Epaper – April 16 LHR 2021

Friday, 16 April, 2021 I 3 Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 288 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Govt bans tLP under anti-terrorism act g

FRANCe AdvISeS NATIoNALS, CoMPANIeS To TeMPoRARILy LeAve PAKISTAN ISLAMABAD

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Staff RepoRt

meeting of the cabinet chaired

by Prime Minister Imran Khan approved on Thursday a summary from the Ministry of Interior proposing a ban on the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the provision of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

A notification in this regard was also issued by the Ministry of Interior.

The notification said the federal government “has reasonable grounds to believe that Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan is engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country, involved in creating anarchy in the country by intimidating the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of law enforcement agencies and inno-

Pakistan calls for global engagement in post-US Afghanistan ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan on Thursday called for a “meaningful engagement” of the international community to “promote reconstruction and economic development” in Afghanistan — something it stressed was important to ensure peace and stability in the wartorn country.

The statement from the Foreign office (Fo) comes hours after President Joe Biden formally announced the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan to “end forever war”, rejecting calls for them to stay to ensure a peaceful resolution to that nation’s grinding internal conflict.

Starting May 1, foreign troops under NATo command will also withdraw from Afghanistan in coordination with the US pull-out, NATo allies agreed. The withdrawal of foreign troops will be completed

by September 11.

Around 7,000 non-US forces from mainly NATo countries, also

from Australia, New Zealand, and Georgia, outnumber the 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan, but they still rely on American air support, planning and leadership.

“Pakistan has been consistently supporting and facilitating the efforts for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the Fo statement observed.

“We believe there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a negotiated political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process is important for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan,” it added.

“Towards this end, the US-Taliban Agreement of 29 February 2020 laid foundation for a comprehensive intra-Afghan peace agreement including a permanent ceasefire for bringing an end to violence in Afghanistan.”

Washington and the Taliban signed an agreement in February last year that called for the removal of the US and coalition forces from Afghanistan in exchange for the promise that the militant group would not allow terrorist groups to operate on Afghan soil.

Through the statement, Islamabad said it was important that the “withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan coincides with the progress in the peace process”.

“We hope that the forthcoming meeting of Afghan leadership in Turkey would be an important opportunity for Afghans to make progress towards a negotiated political settlement.”

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SJC acted maliciously against me, alleges Justice Isa

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Justice Qazi Faez Isa has alleged that the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) acted “maliciously” against him and never gave him the chance to defend himself, adding the SJC did a massacre of justice.

The SC judge made the comments on Thursday while presenting his arguments for a review petition against the

Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling on the presidential reference filed against him.

Criticising former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the judge said that the former top judge “stabbed me in the back” without listening to his point of view.

“My fellow judges in the SJC declared me a madman,” said Justice Isa. He further said that his fellow judge, Justice Azmat Saeed, had been a friend and had disappointed him (Justice Isa) with his judgement on the matter.

“Today, the former judge is a favourite of the ruling party,” Justice Isa alleged.

The judge complained to the bench that Law Minister Farogh Naseem had made “serious allegations” against him and his wife.

“The decision to quash the reference against me was based on the Constitution and law. My wife was not a party to the case, yet the decision was against her,”

said Justice Isa. He alleged that Naseem had “no respect for the court” and that “his ministry is more important to him”. “This is the first time that a law minister has declared the Constitution of Pakistan to be in conflict with fundamental rights,” said the SC judge. He further complained to the court asking why, even after the end of the hearing, the law minister kept submitting written arguments to the court.

He also asked why the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was ordered to complete its investigation before the detailed verdict was issued in his case, alleging that Tax Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmed went ahead with the investigations only due to the court’s pressure. He further added that President Arif Alvi “did not even bother” to respond to the three letters he sent to him on the presidential reference.

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cent by-standers, attacked civilians and officials, created wide-scale hurdles, threatened, abused and promoted hatred, vandalised and ransacked public and government properties including vehicles, and caused arson, blocked essential health supplies to hospitals, and has used, threatened, coerced, intimidated, and overawed the government, the public and created sense of fear and insecurity in the society and the public at large”.

“In exercise of the powers conferred

by Section 11B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, the Federal Government is pleased to list Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan in the First Schedule to the said Act as a proscribed organisation for the purposes of the said Act,” it added.

The cabinet also began work on preparing a reference in this regard. The reference will be presented before the

Supreme Court (SC), said reports.

Subsequently, the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) will de-notify the party on orders of the apex court. All three parliamentarians of the party in the Sindh Assembly will automatically be disqualified after the eCP notification.

Moreover, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the TLP “were adamant on coming [at the Faizabad Interchange] for the fourth time,” he said, referring to the religious party’s supporters. “This is why we took decisions to prevent that.” He also promised to visit the homes of those that were injured and martyred in the protests. He lamented the unnecessary violence and maintained that the government had not backed away from its promise to present a resolution of the religious party’s demands in parliament.

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Friday, 16 April, 2021

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Imran LaUnChes naTIonwIde sChoLarshIP Programme ISLAMABAD

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Staff REpORt

RIME Minister Imran Khan launched the Rehmatul-lilAlameen (Peace Be Upon Him) Scholarship Programme in Islamabad on Thursday, Radio Pakistan reported.

The initiative, which will help enable students from impecunious strata access quality education at the undergraduate level, will be implemented in 129 public sector universities across the country.

An amount of Rs27.93 billion has been approved for the programme which will be utilised in the next five years.

The provinces are also pursuing the scholarship programme. In Punjab, an annual budget of Rs1 billion has been

approved for the initiative while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has allocated Rs427 million. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the programme, the prime minister said that the federal government will spend Rs5.5 billion every year on 70,000 scholarships.

“No nation can progress without education,” Imran asserted, adding that the country cannot develop unless the powerful are brought under the rule of law.

He said that under the umbrella of the Ehsaas programme, several initiatives have been taken to provide relief to underprivileged segments of the society. He also said that the network of the Meals on Wheels programme will be expanded to the entire country. He also commended the governments of Punjab and KP for deciding to provide incentivised healthcare coverage to

their people. The prime minister said the government would emerge victorious in its struggle for supremacy of law. He said that no country can move forward without bringing the powerful under the ambit of the law.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said that the scholarship is a nationwide programme and will be implemented in 129 universities across the country.

He said that 50 per cent scholarships will be given to women whilst two percent to differently-abled persons. He was confident that this programme will bring revolution in the educational sector.

Speaking on the occasion via video-link, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that a mechanism has been developed so that the students can apply for the scholarship from the comfort of their homes.

In his remarks, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that they support the

federal government’s initiatives aimed at uplifting the education sector.

ISLAMABAD: An empty boat under an overcast sky at Rawal Dam. ONLINE

Health card is ‘an entire system in itself’, says Imran NEWS DESK Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the online service of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) in Islamabad on Thursday, wherein he stated that access to universal healthcare will change the lives of Pakistani citizens.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad in connection with the launch of an online service of PMC, PM Imran said that the modern system will help in improving the performance and quality of medical colleges.

“The government will stand by you and will be

at the ready to assist you in any way because your success means the success of the entire country’s health system,” the prime minister added.

PM Imran said that many developed countries do not have a universal healthcare system right now, but Pakistan, in spite of the hits the economy has taken, “is moving towards universal health coverage”. He said that the health card is a revolutionary step in Pakistan adding that the cards have been issued to all citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

“People did not have the buying power before.

Now people have the health card. The health card is not just a health card, it is an entire system in

itself,” maintained the premier.

He said that this card would cover 50 per cent of the population, who cannot otherwise access medical facilities easily. He also informed that the private sector is being incentised to provide dutyfree imported medicines.

The prime minister said that land belonging to Auqaf and Evacuee Trust will be sold at major concessions to hospitals for them to be able to easily expand hospital branches across the country.

“So the role of the PMC, as this network expands, will become all the more important,” he said.

Indian counsel opposes IHC decision in Kulbhushan Jadhav case ISLAMABAD INp

A counsel representing the Indian High Commission in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday challenged the high court’s decision to appoint a defence counsel in the case.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah headed a larger bench hearing into a case against the convicted Indian spy and heard a petition filed from the Indian High Commission against the appointment of a defence counsel for the Indian spy. The high court directed the attorney general to submit a response on the application of the Indian

authorities and said in its remarks that they were proceeding in the case as per the directions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Indian High Commission, represented

by Barrister Shahnawaz Noon, took a plea before the court that the high court was not proceedings as per the requirements of the IHC. “India has stressed upon the rights granted to its citizen under Vienna Convention and the ICJ’s decision,” he said adding that they had the right to arrange for a legal counsel for their citizen.

He further said that they do not have a ‘vakalatnama’ in the case to plead on behalf of Kulbhushan Jadhav in the case.

The high court adjourned the proceedings

for May 5, 2021.

The Indian authorities have previously avoided responding in the case and for the time approached the court saying that they have the right to provide a legal counsel to the Indian citizen. On January 14, the IHC has ordered the federal government to contact the Indian government again regarding the appointment of legal counsel to Jadhav.

The judge remarked that the Indian High Commission has not appointed a counsel yet despite being sent notices four times. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the Indian government is apparently not serious in Jadhav’s matter.

Court bars Punjab govt from cancelling transfer of Jati Umra land LAHORE Staff REpORt

A civil court in Lahore on Thursday barred the Punjab government from cancelling the transfer of 15 acres of land that is part of the Raiwind estate of the Sharif family. Reports citing sources said Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) was directed to transfer the lease of the land back to the provincial government.

The Sharif family had moved court against the government’s action and sought a stay order. Today, the court approved the request and summoned all parties to the case on April 27. The Punjab government has accused the Sharif family of occupying the land which belongs to Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department. Punjab Revenue Department being the concerned authority is eligible to take action at any given time to take possession of the land back from the Sharifs.

TLP chief asks protesters to end protests NEWS DESK Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill on Thursday posted a handwritten letter of Tehreeke-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi on Twitter, wherein he called for an end to protest. "I, Hafiz Saad Rizvi, son of (late) Khadim Hussain Rizvi, with complete clarity of mind, and without any force, appeal to all the central leadership and workers of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik that in the interest of the nation and the public good, please do not take any illegal steps,” the letter read.

"All protest rallies and road blockages must immediately be brought to an end. All workers must disperse peacefully and head on to their respective homes and fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies," it added.

Friday, 16 April, 2021

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CovId-19 deaThs exCeed 100 for ThIrd ConseCUTIve day ISLAMABAD

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Staff REpORt

AKISTAN reported 118 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the second consecutive day that fatalities have exceeded 100, the Ministry of National Health Services (MoNHS) said on Thursday.

The government portal keeping track of the outbreak in the country registered 135 deaths a day earlier — up from 118 reported on Tuesday and the highest number of fatalities since June 20.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 64,685 tests were conducted on Wednesday after which 5,395 people tested positive for the contagion disease. The total number of cases in the country is 739,818 with a national transmission rate of 8.34 per cent.

Punjab recorded the most deaths during the last 24 hours at 68 followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 29.

Sindh has been the worst hit with 270,310 cases followed by Punjab where 258,441 people have been tested positive, the statement said.

CANSINO DISTANCES ITSELF FROM BLOOD CLOT FEARS: China’s CanSino Biologics has sought to distance its Covid19 vaccine from concerns that products made using a similar technology could be linked to rare events of serious blood clotting, South China Morning Post reported.

In a filing to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the company said no serious adverse events related to blood clots had been reported among the almost 1 million doses of Ad5-nCoV vaccine that had been administered to date.

The product is licenced in China, Pakistan, Mexico and Hungary.

35 policemen injured in TLP protests KARACHI INp

As many as 35 policemen received injuries in violent protests of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) across Karachi, police said on Thursday. The injured include Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur.

Overall 16 cases were registered against the protestors, while 183 supporters and activists of the party were taken into custody from across the metropolis. Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon announced a cash price of Rs10,000 and appreciation certificates for the policemen who were wounded saving the lives and properties in the city. The officials vowed not to allow anyone to disturb the law and order of the city and added police continents are on standby at various sensitive points of the city to avert any untoward situation. The Sindh Home Department had issued orders to arrest three TLP Karachi chapter leaders over violation of the law. The department directed law enforcement agencies to arrest three leaders of the party including Maulana Abbas Qadri, Maulana Ghous Baghdadi, and Zainul Abdin.

Pakistan calls for global engagement in post-Us afghanistan CONtINuED fROM pAgE 01 Turkey is due to host a peace summit for Afghanistan from April 24 to May 4 meant to jump-start efforts to end the war and sketch out a possible political settlement. “In this regard, we support the principle of responsible troop withdrawal in coordination with Afghan stakeholders. We also hope the US will continue to urge the Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity for achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan,” the FO said. “Pakistan has consistently reiterated that peace and stability in Afghanistan is in our interest. Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment for a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. A meaningful engagement of the international community for promoting reconstruction and economic development in post-conflict Afghanistan is important for ensuring sustainable peace and stability.” The statement observed that “another key feature in the efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan should be a time-bound and wellresourced plan for return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and their reintegration in Afghanistan”. Pakistan is home to the world’s second-largest refugee population, with a total of 2.5 million Afghans living there. Many have been in the country since the Soviet invasion in 1979. “Pakistan will continue to work together with the international community in the efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the statement said.

The announcement follows US federal health agencies’ recommendation on

Tuesday that the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine, which uses a similar

Shahzawar Bugti’s wife accuses him of domestic violence and blasphemy LAHORE Shahab OmER

Shahzawar Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, has been accused by a woman who claims to be his wife that Bugti has subjected her to domestic violence and torture, as well as alleging that he committed blasphemy.

A woman named Wishah Abubakr released a video on a social networking site, Instagram, claiming that she has a two-year-old daughter and is the wife of Shahzawar Bugti.

“I am the wife of Shehzwar Bugti, the youngest grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti. My education is not complete and I went underground some time ago to save my life,” she said.

The woman alleged that her husband was a cheap man and that the reason she was underground was because of him. He had supposedly hired a man to stalk her some time ago, further claiming that this mysterious man would try to kill her if she was found out.

“I was forced to separate from my daughter, to hide because my husband knew I wanted to leave him. My husband is not a human being but a vile animal and his mother are also involved in his every ugly act,” she cried in the video.

“They ruin girls’ lives. I wanted to separate because of my husband’s many misdeeds as my daughter is very young and this man was insulting our last [Holy] Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and other Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them),” she said. “I endured his cheating and beating,” she added.

“This guy even used to give me drugs and treat me like a beast. I endured all this because if I divorced him, where would I go? Eventually, I was forced to separate from the man because he was blaspheming in front of my two-year-old daughter. “This person has been beating me while praying and reciting the Holy Qur’an and I have proof of all these things,” she alleged.

“My husband is an enemy of Muslims and he abuses Islam. He kept forcing me not to preach Islam to my daughter. My husband kept torturing me during my pregnancy and said that I would kill this girl. Now that I have parted ways with him, he has started blackmailing me,” she continued.

“This person made private videos [of me] and sent them to all my relatives. He leaked all these videos from his number because he has no fear of the law. He knew that after all this I would either commit suicide or hand over my daughter to him but a mother would never hand over her daughter to a beast,” she maintained.

“He also tortures his aunt, his mother, he has beaten

me and broken my nose,” she said.

The woman appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan and any relevant department to provide her protection and give her a chance to come forward.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Wishah said that she had a love marriage with Bugti and it lasted for seven years.

“Right now I am hiding myself. The target killer himself told me that Bugti wants to kill me,” she said.

When contacted by Pakistan Today, Hassan Niazi, the lawyer for Wishah Abubakr, said that Wishah was a resident of Karachi and her father was an employee of PTCL. Niazi further informed that Bugti and Wishah were married in 2012 via Skype, of which there is evidence and productions will be made if required.

“The marriage of Bugti and Wishah was officially registered in 2015 while a baby girl was born to the couple in 2018. Meanwhile, he [Bugti] kept posting inappropriate posts about the Companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) on Facebook and then gradually he became an atheist and started insulting Islam, religion and God,” the lawyer said.

“He used to stop and beat his wife from praying and gradually the problem escalated. In the meantime, Wishah left him and Bugti found out that Wishah was now planning to leave Pakistan with her daughter. Bugti decided to assassinate Wishah and for this, he hired a target killer,” he said, adding that they had evidence to back up their claims.

“The target killer, a longtime employee of the Bugti family, knew that Shahzawar was a bit cracked, neglected and psychopathic, so he did not take Bugti’s task seriously and told the girl himself that Bugti wanted to kill her and she should be careful,” Niazi claimed.

“Later, after trying all the tricks, Bugti started pressuring Wishah to come back and when Wishah did not come, Bugti started leaking pictures and videos of her and spread them among all her relatives,” the lawyer explained. “We want the girl to come forward to fight her case and be given protection so that she is not murdered. I have also been approached by some other girls regarding the black deeds of Shahzawar Bugti.

However, if their words are true, their case will be fought,” Niazi added.

Pakistan Today also tried to contact the Bugti family but could not be reached.

It is pertinent to mention here that Hassan Niazi was also active in the alleged incident of torture against actress Uzma Khan by Malik Riaz’s daughter and Niazi was advocating for Uzma Khan.

technology to CanSinoBIO’s product, should be paused for at least a few days after six women younger than 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot.

Pakistan had participated in phase 3 trials of the single-dose vaccine, which has an efficacy rate of 65.7 per cent at preventing symptomatic cases.

In March, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar had announced to import CanSino jabs in bulk to package three million doses locally. “We will be getting the bulk vaccine by mid-April from CanSino from which 3 million vaccine doses can be made,” he said.

“The bulk vaccine received will be formulated, sterilised, and packed in Pakistan.”

The consignment will be in addition to over a million doses of Sinopharm and CanSino vaccines, which the government received in two batches earlier this month.

Coas general Bajwa visits fauji foundation headquarters in rawalpindi RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday visited Fauji Foundation headquarters in Rawalpindi. On the occasion, the army chief was given a detailed briefing on ongoing and future projects of Fauji Foundation. He appreciated the performance and commitment of Fauji Foundation towards provision of quality services and assured of his full support in all its future endeavors. During the visit, COAS Bajwa also inaugurated 100-bed hospital and Foundation University Institute School of Nursing. Staff REpORt

sJC acted maliciously against me, alleges Justice Isa CONtINuED fROM pAgE 01 “I did not even get a copy of the reference, but it was run on the media. Fifth generation war was started against me and my family,” said Justice Isa. Talking about his verdict in the Faizabad dharna case, Justice Isa claimed that the government wants to remove him from the apex court over his verdict in the Faizabad sit-in case but vowed that he will fight “till the last drop of blood” and not give up.

Justice Isa regretted that everyone other than former Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi filed a review petition challenging his findings. “[Even the] PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) and MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) also filed an appeal against the Faizabad sit-in decision. The PTI’s review petition said that I am not qualified to be a judge. I really am not qualified to be a judge because I talk about fundamental rights,” said Justice Isa. The SC judge appealed to the court to hear the instant case in the mornings so it can be wrapped up at the earliest because Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, part of the bench, is retiring soon. However, one of the judges reminded him that time had been lost due to a related petition filed by Justice Isa himself. “You are just now remembering that there is less time,” observed Justice Bandial, reminding the judge that he “wasted the complete month of March by filing an application for the live coverage of his hearing”. Justice Isa responded that he had requested live coverage of the case as it was “important” to restore his “image”, which he believes has been tarnished in front of the public. “A person’s image is in the hands of Allah and you should trust him,” said Justice Bandial in response. Justice Isa retorted saying that he was more worried about the SC, and that he himself was “nothing in front of it.” The court, after hearing the arguments, adjourned the hearing till April 19.

Govt bans TLP under anti-terrorism act CONtINuED fROM pAgE 01 “We got to know during the negotiations that they [religious party] were planning a march on April 20,” he said, adding that the reaction from the party after the arrest of a leader could not be justified.

“The reaction was neither in harmony with what our religion says nor what our Constitution says,” he said.

“No one is being allowed to go, no relaxation will be provided to them,” he said, stating that those who spread anarchy in Pakistan will not be allowed to fulfill their agenda.

The decision to outlaw the group was taken on Wednesday, the third day of violent protests that killed two police officers and wounded at least 340 across the country.

The government said it has also

arrested 1,400 workers of the group, that is agitating against the arrest of its chief, Saad Rizvi, ahead of countrywide rallies to denounce the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France.

The two officers were beaten to death in Lahore, said Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar.

Another police officer, Sajid Kiyani, said that the protestors also used firearms at some places where they also assaulted and abducted police.

Rizvi has been charged with instigating murder.

The TLP has been demanding that the Pakistan government expel the French ambassador and endorse a boycott of French products due to Charlie Hebdo’s republishing of the blasphemous caricatures following the October 16 beheading of Samuel Paty, a French schoolteacher who displayed them during

a civics class.

Anti-French sentiment has been simmering for months in Pakistan since the government of French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for Charlie Hebdo’s right to republish the blasphemous caricatures.

Macron’s comments in September triggered anger across the Muslim world, with tens of thousands in Pakistan, neighboring Iran, and other Muslim countries flooding the streets and organising anti-French boycotts.

At the time, Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the French president of attacking the Muslim faith and urged Muslim countries to work together to counter what he called growing repression in Europe.

In an address to the United Nations, PM Imran blasted Charlie Hebdo for republishing the cartoons, saying “wilful

provocations” should be “universally outlawed”.

FRANCE ADVISES NATIONALS TO LEAVE PAKISTAN: The development coincides with a communiqué issued from the French embassy in Islamabad urging all French nationals and companies to consider temporarily leaving the country.

“Due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country,” the embassy said in an email to French citizens.

French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Von Der Muhll said about 400 to 500 French nationals live in Pakistan and they will be able to leave via commercial flights.

There was no immediate comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With additional input from AFP, Reuters

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Friday, 16 April, 2021

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PM reaffirMs coMMitMent to exPeditious coMPletion of cPec Projects ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Thursday underscored the transformational significance of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expeditiously complete the CPEC projects.

The premier expressed these views during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong who called on him. During the meeting, views were exchanged on

China’s experience of poverty alleviation, Covid-19 situation, and bilateral relations.

The prime minister congratulated Chinese leadership on successfully achieving the momentous goal of eradicating extreme poverty from China and underlined that Pakistan was keen to learn from China’s experience of poverty alleviation as well as development.

He highlighted that Pakistan was currently facing third wave of Covid-19 and the government was taking necessary measures to combat it and has devised an elaborate plan of vaccination across the

country.

PM Imran added that the people of Pakistan looked forward to welcoming President Xi Jinping to Pakistan at the earliest convenience.

Ambassador Rong conveyed cordial greetings of President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang and reaffirmed resolve to further strengthen Pakistan-China ties.

The envoy added that China will do its utmost to help Pakistan deal with the surge of Covid-19, including expeditious provision of vaccines. He also reiterated invitation to the prime minister to visit China.

Boy coMMits suicide due to no heart disease treatMent SEETA ROAD PPI

A teenage boy committed suicide due to no heart disease treatment near Seeta Road on Thursday 15-year-old Abid Solangi, after being dejected over failure of his heart disease treatment, ended his life by hanging himself to death near Seeta Road area. The heirs said that the boy was ill for a long time, adding that he committed suicide due to no treatment for his heart disease. The body was shifted to a local hospital for medico-legal formalities and later handed over to the heirs.

Petitioner seeks justice over ‘Police Brutality’

LAHORE: A view of traffic jam at Ferozpur Road in the provincial capital. ZUBAIR MEHFOOZ

ISLAMABAD INP

A citizen named Nooshaba Usman filed a petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) and alleged that policemen entered her house and searched it for three hours without a search warrant. The women alleged that police in uniform and in plain clothes entered her house along with a lady police, under the supervision of SHO of Police Station Koral Shoukat Abbasi. The petitioner maintained that the police officers detained the members of the house, including minors, at gunpoint for several hours, and snatched their mobile phones and locked them in a room. She said that policemen forcibly took a DVR recorder with them.

The petitioner has taken the position that the alleged police assault was at the behest of Standing Committee on Home Affairs Chairman Khurram Nawaz over a business dispute with her husband. The petitioner urged an inquiry into the incident and action against those responsible.

Court extends Shehbaz’s judicial remand in money laundering case LAHORE INP

An accountability court on Thursday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif after reviewing jail warrant in money laundering reference.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court also approved exemption from the hearing plea of Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz and adjourned the proceedings till May 4.

Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) had approved Shehbaz’s bail plea in money laundering case. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court had directed the authorities to release him from Kot Lakhpat jail over two surety bonds of Rs5 million each. The LHC had granted bail to Hamza in money laundering case after 20 months and directed the authorities to release him from the jail over submission of two surety bonds.

Shehbaz had termed the allegations of money laundering and kickback as baseless. Daily Mail’s lawyer had confessed to not having enough evidence during the proceedings in British court, he added.

The NAB prosecutor said that London’s verdict has nothing to do with this case.

The PML-N president had also submitted an appre-

ciation letter of Chinese ambassador in the court on which, NAB prosecutor raised objections.

The director general of NAB Lahore had submitted a report in the court through investigation officer on freezing the properties of Shehbaz’s wife Nusrat Seahbaz, daughter Rabia Imran and others. Shehbaz said that there was no doctor dealing with cancer patients present in the government panel, therefore, he requested the court to include his personal doctor in the board.

Accountability court had declared Nusrat as proclaimed offender in money laundering case over her continuous absence from case hearings.

On November 11, 2020, Shehbaz and his son Hamza were indicted in money laundering reference by accountability court. All the accused in the case pleaded not guilty. Shehbaz, while rejecting the allegations of the antigraft watchdog, said that he was being politically victimised. Approver Yasir Mushtaq had recorded his statement in connection with money laundering case against Shehbaz’s family. The approver said that he was directed by Sharif family’s chief executive officer (CEO) to turn the Rs600 million black money into white money.

The chief financial officer (CFO) had told him to use bank account of Mushtaq and Company for telegraphic transfer (TT), he added.

Pakistan launches drive to verify Minister’s reply sought on plea for 1.4m Afghan refugees cancellation of A/O level exams KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday launched a nationwide drive to verify the data of about 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees residing in the country, an official said. Their data will be updated and smart identity cards will be issued after verification. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is assisting Pakistan’s Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees in the exercise, which is being undertaken after 10 years. The move coincides with US President Joe Biden's announcement regarding the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan before Sept.

11, which could end decades of war and lead to speedy repatriation of the refugees. According to Muhammad Usman, a spokesman for the Commissionerate, as many as 600 government and UNHCR officials have been assigned to 35 areas across the country for the registration process. Mobile vans are also carrying out the exercise. “This facility is not for unregistered refugees,” he told Anadolu Agency, adding that the drive will continue for six months.

He said a policy will soon be introduced to encourage unregistered refugees to register and benefit from the facility. ANADOLU AGENCY

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood to file his reply to a petition seeking cancellation of A and O level exams. The court directed the minister to explain the government’s policy regarding conducting the exams this year. He is further required to explain what impact holding online exams or conducing no exams this year will have. INP

On September 28, 2020, NAB team had arrested Shehbaz in money laundering case after the LHC rejected his bail plea. A two-member bench of the high court comprising Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem and Justice Farooq Haider heard the plea, during which Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer presented his arguments.

Counsel of the PML-N president argued that Shehbaz saved over Rs1,000 billion of national exchequer and never received his pay as a member of National Assembly (NA). No evidence was available against Shehbaz in money laundering case and none of the witnesses accused PML-N leader of the ill practice, he added.

The accountability court had issued bailable arrest warrants for Nusrat and Rabia over continuous absence the in the money laundering case.

The accountability judge had directed Nusrat and Rabia to attend the hearings at any cost.

While talking to media outside the court, Shehbaz said that the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) was taking political revenge from PML-N leaders. I have always served the people of Punjab with sincerity, he added.

According to the NAB investigation report, CFO of Sharif family, Muhammad Usman, laundered money for the Shehbaz’s family.

Friday, 16 April, 2021

lAhore

Pakistan on track to achieve fiscal sustainability: iMf

isLaMaBaD

P

sTaFF RePORT

AKISTAN is all set to achieve some major goals including fiscal sustainability under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Representative Teresa Daban Sanchez said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a webinar at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Sanchez said it is being achieved through the strategy by removing exemptions and privileges, enhancing social and productive spending, coordination with provinces, and elimination of quasifiscal circular debt and losses of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The IMF representative emphasised that these goals are very important for the future direction of the country and include a market determined and flexible exchange rate as well as an independent central bank with a primary focus on price stability.

“Moreover, strengthening of social safety net to protect the most vulnerable is a key requirement in addition to strengthening institutions and bringing reforms, especially in the areas of public finance management, central bank’s autonomy, tax policy and administration, energy sector, SOEs administration and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) etc,” she added.

She said that pre-Covid, the

economy was on the track with 2.4 per cent growth rate till March 2020.

However, after May 2020, it witnessed a decline by 1.5pc as resources were diverted towards Covid-19 mitigation and containment.

The IMF representative further said that Pakistan received $1.4 billion funds from IMF (Rapid Financial Instrument) in April 2020 and also from World Bank and Asia Bank on the basis of multilateral area to mitigate this challenge.

“In the current situation and amid the third wave of the pandemic, growth is projected at 1.5pc of the GDP and inflation will remain volatile,” Sanchez said, further noting that the monetary policy is accommodative and fiscal policy is prudent but the public debt guarantees have increased to 92.8pc GDP, she noted.

She emphasised that a recalibration of policies and reforms as well as increase in revenue collection, ambitious tax policy reforms and broad base fiscal structural reforms are the need of hour.

In the energy and gas sector, a recalibration of the Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) which includes short and medium-term measure like increasing revenue by aligning power tariff with cost recovery levels, reducing generations costs, streamlining fiscal impact would be important stet.

“Although, the Covid-19 shock

temporarily suspended the progress of EFP, the authorities remained committed to the ambitious policy actions and structural reforms to strengthen to economic resilience, advance sustainable growth and achieve the EFP the medium-term objectives,” she added.

In response to questions by the audience, Sanchez said that the duration and size of the EFF programme will be the same, even after the third wave of Covid-19. “It will focus on the collaboration and to improve the economy of the institution in the country,” she said.

She further added that these programmes are aimed for enhancing the performance of regulatory institutions like the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) so to keep a fiscal discipline.

The IMF official was of the view that policies need to be adjusted with reality and if there is any need in the third wave, then the programme will be adjusted accordingly.

About the autonomy of regulators and a perception that these are being compromised under the IMF programme, she reiterated that all reforms that have been recommended were long due and are necessary for the help of the poor and vulnerable.

She explained that the IMF cannot dictate the country’s legislation and the institution but just play an advisory role upon a request.

She opined that a change or transition in the ministers or authorities does not affect our role and commitment with the people of Pakistan.

About tax reforms, she said that the tax policy reform needs to be very comprehensive, adding that corporate income tax and person income tax both need to be made sure in the country.

While commenting on circular debt, Sanchez said that the debt sustainability is the main role of IMF in any country and with right policies and improved management, countries can better manage their debt profile.

“Pakistan is doing well in this area of the programme. The SOEs management is the major component for the betterment of the country,” she added.

newS

05

Quality cancer care, offered with dignity Dr MuhaMMeD aasiM Yusuf Nearly thirty years ago, the people of Pakistan united behind the cause of building the nation’s first comprehensive cancer centre, in Lahore. After the inauguration of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, in Lahore, in December 1994, cancer was no longer an automatic death sentence for underprivileged cancer patients in our country. We now have two tertiary care cancer centres, in Lahore and in Peshawar, where thousands of people battling cancer receive quality treatment for a very complex disease, regardless of their ability to pay. Those present at the inauguration ceremony of the Lahore hospital can still recall Imran Khan’s words, which were to become the founding principle on which we have built our healthcare delivery system: “You must not notice if the patient’s clothes are shabby, if he can speak English, or if he is wearing shoes or not. You must only see that a needy human being has walked through the doors of your hospital.” Today, in keeping with Imran Khan’s vision, we continue to offer cancer treatment to all our patients based on the principles of quality, equity and equality.

Our supporters have always donated with confidence, knowing that their contributions are spent judiciously on needy cancer patients, while simultaneously helping to raise standards of healthcare for all those who are suffering from cancer in Pakistan. We ensure this by implementing a number of continuous quality improvement programmes at our hospitals. The recent award of re-accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI) for SKMCH&RC, Lahore, testifies to the fact that we have been true to our word in providing world-class cancer care to all our patients, over 75% of whom are treated entirely free of charge. The JCI is recognised as a global leader in developing the most rigorous standards for healthcare quality and patient safety in the world. SKMCH&RC, Lahore first achieved JCI accreditation in 2018, while SKMCH&RC, Peshawar was so accredited in 2019.

The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust is proud of the fact that of the four JCI-accredited hospitals in Pakistan, two are hospitals of the Shaukat Khanum healthcare system, a feat that is all the more remarkable since these are the only charitable hospitals in the country to achieve such recognition.

All patients requiring financially supported treatment undergo a thorough evaluation of the nature of their disease and the stage at which they have presented to us. This screening process is conducted at our Walk-in Clinics, located in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi where patients receive free consultation. This ensures that all patients being accepted for financially supported treatment have cancer, that their cancer is at a stage where we can provide treatment and that we are confident that treatment will be successful not only in prolonging survival but also in enhancing quality of life. Once patients are registered for treatment, they are routed to the Financial Support Services for evaluation to ascertain the extent of support they require. Nearly 75% of our patients receive one hundred percent support, meaning that all diagnostic and treatment services are provided completely free of charge.

We are able to provide world-class care to our patients because we invest in the most modern treatment planning and delivery systems and attract highly trained healthcare professionals. Ten years ago, cancer patients had to travel to Europe or to Singapore in order to have a PET-CT scan. In 2010, Pakistan’s first PET-CT scanning system was inaugurated at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore and we have since also installed a second scanner in Lahore and a similar scanner in our hospital in Peshawar.

We have the latest radiation therapy systems in the region, including the most advanced and high-precision Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). Our surgeons are pioneers of minimally invasive cancer surgery in Pakistan. Our treatment protocols are comparable to the best cancer hospitals in the world, with the emphasis on maintaining quality of life and patient dignity in everything we do. At the same time, our researchers continue to work on studies that may one day enable us to identify novel drug targets for personalised treatment of cancer.

However, in a country of nearly 220 million people, two tertiary care cancer hospitals can clearly not treat everyone with cancer. We have therefore planned a number of expansion and construction projects to be able to serve ever more patients. In Peshawar, we will have started surgical and anaesthesia services by the time you read this. In Lahore, we hope to start construction of the new clinical building, which will effectively double our capacity here over the next three years. Finally, in Karachi, we are building Pakistan’s third and largest Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. Construction is well under way and the hospital is planned to open towards the end of 2023. Inshallah, this huge hospital will serve not only Karachi, the most populous city of Pakistan, but also all of Sind and Southern Baluchistan.

The cost of doing all this is, of course, huge and as always, we continue to rely on your generosity in the form of donations and Zakat to meet nearly half of our annual operating budget. At the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, we consider the disbursement of your Zakat to be a sacred trust, and we ensure all necessary steps and safeguards are in place to ensure its utilisation is in compliance with Islamic injunctions and the expectations of our donors. All Zakat collected is spent in providing direct patient care within the year of collection - it is neither saved nor invested.

For 2021, the annual operating budget for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust is Rs. 19 billion.

Nearly half of this is expected to be generated from our clinical income, which comes largely from our diagnostic services, provided primarily via our nationwide laboratory collection centre network. The other half of the budget is raised each year by collecting Zakat and donations from our generous supporters. We hope that, as you have done every year since 1994, Pakistanis all around the world will continue their tradition of generosity to support equitable access to quality cancer care in our country.

The writer is the chief medical officer and acting chief executive officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust.

US troop pullout will leave behind an uncertain Afghanistan The Biden administration’s surprise announcement of an unconditional troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by September 11 appears to strip the Taliban and the Afghan government of considerable leverage and could ramp up pressure on them to reach a peace deal.

The Taliban and Afghan government can no longer hold the US hostage — the Taliban with escalating violence and the Afghan president with dragging his feet on a powersharing deal with the insurgents that doesn’t include him as president — because Washington has made it clear that US troops are leaving, no matter what.

Still, there are growing fears that Afghanistan will collapse into worsening chaos, brutal civil war, or even a takeover by the Taliban once the Americans are gone — opening a new chapter in the constant war that has lasted for decades.

Already, violence and seemingly random attacks on civilians have surged since the Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban in February 2020 that had committed Washington to withdraw by May 1.

More than 1,700 civilians were killed or wounded in attacks in the first three months of this year, up 23 per cent from the same period last year, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration set a new timetable. It said it would begin pulling out its remaining 3,500 troops on May 1 and complete the pullout at the latest

by Sept 11 — the 20th anniversary of the Al Qaeda terror attack on the US that had triggered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Nato announced it would follow the same timetable for withdrawing nearly 10,000 troops.

In leaving, Washington has calculated that it can manage its chief security interest — ensuring Afghanistan doesn’t become a base for terror attacks on the United States — from a distance.

Still, it is hoping to leave a country with a chance at peace. The US is pressing the Taliban and the Afghan government to reach a peace agreement during an April 24-May 4 conference in Turkey.

At the moment, it’s not even sure the Taliban will attend.

In response to the new withdrawal timeline, the Taliban said they won’t attend any conference on Afghanistan’s future while foreign forces are still in the country. A spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said that if the original May 1 deadline is not met, “problems will be compounded”. Still, he did not explicitly threaten a resumption of Taliban attacks on US troops.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upped the pressure with a phone call on Wednesday to Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, presumably seeking help in getting the Taliban to the Turkey conference.

With their leadership headquartered in Pakistan, the Taliban ignore Islamabad at

their own peril. Until now Pakistan has been key to getting the insurgent militia to earlier rounds of talks.

The Pakistani army said afterwards that Pakistan was behind an “Afghan-owned and Afghan-led” peace process, a seeming nod to the upcoming Turkey conference. It also said the two discussed “further enhanced” relations between their countries — perhaps a sign that Blinken tied future US-Pakistani relations on Islamabad’s help.

The Taliban control around half of Afghanistan. But they also have much to lose if they walk away from the peace process, particularly a chance at international recognition. The group has been courting world powers since 2013 when they set up their political office in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

The US has warned that the Taliban won’t get that recognition if they are not part of a new government. The Turkey conference, jointly convened by the United Nations, lends international support to that warning.

The bet is that the Taliban won’t want to rule as a pariah, as they did from 1996 until their overthrow by the US-led coalition in 2001. They had no money to feed their people, unemployment was rampant and drought and poverty devastated farmers.

Their only source of income in the final years was from Al Qaeda and its wealthy Saudi leader at the time, Osama bin Laden.

“If the Taliban want recognition, if they want international support […] that can’t

CMYK

happen” if they press war further, Blinken said on Meet The Press on Sunday. “We’ll see how the parties calculate their interest.”

Torek Farhadi, a former Afghan government adviser, said he doesn’t expect the insurgents to attend in Turkey.

Instead, he said, they are likely to negotiate with local leaders around Afghanistan and wait for the Americans to leave, further weakening and isolating President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban have refused to even sit across the table from him.

Responding to the US strategy shift, Ghani pledged to pursue peace, without elaborating. He tweeted late on Wednesday that he had spoken with President Biden and “we will work with our US partners to ensure a smooth transition.”

Previously, Ghani had floated an alternative peace plan that called for him to head an interim government until fresh elections could be held. Rejected by the Taliban, it was seen by his political opponents as an attempt to cling to power.

Ghani’s government has been denounced for runaway corruption and divisive politics. He has embraced warlords he once shunned, like Uzbek powerhouse Rashid Dostum, accused of war crimes.

The many warlords who hold sway in Kabul have amassed considerable wealth in the last 20 years and boast loyal militias with well-equipped arsenals. Most Afghans say the US and Nato troop presence has kept feuding warlords apart and fear that without

it the country will collapse back into the brutal infighting that raged from 1992-1996, giving rise to the Taliban.

The previous Trump deal with the Taliban had imposed conditions. The big one was that the Taliban break with their longtime ally, Al Qaeda, and stand against other militants before US troops would withdraw.

A senior Taliban official earlier told The Associated Press that the group last month ordered the remnants of Al Qaeda and other militants out of the country and told its own fighters not to associate with foreign fighters.

Asfandyar Mir, at the Centre for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, said the order against foreign fighters was a good first step. But he noted it only confirms the Taliban’s use of foreign fighters, which it long denied — even as publications affiliated to the Taliban and Al Qaeda touted Al Qaeda’s oath of loyalty to the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akunzada.

Mir also pointed to the evidence of Al Qaeda operations even in recent years in areas under Taliban control.

Controlling militant groups will be even harder if Afghanistan tumbles into chaos.

Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Programme at the US-based Wilson Centre said that it’s “hard to imagine any scenario under which peace would break out post-Sept 11 in Afghanistan.”

“The best hope is that the peace process won’t be dead,” he said. agencies

Friday, 16 April, 2021

06 COMMENT

Only losers want it

The return of Shahbaz Sharif Would it mark a major change in the PML(N)’s strategy?

Electoral reform becomes suddenly popular

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At Penpoint

ML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif has been granted bail after languishing in NAB custody followed by judicial custody for nearly half a year without any charge having been established against him. with the PPP and the PML(N) currently involved in an acrimonious tit-for-tat debate some of the PPP leaders have termed the release of the PML(N) President, son Hamza Sharif and the relief provided by the Lahore High Court to party Vice President Maryam Nawaz as sufficient evidence of the PML(N) having cut a deal with the patrons of the BAP. Being the Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Mian Shahbaz Sharif will have to win back the confidence of the PPP and ANP to jointly confront the PTI government with the PML(N) President’s return, Vice President Maryam would be taking a backseat, at least for the time being. Mian Shahbaz however faces multiple challenges in days to come, the foremost being to keep the PML(N) one piece. He is known to be a softliner favoring negotiations over confrontation. In his absence, the PML(N) led by Vice President Maryam Nawaz had decided to work with other components of the PDM to seek government change through confrontational tactics.

The policy was endorsed by the PML(N)’s permanent Quaid Nawaz Sharif. Mian Shahbaz is unlikely to reverse the policy overnight as he has never defied his elder brother. He is instead likely to consult the PML(N)’s permanent guide before formulating the line of action.

The PDM’s policy of changing the government by building pressure through collective resignations, rallies and processions, has failed to achieve its aim and has even caused a split in the PDM. The Sharif brothers may agree on a mix of agitation and parliamentary struggle in days to come. Agitation can thus be put on the backburner when struggle in Parliament is seen to produce better results while the party could revert to the policy of confrontation when the government is seen to have been sufficiently weakened and could be removed through a coup de grâce. A mixed policy of the sort could provide opportunity to both Shahbaz Sharif and Ms Maryam Nawaz to display their talents. It might even bring back the PPP and the ANP to the PDM fold.

M A NIAZI

N

ow that the Daska by-election re-polling has been conducted, the series of by-elections to three provincial assemblies and the National Assembly, elections to the Senate and the election of the Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman, are all finally over, yet byelections are not yet over. The election of Faisal Vawda to the Senate created a vacancy on NA 249 in Karachi, which will be filled on April 29, while the death of an MPA has created a vacancy on PS 70 in Badin, to be filled on May 20.

Thus Prime Minister Imran Khan’s desire for electoral reforms may be described as delayed, but it is certainly not misplaced. Also, the ruling PTI made its mark in national politics by calling for electoral reforms, so it makes sense for electoral reforms to be brought back on the agenda.

However, there is a problem with electoral reforms. Those who call for them are those who have lost elections, and hope to get better results through those reforms. If they get around to winning, taking power and getting in a position where they can carry out electoral reforms, then that will only happen because they mastered the bad old unreformed system.

Their mastery of the unreformed system will be imperfect, but it will be enough to create an internal lobby in favour of the old system, and against reform.

Imran seems to be following that pattern, and his talk of electoral reform is focused on the Senate elections, where he suffered an unforeseen setback, in the shape of the defeat of Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. The solution he has come up with is electronic voting machines, as they have in India.

The next Senate election will not take place until March 2024, when there will have been a general election (by 2023). However, before those are held, the next local body elections will take place, where it is possible that any new reforms might be implemented. The fate of those elections will help determine how serious the PTI is about electoral reform.

During the 2018 election campaign, the PTI had said that local councils were the nurseries of politics, but elections have not been held, because the PTI has not been able to notify the results of the 2017 census. The Election Commission of Pakistan has refused to hold local body polls, because the new local body polls require fresh demarcation of constituencies according to the new census.

TLP ban Meaningless unless those sleeping on the job are punished as well

MIAN RAuf

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AMPANT religious extremism and sectarianism are wracking Pakistan today.

The religiously frenzied features of Pakistani culture, politics and society are remnants of the long and dark shadow of General Ziaul Haq’s 11 years of Islamist rule that structured the entire state as a theatre of religion.

Zia’s regime was a setback for a faltering democratic process and ushered in an era of religious obscurantism that affected every facet of domestic and foreign policy. He saw Islam as a part of revolutionary process to overhaul Pakistan. But in the last four decades, there has been a complete erosion of the moral values of our society.

History bears testimony to the fact that the military complex and political leadership are the factors responsible for promoting and strengthening the hegemony and influence of religious extremist bigots. The former supports so-called mullahs for a jihadist cause, strengthening the military narrative at the national level and to counter the political and nationalist narratives in the state and the latter have always exploited the religious card to legitimize authority, secure votes and counter opposition. The current imperium of Tehrik Labbaik Pakistan bigots and the tolerant behaviour of the government towards extremist clerics are the consequences of the state’s mullah-centric policies.

The current unrest erupted across major cities in Pakistan on Monday after TLP Chief Saad Hussain

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Managing Editor

Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

While Parliament remains sovereign, its legislative competence over elections creates doubts, because unlike the ECP, the government is concerned more with winning than the fairness to the election. To be fair to the PTI, it should be said that this is the case with all politicians

The writer is a member of staff.

Violent extremism

F

EDERAL Interior Minister Sh Raheed Ahmad’s announcement of the banning of the Tehrik Labaik Pakistan (TLP) both created certain issues, while containing certain ironies. It is certainly ironic that when the Sheikh was in opposition, and the TLP launched its first major public activity, back in 2017, which brought it into the public eye, he had supported its cause. At that time, the TLP was protesting the removal from the nomination paper of the declaration of a candidate that he was not an Ahmedi. At that time, in taking suo motu notice of the sit-in at Faizabad, Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa wrote a Supreme Court judgment pointing out that patronizing such organizations could lead to harmful consequences. The TLP did not really perform well in its first, and so far only, outing at the hustings, being wiped out except for two Sindh MPAs. one consequence of the banning will be that there will have to be some decision on what are the consequences for them?

Previous banned organisations have never had any assembly members. It must not be forgotten that the PTI, presently in office at the centre and in two provinces, did not do even this well in its own first outing, back in 1997, when it won nothing. It was only in 2002 that it won one seat. The impact of the ban may be gauged by the letter written by another proscribed organisation, the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has invited it to join its fight against the state. This raises a horrific prospect, which is all the more horrible because such organisations have been patronised by certain state institutions.

Sh Rashid should not have been caught by surprise, as he admitted, and the mere clearing of roads merely restores the status quo. There is nothing to prevent a repetition of the shutdown of the country if flaws are not identified. The capability shown by the TLP should have been reported to the Interior Minister, had energy and resources not been devoted to hounding the opposition.

People have been killed, and it is essential that the government ensures that responsibility is fixed. A ban that allows life to go on as normal will be of no use.

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

That census cannot be used, until it is formally notified. The last general election could only be held according to delimitations under the new census, because the outgoing Parliament amended the Constitution to allow for fresh delimitations according to the provisional census results.

In fact, the delay in converting the provisional results into permanent notified ones will cause problems for the next general election, because if they have not been notified at that point, the present delimitations will become illegal. Actually, once the results are notified, there may have to be a fresh delimitation, but the ECP may merely have to re-notify the existing delimitations. why is this extremely crucial step not being taken?

It is because there have been claims of under-counting by both the MQM and the PPP. The MQM has also claimed double-counting, as people were counted at both Karachi and in their home province, with the result that their home province’s population was exaggerated. The PTI has been unable to persuade the MQM to withdraw its objections, even though it is an ally. Because of this, the Sindh Government continues to press its objection. Actually, it seems that both the parties are engaged in a competition with each other, though the country as a whole might end up a loser.

The Council of Common Interests has voted in favour of notifying the results, with Sindh continuing its objections to the last. The CCI also decided on a fresh census in october, which would actually regularise the census, bringing them back to the pre-1961 decennial pattern. It may also be remembered that the previous census was held several years late. It might also provide the PTI the chance to claim that it would carry out an acceptable survey, as opposed to the one carried out by the PML(N).

Another issue that seems to have influenced Imran is that his party has lost all recent by-elections. one response has been to ask the entire ECP to resign, a demand which may be aimed at the foreign-

funding case, from which the takeaway has been that the PTI would not like its foreign donors to become known. The support he has expressed for Electronic Voting Machines.

There are two major problems with EVMs. First is cost. To hold a general election using EVMs would require a ballpark figure of Rs 80 billion. EVMs reduce the amount of paper needed, and thus lead to huge savings, but mobilising the money needed would be a major headache. Then there is the issue of reliability. International experience indicates that the technology is relatively reliable, but not entirely foolproof.

It must not be forgotten that the Daska repoll was ordered because of irregularities in the original poll.

There was not enough investigation of who was responsible, or of the mechanisms that were used. The possibility exists that previous elections were subject to the same kind of interference. It is to be assumed that the repolling was free of that interference, but there is no certainty that these methods will not be used in a general election. The methods have not been identified, and thus may be used again.

Apart from the expense, the possibility of EVMs being misused cannot be ruled out. They also create additional credibility problems for the ECP, which will probably find that the EVMs would be made one of the grounds for the challenging of election results by the losers. The situation will become even more complicated if EVMs are used in local body polls.

It should not be forgotten that election technology advances merely promote riggers to invent new methods. Similarly, it is to be expected that EVMs will prompt candidates, and their supporters, to find new methods. These methods will be tried out at the local council level, and then at the provincial or national level. while Parliament remains sovereign, its legislative competence over elections creates doubts, because unlike the ECP, the government is concerned more with winning than the fairness to the election.

To be fair to the PTI, it should be said that this is the case with all politicians. The only winner in recent years to protest about the fairness of the poll was Donald Trump in 2016, probably because he saw in the result the factors that would lead to his losing his re-election bid, as he did. And even he did not protest too much. They never do.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

Rizvi was detained by security forces in Lahore as a “pre-emptive measure” ahead of the party’s April 20 deadline to the government, as the PTI government had promised the TLP last November that they would take up the matter of the French ambassador’s expulsion from Pakistan with Parliament in protest against the publication of blasphemous images in that country. The siege of various cities of the country by mobilized religious bigots has once again challenged the writ of the state. The entire state seems powerless against extremist mobs who have openly challenged the state’s writ. This manifestly represents the strength and influence of religious fundamentalists in Pakistan.

The way the administration has collapsed in the face of mob violence is alarming and brings into question the responsibility of the forces in question. It also underscores the state’s ability to deal with rising religious extremism.

Religious organizations in Pakistan have a significant influence over particular segments of society, which they can mobilize for their objectives. They draw their strength from their connection to a sizable segment of the society through which they exert pressure on the state to adopt extremist policies.

The role of religious organizations in making Pakistan an Islamic state is well known; their subsequent success in pressurizing Z.A. Bhutto to declare

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

Ahmedis as non- Muslims and include clauses in the 1973 Constitution to enforce Sharia law is well known. Later, in 1983, General Zia accepted their demand of passing the Hudood ordinances, which restrict women’s rights.

The growing influence and importance of Islamists helped ambitious and bigoted politicians to benefit from the powerful card of religion. The result is a state divided on ethnic, cultural, linguist, sectarian and provincial lines.

The state’s appeasement policy and pandering to the demands by reactionary forces has emboldened them and made them confident of their power to bring the country to a halt.

Extremism is the biggest enemy of the nation, which is not only weakening the already deteriorating governance system in the country but also undermining national dignity and Pakistan’s global image.

Given the current religious insecurity, Pakistan has to redesign its narrative and soften its policies towards the religious bigots and extremists in order to stabilize the state. It is incumbent upon the state to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law, which is an effective way to establish the writ of the state. The state institutions should not avoid going against the bigots who are able to sabotage peace and stability.

Extremism is the biggest enemy of the nation, which is not only weakening the already deteriorating governance system in the country but also undermining national dignity and Pakistan’s global image. Given the current religious insecurity, Pakistan has to redesign its narrative and soften its policies towards the religious bigots and extremists in order to stabilize the state. It is incumbent upon the state to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law, which is an effective way to establish the writ of the state.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Friday, 16 April, 2021

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Rebuilding World after COVID19

Social Media and polarization of society

Abdul RAhMAN MAlIk

S

oCIAL Media has witnessed a mushroom growth that has impacted the discourse of political, cultural and religious systems by providing the equal opportunity of freedom of expression and of sharing an opinion or viewpoint on any issue.

Social Media has played a greater role in rightwing politics that paved the way for populist politicians to reach out to their voters.

Though Social Media has connected the people around the world, at the same time, it is causing division or disintegration and facilitating the social media lobbyists to polarize the communication so much the people support the arguments or opinions or political tirades against leaders without fact checking.

The world has been rocked by social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube because the users of these social networks have already surpassed millions and are growing, but due to the limited regulatory framework, fake news, cyberbullying, extremism and terrorism has reached new heights.

The influencers’ interactions with social media users have polarized the political and social circles that led to the formation of online echo chambers, a tactic of social media recommendations by politicians to influence the users to strengthen their narrative regardless of facts that whether it is right or wrong, but it is knit in a manner that echo chambers appear to be normal for the people thus changing the way of thinking and increasing the supporters base.

The echo chambers post such content that we enjoy a lot while reading, while keeping us away from the content that may stir a debate or arguments or expression of our disagreement over certain social, economic, religious, cultural or policy matters.

The echo chambers keep ideas flowing on a regular basis to the one side –the positive side of the argument, while its negative side is deliberately concealed to hide the facts.

This is the big issue that might be discussed with students, who should be informed and taught at school, college or degree level so that positive and constructive use of this digital medium could be ensured.

Social media connectivity around the world is undoubtedly amazing but the problems it created for both people and students are very dangerous, and need to be addressed and regulated.

Digital media, especially social media, for a long time remained unbridled to post any content that may fall in the purview of hatred, racism, bullying, derogatory remarks, character assault, rebellion, or anti-state elements instigating people to create chaos using the olive branch

of social media. Since it was not monitored given the type of content being circulated and the information of people posting such content, including their motives behind such content as may have a constant flow of information that is recommended by the users pretending to be professionals, experts and mentors.

Alarmingly, people without fact-checking go on sharing the content and thus creating hype for such an issue as does not have a basis and was the result of a conspiracy to exert pressure on some person or leaders to get some favours.

Sometimes, the active echo chambers or volcanoes erupt over such issues as may be beneficial for the wider circle of society, but this finds serious criticism masterminded by people with an individual approach. They term it detrimental for them since it did not serve their interests, though it might have been beneficial for general people.

Humans have an intuitional inclination to communicate with like-minded people or the people with the same choices on social media, thus the echo chambers get even stronger. The discourse that discourages dissenting voices always comes under fire from the thinkers and intellectuals of the nation since it is tantamount to concealing the facts from the people.

The world is coming closer after the covid19 pandemic that engulfed the entire world, bringing misery and economic crisis. The social media debates go with biased and unbiased approaches regarding getting the vaccine. Some optimists termed it great, while some pessimists or biased approaches raised questions.

The echo chambers try to influence their opinions and win support.Similarly, echo chambers of both Democrats and Republicans only canvassed for their candidates but the leaders instigated the masses to attack Capitol Hill through social media and emotional speeches using their influence on social media, especially Twitter .

Some researchers have found that echo chambers influence people to win support but social media influencers have a follower-base of millions, and may polarize the public and politics, since influencers share success stories like internet marketers compelling you to buy their products.

The opinion leaders and experts reveal that for the last two decades, the percentage of American people having consistently holding liberal or conservative beliefs— rather than a blend of the two, which is the case for most people— has increased from 10 percent to over 20. Beliefs about the other side are becoming more negative creating an alarming situation.

Since 1994, the number of people who see the opposing political party as a threat to “the nation’s well-being or security” has doubled, which heralds how deepening polarization has predictable results raising eyebrows.

The government shutdowns, violent protests, scathing attacks on elected officials, the capitol Hill incident –all indicate that social media have been polarizing the political system and divided the nation each passing day due to echo chambers of both mainstream parties regarding the issues of health, security, human rights, employment and environment.

According to evidence from empirical research conducted on US politicians, politicians following extreme ideologies attracted a larger public audience than those who were moderate, which is the real example of echo chambers.

Usually, messages containing extreme thoughts, emotional instigation, patriotism, or criticizing the opposition received a warm welcome on social media platforms than those messages reflecting merely information.

The polarization of issues and political ideology will have serious repercussions in future that should be addressed on a timely basis so that societies could be saved from further isolation

and disintegration.

The issues could be resolved through educating the people and creating awareness about the fair and professional use of social media channels for advocacy for winning support for legislation, an issue, a policy or employment.

Instead of showing the dark side of the issue, we have to educate people regarding both pros and cons of matters of importance for the general public rather than misleading the people with biased approaches to oppose the initiative of the government, community or civil society for the general benefit.

Social Media network operators are the bigwigs and the most influential in this.They cannot be controlled but only be regulated by framing such laws that may ensure fair use of this digital platform and are careful so that users may not face any legal issue by discussing sensitive issues such as desecration of holy places, religions, personalities, anti-state tirades, rebellion, terrorism, extremism and so on. The sensitive issue may stir protests and cause legal proceedings, if the cyber-regulatory laws are implemented to discourage the influence of one-sided opinions or campaigns. we cannot deny the importance of social media platforms as they provide equal opportunity to people to express and share their thoughts or opinions, but safe and thoughtful use of these platforms will encourage healthy discourse and prove pivotal in promoting dialogue to discuss social, economical and cultural issues peacefully without hitting the sentiments of other communities.

Thus, echo chambers will be less powerful to build a narrative that is appealing but the readers will be engaging themselves in the debates that need interaction.

Undoubtedly, social media platforms have changed the political and social approach of the people and enabled face-to-face digital interaction through video and audio conference calls, so their fair use will mitigate their cons manifold.

The social media networks apply algorithms to connect you with like-minded people but it is up to you whether your engagement in communication is either unbiased or biased.

Social media should be promoting positive discourse to explore the political and economic solutions to the problems of people by reflecting the two sides of the coin so that the discourse be constructive and problem-solving. Social media has given a voice to marginalized people and governments are compelled to resolve the issues of people on a priority basis due to trending topics of social media.

Even the populist leaders may face resistance from social media as the public makes the most of the freedom of expression and criticizes the role of politicians for their failure to address the issues of the public.

In recent times, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have been creating history in highlighting issues of both public and national interest but at the same time such platforms have been taken by storm by those influencers who continue to feed the news about their vested interests and create psychosocial hype for any issue that may jolt the power corridors of Government.

The politicians always take to Twitter for their precise viewpoint and policy debate and are usually followed by millions of followers. Even the print and electronic media take the tweets as policy statements or the narrative of some party or group.

The schools and colleges should chalk out the initiative to create awareness and practice of fair use so that social platforms should not post single or one-sided opinions or arguments but should welcome both so that positive use could be ensured.

This will further the importance of social media.

The writer is a freelance columnist

THE Hazardous Plague CoVID 19 has not only cause massive genocide across the globe but has also put the world economy on vent. According to the world Bank report after 1952 for the first time Pakistan’s GDP will face decline. Pakistan is an underdevloping country and enjoys the reputation of financially fragile country one can straightforwardly expect this kind of graphic figure from our country after competing with such deadly pandemic. But here those countries who dreamed and desired to rule the world on the touchstone of their potent economy are facing challenge to overcome the mutilation caused by this ongoing syndrome.

The world mainly those countries who are part of “power game” are not new to these set of circumstances, they have caused, faced and convalesced from tragedies in past also. America since its independence has anticipated to rule the world and in order to meet that desire it has done many misadventures to the world. Invention of nuclear bomb and instigating massive desolation through it in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Massacre in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan in the name of war against terrorism, war against Vietnam and wreckage of USSR are few ruthless attempts made by America on its way to rule the world.

By means of 1952 peace treaty the occupation over japan ended, after that japan began to heal the wounds of world war II and after a passage of time emerged as an progressive and economically stable country. Despite of wreckage Russia managed to uphold its distinct status among the comity of nations and made its way to Security Council with the authority to “VETo” the decisions of Security councils.

Progress of countries emerging on the map of the world as a result USSR’s wreckage is also archetypal. on the other hand countries like Italy, France, Germany and Spain were in the race to lead the European Union after the backtracking of Great Britain has also sustained irreparable loss as a result of CoVID19 outbreak.

America’s stance to opt the path of negotiations with Afghan Taliban shows that their ballistic mindset has changed now. Stalwart politician and ideologist Henry Kissinger has suggested trump to come out and play a positive role for steering world out of this quagmire. Around 200 countries are under the onslaught of this plague and has adversely affected the resources of those countries. It is High time for the countries of the world to combat collectively and recover collectively.

Kamran KhamiSo Khowaja Sujawal

Underage driving UNDERAGE driving, nowadays, is one of the major causes of accidents.

Young teenagers lose their lives because of this lethal pastime activity.

Rich parents submit to the wishes of their children without thinking about the vices of such wishes, and without giving a thought to what might happen. If not lose their lives, they often injure themselves so severely that in many cases they are not able to walk or move freely, their whole lives.

Parents as well as government authority must eradicate this evil by formulating and implementing some rules and regulations in order to stop or at least lessen the loss on the part of young individuals, parents, and the state. This act is a violation of state laws as driving is not legal without license. Parents must take care of their children and not allow them to drive under their age.

ZariSh Sajid iSlamabad

Corona fever IT is to draw your attention towards the panic rising in our country due to CoVID-19. Corona virus has started to spread all over the world including our country Pakistan. This has created chaos among people. They have become terrified of this virus. Given the fact that it is spreading rapidly and is causing deaths all round the world, no one notices that the recovery rate is much higher than the death rate of the corona patients.

Media is playing its role in informing the people about situations all over the globe, but people are pessimistic rather than being optimistic in this situation. This is creating chaos and panic in the country. Through the media, people need to be calmed down. Also, lack of awareness regarding this disease is another cause of trepidation among people. People are getting influenced by one another and starting to become terrified rather than digging for some information. They are not completely aware of the causes of CoVID-19 and are continuously falling prey to several profiteers. There is a need to spread awareness among people regarding Coronavirus so that the chances of fraud for these profiteers can be lessened. Articles involving positive changes and efforts all around the world should be published. Also, this is a necessity to make people realize that CoVID-19 is more curable than the deaths it has caused.

Due to the popularity of your newspaper among the common people as well as the government officials, I request you to publish an article regarding this issue so that it can gain the attention of the officials. Your act of kindness will greatly be appreciated. iqra rathorE iSlamabad

Online classes issue ToDAY I want to draw your attention towards the issue of online classes which all students are facing in Pakistan. with no common standards for that learning, however, the results have varied wildly. Teachers have experimented with apps and formats — live streams, pre recorded lessons or a mix. Many teachers are holding web classes now but plan to go over the same material a second time when normal classes restart.

“It’s a big mess, that’s all I can say,” For students the disruption has been profound. Students are facing a lot of problems , even the students who belong to backward areas. It’s not possible for them to take their lectures online because they are facing internet issues. overall this is the problem of all departments but especially the students who belong to the department of math’s , physics, engineering and computer sciences , it is not possible for them to understand lectures. And those students who belong to backward areas, how can they take their lectures? How can they meet up with their classmates who are taking online lectures?

ZariSh Sajid iSlamabad

Friday, 16 April, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Biden made the tOugh, cOrrect call On afghanistan THE WASHINGTON POST

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HENRY OLSEN

RESiDEnt Biden’s announcement that the United States will unconditionally withdraw its military forces from Afghanistan by September 11 reflects a regrettable reality, but it is the right decision. the United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, because the taliban government had allowed its territory to be used by the terrorist group al-Qaeda to launch the Sept. 11 attacks on new York and Washington. that response was right: the United States had to bring the war home to the attackers. Along with our nAtO allies, we were able to cripple al-Qaeda and show other nations that if they connived with terrorists, the United States would not tolerate their covert encouragement of our open enemies.

20 years later, the taliban no longer controls the government, but the United States is still at war with the taliban. We have tried a variety of strategies, including a surge of military forces in 2009 that was supposed to stop taliban fighters operating from bases in neighbouring Pakistan. none have worked. the taliban remains a persistent power, drawing succor from its

core support group, ethnic Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Moreover, they have consistently held the strategic initiative because the U.S. forces cannot — or will not — cross the Pakistani border to eliminate the bases the insurgents retreat to. they thus control the war’s flow, ramping up attacks or lowering them according to their designs. the United States cannot win under those conditions; it can only create a stalemate preventing the taliban from toppling the weak Afghan central government we have supported in Kabul. this situation creates a clear strategic quandary for Washington. is it worth spending billions of dollars a year, and committing thousands of troops and their equipment, indefinitely to keep the taliban out of power? Viewed as an isolated question, the answer is clearly yes. it is in US interest to prevent a potentially hostile power from again controlling a hard-toattack nation from which anti-US terrorism groups can freely operate. But viewed against the broader strategic challenges the United States faces, the answer is clearly no. today’s global environment is far different from what it was 20 years ago. in 2001, China and Russia were much weaker entities. their economies were vastly smaller than they are today, and their military forces

We can mourn Prince Philip, but not the monarchy THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH MAY HAVE BEEN A MAN OF HIS TIME, YET THE ROYAL FAMILY CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE HISTORY OF EMPIRE GUARDIAN

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AFUA HIRSCH

ithin minutes of Prince Philip’s death having been announced, i began receiving messages from friends in Ghana. “My sincere condolences for your loss,” one said. “May God bless you and everyone in the UK who is grieving,” said another. On a human level, acknowledging respectfully the loss that comes with death makes sense. But why did these messages describe it as my loss? i am not alone in feeling that the monarchy is an institution that cannot be embraced – although even now, it is not easy to say so. if i fail to express my deference and loyalty, i will be viciously attacked by those who regard me as unpatriotic. i will be the bad Black person, the ungrateful “guest” (never mind that this is my country), the disloyal colonial subject who forgot how much Britain did for me. the public reaction to Prince Philip’s death has centred on how much he, personally, has done.

By all accounts he was the most active member of the royal family, having conducted, apparently, more than 20,000 engagements, and holding more than 800 presidencies and patronages. Many young people benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme.

But these acts of public service come with strings attached. We become complicit in a toxic transaction that, in exchange for their privileges, deprives the royals of their privacy or control over their own destinies, and entitles us to endless and poisonous coverage of the minutiae of their lives.

On our side of the bargain, we abandon our supposed commitment to meritocracy and equality by accepting that these human beings are born deserving of special reverence. We receive access to their charity, but in return we lose our freedom to challenge their authority. the royals’ good deeds and charitable endeavours are not in themselves a justification for the monarchy. the truth is that there is no escaping the haunting legacy of empire. its ghosts have long taken possession of our royal family, turning them into emperors without colonies, bounty hoarders without raids, conquerers without wars. instead, they are the heads of a Commonwealth in which the colonised are rebranded “friends” with “a shared history”. this is fantasy stuff.

As is the idea – ludicrously popular in tributes to Prince Philip – that he was some kind of frustrated comedian. We have all by now been reminded of his famous remarks: telling the nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was wearing national dress, “You look like you’re ready for bed”; or advising British students in China not to stay too long or they would end up with “slitty eyes”. A Black British, Cambridge-educated friend of mine received a classic Prince Philip “compliment” when she met him: “You speak English beautifully!” he said. in the past few days we’ve heard numerous euphemisms deployed to cover these outbursts without calling them what they were. “his ‘gaffes’ were typical of the clubbish humour of the officer class.” he was “politically incorrect”, and “blunt”. nobody likes to speak ill of the dead, but these are not excuses for Philip so much as alibis for British commentators, desperate to avoid confronting the real legacy of

British imperial expansion: racism. A dirty word that inconveniently undermines the glorious narrative the royals still help project. the colonisation of “lesser peoples” was by definition a project of white supremacy, and one personified by the royal family at the head of the empire: of course he made racist jokes. if calling Prince Philip “a man of his time” is an admission that the royals exist in something of a time capsule, then i have to agree. the institution is, as the experience of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has made clear, outdated.

Both Meghan’s presence and the racist press treatment to which she was subjected offered the monarchy a unique opportunity to embrace a woman of African heritage, acknowledge its complicated relationship with this heritage in the past, and at least appear committed to a new era of equality. it could not have failed the test more dramatically.

Meanwhile, Britain’s honours system continues to glorify the pain felt by survivors of colonialism and their descendants. this system – which, two generations on from Prince Philip is still being actively promoted – rewards British people for their achievements on remarkable terms. it asks us to aspire to see ourselves as “Members”, “Officers” or even “Commanders” of the British Empire – a painful act of betrayal to our histories.

For those who object to projecting this painful history on to a single, recently deceased old man, this is the very problem with the concept of monarchy.

Of course there is an individual analysis, in which Prince Philip was a fascinating historical actor whose passing points towards the end of an era. his childhood was shaped by the collapse of the Ottoman empire. his body carried the genetic memory of the Bolshevik revolution and its fatal consequences for the Romanovs: in 1993, his DnA was used to identify their remains.

Philip’s marriage to the Queen is a legacy of Queen Victoria’s project to unite Europe through dynastic marriages, based on a deep appreciation of the need for peace on the continent. it’s a virtuous ideal with much to offer the very same people most noisily prostrating themselves before the royals, if they actually cared to learn.

But our personal relationships with the monarchy cannot exist in a vacuum. Before expressing any fondness for the royals, i have to ask myself, am i subconsciously seeking the approval of the predominantly white society that rewards particular Black people for showing their allegiance?

Am i threatened by the penalties for not engaging in this period of forced mourning? Many tV journalists like me are, after all, at the mercy of a governing party that has made clear its willingness to upbraid broadcasters who do not appear sufficiently patriotic.

Above all, the unspoken requirement for us to publicly celebrate the monarchy’s gains – or mourn any of its losses – demands that i internalise a history of violence and racism against my own ancestors. the instinct i still feel to apologise for not doing so is evidence of how strongly those forces still exist. So if there is a fitting tribute to the passing of Prince Philip, i believe it would be to learn – with honesty – the lessons from both his life and the reaction to his death.

Afua Hirsch is a Guardian columnist.

were incapable of posing even a regional threat to US allies in Asia or Europe. We could afford to concentrate our considerable power on fighting terrorism. today, those two countries pose very serious threats to nAtO allies in Europe and the free nations in Asia.

US interests would be much more threatened by the loss of taiwan to Chinese invasion or the subversion of Estonia by Russian-backed forces than they would be by a terrorist resurgence. Compared with those threats, it makes more sense for the United States to withdraw its assets from Afghanistan and concentrate them in the regions more important to our national security. if Biden chose to stay in Afghanistan, on the other hand, the situation could be dire. Russia, China and iran have an informal anti-Western alliance with increasingly close military cooperation. this raises the specter of simultaneous, coordinated assaults on the US-led global order that would severely tax US power. Signs of that are already appearing. Russia is currently building forces on the Ukrainian border at the same time iran is ramping up its uranium enrichment activities, and China is increasing its military presence in the South China Sea and close to taiwan. US forces would already find it difficult to support our allies in all three regions at the same time. imagine if we also had to

maintain or increase our presence to support the Afghan government in the face of a ferocious taliban offensive — and do so to protect the lives of thousands of American soldiers and citizens now in harm’s way. the political pressure to make the wrong decision — to support our troops in the peripheral Afghan theater at the expense of other, more important, engagements — would be immense. it is regrettable that our withdrawal could easily lead to a taliban victory. We should continue to support the elected Afghan government with arms and nonlethal aid.

We should declare that we reserve the right to launch missile and airstrikes against any terrorist bases that reemerge in taliban-controlled territory. We should also liberally apply economic sanctions against a taliban government should it resume support for anti-US groups.

But we should not reconsider our decision to strategically withdraw from an untenable position. the hard fact is that losing Afghanistan does not pose an essential threat to US security, but losing a conflict against one of our three main enemies would. Kudos to President Biden for making the tough, correct call.

Henry Olsen is a Washington Post columnist and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Centre.

Russia’s Ukraine manoeuvres are a response, not a provocation THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT’S PUSH FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP COULD PROVOKE A DANGEROUS ESCALATION OF THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT AL JAZEERA

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LEONID RAGOZIN

VER the past few weeks, Russia has been amassing troops at the Ukrainian border, triggering alarm in Kyiv and European Union capitals. Kremlin-controlled tV channels have been busy preparing the public in Russia for a fresh outbreak of war. Alarmingly jingoistic statements are being made on various talk shows, with hosts and guests suggesting the possibility of Russia seizing new chunks of Ukrainian territory or even advancing as far as Kyiv.

Western observers have been speculating that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to test US President Joe Biden’s resolve or that he wants to distract public attention in Russia from the plight of the first poisoned, then imprisoned opposition leader Aleksey navalny. it is also not inconceivable that he might be entertaining the idea of replicating the “Crimea effect” by waging “a small victorious war” on the eve of parliamentary elections in September. in 2014, the annexation of Crimea resulted in a huge surge in his personal popularity.

But given Putin’s propensity to stealthy and surprising moves, the current deployment of troops is way too demonstrative to be a preparation of imminent invasion. their enhanced visibility has made some observers conclude that they are meant as intimidation rather than outright aggression. From the Russian perspective, however, the Kremlin is being reactive, not proactive, in the face of a newly emerging threat. the amassing of troops is the Kremlin’s heavy-handed response to what it interprets as a coordinated attempt by Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to upset the fragile equilibrium which underpinned a relative calm on the front line in eastern Ukraine.

A landmark event, which preceded this escalation, was the war in nagorno-Karabakh last fall, in which Russia’s military ally, Armenia, was soundly defeated by Azerbaijan with the assistance of turkey, a nAtO member. that war demonstrated the limits of Russia’s ability and willingness to get dragged into another serious conflict. it also highlighted the vulnerabilities of an army overly reliant on Russian weapon supplies, particularly against turkish drones. the Atlantic Council, a hawkish nAtO-linked think tank, which to a large extent drives the Ukrainian discourse in Washington, was quick to suggest that the war in nagorno-Karabakh opened a possibility of a military solution in Donbas, while peace talks were a road to nowhere. incidentally, both Karabakh and Ukraine talks take place at the same venue – Minsk, Belarus. the Minsk agreements were imposed on Ukraine after it suffered a series of defeats in the war against Russia-backed Donbas separatists in 2015. if implemented in full, they essentially ensure that Russia retains a stake in Ukrainian politics, allowing it to block the country’s membership in nAtO – Moscow’s main concern that drives its Ukraine policy. Kyiv has long tried to amend the agreements while threatening to leave the Minsk framework altogether, but Moscow would not budge. the arrival of Biden’s administration coincided with Zelenskyy adopting a new assertive policy on Russia, which could not help but alarm the Kremlin.

First, his government closed tV channels associated with Viktor Medvedchuk, an oligarch seen as Putin’s man in Ukraine. the move primarily served to undermine Medvedchuk’s Opposition Platform/For Life party. this Russia-friendly force emerged as Ukraine’s most popular party at the end of 2020, not least because of Zelensky’s failure to bring peace and repeal the ethnonationalist legislation restricting the use of the Russian language, a ticking time bomb set up by his predecessor, Petro

Poroshenko, in the last days of his presidency.

Meanwhile, Ukraine renewed its efforts to attain nAtO membership. three days after Biden entered the White house, Zelenskyy gave an interview to US media outlet Axios, in which he made clear Ukraine’s readiness to join the transatlantic alliance under this US administration. the interview was followed by foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba publishing an op-ed on the Atlantic Council’s website titled: Why is Ukraine still not in nAtO?, which called for launching a membership plan for Ukraine.

On March 5, the same think-tank presented a list of recommendations to the Biden administration, which included granting Ukraine the status of a “major nonnAtO ally” and threatening Russia with activating a nAtO membership plan for Ukraine, if Moscow fails to be more cooperative on Donbas. in the meantime, the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine – Zelenskyy’s main achievement on the peace settlement front – essentially collapsed. At the end of March, Putin spoke to French and German leaders, the co-sponsors of the Minsk peace talks, to communicate his concern about the aggravating situation. Ukraine was demonstratively excluded from the conversation. Soon after, Russia began amassing troops at the Ukrainian border. in sharp contrast with his habitually dovish approach, Zelenskyy is not backing off. On April 6, he told nAtO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that nAtO was “the only way to end the war in Donbas” and that the membership action plan would be “a real signal for Russia”.

A real signal indeed: A few hours later, Russian defence minister Sergey Shoygu ordered a combat readiness check for the whole Russian army.

Ukraine’s nAtO membership is a clear red line not just for the Kremlin, but for Russian society as a whole. it would place hostile troops just 500km (310 miles) south of Moscow, in addition to them already being stationed 600km (373 miles) to the west of the Russian capital, in Baltic countries. this would not only elicit a hostile response from the Kremlin, but it would also solidify Putin’s regime for years to come and marginalise the currently fledgeling anti-Putin opposition.

Putin is known for skillfully exploiting the unhealed trauma of World War ii to mobilise support, including from people who do not like his other policies. America’s disregard for that trauma and its never-ending flirtation with radical nationalism in Eastern Europe makes it all too easy for the Kremlin to sell nAtO to Russians as an existential threat. Examples of that tone-deafness are all too many. At a policy conference earlier this month, the former commander of US armed forces in Europe, Ben hodges, made a wild claim that “it were Ukrainians, not Russians” who perished in World War ii. At the same conference, a Ukrainian politician promoted the idea of idel-Ural, a separatist project for Russia’s Volga region hitler toyed with during the war.

Diplomats representing all parties involved are surely working hard to prevent the worst, but all of this does not bode well for millions of eastern Ukrainians trapped between Putin’s dictatorship and the American-backed ethnonationalist project for Ukraine – as promoted by Atlantic Council pundits – which defies the social and cultural reality in the post-Soviet region.

A renewed conflict will inevitably lead to renewed polarisation in Ukraine. A unifying figure who transcends the country’s east-west linguistic divide, Zelenskyy might be Ukraine’s last chance to save itself from partition and the West’s last chance to preserve Ukraine as a potential role model serving to inspire pro-democracy Russians. no one, except war-mongering hawks in Moscow, Washington and Kyiv, would gain from another blood bath in Ukraine.

Leonid Ragozin is a freelance journalist based in Riga.

Friday, 16 April, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE

IMF’S SDR COulD PROvIDE uP tO $3bn tO PakIStan: MOODy’S SECP automates ultimate beneficial ownership for companies ISLAMABAD APP

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has launched a facility on its eService portal for online submission of statutory Form-45, required to submit the declaration of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO). “This is another forward step to promote the beneficial ownership transparency,” the SECP said in a press release on Thursday. The SECP has introduced amendments to the relevant laws and regulations to improve the standards of transparency in the ownership and control structure of corporate entities. The amendments were aimed at preventing the misuse of companies from money laundering and terrorist financing.

“The companies (General Provision & Forms) Regulations, 2018 specify the procedure for companies to obtain, maintain and update information about their ultimate beneficial owners,” the commission said, adding that companies are required to provide a declaration of compliance to SECP, through Form 45. “This measure will facilitate companies in filing the declaration with ease and reduce the cost of filing,” it added.

ISLAMABAD

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TLTP

OODy’s has said that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR) could provide ‘meaningful support’ to countries like Pakistan.

The newly created International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR) would augment sovereigns’ foreign exchange reserves, most tangibly for lower-rated sovereigns with thin external buffers, although their direct effect in alleviating prevailing external liquidity pressures will be modest, Moody’s Investor Service said.

Measured against upcoming cross-

border debt repayments, the additional SDR allocations could provide meaningful support for Pakistan, Zambia, Suriname, Tajikistan and Namibia, said Moody’s.

On April 8, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), an advisory body to the IMF, officially called for a comprehensive proposal on a general allocation of $650 billion in new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

SDRs are international reserve assets that have been created to supplement IMF member countries’ official foreign exchange reserves; SDRs can be exchanged for currencies to help meet cross-border payments, including those for debt servicing and merchandise trade.

While these additional resources would help alleviate external liquidity pressures, they would not solve fundamental credit challenges, such as those that led to the recent default in Zambia.

As per the quota under IMF, Pakistan holds around 0.426 per cent share in total SDR which suggests that the above development can fetch a benefit of up to $2.5-3 billion for Pakistan which shall provide much-needed relief for efficient management of external payments.

By contrast, 99 rated developing sovereigns would receive $226.2 billion or 34.8pc of new SDR allocations, of which $139.0 billion or 21.4pc of total new allocations would be directed to the 10 emerging market economies in the Group of 20 (G-20).

For most of the latter group, deep-

Iran, Pakistan to sign free trade agreement

Pakistan, Japan to further expand economic cooperation ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan and Japan on Thursday reviewed spectrum of business and investment relations, identified areas for further strengthening and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. The bilateral issues of mutual interest came up to discussion during a call-on meeting of Ambassador of Japan, Kuninori Matsuda with Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Industries and Production, Muhammad Hammad Azhar.

Speaking on the occasion, the finance minister stated that Pakistan and Japan had enjoyed cordial and friendly relations over the years and this relationship would continue to become even stronger with every passing day.

He appreciated the support extended by the government of Japan for infrastructural and institutional development in Pakistan, adding Japan was a major development partner of Pakistan. The minister underlined the initiatives taken by the government which led to economic turnaround. He said, Pakistan’s primary deficit has been converted into a surplus due to strict adherence to fiscal discipline. The country’s fiscal response to Covid-19 has been prudent and well-targeted, including re-allocation of spending to the most vulnerable segments through the landmark Ehsaas programme. The minister lauded the valuable investment by Japan in various sectors particularly in the automobile sector and affirmed to facilitate Japanese investors and businessmen for undertaking major investment initiatives amid rising demand for innovative business products and services in Pakistan. He also commended the contribution of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for socioeconomic development and reform initiatives aimed at poverty reduction & human development in the country.

Hammad thanked the Kuninori Matsuda for his efforts in furthering Pakistan-Japan relations. On the occasion, the ambassador said that Japan greatly values its bilateral relations with Pakistan. He briefed the finance minister about operations of the Japanese entities in Pakistan and expressed confidence that business and economic linkages would further strengthen between the two countries.

ening domestic capital markets and an established funding franchise in international markets reduce the credit benefits from the addition to reserves represented by the SDR allocation. As such, less than 15pc of the SDR allocation would accrue to non-G20 emerging market and frontier market economies – those suffering the most in the current global downturn, Moody’s stated.

Developing economies with the most fragile external positions are the most likely to benefit from the SDR allocation, Moody’s added.

Although the final proposal that would govern the use of these SDRs is forthcoming, some of the largest governments may voluntarily purchase SDRs from vulnerable sovereigns in need of liquidity support, Moody’s concluded.

Govt slashes petroleum prices for next 15 days The federal government has slashed prices of petroleum products by up to Rs2 per litre effective from April 16, 2021. A notification from the Finance Division in this regard was issued on Thursday. According to a notification, the government has reduced the price of petrol by Rs1.79 per litre, high speed diesel by Rs2.32, kerosene by Rs2.06, and the rate of light diesel oil has been slashed by Rs2.21 per litre. The new price of petrol will be Rs108.56 per litre. The prices of high-speed diesel and kerosene have been slashed to Rs110.76 and Rs80 per litre, respectively. The government reduced the prices following recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). NEWS DESK

Govt wants to accelerate oil, gas exploration activities: Omar PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

Iranian Consul General in Peshawar Hamid Reza Ghomi has said that efforts to sign a free trade agreement between Iran and Pakistan have been initiated.

Addressing businessmen at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday, he said that Iran wanted to boost bilateral trade and economic relations with Pakistan to strengthen regional economy.

The Iranian diplomat said that despite Covid-19 pandemic, the Iranian consulate facilitated the Pakistani businessmen and issued visas to them within a short span of time.

He lauded the efforts made by Pakistani ambassador in Iran, saying he played vital role in increasing trade volume between the two countries.

He added that Iranian ambassador in Pakistan would soon visit Peshawar to hold a meeting with the

businessmen to know their problems.

The envoy asked the Peshawarbased businessmen to cement trade relations with Mashhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to take benefits from each other’s experience and boost trade activities between the countries.

The meeting was also attended

by SCCI senior vice president Engineer Manzoor Elahi, Iranian Second Consul Seyed Ebrahim Dehnadi and other officials of Iranian Consulate in Peshawar.

Earlier, the businessmen led by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sherbaz Bilour discussed a number of issues for improvement of the bilateral trade volume with the envoy.

Both the sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries by signing a free trade agreement (FTA), installation of an effective banking channel, establishment of markets at border region, elimination of illegal trade, exchange of business delegation

and organising joint trade exhibitions.

It was also agreed that a webinar between SCCI and Mashhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry would be organised after Eidul Fitr to exchange views.

Sherbaz Bilour invited the Iranian businessmen to invest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in hydel power generation, marble, mining, match, furniture, honey, gems and other sectors.

He said that promotion of regional trade was need of the hour.

“There’s huge potential to further boost trade between Pakistan and Iran, which currently stands at $359 million,” said Mr Bilour.

He called upon Islamabad and Tehran to take serious initiatives to remove hurdles to bilateral trade.

He said that Iran should take benefits from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. He said that youth could play pivotal role in bolstering mutual relationships between the two brotherly Islamic countries.

Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan has said that revival of exploration and production activities in the country is a key objective of the government. The energy minister was talking to a delegation of heads of different oil and gas exploration and production companies that called on him on Thursday and discussed matters related to the oil and gas sector. The minister said that the government also wants to achieve self-sufficiency in the oil and gas sector by auctioning new exploration and production blocks and accelerating the exploration activities. He highlighted the government's proinvestment policies, ease-of-doing-business strategy in the petroleum sector and efforts to ensure transparency for providing a levelplaying field to all competitors. The delegation thanked and appreciated the government efforts for positive developments in the oil exploration and production sector and the smooth resolution of regulatory issues. It is pertinent to mention here that the overall production of petroleum commodities has witnessed an increase of 7.94 per cent during the first eight months of the financial year 2020-21 as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) products that showed growth including kerosene oil production,NEWS DESK

Policy hawks, courts will test ECB and euro debt markets LONDON/MILAN AGENCIES

Euro zone politicians, courts and policy hawks will pose a stiff challenge this year to the ECB’s resolve to pin down the bloc’s borrowing costs, precisely at a time when higher U.S. Treasury yields are tempting investors away from European markets.

The European Central Bank has held sovereign debt yields low through bond purchases, and recently increased buying in its 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.22 trillion) emergency stimulus scheme, known as PEPP. And it is no longer battling alone to support the euro economy, as the pandemic induced governments to spend more and to

create an 800 billion-euro Recovery Fund, seeded by joint European Union borrowing.

However, an emergency appeal at Germany’s top court has halted the fund’s ratification. The court should decide in the coming weeks on the suit which was brought by five plaintiffs, including the former leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Given how far Europe’s recovery lags the United States, delaying the fund could mean “economic disaster”, ECB board member Isabel Schnabel has warned.

It is most concerning for poorer southern European countries, which stand to benefit the most from disbursements. Their borrowing costs fell last year as the Recovery Fund deal was seen reducing risks for their

economies, but yields have started to edge up on concerns that support for these economies may not come soon enough.

Italy alone could receive a total 250 billion euros from the fund, Credit Suisse estimates. “(The ECB) is doing enough, but the game is not over,” said Guy Miller, chief market strategist at Zurich Insurance Group.

“They have to remain vigilant, and they will have to make sure to continue to fight.”

HIGHER YIELDS: Investor demand for 50-year bonds issued recently by Italy and Austria was strong, implying confidence in ECB support, Miller said.

But Spanish and Portuguese 10-year yields have risen 15 bps each since ratification of the fund was halted. Italian 10-year

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yields are near a six-week high, and their premium over Germany is near the widest since early March.

These moves are modest compared to last year’s pandemic-linked mayhem, yields are historically low and the pain won’t be felt for years. Italy, for instance, with an average seven-year debt maturity, will feel the impact of higher borrowing costs only after 2025, Berenberg analysts estimate.

HAWKS WITHIN: Ross Hutchinson, a fund manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said that while southern European 10year yields of 0.4% to 0.8% offer little compensation for risk, it was hard to go against the ECB backstop.

But that backstop will come under pressure from the usual hawks within the ECB;

Dutch central bank chief Klaas Knot has already urged dialling back PEPP this year.

The recovery fund roadblocks and the ECB tapering debate “are genuine concerns, that are under appreciated by the market,” Hutchinson said.

The ECB bought a net 17.1 billion euros under its PEPP last week, versus 10.6 billion euros the previous week. But it agreed at its March meeting to front-load buying, on condition it would cut purchases later if conditions allowed.

KJ Sinha, a fund manager at Canada Life Asset Management, says as growth and inflation expectations improve around the end of this year, “that’s when (the ECB) will start talking about winding down purchases and things could get tricky.”

Friday, 16 April, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Iran nuClear talks restart amId straIns Over enrICHment mOve, natanz attaCk VIENNA

I

AGENCIES

RAN and global powers resumed talks on Thursday to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal in an effort potentially complicated

by Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium enrichment and what it called Israeli sabotage at a nuclear site.

Casting a shadow over the Vienna talks, Tehran on Tuesday announced its decision to enrich uranium at 60 per cent purity, a big step closer to the 90 per cent that is weapons-grade material, in response to an explosion at its key Natanz facility on Sunday.

Calling the move “provocative”, the United States and the European parties to the deal warned that Tehran’s enrichment move was contrary to efforts to revive the accord abandoned by Washington three years ago.

Tehran’s refusal to hold direct talks with its old adversary the US forced European intermediaries to shuttle between separate hotels in Vienna last week when Iran and the other signatories held what they described as a first round of “constructive” talks to salvage

the pact.

“Don’t worry about Iran. We have always remained committed to our obligations,” Rouhani said in a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday.

“Even today, if we wish, we can enrich uranium at 90 per cent purity. But we are not seeking a nuclear bomb ... If others return to full compliance with the deal ... we will stop 60 per cent and 20 per cent enrichment.”

SANCTIONS: The 2015 deal was designed to make it harder for Iran to develop an atomic bomb – an ambition Tehran denies – in return for lifting sanctions.

Highlighting Western concerns, a senior diplomat said that while the desire was to make progress, Iran’s latest violation could not be ignored and made efforts to achieve a breakthrough before the June 18 Iranian presidential election harder.

“The seriousness of Iran’s latest decisions has hurt this process and raised tensions,” said the senior Western diplomat.

“We will have to see how in the coming days we address these violations with the will to press ahead in the talks.”

The deal’s remaining parties – Iran,

Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia – have agreed to form two expert-level groups whose job is to marry lists of sanctions that the United States could lift with nuclear obligations Iran should meet.

A delegate at the talks said that events in Natanz should not distract, and that this round needed to focus on what the Americans were actually prepared to do.

“They still have not said what they mean,” the delegate said. “We need the Americans to say which sanctions they are prepared to lift.”

Tehran has repeatedly said that all sanctions must be rescinded first, warning that it may stop negotiations if the measures are not lifted. Washington wants Iran to reverse the breaches of the deal that it made in retaliation for tough sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump.

“We will underline that Tehran does not want to hold corrosive negotiations. Our aim is not just talks for talks. In case of having a constructive outcome, we will continue the negotiations. Otherwise the talks will stop,” Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi told state TV.

Myanmar security forces arrest prominent leader of anti-coup campaign AGENCIES Myanmar security forces arrested on Thursday one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after ramming him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said.

Opponents of a Feb. 1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have kept up their campaign against the military this traditional New Year week with marches and various other displays of resistance.

“Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by an

unmarked police car,” Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group, said on social media.

Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the coup.

Earlier, Reuters spoke to Wai Moe Naing by telephone as he was setting off to lead the rally in the central town of Monywa, about 700 km (435 miles) north of the main city of Yangon. Video posted on social media showed an oncoming car swerving into a group of motorbikes. Reuters was not able to verify the footage.

The license plate of the black car shown

IndIa repOrts mOre tHan 200,000 neW COvId-19 Cases fOr fIrst tIme NEW DELHI: India reported a record 200,739 Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, according to data issued by the health ministry on Thursday. Deaths stood at 1,038, taking the total to 173,123, the data showed. The country’s total case load reached 14.1 million, just behind the United States that leads the global tally with 31.4 million cases. AGENCIES

WHO expects decision on emergency listing for Chinese vaccines soon ZURICH: The World Health Organization will decide late this month or in May on emergency use listings for Covid-19 vaccines from Sinopharm and Sinovac following an extended review, a WHO European region official said on Thursday. “We are in touch with them to review the dossiers that have been submitted by both vaccine manufacturers,” WHO-Europe vaccination expert Siddhartha Datta told a virtual press conference. “We will be hearing about a decision on the emergency use listing in April or early May, so please keep an eye on that.” A WHO panel in final stages of review of the Chinese vaccines has said that a decision for at least one could come on April 26, while a second meeting has been planned for May 3, should more time be needed to make a decision on both shots. Such an emergency WHO listing is a prerequisite for purchase by the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility designed to get shots to poorer countries. It also helps guide countries with less developed regulatory systems about a vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

So far, the WHO has issued emergency listings for Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine, as well as versions of AstraZeneca’s vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India and South Korea’s AstraZeneca-SKBio. CanSino’s vaccine relies on a viral vector to deliver DNA to prompt an immune response, a technique similar to that used in both AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines now being investigated for their association with very rare blood clots combined with low platelet counts.

CanSino has said there have been no reports of blood clots. AGENCIES

in two videos swerving into the rally did not match the vehicle model listed for that plate number on Myanmar’s vehicle database.

A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.

Monywa has been one of main centres of the pro-democracy campaign with big rallies day after day and repeated crackdowns by the security forces.

Some colleagues said they feared for Wai Moe Naing’s safety.

The Swedish embassy said it was following his case and urged that all detainees be allowed proper health care and their human rights be respected.

Friday, 16 April, 2021

LAHORE

Had been waitinG for suCH an inninGs ‘for a LonG tiMe’: babar RIZWAN, MEANWHILE, SAID HE FELT ‘THE SAME JOY AS IF I’D DONE IT MYSELF’ WHEN BABAR REACHED HIS HUNDRED CENTURION

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AGENCIES

ABAR AzAM celebrated reaching the top of the ODI rankings with a performance for the ages in the shortest format, scoring his maiden T20I hundred, and the highest score by a Pakistani in T20I cricket. His 122 not only helped his side cruise to victory, but demonstrated a side to his game many had accused him of lacking: that of an opener who could spearhead the chase; his runs came at a strike rate of over 206.

Alongside Mohammad Rizwan, he shared a 197- run opening stand to set up a victory with two overs to spare and nine wickets in hand. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 73 with a strike rate of 155.31,

ensuring South Africa’s bowlers had no respite at either end.

“I was waiting for such an innings for a long time,” Babar said after the game. “I planned for it, and felt if I got a chance I would grab it. I am thankful that I was able to deliver. I stuck to my strengths and my game plan was developed around team requirements. If you need 10 an over, you definitely have to play with urgency and for that, you have to take risks. “The partnership with Rizwan was outstanding. I give him credit for the way he played because it is really tough to play while fasting and despite that, he batted and kept wicket throughout. It takes a lot of courage and guts. The whole team takes inspiration watching him and it brings us confidence.”

Azam continues his T20I form to go along with the ODI touch that has seen him

LONDON AGENCIES

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made the bizarre claim that Manchester United’s inconsistent home form can be blamed on the red stadium wrap at Old Trafford.

In contrast to their sparkling away form, United’s four Premier League defeats this season have all come at home.

They also lost at Old Trafford against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals.

Speaking ahead of Granada’s visit to Manchester for the Europa League quarter-final second leg, United boss Solskjaer said a key reason for the poor home form is the red covering placed over seats while supporters are absent amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Solskjaer believes his players struggling to pick each other out for passes because United’s red shirts made them blend into the stadium background.

He expects an improvement now because United replaced the stadium wrap with black banners at the start of April, which read ‘United Against Racism’ as part of the club’s See Red anti-racism campaign.

“You’ll see a change now. If you see the banners round the club, it’s not red anymore. We’ve looked into this,” Solskjaer told reporters on Wednesday.

“There shouldn’t be any reason, really, but some of the players have mentioned that you know that split-second decision that you have to make, look over your shoulder if your team-mate’s there or not and the red shirt is on a red background just with the red seats.

climb to the top of the rankings. He was the second-highest runscorer in the ODI leg of the series, and after becoming the number one ODI batsman, he admitted it had been a lifelong dream.

“It had always been my dream to be number one and that has been fulfilled,” said Azam. “There was lots of hard work, suffering, and sacrifice needed to get there.

I have always been trying to improve my game with each passing day, learning new things and applying them. We all know cricket evolves and you have to keep up with it or risk getting left behind.”

Rizwan and Azam’s combination at the top may seem unshakable but is fairly recent. The pair only started opening earlier this year; this was the fifth T20I in which they had opened together. Rizwan said there wasn’t a secret to this success, but underscored the importance of a fast start.

“It’s a big win for us. Chasing 200-plus

is always a difficult task but the way we got a start it made it easy for us,” Rizwan said.

“We had a simple plan to win the powerplay and we did get more runs than they did in the first six. That momentum carried us deeper which brought us success.

“Since we started playing together, this and the one in Australia are the only two innings in which we have spent time at the crease together. Otherwise either me or him get out and we never got an opportunity to build a bigger stand. We even in between talked about making a world record and Babar was even more positive than me. When Babar scored his 100, I felt the same joy as if I’d done it myself.” Just months ago, Pakistan’s top order was considered a significant Achilles heel leading up to the World T20. Now, it appears that gap has been conclusively plugged, without requiring either of Sharjeel Khan or Fakhar zaman to open the batting.

Solskjaer blames stadium wrap for Man Utd’s Old Trafford woes OLE BELIEVES HIS PLAYERS STRUGGLING TO PICK EACH OTHER BECAUSE UNITED’S RED SHIRTS MADE THEM BLEND INTO THE BACKGROUND “So we’ve of course tried to change that along with an anti-racism campaign so of course that was important that it wasn’t red anymore.

“Then again, there shouldn’t be any reason. But then again, if you’ve got a 4-0 advantage like we did against Sociedad you don’t really have to win that game. Nil-nil was a good result.

“Then the first game against Milan that’s still a draw, we conceded in the last minute. I still think we played some good football at home.”

Solskjaer’s claims come 25 years since former United manager Alex Ferguson famously ordered his players to change from their grey kit to a blue-and-white strip midway through a 3-1 loss at Southampton.

United have yet to win at home in the Europa League this term. However, they hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg against Granada and are firm favourites to advance as they chase the first silverware of Solskjaer’s reign.

England forward Marcus Rashford is a doubt for the tier after missing training on Wednesday.

Rashford scored in the first leg in Spain before coming off in the second half, then played 72 minutes of Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League win at Tottenham.

“Daniel James is fit, despite missing the win at Tottenham through injury, but Marcus Rashford had to sit out training on Wednesday and is, therefore, doubtful for the tie,” United said in a statement.

United captain Harry Maguire, Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay and England left-back Luke Shaw are all suspended. “It’s never a positive thing to not have every player available, but we’ve got players ready to deputise and come into the team of course,” Solskjaer said.

“It was a booking amnesty after this quarter-final so we hoped to get them through, but there were some easy yellow cards that the ref handed out. We’re ready to deal with that.”

SPORTS 11

Guardiola says Man City ‘want more’ after reaching Champions League semis DORTMUND AGENCIES

Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City “want more” as they marched into the Champions League semi-finals with the Premier League leaders on course to win four titles this season.

Phil Foden’s second-half winner at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday sealed a 2-1 away win in the quarter-final, second leg to claim a 4-2 aggregate victory and set up a semi-final clash with Paris Saint Germain. Guardiola’s side stay on course for a historic quadruple of Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. They also ended their miserable run of exiting at the quarter-final stage in each of the three seasons to make the Champions League semis at the fifth time of asking under Guardiola. “I am incredibly happy for this club, for this chairman and for the fans, everyone,” he said. “For all of us, it was necessary to get to the semi-finals and now we want more. “It’s time to celebrate and drink a lot of wine, then prepare to face Chelsea (in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday). “We need three victories to be Premier League champions, so it’s important to keep going in this way.” Guardiola also heaped praise on City’s match-winner Foden, who had also netted a 90th-minute goal in the first leg last week to seal a 2-1 home win.

“The second goal from Phil in Manchester was crucial,” said Guardiola. “You had the feeling he is a guy who never hides and he always creates something, he scored two important goals to help us reach the semi-finals.” City’s man-of-the-match Ilkay Gundogan said his side had showed character to come from behind. England midfielder Jude Bellingham gave Dortmund an early lead, but a secondhalf Riyad Mahrez penalty and Foden’s powerful strike moved City into the last four of Europe’s top club competition for the second time. “It means a lot to be honest, this club and this team deserve it,” Gundogan told BT Sport. “Today once again we showed character, we didn’t play well at all in the first 15 minutes, we struggled and we weren’t brave enough and were scared to lose something. That was obvious. “After conceding the first goal we were able to get hold of possession and create chances. “Our target was to score the first goal of the second half and get the game back into our hands.

“That’s exactly what we did.”

‘We love this competition’: Klopp focused on Champions League return NO EUROPEAN FOOTBALL WOULD BE A BLOW TO LIVERPOOL’S PRESTIGE AND FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS TO REVAMP HIS SQUAD IN SUMMER LIVERPOOL AGENCIES

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side have to quickly bounce back from the disappointment of Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid to ensure they do not miss out on the competition next season.

Despite enjoying a host of chances, Liverpool fluffed their lines in front of goal as Madrid held onto their 3-1 first leg lead in a 0-0 draw in the second leg of the quarter-final at Anfield on Wednesday. The English champions are sixth in the Premier League with just seven games to go, three points adrift of the top four place which guarantees a spot in Europe’s premier club competition.

Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League for the last four seasons, twice reaching the final under

Klopp. After also losing 3-1 to Madrid in the 2018 final, the Reds beat Tottenham to lift the trophy in the Spanish capital in 2019. However, after also ending a 30-year wait to be crowned English champions, Liverpool have suffered a drastic dip in form.

Missing out on Champions League football would not only be a blow to Liverpool’s prestige, but also have financial ramifications for Klopp’s ability to revamp his squad in the summer transfer market.

“We have to (bounce back). We love this competition and for different reasons it is very important for the club,” said Klopp. “It doesn’t make it now easier, these two or three games would’ve fitted easily in our schedule, but now we can concentrate on the Premier League.

“Monday night, Leeds, is the next challenge. We have to run and work our socks off. That is what we try to prepare now.”

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Liverpool have now won just one of their last eight games at Anfield as a previously impressive home record has crumbled in a season behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.

However, they have won three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since their opening three matches of the season.

And James Milner is hopeful his side are turning a corner despite failing to make the most of their domi-

nance of the second leg against Madrid.

“You can’t not take the chances we did tonight,” said the veteran midfielder. “We had more than enough chances to do what we needed to do and we didn’t take them. “The positive is that we are creating them. We’ve done enough tonight to go through, we were obviously the better team and we did enough to win the game.

“The most important thing is we replicate this form and those sort of performances.”

Friday, 16 April, 2021

PRAyeR TiMings

NEWS

UAE plAyEd pArT In IndIA-pAkIsTAn CEAsEFIrE, sAys dIploMAT DUBAI

T

Agencies

he United Arab emirates (UAe) played a role in getting longtime rivals Pakistan and India to agree to a cease-fire amid tensions over the disputed region of Kashmir, the emirati ambassador to Washington said.

The comments by Yousef al-Otaiba come as the emirates tries to recalibrate its diplomacy to Washington following US President Joe Biden taking office.

After enjoying a close relationship with former president Donald Trump, the autocratically ruled UAe has sought to underline its importance in regional affairs as Biden has struck a harder tone with Saudi Arabia and suggested he wants to rejoin Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Speaking in a video released Wednesday by Stanford University’s hoover Institution, al-Otaiba acknowledged an emirati role “in bringing the Kashmir escalation down” between the two nucleararmed nations.

“We try to be helpful where we have influence with two different countries,” alOtaiba told h R McMaster, a former national security adviser to Trump. “India and Pakistan was the most recent one.”

In February, India and Pakistan agreed to adhere to a 2003 accord over the heavily militarised himalayan region that had been largely ignored since its signing.

Troops regularly exchanged artillery, rocket, and small-arms fire across the Line of Control (LoC), killing hundreds including civilians.

Kashmir has been divided but claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan since almost immediately after the two countries’ creation in 1947. They have fought three wars against each other, two directly dealing with the disputed region.

India in 2019 stripped occupied Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and took direct control over it, sparking unrest.

The sudden cease-fire in February came as a surprise, especially given Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hindunationalist agenda and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s own comments about India.

The two sides had reached the brink of war in 2019 after what India called a preemptive strike against militants blamed for a suicide bombing in Indian-occupied

Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a MiG-21 fighter jet and capturing its pilot, whom they later released.

That the UAe could be a trusted interlocutor isn’t surprising. The federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai has a large expatriate workforce of Indians and Pakistanis across both blue-collar and whitecollar jobs. emirati sheikhs maintain close relations with both countries because of it.

In Pakistan, a security official told The Associated Press the UAe did play a role in brokering the cease-fire. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorised to brief journalists, declined to say where these

meetings took place.

An Indian security official told the AP the two countries had decided to keep the talks “secret and low key.” But he described the UAe’s role as providing “nothing but the venue” in Dubai. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to talk to reporters.

The UAe, which hosts 3,500 American troops and the US Navy’s busiest foreign port of call, remains a close partner in the region, having sent troops at one point to Afghanistan. The UAe has tried to trade on its efforts to host peace talks between ethiopia and eritrea, as well as its recognition of Israel, to bolster those ties. It hopes to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets from the US as part of a $23 billion sale. however, the UAe’s reputation in Washington has taken a hit over human rights abuses during its involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Its close relationship to Saudi Arabia, already criticised over its killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018, hasn’t helped. The UAe also remains skeptical of the Iranian nuclear deal, something Biden hopes to reenter amid heightened regional tensions.

Al-Otaiba acknowledged in his remarks that Pakistan and India “might not sort of become best friends,” but that such communication is important.

“At least we want to get it to a level where it’s functional, where it’s operational, where they are speaking to each other, where there’s lines of communication,” al-Otaiba said. “That’s our goal.”

US expels Russian diplomats, imposes new round of sanctions WASHINGTON Agencies

The Biden administration on Thursday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and sanctions against nearly three dozen people and companies as it moved to hold the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year’s presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies.

The actions, foreshadowed for weeks by the administration, represent the first retaliatory measures announced against the Kremlin for the hack, familiarly known as the SolarWinds breach. In that intrusion, Russian hackers are believed to have infected widely used software with malicious code, enabling them to access the networks of at least nine agencies in what US officials believe was an intelligence-gathering operation aimed at mining government secrets.

Besides that hack, US officials last month alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations to help Donald Trump in his unsuccessful bid for reelection as president, though there’s no evidence Russia or anyone else changed votes or manipulated the outcome.

The measures announced Thursday include sanctions on six Russian companies that support the country’s cyber activities, in addition to sanctions on 32 individuals and entities accused of attempting to interfere in last year’s presidential election, including by spreading disinformation.

The 10 diplomats being expelled include representatives of Russian intelligence services, the White house said.

The White house also said Biden was using diplomatic, military and intelligence channels to respond to reports that Russia encouraged the Taliban to attack US and allied troops in Afghanistan based on the “best assessments” of the intelligence community.

Reports of alleged “bounties” surfaced last year, with the Trump administration coming under fire for not raising the issue directly with Russia. The White house did not publicly confirm the reports. “The safety and well-being of US military personnel, and that of our allies and partners, is an absolute priority of the United States,” the White house said Thursday.

It was not immediately clear what, if any, other actions might be planned against Russia. Officials had previously said they expected to take actions both seen and unseen.

The sanctions, presumably intended to send a clear retributive message to Russia and to deter similar acts in the future, are certain to exacerbate an already tense relationship between the US and Russia.

President Joe Biden told Putin this week in their second call to “de-escalate tensions” following a Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s border, and said the US would “act firmly in defense of its national interests” regarding Russian intrusions and election interference.

In a television interview last month, Biden replied “I

do” when asked if he thought Putin was a “killer.” he said the days of the US “rolling over” to Putin were done. Putin later recalled his ambassador to the US and pointed at the US history of slavery and slaughtering Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II. It remained unclear whether the US actions would actually result in changed behavior, especially since past measures by the US have failed to bring an end to Russian hacking. The Obama administration expelled diplomats from the US in 2016 in response to interference in that year’s presidential election. And though Trump was often reluctant to criticize Putin, his administration also expelled diplomats in 2018 for Russia’s alleged poisoning of an exintelligence officer in Britain.

US officials are still grappling with the aftereffects of the SolarWinds intrusion, which affected agencies including the Treasury, Justice, energy and homeland Security departments, and are still assessing what information may have been stolen. The breach exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain as well as weaknesses in the federal government’s own cyber defenses.

The actions would represent the second major round of sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against Russia. Last month, the US sanctioned seven mid-level and senior Russian officials, along with more than a dozen government entities, over a nearly fatal nerveagent attack on opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his subsequent jailing.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:19

12:05

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Fawad Chaudhry wins Information Ministry back ISLAMABAD MiAn ABRAR

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday handed over the reins of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to Fawad Chaudhry, for a second time replacing former minister Senator Shibli Faraz who is likely to be given another portfolio in a few days’ time.

PTI's Senator Faisal Javed Khan took to social media site, Twitter, to congratulate Fawad Chaudhry on his reappointment and wished him the best. “Congratulations Fawad for getting reappointed as Federal Minister for Information. Wish you all the best. Lots of prayers,” reads the tweet. Sources in the government say that Fawad’s reappointment was a part of Prime Minister Imran’s plan to switch some more ministers and a new reshuffle is likely to be announced by this weekend. Sources also said that Prime Minister Imran was not satisfied with the handling of Information Ministry by Senator Faraz and the premier wanted the minister to strongly portray the achievements of the federal government in the media. They said that the premier was also unhappy over a rift between Faraz and Shehbaz Gill as the two had a verbal argument in presence of media persons which was also broadcast on private television channels. They further said that Fawad as of late has won over the confidence of the prime minister through his hard-hitting statements and strong advocacy of the government policies with a clear-headed and logical approach on conventional and social media. Sources said that the prime minister was giving final touches to the list of the cabinet changes and the announcements are likely to be made in next few days. Fawad was appointed to the office of information minister in August 2018 but removed in April 2019 in one of the many abrupt cabinet reshuffles. he was replaced by Firdous Ashiq Awan, a relative newcomer to Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI) camp, in a move that took many by surprise. Firdous too was sent packing in April last year and replaced by Senator Faraz, a longtime Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) stalwart. On Sunday, Pakistan Today reported that Fawad was set to get the high-profile portfolio back. In March, Faraz had said that discussions were underway as to whose portfolio should be replaced with whom and why. “Performance is the parameter,” he said, adding that potential was the other factor. Speaking on a television programme on Sunday, Faraz had said that was not aware of whether or not he would be included in the cabinet himself but expressed his belief that Fawad would be effective as the information minister. On August 20, 2018, Fawad was appointed as federal minister for information and broadcasting in the federal cabinet. however, in April 2019, he was removed from the ministry. On April 28, 2020, Senator Faraz was sworn in as the new information minister, in a ceremony held at the President house. Fawad’s appointment comes as another major reshuffle in the federal cabinet. It was earlier reported that PM Imran is expected to announce a cabinet reshuffle, potentially replacing several ministers and picking up some new faces. The premier was reportedly unhappy with some key ministers’ performance and has already conveyed that only those would stay in the cabinet who can deliver.

Blinken visits Afghanistan in show of support after Biden announces withdrawal WASHINGTON Agencies

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to Kabul on Thursday in an unannounced visit to show support for the Afghan government a day after U.S. President Joe Biden said that he was pulling out U.S. forces after nearly 20 years of war.

Biden acknowledged that U.S. objectives in Afghanistan had become “increasingly unclear” over the past decade and set a deadline for withdrawing all U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan by Sept. 11, exactly two decades after al Qaeda’s attacks on the United States that triggered the war.

Foreign troops under NATO command will also withdraw from Afghanistan in coordination with the U.S. pullout.

Blinken, arriving in Kabul after attending NATO talks in Brussels, met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, whose government remains embroiled in fierce fighting with Taliban insurgents while a U.S.-backed peace process is shrouded in uncertainty.

The top U.S. diplomat tried to reassure Ghani that despite the departure of U.S. troops, the United States would remain committed to Afghanistan, saying Washington will “intensify” its diplomacy to do “everything we can” to advance efforts to secure a peace agreement between Kabul and the insurgents.

“The reason I’m here, so quickly after the president’s speech last night, is to demonstrate literally, by our presence, that we have an enduring an ongoing commitment to Afghanistan,” Blinken said at the embassy, according to a press pool report. he was in Kabul for about eight hours.

The foreign troop withdrawals have raised concerns that the country could erupt in full-scale civil war, providing al Qaeda space in which to rebuild and plan new attacks on U.S. and other targets.

In his meeting with Ghani at the presidential palace, Blinken assured the Afghan president that “the partnership is changing, but the partnership is enduring.”

Later at a press conference at the heavily fortified American embassy, where earlier he

had greeted U.S. soldiers, Blinken warned the Taliban that any attack on American troops as they pulled out would be met with “a very forceful response.”

Blinken also met with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan’s high Council for National Reconciliation, who expressed support for the U.S. decision.

“This does not mean the end of relations and cooperation between the two countries. A new chapter of relations and cooperation between the two countries has returned and we will continue our cooperation in various fields in this chapter,” Abdullah said in a statement.

IMPLICIT THREAT: even as Blinken visited Kabul, the Taliban reiterated a call for an “immediate” withdrawal of all foreign forces, accusing Washington of breaching a February 2020 accord – secured by the Trump administration – to complete a U.S. troop pullout by May 1.

The Taliban statement appeared to make an implicit threat, warning that “in principle” their fighters would “take every necessary countermeasure, hence the American side

will be held responsible for all future consequences.”

They also said they will “under no circumstance ever relent” on their goal of establishing a “pure Islamic system,” underscoring a deep difference with Kabul over the kind of governmental system that should be established in a peace agreement.

As the fate of the peace talks remained uncertain, with the Taliban saying they would not attend a planned conference in Turkey until all foreign forces leave Afghanistan, Blinken remained hopeful.

“We’re waiting to see a definitive response form the Taliban about their participation… The goal is … to accelerate the peace process. The gathering will be supported by high-level attendance from the international community,” he said. Some U.S. officials and experts are concerned about the enduring presence in Afghanistan of al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists, worried that the former will be able to rebuild and plot new attacks on Western targets.

Speaking to CNN, Biden’s national se-

curity advisor, Jake Sullivan, conceded that the U.S. withdrawal would result in less intelligence. But, he said, the United States still would be able to detect threats to the U.S. homeland from Afghanistan.

“Our ability to protect the American homeland in my view will not diminish,” Sullivan said. “Our ability to collect intelligence on a day-to-day basis, against the comings and goings of actors within Afghanistan, will diminish. That’s a big difference.”

“From our perspective, we can set up the kind of scenario in which we can protect this country without remaining at war in Afghanistan for the third decade.”

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 when they were ousted by U.S.-led forces. A U.S.-backed government has held power in Afghanistan since then, although the Taliban have control over wide areas of the country.

Reporting by Robin emmott in Brussels, Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad and Jonathan Landay in Washington, editing by Sabine Siebold and Nick Macfie

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