“The Silk Road”, “Rural Revitalization” and “China Travel Course”. Documentaries focusing on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Xizang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Beijing aim to portray intangible cultural heritage’s role in poverty reduction across China. A week full of Cultural and Tourism enrich activities will provide a cultural and tourism feast for the viewers across Pakistan. So join us online to appreciate and experience China’s magnificent natural scenery, colorful cultural deposits, rapid urban and rural development, and the beautiful visualization of people living and working in peace and contentment. In the following weeks, China Cultural Center in Pakistan will share various interesting virtual and online activities through short videos, trailers and posters covering performance, culture, cultural heritage, cuisine, beautiful landscapes and more.
The watchdog said that it had recorded at least 60 instances of crackdowns on journalists and human rights defenders since August 2019. It said that the Indian government had total control over the information coming out of occupied Kashmir after passing restrictive media policies such as the 2020 Revised Media Policy and 2021 Film Policy. “After an initial 18-month internet shutdown, the Indian authorities still often suspend internet services in various parts of Kashmir often without any prior notice,” the report highlighted, adding that the sudden “forced closure” of the Kashmir Press Club in 2022 by the Indian government was a “big blow to the already disintegrating media pool”. The human rights body also found that at least six individuals — including journalists, human rights activists and academics in the region — were stopped from travelling abroad despite having requisite travel documents, which it said was a violation of their freedom of Themovement.reportstated that at least 27 journalists had been arrested and detained by the Indian authorities since 5 August 2019.
P Sainath returned the Award after a sexual abuse case involving a leader of the Lingayat community, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, in the Indian state of Karnataka came to fore. In a letter to the media, P Sainath wrote, “In solidarity with the survivors and with the cause of Justice in this case, I hereby return the Basavashree award (and the Rs 5 lakh prize money that came with it, by cheque) conferred on me by the Math in 2017.” Following widespread protests, the police arrested Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the top Hindu religious leader of Karnataka’s politically powerful Lingayat community in Chitradurga district for sexually abusing two minor girls. The arrest came amid protests especially by Dalit community over police inaction for close to a week since a sexual assault case was registered against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the head seer of the Murugha Math, one of the key Lingayat seminaries in Chitradurga, with a group of advocates writing to the high court stating the investigation is not being carried out in an unbiased, free and fair Sharanarumanner.has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly sexually exploiting two girls studying in schools being operated by the Murugha Math and living in its hostel. The girls recorded their statement before a judicial magistrate on Monday. One of the girls belongs to the Dalit community. The case was filed after the girls approached a non-governmental organisation in Mysuru. They said that they were abused for years.
The TTP sought the release of prisoners including some hardcore members who were involved in terrorist attacks. Pakistan did release certain TTP members but the process could not move
Indian journalist returns Basavashree Award over Murugha Mutt sexual abuse case
“By harassing and intimidating critical voices, authorities are targeting all credible, independent sources of information in and about Jammu and Kashmir. There is a silence achieved on all dissent through heavy-handed repression which has spread fear and uncertainty in the region,” he added.
The initial contacts led to a one-month ceasefire between the two sides in November but the truce could not last long as differences emerged soon.
Pakistan began talks with the TTP in October last year at the request of the Afghan Taliban to seek a political solution to the issue.
Tarin, Miftah exchange barbs as meltdowneconomicgoesunabated continued from page 01
The PTI leader emphasised that the country would have to stand up to these conditionalities today — which include an increase in taxes and electricity prices. “Go to them and ask them for relief. After that go to Russia and buy discounted oil. Give people relief on petrol and gas [prices]. Increase your tax revenue.”
05NEWS Sunday, 4 September, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
London Agencies Amnesty International on Saturday expressed grave concern over the intensified repression of rights in Indiaoccupied Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years. In a report titled, “‘We are being punished by the law’: Three years since of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir” released yesterday, the human rights watchdog observed that in recent years, civil society members, journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders in the region had faced relentless interrogations, arbitrary travel bans, revolving door detentions and repressive media policies. “For three years now, civil society and media in Jammu and Kashmir have been subjected to a vicious crackdown by the Indian government, which is determined to stifle dissent using draconian laws, policies and unlawful practices in their arsenal,” said Aakar Patel, chair of the board of Amnesty International India, in the report.
2022 ChinA TourisM And CulTure WeeK To be lAunChed in PAKisTAn on 6Th
Every flood affectee in GB to get Rs25,000/month for six months: CM
Karachi Orange Line Bus Service to hit road on 10th: Memon Amnesty alarmed by repression of rights in occupied Kashmir
Accusing govt of accord breach, TTP ends ceasefire’‘indefinite continued from page 01
cHiLaS stAff report Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Muhammad Khalid Khurshid along with the provincial ministers visited the flood-affected areas of Diamar-Tangir including Lark, Phaphat, Kali Bala. During the visit, the GB chief minister announced that his government will provide all possible assistance to the victims in any way possible. On the occasion, the GB chief minister announced provision Rs25,000 per month for six months to the flood affectees and free wheat from the open market for three months to the affectees.TheGBchief minister while giving instructions to the officials of the district administration and the construction department, said that the unanimous demand of the victims is to construct a retaining wall to avoid future floods, so the officials of the relevant departments should prepare a detailed estimate within two days. Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid, while giving the instructions to Deputy Commissioner Diamer, said that more food items and other necessary items should be delivered to the flood victims immediately. Finance Minister Javed Ali Manwa, Works Minister Mohammad Saleem, Health Minister Haji Gulbar, Food Adviser Shamsul Haq Lone, Health Secretary Sanaullah, Secretary Usman, and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Ismail also said that Tarin had assured the IMF of increasing fuel prices in April if the PTI government survived the vote of no-confidence.
“Don’t waste your time on giving certificates of traitors. We want to work on this together,” Tarin concluded. ‘Nation won’t forgive you’: Miftah tells Tarin Finance Minister Miftah Ismail issued a scathing response to Tarin later in the day while talking to the media in Karachi. He blasted the PTI government for its performance and lashed out at Tarin over the allegedly leaked audio clips.
neW deLHi Agencies
The fact of the matter is that we have one of the largest militaries in the world. Our military, like all of them, has a pyramid structure, with most officers superannuating at various tiers, most of them lower down the ranks. That, coupled with the relative rank-inflation in staff postings, means that we have a huge number of retired officers, a lot of them belonging to some pretty senior ranks. it is not possible, therefore, for all such bodies to have any claim whatsoever of speaking for all, or even most, of retired officers. To that end, the Ministry’s distancing is correct; any confusion in the minds of the public should be put at ease in that regard. however, it should also be pointed out that the retired officers are, legally, civilians. They are not supposed to follow the politics dictat of any chain of command. They should not be victimised for any political statement that they have made. it would also be wise for the ex-servicemen themselves to undertake some introspection. Though many of the ousted PTi’s supporters are being accused of not having any ideals about the rule of democracy and the limits of powerful non-representative institutions but merely being unhappy at not being currently in the good books of the latter, nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the former servicemen. These former officers, while talking to members of the press at protests, lay bare just how little informed they are about constitutional propriety.
The writer is a freelance columnist 06
since NarendrA Modi came to power in india, his primary object seems to proceed with a vengeance against Muslims and to make their lives terribly hard so that not only they be treated with discrimination, but also their further entry into india should be banned. hence Narendra Modi got passed “The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019 which provided a path to all religions of the world to become indian citizens except Muslims. it allowed entry in india to only those who had entered india by 31 December 2014. it was a bad law because it failed to treat all minorities equally and fairly. it was a clear attempt to declare Muslims as second class citizens. i wonder why this law was not thrown out by the supreme Court of india for being discriminatory and violating the constitution?Thispolicywas not only condemned by its own citizens, but also by the political circles of the world at large. here Muslims were discriminated against among all the rest of the nations of the world. This manifested the hidden motives of Modi to make the lives of the Muslims miserable in india and also to stop their future entry in that country, so that they may become extinct one day. it may be remarkable that a country that is home to the largest Muslim population outside of Muslim- majority countries( nearly 220 million and 14.45% of india’s total population ) breaks the basic foundation of india as a secular state. hinduism is the name given to the most ancient and persistent religion on the indian subcontinent, and hindutva is the name by which the ideology of the hindu right, represented by the political party Bharatiya Janata Party, or indian People's Party (BJP), is Mostknown.oftheintellectuals of india have abhorred the idea of “hindutva” which is likely to put an end to the secular ideal of india which is presently the basis of its honour and respect in the world community. This image can only subsist if Modi stopped floundering with this hindutva ideology whose continuous assertion would certainly kill its age-old ideology of secularism, converting it into a theocratic state. so it is no surprise that a politician of shashi Tharoor’s stature, in his book Why i am a hindu , has come out with a personal hindu manifesto that would also largely explain the liberal indian’s stand towards religion and humanism. Why i Am A hindu does not have the provocative power of an earlier book by Dalit scholar Kancha ilaiah, Why i Am Not A hindu. Tharoor’s account is a lucid and persuasive account of his own journey within hinduism and he sharply reminds us about the urgent need to reclaim hinduism from the hindutvadis.
Zafar aZiZ Rebuilding post-flood society in Pakistan
MuhaMMad
06-07 Comments 4 September 2022_Layout 1 9/3/2022 11:14 PM Page 1
A repositioning by President Alvi
P REsiDENTArif Alvi, who happens to one of the PTi’s arch-loyalists has been forced by circumstances to reposition himself on one issue. in clear departure from party chairman imran Khan’s current strategy, he has urged political parties to put politics on the backburner and launch nationwide rescue and relief efforts in the calamity-stricken vast areas all over the country. The statement comes as Mr Khan continues to hold public meetings, the latest in Gujrat where he again launched verbal attacks denigrating his political opponents personally and threatened to launch a march on islamabad if his ‘political victimisation’ continues. Of late the PTi leadership has been widely criticized for neglecting millions of affected people suffering from the ravages of climate change. A time when thousands of villages and habitations have been wiped out and the UN and friendly countries are trying hard to helpthe suffering population Mr Khan remains fully concentrated on getting back to power. The way he tried to sabotage the pact with iMF has led some to conclude that imran Khan wants to use, rather than end, human misery to return to power.
F LOODsin Pakistan proved that climate change is not a myth. The systematic rise of the sudden changes in the weather patterns and urban flooding caused Pakistani society to think that the menace of climate change is becoming a reality. in the future, Pakistan will become more vulnerable to floods and rains due to a significant rise in temperature than the global average. The expected shift in temperature is 1.3°C to 4.9°C by Pakistan2090.stands in the top 15 countries that are more exposed to climate change. The death of hundreds and the economic consequences of millions of dollars in Pakistan created a significant setback to the struggling economy and governance of Pakistan. The post-flood society will suffer due to poor economic growth and allocating the resources for the revitalizing infrastructure and living standards of the people. For the post-flood society, it is imperative to make structural and non-structural adjustments to prevent flood hazards in the future. The different considerable measures to take in the future for rebuilding and modifying the future susceptibility of flood damage and disruption in Pakistan are Floodplain Regulations, Flood-proofing, and Modifying Floods. in the future, The principal control of flood hazard areas can be possible through proper zoning. Zoning distributes government into different regions to regulate. Every zone specifically allocated the policies for the use of structure and land. They authorize the height and the bulk of designs. The density of use and particular standards for building the infrastructure near the rivers and flood hazard areas; specify the height of the building while considering the elevated size of the flood in the area. The different zones control the floodplain encroachment in the areas that are naturally exposed to floods. in the flood of 2022, the different Zones in Pakistan didn't work efficiently for allocating the permits to build infrastructure in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The obstacle to the natural flow of the water through encroachments caused a significant hurdle to pass the floods, which eventually erupted into the villages and populations and wreaked havoc on the people. The post-flood society in Pakistan needs to consider the efficient functions of different Administrative Zones, subdivision Regulations, and Building Codes. The velocity of the flood wetted the buildings that collapsed with intensity causing more problems than the flood itself. in a post-flood society, the need to regulate the building codes to control the building designs and use of construction aggregates is mandatory to reduce flood damage in the future. Building codes should consider not to use such materials in construction that deteriorates when wetted, and a floodplain ordinance should include adequate structural design that can cater to the velocity and pressure of water in future perspectives of floods and rains in Pakistan. Flood-proofing measurements are very weak in Pakistan. The administrative and developmental studies scholars deemed the importance of flood proofing infrastructures to reduce the risk of floodplain areas. During construction and remodeling or expansion of the infrastructure, it is essential to modify the structure so that the installation of the ring dikes and piling should be regularized so as to prevent the entrance of water in the vicinity of the building. Modify Flooding is an old strategy to combat flooding by making dams and levees because these strategies provide only the diversion and spillways of water. still, these strategies are incompetent to save the lives and properties of the people in floodhazardOnlyareas.thestructural adjustments are inefficient unless the non-structural adjustments are implemented to reduce the flooding damage. in post-flood society, high flow diversions should be installed in the areas which are more exposed to natural calamities. high flow diversions redirect water flow from the developed regions to built conduits or bypass channels artificially. For example, in Canada, an increased flow diversion carries many floodwaters from the Red River of the North through artificial conduits. in Pakistan, the artificial direction to change the direction of water by building different lakes and strategic locations to stop water flow into developed areas could prevent further disaster. We can improve the Flood Forecasting and Warning systems and Emergency Plans through the Ministry of Climate Change, Disaster Management, and other federal agencies to provide information and reporting about the occurrence and magnitude of floods in the future. The mismanagement of disseminating the information caused many casualties and infrastructural collapse. in a post-flood society, it is vital to expand information dissemination and emergency flood plans to prepare the local populations to go in the right direction. it will be hard to build a new society from ashes. Things fall apart due to unawareness and weak consciousness about the matter of climate change and flood disasters. To rebuild a new society, we need a new plan which must be more efficient and practical. The flooding in Pakistan will not be temporary if it is not dealt with, with practicality and pragmatism. The lessons of mismanagement should be incorporated to rebuild a post-flood society with modern re-alignments. Floodplain regulations, redevelopment policies, and disaster preparedness can modify the impact of flooding on the community in the future.
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar ExecutiveAzizEditorAziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor
The writer can be reached at zafar.aziz.ch@gmail.com
We
Sunday, 4 September, 2022
Former servicemen i Na stark departure from routine practice, and perhaps in accordance with the way things should be done, the Ministry of Defence (yes, we have one, with a minister, federal secretary and other paraphernalia to boot) and not the isPR, issued a statement saying that there are several veterans’ bodies in the countries that are “masquerading as” representatives of retired military servicemen whereas they are nothing of the sort. This, of course, comes in the aftermath of, amongst other things, some of the aforementioned bodies being actively campaigning against the incumbent government and, through a lot of oblique messaging, the incumbent military command.
T hisarticle considers how indian PM Narendra Modi plays a double game by affirming that his government believes in and also enforces unfettered hindu nationalism, and at the same time runs it on the principles of secular liberal democracy, which are in effect discordant and counter-productive to the rules of secular government. Both policies are incompatible with each other and are doomed to fail in the long run. it may be remembered that india’s status as a secular state can be greatly valued rather than the narrow indianNationalismnationalism.is defined as a sense of national consciousness, exalting one nation above all others, and promoting its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations. Thus there is an element of superiority of one nation over others, which in our region is mostly due to religion. On the other hand the term secularism refers to the separation of religion from statecraft, which means that the state should not discriminate among its citizens on the basis of religion. it should neither encourage nor discourage the followers of any religion. Anybody who is familiar with recent indian history knows that india’s forefathers made this widespread country into a single secular, democratic state, which alone could unite its multiplicity of religions and sects, despite occasional religious or sectarian violence. For over six decades the political complexion of india by and large remained the same and worked smoothly. Narendra Modi’s history shows that he is a lifelong member of Rashtriya swayamsevak sangh (Rss), a paramilitary hindu Nationalist Organization founded in 1927 and inspired by the fascist movement of Europe. Adolf hitler was their greatest hero. Just as the Fascists of Germany took great pride in their racial superiority and purged their country of the Jewish minority, the same way the Rss have faith in their hindu superiority and believe that all entities other than hindus are interlopers who should be gradually eliminated from indian soil. They were so diehard that in 1948 a former Rss member murdered Mahatma Gandhi for being too soft on Muslims. The followers of Rss, dominated by upper-caste hindus have since led many vicious assaults on minorities. in 2002 when Modi was Chief Minister of Gujerat, a train carrying pilgrims was returning back after the destruction of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya when it caught fire, as a result of which 57 persons were burnt alive. in retaliation, under orders of Modi as CM, the hindu mobs of Gujerat ran amok and massacred 2000 Muslims, raped their women and displaced thousands from their houses. The police was ordered not to interfere and let the hindus mob and ransack Muslim property. At such a gruesome occurrence, Modi never felt sorry and arrogantly remarked that, ‘To every action, there is reaction,’ and justified all atrocities committed against Muslims. ‘hindutva’, a recently coined term, is often confused with ‘hinduism’ which has its religious connotations. But when we see its militant characters effulgently embarking upon the entire length and breadth of the country in their full saffron outfit; it indicates a major change in the outlook of its people and leaders. The indian slogan of its secular character has been completely subdued to make room for indian Nationalism which in hindi is the same thing as ‘hindutva’. in essence the indian Nationalist character (hindutva) is replacing the age-old secular character of india which was built on the enlightened values of the founding fathers of india like Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore, Ambedkar, Patel, Azad, and others. Another great intellectual of india and internationally famous writer, Arundhati Roy, has written that this ‘marks the moment when a deeply flawed, fragile democracy has transitioned– openly and brazenly– into a criminal, hindu-fascist enterprise with tremendous rightist support’. she adds that the indians now appear to be ruled by gangsters fitted out as hindu god men, in whose book, ‘Muslims are public enemy number one’. Arundhati Roy has been described as “the conscience of india” in Time’s 2014 list of 100 most influential people. Thus she has a voice that counts. The UN human Rights commissioner has also called the indian law of 2019 as “fundamentally discriminatory in nature.”
COMMENT
Mr Khan says he leads the county’s biggest political party with a presence in every province. One had expected that he would call meetings of provincial party leaders to organize relief work. he also enjoys considerable influence among youth. how is it that there was no word about Mr Khan‘s Tiger Force all this time? What one is forced to conclude is that Mr Khan has no interest in any activity that takes away attention from the pursuit of political power. Mr Khan has concluded after the victory in by elections in Punjab that he can come to power by winning over voters in the province. With the common man suffering on account of the impact of iMF imposed policies, Mr Khan considers this is time to go haranguing against the PML(N) and PPP and to hold them responsible for people’s woes. Mr Khan fears that the window of opportunity might close once the economy starts improving. imran Khan is not likely to be influenced by the opinion of President Alvi who owes his political career to the former PM.
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Modi and the BJP is pushing India away from its original ethos Is India’s Hindu Nationalism compatible with its secular democracy Wajahat Sultan must learn from the mistakes in handling this flood
Civilians, in other words Under pressure over his role YousafEditorNizami
and even devastated iran, the impact in Afghanistan translated rapidly into a dire situation for bordering Pakistani resorts like Kalam and swat. That flood was a mix of urban flooding coupled with human mismanagement factors. it may be pointed out that the neighboring area in Afghanistan and the bordering Pakistani KPK districts are covered by the hindukush mountain range. This mountain range is a natural barrier for free flowing monsoon winds, causing rains. The stream networks in these mountains and valleys automatically swelled rivers, which cross into Pakistan and coincidentally pass through major resorts as if fair weather water falls. The year 2022, however, proved to be otherwise. The videos available on Twitter can allow any viewer to gauge the fact the swelled streams devastated much of the infrastructure in the hill resorts causing massive urban flooding of a magnitude not seen before. The passing streams were literally treated in the same manner by the provincial government in KPK; the way the provincial government treated the natural drains in Karachi, hyderabad, Larkana and much of the urban and rural sindh during the sameWithseason.somuch strain on the water flow due to obstructive urban structures, it was an obvious outcome that these structures fell like the house of cards when the water pressure in these streams was intense; the instances witnessed in Kalam and swat. The devastation out of the greenhouse effects or heat wave, whatever we may call it, has exposed the administrative inefficiency, coupled with a vicious cycle of recession for the state, society, economy and polity. Government apathy has given rise to general repulsion of the affected people to the politicians as well as dwellers of the other Pakistan; the middleincome urban Pakistan. Today, the common person in sindh, KPK, Punjab or Balochistan is intellectually disconnected from his fellow compatriots in urban areas. however, they may face the same inefficient government structures; but the misery is manifold in the former.The economy, which was already afflicted with stagflation and rising cost of living, is faced with major agricultural produce shortages. in other words, the “food security” aspect of the Pakistani economy, which saved many a day for the system and society, is now absent. skyrocketing prices of agricultural produce indicate that unless the situation comes to normal in the rural belt, the kitchen basket impact on inflation will not subside; consequently, all the iMF plans for economic recovery will go down the drain.Theurban flooding and impact of the heat wave experienced in the April-June period may be blamed on carbon emissions by the government to the world at large to push the real cause of the debacle beneath the rug. The fact of matter is that the November 1970 Cyclone in the then East Pakistan sealed the fate of that federating unit’s association with the rest of Pakistan. The current crisis can be construed as a multiplier to descent of the polity and the state into crisis; whose final outcome might be what we as Pakistanis might not have contemplated in the first place.
The economy, which was already afflicted with stagflation and rising cost of living, is faced with major agricultural produce shortages. In other words, the “food security” aspect of the Pakistani economy, which saved many a day for the system and society, is now absent. Skyrocketing prices of agricultural produce indicate that unless the situation comes to normal in the rural belt, the kitchen basket impact on inflation will not subside; consequently, all the IMF plans for economic recovery will go down the drain naqi akbar Pakistani floods; more due to human factor than nature alone
Editor’s mail
The culture of Pakistan is not abuse
06-07 Comments 4 September 2022_Layout 1 9/3/2022 11:14 PM Page 2
07 Sunday, 4 September, 2022 COMMENT
Penalties
Perils of development and eco balance
Roadside begging
iT hurts me a lot to mention that Balochistan is the only province where girls are suffering a harsh life because cruelty on women is increasing day by day. They are surviving a fearful and painful life in order not be chased by the cruel men of our society. They have left their school owing to our monstrous society. Their vitality is snatched so that they can’t raise their voice. But unfortunately yet our men are unaware of the dignity of women. Most importantly, they are told some statement by their own surrounding that hurts a lot don’t wear such clothes because they are thick, laugh less because you are a women and sit property so that no one should blame you. What’s this? Don’t women have the rights to live the world in their own ways? Why so much cruelty on women? if they are just born to do the home chores, then kill them the time, then give birth in this cruel world - what kind of life is that? it is hard to say that i belong to a society where women are deprived of their rights and where they are just considered workers who manage the work. Therefore, i urge the Government to give their due rights and request to male to please treat them well so that their fear should be finished. rizWana riaz TurbaTahmEd
mujEEb ali larKanaSamo
i want to draw your attention towards an important issue that is Just two day ago, the news of the islamic Parties of the Assembly, Jamiat Ulema-e-islam Fazl (JUi-F) and Jamaat e islami (Ji), rejected the The Domestic Violence Bill, on the grounds that the bill is a threat to Pakistan's social and cultural norm. What are these norms they're referring to? To physically and mentally abuse the women ? is that a cultural aspect of Pakistan. is this the culture we have been trying to create since the independence? Just recently, a clip of two brother harassing their sister over heritance dispute was all over social media. so it means that our islamic party leaders, support the brother, who were abusing the ladies with hammer, rather the women, who were just asking for their right given to them by islam. it is immediate, that better knowledge and understanding of the world is given to them for them to understand whats wrong, as well as better education facilities and the bill needs to be passed for the women of Pakistan to feel safer in this country of peace.
WaniaKaraChiaShraf
The writer is a freelance columnist
iT was good to learn that the police force has stepped up efforts to punish traffic violators. Unfortunately, the very small penalties will not deter the habitual law-breakers and some more visible punishment impacting the pocket as well as their image will have to be introduced to make roads in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan safer. When the first martial law was promulgated in 1958, one observed an army jeep suddenly stopping at bus stops and a soldier with a stick directing people waiting for a bus to make a queue. This scenario was repeated all over the country for a few weeks and as a results people, as per my recollection, started getting into a queue automatically for at least the next 10 years. similarly, vehicles of persons driving on the wrong side were stopped and the driver was asked to get down on his knees and hold his ears. This was basically to shame the person, and it worked. We need to reintroduce such relatively strong penalties not only for streamlining traffic, but in all aspects of life to put emphasis on discipline in the conduct of our lives if we want to progress as a nation. We have often heard the lament that Pakistanis strictly follow the laws of other countries, but start taking liberties with law as soon as they land in Pakistan. This is primarily because of the poor accounta-bility and hardly any penalties on the law-breakers. Citizens of other countries are not angels. Their behaviour is subconsciously tailored by the strong accountability and penalties in their respective countries, where visitors from Pakistan would have hardly ever observed people driving on the wrong side of the track. moin mohajirKaraChi
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively F LOODsin the south Asian context have been synonymous with overflowing rivers during the monsoon, which in that part of the world stretches between May to August, starting with rains in Assam and East Bengal in May and terminating the season in out limits of Punjab and sindh in August. Traditionally, the start of the monsoon is embedded in the traditional local calendar. it is called “sawan”, meaning widespread rains, between July 15 to August 15 every year. “Bhadoon”, between August 15 to september 15, follows it. The clear skies are associated with “Aswaj” onwards. With the development of the cities as urban centres, which attract a major chunk of economic activity and migration within, the eco balance has given way to haphazard development. The result of that state of affairs has been the chaos, which we all are witnessing as “urban flooding”.Today, flood is not the swelling of the river like Ravi threatening Lahore, as it did in 1956, or which it almost flooded in 1973, or Muzaffargarh facing the Chenab in 1976 or the Jhelum in 1992. it is now the failure or breakdown of the urban drainage system. That failure has given rise to an almost annual feature of major city roads submerged in water; causing loss to lives, and property, moveable as well as immovable. The reason for that state of affairs lay in the utter disregard of the environmental safeguards, which the various tiers of government; federal, provincial and municipal were supposed to observe. Cities like islamabad, with plateau gradient and exceptional greenery, were able to weather the threat of urban flooding. however, cities like the neighbouring Rawalpindi, the lone port city of Karachi, old city structures like Peshawar and Quetta were not; making an uncomfortable way for the new developments and housing colonies. here we may not ignore the swelling cantonment cities which were unable to provide housing to the standing cadre; whether a city like Karachi catering to the Navy or Quetta catering to the Army and the Air Force. The cumulative impact of that strategy has been; we see an absence of green belts in major cities except for Lahore. in Lahore, there were environmental pressure groups who were successfully able to battle City governments during the Musharraf government and later the ambitious CM of Punjab, now the PM of the country; to balance out concreting the city with green patches at the same time. in Karachi, the main culprit has been the free rein given to the builders to build as much as they can; wipe out trees and green areas as they will. The initial response from nature was that Karachi during the period starting from 1977 uptil 2008 lost much of the traditional climate trajectory it used to have. That period was characterized by sporadic precipitation in the form of cyclones and erratic weather systems. Obviously the city administrations wrote off rains as a regular feature; running the city based on expedient solutions. The intense impact of global warming and the greenhouse effect, which caused a global heat wave of huge proportions; it was all natural that Pakistan would be part of the devastation.Oneoftakeaways for the coastal belt in sindh as part of global warming; was the return of monsoon season in the coastal belt including Karachi with intensity not observed before. The year 2020 saw the first instance of its destructive nature; with the repeat observed in July/August 2022. Further the monsoon changed its track and caused much more devastation in interior sindh, than has been the historical trend. As a consequence, the monsoon is no more a season to rejoice now. Gone were the days of traditional monsoons when mothers would prepare ‘Pakoras’ for the kids as rain started to pour. Now parents worry how they can avoid the overflow of water in the street into their premises if they are on the ground floor. The other worry is to find a tilted pipe to get the automobile going on the road; which must resemble a river. The absence of greenery deprived the falling water the opportunity to be absorbed decently into the land and thus minimize the prospects of stagnating water on the roads, open spaces or in the residential areas or catchmentBalochistan,thatstretchedsoon,ularurecausedflooding.calizedtemberrainshadfloods.majoryearcanoverofernmentofcamechaosAdministrativemarkets.regretfullybe-thecharacteristicthetiersofthegov-intheperiodthreedecadesallthecountry.Practically2010becitedasthelastwhenPakistanhadriver-basedin2011,sindhashortspellofinAugust/sep-thatcausedlo-urbanandruralThatfloodingamassivefail-ofcropsthatpartic-fall.Thecurrentmon-whichwasoveronthecountitcoveredmuchoftheriverareasinAfghanistan
Cruelty against women
This refers to the beggar’s mafia in the city. They are teasing the passer-by people. Their place of begging is a petrol pump, the gate of the shopping malls, and the entrance place of the religious gates and parking areas. They have an eye on the person when they come to such places. As it is a practice that when they stand at the petrol pump for inserting petrol into their cars. The petrol purchaser gives money.They are surrounding the person who is paying the money to the petrol boy. They are targeting the person who is paying money from his wallet. They don’t see that he is with his family or any person who is special to him. Beggars are compelling him to pay him money by all means. Beggars are demanding amounts that they want. But when we refuse then they curse us. They say that you are with wealth and riches. Why you are not giving us money. They bargain and pass the comments. Their attitude is unusual and causes a misdemeanor. so the government must take action against them. This has also been observed that they are professional beggars. They are not needy. They have become habitual of begging. Though they are fit in health. if they do any work other than begging it could be better for them.Due to them, the needy person is suffering. it is therefore requested to the district administration look after the professional beggars who are exploiting the people. As it is law in the other developed countries like saudi, Japan, and Arab countries that begging is a ban. The police and city administration take strict vigilance. They arrest the beggars sitting in crowded places. so these countries take the responsibility to give security to the person. They see the needy person and pay the monthly remuneration from the treasure.
In a polity where the centre seems to have moved firmly to the right, Congress needs a new saviour and better convictions. During a crucial election, Sonia Gandhi contested from Bellary in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls against Sushma Swaraj; Azad was entrusted with the job of chief poll manager. He camped in the constituency and Sonia won the high-octane contest by over 50,000 votes. A Congress safehouse for decades, Bellary fell to BJP in 2014 before the party lost the seat briefly in a by-election to win it again in 2019. Now, a one-time loyal commander has jumped ship, raising questions as to whether (or not) it is a portent of things to come.
Can Congress be saved?
We didn’t fight a political party in the 2019 election. Rather, we fought the entire machinery of the Indian state, every institution of which was marshalled against the opposition. It is now crystal clear that our once cherished institutional neutrality no longer exists in India.” It is clear that although he spoke of accepting responsibility for defeat, Rahul did not seem to consider that he may have been unable to read the public pulse. Rather, he blames “institution capture” by the Sangh Parivar and accuses the judiciary and the Election Commission of partisanship. this formulation remains Congress’ unchanging political analysis and to date its functionaries continue to claim that India is in all-round decline and substitute debate with disruption in Parliament. Predicting dismal times, Rahul concluded his letter by saying: “this capture of power will result in unimaginable levels of violence and pain for India. Farmers, unemployed youngsters, women, tribals, Dalits and minorities are going to suffer the most.” In the light of this prediction, Modi’s and BJP’s inexplicable success in dodging the bullet goes unanswered and unexplained. India’s resilience in the face of the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war is dismissed as propaganda and electoral losses are met with the promise that the party will learn from its reverses. Yet, there has been no meaningful introspection of either the 2014 or the 2019 defeat. Despite setbacks like its recent breakup with the Janata Dal (United)—or JD(U)—in Bihar which resulted in its exit from the coalition government, BJP has pulled ahead of its rivals. As with any government, there will be the wages of incumbency at the end of two terms in office. But the problem for Congress is that it is finding it difficult to win the political, economic and cultural arguments. While its claim that BJP is harming the “idea of India” has the support of a large section of the intelligentsia that dominates Delhi’s policy circles, the connect with the larger mass of public opinion is missing. Worryingly for the grand old party, there is a greater acceptance of the Sangh’s political-cultural formulation of Hindutva and assertive nationalism. If there are chinks in the saffron armour, these will need more astute argumentation as familiar caste and communal tropes that worked in the past are failing in the face of Modi’s Hindutva-plus-development model that underlines Hindu identity even when catering to caste aspirations.
08 WORLD VIEW 4 September 22_Layout 1 9/3/2022 10:20 PM Page 1
THE PARTY HAS ANNOUNCED ELECTIONS TO ITS PRESIDENT’S POST IN A VICTORY FOR THE REBELS WHOSE RANKS INCLUDED GHULAM NABI AZAD TILL RECENTLY. ALL EYES ARE NOW ON RAHUL GANDHI IN A TEST OF HIS RESOLVE NOT TO CONTEST OFTEN SEEN AS AN UNLIKELY REBEL—AN ESTABLISHMENT MAN FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER—GHULAM NABI AZAD LENT HEFT TO G23 AND THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN HIS LETTER TO SONIA GANDHI ARE NOT EASILY DISMISSED
Sunday, 4 September, 2022 08 WORLD VIEW Open Magazine Rajeev DeshpanDe I twas a meeting, as described by one of the participants, to wish Ghulam Nabi Azad well for his new venture as a political entrepreneur in Indian Occupied Kashmir after his resignation from Congress. But the presence of former Maharashtra and Haryana Chief Ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, along with former Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, at Azad’s house on August 30 did not seem either a coincidence or a mere ‘bon voyage’ occasion. Even if the leaders did wish Azad success, it was not just chummy goodwill but rather a recognition of a high-stakes power struggle in Congress sharpened by the announcement of an organisational election scheduled to install a new full-time party chief by October 17, more than three years since Rahul Gandhi stepped down after the party received a second consecutive drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. the continuance of Sonia Gandhi as “interim president” looked increasingly untenable but the pressure really began to mount after 23 senior leaders, thereafter christened G23, wrote to her in August 2020 criticising Rahul Gandhi’s absentee leadership and demanding organisational elections, including an elected working committee. A meeting between Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi with prominent G23 leaders later that year and a brainstorming session at Udaipur in May 2022 eased some of the tension but did not resolve matters that again burst to the fore with Azad’s August 26 five-page resignation letter that outlined a withering critique of organisational decline, an alleged “remote control” style of leadership, and rather bluntly stated that Sonia had become a “nominal figurehead”. While Azad’s letter was met with a chorus of denouncements accusing him of disloyalty after having enjoyed the perks of power (Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said Azad has been “Modified”), the Congress Working Committee (CWC) did meet on August 28 to announce a poll schedule. Dissenters like Sharma who attended the meeting pointed out that the preparation of the electoral roll was non-transparent as few seemed aware of the process adopted in its preparation. Nonetheless, the genie is now out of the bottle and an election seems on the cards, even though such announcements are accompanied by the caveat “if there are more than one contestant”. the long delayed elections have stirred animated speculation in the party about likely aspirants and strategies the official faction and the dissenters are likely to adopt. the name of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been put forward as a possible nominee of the Congress first family in case Rahul Gandhi does not reconsider his decision not to assume charge himself. Gehlot’s name has drawn contrasting reactions, with some feeling this might create a fresh problem in Rajasthan rather than solving one at the centre. Given the principle of one man, one post, Gehlot will not be able to continue as chief minister should he become party president. He is not likely to accept challenger Sachin Pilot as a replacement and a nominee of his choice may not have the same guile and skill as Gehlot in managing the state where elections are due in end2023. Gehlot himself seems less than enamoured of trading his clout in Jaipur for the prize of Congress president that is beset with thorns, not the least the test of not being seen as a dummy. Interestingly enough, the G23 camp is not necessarily dismissive of Gehlot, whom the dissenters see as a leader with administrative experience and that seniors can relate to—a change from their lack of rapport with Rahul. Any nominee blessed by the Gandhis will need to be mindful of their concerns and wishes but Gehlot may not be a puppet, goes the refrain. the other names doing the rounds include veteran Karnataka leader Mallikarjun Kharge, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP and party general secretary Mukul Wasnik, and former Haryana party chief Kumari Selja, among others. the other likely candidate is Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Shashi tharoor, who has spoken in favour of elections and said it was time for a debate on new ideas and approaches. A former UN under-secretary-general, tharoor has had his brushes with controversy but is a popular and articulate speaker. He is a G23 signatory although he has argued there was nothing exceptional in the letter as it only made a case for democratisation of party processes and accountable leadership. He may not want to be seen as a G23 candidate but the dissenters could consider backing him since they feel he can attract attention and a tour of major states would provide an opportunity to speak of the changes they have been seeking. In the past, challengers who contested against official nominees like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar (before he left Congress) and Rajesh Pilot did against Sitaram Kesri in 1997 and Jitendra Prasada—who took on Sonia Gandhi in 2001—fared very poorly, winning 5 per cent or less of the votes. In the current instance too, the electoral college is certain to respond to a nudge from the high command. But the situation is rather different now as the previous challenges were shortlived events and the party was not in such narrow straits as it finds itself in today. Since 2014, Congress has been ousted from states it held and were once its bastions. It has formed precarious coalitions that have helped it gain toeholds in office but without any material change to its electoral fortunes. It has lost ground in states where it is in direct contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its claim to be the “natural” leader of any anti-BJP formation is contested by regional heavyweights in the opposition ranks. Congress’ success in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections in the winter of 2018 proved short-lived. For one, BJP swiftly carried out course corrections to regain lost support. It recognised the uppercaste anger in Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere over the Centre restoring the tough provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act which had been diluted by the Supreme Court. the Narendra Modi government brought in the 10 per cent reservations in jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker sections (EWS), adding a new ground for quotas. Congress, on the other hand, went back to factional politics, ensuring Jyotiraditya Scindia was not only overlooked for chief ministership but relegated to the backstage. Instead, veteran Kamal Nath became chief minister and Digvijaya Singh, who had lost the 2019 Bhopal Lok Sabha election by a margin of more than 3.5 lakh votes to Sadhvi Pragya thakur, became a power centre as well. Smarting over his diminution, Scindia led a revolt that saw BJP return to office in 2020. Inexplicably, Congress had failed to understand the perils of a thin majority, leading to speculation that the leadership did not want a younger leader in the limelight. An almost similar script played out in Rajasthan where Gehlot got wind of a plot just in time and managed to prevent some MLAs from joining Pilot at a safe retreat in Haryana. All these developments failed to jolt Congress out of its complacency and reconsider its approach to issues and political strategies that rarely went beyond personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blockading in Parliament besides sporadic public protests. Finally, the organisational elections are being held at a time when dissidents are increasingly vocal. Congress MP Manish tewari and tharoor have joined Sharma in calling for the electoral roll to be made public, a demand that has been rejected by party officials who said the list is not for public consumption.Oftenseen as an unlikely rebel—Azad has been an establishment man for most of his career—the former Indian Occupied Kashmir chief minister lent heft to the G23 and the questions raised in his letter to Sonia Gandhi are not easily dismissed. Senior party leaders agree an inaccessible leadership and Rahul Gandhi’s propensity to act through light-weight office bearers who fail to command the respect of the rank and file have been self-evident for some time. Azad’s charges sharpen Rahul’s dilemma and deepen the gloom in the party. If the Gandhi scion sticks to his decision not to contest (even as a formality) for party chief, it will strengthen the view that he is chary of handling responsibility and that the leadership remains keen on running the party through a convenient nominee. A candidate who lacks a modicum of credibility will be swiftly rejected by the dissenters and will find it difficult to run the organisation with around 20 months to go for the next General Election. Stepping up to the job will be welcomed by the party cadre as most agree that Congress needs a Gandhi at the helm, but this comes with the burden of serious political work. Not only does it mean long hours in office and public contact, but opposition leaders will also expect Rahul to be closely involved in alliances and seat-sharing discussions.
Some Congress leaders point out that even if he were to take charge, Rahul would need to work hard to dispel the impression of a sulky, reluctant leader who seems to be at odds with many. In his letter, Azad refers to Rahul as having stepped down in a “huff” after the 2019 defeat and then “insulting” senior party functionaries at a meeting of the extended working committee. the meeting Azad referred to saw Rahul Gandhi accusing senior leaders of failing to take up his campaign against Modi over alleged graft in the Rafale fighter deal and also blamed some others for propping up their kin who lost their seats. Despite best efforts, the Rafale issue proved to be a dud with the Supreme Court not only giving the contract a clean chit but also pulling up Rahul for misrepresenting its statements. Congress leaders wondered at the utility of attacking the prime minister over the deal when, unlike in the case of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-era scandals like 2G or the Commonwealth Games, there were no reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) or of inquiry committees that clearly constituted smoking guns which found a resonance in the Speakingcourts.ofthe party electoral process, Chavan said that it should be transparent and accountable. “the rolls must be made available and there should be no attempt to impose a rubber stamp to run the party. In [the] fitness of things, a proper election for party president should be followed by elections to the working committee,” he said. the dissenters respond to the charge that G23 comprises many who have benefitted from the loaves and fish of office by arguing that they had served the party’s objectives. “Presumably the senior leaders being questioned did deliver the tasks assigned to them,” said a leader. Others in the party feel Azad’s decision was poorly considered. “It is unfortunate that Ghulam Nabi Azad has chosen to leave the party after levelling several distressing accusations. His decision comes at a time when in fact the party has announced a schedule of election for the post of party president. I am sure the democratic process will accommodate all opinions and provide an opportunity for anyone interested in contesting,” said senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi. Congress’ shrinking base and legislative presence has no doubt reduced the number of posts and Rajya Sabha seats to accommodate various claimants. Old timers recall a similar situation after the Vajpayee government returned to office in 1999 and there were several desertions before Congress’ upset victory in 2004. Yet, the response Azad has received in Indian Occupied Kashmir ahead of his proposed state-wide yatra certainly belies claims that he is largely a Jammu leader. the emptying of Congress stables seems as much a comment on the party’s lack of ideas and prospects as much as the 73-year-old rebel’s appeal. Azad may well be able to field candidates all over the state and is seen to wield influence in the Chenab Valley. the danger, point out Congress sources, is that such splintering may take place in other states too if the election of the party president does not conclude with the installation of a leader who can command the faith of party cadres. Ill-fitting compromises and controlled polling are unlikely to prevent the party’s drift into irrelevance on the national stage. In his letter of resignation as Congress president in 2019, Rahul Gandhi said he was quitting to ensure accountability and while it was important for someone new to lead the party, it was not for him to select the person. In the event, Sonia Gandhi became interim president, an arrangement put in place by party managers like the late Ahmed Patel who ensured that a Gandhi remained at the helm. But that could only be a stop-gap device and its prolongation has led to the current crisis. Dwelling on the reasons for Congress’ defeat, Rahul had said, “A free and fair election requires the neutrality of a country’s institutions; an election cannot be fair without arbiters—a free press, an independent judiciary and a transparent election commission that is objective and neutral. Nor can an election be free if one party has a complete monopoly on financial resources.
bEIJING agencieS p AKISTANIambassador to China, Moinul Haque said that China is a role model for international cooperation and the global community should follow China’s example and make concerted efforts for greater international economic cooperation and regional connectivity, according to China Economic Net Addressing(CEN).aforum titled “Beijing Day and Invest in Beijing Summit” at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Pakistani ambassador said, “Beijing’s development is injecting new impetus into the local economy, easing capital inflows and foreign investment to spurred industry and “Chinainnovation.”iscommitted to working with different countries for promoting multilateralism, inclusiveness, and cooperation in all fields. China is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and we are making our bilateral trade double by using China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement”, Moin added.
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad capital territory police have arrested 8 criminals and recovered narcotics and arm ammunition from their possession, a Police Public Relation Officer said. He said that Islamabad capital police had categorically started a crackdown against criminal elements in order to save the precious life and property of citizens. According to the details, Kohsar police team arrested an accused namely Naveed and recovered 1130 gram hashish from his possession. Likewise, Aabpara police arrested two accused namely Abdul Rauf and Afaq Arif and recovered one 223 bore rifle and one dagger from their possession. Similarly, Golra police arrested two accused namely Mazher Iqbal and Naseer Ahmed and recovered two pistols with ammunition from their possession. Tarnol police arrested an accused namely Lateef and recovered one 30 bore pistol with ammunition from his possession. Moreover, Koral police team arrrested two accused namely Awal khan and Muhammad kashif and recovered 1490 gram hashish and one 30 bore pistol from their posession. Cases have been registered against the nabbed accused and further investigation is underway. DIG (Operations) Sohail Zafar Chatha directed all zonal officers to intensify the crackdown against the criminal elements. “Safety and security of the citizens is our foremost priority and no laxity will be tolerated in this regard” he added. pr
Pakistan Air Force has intensified its rescue and relief operation in flood affected areas of KPK, Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab. Emergency Response teams of PAF are actively assisting civil administration in the rehabilitation process of the flood affectees. Helo Operations for airdrop of ration packs are also being conducted in the area. In last 24 hours, 2272 patients were treated by the medical teams of Pakistan Air Force. As a humanitarian gesture, PAF Emergency Response teams distributed 3765 dry ration packs and 13800 cooked food packets amongst the needy families. The flood affectees were also provided with free clothes for ladies, gents and kids. Air Marshal Hamid Rashid Randhawa, HI(M), Deputy Chief of Air Staff Administration, inspected the PAF Flood Relief Camp at Rajanpur district and expressed satisfaction on the facilities being provided to the flood victims. He also appreciated the untiring efforts of PAF emergency response teams for providing timely support and relief efforts. He assured the flood affectees that Pakistan Air Force would continue the rescue and relief operation till the rehabilitation of all distressed countrymen is completed. pr
TCL Strengthens its Innovations in Premium Home Theater and Smart Appliances with Announcements at IFA 2022 Press Conference. pr Islamabad pr Refugees are, without doubt, the most vulnerable people in the world. They deserve the same standard of treatment as the nationals of the country where they have sought refuge. Inspire Pakistan takes pride in serving refugees by empowering their youth through education in protecting their right to education and also through provision of protection services to them alongside United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan. This helps in the progress and development for the welfare of Afghan Refugees during their temporary stay in Pakistan. Inspire Pakistan through support of UNHCR established Urban Cohesion Hub at Rawalpindi where it provides need-based services to Afghan refugees and host communities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to benefit from integrated services in health, education, vocational skills, legal support, protection and recreational activities for peaceful co-existence and social cohesion. A Graduation ceremony for the year 2022 was held where Afghan and host community students were given certificates on completion of different courses including Computer, English language, Beautician, Tailoring and Culinary Arts etc. UNHCR, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Commissionrate of Afhgan Refugees (CCAR) participated along with the Afghan refugee as well as host communities providing an example of social cohesion. Ms. Tammi Sharpe the Deputy Representative of UNHCR was the Chief Guest whereas guest of honour was Mr. Kamal Khan, Chief Coordinator (CCAR). Graduates in their speeches thanked UNHCR, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, CCAR and Inspire Pakistan for providing support and expressed their gratitude to the teachers for providing illuminating knowledge for their bright future.
Local printing industry key to employment generation: Murtaza
He added that the association has also provided a platform to State Bank of Pakistan to disseminate information regarding SME schemes among its members as it will not only help the industry glow but will also provide a fair opportunity for SMEs to contribute their share towards the nationalPresidenteconomy.Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) M Idrees in his speech said that this industry is a significant contributor to the economy in the form of taxes, provision of employment opportunities, to both skilled and unskilled, and skill development of people associated with the industry. “I hope that these efforts by industry in general and PAPGAI in particular will continue to gather pace for the betterment and efficiency,” said M Idrees. Convener PAPGAI Basit Zaidi said that support from the government through fair policies would help Pakistan to tap the potential of the export market worth $8-16 billion for the printing sector“Givenonly. the cost effectiveness of operations backed by talented pool of human resource, Pakistan's printing industry has a comparative advantage to penetrate and create a footprint in the export market. It has a clear advantage over countries like China and Malaysia where the labor cost is relatively high,” said Zaidi. pr
Telecom services restoration in flood-hit areas in full swing
Inspire Pakistan, UNHCR set up ‘Urban Cohesion Hub’ to serve Afghan refugees
laHORE: Students take interest in a model during Expo at Shaikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital. Staff photo
ogra cares for humanity
World should folloW China’s example for greater int’l eConomiC Cooperation: pakistani envoy
Islamabad: Continued efforts by PTA and telecom operators to restore connectivity in flood affected areas has resulted in further reduction of affected mobile sites count across the country to 568 (less than 1.1 % of total sites). 80 more sites have been restored in the last 24 hours and work is in progress for complete restoration of telecom services in other areas on top priority. The sites currently non-functional are mostly inaccessible and under water due to floods. Combined efforts are being made with respective civil and military authorities for access to under water sites and dewatering. Floods and torrential rains had extensively damaged telecom infrastructure. The affected sites count was 3386 (6.55% of the total sites across Pakistan) on the 28th of August 2022, which have been restored through tireless efforts by maintenance teams of all telecom operators. Currently, over 850 teams are working round the clock to provide uninterrupted telecom services to consumers. Moreover, mobile operators continue to provide daily free on-net minutes to consumers with zero balance in flood affected areas as public service. pr
“This industry serves as a backbone for sectors like FMCG, Textile, Publication Houses, Confectionery, Pharmaceuticals, and many others. Pakistan is manufacturing top quality printed products to cater to the ever growing domestic and international demand,” said Khalid. Hence, he added, the industry has witnessed investments in new machinery and technology from current and new players as the industry foresees an increase in demand domestically given the increasing retail landscape along with export opportunities for the sector.
Moin ul Haque further said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, provides another useful platform for concrete and mutually beneficial cooperation, added that in the second phase of CPEC, Pakistan is focusing on agricultural modernization, innovation, and technologies and Chinese investors should get benefit from these opportunities that exist in Pakistan today. “I would like to take this opportunity to express special gratitude from the government and the people of Pakistan to the Chinese government and people for their very generous and timely support to Pakistan in these difficult times that we are facing because of the floods. This is a concrete example of our long-standing tradition of supporting each other whenever we face difficulties and national disasters” he mentioned.“Let’sjoin hands to shape a community of shared destiny of our two countries rooted in mutual trust, strategic vision, and closer economic engagement for the future prosperity of our two countries,” he added.
09NEWS Sunday 4 September 2022 | ISLAMABAD corporate corner
laHORE: LCCI President Nauman Kabir presents shield to Federal Minister for Water and Power Khursheed Shah during his visit to the chamber. SVP Mian Rehman Aziz also present. Staff photo
Islamabad: OGRA is a responsible organization which always strive to create best environment for its employees & customers. Keeping up with previous tradition of OGRA, employees arranged “Walk for a Cause” in order to show solidarity with flood affected families and mobilize resources for their help. As it’s was previously done on 5th February, when a walk was arranged to express solidarity with Moreover,Kashmiris.OGRA is contributing to the PM's flood relief fund and sent a consignment of necessities for the people affected by this calamity. The first shipment was sent to Rajanpur. Few more consignments are being dispatched today to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. pr travel advisory issued for travel on kkh KKH is open for traffic; however, some limitations apply. Current Status is as under:Thakot to Kayal Bridge: Two way open for all types of traffic. Kayal Bridge : One way open for light & medium vehicles ( upto 6 Wheel trucks /Bowzers upto 10 Tons). Zaid Khwar : One way open since 2350 hours last night for light & medium vehicles (upto 6 Wheel trucks /Bowzers upto 10 Tons). Uchaar Nullah: Two way open for all types of traffic (through diversion) Sommer Nullah Bridge: Two way open for light traffic only (restoration of heavy traffic will be possible hopefully by 4 September). Sazin to Khunjrab: Two way open for all types of traffic. Commuters and especially cargo drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution while crossing Uchhar Nullah, Kayal Bridge and Zaid Khwar area. FWO teams are working round the clock for restoration of heavy traffic throughout the length of KKH. For Information please contact the following number: ������: 099 8405067. pr
paf relief Balochistan,paceunderwayoperationatbriskinkpk,sindh,punjab
eight criminals held with drugs, weapons: iCtp
Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab has said that printing industry is a key industry in today’s world the country’s industry is contributing heavily towards employment generation. Murtaza stated this while inaugurating PrintPak, which is the country’s biggest printing graphic arts and packaging exhibition, at Karachi Expo Center on Saturday. He said that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will provide land to the local paper industry under public private partnership for establishing training institutes for skill development of our youth. Chairman Pakistan Association of Printing and Graphic Arts Industry (PAPGAI) Aziz Khalid in his speech said that this industry is one of the largest after the textile sector with the employment of over a million workforce.
Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations about attacks on the power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear energy station, in recent months.
A video of attack on the Muslim man by the members of Hindutva organizations is making rounds on the internet.
The plant was captured by Russian forces in March, but is connected to the Ukrainian power grid and is still operated by Ukrainian staff.
Deposed Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced calls for his arrest Saturday after returning home from self-imposed exile under the protection of his successor’s government. Rajapaksa fled the island nation under military escort in July after a huge crowd stormed his official residence following months of demonstrations sparked by an unprecedented economic crisis. The 73-year-old announced his resignation from Singapore and spent weeks under virtual house arrest at a Bangkok hotel before his return late on Friday. Leaders of the protest campaign that toppled his government said Rajapaksa, who lost his presidential immunity after leaving office, should now be brought to justice. “Gotabaya returned because no country is willing to accept him, he has no place to hide,” Joseph Stalin, the leader of a teachers’ trade union that helped mobilise demonstrators, told AFP. “He should be arrested immediately for causing such misery for the 22 million people of Sri Lanka,” he added. “He can’t live freely as if nothing has happened.” Rajapaksa’s government was accused of chaotic mismanagement as the Sri Lankan economy spiralled into a blistering downturn. The crisis saw acute shortages of food, lengthy blackouts and long queues at gas stations for scarce fuel supplies after the country ran out of foreign currency to pay for vital imports. Sri Lanka’s main opposition alliance, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has yet to comment on Rajapaksa’s return, but a former minister from the bloc said the ousted leader needed to be prosecuted.
“I prepared to return but they parked the scooter in front of me, and they forced me to chant – Jai Shree Ram. They coerced me to raise slogans which would violate my religious faith and beliefs. I repulsed and asked them to let me go but they didn’t. They hit me then and it hurt me internally. They threatened to take my life too. I got scared.
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian attempt to seize nuclear plant
The IAEA sent a mission to the nuclear plant this week amid concerns an escalation could trigger a Chornobyl-style nuclear disaster on the European continent.
The victim identified as Sadaqat, an Imam in the Asjad area, told the media that the attackers were forcing him to raise slogans and chant Hindu slogan ‘Jai Shree Ram’.
Periodic outbreaks killed thousands of children and left thousands more in wheelchairs and leg braces before a vaccine was developed in the late 1950s.
When Brittany Strickland heard that the United States recorded its first polio case in almost a decade, she was “deathly scared” — the 33-year-old wasn’t vaccinated against the disabling disease. “My mom was an anti-vaxxer, so I found out that I had never had any polio vaccines as a child,” the designer explained to AFP, after finally receiving a shot this week. Strickland was inoculated in Pomona, in New York’s Rockland County where the first US polio case since 2013 was identified in July. Since then, the disease has been detected in wastewater samples in the area, as well as in a neighboring county and in New York City sewage, suggesting the virus is spreading. The developments are leading experts to fear that polio, once one of the most feared diseases in America but now endemic to just a couple of developing countries, may wreak devastation stateside again.
Ousted Sri Lanka leader faces arrest calls after return COLOMBO Agencies
Narrating his plight and sharing the incident, Sadaqat said, “I was returning after offering the namaaz in the evening at around 5:30 pm. I went for a stroll with a boy named Kaif.
Hindutva goons assault Imam masjid, force him to chant Hindu slogan in UP LUCKHNOW Agencies
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES Agencies
MOSCOW Agencies
Polio is extremely contagious and can spread from person to person through stools, sneezes, coughs and contaminated water before infected people even show symptoms.
An FIR has been lodged at Modinagar Police Station wherein the accused are charged with sections providing for assault, hurt and hurting religious sentiments.
“I had considered it a virus that was on its way to extinction,” John Dennehy, a virologist at the City University of New York, told AFP. Health officials are urging anyone not immunized to get vaccinated, with Rockland County offering free shots. The area, 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Manhattan, has a polio vaccination rate well below the national average. Only 60 percent of two-year-olds have received a vaccine, compared to 79 percent statewide, New York’s health department says. Nationally, the figure is 92 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommends people receive the first of four doses at two months old. Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five, but can be devastating to unvaccinated adults.
“They are getting better with every attempt and actually performed superbly during launch countdown number one… I think if the conditions with weather and the hardware align, we’ll absolutely go.” Though the area around the launch site will be closed to the public, an estimated 400,000 people were gathering on beaches nearby to see — and hear — the most powerful vehicle that NASA has ever launched climb into space. The initial launch attempt was halted after engineers detected a fuel leak and a sensor showed that one of the rocket’s four main engines was too hot. Both issues have since been resolved, the launch team said. Shortly before 06:00 am (1000 GMT) Saturday, launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson had given the go-ahead to start filling the rocket’s tanks with cryogenic fuel. About three million liters of ultra-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen was expected to be pumped into the spacecraft. And the weather appeared to be cooperating: the US Space Force predicts a 60 percent chance of favorable weather at the scheduled liftoff time, growing to 80 percent later in the launch window. If something requires NASA to stand down again on Saturday, there are backup opportunities on Monday or Tuesday. After that, the next launch window will not be until September 19, due to the Moon’s position.
The purpose of the Artemis 1 mission is to verify that the Orion capsule, which sits atop the SLS rocket, is safe to carry astronauts in the future. Mannequins equipped with sensors are standing in for astronauts on the mission and will record acceleration, vibration and radiation levels.
The last naturally occurring US cases of polio were reported in 1979. “It’s horrifying,” said Strickland. “You don’t think it’s gonna happen here, and then a bunch of people don’t get vaccinated and now we’re in this situation.”
‘Silver Analysislining’ofthe Rockland case led officials to believe that the original source of the infection was someone who had received the oral polio vaccine, which was discontinued in the United States in 2000. OPV replicates in the gut and can be passed to others through fecal-contaminated water. While weaker than wild poliovirus, the variant can cause serious illness and paralysis in the unvaccinated. The case identified in July was in a young man who was not inoculated and the disease was causing him paralysis, officials said. They said he had not traveled abroad, suggesting the disease had transmitted locally.
Right ahead of the cow shelter (in the vicinity), two individuals on a motorcycle called me out and asked me to stop. They teased me about my religious identity, but I did not stop because I assumed that they were teasing me.”
Both Russia and Ukraine have said the situation is grave and the risk of a nuclear catastrophe is high. Ukraine and the West have said Russia is using the site as a base for heavy weapons in a move to discourage Ukraine from firing on it. Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday denied Russia had heavy weapons at or near the power plant and accused Ukraine of committing “nuclear terrorism” through its attacks on the facility. read more A representative of the Russian-installed regime in occupied Zaporizhzhia said the situation at the plant was calm on Saturday morning.
New York polio case stirs fear, vaccine push
US angeRS CHIna
“Despite the presence of representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Kyiv regime once again attempted to seize the plant,” the defence ministry said. Russia said its forces foiled the attack with strikes from military helicopters and fighter jets, destroying 20 Ukrainian vessels and causing others to scatter and call off the attack. Reuters was unable to verify the report.
A massive global effort in recent decades has come close to wiping out the disease, with wild poliovirus now only existing in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Ukrainian forces attempted to capture the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in an attack on the facility on Friday night, Russia’s defence ministry said in its daily briefing on Saturday. The ministry said a Ukrainian naval force of more than 250 troops attempted to land on the coast of a lake near the Zaporizhzhia plant in southern Ukraine at around 11pm local time (2000 GMT) on Friday.
“Our team is ready,” Jeremy Parsons, deputy manager of exploration ground systems at Kennedy Space Center, had said Friday.
WASHINGTON ReuteRs t HEUS State Department has approved a potential $1.1 billion sale of military equipment to Taiwan, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, with China threatening to take countermeasures. The Pentagon announced the package on Friday in the wake of China’s aggressive military drills around Taiwan following a visit to the island last month by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to travel to Taipei in years. The sale includes Sidewinder missiles, which can be used for air-to-air and surface-attack missions, at a cost of some $85.6 million, Harpoon antiship missiles at an estimated $355 million cost and support for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program for an estimated $665.4 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement the possible arms sale “severely jeopardises China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” “China will resolutely take legitimate and necessary counter-measures in light of the development of the situation,” he Presidentsaid.Joe Biden’s administration said the package has been under consideration for some time and was developed in consultation with Taiwan and US lawmakers. “As the PRC continues to increase pressure on Taiwan — including through heightened military air and maritime presence around Taiwan — and engages in attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, we’re providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities,” Laura Rosenberger, White House senior director for China and Taiwan, said in a Reutersstatement.reported last month that the Biden administration was planning new equipment for Taiwan but that the equipment would sustain Taiwan’s current military systems and fulfil existing orders, not offer new capabilities, despite the heightened tensions that followed Pelosi’s visit. The Pentagon said the equipment and support announced on Friday would not alter the basic military balance in the region. US officials said they did not reflect any change in policy toward Taiwan. “These proposed sales are routine cases to support Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” a US Department of State spokesperson said, requesting anonymity.Taiwan’s defense ministry expressed its thanks, adding that China’s recent “provocative” activities represented a serious threat and the arms sale would help it face China’s military pressure. “At the same time, it also demonstrates that it will help our country strengthen its overall defense capabilities and jointly maintain the security and peace of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” the ministry said in a Rupertstatement. Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said his organisation opposed what he termed a “limited approach” to arms sales to Taiwan. “As the (China’s) People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently demonstrated in its mock blockade, the island faces a range of threats that require a range of capabilities. To deny the island the ability to mount a full defense will, over time, create new gaps in Taiwan’s defenses that the PLA can exploit,” Hammond-Chambers said in a statement. The order reflects continued US support for Taiwan as Taipei faces pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never ruled out using force to bring the democratically ruled island under its control. The sales must be reviewed by Congress, but both Democratic and Republican congressional aides said they do not expect opposition. There have been at least two other visits to Taiwan by members of Congress from both parties since Pelosi’s visit, as well as by governors of US states, all condemned by Beijing. The principal contractor for the Harpoon missiles is Boeing Co. Raytheon is the principal contractor for both the Sidewinders and the radar program.
POtentIaL $1.1b
I ran to call the emergency number and I did dial 112 but it was busy,” the victim said. He further shared that he left the area after his acquaintance reached the spot and they left to report the incident to the police. “I called one of my acquaintances and told him that I had been stopped by these two people. He came with a few more people and only then did I leave. We went to file a complaint thereafter,” Sadaqat said.
Shoshana Bernstein, an independent health communicator and Orthodox Jew who is educating members on the importance of getting immunized, says “any community that’s more insular” is susceptible to anti-vax messaging. “The silver lining with polio is that we do have elders in the community who can talk from first-hand experience. In a community that very much values the family system and its elders, that does make an impact,” she told AFP. While it is too early to say whether the solitary case is part of a limited or more widespread outbreak, Dennehy fears it could just be “the tip of the iceberg.” “Only a proportion of the people who are infected will ever show any symptoms, and only a fraction of those people will ever get paralytic polio,” he said. “But if enough people are getting infected, eventually we start seeing more and more paralytic polio.”
10 FOREIGN NEWS Sunday, 4 September, 2022 ISLAMABAD
Hindutva goons assaulted the imam of a mosque and forced him to chant Hindu religious slogan in the Ghaziabad city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Fuel leak delays preparations for NASA rocket launch wItH aRmS SaLe tO taIwan
Local news reports say the infected man was a member of the Orthodox Jewish community, where vaccine hesitancy tends to run Rocklandhigh. is home to a large population of Orthodox Jews. Last week, more than a dozen rabbis published an open letter urging members to get vaccinated.
As NASA on Saturday resumed its second effort to get its new 30-story rocket off the ground and send its uncrewed test capsule toward the Moon, engineers detected a fuel leak that potentially could lead to a new delay. With millions around the globe and hundreds of thousands on nearby beaches waiting for the historic launch of the massive Space Launch System (SLS), a leak near the base of the rocket was found as ultracold liquid hydrogen was being pumped in. NASA said engineers would “stop flowing liquid hydrogen to the tank, close the valve used to fill and drain it,” then try to reseal it. The space agency offered no information on the likelihood of a new delay in the Artemis program — which aims eventually to return a human crew to the Moon — following Monday’s aborted effort. Saturday’s launch is still scheduled for 2:17 pm (1817 GMT) from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It can be delayed by up to two hours if necessary.
WeB DeSK
Sunday, 4 September, 2022 ISLAMABAD 11SPORTS
Afterwards,succumbing.Williams
zimbabwe stun australia in historic third oDI win WeB DeSK Zimbabwe stunned a nearly full-strength Australia by three wickets on Saturday to claim a historic victory in the third one-day international in Townsville. After legspinner Ryan Burl (5-10) played a starring role in dismissing the hosts for a lowly 141, Zimbabwe overcame a wobbly chase to beat the cricket powerhouse for the first time in Australia when they hauled in the target in the 39th over, triggering scenes of celebration. It was a consolation victory for Zimbabwe to conclude the three-match series. “We showed a whole lot of fight… it was a testament to the work the boys put in,” said Zimbabwe skipper Regis Chakabva, who top-scored with a composed 37 not out. The tourists started the chase impressively, with Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Tadiwanashe Marumani posting a 38-run opening stand. But Australia quick Josh Hazlewood turned the game on its head with the wicket of Kaitano (19) in the ninth over, and soon after dismissed Wessly Madhevere and Sean Williams on consecutive deliveries. A nervous Zimbabwe, seeking just their third victory against Australia from 32 ODIs, batted defensively and slumped to 77-5 after Murumani (35) fell to towering all-rounder Cameron Green. Chakabva calmed the nerves and was joined by an inspired Burl, who hit a six off player-of-the-series Adam Zampa to get Zimbabwe within sight of a famous victory. He fell with five runs needed but there was no late twist. ‘Relentless with the ball’: “You turn up to international sport and you can get beaten on any day, and we saw that today,” said Australia captain Aaron Finch. “They were relentless with the ball early on.” In their first series in Australia since 2004, Zimbabwe struggled to be competitive in the opening two matches at the same venue and were routed for just 96 on Wednesday. In a confidence boost, Chakabva won the toss for the first time in the series and his accurate attack claimed regular wickets against Australia’s misfiring batting order. Only two batters reached double figures, with star opener David Warner (94) playing a lone hand in Australia’s innings lasting just 31 overs. After Zimbabwe’s probing seamers tore through Australia’s top-order, an inspired Burl claimed five wickets in a whirlwind 18 balls starting with the key scalp of Glenn Maxwell, who helped rebuild the innings with a half-century partnership alongside Warner. The dangerous Maxwell holed out for 19 in the 27th over and Burl got on a roll in his career best performance, including dismissing Warner, who fell just short of his 19th ODI century.
Mohammad Hafeez reveals why India is ‘Laadla’ of cricketing world StAff RepoRt
DUBAI afp M OHAMMADRizwan says Pakistan are striving to stay “brave and calm” for their second clash with India as the arch-rivals prepare for their next Asia Cup showdown on Sunday. Babar Azam’s team crushed Hong Kong with a 155-run victory on Friday to seal their spot in the final four of the tournament, an entree to the T20 World Cup in October-November.Afghanistanfirstplay Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday, but it’s the much-awaited India-Pakistan battle that is expected to pack the Dubai stadium a day later.
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said that India, or more specifically the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), get “pampered” in world cricket thanks to the fact that they rake in so much revenue. In a video of a discussion that he shared on Twitter, that he captioned “Laadla” with a heart-eyes emoji, Hafeez said “I don’t know a lot, but I definitely know that in our society, whoever is everyone loves the earner, is the most laadla (pampered), gets the most kisses from everyone.” “India is a revenue making country. So even in bilateral series across the world, where they get sponsorship, they get a jackpot, it’s hard to deny these things,” Hafeez further explained. When the anchor on the show asks him if India are ‘laadlas’ because they play so well or because they make more money, Hafeez said it was the latter factor.
‘Brave anD caLM’ for InDIa
WeB DeSK Zimbabwe caused one of the biggest upsets in the history of ODI cricket on Saturday as they defeated 5-time World Champions in the third ODI of a 3-match series at the Tony Ireland Stadium in ThisTownsville.wasthefirst in the history of the 50-over format that Zimbabwe had won a match against Australia in Right-armAustralia.spinner Ryan Burl was the star of the show for the visitors as he bowled an incredible spell that saw him take five wickets in just three overs while conceding just 10 Tadiwanasheruns.Marumani and skipper Regis Chakabva’s knocks of 35 and 37 with the bat respectively got them over the line.On a day to forget for the Australian cricket team, Mitchell Starc wrote his name in the history books by completing 200 wickets in the format. Starc reached the milestone after taking the wicket of Ryan Burl in the 37th over of the Zimbabwe innings. By virtue of his feat, Starc has set a new world record and become the fastest bowler in the history of ODI cricket to take 200 ODIHewickets.hasupstaged legendary Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to achieve the record. Starc has also broken Brett Lee’s record of being the quickest Australian to reach the landmark. Fastest to reach 200 ODI wickets Mitchell Starc – 102 matches Saqlain Mushtaq – 104 matches Brett Lee – 112 matches Allan Donald – 117 matches Waqar Younis – 118 matches Shane Warne – 125 matches
England committed to Pakistan tour despite flooding Mitchell Starc breaks 23-year-old record of Saqlain Mushtaq
“Playing India is always a pressure game. The whole world, even beyond Asia, wait for it,” Rizwan, who hit an unbeaten 78 against Hong Kong, told reporters on Friday. “The pressure will be equally on India and us, but the result will be with whoever remains brave and keeps calm,” added the wicketkeeper-batsman. Pakistan posted 193-2 and skittled out Hong Kong for a paltry 38 in Sharjah to bounce back from their opening loss to India, who won both their matches in Group A. “I tell players, whether you play India or Hong Kong, it’s a game of bat and ball,” said Rizwan, 30. “So keep it simple. Yes, it’s a big game and our confidence is high but only hard work is in our hands, as the result is from God.” Every India-Pakistan match draws packed stadiums and millions of viewers on TV and digital platforms. The two rival nations only play each other in multination events thanks to years of political tensions that have occasionally erupted into war. Fans from both countries anticipate a third meeting in next week’s final. “We have to play good cricket and make the final,” said Rizwan. “Our fans demand that we give our best and it is visible this time that the boys are giving it their all.” Rizwan and skipper Azam played a starring role in their team’s 10-wicket win over India in last year’s T20 World Cup — a match that is still talked about on both sides. SHowDown, SayS rIzwan
NeW YoRK afp Serena Williams’ dreams of a fairytale finish to her glittering career were left in ruins on Friday as the tennis icon was sent crashing out of the US Open by Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. The 40-year-old Williams — who last month signalled she planned to retire after the Open — was beaten 7-5, 67 (4/7) 6-1 by Tomljanovic in a gruelling 3-hour 5-minute battle. Williams, a sporting and cultural icon who amassed 23 Grand Slam singles titles in her 27-year career, poured everything into one last stand in front of a ferociously partisan crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. But the veteran wilted visibly in the decisive third set, wearied by the demands of a heroic second set display that saw her level the match in a tie break.As Tomljanovic raced into a 5-1 lead in the third, Williams summoned every last drop of her fighting spirit to stave off defeat, saving five match points in a marathon seventh game before finally saluted the crowd, welling up as Tina Turner’s anthem “Simply the Best” belted out around the stands. Asked by an on-court interviewer whether there was any possibility she might yet extend her career, she replied: “I don’t think so, but you never know.” “It’s been a fun ride,” she said. “It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on, I mean, in my life. “I’m just so grateful to every single person that’s ever said, ‘Go, Serena,’ in their life. I’m just so grateful. You got me here.”Williams reserved special praise for her parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price who had set her and her elder sister Venus on the path to superstardom.“Itall started with my parents,” Williams said. “They deserve everything. So I’m really grateful for them.” Williams also paid tribute to her sister who looked on from the stands. “I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you, Venus. She’s the only reason that Serena Williams ever existed,” she Tomljanovicsaid.meanwhile expressed disappointment that Williams’ career was likely over. “I’m feeling really sorry just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do,” she told the crowd. “What she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible.“Inever thought I’d have a chance to play her in her last match when I remember watching her in all those finals, so this is a surreal moment for me.” Tomljanovic said she had also never felt certain of victory. “Even to the last point, I knew that she’s in a position to win even when she’s down 5-1,” she said. “That’s just who she is and she’s the greatest of all time. Period.”
In major blow to Pakistan, Shahnawaz Dahani ruled out of clash with India DUBAI Staff RepoRt Injured pacer Shahnawaz Dahani has been ruled out, dealing a major setback to the Pakistan side ahead of their first clash in the Super 4s stage against arch-rivals India. Babar Azam-led Pakistan already faced major setbacks of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence in their first meeting with the neighbours and will now also feel the burden of Dahani’s absence as the Men in Green were banking on their bowling after Friday’s record-breaking victory against Hong Kong. Shaheen suffered a side strain injury while bowling during the second match of the Asia Cup tournament against Hong Kong. The Pakistan team spokesperson said that the medical will monitor Dahani’s condition in the next 48-72 hours, following which they will make decisions, including carrying out a scan and further participation in the tournament. In Dahani’s absence, Hasan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain will get a chance to play against India. It should be noted that these two replaced Shaheen and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
The England and Wales Cricket Board are committed to the forthcoming T20 tour of Pakistan despite the flooding that has ravaged the country. England have not played in Pakistan since 2005 due to security concerns and pulled out of a planned series last year at short notice. The Pakistan Cricket Board were furious with that decision, making England’s visit for a sevenmatch T20 series starting on September 20 even more significant for relations between the countries.Matches are due to be held in Karachi and Lahore, with no changes currently planned despite the worst floods in Pakistani history, which have left a death toll of 1,200 and rising and a third of the country under water. Asked about the situation on Friday, Rob Key, managing director of men’s cricket at the ECB, said: “It’s a moving picture at the moment, there’s been a hell of a lot of communication between people out there and the ECB, the PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association). “But it’s a trip we’re desperate to go on and it’s going to take a lot for us not to get out there. “I think hopefully us going out there and playing will be a positive for what’s been a pretty harrowing time for the people of that country. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there.”
Serena bows out with US Open defeat
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The PTI leader said that the decision to renounce British citizenship was a personal one, saying that he will contest the next general elections on PTI ticket.
Diarrhoea, skin diseases and eye infections are spreading at relief camps set up by the government across the country. Over 90,000 diarrhoea cases were reported from one of the worst-hit provinces, Sindh, in the past 24 hours, according to a report released by the health officials. But the illnesses were also reported from other flood-hit areas. The grim updates came a day after Pakistan and the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised concern over the spread of waterborne diseases among flood victims. Pakistan blames climate change for unusually early and heavy monsoon rains, which since June have caused flash floods that have killed 1,191 people and affected 33 million people. About a million homes have also been damaged or destroyed Flood waters continued to recede in most of the country, but many districts in Sindh remained underwater, forcing displaced people to stay at donated camps.
The issue of Bukhari’s citizenship came to the fore in 2018 when he was appointed as a special assistant to then prime minister Imran Khan. The move was challenged in Supreme Court. Bukhari, popularly known as Zulfi Bukhari, is a close aide and friend of the former premier and was appointed as the special assistant to him for overseas Pakistanis and human resource development.
The petition argued that a person ineligible to become a member of the Parliament and thus a federal minister cannot be given the status of a state minister through appointment by the prime minister as a special assistant.
Waterborne diseases spread among flood victims
PM Shehbaz has also announced a Rs15 billion grant for the Sindh government, which the province could utilise at its discretion for the rehabilitation of the affected people. Fresh Floods in sindh: On Thursday, the Indus was in high flood with a flow of 531,000 cusecs water at Guddu; 529,000 cusecs at Sukkur and 408,000 cusecs at Kotri. According to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), so far, 16.7 million acre-feet of water had been released into the sea. Meanwhile, flood torrents, after devastating Larkana, were raging in the Dadu district. After inundating the Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka of the Dadu district and Sujawal Junejo taluka of Kambar-Shahdadkot district, the Mehar taluka of Dadu came under serious threat of flooding.
China millionanotherannouncesRMB300assistance for flood-ravaged Pakistan
Nearly half a million flood-displaced are living in relief camps.
“I will live and die in Pakistan. It was being said that I will run away from Pakistan after the end of the government but I stood with Imran Khan in difficult times. I am a Pakistani and I will remain a Pakistani,” he added.
Mentioning the efforts of the Pakistan Air Force, he said C130s and helicopters rescued more than 1,521 people during 135 sorties and added that 41 relief camps of the PAF were helping people, and more than 16,000 patients had been provided medical assistance in 35 free medical camps. Babar also said that the Pakistan Navy’s emergency response teams and diving teams were busy helping flood victims across the country and that 10,000 people had been rescued.
In Sindh, thousands of medical camps have been set up in flood-stricken areas to treat victims, said Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, the provincial health minister.
Later, Bukhari contended before the Supreme Court that he is citizen of the United Kingdom by birth as he did not acquire any nationality. “The answering respondent (Zulfi Bukhari) was born on December 3, 1980 in Britain and is a British citizen by birth. His citizenship was conferred by birth and not acquired by any action on his part. As such answering respondent did not take oath of allegiance. Despite being born in Britain, the answering respondent voluntarily opted to be a Pakistani citizen and be subject to Pakistani law,” said the reply submitted by his counsel Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan in the case regarding the appointment.
“So far 1,793 tons of ration and 277 tons of other necessities have been distributed among the victims. Moreover, around 770,000 medicines have also been provided to the flood victims,” he said.
don or elsewhere but she owned expensive apartments.Hesaid the “three stooges” – Shehbaz Sharif, Zardari, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman – joined hands and conspired to bring down their government which was progressing despite the coronavirus pandemic and witnessed record growth and tax collection. He said the current leaders only came to power to save their corruption rather than serving the nation. He said NAB amendments were made to protect corruption worth Rs1,100 billion. He said there has been unprecedented inflation in past four months, industry is closing and unemployment is rising.
Ali said she had no other choice except to live in the relief camp, as her village was still submerged. Ramesh Kumar, a medical doctor in Shikarpur, said he treated scores of flood victims and most of them had waterborne diseases.
“The army chief visited flood-affected areas and made a detailed assessment,” he informed, adding that all formations and senior commanders of the army were engaged in relief operations in flood-affectedRecordareas. monsoon rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains have triggered floods that have killed at least 1,265 people, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
pRayeR tiMingS FAjr SunriSe Zuhr ASr MAghrib iShA 4:10 5:00 1:30 5:15 7:08 9:15 Sunday, 4 September, 2022 NEWS
The civil and military leaderships and officers contemplated the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in the flood-hit areas during the maiden briefing of the newly-constituted National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) on Saturday, expressing the resolve to work in unison for rehabilitation of the floods devastated areas. They also urged the people to contribute to theDuringeffort.the briefing, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal assured the government will leave no stone unturned to bring normalcy back in the lives of flood victims in a country a third inundated, in a growing disaster blamed on climate change. Briefing the media at National Flood Response and Coordination Center here, he also made a fervent appeal to the international community, nation and Pakistani diaspora abroad to help the country. Speaking to media, DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar assured the nation that the army would stand by the people in this hour of need as “people’s trust is the biggest asset to Pakistan Army”. He said army troops were hectically engaged in rescue and relief operations in collaboration with Rangers, Frontier Corps, disaster management authorities, civil administration and welfare organisations under the Relief, Rescue and Rehabilitation (RRR) strategy.
BAHAWALPUR Staff RepoRt Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Saturday said that the only remedy to the economic crisis is conducting immediate, free and fair elections in order to bring political stability to the country. Addressing a massive political gathering, the former prime minister said the nation has been awakened and the days of political turncoats are not over. “There is a huge turncoat in Bahawalpur. Do not let him win at any cost,” he vowed.
Imran Khan said the only solution to all our problems is to hold free and fair elections. He said political stability for next five years will reduce our economic woes.
ISLAMABAD Mian abRaR China Saturday announced to add another RMB 300 million to its financial assistance to flood-ravaged Pakistan – taking the tally to RMB 400 million. “Today, the Chinese Government announced to offer an additional 300 million RMB worth of flood relief materials in favour of Pakistan following the 100 million RMB worth of emergency relief supplies donated last week,” says a message announced by the Chinese Embassy. Per statement, the announcement was made by Mr. Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).
He said Pakistan was formed as an independent nation due to the efforts of his ideological leader Allama Iqbal and political leader Quaid-e-Azam. “Allah has given a conscience. We are an awakened nation.” While slamming the Sharif family, he said they are looting the nation for the last thirty years and have joined hands with Zardari. “Shehbaz Sharif is saying there have not come to ask but are compelled. The people work hard and he loots them and send their wealth abroad,” he added. Imran Khan said he is preparing the nation for ‘real freedom’ to protect themselves from these looters. He said nations are not poor due to a lack of resources but massive corruption and plunder. He said Maryam Nawaz claimed she has no properties in Lon-
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt P RIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday assured Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah of all-out support by the federal government in the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood-affected people in Sindh. During a telephonic conversation, PM was informed about the latest relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood affectees in the province. PM Shehbaz stressed the fact that no efforts should be spared to support the flood victims and also appreciated the efforts of the Sindh government and the CM in the relief and rehabilitationCMactivities.Murad expressed his gratitude to the premier and the federal government for their concerns and support for the flood-affected people and assured that they would not disappoint the affected people. “Sindh hasn’t seen devastation on such a scale before. Crops have been destroyed and the cattle has perished,” the PM Earlier,said.he had announced that Rs1 million compensation would be given to the families of each of the deceased. He had also instructed the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to distribute Rs25,000 to every rain-affected and displaced family in Sindh.
Despite less resources, govt, Army vow to bring normalcy back in flood victims life
Zulfi Bukhari renounces British citizenship
ISLAMABAD the aSSociated pReSS Health officials have reported an outbreak of waterborne diseases in areas hit by recent record-breaking flooding, as authorities stepped up efforts to ensure the provision of clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people who lost their homes in the disaster. The UN children’s agency said more than three million children were in need of humanitarian assistance and stood at heightened risk of diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history. The authorities and aid agencies also were working to secure medical facilities to thousands of pregnant women, who are among 33 million people affected by floods.
He said overseas Pakistanis are our biggest asset which was witnessed when they raised Rs5 billion within hours for flood victims. He said there are one million citizens abroad and the nation will progress if only a fraction of them contribute for developmentImranpurposes.Khansaid he is making a plan to convince overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country but this requires rule of law and justice. “Our biggest struggle is establishing rule of law to fight against these crooks,” he vowed. He said they have suffered all sorts of injustice in the past four months from the torturing of Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqi, suppressing media freedom, and lodging false cases after the May 25 long march while a terrorism case was registered against“Thehim.more you attempt to bring me down, I will be even more undeterred,” he said, adding the people from across the country support him and he will become a ‘corner tiger’ if attempts are made to sidelineHehim.warned the government to hold free and fair elections and save the nation. “I will give one call and you will not find any place to hide in Islamabad.”
Fresh elections only solution to economic crisis: Imran
PM ReassuRes fedeRal govt’s suPPoRt to sindh in Relief, ResCue effoRts
The meteorological office predicted more rains and flash flooding for the month of September. Maj Gen Babar said that as per the COAS’s instructions, the army “will not abandon people in this difficult time, no matter how much time and effort it takes.” According to the military’s spokesperson, 276 helicopters of Pakistan Army Aviation were working in different areas of the country. Maj Gen Babar added that people trapped by floods in Kamrat and Kalam were also evacuated to safer areas by armyHehelicopters.alsostated that free medical facilities were being provided at 250 army medical camps which had assisted 83,000Elaboratingpatients. further, the military spokesperson said the army had distributed three-day worth of rations to flood affectees – weighing around 1,685 tons and had also distributed 25,000 Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) along with tents. Maj Gen Babar added that 284 flood relief collection points were established across the country wherein 2,294 tons of rations, more than 311 tons of basic necessities and more than 1,070,000 medicines were donated by the people of Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
The British Home Office has also issued a notification, confirming the development.
Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday expressed gratitude to President of China Xi Jinping for assistance package of RMB 400 million for flood affectees in Pakistan. In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, he said, “Highly grateful to H.E. President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance package of RMB 400 million, up from initial RMB 100 million, for flood victims in Pakistan.” “This is a reflection of our unique bond of friendship. This support will help provide much needed relief to the people,” he added. Meanwhile, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that China has been closely following the postflood situation in Pakistan. “Since the floods hit Pakistan, China has been closely following the situation. We responded immediately and made every effort to provide relief assistance,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin. China will send several batches of urgently-needed supplies to Pakistan successively. Early this week, the latest batch of China’s aid for Pakistani flood victims consisting of 3,000 tents reached Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi. According to Wang, following the latest batch of tents, the remaining supplies will be transported to the disaster-stricken areas as soon as possible. Those tents were collected from China’s Sichuan province, which suffered devastating earthquake in 2008. At the time, Pakistan rushed to China’s assistance and provided unreserved help by sending all its tents in stock to the stricken area, which deeply touched the Chinese people. The Red Cross Society of China provided USD 300,000 in emergency cash assistance to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and launched a handover ceremony in Islamabad this week.
Among those flood victims staying at a relief camp in the district of Shikarpur in Sindh was Mundam Ali, 21, who is seven months pregnant. She said she has a backache and cough.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari aka Zulfi Bukhari has announced renouncing his British citizenship, saying that he will fight alongside former prime minister Imran Khan for his PARTY’S “real freedom movement”. “The country needs us… win or defeat is in the hands of Allah, but we have decided to serve Pakistan,” Bukhari said, adding that those who fled Pakistan are trying to take asylum but they will have to return soon.
