Sunday, 6 november, 2022 I 10 rabi us Sani, 1444 I rs 15.00 | vol xIII no 127 I 12 Pages I lahore edition
Swati breakS down revealing family Sent hiS obScene video featuring with wife g
IMRAn KHAn uRgeS CJP TO TAKe SuO MOTu nOTICe, APLOgISeS MRS SWATI On BeHALF OF PAKISTAn ISLAMABAD
P
Mian abrar
TI’s defiant Senator Azam Swati Saturday burst into tears while telling the media that his family had been sent an obscene video featuring him and his spouse. Swati, who was arrested on October 13 in a case registered against him over a controversial tweet against Army Chief and is now on bail, was subjected to custodial torture and allegedly filmed naked during custody.
I want to apologise on behalf of Pakistan to Mrs Azam Swati: Imran ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has condemned the privacy violation of Senator Azam Swati’s wife, urging Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take suo motu notice of the incident. Taking to Twitter, the former prime minister said that Pakistan was created on Islamic moral values of human dignity, honour of the family & inviolability of chadar & chardawari. “What has happened to Azam Swati at the hands of the State has been a blatant violation of all these values – from being stripped naked to custodial torture and now this video where privacy of his wife has been violated.” “It is both shocking, despicable & utterly condemnable. No human being should have to suffer this. I call on the CJP to take suo moto notice of this,” he wrote in a tweet. The PTI chief also apologised on behalf of Pakistan to Mrs Swati over the incident. “I want to apologise on behalf of Pakistan to Mrs Swati, a very private, non-public, tahajud guzaar lady for the pain, anguish and sense of humiliation she is having to suffer,” he wrote. Imran Khan’s statement comes hours after Senator Azam Swati narrated shocking details of what happened to him and his family in a press conference. Swati, while breaking into tears during the presser, alleged that someone from an unknown number sent a private video of him and his wife to his daughter and wife. “My daughter said that her mother had been sent a video clip by someone from an unknown number. and you are in that video,” said the PTI leader while describing the ordeal. staff report
PM demands full SC court to probe Imran’s allegations
LAHORE staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday appealed to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to establish a full court commission to investigate the firing incident aimed at Imran Khan and his long march’s convoy in Wazirabad and the ensuing allegations levelled by the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Addressing a press conference here, Shehbaz said the commission of the Supreme Court should probe the allega-
tions of Imran Khan against him, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a high-ranking army officer. He said, “I will immediately write a letter to the chief justice Supreme Court for the investigation by the full court commission.” The same full court commission should also investigate the murder of [senior journalist] Arshad Sharif and the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, he added. He assured that the federal government would fully support the commission. Shehbaz Sharif said it was unfortunate that Imran Khan
had falsely alleged that the prime minister, interior minister and an important officer of the institution hatched a conspiracy against him. He said as a prime minister it was his responsibility to play his role when people were misled with repeated lies to take the country to the brink of disaster. PM exPreSSeS CondolenCe over Sher MazarI’S death: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday expressed his condolence over the death of Mir Balakh Sher Mazari, a prominent Baloch politician. On his Twitter handle, the prime minister said that Mir Balakh Sher Mazari was a veteran Baloch politician who played a leading role in the country’s politics. “Our national politics is poorer with his death. He belonged to a breed of public servants who believe in values & principles. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends,” he said while paying tribute to the contributions of late Mazari in politics. Late Mir Balakh Sher was a chief of Mazari tribe and had served as a caretaker prime minister during 1983. He passed away on Friday. He was 94.
g
SAnJRAnI FORMS PROBe COMMITTee AS FIA CLAIMS vIdeO IS ‘FAKe’
Swati accused elements within the establishment for his ordeal and told media persons that his wife called him from Islamabad at around 9pm last night and kept shouting and crying, adding that he then had to ask his daughter to speak to his wife and inquire what was the matter. On her insistence, he continued, his wife revealed that someone had sent her a video of the couple from an unknown number. “Because the daughters and granddaughters of my country are listening, I cannot say any further,” he added. The senator went on to say that his
daughter, while crying, revealed to him that the video featured his wife as well. “I asked her how is it possible,” the senator said before bursting into tears. He added that his daughter also told him that the video was from when Swati and his wife had visited Quetta where Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had hosted . Recalling that visit, the senator said Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, who respected his wife, had made arrangements for them to stay at the Supreme Court’s judicial lodges in Quetta.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
02-03 NEWS 6 NOVEMBER_Layout 1 11/6/2022 1:39 AM Page 1
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
02
NEWS
PTI sTAgEs nATIonwIDE PRoTEsTs AgAInsT ATTACK on IMRAn’s lIfE LAHORE
P
Staff RepoRt
AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday staged mass protests across the country against the attack on former prime minister Imran Khan in Wazirabad during party’s long march. According to details, the PTI supporters and workers have staged protests across the country in line with party’s secretary-general Asad Umar’s directions. PTI workers staged strong protest at Faizabad chwok at Murree Road while Islamabad Police made efforts to push the protesters back into Rawalpindi limits. The protesters burned tyres and raised slogans and this process continued for hours. The supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) clashed with law enforcers at Faizabad Interchange on Saturday, who were performing their security duties there. Protesters began pouring in at Faizabad
Interchange and pelted stones at law enforcement agencies which prompted them to fire tear gas shells in response. Protesters also burned tyres at Rawat in Islamabad and blocked the GT road which affected the flow of traffic towards Islamabad. When the charged crowd tried to march toward Islamabad, police fired tear gas shells for dispersing them. In response, protesters pelted police with stones. The protesters burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the government and in favour of Imran Khan. Owing the protest, Islamabad Police placed diversions for traffic moving from Murree Road Islamabad to Rawalpindi at Faizabad. Policemen remained present to guide citizens and ensured steps for the convenience of road users. In Karachi, protesters have staged protests at MA Jinnah Road and Numaish Chowrangi against the attack on PTI chief, while a main road in Umerkot, Sindh, has also been blocked. PTI workers are also protesting at
Punjab to hold roadshow for CBD, RUDA promotion in UK, CM tells British industrialists LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Saturday that 10 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are being established across Punjab wherein a 10 years tax holiday will be granted to investors, saying the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project (RUDA) and the Lahore Central Business District Authority (CBD) would prove to be the game-changer projects. “As many as 3,000 industries have expressed interest in RUDA while the Lahore Central Business District Authority (CBD) has received over 700 million dollars investment offers.” The Punjab CM said the tallest skyscraper of Pakistan would be built in the CBD, saying government offices would be established in the vertical buildings of CBD. Punjab CM Ch Pervaiz Elahi expressed the views during a meeting with a 15-member delegation comprising eminent industrialists and famous business personalities of Great Britain. Matters pertaining to investment in agriculture, livestock, poultry and other sectors came under review and it was agreed by the British industrialists to enhance cooperation for investment in Punjab. The delegation, led by Zubair Wali Esa, Lord Wajid and Altaf Khan, was comprised of Haroon Abdullah Patel, Hassan Ahmad Munshi, Ilyas Ismail Rehmani, Siraj Ahmad Patel, Muhammad Sadiq, Ayub Patel, Muhammad Tayyib, Muhammad Asim, Rafique Buksh, Doctor Yaqoob, Musa Patel, Shakoor Ahmad, Anwaar Ghani, and Jaffar Iqbal. The British industrialists expressed their keen interest in CBD, RUDA and other projects. The British delegation lauded vision and endeavours of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and expressed their profound gratitude to him for offering splendid hospitality. On the occasion, the CM said: “We need to believe in ourselves and we can reach the destination of progress by utilising all our resources and capabilities.” CM Elahi disclosed that the Punjab government would arrange road shows for the promotion of RUDA and in UK to attract foreign investment, saying that complete protection would provided to foreign investors in Punjab. He revealed that the Punjab govt was set to launch a ”One Stop Shop Service” for the foreign investors, adding that investment opportunities were available in various energy projects including Off Grid Hydel Power Project. “The investors from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are taking keen interest in the RUDA project”, Ch Pervaiz Elahi stated and added that residential and commercial districts would be established in RUDA. He said nine waste treatment management plants and seven small and big barrages would be built in the RUDA project. “The Chahar Bagh residential block will be an example of its own.” The Punjab CM informed that government offices would be established in the vertical buildings of CBD. Known British investor Zubair Wali Esa while talking on the occasion said that they had received profound love in Punjab the moment they reached here.
Muzaffargarh’s Chenab Bridge, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad and they have also blocked the roads. The commuters had to face severe difficulties. In Lahore, the PTI workers blocked the Mall Road in front of Governor Punjab, MM Alam Road and other major roads. PTI central leader Shafqat Mahmood also reached Liberty Chowk. The demonstrators have set fire to a chemical drum at Shahdara Chowk. A large number of protesters gathered on the streets and burnt tyres and blocked major roads at 5pm. A peaceful protest was held at the Shahdara Chowk, where a large number of PTI workers led by led by senior leader Mian Waheed Ahmed blocked the Chowk by placing containers and trucks and burnt tyres. PTI Punjab Women’s Wing president central Dr Nosheen Amir, President Women’s Wing Najam Al-Sahar, Joint Secretary Women’s Wing Tasneem Kausar, General Secretary Ravi Town Afshan Chaudhry, Mian Khizr Hayat, and other workers participated in the PTI
demonstration at Shahdara Chowk. Condemning the murderous attack on Imran Khan, they said that Imran Khan is a true leader of the nation. Any kind of injustice against him will not be tolerated, they added. They vowed that they would continue their protest until the evildoers who attacked the leader are brought to justice. In Gujranwala, the PTI workers’ sit-in has entered the third consecutive day at Chanda Qila Chowk. The workers of Tehreek-e-Insaf closed Chanda Qila Chowk and put up awnings. Local PTI leader Rana Bilal Ijaz is leading the sit-in on GT Road until Imran Khan’s demands are met. The residents and commuters are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of Chanda Qila Chowk. The traffic jam caused
long queues of vehicles at the GT Road. Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser lead a protest in Swabi’s Chota Lahore, demanding justice for Imran Khan. The protestors were chanting slogans against the federal government. Speaking to the protests, the former National Assembly (NA) Speaker said that the Pakhtuns were standing by Imran Khan and will not accept slavery. “I will visit every city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and protest for real freedom will continue”, he added. On the other hand, PTI workers had blocked Motorway Interchange in Peshawar, demanding probe into attack on the former prime minister. The party workers have blocked the railway track in Okara as a protest against attack.
Dar claims KSA, China assured Pakistan of $13b package ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday claimed China and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) had assured Pakistan that they would take care of Islamabad’s financial requirements till June 2023, saying both the brother countries had assured of providing a financial package to the tune of $13 billion. Talking to media on Saturday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recent visit to Beijing, the Chinese
leadership had promised to roll over $4 billion in sovereign loans, refinance $3.3 billion commercial bank loans and increase currency swap by about $1.45 billion — from 30 billion yuan to 40 billion yuan. He said China and Saudi Arabia had given assurances to Pakistani delegations under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during recent visits that they will take care of Islamabad’s financial requirements till June 2023. Dar further said the Chinese had also agreed to fast-track the ML-1 (Main Line-1) project from Karachi to
Peshawar. The finance minister further said the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and Hyderabad-Karachi motorway projects were also taken up during the meeting and the KCR would soon be in the implementation phase. Responding to question, Ishaq Dar said Saudi Arabia had also given a positive response to Pakistan’s request for increasing its financing by another $3 billion to $6 billion and doubling its deferred oil facility of $1.2 billion. He further said that Saudi Arabia would also construct a Petrochemical
Complex in Gwadar at an estimated investment of $11 to $12 billion. Resolve to pRoceed with pRivatization pRocess: Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue expressed resolve of the government to proceed further for the privatization of loss-making state entities. He also impressed upon the Privatization Commission to frame up modalities to overcome bottlenecks hampering the smooth expeditious privatization. He further extended his full support and cooperation.
Pakistan, UAE agree to further deepen mutual cooperation in all fields ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
LAHORE: PTI leaders including Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Sheh Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Shafqat Mehmood and others addressing PTI workers protesting against attack on life of Imran Khan, at Liberty Chowk. photo by zubaiR Mehfooz
Punjab govt likely to remove IGP Faisal Shahkar LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Taking congizance of refusal by IG Police Punjab to register FIR of attack on PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other participants of the PTI long march, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi, who is also a son of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Ealhi, held an important meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore. During the meeting, matters pertaining to the registration of FIR following an attack on Imran
Khan and others issues came under discussion. According to sources privy to the matter, the former prime minister also directed Moonis Elahi to remove Inspector General (IG) Punjab Faisal Shahkar from his post. Moonis Elahi accepted Imran Khan’s demand and assured him the removal of IG Punjab Faisal Shahkar. “Pervaiz Elahi was made the chief minister of Punjab because of you,” he said, adding that they [CM Punjab] will implement on his directions. The difference with IG Punjab surfaced after he refused to register FIR of attack on Imran Khan during PTI long march.
Pakistan and the UAE have agreed to further deepen mutual cooperation in all fields including economy, trade, energy and investment. The understanding was reached at a meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of annual Sir Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to the UAE leadership for their generous support for the flood affected people of Pakistan. He said, “This is a manifestation of the deep and time tested brotherly ties between the two nations that have always stood by each other in hour of need. “UAE is one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance during difficult times”, he lauded. Bilawal Bhutto congratulated his UAE counterpart on the successful hosting of the annual Sir Bani Yas Forum. Both Foreign Ministers emphasized the vital importance of Pakistan-UAE relations and agreed to further deepen mutual cooperation in all fields, including economy, trade, energy and investment. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need for increased volume of trade and investment between the two countries. The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue close collaboration between the two brotherly countries.
In meeting with family, Imran assures Moazzam’s heirs of support for life LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief (PTI) Imran Khan on Saturday met with the family member of slain PTI worker Moazzam Gondal, shot dead during attack on the life of the PTI chairman during long march in Wazirabad. On the occasion, the PTI chief provided financial assistance of Rs10 million to the mother of the deceased Moazzam. According to details, PTI Chief Imran Khan met with the children, mother and
brother of the deceased PTI worker in Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore. The PTI chief expressed his grief and sorrows over the “unwarranted” demise of Moazzam in the attack on PTI chairman during long march in Wazirabad. The PTI chairman hugged the children of the deceased PTI worker and assured his mother of the full support for the family. Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Punjab government on Saturday announced to provide the family of the deceased worker Moazzam, who was shot during attack on PTI chairman with financial support of Rs5 million each.
According to details, PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Hammad Azhar met the family members of the deceased PTI worker Moazzam. They gave the cheque of financial assistance to Moazzam’s father Nawaz Gondal. The PTI leaders told Moazzam’s family that the party would continue their financial support for the heirs of the deceased workers in the future as well. PTI supporters took to the streets in different parts of the country against the attack on the party chief and former premier Imran Khan during the long march.
02-03 NEWS 6 NOVEMBER_Layout 1 11/6/2022 1:39 AM Page 2
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
NEWS
3,000 yATREEs REACh ToDAy: MInIsTER oRDERs To PRoBE InTo sPECIAl TRAIn’s DERAIlMEnT LAHORE
P
Staff RepoRt
AKISTAN Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday constituted an inquiry committee to reveal causes and fix responsibility for negligence in the derailment of a special train, carrying Sikh yatrees. According Pakistan Railways sources, the investigation committee would comprise of chief operating officer (COPS) safety, chief engineer (CEN) open lines and chief mechanical engineer
Islamabad Ig announces containers removal, return of sindh policemen ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Inspector-General (IG) of Islamabad Police on Saturday announced removal of all barriers around the capital territory and return of the Sindh policemen. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police IG said that he is extremely thankful to the Sindh police, FC and Rangers personnel for their cooperation. According to details, the IG Islamabad has ordered the removal of all containers placed around the capital territory, specifically at city entrances and exits. The containers were places to curb the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march from entering the capital territory. Sindh Police, FC, and Rangers personnel were also position in the capital territory to ensure law and order in the area. However, the PTI long march, after an attack in Wazirabad, was postponed until the PTI Chief recovers from his injuries. PTI Chief Imran Khan was shot in his leg in an attack carried out by an attacker near Wazirabad. Additional contingents of Sindh police were sent to the federal capital Islamabad ahead of the expected long march of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on October 25. Earlier, 90 platoons of FC and 2,667 Sindh police personnel were already placed in Islamabad ahead of PTI long march.
(CME) carriage which will present its initial report within three days. It is important to mention here that nine coaches of Nankana Sahib bound Sikh Special train, coming from Karachi, derailed between Shorkot and Pir Mahal Saturday morning at 7:55. However, luckily no causality or injury was reported in the incident. The PR shifted several of the passengers to safe coaches which later left for Nankana Sahib at 9:55 am. However, arrangements have been made to transport other passengers to their sacred place Nankana Sahib.
A Unique Collection of Personal Letters Title: Khutoot-e-Mashaheer Banaam Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Baloch Compiler: Muhammad Raashid Sheikh Publisher: Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch Research Foundation, Haiderabad Sindh
Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch (1919-2011) was a preeminent polyglot scholar, researcher, intellectual, educationist, lexicographer, and man of letters. He was born in district Sanghar, did his matriculation from Naushahro Feroze Madressah & High School (1936) securing first position in the province of Sindh, BA (Hons) from Bahauddin College, Junagadh (1941) securing first position in Bombay University, MA (Arabic) from Aligarh Muslim University (1943) again securing a first class first alongwith an LL.B. degree also, and finally obtained a Ph.D. degree in teacher education from University of Columbia, New York (1949). Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch worked as OSD
3,000 indian sikh yatRees to Reach pakistan: As many as 3,000 Sikh yatrees will enter Pakistan from India through Wahga border crossing on Sunday (today) to participate in the 553th birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Habibur Rehman, members of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and board officials would receive the yatrees. Additional Secretary Shrines Rana Shahid said that on the directions of the ETPB chairman, all arrangements including security of the yatrees had been completed. The main ceremony of the birthday of Baba Guru Nankana would be held at Janumasthan Nankana Sahib on Nov 8 in which different religious, political and minority leaders would participate.
World leaders show support, solidarity with injured Imran Khan ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
World community continues to denounce gun attack on former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan and the governments of Japan, Qatar, Unite Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Ethiopia contacted PTI chief and recorded solidarity with him. The Japanese government has condemned the attempt to assassinate Imran Khan during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’ (PTI) long march. A statement released by the Japanese embassy said Tokyo’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi sent a message concerning to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Japanese minister said that he was “deeply shocked and saddened by the shooting which took place on November 3 near Gujranwala”, which wounded Imran Khan wounded and killed one. “I pray for the speedy recovery of Mr. Khan and those who are wounded. I also express my condolences to the victim and the bereaved family,” said Hayashi. He stated that Japan resolutely condemns this act of violence against democracy and expresses its strong solidarity together with the government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people. He said that Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Qatar phoned Imran Khan and expresed solidarity, support and prayers. UAE crown prince Mohammad bin Zayed phoned Imran Khan and expressed solidarity, said PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry. He said that Prince Bin Zayed also condemned the attack. He added that Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamd also phoned Khan and expressed solidarity and support. Fawad said that prime minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed also called Khan and expressed support and
solidarity with the injured leader. Earlier, the United States commented on the attack on Imran Khan, urging “all parties to remain peaceful and refrain from violence”. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable”, adding that “violence has no place in politics, in any democracy, or in our society”. Former prime minister Imran Khan sustained a bullet wound to his leg after an armed attack on his
Book Review: A Unique Collection of Personal Letters
SyED AfSAR SAjID
03
in the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, GOP (1950-51), Professor of Education at Sindh University (1951), Vice Chancellor, Sindh University (1973-76), OSD in Education Ministry, GOP (1976-79), Director, National Commission on Historical & Cultural Research, Islamabad (1979-82), the first Vice Chancellor of International Islamic University, Islamabad (1980-83), Adviser, Hijra Council, Islamabad (1983-89), and the first Chairman of the Sindhi Language Authority, Hyderabad (1990-94). Muhammad Raashid Sheikh, an acclaimed literary critic, researcher and biographer from Karachi, who earlier authored four books on Dr. Baloch’s person and art, finally compiled the present book comprising a collection of some 246 letters, addressed to Dr. Baloch by a galaxy of litterateurs, intellectuals, cultural elite, scholars, and educationists from Pakistan and abroad. The book was published under the aegis of ‘Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch Research Foundation’, Hyderabad (Sindh), in 2015. The compiler recounts his quarter-century long association with Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch and graphically critiques the latter’s academic, literary, and intellectual feats in the preface to the book. He has already published four books encompassing the whole gamut of Dr. Baloch’s life, work, and attainments wherein he has also separately, though concisely, appraised Dr. Baloch’s epistolary art, and sketch-cum-travelogue writing, and enlisted Dr. Baloch’s academic and literary achievements thus: 1. Compilation of the largest Sindhi dictionary viz. ‘Jamai Sindhi Lughat’ in five volumes, later digitally condensed into three. 2. A vast collection of Sindhi Folklore in fortythree volumes with seventeen left unpublished. 3. An annotated collection of the great mystic Sindhi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s authentic poetical work titled ‘Shah Jo Risalo’, in ten volumes. 4. Co-compiler of Sindhi-Urdu and Urdu-Sindhi Lughat with Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan. 5. Publication of a good number of authentic books on the history and culture of Sindh. 6. Publication of two books in Persian
highlighting the last phase of the Persian poets in Sindh. Besides the above, Dr. Baloch authored, translated and edited a great number of articles and books on education, culture, and literary history in Sindhi, Urdu and English languages. The letters in view are authored, among others, by intellectual icons and academics like Allama Abdul Aziz Memon (the illustrious teacher and mentor of Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch), Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, Dr. Syed Abdullah, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Mumtaz Hassan, Qazi Ahmad Mian Akhtar Junagadhi, Hakim Muhammad Saeed, Dr. Mukhtaruddin Ahmad, Dr. Waheed Qureshi, Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Chughtai, Dr. Muhammad Rafiuddin, Nur Ahmad Khan Faridi, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Hakim Abdul Hameed, Hakim Muhammad Moosa Amritsari, Dr. Muhammad Baqar, Dr. Ihsan Haqqi, Dr. Muhammad Ayub Qadri, Prof. Muhammad Iqbal Mujaddadi, Dr. Muhammad Mozuddin, Ijazul Haq Quddusi, Ainul Haq Faridkoti, Prof. Muhammad Aslam, Dr. Rizwan Ali Nadvi, Syed Zameer Jafri, Dr. Wafa Raashdi, Muhammad Ismail Zabeeh, Dr. Inam-ul-Haq Kausar, Manzoor-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Dr. Syed Moeen-ur-Rahman, Prof. Pareshan Khattak, Iftikhar Arif, Dr. Tahir Taunsvi, Syed Barkaat Ahmad, Faisal Ahmad Nadvi, Syed Anees Shah Jilani, Dr. Aslam Farkhi, Raja Ram Shastri, Prof. Afaq Siddiqui, Dr.Waqar Ahmad Rizvi, Dr. Safia Bano and Muhammad Raashid Sheikh (the compiler himself). Facsimiles of some letters have also been inserted in the book to supplement the text. Letters in the book vary in length and are generally concise but communicatory. The picture of Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch (the addressee of these letters) as it emerges from a thoughtful reading of the text, is one of an astute scholar —– fecund and insightful, modest yet magnanimous, ever ready to share his knowledge and wisdom with his seniors, peers and juniors alike besides counseling them in academic matters, where necessary. In view of what has been said heretofore, the book turns out to be a true compendium of learning, enlightenment, and virtuosity which account for its lasting value.
container as he led the PTI ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in Wazirabad on November 3. He was shifted to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) in Lahore where doctors said that he was “stable and talking”. A citizen, who was later identified as Muazzam Nawaz, died in the armed attack, while 14 others, including some top leaders of the PTI including Senator Faisal Javaid, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Ahmad Chattha and Imran Yousaf, were injured.
04 NEWS 6 LAHORE_Layout 1 11/6/2022 12:25 AM Page 1
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
04 NEWS
PresIdenT ALvI InquIres AFTer Injured ImrAn KhAn’s heALTh LAHORE
P
Staff RepoRt
RESIDENT Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi on Saturday visited Shaukat Khanum Hospital to inquire after the health of former prime minister and chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan, who was wounded during a failed assassina-
KP reports 279 new dengue cases, taking tally to 19,720 PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department on Saturday reported to have as many as 279 new dengue cases in the province during the past 24 hours. According to officials of the KP Health Department, with the new 279 case, the total number of dengue cases reported in the province has now reached 19,720, adding that 13 more dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals across the KP province, taking the number of admitted patients 53. They said the highest number of 142 new dengue cases had been reported in Peshawar, with the total number of 8,141. They disclosed that 24 cases of dengue were reported in Mardan taking total tally of cases to 3,807 in the district; 31 cases of dengue reported in Haripur, which increased the number of dengue cases in Haripur to 1030. Staff RepoRt
‘PTI not to accept ‘imported’ govt under any circumstances’ LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister and Central President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab, Dr. Yasmin Rashid has said that people of the country have today took to streets to hold protest against assassination attempt on PTI chairman Imran Khan. Addressing a protest rally held from Jail Road to Liberty Lahore on Saturday, she said that PTI will not tolerate imported government under any circumstances. Dr. Yasmin Rashid while addressing the PTI workers on this occasion said that anti-national elements fired at Imran Khan. The situation in Pakistan today was so bad because of the federal government, she said and added that Imran Khan has always made efforts to promote justice in Pakistan. The provincial minister said that only PTIcan bring the country out of economic crisis. Under the leadership of Imran Khan, the war will continue until true freedom, she concluded. inp
tion attempt while addressing a long march near Wazirabad. The President and the first lady expressed their best wishes and prayed for his speedy recovery. They stayed with Imran Khan for almost three hours. The president and Imran Khan also exchanged views on the political and economic situation of the country. The president once again offered his services in his personal ca-
pacity to mediate amongst stakeholders for developing consensus on major issues. On the occasion, the president said that it was through Allah Almighty’s grace that Pakistan was saved from a huge crisis. The president once again condemned the cowardly attack on Imran Khan and called upon the government to take all possible measures to bring the culprits to justice. He said that the government should en-
sure safeguarding the constitutional fundamental rights of every citizen which included the right to peaceful assembly, safety of life and liberty, and the right to freedom of speech and expression. The president reiterated that all stakeholders should pursue their political objectives and find solutions to issues within the confines of democratic means of discussion, negotiation, consultation and deliberation.
Experts for raising awareness on fundamental rights of all ethnic groups ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
The meeting of the Commission formed in light of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order to probe the resentments of Baloch students was held here at Parliament House on Saturday with Member National Assembly Sardar Akhtar Mengal in the chair. Members deliberated upon the outline of the commission’s report in light of the discussions held during the previous meetings of the commission. The secretary of the commission briefed the members regarding the progress on the compilation of the report to be presented before the court before December 10, 2022. Prof Dr Asma Faiz, in her preliminary recommendations, emphasized the importance of acknowledgment and celebration of the ethnic diversity of Pakistan; training and orientation of the students to instill greater sensitivity and receptivity. Awareness about inclusivity and diversity be made part of the curriculum, she stressed. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed endorsed her recommendations and added that the tackling mechanism must
be institutionalized and new students should be provided with the necessary training in that regard. Former chief secretary Balochistan Nasir Mehmood Khosa called for setting up an interministerial body which includes all the relevant stakeholders on the analogy of work done for FATF delisting. He underlined that the Constitution of Pakistan has guaranteed the protection of individual fundamental human rights of every citizen. Director General Ministry of Human Rights briefed the members in detail on the international conventions of human rights to which Pakistan is a signatory. Moreover, the committee was apprised that the high court order for the constitution of the commission to examine the issues of Baloch students has been challenged by the federal government in Supreme Court. Members with a consensus decided that a letter be written to the prime minister on behalf of the commission to withdraw the government appeals in that regard. Furthermore, the commission will hold a special meeting in Quetta to meet
all stakeholders and the Baloch students. The commission also directed the chief secretary Balochistan to publicise the recently established special cells at the divisional headquarters level in the press to inform the general public so that people could reach out for the resolution of their grievances. The commission also sought a compliance report from the chief secretary Balochistan regarding the directions made in the previous meetings, to be
submitted within one week. The commission decided to seek a briefing from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) during the next meeting. Senators, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Kamran Murtaza, former Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Members, Dr Asma Faiz, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, and senior officials from the Ministry of Human Rights and Interior Ministry were in attendance.
Khosa opposes govt demand for full court to probe Imran’s allegations ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Former Punjab Governor and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Latif Khosa on Saturday opposed the government’s demand for a the formation of a full court to probe allegations leveled against institutions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. “Politicians must avoid taking political
issues to superior courts and resolve their issue among themselves.” Speaking exclusively to ARY News, the PPP leader said that there was no need for the constitution of a full court to probe the attack on former premier Imran Khan, urging the government not to take political matters to court. Latif Khosa asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to constitute government investigation commission. “Our politicians hand over their matters to powerful circles or ju-
diciary,” he said, adding that every political leader should set aside their ego and resolve their matters. In response to a question, the PPP leader termed non-registration of first information report (FIR) of attack on Imran Khan a “violation of law and constitution.” “One person also lost his life in the assassination attempt, but still a case has not been registered yet,” he regretted, adding that the Station House Officer (SHO) was bound to register a case and take action. Earlier in the
day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced writing a letter to the Supreme Court to constitute a full-court bench to investigate the allegations leveled by the PTI Chief and the investigation of the Arshad Sharif murder case. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the prime minister wished a speedy recovery for Khan and others injured in the attack and prayed for the victim who was shot dead in the attack. He urged the PTI chief to present evi-
AJK president, PM pay glowing tribute to Jammu martyrs MUZAFFARBAD Staff RepoRt
Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary and AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan on Saturday paid glowing tribute to martyrs of Jammu on their 75th martyrdom anniversary. In separate messages released on the eve of Jammu martyrs’ day, they highlighted the supreme sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri people, adding that the day was not far when Kashmiris’ sacrifices would bear fruit and they would be free from the Indian bondage. In his message, the AJK President said that more than 70 years had been passed since Indian forces invaded Kashmir illegally. The Indian forces deployed in the length and breadth of Kashmir have destroyed peace by wreaking havoc across the region. Terming India as an aggressor, the AJK president said despite the passage of seven decades India was not ready to grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination, which it had guaranteed to them under various UN resolutions. He said that November 6 (Martyrs’ Day) was an important milestone in the Kashmiris freedom struggle on which millions of Kashmiris sacrificed their lives for the love of Pakistan and freedom of the homeland from India. He said the massacre of the Muslims in Jammu by Hindu extremists was not a mere coincidence but a deeprooted conspiracy aimed at making the goal of creation of Pakistan impossible.
In a separate message, the AJK PM said that the Indian army and the puppet administration in the occupied Kashmir were engaged in their efforts to suppress the voices of those who raise the slogan of freedom. The PM said India could not dampen the spirit of freedom of Kashmiris by unleashing reign of terror in the region. Lauding the Kashmiris’ sacrifices, he further said, “The people of Kashmir are continuously making sacrifices to achieve their goal of freedom from India’s illegal occupation.” Paying rich tributes to Jammu Martyrs, Tanveer Ilyas said, “We pay our respects to the martyrs of the freedom movement, and pledge that we will keep burning the torch that these martyrs lit with their blood.” Both the constitutional and executive heads of AJK said Jammu Martyrs’ Day was being observed on both sides of the line of control with a renewed commitment to take the ongoing struggle to its logical end for which their ancestors sacrificed their precious lives. Referring to horrendous incidents of bloodshed and violence perpetuated by Hindu extremists in connivance with Dogra forces, they said, “During the first week of November 1947, the Dogra ruler unleashed havoc in the Jammu region by killing hundreds and thousands of innocents Muslims including men, women and children.” The bloodshed and violence that left indelible scars on the Kashmiris’ collective conscience, they said, found no precedent in human history.
dence to support his allegations saying “The attack is condemnable, however, when the nation is being pushed towards devastation by false narratives it is my responsibility that I play a positive role to protect the people.” Imran Khan is damaging the country through his “false and cheap conspiracies,” PM Shahbaz said. The PM also showed a video during the presser, which had a compilation of the PTI Chief’s statements about the armed forces since 2011.
Financial crisis: LG autonomous bodies refuse to transfer funds to KP govt PESHAWAR aziz BuneRi
The autonomous bodies of the KP Local Government Department have refused to transfer their funds to account one, saying that such transfer is not possible given their prevailing financial conditions. According to sources, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has been relying on the funds of the autonomous institutions of the Local Government Department to show availability of fund in its account to the State Bank of Pakistan. The government had estimated that Rs18 billion is available in the account of the Peshawar Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Services Companies, Urban Development Authorities, and Tehsil Municipal Administrations which will be transferred to the account of the provincial government, but the local bodies have refused to transfer these funds. The sources stated that the local bodies have made it clear that they do not have enough funds to meet the current expenditure, thus, it will be difficult to transfer the funds to the provincial government. Similarly, even if they provide funds to the government, there is no possibility that the government will transfer it back to the local government bodies concerned.
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
NEWS
ELahI fOrMs PuNJab TasK fOrCE TO PrEvENT rOaD aCCIDENTs IN aCrOss PrOvINCE LAHoRe
P
stAff report
UNJAB Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has took a remarkable step of constituting Provincial Task Force For Road Safety to prevent road accidents in the province. The Task Force will prepare a comprehensive plan of action for the prevention of traffic accidents and prompt steps will be taken to prevent the traffic accidents along with ensuring safety of the people in the light of recommendations to be put forth by the Task Force. A necessary legislation will also be done in this regard and the Provincial Minister Raja Basharat will be the Head of the Task Force. Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), traffic officials and other officers will be members of the Task Force.CM accorded an approval to introduce elec-
tric mini carts in place of motorcycle rickshaws. Pervaiz Elahi presided over a meeting in which it was principally decided to promote environment friendly electric bikes to reduce pollution in the province. CM maintained that electric bikes and electric cars will be encouraged in the province adding
that motorcycle rickshaws will be changed into golf cart vehicles in a phased manner. He revealed that a readable token sticker will be pasted on the vehicles after conducting their inspection and in case of the absence of readable inspection token the vehicle will immediately be put off-road.
The chief minister directed to pay special attention to the repair of roads and of government vehicles in order to reduce traffic accidents adding that the traffic police should adopt a zero tolerance policy on the matter of out of order vehicles headlights and indicators. CM asserted that a strict legal action should be taken against the underage drivers. DG Rescue 1122 Service Dr. Rizwan Naseer apprised while giving a briefing that 10 persons die and many get injured in the traffic accidents on daily basis adding that after every 2 minutes a traffic accident takes place somewhere in Punjab.CM chaired a high level meeting in which steps being taken for the road safety came under review. Chief Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, ACS (Home), Secretary Transport, senior officials of Traffic Police and the concerned officers attended the meeting.
Swati breaks down revealing family sent his obscene video featuring with wife coNtINueD FRoM pAGe 01 “You (Sanjrani) made arrangements there to protect an elder senator and your aunt (Swati’s wife). And you told me that I will stay there as there were no Supreme Court judges in Quetta,” he added. Swati was overcome with emotions again and lamented that his wife had to leave the country and move to a “safe place”. He also bewailed that his granddaughters were also “compelled to leave the country with traumas and scars”. “I am asking my God is this Pakistan where the sanctity of a husband and wife [is not safe?],” he said. This was the second time that Swati shared the account of an ordeal he allegedly went through, initially having described his “custodial torture” on November 1. Imran urges CJP to take suo motu notice: PTI chief Imran Khan, who has condemned the alleged torture of Swati previously as well, tweeted after today’s press conference, stating that “Pakistan was created on Islamic moral values of human dignity, honour of the family and inviolability of chadar and chardawari”. “What has happened to Azam Swati at the hands of the state has been a blatant violation of all these values — from being stripped naked to custodial torture and now this video where the privacy of his wife has been violated,” he wrote. “It is both shocking, despicable and utterly condemnable. No human being should have to suffer this. I call on the CJP (chief justice of Pakistan) to take suo moto notice of this,” he added. Later, Imran added: “I want to apologise on behalf of Pakistan to Mrs Swati, a very private, non public, tahajut guzaar lady for the pain, anguish and sense of humiliation she is having to suffer.” Sanjrani forms parliamentary committee to examine Swati’s video claim Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani Saturday announced to form a parliamentary committee to examine Senator Azam Swati’s leaked video issue and then compile a report. In a statement, he said, members of all the political parties in the Senate would be part of the parliamentary committee. He said the committee would prepare the report and present it before the House. The chairman said the issue of the video leak of Azam Swati was “shocking”. “Senator Azam Swati is like my elder brother while his wife is like my aunt; I have family relations with him,” Sanjrani said. Swati video ‘fake, edited with deep fake toolS’: fia
Hours after Swati’s press conference, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) issued a press release, stating that the “obscene” video circulating on the Internet has been “forensically analysed” and was “found to be fake”. “The initial video/audio and frame-to-frame forensic analysis has been carried out on the viral video as per International Forensic Analysis standard,” the agency stated. “Initial forensic analysis revealed that video has been edited and different video clips have been joined with defaced faces. “Further analysis revealed that faces have been swapped in the images using Photoshop. The press conference by the honorable senator, in which he has showed his concerns warrant a proper investigation. Mr. Azam Khan Swati is requested to lodge a complaint with FIA and share his concerns about the reason of thinking it authentic.” “Prima facie, it is a fake video, edited with deep fake tools to create misunderstanding and defame the senator,” it added. CondemnationS pour in from all quarterS: PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar shared a clip from Swati’s press conference and termed it a “slap on the face of the Senate chairperson and entire parliament”. Meanwhile, journalist Mazhar Abbas said Swati’s “video statement should be an eye opener for every democratic and rights activist. [I] wonder how come someone like Senator Pervez Rasheed is silent as he himself had faced such humiliation. This is not acceptable”.
Power Minister Khurram Dastgir said he shared the anguish of Swati and has requested the Ministry of Interior to “investigate gross invasion of privacy, inform people of the facts and penalise the perpetrators”. PTI leader Maleeka Bokhari questioned, “Can the guardians of fundamental rights — the honourable chief justice and other Judges remain silent on the torture, humiliation, sexual abuse and assassination attempts of members belonging to Pakistan’s largest political party?” “The CJP had the privilege of exercising suo motu powers which are now defunct,” she added. PML-N’s Miftah Ismail also joined others in condemning the alleged incident narrated by Swati. Quoting a tweet by Imran, he posted: “I have never felt the urge to retweet Imran Khan but here I have to agree with him. The video of Begum Azam Swati is clearly beyond the pale. “I feel ashamed that an honourable woman can be so humiliated in my country. This madness must stop.” PTI leader Hammad Azhar, meanwhile, demanded the resignation of Senate chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani. Another leader from the party, Fawad Chaudhry termed the entire situation “tragic”. He noted that Swati’s account showed that the “guesthouses of the Supreme Court are completely covered by hidden cameras” and private videos were recorded at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as of SC judges. “This is a tragic situation,” he regretted. Former education minister Shafqat Mahmood said he was “shocked” at the release of the “terrible video”. “No words really to express how tragic it is. What low depths have people sunk to.” MQM-P’s Faisal Sabzwari said he was extremely sorry for the pain Swati and his family was going through and urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to “order highest level inquiry on the accusations”. Journalist Hasan Zaidi termed Swati’s press conference “heart wrenching” and condemned the alleged filming of him and his wife. “Whatever one may think about his politics, this can only be condemned in the strongest possible way. This is completely beyond the pale of all ethics and morality,” he said. Journalist Zarrar Khuhro said he had no reason to doubt Swati’s account and termed the alleged incident “shameful and disgusting to the extreme”. He said it “merits a suo moto by the Supreme Court which should direct the investigation into this atrocious act as soon as it can”.
Robbers sweep Jewellery shop in Karachi KARAcHI stAff report
Four armed robbers looted gold and cash worth millions or rupees from a jeweller’s shop on Tariq road in Karachi on Saturday. In the CCTV footage of the robbery went viral on social media, four robbers looted a jeweller’s shop in Karachi’s Tariq Road area. According to details, the robbery took place at 7pm in the evening when two robbers entered the shop, followed by two
other armed robbers after a moment. The robbers also took away the customers’ mobile phones and wallets as well while the jeweller claimed, gold worth Rs2 million and Rs0.2 million cash was looted from his shop. Earlier, the biggest-ever burglary in the current year was reported in Karachi when unidentified criminals looted nearly 12kg gold from a jewellery shop located near Teen Talwar (three swords) monument. Unidentified criminals broke into a gold
jewellery shop near Teen Talwar monument in Karachi and went away with nearly 12 kilograms of gold worth more than Rs100 million. A case was registered at the Clifton police station over the complaint of Asif who stated in the First Information Report (FIR) that he returned to his home after closing the jewellery shop before iftaar on May 3. He added that he found four locks of his gold jewellery shop broken on the next day on May 3. The burglars had stolen nearly 12kilogram of gold jewellery.
05
Dengue rapidly spreading in IIOJK as occupational regime in slumber SRINAGAR Agencies
Dengue virus is rapidly spreading in across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as 903 fresh cases were reported in the territory during the last week. According to Kashmir media service, these fresh cases took the tally of total dengue patients reported so far to 5,908. The media report quoting an official said that around 19,589 tests were conducted so far out of which 5,908 tested positive. However, the occupational regime remains in deep slumber and no response has been recorded to curtail the dengue disease.
Centre suspends Lahore CCPO ISLAMABAD stAff report
The federal government on Saturday suspended Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, a day after Governor House came under attack. According to details, the establishment division has issued a notification to suspend the 21-grade officer of the police service. “Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan presently serving under Government of Punjab, is placed under suspension, with immediate effect and until further orders,” the notification stated. Earlier in the day, the administration of Punjab Governor House sought additional security from the provincial government following the protests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers outside the building. The Governor House’s administration sent a letter to the chief secretary and Inspector General (IG) Punjab police to increase the police contingents due to the deteriorated law and order situation. In its letter, the administration stated that PTI workers vandalized the assets and damaged the security installations after burning tyres at the Mall Road Gate of the Governor House. It added that the outrageous crowd tried to break the Governor House’s gate. The administration asked the provincial authorities to increase the police deployment at the building. Moreover, it was learnt that consultations are underway to hand over security duties of the Punjab Governor’s House to the Centre. The security duties of the Governor House in Lahore are likely to be handed over to Rangers or Frontier Corps (FC).
10 PML-N workers among 85 booked for attack on PTI protesters FAISALABAD stAff report
The police on Saturday claimed to have booked 85 suspects including 10 Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) workers for alleged torture and firing on Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) workers in Mamu Kanjan area of the industrial city yesterday. According to police, the PTI workers came under the attack during protest against the assassination attempt on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Mamu Kanjan area of Faisalabad. Several workers of the PTI were injured in the attack. Following the attack, the Mamu Kanjan Police registered a case under three sections of the PPC against 85 persons including 10 PML-N workers. The police registered the case on the complaint of a citizen Qudratullah whose nephew Gul Nawaz lost of his eyes after being tortured by the accused. The police have registered the case against 10 nominated and 75 unidentified suspects. The violent incident took place when PTI workers were protesting against the gun attack on Imran Khan. Yesterday, unidentified assailants had opened fire at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in in Faisalabad against attack on party chief Imran Khan during long march. Abu Bakar – a PTI leader – said that the attackers came in a jeep and opened fire at the participants of the protest, wherein former federal minister Farrukh Habib and MPA Mian Waris were also present. Abu Bakr further said that the attackers fled towards the camp of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah after opening fire. He also accused the police of taking instructions from somewhere else.
06-07 Comments - 6th November 2022_Layout 1 11/6/2022 12:15 AM Page 1
Sunday, 6 November, 2022
06 COMMENT
Between the Muslims and Islam: A missed boundary
Spoiling the case Imran’s assailant getting help from the PTI itself?
T
he shenanigans over the registration of the FIR in the case of the attempted assassination of Imran Khan may end up spoiling the case against the assailant so much that the police may have to let him go. That would be a pity, because he has recorded a videoconfession, but the police are running out of the time they can hold him because he cannot be charged without a First Information Report (FIR). That FIR has not been filed because the victim, PTI chief Imran Khan insists on nominating a serving officer, the ISI’s DG ‘C, along with the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister. Punjab Chief Minister Pervez elahi is refusing the registration of the FIR of the last-named, who is a serving Army officer. The PTI chief is in something of a bind, for normally if an ShO refuses to register an FIR, a complainant can take recourse to the appropriate magistrate and apply for the filing of the FIR. however, for that to happen, an application has to be made to the ShO, who has to reject it. That application has not been made. The problem of not filing the FIR has many ramifications. The first is that no Joint Investigation Team has been formed. The second is the physical or judicial remand of the three men arrested after the incident, has not been granted, and the police force responsible cannot begin investigations. Another hurdle has been the failure of the police to have a medicolegal examination of the victim, in this case Mr Khan, conducted. It is perhaps not possible to over-emphasize the importance of this examination. Its purpose in the case is vital, but at this stage it is absolutely essential not just to register an FIR, but to the further proceedings of the investigation. It so happens that such an MLe can only be conducted at a government hospital. The Shaukat Khanum Cancer hospital, where he went after the attempt, is a private hospital. It has been suggested that he be examined there by government doctors, but the opportunities opened even to a pedestrian lawyer of challenging the MLe in court, and thus undermining the prosecution case, are too vast to be ignored. The initial investigation is exceedingly important. however, is it being efficiently conducted? has the crime scene been properly preserved, and evidence collected from it? The FIR is important, but it is not immutable. The investigating officer, who has not been designated yet because no FIR has been registered, can file supplements, such as of other possible miscreants not initially nominated. high-profile accused can be left to that stage of the investigation, if evidence does emerge.
The West must not judge Islam by the Muslims amna Shehzadi
T
he Islamic teachings about different subjects generally associated with Western values or systems like on human rights or democracy are highly debated across the globe. There are countless researches on Islam and its teachings about human rights, especially related to those of women; there are scholarly writings examining the compatibility of Islam and democracy and again, there are a lot of concerns about Islam’s alleged association with terrorism. In other words, Islamic teachings or principles are highly debated by international scholars, mostly by the Western, and clear distinctions are made or explored between Islamic civilization and the West. Interestingly, while taking Islamic teachings as objective in many cases, international scholars have drawn different conclusions about the same subject. For example, while examining the relation between Islam and democracy, a special report titled Islam and democracy, published by the United States Institute of Peace concluded that the nondemocratic nature of government in Muslim countries has more to do with historical, cultural, political and economic factors than with the religious one. There are many scholars like huntington, Lipset, Lewis, Pipes and the list continues, who, while examining the compatibility of Islam and democracy reached to a conclusion that Islam and democracy are incompatible. On the other hand, there is a good number of those scholars, such as Kramer, halliday, esposito and Voll among many others, who believe that Islam and democracy are not conflicting with each other. The conclusions are different and this is obviously understandable as the researchers have used different variables or parameters to examine the relation between Islam and democracy. The scientific data gathered on different variables mixed with the interpretations of researchers could inevitably bring different extrapolations forward but as far as the understanding of Islamic teachings is concerned, many scholars use the Muslim practices as sole determinants, which is irrational. here, the debate is not about the compatibility of Islam and Western civilization rather the point highlighted is that Muslims are the humans who have entered into Islam and Islam is a religion which is differently interpreted by Muslims. To what degree they enter into Islam determines how well they practice what is preached– the failure to do so has created a gulf between Islamic principles
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi
Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
Umar Aziz
Joint Editor
Joint Editor
Executive Editor
and Muslim practices. even the principles are interpreted differently; on the basis of difference of interpretations and certainly beliefs, Muslims have divided themselves into different sects. A step ahead is that, at a broader level, on the basis of Muslims perceptions about Islamic teachings, their interpretation and will of implementation of Islam, there are different categories of Muslims like conservatives, reformists and secular. This doesn’t end here, on the basis of Muslims’ misinterpretations of Islam, there are further different terrorist groups in which Muslims have been manipulating Islamic ideology as a motivation for spreading terrorism which is then used as a bridge by the West to link Islam with terrorism. In short, Muslims interpretations about Islamic teachings are different and ultimately translate into a diversity in their practices. But, as far as Muslim practices are concerned, they are not always, in fact, rarely, aligned with Islamic teachings– not even with their own interpretations of Islam. Moreover, the phenomenon of politicisation of Islam is witnessed to grow in Muslim states where Islam is used by the politicians as a tool to serve their interests. Additionally, more of the Muslim societies are following their cultures which are highly influenced by the Western culture. Similarly, the Muslim economies are highly inspired by capitalism which involves interests and accumulation of wealth in a few hands, not being absolutely aligned with Islamic economic teachings which allow growth but encourage distribution of wealth. The point must be understood that there is an unseen boundary which differentiates Muslim practices from those of the Islamic teachings, and all that today’s Muslim does is not taught by Islam and all that Islam teaches is not purely done by the Muslims. In fact, there is not a single Muslim country which is fully following the teachings of Islam.
Therefore, the debates on Islamic teachings versus the Western system should either use primary source of Islam such as the Quran, for understanding Islamic teachings or if not, at least the debaters should demarcate a boundary between the Islamic way and the Muslim way of dealing with state or societal matters or they can also shift their debates to Muslims practices versus Western civilization. To interpret on the basis of interpretations of Muslims about Islam, or using Muslims’ practices as a source of interpreting Islamic teachings is not a rational approach. If Muslims misinterpret Islam and make it a motivation for spreading terrorism, such as Al-Qaeda, which is considered a terrorist organization by international scholars, then it must be understood that neither all the Muslims are members of these organizations nor do all the Muslims support them. There are only a few Muslims who perceive that their acts are rightful. So, at the end of the day, these are Muslims who are misinterpreting, more importantly, manipulating Islam for serving their cause where Islam itself, remains the same for all and is not different from its essence, rather it is perceived or interpreted differently. Therefore, Islam should not be blamed for that which means that the Western conception about Islam which has generated the concept of Islamophobia needs to be revised by them. In order to compare Islam with western civilization, or understand the convergences and divergences in Islam and the West, scholars must understand Islam and Islamic teachings objectively and contextually, rather than solely drawing conclusions from Muslims and Muslim practices even then, we cannot expect that scholars would get to the same conclusion and by the way, this is not required, but at least one could see an unbiased image of Islam. Finally, its about time Muslims accept the responsibility to bridge this widening gap between Islamic teachings and Muslim practices, and emerge as the true representatives of Islam.
Even then, we cannot expect that scholars would get to the same conclusion and by the way, this is not required, but at least one could see an unbiased image of Islam. Finally, its about time Muslims accept the responsibility to bridge this widening gap between Islamic teachings and Muslim practices, and emerge as the true representatives of Islam.
The writer is a freelance columnist
Why Russia is trying to capture eastern Ukraine? The Donbas is key for Russia
Shahzadi irrum
T
he War in eastern Ukraine is an armed conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine, part of the wider Russo-Ukrainian War. Since 2014, Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russianbacked separatists to stop them from gaining control over much of the two heavily industrialized regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as Donbas. The initial aim of Russian leaders was to invade Ukraine and overthrow its government, ending for good its desire to join the Western defense alliance NATO. After a month of failures, Russian President Vladimir Putin abandoned that plan to capture the capital city
Kyiv, and focused all his attentions on Luhansk and Donetsk. Seizing control of these territories has since become a primary goal for Russian leaders and now these areas are the main battlefield for europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II. On June 29, Putin declared that the crucial goal of the Russian war in Ukraine is the liberation of the Donbas, the protection of its people and the making of situations which would guarantee the security of Russia itself. When Putin talks about Donbas, he is not only mentioning Ukraine’s coal and steel-producing area, but also the strategically important eastern part of Ukraine, which runs from outside Mariupol in the south all the way to the northern border with Russia. The people of Donbas are mainly Russian-speaking. After seizing the control of Crimea in 2014, Russian proxy forces have captured more than a third of Ukraine’s east in a war that has not come to an end so far. The Russian proxies created people’s republics in that region that the majority of them did not accept and Russia now plans to capture the rest of the east as well. Luhansk and Donetsk may be mostly Russian-speaking, but they are no longer pro-Russian. By late March 2022, Russia claimed that they controlled 93 percent of Luhansk and 54 percent of Donetsk. In April Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russian forces have started the war for Donbas, for which the Ukrainian forces are prepared. Russia is far from conquering the entire area, although if it captures the two big twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, then the whole of Luhansk will be under its control. To gain control of the eastern Ukraine is not only key for Russia in terms of its military strategy, but also it has a significant economic value. First, the Donbas region is a heavily industrialized region that is known for coal mining. Large coal reserves are present there that Russia could potentially access if it annexes the entire region. Second, Russian strategy is to capture all of the Donbas region that allows Russia to build a “land bridge” to
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
I
Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9
I
Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2024,- a vital military and trading centre for Moscow on the Black Sea. Third, the reason behind capturing the eastern Ukraine is that Russia’s self-proclaimed “defense” of ethnic Russians in the Donbas has been a large part of its justification to invade the region. Since Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have been the areas of conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. Figures vary, but during the prolonged but lower-level conflict in the region, it is estimated that around 14,000 people have been killed so far. After so much destruction in eastern Ukraine, now the words of the Russian leaders sound very hollow when they say, “Neither our aim is to occupy the Ukrainian territory nor do we want to impose anything on anyone by force.” The Ukrainian crisis, however, became a spark that made previously accumulated problems explode, ensuing in rising tensions between Russia and the Western world, while Ukraine has been converted into a playground between the european Union, the USA, and the Russian Federation. To solve this problem Ukraine would need a major build-up of its forces to take back the occupied territories. Russia knows it cannot conquer all of Ukraine, that’s why it will be focusing all its attention on Donbas and turning the Ukraine war back into a frozen conflict. Because thousands of soldiers have been killed, billions of dollars’ worth of military supplies have been wasted and entire cities have been bombarded continuously, and for coming up on a year now, Russia’s intense military campaign in Ukraine continues unabated. There are many predictions about when the war is going to end. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that this war could last for years, while Western intelligence agencies have reportedly said that Russia may lose its combat capabilities in the coming months.
There are many predictions about when the war is going to end. NATO SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg has warned that this war could last for years, while Western intelligence agencies have reportedly said that Russia may lose its combat capabilities in the coming months
The writer is a freelance columnist
Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545
I
Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk
I
Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
06-07 Comments - 6th November 2022_Layout 1 11/6/2022 12:15 AM Page 2
Sunday, 6 November, 2022
COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Tackling fault lines for national security
A revolution animated Failed assassination adds to photo finish naqi akbar
T
he year 2022 has been the year of surprises for Pakistan. After a sustained six months agitation against the established order, sometimes through the ballot and sometimes on the streets, a failed assassination attempt on the popular leader of the PTI seems set in motion the results, which many distractors of the popular leader thought, was the real goal of “regime change”, like the renowned hardware giant hP’s slogan, the “change reinvented”. As things stand, the events on the GT Road have given a fillip to the pace of events intended by people behind the scene. Invariably this is the cruel truth of fifth generation warfare, where the person being used, does not realize he or she is being used; be it an activist, a hired sniper or a journalist! Societies all over the world have set paths to change. Protests, streets protest, arson and agitation usually give way to the complete change. Apparently, Pakistan seems to be following the same path; however the former allies of the established order, now their most ferocious opponents, have followed up in the most weird manner; a manner which again suggests that what is being played out is not anything spontaneous or popular, rather it can be safely termed as a unique case of a fifthgeneration agitation which can deliver results; in the case of Pakistan; the return of the PTI to complete what it has been calling the revolution which Pakistan direly needs. It may be added that the PTI recipe of change might have many stakeholders other than the people of Pakistan. The world has witnessed these trends in the form of color-based revolutions; like purple, orange or green as well as those associated with a particular date like this date of March or that date of Khordad (Persian calendar). No doubt that Pakistan is at the make-orbreak point. It can disintegrate into many units; face civil war and even occupation; however, that position does not explain the fact that anyone crying revolution may be taken on board by the changehungry masses and placed on the proverbial throne of Islamabad. The fifth-generation agitation has already taken its toll in many ways; the implications of the same have been discussed in detail in the previous columns on
this page; like the ever-increasing polarization of the masses; coupled with complete lack of tolerance for the opposing views. If the western democracies pride themselves for infusing the workability of the democratic culture with economy and polity, Pakistan looks like a laboratory for democracy gone berserk. Stooping to the lowest rung of argument is commonplace here. Resorting to abuse is a normal activity in pages emanating from Pakistan when viewed in social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. however, along the G T Road near Wazirabad, Pakistan, no one has been sure about the predicted pace of the revolution march; what next! What is happening almost every day until Thursday was that the elite political leadership scales the container for a Matinee entertainment show, followed by firebrand speeches and finally moving back to the hearth. even that possibility is open to question, given the assassination attempt on Khan. however, the scenes after the attempt on Khan on Thursday illustrated the point once again of the wide gulf between the leadership from the elite and the common man on the street. Tabdeeli or revolution might have changed the things in name, but that has failed to bridge the gap between the elite and the poor, the haves and have–nots, in a practical sense. As people are in a frenzy over the attempt on life of their leader, the leadership now in the name of security is still more inclined to maintain a distance. For the Pakistani political elite, including the leader of Azadi march, people are human cannon fodder, the number of heads, which need to be shown in a proverbial manner to claim victory. Going one point further, the situation points to the fact that the elite political leadership is not interested
No doubt that Pakistan is at the make-or-break point. It can disintegrate into many units; face civil war and even occupation; however, that position does not explain the fact that anyone crying revolution may be taken on board by the change-hungry masses and placed on the proverbial throne of Islamabad.
in a mass following and a real change of sort; rather they just want a show of heads or swords to claim victory for themselves. In the parallel history along with the genuine political movements, such show of crowd has been a convenient cannon fodder for the coup makers too. The 1953 coup, which overthrew Mossadegh and restored the Shah, was the first instance of what a fifth-generation revolution or coup looks like. That overthrow had the crowd, womenfolk, clerics, street strong arms and all types of human fodder, which might have been needed to make the case of the Shah stronger. Imran Khan’s unceremonious departure from Parliament was not the result of a street agitation, rather an instance of mature constitutional procedure. That departure in no way resembled the Mossadeq exit. Rather the restoration of the Shah looks strikingly like that of the muchawaited restoration of Imran Khan as the expected chief executive of Pakistan. So, should we conclude that the tiring route of six months’ agitation was designed by someone from within the corridors of power to bring back Khan with a resounding landslide, enough to transform Pakistan as the local powers or the distant powers want the country to be. The shot in Wazirabad has at least confirmed a landslide in any fair or engineered elections. Rather a failed assassination fits in into the intended pattern of building up sympathy for a political trend, which might not have grossed much in fair weather. Is it to be expected in the next few days, week or even a month that there will be nothing but coup attempts painted and marketed as revolution? That revolutionary brigade like the conventional army has all one can imagine, drummers (read anchors), corner meeting orators (read senior journalists) and foot soldiers (sweating masses). Such apprehensions gain currency on the count that factionalism seems to have taken root in every institutional structure. Unusual pressers are nothing but a code call-out for the renegade elements to behave. What is happening is the fight between the groups, yet supporters call the strife revolution and distractors call it “Sedition (Fitna)”. The much-awaited revolution might never come that way, but one thing is crystal clear for the Pakistani masses; it is going to be another coup look-alike political arrangement on the back of their sweat and suffering. Not much is going to change alas!
The much-awaited revolution might never come that way, but one thing is crystal clear for the Pakistani masses; it is going to be another coup look-alike political arrangement on the back of their sweat and suffering. Not much is going to change alas!
The writer is a freelance columnist
We continue to espouse the narrative that Pakistan’s foes have been long engaged in destabilising the country, and while doing so we ignore the socio-economic, religious and cultural fault lines within that pose grave threats to national security. It is a known fact that the exterior always reflects the interior. We are the big problem ourselves whether we accept it or not. It is true that internal insecurity is best handled when we first diagnose the ills that have been challenging us directly or indirectly. For instance, there has been an issue of political confrontation and political polarisation in the country for a long time. Instead of addressing the concern that is the major obstacle in the way of any kind of reforms, our media shapes and creates public opinion without realising the horrible consequences of diverting public attention from the major challenges to our national security. Political instability leads to damaging implications in the form of economic tumult, educational loss, health issues, communal disharmony and many others that flow from a non-consensual political environment. hence, national security itself breaks down and turns into a multiplier of problems. Religious and sectarian conflicts have also polarised public opinion. It has been a lingering problem. It is like bloc politics which divides people into different groups. Some follow one religious party on the basis of their beliefs, and others follow another party owing to their attachment to its ideology. The world environment being what it is, there is little hope that Pakistanis would compromise on their ideological differences for the sake of national security. It is in this sense that we are threatened from within, not from the outside. As our society is diverse in culture, language and race, we seem to glorify the diversity while ignoring that such differences have proven to be a liability in our own history. We still have time to learn from our mistakes that we made in the realm of national security. Though the principle ‘unity in diversity’ sounds favourable to our security, it is the only thing that has been set aside the most. That is the main reason why provincialism and nationalism took roots in the federating units. Apart from these internal threats to national security, dominance of the elite feudal-bureaucratic class has caused resentment among the common populace. Disparity is indubitably a social menace. Almost more than half of country’s land and properties are controlled by the elite. Will this kind of inequality not produce agitation and resentment that, in turn, will pose a challenge of their own to national security? Gross inequality is the main culprit that needs to be taken by its horns. The sooner it gets done, the better. hopefully, we will focus on internal weaknesses before we point fingers at others for threatening us. It is time we looked within and worked to overhaul the fault lines that actually pose the most potent challenges to our national security. ABDUL QADEER SEELRO LARKANA
Bravery and sorrow JOhI, a small town in Dadu district with a population of nearly 300,000, drew global attention during the floods in 2010 for the untiring effort of its people to protect the city from floodwater by constructing a flood protection ring embankment, locally known as ‘ring bund’, without the support of any machinery. It was the month of September in 2010 when the local authorities had asked people to evacuate the city and seek protection at safer places, but the people decided to stay back and build the protection embankment around the city. People — men and women, young and old — took active part in building the protection ring which ran almost 8km around the city. Flour bags were filled with mud and placed in a particular sequence, and plastic sheets, bamboos and transitional shelter material were used. And all this was done without any heavy machinery. even when the level of floodwater increased and things got worse with heavy rains and furious winds, the people kept bolstering the ring bund for more than three weeks. That was some miracle, but the locals did make it happen. This year, it was the same month and the people of Johi faced pretty much the same circumstances. The administration again asked people to evacuate the city, and the people once again opted to stay back and save the city. The flood of 2010 was a lot more challenging than what the locals faced this year. Also, this time the local administration supported the people and provided heavy machinery in the crucial phase. however, it is a pity that while the city has been saved, life in Johi is in a mess as the area has remained disconnected from the other cities due to floodwater which is still standing around the city. The drinking water is in short supply, diseases of all kinds are rampant, and the prices of essential items have gone through the roof. Simply put, the government has failed to provide relief to the people of Johi. ALI GUL LEGHARI JOHI
Odd treatment PAKISTAN currently has 72 private and 42 public-sector medical colleges compared to 42 private and 17 public-sector facilities meant for dentistry, indicating the low priority accorded to the field. The federal health authorities have recently reduced medical and dental college admission test (MDCAT) criterion for the current year for admission to dental institutions when it should be similar to that of medical institutions. Such disparities need to be eliminated. Quality should be given weightage over quantity. Dentistry is a manually dexterous oral healthcare profession and should not be treated as some second-grade domain of healthcare. The existing four-year programme should be upgraded to five years with the inclusion of new dental specialties. All the allied healthcare professions, like pharmacy, physiotherapy and nursing, have five-year programmes, but the dental profession is continuing with the outdated trend probably due to the myopic vision of a few stakeholders because of whom the signed Charter on Dental education 2015 for a five-year programme is still awaiting implementation. There are already concerns that our dental graduates may soon face derecognition, acceptance or preference issues in certain countries because of their four-year degrees. The five-year programme will improve the clinical skills of our graduates and project a positive academic image of Pakistan at the World Federation for Medical education and other inter-national platforms. There is a need to establish a regulatory body for dentistry to address issues specific to the dental profession, licensing policy and other matters. Besides, all dental colleges should be headed only by relevant professionals. PROF SHAHJAHAN KATPAR KARACHI
08 WORLD VIEW 6th November 22_Layout 1 11/5/2022 9:57 PM Page 1
Sunday, 6 November, 2022
08 WORLD VIEW
Why MUSliMS MUSt rethink the approach to ending iSlaMophobia
mIddle eaSt eye MohaMed kozBar
i
SLAMOPhOBIA Awareness Month (IAM) is once again upon us, and as with previous years, this month encourages us to raise awareness of the threat of Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims across the UK. For those directly involved in community work and those like myself that identify as Muslim, this month is a dire reminder that not much has changed. If anything, things have only gotten worse with Muslims being the target of almost half of all recorded religious hate crimes, according to a Census 2021 report from the home Office. Though statistics can help inform our approach and response to such incidents, they alone cannot convey the severity of the situation. Islamophobic offences recorded against Muslims reached 42 percent of all recorded religious hate crimes across the country with over 3,000 recorded incidents by the police.
A STRUCTURAL ISLAMOPHOBIA: This figure means that visibly Muslim women at our mosque may constantly fear for their lives as they step outside their home. It further means that Muslim children regularly encounter Islamophobia in their schools, with some being called “terrorists” and being told to “go back to [their] country”. It means that elderly members of our congregation are left wondering if they will be the next Makram Ali as they do something as simple as exercise their right to practice the most basic tenets of their faith freely. And that’s not to speak of the structural Islamophobia embedded in institutions like our media and some politicians who whip up hatred against Muslims that justify the attacks we re-
MORE WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE SCOURGE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA, WHICH HAS BECOME SO NORMALISED AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY, IS ELIMINATED THINGS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE WITH MUSLIMS BEING THE TARGET OF ALMOST HALF OF ALL RECORDED RELIGIOUS HATE CRIMES ceive and contribute to the climate of fear that we find ourselves in that makes occasions like IAM a necessary event to mark each year. every 12 months, we find ourselves repeating the same ritualistic cycle of statements by political figures promising to stamp out Islamophobia, awareness events and exhibitions by Muslim groups, and social media campaigns to highlight the impact of Islamophobia on Muslims, only for the situation to get worse. So where are we going wrong?
work that can be done to ensure that the scourge of Islamophobia, which has become so normalised at every level of society, is eliminated. Actions such as providing a detailed breakdown of hate crime data to better direct efforts and resources, providing more resources to the police, increasing community engagement events, and regularly reviewing the police’s approach with direct input from the community, will be key to increasing trust and raising awareness of work and progress.
RETHINKING OUR APPROACH: The fact of the matter is, we need to rethink our approach to tackling this issue. Put simply, a structural issue like Islamophobia, which should be dealt with at an institutional level, is instead being managed by the community, with the brunt of the work falling on mosques, community workers, local councillors, and other community organisations and groups. For example, at Finsbury Park Mosque we regularly engage in outreach work, organising community events to raise awareness about Islamophobia, lobbying the government to take the threat of Islamophobia more seriously, and working directly with victims of Islamophobia to provide them with the support and assistance they need. This is on top of all the work we already do on a daily basis to serve our congregation and wider community. It is the work that we are proud to do, but it is one which we cannot continue to do alone. Some work has been done in recent years by different groups and institutions including local authorities to tackle the issue of hate crimes in the UK with initiatives such as hate crime training and feedback groups, but there remains more
‘TACKLING DENIALS’: This year, the theme is “tackling denials” as many, including our government, do not recognise Islamophobia as an issue that needs to be tackled. In fact, they recently dropped plans to combat anti-Muslim hatred with an official definition of Islamophobia that was promised more than three years ago. This month, we at Finsbury Park Mosque will be holding different events in partnership with our local council, Islington Faiths Forum and local mosques. These events will raise awareness about Islamophobia, shed light on the lived experience of it, and celebrate the contributions of our Muslim communities. Ultimately, the aim of our work is to make events such as IAM obsolete. We all have a role to play, and I sincerely look forward to the day when IAM is no longer an occasion that we need to mark, but one that we look back on as an important reminder of what we can achieve when we work together to tackle hate and eliminate its presence from our society. Mohamed Kozbar is a community leader and chairman of the Finsbury Park mosque in North London.
Who Will Win the US hoUSe and Senate? The New Statesman’s midterm elections forecast looks at whether the Democrats can hold the House on 8 November New StateSmaN Ben Walker
t
he US’s 2022 midterm elections are too close to call. On 8 November voters across the country will cast their ballots for their house representative, and many will also vote for a senator and governor. The Democrats presently hold a majority of just eight in the house of Representatives and their chances of holding on to that look poor, with Republicans doing better in the national polls than they did in the last election in 2020. Surveys of battleground seats show a much more nuanced picture, however, with districts previously assumed to be easily won by the Republicans looking close. President Joe Biden has pretty poor approval ratings. At the end of October 54 per cent of Americans said they disapproved of his performance as president, whereas just 44 per cent said they approved. In Britain a leader would be quite happy with that, but it compares poorly to previous American presidents. Biden’s numbers have been somewhat boosted after recent announcements and policy successes in the house and Senate, but voters typically use the midterms to send a message to the party in power. Independent voters – those formally unaligned to the Democrats or Republicans – are not as enthused about voting Democrat as they once were. But by what margin? The house elections are comprised of 435 races for congressional districts, many of which have undergone significant changes to their boundaries. The Republicans or Democrats will need 218 seats or more for a majority. Before a couple of resignations and the death of the congresswoman Jackie Walorski in the last few months the Democrats had 222 seats to the Republicans’ 213. Our forecast is for an exact reversal of that, with the Republicans taking 222 seats and the Democrats 213, albeit with plenty of extremely close races. We estimate 39 congressional districts are presently at a virtual coin-toss as to which party will win. The fight for control of the Senate is just as tight as that for Congress, if not more so. There are 100 US senators, but just 35 of the seats will be contested on 8 November across 34 states (in Oklahoma both of senate seats are up for election). At present there are 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans in the Senate, with Kamala harris, the vice-president, casting the tie-breaking vote. Our model predicts only a slight change, and the Democrats retaining control of the Senate, going up from 50 senators to 51 while the Republicans fall one to 49. Pennsylvania is the state most likely to change hands, from Republican to Democrat, at a 61 per cent probability. Wisconsin could also flip to the Democrats, at a probability of 48 per cent. Georgia, meanwhile, which voted Democrat in its special election in 2021, could also potentially flip, this time to the Republicans. here, though, we put the probability of that happening at only 39 per cent. There is also a small chance of the Republicans claiming Nevada, too. What these numbers show is that it will be an incredibly tight election. While we are presently more confident about the Republicans taking control of the house than we are about the Senate staying Democrat, plenty of key marginals are predicted to come down to the wire.
new report sheds light on pentagon’s secret wars playbook THE ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT THE US WAR IN SOMALIA WAS WAGED WITH NO CLEAR LEGAL BASIS
INtercept nick Turse
t
he United States has fought more than a dozen “secret wars” over the last two decades, according to a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s School of Law. Through a combination of ground combat, airstrikes, and operations by U.S. proxy forces, these conflicts have raged from Africa to the Middle east to Asia, often completely unknown to the American people and with minimal congressional oversight. “This proliferation of secret war is a relatively recent phenomenon, and it is undemocratic and dangerous,” wrote Katherine Yon ebright, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program. “The conduct of undisclosed hostilities in unreported countries contravenes our constitutional design. It invites military escalation that is unforeseeable to the public, to Congress, and even to the diplomats charged with managing U.S. foreign relations.” These clandestine conflicts have been enabled by the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, enacted in the wake of the September 11 attacks, as well as the covert action statute, which allows secret, unattributed operations, primarily conducted by the CIA. The United States has also relied on a set of obscure security cooperation authorities that The Intercept has previously investigated, including in an exposé earlier this year that revealed the existence of unreported U.S. counterterrorism efforts in egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. ebright documents so-called 127e programs, known by their legal designation, in those countries and 12 others:
Afghanistan, Cameroon, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Tunisia, as well as a country in the Asia-Pacific region that has not yet been publicly identified. The 127e authority, which allows U.S. commandos to employ local surrogates on U.S.-directed missions, targeting U.S. enemies to achieve U.S. aims, is just one of three low-profile efforts analyzed in the Brennan Center report. Another, 10 U.S. Code § 333, often referred to as the “global train-and-equip authority,” allows the Pentagon to provide training and gear to foreign forces anywhere in the world. The far murkier 1202 authority allows the Defense Department to offer support to foreign surrogates taking part in irregular warfare aimed at near-peer competitors like China and Russia. The report, released Thursday, offers the most complete analysis yet of the legal underpinnings, congressional confusion, and Pentagon obfuscation surrounding these efforts and explains how and why the Defense Department has been able to conduct under-the-table conflicts for the last 20 years. “The Brennan Center’s report underscores the need to shine a light on our defense activities that have been cloaked in secrecy for too long. At the bare minimum, the public and Congress need to know where and why we’re sending our service members into harm’s way,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., a member of the house Armed Services Committee, told The Intercept. “I hope this report strengthens the urgency of Congress taking back its war powers, eliminating existing loopholes in security cooperation programs, and ensuring our strategies match our values, goals, and commitment to our service members.” “Congress’s understanding of U.S. war-making is often no better than the public record,” writes ebright. “The Department of Defense’s diplomatic counterparts in the Department of State also struggle to understand and gain insight into the reach of U.S. hostilities. Where congressional oversight falters, so too does oversight within the executive branch.” ebright’s analysis is particularly illuminating in the case of Somalia, where the United States developed two key proxy forces, the Danab Brigade and the Puntland
Security Force. The CIA began building the Puntland Security Force in 2002 to battle the Al Qaeda-affiliated alShabab and later the Islamic State in Somalia, or ISS. The force was transferred to U.S. military control around 2012 and went on to fight alongside U.S. Special Operations forces for a decade. “In Puntland, we built that capability, training them at the tactical level and in how to support themselves and follow a good counterinsurgency strategy against al-Shabab,” Don Bolduc, the former chief of Special Operations Command Africa and now the Republican candidate for Senate in New hampshire, told The Intercept in a 2019 interview. ebright notes that the proxy fighters were “largely independent of the Somali government, despite being an elite armed brigade and one of Somalia’s most capable special operations units. And their relationship with U.S. forces was long kept secret, with U.S. officials disavowing the presence of military advisers in Somalia until 2014.” More troubling, her analysis suggests that for a significant period of time, there was no clear legal basis for the U.S. military to fight alongside and direct these forces. The Obama administration designated al-Shabab an associated force of Al Qaeda and thus, a legitimate target under the 2001 AUMF in 2016. That administration did the same for the Islamic State in 2014, but ISS has never been publicly identified as an ISIS-associated force by any administration. This means that the Pentagon developed and fought alongside the Puntland Security Force from 2012 and the Danab Brigade from 2011 — under the 127e and 333 security cooperation authorities — before the AUMF was judged to authorize hostilities against al-Shabab and ISIS, much less ISS. “The Department of Defense is unequivocal that it does not treat § 333 and 127e as authorizations for use of military force. The reality is not so clear,” writes ebright. “After all, U.S. forces have used these authorities to create, control, and at times engage in combat alongside groups like the Puntland Security Force and Danab Brigade.” Over the last 20 years, presidents have consistently claimed broad rights to act in self-defense, not only of U.S. forces but also for partners like the Puntland Security Force and Danab Brigade, which, ebright notes, po-
tentially allows the U.S. to fight remote adversaries in the absence of any congressional authorization. Rep. Jacobs said it was difficult to assure the military community in her San Diego district “that we’re doing everything we can to keep them safe when Congress has such little information, let alone oversight over when, where, and how we’re using military force. Attempts to avoid scrutiny from Congress – and Congress’s own abdication of our war powers – is central to how we ended up in forever wars, the spike in civilian casualties, and failed strategies that waste taxpayer dollars and fuel the very conflicts we’re trying to solve.” expansive definitions of collective self-defense of proxies are also especially worrisome in regard to the 1202 authority, which requires even less oversight than 333 and 127e and is “used to provide support to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals” taking part in irregular warfare. While patterned after 127e, 1202 is aimed not at regional terrorist groups like alShabab and ISS but at “rogue states,” such as Iran or North Korea, or near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. “The executive branch’s broad interpretation of its use of force authorities, when combined with 1202, can lead to combat, which Congress hasn’t approved, against powerful states,” ebright told The Intercept. “For the 1202 authority to have so little oversight when the risks it carries — when you’re running proxy forces against powerful, even nuclear-armed states — is a major mistake.” The report offers suggestions for improving congressional and public oversight, enforcing the balance of war powers within the government, and preventing hostilities unauthorized by Congress. “Repealing §§ 333, 127e, and 1202 would return the balance of power to where it stood before the war on terror,” ebright writes, forcing the Pentagon to convince Congress that building foreign proxies abroad is in the United States’s national security interest. This is critical given that working by, with, and through foreign surrogates and allies is key to the Pentagon’s global vision, according to the Biden administration’s recently released National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. “Both of those documents underscore that the DOD views security cooperation as the future of its approach,” ebright told The Intercept. “Meanwhile, on Capitol hill and in the broader public, we don’t have conversations about what this means, to the detriment of voters understanding where we’re at war and how this is going to affect military involvement and entrenchment abroad.”
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
09 ICCI urGEs prIVaTE sECTor To foCus on hEalThy lIfEsTylE of workErs for susTaInablE GrowTh NEWS
corporate corner
iSLaMaBaD
LARKANA: Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari visited residence of late MPA Ghulam Mujadid Isran and offered condolence to his bereaved nephew Ghulam Mohammed Isran today. She was accompanied by PPP Women Wing President MPA Faryal Talpur and other elected representatives. Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari eulogised the services of late Ghulam Mujadid Isran for the Party as well as the people of his constituency. pr
The Educators partners with Tech Valley to adopt Google as tool to enhance teaching, learning experiences
a
staff report
HSAN Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the private sector to focus on the healthy lifestyle of workers to achieve sustainable business growth. He said this while speaking as Guest of Honor at the 3rd International Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2022 organized by the Rifah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that many people at workplaces normally suffer from some common diseases including sugar, high blood pressure and stress, the main cause of which is their inactive lifestyle as most of them remain sitting for hours without any physical activity. He stressed on the employers
to focus on adopting the principles of workplace wellness to keep their employees fit and healthy. He emphasized that the employers should develop health protection, health promotion and disease prevention programs and poli-
cies to reduce health risks and improve the quality of life of their workers that would reduce direct and indirect costs such as absenteeism and improve the productivity of workers for companies. He said that employers should provide
NIH advisory alerts health authorities to rise in Seasonal Influenza
their workers easy access to health fitness facilities, organize for them seminars and workshops on health education besides arranging health insurance coverage for appropriate preventive screenings. He said that healthy workers would contribute more effectively to the growth of businesses and organizations by enhancing productivity and reducing healthcare costs. Hassan Muhammad Khan Chancellor Rifah International University, Dr. Shagufta Feroz Director Riphah Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmed and many local and international speakers also addressed the 3rd International Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2022 and highlighted the benefits of lifestyle medicines to lead a healthy life. The theme of the Conference was “Science of Preventing, Arresting and Reversing Disease”.
sub-campus of uaf to be setup in narowal to boost agricutre: ahsan Iqbal iSLaMaBaD staff report
The Educators, a network of pre-schools, primary and secondary schools across Pakistan, and a project of Beaconhouse Group, has joined hands with Google for Education’s partner in Pakistan, Tech Valley, to digitize their teaching and learning practices using Google for Education tools. An MoU signing was held in the presence of the global Google for Education team including the Director of JAPAC, Google for Education. pr
Capt (r) usman younis reviews anti-encroachment drive during CDa meeting
IsLAmAbAd: Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain (retired) Muhammad Usman Younis presided over an important meeting at CDA headquarters regarding elimination of encroachments and illegal constructions from city. The meeting was attended by Member Planning, Member Estate, DG Enforcement, CEO MCI and other officers of concerned formations. On this occasion, Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain (R) Muhammad Usman Younis issued instructions that to further improve the mechanism of the enforcement wing, the proposals should be submitted as soon as possible regarding introducing innovation and reform to deal with encroachments issue. pr
iSLaMaBaD staff report
The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory for the prevention and control of Seasonal Influenza in the wake of the expected surge in influenza cases in different parts of the country. According to NIH, the advisory aims at alerting and facilitating the health authorities and other stakeholders to ensure timely preventive and control measures, encompassing preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during the next few months. The advisory discussed that Influenza (seasonal flu) can spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminate hands or other surfaces. It said that patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lungs diseases, etc.) pregnant women, elderly people, and children under five years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated diseases. The advisory said that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk groups. The advisory emphasized that if someone
is sick or has been in close-contact with persons having a flu-like illness, he or she should adopt preventive measures for limiting Influenza transmission including frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and the use of hand sanitizer when away from hand washing facility, covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, sick patients to take rest, and avoid crowds and taking social distancing measures. Flu viruses are continuously changing with the likelihood of the emergence of new flu viruses every year. This makes Influenza an unpredictable disease with varying extent of spread, timing, severity, and length of the season. An upsurge of cases in Pakistan is usually been observed in the winter season. The flu cases increase as temperature falls during December and February. It said that the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) at the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FE&DSD) of NIH was regularly monitoring the flu situation. FE&DSD of NIH has also issued Seasonal Awareness and Alert Letters (SAAL) for awareness of public health professionals regarding epidemic-prone diseases including Influenza.
Sharjeel demands int’l doctors board to determine ‘actual’ bullet injuries of Imran Khan Karachi staff report
Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has demanded in his personal capacity to constitue medical board comprising international doctors or medical board at federal level to determine the actual no of bullets hit Imran Khan He said that on the day of the incident, it was said that Imran Khan was hit by one bullet, on the second day it was said that two bullets hit him . Yesterday , Imran Khan himself said that he got four bullets in his leg. Sharjeel Inam Memon said that it is surprising that Imran Khan was hit by four bullets, but he kept waving his hands while coming out of the container and added if Imran Khan is a supermen or iron men. The minister said that one of his legs was bandaged when Imran Khan was being shifted from container on the day of incident.
But yesterday Imran Khan had plaster on both his legs. The minister expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Sindh Archives Complex on Saturday. He questioned why the injured Imran Khan was taken to Shaukat Khanum Hospital, 150 km away, instead of being taken to Gujarat District Headquarters which is 19 km away from the crime scene. He said
whether anyother injured person taken to a cancer hospital for fisrt medical assistance? Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the current situation of the country is not hidden from anyone. Some elements are making a deliberate conspiracy to harm Pakistan and mislead the nation against Pakistan's institutions. They are plotting to create riots and bloodshed in the country. He said that
as soon as the news of the attack on Imran Khan broke, the leadership of the People's Party condemned the attack. He added that May Allah protect everyone's lives and property, but as days passed, doubts are increasing. He said that prominent journalist of the country Arshad Sharif was martyred. PTI, launched a heinous campaign against institutions in social media and statements to gain political advantage and the long march was announced immediately after the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif. He said that Imran Khan's long march completely failed, even according to our estimate, people did not come out to participate. People of his own party were saying that it will be a bloody march. He said that after the failure of the long march, it seems that conspiracy of assisination was staged for face saving and to get sympathy. He said that Imran Khan knew before the attack, one of his senator from Punjab also said the same thing his tweet. '
Federal Minister for Planning and Development & Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal Saturday said that sub-campus of University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) would be setup in Narowal to produce skilled manpower and tangible research work in the area for the promotion of agriculture. Addressing a ceremony held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), the minister said the Prime Minister Agriculture Package worth Rs1,800 billion is a revolutionary step for rehabilitation and progress of the agriculture sector. He urged the agricultural scientists to play their role for modernization of agriculture to increase the productivity. The farmers gathering was part of the eight-day activities on wheat enhancement drive launched by the UAF, the Punjab Agriculture Extension Department and other agricultural universities of the province. The objective of this drive is to inform the farming community about latest trends to increase the per acre productivity. “It is a matter of grave concern that despite being an agricultural country, we are importing edible commodities worth billions of rupees,” said the minister. The minister further added that the country imported three million ton of wheat, edible oil worth four billion ton, cotton, sugarcane and others. On the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan stressed the need for promotion of mechanization and latest practices in the agriculture sector to increase wheat production, ensure food security and poverty alleviation.
Juvenile Justice Committee set up for first time in Islamabad After four years of the passing of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018, the Ministry of Law & Justice recently notified the first ever Islamabad Juvenile Justice Committees under Section 10 of Juvenile Justice System Act 2018. The Juvenile Justice Committee (JJC) is the key pin in the transformation of Pakistan’s juvenile justice system and a consequence of the personal interest taken by Chief Justice, Islamabad High Court Athar Minallah into the conditions of prisoners, particular juvenile inmates at Adiala Jail. Following a report by National Commission for Human Rights on the allegations of torture and the incarceration of juvenile prisoners at Adiala prison, CJ ordered immediate implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018 and the setup of Juvenile Justice Committees that play a strategic role in administering ‘Diversion’, an alternate intervention that redirect juvenile delinquents away from confinement in prison while still holding them accountable for their actions. The Justice Committee constituted for each Sessions Division of Islamabad East and West comprises four members each; a Judicial magistrate with powers prescribed under section 30 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, an advocate of the Supreme Court, district Prosecutor and a probation officer. pr
pMC refutes all false information circulated on social media IsLAmAbAd: PMC sharing a formal statement regarding MDCAT, that the exam will be conducted on 13th of this month. PMC refutes all the rumours, fake notifications as baseless which are being circulated merely to misguide students and candidates about the exam. Pakistan Medical Commission has been working tirelessly for holding MDCAT 2022. Any information related to MDCAT will officially be announced by PMC. Students / Candidates are requested to ignore all such misleading and fake news and only rely on PMC official handles & news source. pr
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
10 FOREIGN NEWS
Putin endorses evacuation of Parts of ukraine’s kherson region KHERSON
r
Agencies
USSIAN President Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed the evacuation of civilians from parts of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region on Friday, the latest sign of Russia’s retreat in one of the most bitterly contested areas in Ukraine. “Now, of course, those who live in Kherson should be removed from the zone of the most dangerous actions, because the civilian population should not suffer,” Putin told pro-Kremlin activists as he marked Russia’s Day of National Unity. Moscow has already been ferrying people out of an area it controls in Kherson on the west bank of the Dnipro River, and this week announced that the evacuation zone would also include a 15 km buffer area on the east bank. But the comments appear to be the first time Putin has endorsed the evacuations personally. Russia says it has been taking residents to safety from the path of a Ukrainian advance. Kyiv says the measures have included forced deportations of civilians, a war crime, which Russia denies. Putin’s comments came amid signs Russia could be preparing to abandon its military foothold on the west bank of the Dnipro River, including Kherson’s regional capital – potentially one of the biggest Russian retreats of the war. On Thursday, Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-installed occupation administration in Kherson, said Russia was likely to pull its troops from the west bank. In later remarks, he was more equivocal, saying he hoped
there would be no retreat but “we have to take some very difficult decisions.” Late on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the fiercest fighting over the last week had taken place around Bakhmut and Soledar, in the eastern Donetsk region about 500 km northeast of Kherson. “We are holding our positions in these and a few other areas in the Donetsk region,” he said in a video address, accusing Russia of insane stubborness for sending “tens or hundreds of thousands more people to the meat grinder.” During the day Ukrainian forces had downed eight Iranian drones and two Russian missiles, Zelenskiy said. curfew: Pictures have circulated on the internet showing the main administration building in Kherson city with Russia’s flag no longer flying atop it. Kyiv has been wary, saying such signs could be Russian deception to lure Ukrainian troops into a trap. A 24-hour curfew was imposed on the city on Friday, Stremousov said, adding the measure was necessary to
defend Kherson from a likely Ukrainian offensive. Ukrainian soldiers in a mechanized infantry company dug in on a tree line west of Kherson city were confident the Russians would eventually retreat, but would fight as they fall back. Vitalyi, 48, the company’s deputy commander, said recent Russian efforts to beef up their defences appeared aimed at protecting a withdrawal rather than holding Kherson. “They have large amounts of tanks and people, but I don’t think they have a realistic plan to stay more than one or two weeks,” he said, as his men took advantage of unusually mild weather to improve bunkers and clean weapons amid thumps of intermittent artillery fire. Vladyslav, a 27-year-old soldier, said he expected the Russians would fight: “We will fight as well. We have nowhere else to go. This is our home. This is our land.” The regional capital, on the west bank at the mouth of the Dnipro, is the only big city Russia has captured intact
since its invasion in February. Its loss for Russian forces would be one of the severest blows of the war. More uS Military aid and official viSitS: The United States announced $400 million worth of additional security assistance for Ukraine, including refurbishing T-72 tanks from the Czech Republic and missiles for HAWK air defences that could be used against Russian drones and cruise missiles. The new assistance brought the amount of US military aid sent to Kyiv to more than $18.2 billion since the invasion. As it was announced, President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, in Kyiv. Sullivan affirmed that Washington will continue to provide economic, humanitarian and military aid with support from both Biden’s Democrats and opposition Republicans. “We fully intend to ensure that the resources are there as necessary and that we’ll get votes from both sides of the aisle to make that happen,” he told reporters at the Ukrainian presidential administration. Sullivan’s remarks came days before US midterm elections in which Republicans are given a good chance of taking control of Congress. This has raised concerns that close allies of former President Donald Trump, who is known for an “America First” agenda, could cut or even block Ukraine aid, which must be approved by the House of Representatives and Senate. Sullivan’s visit came a day after Democratic Senator Chris Coons and Republican Senator Rob Portman travelled to the Ukrainian capital in a bid to signal bipartisan US support.
Radical Hindu leader from Shiv Sena shot dead in India’s Sikh holy city NEW DELHI Agencies
A radical Hindu leader was shot dead in full public view in India on Friday as he protested the alleged desecration of his faith’s idols, police said. Sudhir Suri, 58, the self-styled leader of a fundamentalist religious group, Hindu Shiv Sena, was killed in the northern city of Amritsar — the site of the Sikh faith’s holiest shrine, the Golden Temple. “The assailant arrived on the spot and shot him dead in full public view,” top police officer Arun Pal Singh told AFP, adding Suri had been shot several times. The attacker was detained at the scene and was found to be carrying a licensed weapon, he said. Suri, who according to local media reports en-
joyed police protection, had sparked the anger of many Sikhs who accused him of making derogatory remarks about their faith and community. Media reports said that he was shot while protesting against what he claimed was the discovery of desecrated Hindu idols on a rubbish dump in the city. In 2020, Suri was arrested after enraged members of the Sikh community in India and abroad accused him of denigrating women and disparaging their faith in a video widely shared over social media. He was again arrested on similar accusations in July. Amritsar has seen several instances of religiously motivated killings in recent years. In September, a young man was hacked to death in full public view after being accused of being drunk and chewing tobacco near the Golden Temple.
Three members of a radical Sikh warrior sect known for its puritanical moral code were arrested for the murder. Last year a crowd beat a man to death on the grounds of the shrine after he jumped over a railing and approached the holy book with a sword. The protection of shrines is a highly sensitive issue for the Sikh faith, and the consumption of tobacco, liquor or drugs on holy ground is considered an act of desecration. The then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 after she ordered a brutal army assault on the Golden Temple to flush out separatists. Her killing sparked a bloody pogrom in the capital New Delhi which left nearly 3,000 Sikhs dead.
twitter layoffs before us midterms fuel misinformation concerns WASHINGTON Agencies
Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk has pledged the platform will not devolve into a “free-for-all hellscape,” but experts warn that mass layoffs on Friday may deeply impair the social network’s ability to curb misinformation. Twitter fired roughly half of its 7,500-strong workforce, only days before next week’s midterm elections in the United States, when a spike in fake content is expected across social media. The cuts, which comes after Musk’s blockbuster $44 million buyout of the company, hit multiple divisions, including trust and safety teams that manage content moderation as well as engineering and machine learning, US reports said. “I would be real careful on this platform in the coming days… about what you retweet, who you follow, and even your own sense of what’s going on,” said Kate Starbird, a disinformation researcher and assistant professor at the University of Washington. Starbird warned in her own Twitter post of an increased risk of “impersonation” attempts, “coordinated disinformation by manipulators” and “hoaxes that attempt to get you to spread falsehoods.” Jessica Gonzalez, co-chief executive officer at the nonpartisan group Free Press, said she was concerned about Twitter potentially loosening its content-moderation efforts prior to the election, “when we know social media goes off the rails to misinform, intimidate and harm voters of color.” “Twitter was already a hellscape before Musk took over, and his actions… will only make it worse,” said Gonzalez. – ‘Deeply troubling’ – Free Press is part of a coalition of more than 60 civil society groups that on Friday called on advertisers to boycott the platform until it committed to being a “safe place.” Members of the coalition met with Musk earlier this week after academic studies reported a dramatic increase in hate speech, Nazi memes and racist slurs after his acquisition of the company. One study by Montclair State University found that Musk’s purchase had “created the perception by extremist users that content restrictions would be alleviated.” “We met with Elon Musk earlier this week to express our profound concerns about some of his plans and the spike in toxic content after his acquisition,” said the coalition, which uses the hashtag “Stop Toxic Twitter.” “Since that time, hate and disinformation have continued to proliferate, and Musk has taken actions that make us fear that the worst is yet to come,” the group said in a statement. But Musk rejected that assessment, tweeting that “we have actually seen hateful speech at times this week decline below our prior norms,” though he offered up no data to back up this assertion. “To be crystal clear, Twitter’s strong commitment to content moderation remains absolutely unchanged,” Musk wrote on Friday. Separately, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of safety and integrity, said that combating harmful misinformation during the midterms was a “top priority” for the company. Musk, a self-professed free-speech absolutist, had promised to reduce Twitter’s content restrictions, and since the acquisition has announced plans to create a “content moderation council” that will review company policies.
Xi, Scholz meeting – a new beginning between China and west? ISLAmAbAD MiAn AbrAr
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his official visit to China in Beijing on Friday, making him the first European leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The two leaders agreed on enhancing cooperation and maintaining dialogue, rejecting decoupling and bloc confrontation, vowing to further expand cooperation beyond traditional areas into new sectors such as new energy and digitalization and increasing mutual political trust for a stable China-Germany relationship. Scholz’s visit – a short but fruitful one with great significance – is widely believed to inject new momentum not only into China-Germany ties but also overall ChinaEurope relations, setting an example for other European countries to balance their China policies, as finding a way to coexist with China also serves as touchstone for European strategic autonomy, experts said. It also sends a clear message to the world that globalization is an irreversible trend as the US ramps up efforts to gang up for form-
ing anti-China small cliques and forge a certain political correctness within Europe of defining China as a rival, and Scholz’s visit will encourage and inspire more Western countries’ leaders to increase communication with China, experts noted. During the meeting, Xi underscored the need for China and Germany, two major countries with great influence, to work together in times of change and instability and contribute more to world peace and development. China will work with Germany for a future-oriented all-round strategic partnership and for new progress in China-Germany and China-Europe relations, Xi said. Xi stressed that political trust is easy to destroy but difficult to rebuild and that it should be nurtured and protected by both sides. Noting the high degree of stability and consistency in China’s policy toward Germany, Xi called on Germany to follow a positive China policy for the mutual benefit of both countries. When it comes to China-Europe relations, Xi said China always regards Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and supports the strategic autonomy of the EU, wishing Europe stability and prosperity.
China maintains that its relations with Europe are not targeted at, dependent on, or subject to a third party. A longer-than-scheduled meeting between the two leaders conveys special significance, as officials and observers believe that it’s imperative that both sides have the chance to meet face-to-face amid the COVID pandemic and have frank discussions about bilateral relations. The consensuses reached on globalization, trade liberalization and a multi-polar world also indicated the future direction for China-Germany relations, ChinaEU ties and global affairs. Special Significance: Scholz’s visit reportedly with a high-level business delegation including carmakers MercedesBenz and Volkswagen, and chemicals giant BASF also shows how highly intertwined China-Germany business cooperation is. During the meeting with Xi, Scholz said China is an important trading partner for Germany and for Europe as a whole. Germany firmly supports trade liberalization, supports economic globalization, and opposes decoupling, and it stands ready for closer trade and economic cooperation with China, and supports more mutual investment between Chi-
nese and German businesses, he noted. “A multi-polar world is needed in which the role and influence of emerging countries can be taken seriously. Germany opposes bloc confrontation, for which politicians should be held responsible. Germany will play its role in furthering Europe-China relations,” Scholz said. As the US advances its so-called decoupling from China and drives bloc confrontation, the two leaders expressed clear opposition to it, which sends an important signal for world stability and sustainable development, Jiang Feng, a research fellow at the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday. “After full consideration, just as the US has been ramping up efforts to create a climate for a certain degree of political correctness in Europe, Germany came up with this rejection of decoupling, which should be a consensus shaped among different political forces in the country,” Jiang said. Some Western officials and German politicians have been “warily” watching Scholz’s visit, and some US media pointed out that Scholz is “under pressure from Washington, which wants Germany to get
out of China,” the NPR said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday during an ongoing G7 foreign ministers meeting in Muenster in Germany that the G7 is ready to recognize China as a “competitor” and “rival” as Japan prepares to take over the presidency of the group of nations, according to media reports. Baerbock’s Green party usually adopts harsh rhetoric on China and human rights topics. Germany’s national interests are now at risk of being taken hostage by certain political parties and individual interests, as it has been abnormal in former presidencies for foreign policy departments to speak with a different voice from the head of government, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. “Germany needs a period of time for self-adjusting. As Chancellor, Scholz has the final say and if his ideas get a positive response from the Chinese side, then ChinaGermany is moving in the correct direction, which will enhance its policymaking inside the government,” Cui said.
11 Sports 6 NOVEMBER_Layout 1 11/6/2022 12:19 AM Page 1
Sunday, 6 November, 2022 | LAHORE
SPORTS 11
England into t20 WC sEmis as australia EliminatEd SYDNEY
B
agencieS
eN Stokes hit a gutsy unbeaten 42 as england made the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals on Saturday with a tense four wicket win over Sri Lanka, shattering the hopes of defending champions Australia whose title defence is now over. england needed to win to make the last four from Group 1 alongside already-qualified New Zealand, and they achieved the feat in a nail-biting finish with two balls to spare. If they had lost, Australia would have gone through. Sri Lanka looked on track for a big total when they reached 80-2 after 10 overs, but the aggressive Pathum Nissanka was out for 67 and they crumbled to 141-8 with Mark Wood taking 3-26. england raced to 75 without loss in reply and looked on track for an easy win. But they collapsed to 111-5 under pressure from the Sri Lankan spin attack and it went to the wire. The victory was not enough to dethrone New Zealand at the top of the table with england settling for second. The fate of Group 1 will be determined on Sunday. Sri Lanka’s defeat ended Australia’s stuttering tournament, with their title defence never recovering after losing heavily to New Zealand on the opening day then having to share the points with england due to rain.
Sri Lanka, who have not beaten england in a T20 since 2014, won the toss and asked england to field, conscious that all five previous games at the ground during the World Cup had been won by the team batting first.
india aim to be clinical in t20 World Cup semi-final push MELBOURNE agencieS
All rounder Ravichandran Ashwin said Saturday India must pile the pressure on early and be clinical in their execution if they want to get past Zimbabwe and into the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals. The two sides meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday after India’s narrow five-run win over Bangladesh put them top of Group 2 with six points from four games. They will power into the last four with a victory over the Africans. On the flip side, they could still be caught if beaten, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s other games, in which South Africa face the Netherlands and Pakistan take on Bangladesh. “Simple, we need to be as clinical as possible. No teams are a brush over (in this tournament),” said Ashwin. “We have to go out there and counter that early phase with the bat and still bowl those good bowls to generate pressure. “Good teams will be clinical and pile the pressure on and it’s a must-win contest, we know that. “We’re looking forward to the game,” he added. “But Zimbabawe have played some wonderful cricket so we can’t go in there and expect them to crumble. Zimbabwe are effectively out of semi-final contention barring a mathematical miracle, but their upset one-run win over Pakistan earlier in the tournament has given skipper Craig ervine confidence they can also spoil India’s party. “I think obviously with the win against Pakistan, it’s given us a huge amount of belief that we can beat any side in the tournament,” he said. “I don’t think that will change going into tomorrow’s game.” However, ervine acknowledged his bowlers would have to be at the top of their game against the likes of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma. Kohli, in particular, is in electric form, hitting three unbeaten 50s in four matches that have made him the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history.
Nissanka pulled Stokes for an authoritative six off the second ball and two more sixes in the third over, off Wood, signalled their intent. But an aggressive 39-run opening stand
came to an end when Kusal Mendis (18) attempted another boundary from Chris Woakes and Liam Livingstone held a catch near the ropes. Nissanka kept the runs flowing but his new partner Dhananjaya de Silva
(9) slogged at a slower Sam Curran ball and was caught by Stokes in the deep. They reached 80-2 at the halfway point, but then Livingstone took a simple catch to remove Charith Asalanka (8). Nissanka brought up his second 50 of the tournament and ninth overall then crunched Stokes for six to pass 1,000 T20 career runs. But tight bowling from spinner Adil Rashid slowed the run-rate and he eventually accounted for Nissanka, who heaved to substitute fielder Chris Jordan at longon after a 45-ball knock. Sri Lanka never regained momentum, making just 25 off the last five overs with three wickets falling in the final over. In reply, Alex Hales and Jos Buttler plundered 70 off the six-over powerplay, smashing 11 boundaries in the process. Sri Lanka gave themselves hope when Buttler (28) and Hales (47) were out in the space of three overs, with the spin of Wanindu Hasaranga accounting for both of them. Harry Brook (4) quickly followed, caught and bowled by De Silva, then Livingstone (4) carelessly threw his wicket away with a slog and Moeen Ali (1) soon joined them back in the pavillion. But Stokes kept his cool as the wickets tumbled and steered his side into the semifinals alongside Woakes.
Sidra Amin on a journey to score big for Pakistan LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Lahore-born Sidra Amin has had a phenomenal 2022. The 30-year old batter has scored three centuries from 49 ODIs and all have come this year. Her unbeaten 176 off 151 balls, which included 20 fours and one six against Ireland in the first ODI on Friday, not only helped her side win by a margin of 128 runs, but also led her side to clinch important ICC Women’s Championship points. Before the Friday’s match, Sidra took part in 10 ODIs this year, and has scored 420 runs, which included two centuries – 104 against Bangladesh – the first century by a Pakistan batter in the ICC Women’s World Cup and 123 against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s Championship match at the Southend Club, Karachi in June. Her knock of 176 is the highest individual score amongst Pakistan’s batters, surpassing Javeria Khan’s 133 not out against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in January 2015. Sidra’s three centuries to-date has allowed her to pass Javeria’s record of most centuries (two) for a Pakistan batter in the 50-over format. Ireland – who are on their maiden tour to Pakistan for six limited-overs matches, will be eager to bounce back when both sides meet again for the second OneDay International on Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Recalling her innings and match-winning record first-wicket partnership with Muneeba Ali, who scored her maiden ODI century, Sidra in an exclusive conversation with PCB Digital said: “I always worked hard and prepare myself before going into the match, but this year I trusted and backed myself to do well. I have changed my approach a bit, now I am thinking about going for runs on every ball and it is paying dividends now.” Sidra, who has 1,180 ODI runs to her name in 49 matches, praised the support she received from her teammates and the confidence given in galvanising her to register an epic ton on Friday. “I am very happy with
my innings, when I reached triple figures, I had made up my mind to go for more runs and the support I was getting from the dressing room helped me to score big and achieve the record.” Heading into the series, Sidra had only played three of her 80 international matches at her home ground – the Gaddafi Stadium – and had scores of 21, 4 and 19 and these outings against Bangladesh in 2019. Detailing her struggles in the past and overcoming them to score big in Lahore, Sidra said: “I had always dream of playing here at the Gaddafi Stadium. In one domestic tournament here at the Gaddafi Stadium, I was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, then in 2019 during Bangladesh women’s series here, I could not score runs, I was dropped and eventually my name was omitted from the central contracts list. So this was in my mind, I realised, I got the opportunity, I want to do well, so the people remember my knock and so do I.” Talking about the individuals who inspired and helped her perform at this level, Sidra stated, “I would like to dedicate my blistering innings to my parents – who have been with me from the start to support in good and bad times. The captain and coaching staff who supported me by giving me a number of matches to perform. Teammates, fans and friends are important to me and I am dedicating this knock to all of them.”
U-19 four-day match: Pakistan’s position strong against Bangladesh MULTAN
In return, at stumps, Pakistan were leading by 117 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand. Wahaj Riaz (27 not out, 3×4, 1×6,51b) and skipper Saad Baig (five, 1×4 20b) will resume their batting tomorrow [Sunday].
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Under-19 made a strong back to dismiss Bangladesh U-19 to 161 and then scored 54 for two in 18 overs in it’s second innings at stumps on day two of the solitary four-day match at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Bangladesh U-19 started their first innings on Saturday after dismissing the hosts on Friday for 224. Bangladesh’s opening batter Mohammad Rizwan topscored for his side with 40 while Rehanat Borson, who bagged three wickets, was other run getter for his side with unbeaten 23. For the hosts, Abdul Basit was pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 18 runs, while Aftab Ibrahim,
Ali Asfand and Mohammad Ibtisam grabbed two wickets each.
Scores in brief: Day two of four, Pakistan U-19 224 all out, 68 overs (Mohammad Zulkifal 43, Ali Asfand 41 not out, Mohammad Ibtisam 39, Haseeb Nazim 33; Rohanat Doullah Borson 3-42, Jishan Alam 2-3, Maruf Mridha 229) and 54-2, 18 overs (Rohanat Doullah Borson 224). Bangladesh U-19 161 all out, 56 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 40, Rehanat Borson 23 not out, Jishan Alam 22; Abdul Basit 3-18, Aftab Ibrahim 2-31, Mohammad Ibtisam 2-32, Ali Asfand 2-39).
Pakistan ‘lost sleep’ over T20 World Cup losses but bounced back: Shan Masood ADELAIDE agencieS
Pakistan batsman Shan Masood on Saturday praised his team’s character in battling back to stay in the hunt for a semi-finals spot after losing their first two matches at the Twenty20 World Cup. Captain Babar Azam’s side need to win their final Super 12 match against Bangladesh in Adelaide on Sunday and for other results to go their way to grab a place in the final four. Pakistan suffered heartbreaking losses to arch-rivals India and Zimbabwe before finding form and drubbing South Africa on Thursday in a dramatic, rain-affected match in Sydney. “The timing of the losses proved costly for us because we are still not in that top two position,” Masood
told reporters. “But we haven’t lost hope. Life teaches us harsh lessons and this was one of them. The way it affected the boys, they lost sleep, their morale went down. And how we responded after those setbacks showed our character and it was a big thing. “The best to come out of failure is that you learn from your mistakes. If we look at it from a balanced point of view, then we see the team has responded well since the loss to Zimbabwe,” he said. Pakistan, currently third in the wide-open Group 2 table, can advance if India lose to Zimbabwe in the last league match on Sunday. They are also in if South Africa lose their clash against the Netherlands or the match is a washout. Masood said the way Pakistan fought back to post 185-9 against South Africa, after being in trouble at 434, and then winning by 33 runs via the DLS method had
lifted the morale of the team. “Mood is good. South Africa dominated the early stages of the game, but the way we came back and bowled well, even after the rain break, we kept up our momentum,” said Masood. “So we will focus on taking two points from the Bangladesh game and that is in our hands. Hope will always be there till the last ball is bowled in this group.” Bangladesh, who had narrow wins over the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, also have a slim chance to advance if they win against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. The Tigers gave India a scare in their previous match decided by the DLS method and are level at four points with Pakistan, but with a far inferior run-rate. But technical consultant Sridharan Sriram said he is proud of the show his boys have put on in this tournament.
Sunday, 6 November, 2022
prayer tImINgs
NEWS
PM deCIdeS aCtIon agaInSt IMran over aCCuSatIonS agaInSt InStItutIonS LAHORE
P
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday decided to initiate legal action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party leadership over the alleged anti-state and anti-institution statements in line with a statement of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to informed sources, the prime minister has acted upon a formal request from military command for initiating legal proceedings against Imran Khan and constituted a committee comprising of legal and constitutional experts to suggest the future course of action. The decision comes after the prime minister decided that the federal government would use its powers over the former premier’s “baseless allega-
tions” against the institutions. During the meeting, it was decided that in light of the statement of InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), legal action would be taken against Imran Khan and his associates for their state-
Supreme Court set to hear contempt case against Imran Khan tomorrow
ments against the state and institutions. Separately, PM Shehbaz gave a goahead for initiating legal action against PTI supporters blocking roads, clashing with security officials, burning and damaging public or private properties and
trespassing Punjab Governor House, saying that legal action would also be taken against PTI leaders and workers for damaging private properties. “Strict action will be taken against all those involved in activities contrary to the law and the constitution,” PM Shehbaz said while presiding over a meeting in Lahore, following a press conference, wherein he urged the chief justice to constitute a full-court commission to probe Imran’s allegations. Action would be taken against arson, the siege of the Governor House Punjab, violent protests in different cities. Legal action would also be taken against the leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for attacks on private properties. According to the law, action would be taken against all those persons involved in activities against the constitution.
PTI denied permission to hold long march, sit-in in Islamabad ISLAMABAD staff report
ISLAMABAD staff report
The Supreme Court on Saturday set November 7 as the next date for hearing the contempt of court case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Earlier on Saturday, Khan’s counsel filed a plea seeking deferment of the contempt of court case proceedings against him in the top court as he is recovering from the bullet injuries he sustained in an assassination attack in Wazirabad. A five-judge larger bench of the SC will resume hearing the contempt case against Khan at 11:30 am on Monday. The SC had sought a detailed reply from Imran Khan in the contempt case by Saturday. In a reply to the SC, the PTI chairman on October 31, said that he was unaware of any “statement or undertaking” given by his party leadership on his behalf related to the May 25 march. The SC had ordered that the PTI chairman and his lawyers submit an answer by October 31 on the violations committed by the party during the May 25 march, which restricted it from holding its march near the Peshawar Morr between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad. “The answering respondent respectfully submits that he was not aware of any statement or undertaking having been made before this honourable court on behalf of the ‘senior leadership of the PTI’ or on his behalf during the course of 25.05.2022 nor of the details, including as regards the D Chowk area, of the order passed by this Honourable Court around 06:00 p.m. on 25.05 2022,” said the former prime minister in his written response. It is pertinent to mention here that the top court sought a detailed reply from Khan on November 5 in this regard and adjourned the hearing. The PTI chairman, however, could not appear before the court today due to his injuries and his counsel filed a plea seeking deferment of the hearing. It merits mention that on October 13, the federal government filed a contempt of court plea against PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Supreme Court over his long march call to Islamabad. In its petition, the federal government told the apex court that the PTI chief is making announcements of marching towards Islamabad, which was a violation of a court order. “Imran Khan is making announcements to attack Islamabad,” says the plea. It urged the top court to direct the PTI chief to ensure the implementation of its orders related to protests and sitins. The petition has been filed by the interior ministry on behalf of the federal government.
The district administration of the federal capital has denied permission to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold long march protest and sit-in in Islamabad. The administration stated, in a separate petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Khan Jadoon, that there are reports from security agencies of a ‘serious threat’ to PTI chief Imran Khan’s life, hence, in view of such serious threats, they cannot give permission for a rally or sit-in. The application added that
the deposed prime minister’s container during the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ march was attacked in Wazirabad, adding that the assailant has mentioned
religious tendencies in his confessional statement. A written confession of the assailant has also been made part of the application.
Zardari assails Imran for ‘spewing venom’ against state institutions ISLAMABAD staff report
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) cochairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan of ‘spewing venom’ against state institutions. Zardari strongly condemned Imran for “crossing every line” to spread chaos in the country, according to a statement posted on the official PPP Twitter account. “This person cares neither about the wellbeing of the country nor of its institutions,” said the PPP leader, adding that Imran “sees nothing but power”.
Further, Zardari said that the survival of the country depends on the survival of its institutions and any attack on these institutions “will not be tolerated”. The former president noted that the country and its institutions have fought the ‘common enemy’ since 1947, and will continue to do so. “This time the enemy has attacked us from within,” he said, making a veiled reference to Imran Khan. He added that the martyrs and sacrifices of the Pakistan Army will never be forgotten and such ploys made by the ‘enemy’ will be defeated. Zardari’s statement came following the assassination attempt on Imran Khan on No-
vember 3. In his video message the following day, the PTI chief alleged that three people – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior military officer – were behind the attack. He asked his party workers and supporters to continue protesting against the assassination attempt until three “accused” resigned. He said the resignations of the three, who “controlled all agencies”, was necessary for an impartial probe. “Never compromise on your independence. Protest is your right,” he said, urging his supporters to “fully participate” in the protest to demand the resignation of the three “suspects”.
FAJR SUNRISE
ZUHR
ASR MAGHRIB ISHA
5:50
1:15
4:00
6:20
5:17
7:00
PM to visit egypt for CoP-27 on nov 7-8 ISLAMABAD staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be visiting Sharm ElSheikh, Egypt to participate in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit” on November 7-8, 2022. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other cabinet members and senior officials. This summit is taking place as part of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-27). At the invitation of the Egyptian Presidency of COP-27, the Prime Minister would also co-chair, along with his Norwegian counterpart, a high-level roundtable discussion on “Climate Change and the sustainability of vulnerable communities” on November 8, 2022, according to the Foreign Office. Prime Minister will also participate in other high-level events as a speaker, including the UN Secretary General’s roundtable to launch the Early Warning Systems for Executive Action Plan, and the “Middle East Green Initiative Summit” on November 7; being hosted by Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the summit. COP-27 is taking place at a time when millions of people in Pakistan, and millions more in other parts of the world, are facing severe adverse impacts of climate change. As a developing country most affected by this phenomenon, Pakistan would make a robust call, inter alia, for urgency of climate solidarity and climate justice, based on the established principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. In its capacity as the incumbent Chair of the Group of 77 & China, which is the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries within the UN system, Pakistan would also lead the Group in the climate change negotiations; including in thematic areas such as climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and capacity building. The COP is the supreme decision making body under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which meets on annual basis to review and advance collective efforts to address climate change. As a main stakeholder, Pakistan would continue to, proactively, make positive contributions to the global climate change debate, negotiations and collective action.
terming PtI’s criticism against individual as censure against institutions not acceptable: asad umar ISLAMABAD INp
Senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Asad Umar on Saturday rejected “any attempt to equate criticism of individuals with criticism of the institution.” The remarks of former minister came in response to the military’s media wing issuing a statement following deposed prime minister Imran Khan’s address after surviving an assassination bid. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in its statement maintained that the “allegations” levelled by the PTI chief against the institution and particularly a senior army officer were absolutely unacceptable and uncalled for, terming them “baseless and irresponsible”. In a series of tweets, Asad Umar stated, “The ISPR’s statement of yesterday has made unfounded allegations against Imran Khan. He has never spoken against the institution”. He said that the ISPR statements of Yate statements incumbents were concluded in all allegations against Imran Khan, he had never spoken against the against institution.” never the investigation, an organization of six organization station against the institution never the investigation against near the investigation against near the investigation. Among the near investigation placed near neared among investigation, investigation placed near among investigation, he has spoken against the six organization against the organization never the investigation against the near the investigation against near the investigation against near the investigation against near the investigation.
PM reverses PEMRA’s ban on airing Imran’s speeches: Marriyum ISLAMABAD staff report
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reversed the ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on television channels from airing Imran Khan’s speeches. The directives for lifting the ban on Imran’s speeches, issued to PEMRA, by the prime minister was in accordance with the law which granted such powers to the federal government, the minister said in a news statement.
She said the prime minister issued these directives to PEMRA by invoking its section 5. Marriyum said PM Shehbaz Sharif had also directed PEMRA to ensure full compliance of Article 19 of the Constitution. The minister said PM Shehbaz Sharif had set a new tradition by bringing an end to the bitter traditions of Imran Khan’s era. “We do not believe in what has been done by Imran Khan with Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and other political leaders during his four-year rule,” she remarked. The minister said the federal government led by Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif fully believed in democratic norms and the constitu-
tional right of freedom of expression. She said it was Imran Khan who imposed restrictions on his political opponents, leaders, activists and media during his fouryear rule. “Imran Khan was free to churn out lies against his opponents,” she said. The minister said Imran Khan’s speeches against the coalition government should reach to the public so they could know the reality of the “Fitna”. Imran Khan’s supporters, she said, would have to understand the reality of this “Fitna” and his mischief and lies. She said the current government believed in democratic norms and values, but ironically Imran Khan had a “fascist mindset”.
Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk