Epaper – February 7 KHI 2021

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7 February, 2021 I 24 Jumadi-ul-Sani, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 220 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

President issues ordinance for senate Polls through oPen ballot g

the eCp hAs AnnounCed to issue the sChedule for polls on februAry 11

islamabad staff report

P

resident dr Arif Alvi on saturday issued the election (Amendment) ordinance 2021, under which the upcoming senate elections will be held through an open ballot. the ordinance, a copy of which was shared by the president on his twitter account, will be effective with immediate effect subject to a pending opinion by the supreme Court (sC) on the matter. the amendment was introduced in section 33, 86 and 122 of the election Act 2017. “provided that in case the supreme Court of pakistan gives an opinion in reference no.

1 of 2021, filed under Article 186 of the Constitution, that elections for the members of the senate do not fall within the purview of Article

226 of the Constitution, the poll for elections for members of the senate to be held in march and thereafter shall be conducted by the Commission through open and identifiable ballot,” reads the ordinance.

According to section 226 of the Constitution: “All elections under the Constitution, other than those of prime minister and chief minister, shall be by secret ballot”. the ordinance further states that after the senate polls, if any head of a political party wishes to see the ballot cast by any member of his party, the election Commission of pakistan (eCp) shall show the same. earlier in the day, the government had decided to promulgate an ordinance to amend the election Act 2017 to hold the upcoming senate elections through an open ballot.

According to sources, the federal cabi-

coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

553,128

LAST UPDATED AT 8:57 AM ON FEBRUARY 6, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

28

1,286

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

508,700 11,914 SINDH:

250,043 KP:

68,180

PUNJAB:

160,162 BALOCHISTAN:

18,849

AJK/GB: ISLAMABAD: 9,160/4,915 41,819

net had approved a summary to promulgate the ordinance to make an amendment to the election Act, 2017. the approval was taken from the cabinet through a circulation summary as there was not much time for the legislation. the sources added that Attorney general of pakistan (Agp) Khalid jawed Khan had drafted the ordinance which was sent to prime minister imran Khan for approval. the eCp has announced to issue the schedule for polls on february 11. however, the enforcement of the ordinance will be subject to the outcome of a presidential reference, wherein the federal government had sought an opinion from the sC that whether the senate elections could be held through open ballot without any constitutional amendment. the presidential reference is being heard in the sC. A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief justice of pakistan gulzar Ahmed, has been hearing the case. the Agp is still arguing the matter and counter arguments are still awaited. there is a slim chance that the presidential reference would be decided before the senate elections schedule. the sources said the Agp had advised the premier to promulgate the ordinance. if the presidential reference’s decision comes in favour of the government after issuance of the senate elections schedule, then the changed method of open ballot could not be introduced in the upcoming elections. senior lawyers appreciated the Agp for timely advising the government to promulgate the ordinance. earlier, for achieving the same objective, the government had tabled a bill for the 26th Constitution Amendment. the bill had proposed amendment to Article 226 to introduce an open ballot for senate elections.

bilawal vows to stop govt from holding open ballot senate elections Karachi staff report

pakistan peoples party (ppp) Chairman bilawal bhuttoZardari on saturday vowed to not let the government “violate the sanctity” of the secret ballot in the senate elections, questioning the need to promulgate an ordinance when the matter is sub judice and a court ruling is awaited.

Addressing a press conference in islamabad, the ppp chairman opined that the government’s interest behind establishing a new ballot system was based on mistrust on its party members. “imran Khan is not satisfied with his numbers in the senate”. he alleged that the senate elections were being “rigged for imran Khan” as the government was “in a state of panic” over the opposition’s decision to contest the elections. “if the government had made a serious effort on the constitutional amendment, the opposition would also have participated in the amendment,” he said. bilawal added that an amendment can only be brought about through the parliament. referring to the pakistan democratic movement’s decision about en masse resignations from the parliament, bi-

Ali Sadpara, 2 others reported missing on K2 expedition g

Ali's son, sAjid sAdpArA, who hAd been wAiting At CAmp 2, hAs now stArted to desCend islamabad staff report

Ali sadpara and two other team members, who are on an expedition to conquer K2 during the winter, remain missing as of saturday as pakistan Army helicopters tasked with on a “search flight” returned to skardu, unable to locate the three climbers. sadpara, john snorri from iceland and mp mohr from Chile have not been contacted since the three began their push for the K2 summit from camp 3 at midnight between thursday and friday, according to their team. the helicopters reportedly flew to a height of 7,000 metres in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clues to their whereabouts. they had to return due to worsening weather and light conditions. earlier, sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world’s second highest mountain, a month after their first attempt failed. media reports state that Ali’s son, sajid sadpara, who had

lawal denied that the alliance has taken a step back, adding that party members who wanted to resign have been turned into party heads. “however, the “democratic way to remove a prime minister is a no-confidence motion”,” he said. earlier in the day, the federal cabinet had approved a summary to promulgate an ordinance to make an amendment to the election Act, 2017 for holding the senate polls through an open ballot. the election Commission of pakistan (eCp) has announced to issue the schedule for polls on february 11. earlier last week, federal minister for information and broadcasting senator shibli faraz said that the pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (pti) government was making all-out efforts, including amendments to three articles of the Constitution, to ensure transparency in the upcoming senate elections as it fully believed in a fair electoral process. legal experts, however, oppose the proposed amendments, saying that secret ballot is the spirit of democracy and the proposed system would further complicate the electoral system.

A presidential reference is pending in the supreme Court to seek the apex court’s opinion on the matter.

more inside

PM assures support to promote tourism, conserve forests in KP STORY ON BACK PAGE

Akbar rejects pmln’s ‘premature victory’ claim in uK tabloid defamation case STORY ON PAGE 02

been waiting at Camp 2, has now begun to descend. the three mountaineers have gone missing after a bulgarian mountaineer, Atanas skatov, 42, fell to his death while changing ropes during his descent to basecamp. his body was later recovered by a pakistani military helicopter. it may be noted here that

winds at K2 can blow at more than 200 kilometres per hour and temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius. with pakistan’s borders open and with few other places to go, this winter an unprecedented four teams totalling around 60 climbers have converged on the mountain, more than all previous expeditions put together.

28 more lose battle of life against Covid-19 STORY ON PAGE 03

deal with looters against pti’s philosophy: shibli STORY ON PAGE 03

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Sunday, 7 February, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

AkBAR ReJectS PML-N’S ‘PReMAtuRe victoRy’ cLAiM iN uk tABLoid defAMAtioN cASe ISLAMABAD

S

stAff RePoRt

PECIAL Adviser to PM on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Saturday rejected “premature claims” of victory put forward by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in a case pertaining to embezzlement of foreign aid money against the family of National Assembly opposition leader and party’s president Shahbaz Sharif.

In a 2019 story, Daily Mail, a British publication, claimed members of the Sharif family were involved in large-scale money laundering of funds provided by nowdefunct Department for International Development (DFID) for the poor and the rehabilitation of the victims of the deadly 2005 earthquake. Subsequently, Sharif — through Carter-Ruck Solicitors, a Londonbased legal firm — launched a defamation suit against the publication.

Following a preliminary hearing to decide the meaning of the words complained

of, Queen’s Bench Division of High Court of Justice, London on Friday observed the claims fitted into Chase Level 1 defamation, meaning Sharif is guilty of wrongdoing (as opposed to a meaning that there are reasonable grounds to suspect him of wrongdoing).

The publisher, Justice Matthew Nicklin said, would have to prove that he is guilty of the act he has been accused of in the story.

The preliminary hearing is not a ruling on the lawsuit.

The trial in the coming months will determine if the story was in fact defamatory according to the British legal system.

Responding to the ruling, PML-N sought Sharif’s release with party’s central spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb claiming the observation was “proof of Shahbaz Sharif’s innocence and Imran Khan’s false cases” against the former.

Addressing a press conference, Akbar accused PML-N said Aurangzeb was “still running the ministry of misinformation and disinformation.”

He further said he could not understand

Judges barred from sharing professional content on social media NEWS DESK Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Judge Muhammad Qasim Khan on Saturday ordered the district judiciary to stop spreading content with reference to judiciary through their social media. In this regard, a notification issued on Saturday stated, “While observing the prevailing practice in district judiciary where the judges use WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc to spread messages which are against the ethics, dignity and code of conduct of judicial officers, are directed to stop.” LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Judge Muhammad Qasim Khan said that the action was taken in order to prevent the spread of unethical and unconfirmed information by the judiciary through social media. “Such messages are spread and displayed in print and electronic media without any proof of credibility of said messages and no judicial officer should be doing so through any of the above mentioned [social media] means, especially with reference to judiciary,” the notice added.

Harvard Law Review elects first Muslim president BOSTON AgeNcIes

The Harvard Law Review has named a Los Angelesborn Egyptian-American as what it believes is its first Muslim president in its 134-year history, elevating him to the top of one of the most prestigious US law journals. Harvard Law School student Hassaan Shahawy said he hoped his election represented “legal academia’s growing recognition of the importance of diversity, and perhaps its growing respect for other legal traditions.”

Among the legal and political luminaries who have worked at the Harvard Law Review was former US President Barack Obama, named the journal’s first Black president in 1990. Three serving members of the US Supreme Court were editors of the Harvard Law Review, as were the late Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. “Coming from a community routinely demonized in American public discourse, I hope this represents some progress, even if small and symbolic,” Shahawy, 26, told Reuters in an email. Law reviews are staffed by the top students at US law schools, who are often recruited for judicial clerkships and other prestigious jobs in the profession.

The review’s first female president, Susan Estrich, was elected in 1977. Other presidents have been Latino and openly gay. The first Black woman was elected president in 2017. Shahawy graduated from Harvard as an undergraduate in 2016 with a degree in History and Near Eastern Studies. He then attended the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar to pursue a doctorate in Oriental Studies and studied Islamic law. Shahawy said he has been actively working with refugee populations and on criminal justice reform. His future plans are unclear, though he cited the possibility of becoming a public interest lawyer or working in academia.

why PML-N Vice President “Maryam [Nawaz] and Shahbaz Sharif’s families have so much anger against Daily Mail.”

Akbar also challenged Sharif to “file a defamation suit against me in London and I will present the evidence [against the former].”

Aurangzeb, in a press conference on Saturday, repeated her claims saying the “faces of those who sought to throw dirt on Shahbaz Sharif had been further blackened.”

The proof of Sharif’s truth had come from the London court, she said. “The London court said that according to British law, Shahbaz’s defamation was characterised as the highest level.”

Responding to her presser, Akbar, while asking her to “stop lying”, said he wanted to inform the public about “what really happened” during the hearing in London.

Contrary to his claim of filing a case against Daily Mail, reporter David Rose, Akbar, and Prime Minister Imran Khan, Akbar said Sharif filed one case only against the paper and the journalist and had “already lost 85 percent” of his claim’s validity.

He also recalled that the hearing was a

“meaning hearing.”

“The judge said that when a common man reads the [newspaper] story, he comes to understand that Shahbaz and his family were involved in money laundering and corruption and it could be considered to be defamation if evidence was not provided to back the claim.” “[The case] will now go to trial. For example, Daily Mail will be asked what evidence it has to [use the term] money laundering,” he added.

Akbar said PML-N “misreported” the hearing and certain sections of the media “gave the impression” that Sharif had won something but it was incorrect.

The PM’s aide also referred to Rose’s tweets which suggested the hearing was “not a victory for anyone and was strictly preliminary”.

Akbar alleged that everyone knew Sharif was “involved in money laundering”, adding the latter was now looking to “get it stamped from the United Kingdom.”

Referring to the money laundering reference filed against the members of the

Fawad proposes PDM parties merge to form new political party NEWS DESK Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Saturday suggested that opposition parties part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to merge into a new political party and to contest the upcoming local government elections.

While speaking to the media in Lahore, Chaudhry added that the alliance should convert into a political party with PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as their leader.

He said that the PDM should contest elections as one political party to achieve “some semblance of a national colour because separately they don’t have the ability”, further adding that all opposition parties had become region-specific parties instead of national entities.

The federal minister opined that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had “destroyed the party in a way even [General] Ziaul Haq couldn’t”.

Earlier on Thursday, opposition parties of the alliance against the incumbent government in it would contest the upcoming Senate elections jointly.

CHAUDHRY SAYS ALLIANCE SHOULD PICK FAZLUR REHMAN AS LEADER OF NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Akbar recalled Sharif had been indicted and his bail rejected by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Similarly, he said, Sharif’s son and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz “also had to face defeat” in the Supreme Court in the same case.

In response to Maryam’s tweet which suggested the “London court’s decision shows that when the court is independent, Imran Khan and his supporters would have to face defeat”, Akbar said it “seems Maryam was not satisfied with Shahbaz’s dishonour and wanted the same for her father [Nawaz] as well”.

“The facts are very simple. Shahbaz Sharif and his family did money laundering of Rs7 billion in the name of Manzoor Papparwala. There is also a section of the reference that states that Shahbaz used this same money to build great palaces for his wife,” he said while referring to the NAB reference. “Three people have already done plea bargains and become approvers [in the case].”

Sarwar, Buzdar discuss Senate elections LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday held an important meeting to discuss various strategies to secure the maximum number of seats in the upcoming Senate elections.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat and Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan also attended the meeting which decided the provincial ministers will be tasked to contact assembly members. On the occasion, Sarwar said the government will surprise the opposition in the Senate elections with the help of its allies, and try to make candidates selected by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership victorious. The governor further said the opposition has become a supporter of vote thieves in the Senate polls.

He expressed confidence that Imran Khan will remain the country’s Prime Minister despite Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) antigovernment drive. Buzdar also vowed to defeat the opposition in the Senate elections and said all assembly members are standing united with the party policies. He said the country is making progress under the leadership of Imran, and the opposition will gain nothing but disappointment from its campaign to oust the PTI government. INP

LHC to hear Sanaullah’s bail request in NAB case on Tuesday LAHORE INP

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday fixed for February 9 (Tuesday) the hearing in bail petition of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab president Rana Sanaullah Khan in assets beyond means case.

According to the registrar’s office of the high court, a two-judge bench will take up the request.

A combined investigation team had detected property worth over Rs400 million belonging to Khan and briefed a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regional board in this regard.

“Rana Sanaullah’s property includes a farmhouse, a house in a posh locality, several plots and shops in Lahore and Faisalabad. Besides, he has an investment in a housing society,” it said.

The board further said the PML-N leader had also accumulated properties in the name of his relatives.

“NAB will summon Sanaullah in this investigation once it gets approval from the headquarters.”

The agency had initiated the investigation against him following his bail in the narcotics case from the LHC in December 2019. It had also launched a probe against the former Punjab minister for his alleged role in the change of the design of an underpass in his hometown of Faisalabad to benefit some people. But later it was dropped for want of evidence against him.

UN recognises threat to Pakistan posed by Afghanistan-based TTP, JuA terrorists NEW YORK APP

A new United Nations’ (UN) report has acknowledged the action taken by the Pakistani government against individuals engaged in terrorist activities, saying terror group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was responsible for over 100 ‘cross-border’ attacks within three months last year.

On its part, Pakistan has consistently highlighted the terrorism threat from the TTP. The report points to the arrests in Pakistan of “individuals engaging in terrorism financing and the freezing of the assets of designated individuals and entities”.

The diplomats noted that the UN acknowledgment of Pakistan actions comes at a time when India continues to blame Pakistan for inaction against the designated groups.

Reporting on the activities of the TTP, the UN

THE REPORT CAUTIONS THAT THE MERGER OF TTP HAS ENHANCED THE THREAT OF TERRORISM TO PAKISTAN AND THE REGION, AS IT HAS 'INCREASED THE STRENGTH OF TTP AND RESULTED IN A SHARP INCREASE IN ATTACKS' report saw the ‘reunification of splinter groups [of TTP] that took place in Afghanistan’.

The report records that ‘five entities pledged alliance to TTP in July and August last year, including the Shehryar Mehsud group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), Hizb-ul-Ahrar, the Amjad Farooqi group and the Usman Saifullah group (formerly known as Lashkar-eJhangvi)’.

The report cautions that the merger of TTP has enhanced the threat of terrorism to Pakistan and the region, as it has ‘increased the strength of TTP and

resulted in a sharp increase in attacks’.

In this regard, the UN reported ‘TTP was responsible for more than 100 cross-border attacks between July and October last year’.

The report said that, based on estimates, the TTP’s fighting strength ranges between 2,500 and 6,000.

Last year, Pakistan handed over a dossier to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the Indian sponsorship of TTP and JuA. Both terrorist groups were designated by the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the Security Council.

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

KARACHI

28 more lose battle of life against Covid-19 ISLAMABAD

t

sTaff rePorT

weNTy-eIghT people lost battle of life against Covid-19 during the past 24 hours, surging the overall death toll to 11,914, said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday.

According to the NCOC, 1,286 fresh infections were reported during the past 24 hours, raising the national tally of cases to 553,128.

During the period, as many as 1,198 patients recovered from the virus, surging the overall recoveries in the country to 508,700.

The NCOC stated that 1,908 patients were in critical condition. The total count

of active cases is 32,514 and the positivity rate stands at 3.85 per cent.

During the last 24 hours, most of the deaths occurred in Punjab followed by Sindh. The NCOC added that out of the total 28 deaths during the last 24 hours, 18 patients died on ventilators.

The maximum ventilators are occupied in four major areas including Multan, 34 per cent, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 30 per cent, Peshawar, 26 per cent, and Lahore, 35 per cent.

The maximum beds are occupied in four major areas, including Peshawar, 44 per cent, Multan, 39 per cent, Karachi, 25 per cent, and Rawalpindi, 25 per cent.

Around 33,319 tests were conducted across the country during the past 24 hours, including 10,019 in Sindh, 12,243 in Punjab, 6,084 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(KP), 3,662 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 566 in Balochistan, 350 in gB, and 395 in AJK. Since the pandemic outbreak, a total of 553,128 cases were detected that also included the perished, recovered and under treatment Covid-19 patients.

Meanwhile, world health Organisation (whO) Chief Tedros Adhanom ghebreyesus has said that the number of people, who have received a Covid-19 vaccination, now exceeds those reportedly infected, warning that after inoculating their own health workers and older people, countries must share doses with others to eradicate the deadly coronavirus.

“In one sense, that is good news, and a remarkable achievement in such a short timeframe,” Tedros told journalists at a

regular press briefing in geneva. however, he noted that “more than three quarters of those vaccinations are in just 10 countries that account for almost 60 per cent of global gDP”. This amounts to 130 countries, with 2.5 billion people that have yet to administer a single dose. Drawing attention to French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi’s announcement last week to make its manufacturing infrastructure available to produce the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, he called on other companies to follow their example.

“Companies can also issue nonexclusive licenses to allow other producers to manufacture their vaccine – a mechanism that has been used before to expand access to treatments for hIV and hepatitis C”, said the whO chief.

KARACHI: A homeless labourer takes nap at a pedestrian bridge near University Road in the provincial capital. PPI

Pdm vows to ‘vehemently oppose’ presidential ordinance on senate election

Deal with looters against PTI’s philosophy: Shibli

ISLAMABAD MIaN aBrar

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Saturday vowed to ‘vehemently oppose’ the presidential ordinance regarding Senate elections through open ballot. The alliance’s President Maulana Fazlur Rehman also warned to take the matter to court. The statement came following a meeting between Fazl and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

Maryam said the alliance has decided to oppose the ordinance, facilitating the Senate election through show of hands. The leaders also ddeliberated upon the decisions taken in the recent PDM meeting and the preparations for the long march against the federal government. Maryam said that the procedure for Senate elections cannot be changed without passing of a constitutional amendment by both houses of the parliament.

She added that the PDM has not ruled out the option of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Senate elections would bring forth the facts about which lawmaker stands by which party.

LAHORE sTaff rePorT

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government does not believe in deals and it is against the basic philosophy of the party to reach a compromise with those who looted the public money.

Talking to the media persons on Saturday, the information minister said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is an alliance in which everyone is focusing on personal interests.

Faraz said that the government wants to make Senate elections transparent but, on the other hand, some people are opposing it. he said that certain elements believe in money, who always do politics on the basis of their wealth.

To a question, he said that all allies of the government understand things and are on one page. The minister said that in the next one year, Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan will be seen as different departments. he said the government is going to improve things in an organised way to restore the repute of both the institutions.

Meanwhile, addressing the 88th birth anniversary function of Munnu Bhai organised by the Sundus Foundation in Lahore, Faraz said that the late Munnu Bhai was a great person as he not only contributed to literature but also established the Sundas Foundation for the children suffering from blood diseases.

Faraz said, “I feel happy when our poets and literary figures are celebrated because of their works.” he said that children suffering from blood diseases get all facilities at the Sundas Foundation and the incumbent government would provide all possible support to the foundation. It is a scientific and research based foundation where all facilities were being maintained with good standards, he added.

Troops’ deployment in by-polls notified ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Interior Ministry has notified troops’ deployment outside the polling stations

during the upcoming by-elections in different constituencies of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. According to the notification, Rangers personnel will be deployed from February 15 to 17.

The polling will be organised in the constituencies of Sindh’s Malir and Sanghar on February 16. Frontier Corps (FC) personnel will be deployed from February 15 to 17 in Balochistan’s PB-20.

In Punjab’s NA-75, Rangers officials will perform security duties outside the polling stations, whereas the paramilitary troops will be deployed from February 18 to 20 in PP-51.

newS

03

Church leaders urge govt to act against blasphemy law misuse LAHORE sTaff rePorT

The Christian leadership on Saturday expressed its deep concern over the increasing religious intolerance in society and urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the misuse of the blasphemy laws. The concern was voiced during a meeting of the senior clergy of the Church of Pakistan at the Diocese of Raiwind head office.

The meeting was chaired by Bishop Azad Marshall, who is also the president of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan. The meeting condemned a recent incident in Karachi where a Christian staff nurse was attacked by hospital personnel over a false allegation of blasphemy and a case was registered against her under Section 295-C of the blasphemy laws even though the police had earlier dismissed the accusation.

Addressing the meeting, Bishop Marshall regretted that the nurse, Tabita Nazir gill, was slapped, beaten up and locked in a room after a co-worker accused her of blasphemy over a personal grudge. “we are witnessing a record increase in blasphemy cases against all members of society irrespective of their faiths. The government has also admitted that a majority of such cases stem from personal vendettas, however, no concrete step has yet been taken to stop the misuse of the blasphemy law,” he said. The bishop added that in Tabita gill’s case, the police had cleared her of the allegation but it registered a case under pressure from a mob who were misled by the complainant. “This has become a norm here but we are glad that a lot of our Muslim brothers and sisters have spoken out against the treatment meted out to our daughter.

This also shows that our people are realizing that the misuse of these sensitive laws can put any person’s life at risk.” Marshall said that the punishment for blasphemy ranges from several years in prison to death. “By contrast, a person making a false accusation faces potential punishment of six months in prison or a fine of only 1,000 rupees. Unless the government implements a harsher punishment for making false accusations, we fear that this trend will continue to grow,” he said. The senior clergyman said that besides the misuse of the blasphemy law, the Christian community was also concerned over the increase in a number of cases of forced conversion and marriages of minority girls. “we are engaging with the government on a host of issues with a special focus on blasphemy laws and forced conversions as these matters are instilling fear and a sense of insecurity in our people. “we filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the forced conversion issue in January but it was returned with some objections. Our lawyer will resubmit it after addressing the registrar office’s concern and we hope the chief justice will fix this crucial issue for an early hearing,” he told the meeting participants. he announced that the church was also setting up a dedicated helpline to provide legal assistance to victims of forced conversion and blasphemy laws etc. “Our mission is to provide relief to all innocent Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation. we are also planning to establish shelter homes in all major cities where the minor victims will be provided safe and secure lodging till the disposal of their court cases,” he said. Marshall said that the church was also holding talks with government leaders and Islamic scholars to form a panel for investigating and evaluating cases of forced conversion of minor girls according to mutually agreed parameters. “This proposed panel will also prove helpful to courts in deciding these important human rights cases,” he said.

sC summons Punjab, sindh ags in lg polls case on march 1 ISLAMABAD TLTP

expressing dissatisfaction over Punjab government’s explanation, the Supreme Court (SC) has summoned advocate general of the province to answer the court's queries on the dissolution of Local governments (Lg) before the expiry of their term. A two-judge apex bench, comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Maqbool Baqar, issued a five-page written order on the non-holding of Lg elections across Pakistan on Saturday. expressing displeasure at the Sindh government for not submitting a reply in the local government elections case, the SC directed the advocate general of the province to appear in person before the court on March 1.

“The advocate general Punjab is directed to be in attendance on the next date of hearing and is directed to submit a written reply to our queries,” the order stated. The hearing of the case was adjourned until March 1.

04

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

Sindh StartS anti-encroachment operation, demoliSheS over 200 farmhouSeS KARACHI

a

TLTP

n anti-encroachment operation commenced in Malir district on Saturday to demolish over 200 illegal farmhouses owned by influential people, including political and religious leaders.

Following the orders of the deputy commissioner, an anti-encroachment operation was started in Malir to demolish over 200 illegal farmhouses under the decision taken on December 11, 2018 to cancel the

30-year lease on the government land across Sindh.

A farmhouse owned by Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh was also demolished by the anti-encroachment team. The government had leased out the land for 30 years for agriculture, dairy, cattle and poultry farming purposes. However, illegal trade of government land was made for commercial purposes.

Moreover, DC Malir had also sent letters to the relevant department, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East and

Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Malir, Director Anti-Encroachment Cell and Rangers Sindh, regarding the retrieval of over 500 acres of land worth billions during the anti-encroachment drive.

Hundreds of officials from police and other concerned departments are taking part in the ongoing anti-encroachment operation, which will be continued for one week. The senior member of Board of Revenue said in a statement that no one will be allowed to occupy government land. In a statement, Haleem said that farmhouses of his cousin Tariq Qureshi are

being demolished in Gadap, whereas heavy machinery was sent to demolish a farmhouse of his brother Azeem Adil Sheikh in Malir. Sheikh said that the owners possess complete documents regarding the ownership of the land, however, the actions were being carried out by the officials despite having a court stay order.

The politician termed it political revenge being taken by the Sindh chief minister over the orders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after he assumed charge as the opposition leader.

fia arrests two on child pornography charges after interpol tip MULTAN: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested two men on suspicion of links to an international child pornography ring following a tip from Italy through Interpol, authorities said Saturday. “The arrests took place after an early-morning raid on the outskirts of Sialkot,” said Mohammad Iqbal, a top FIA official in the city. This was the first time Interpol provided information to FIA about the presence of a criminal operation involving child pornography in the country, he said. Material retrieved from a computer allegedly belonging to one of the men showed “he was in contact with an international gang and was posting child pornography videos on the dark web,” Iqbal told The Associated Press. The dark web is a layer of the internet that isnot visible on search engines and requires specific software. The first suspect was interrogated after his arrest, leading to the capture of an accomplice from the area, but two other suspects remained at large, Iqbal said. Under the country’s law, the two men must be taken before a judge within 24 hours of their arrest, at which point the FIA will likely ask for additional time to conduct the investigation before filing formal charges against them. Interpol is an international body that connects police from 194 countries and also coordinates cross-border police operations. It’s funded by member governments. AGENCIES

motorway rape case: atc directs police to file challan till feb 10

LARKANA: Women farmers harvest crops at an agricultural field. PPI

Buzdar declares Marri as tourist hub, announces development schemes RAJANPUR INP

Punjab Chief MinisterSardar Usman Buzdar declared Marri, a hill station located at an altitude of 5,000 feet amidst the serenelandscapes, as tourist place here on Saturday.

Earlier, the CM left for a day-long visit to Rajanpur, the firstever visit of any CM of the province paid in the tribal hill station during 73-year history of the country.

A large number of jubilant people of the area took to street to hail Buzdar after finding him among them without observingformal protocol and security cover.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said Marri pos-

four of a family killed in roof collapse LAHORE APP

Four members, including three children, of a family were killed when the roof of a house collapsed in Pak Arab Society here on Saturday. The police said the family members were sitting in the room when its roof collapsed and as a result, theygot trapped in the debris. After the incident, the Rescue 1122 vehicles and rescuers reached to the spot, pulled out the injured from the debris and shifted them to Children Hospital. Three-year-old Zain died on the spot while nazia (35), neehaUmer (17) and Zohi(2) passed away in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister SardarUsman Buzdar expressed sorrow and grief over the deaths in the incident. The chief minister expressed sympathiesand condolences to the bereaved family and sought a report of the incident from the concerned authorities.

sesses a vast potential of tourisminto its domain.

“We would promote tourism here after ensuring fundamental facilities of life to the visitors. The issues of the area would be resolved. It is my region and it would be developed right away,” headded.

Buzdar said work on six development schemes was carried out through the annual budget.

He added Rs31 million were reserved for the development of Fort Munro under the Koh Suleiman Development Authority and around Rs77.13 million wereearmarked to clean the tourist area. “Rs436 million were reserved for constructing the 20-km link road from Fort Munro to Marri.

An amount of Rs99million wasalso reserved for the

horticultural and beautification of theentire tourist region,” he said.

Buzdar issued orders to construct underground sewerage water tanks like those in Lahore.

He further said a rest house would be made in Marri with four small dams and land record centres across the area. He added that a grand water scheme would be initiated here soon and a big road, stretching from Khumbi to Marri, would be built on preferentialbasis.

Provincial Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development HasnainBahadarDreshak, PunjabLand Record Authority Chairman Ahmad Dreshak, additional chief secretary,additional inspector general and other top provincial officers were alsopresent on the occasion.

WCLA continues work to restore old buildings LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The rehabilitation work on the improvement of infrastructure facilities located between KotwaliChowkandSonehriMosque is under process by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday.

An amount of Rs315 million was allocated by the Punjab government for projecttitled “Package 4 of the Royal Trail Project”.

According to details, the facades of almost 150 buildings would be rehabilitated and 25 streets would be constructed for the betterment of the local community under the project.The work will be completed by March, 2022.

The project also includes an improved drainage system, clean water supply, and telecom and electricity works.

The Aga Khan Cultural Services of Pakistan (AKCSP) is the technical partner for the project and lending its technical services throughout the work.

At present, 30 buildings are being rehabilitated and six streets are under construction.

WCLA spokesperson Tania Qureshi said, “The Royal Trail Project has been divided into 4 packages and at present the package 4 is under process by the WCLA. The first two packages have been completed and the third will be taken up after the completion of package 4.

The aim of the project is to provide a healthy and improved lifestyle to the community.”

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said that the project was imperative to restore the old city’s precious look and feel. “The provision of new infrastructure to the local community is important to give them a better living standard. If you visit the site, you will see that 70 percent of the rehabilitation and infrastructure work is under the ground. Historical and old buildings play a prominent role in highlighting a country’s social and cultural image. Buildings and local community would be the beneficiaries,” he said.

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday directed the police to file challan in the Lahore-Sialkot motorway gang-rape case till February 10. ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta conducted the hearing of the case after the jail authorities produced prime accused AbidMalhi and co-accused Shafqat Ali amid strict security. The investigation officer (IO) submitted that as the prosecution had raised several objections on the challan, he may kindly be granted time for removing the objections. To this, the court adjourned the hearing till February 10, extended judicial remand of the accused and ordered for producing them on expiry of their remand term, besides directing the IO to file the challan before next hearing. On September 9 last year, the accused allegedly raped a woman at gunpoint nearGujjarpura area while she was waiting for help on the motorway after her car ran out of fuel. An FIR was lodged in the Gujjarpura police station under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). APP

fir registered in Quetta explosion case QUETTA: Quetta police on Saturday registered a first information report (FIR) into Friday’s explosion near the deputy commissioner’s office that killed two people and wounded five. The case, filed on behalf of the police, include sections of murder and terrorism. Quetta Deputy Commissioner Maj (r) Aurangzeb Badini said the blast was targeted at a Kashmir Solidarity Day meeting passing from the area. Security forces cordoned off the area after the explosion while evidence was being collected. Abdul Ali, a police officer, refused to speculate on who could be behind the bombing. Previous such attacks have been claimed by Afghanistan-based militants and India-sponsored separatist groups. STAff REPORT

four dead, 24 injured in muzaffargarh accident MUZAFFARGARH: At least four passengers were killed and 24 wounded in a collision between a truck and a passenger coach on Ali Pur Road here on Saturday. According to rescue sources, the coach was headed to Lahore from Ali Pur when it collided with the speeding truck which was attempting to overtake it.

As a result, four passengers died at the spot while 24 others received severe injuries. The rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the bodies and the injured to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Muzaffargarh. The hospital sources said some of the injured were in critical condition. APP

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

05

Cabinet DiviSion SHortliStS CanDiDateS for oGra CHief Slot ISLAMABAD

i

ahmad ahmadani

N a bid to fill the top position of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman, the Cabinet Division has forwarded three names to Prime Minister Imran Khan and sought his approval in this regard.

According to sources, the Cabinet Division, through a summary, has forwarded the names of Shahid Karim, Masroor Khan and Ammer Jadoon for the top position of ORGA. “If the PM Khan considers them as appropriate choices for the top position at OGRA, then the Cabinet Division will table a summary before the federal cabinet to choose one of the three shortlisted candidates,” an official explained. “After getting the cabinet’s approval, a notification for the appointment of OGRA chairman will

Covid-19: China approves Sinovac vaccine for general public use China’s drug authorities have given “conditional” approval for a second Covid-19 vaccine, Sinovac’s CoronaVac jab, the pharmaceutical company said Saturday. The vaccine has already been rolled out to key groups at higher risk of exposure to coronavirus but Saturday’s approval allows for its use on the general public. A conditional approval helps hustle emergency drugs to market in cases when clinical trials are yet to meet normal standards but indicate therapies will work. The approval comes after multiple domestic and overseas trials of the vaccine in countries including Brazil and Turkey, although “efficacy and safety results need to be further confirmed”, Sinovac said in a statement. Fellow Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm received a similar conditional green light in December to put its vaccine on the market.

Sinovac said trials in Brazil had shown around 50pc efficacy in preventing infection and 80 percent efficacy in preventing cases requiring medical intervention. “The results show that the vaccine has good safety and immunogenic effect on people of all age groups,” Sinovac said Saturday. Meanwhile, Sinopharm said in December that its vaccine had a 79.34pc efficacy rate, lower than rival jabs developed in the West by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — with 95pc and 94pc rates respectively.

HOMEGROWN VACCINES: China has been racing to develop homegrown jabs and aims to vaccinate 50 million people before the start of the Lunar New Year in mid-February. The holiday normally spurs a travel rush with hundreds of millions traversing the country — though authorities are encouraging people to stay home this year through a mixture of restrictions and incentives. As China ramps up its vaccine campaign, authorities have repeatedly assured the public of the jab’s safety and efficacy, despite not releasing any detailed clinical trial data. At the same time, Beijing has been promoting its vaccines abroad in what analysts have called “vaccine diplomacy” to earn goodwill after facing criticism for its early handling of the outbreak. China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said it planned to provide 10 million vaccine doses to the WHObacked international vaccine distribution programme Covax. Beijing has also pledged to share the vaccine at a fair cost — a potential boost for poorer Asian countries who are otherwise reliant on limited distribution offered by the Covax scheme. Countries including Senegal, Indonesia, and Hungary have procured millions of vaccine doses from Chinese pharmaceutical firms. But takeup has been slower abroad for Chinese vaccines compared to jabs from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, as little information has been published about the safety or efficacy of Chinese vaccines.

Chinese vaccine makers also have chequered reputations, after major scandals at home involving expired or poor quality products. agencies

be issued by the division.”

Sources said of three shortlisted candidates, Shahid Karim was being considered as the favourite candidate for OGRA chairman, as he possessed the relevant qualification and experience in oil and gas fields. On the contrary, Ammer Jadoon was a midcareer professional, while Masroor Khan was currently working as a senior official with a leading oil marketing company (OMC).

According to details, Shahid Karim was currently engaged with Costmap Advisory as its chief executive officer, while he was also working as director on the board of National Productivity Organization and KP Oil and Gas Company. Completing his Master of Laws (LLM) in Petroleum Law and Policy from the University of Dundee, he has formerly worked in senior leadership positions in national and international companies including BP, Dew Resources and Polish National Oil Company.

Karim has a demonstrated track record in negotiating

high value gas sales agreements (GSPAs), concession agreements (PCAs), public-private partnership (PPP) contracts, global supply contracts, designing and implementing complex commercial strategies, global strategy development and implementation, organizational transformation projects, cost reduction initiatives etc.

Meanwhile, sources said that Ammer Jadoon, the second candidate, was close to a federal minister who belongs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Jadoon was an engineer in repairs and maintenance and has experience in plant maintenance, “but not in commercial or legal management positions”, they added.

The third candidate, Masroor Khan, was currently working on a senior most position of a leading OMC, which was facing OGRA’s heavy penalty on violation of standards, rules etc. Masroor Khan’s appointment as OGRA chairman could lead to issues pertaining to conflict of interest.

ICC clears way for war crimes probe of Israeli actions JERUSALEM agencies

The International Criminal Court said Friday that its jurisdiction extends to territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, potentially clearing the way for its chief prosecutor to open a war crimes probe into Israeli military actions.

The decision was welcomed by the Palestinians and decried by Israel’s prime minister, who vowed to fight “this perversion of justice.” The US, Israel’s closest ally, said it opposed the decision.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said in 2019 that there was a “reasonable basis” to open a war crimes probe into Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip as well as Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. But she asked the court to determine whether she has territorial jurisdiction before proceeding.

In a statement on Twitter, Bensouda’s office welcomed the “judicial clarity” of the ruling, but said it needed time before deciding how to proceed.

“The Office is currently carefully analysing the decision & will then decide its next step guided strictly by its independent & impartial mandate,” it said.

The Palestinians, who joined the court in 2015, have pushed for an investigation. Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, has said the court has no jurisdiction because the Palestinians do not have statehood and because the borders of any future state are to be decided in peace talks. It also accuses the court of inappropriately wading into political issues.

The Palestinians have asked the court to look into Israeli actions during its 2014 war against Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip, as well as Israel’s construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem.

The international community

widely considers the settlements to be illegal under international law but has done little to pressure Israel to freeze or reverse their growth.

The international tribunal is meant to serve as a court of last resort when countries’ own judicial systems are unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute war crimes.

Israel’s military has mechanisms to investigate alleged wrongdoing by its troops, and despite criticism that the system is insufficient, experts say it has a good chance of fending off ICC investigation into its wartime practices.

When it comes to settlements, however, experts say Israel could have a difficult time defending its actions. International law forbids the transfer of a civilian population into occupied territory.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 war, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. Some 700,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians and much of the international community view the settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Israel says east Jerusalem is an indivisible part of its capital and that the West Bank is “disputed” territory whose fate should be resolved in negotiations.

While the court would have a hard time prosecuting Israelis, it could issue arrest warrants that would make it difficult for Israeli officials to travel abroad. A case in the ICC would also be deeply embarrassing to the government. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, led the 2014 war in Gaza, while Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz was the military chief of staff at the time.

In a videotaped statement released after midnight, Netanyahu accused the court of “pure anti-Semitism” and having a double standard.

“The ICC refuses to investigate brutal dictatorships like Iran and Syria,

who commit horrific atrocities almost daily,” he said. “We will fight this perversion of justice with all our might!”

Nabil Shaath, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed the decision and said it proved the Palestinians were right to go to the ICC. “This is good news, and the next step is to launch an official investigation into Israel’s crimes against our people,” he said.

The ICC could also potentially investigate crimes committed by Palestinian fighters. Bensouda has said her probe would look into the actions of Hamas, which fired rockets indiscriminately into Israel during the 2014 war.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the Biden administration, which has said it intends to restore relations with the Palestinians, opposed the decision and reiterated American opposition to the Palestinians even being party to the Rome Statute that created the court.

“As we made clear when the Palestinians purported to join the Rome Statute in 2015, we do not believe the Palestinians qualify as a sovereign state, and therefore are not qualified to obtain membership as a state, or participate as a state in international organisations, entities, or conferences, including the ICC,” Price said in a statement.

“We have serious concerns about the ICC’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel,” he said.

“The United States has always taken the position that the court’s jurisdiction should be reserved for countries that consent to it, or that are referred by the UN Security Council.”

The decision, detailed in a 60-page legal brief, was released late Friday, after Israel had shut down for the weekly Jewish Sabbath.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the decision, saying it “finally offers victims of serious crimes some real hope for justice after a half-century of impunity.”

US intends to revoke terrorist designation of Yemen’s Houthis due to famine WASHINGTON agencies

The United States said on Friday it intends to revoke the terrorist designation for Yemen’s Houthi movement in response to the country’s humanitarian crisis, reversing one of the most criticised last-minute decisions of the Trump administration. The reversal, confirmed by a State Department official, comes a day after President Joe Biden declared a halt to US support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. “Our action is due entirely to the humanitarian consequences of this last-minute designation from the prior administration, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have since made clear would accelerate the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” the official said. The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, with 80% of its people in need. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blacklisted the Houthis on January 19 — a day before Biden took office. The Trump administration exempted aid groups, the United Nations, the Red Cross and the export of agricultural commodities, medicine and medical devices from its designation. But UN officials and relief groups said the carve-outs were not enough and called for the decision to be revoked. The State Department official stressed that the action did not reflect the US view of the Houthis and their “reprehensible conduct.”

The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis. UN officials are trying to revive peace talks as the country also faces an economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy welcomed the decision. “The designation […] stopped food and other critical aid from being delivered inside Yemen and would have prevented effective political negotiation,” he said in a statement.

Wall Street Week Ahead: GameStop frenzy reveals potential for broader market stress NEW YORK agencies

As the trading frenzy in GameStop Corp shares and other social media favorites recedes, investors are eyeing signs of potential market stress that could weigh on broader stock performance in coming weeks.

For now, US equities appear to be looking past last week’s surge in volatility that led the S&P 500 to its biggest weekly decline since October. Solid earnings, fiscal stimulus expectations and progress in country-wide vaccination efforts are leading stocks back to all-time highs.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted records for a second straight session on Friday.

Some investors, however, worry that the wild swings in GameStop and other “meme stocks” may have exacerbated con-

cerns over market volatility and elevated valuations that could make market participants more risk-averse. The S&P 500 stands near its highest forward price-toearnings ratio in about two decades after rallying 74% from its March lows.

“The recent retail activity was concerning for the broader market,” said Benjamin Bowler, head of global equity derivatives research at BofA Global Research.

Liquidity in futures on the S&P 500 dried up as market makers and other investors sought to reduce risk during the GameStop surge, according to BofA analysts. Earlier this week “market fragility,” as measured by the bank, stood at its highest level since March 2020, making US equities exceptionally vulnerable to sudden market shocks, the firm said.

Moves in the Cboe Volatility Index,

known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” also indicate that investors may be more sensitive to market turbulence than usual. On Jan 27 the index surged 14 points, its biggest one-day gain since March, as the S&P 500 lost 2.6pc.

The fear gauge’s climb was eight to 10 points greater than the expected move following such a drop in the S&P 500, according to Stuart Kaiser, strategist at UBS. The outsized reaction, he said, points to heightened jitters among investors that could suggest bigger market sell-offs in response to negative developments.

The VIX has since reverted to its lowest level since early December as U.S. equities have rallied this week. Even so, “I wouldn’t say we’re completely past it yet,” Kaiser said.

Next week, investors will focus on quarterly corporate results from Cisco Systems

CMYK

Inc, General Motors Co and Walt Disney Co as well as data on US consumer prices.

Options markets have not flashed the green light to go full speed ahead with resuming risk.

Investor demand for calls on the S&P 500, used to position for gains in the index, has jumped after plummeting to a multidecade low earlier in the week, according to Charlie McElligott, managing director, cross-asset macro strategy at Nomura. The swing in demand points to risk of a pullback and choppy trade in the next few weeks, he said. Longer-term, several market analysts say the GameStop effect may be no more than a blip on the radar screen for markets as a whole. Drops in the VIX of 20pc or more to below 25 tend to bode well for stocks, with the S&P 500 rising 2.6pc a month later, according to Christopher Murphy, co-head

of derivatives strategy at Susquehanna Financial Group.

Still, the exuberance that magnified the market’s fault lines has not completely faded. According to data from Trade Alert, options activity shows heavy demand for upside calls in the SPDR S&P Retail ETF, which includes GameStop, and the iShares Silver Trust, which was also rocked by retail trading. As a result, some investors say they plan to tread cautiously for the time being, especially if they are exposed to passive funds that hold a large number of small-cap stocks that could be sensitive to a sudden retail frenzy. “Time will tell whether this has a more lasting effect on the market,” said Matt Forester, chief investment officer of BNY Mellon’s Lockwood Advisors. “We need to police our holdings to make sure we’re not overly exposed to these trends.”

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

06 COMMENT

A day never to be forgotten

How to make Pakistan shine Bold steps rather than facile declarations

I

The suffering does not stop

ndIa’s claim of being the biggest democracy is being questioned all over the world on account of the rising wave of Hindu nationalism, widespread suppression of dissent, the government’s fastening grip over media and judiciary, atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, and the use of strong arms tactics against the Indian peasant’s peaceful protest.

India’s deterioration under Prime Minister narendra Modi has led some in Pakistan to hold that this it is the right time to project Pakistan as a peace-loving, democratic and inclusive state at peace with itself and its neighbours and keen to develop economic relations with all countries.

This is what saPM on national security Moeed Yousuf told a gathering of american policymakers in Washington in January. He assured them that Pakistan under Imran Khan is a new country. While Pakistan doesn’t want terrorism in the region, he said, it is keen to develop a broader relationship with the Biden administration that benefits both sides.

Pakistan needs to set its record straight on a number of issues before it can prove that while it might not be as big a market as India it is morally on a higher pedestal than its eastern neighbour.

Us concern about Omar sheikh’s acquittal in the daniel Pearl murder was conveyed to Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi in his very first telephonic encounter with the new Us secretary of state anthony Blinken. This indicates that while Pakistan has done a lot to fight terrorism, much more needs to be done Extremists outfits have to be reined in. The TLP has issued an ultimatum requiring the government to expel the French ambassador by February 16 or face agitation. Why is the government reluctant to enforce the national action Plan (naP)?

Pakistan’s democratic credentials will remain suspect as long as the media continues to be in chains. also as long as the Treasury does not develop better working relations with the opposition to enable the national assembly to function peacefully.

The government has to go the extra mile to overcome the state’s chronic inability to protect its marginalised and vulnerable people, including religious and ethnic minorities. That missing persons remain untraced despite the superior courts’ intervention does not create a good image. To have a unique position in the region and gain international respect Pakistan needs to undertake bold moves rather than rely on hollow claims.

Ali SukhAnver

N

OT only in Pakistan but all over the world wherever Kashmiris live, every February 5 is observed as Kashmir solidarity day. This day reminds us that nations could never be sold out like lands. If anyone understands that nations are like transferable properties, he is living in a fool’s paradise. The Kashmir solidarity day is a reminder to the world that Kashmiris are a living nation. For more than seven decades, the story of Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris has been going on without any pause and without any interval.

Be it 2008 or 2021, the tale of cruelties is the same, but on the other hand the courage and determination of the people of Kashmir is also unshakable.

I could never forget an incident which was reported in the first week of december 2008. That was a dark, cold and windy night. a pin-drop silence was adding fear to the blood-haunted atmosphere of the Valley. abdullah Khatana, the helpless father of five daughters, heard someone trying to invade his small mud house.

He was the Imam of the local mosque of dandhipora srinagar. Before he could do anything, more than eight Indian army men of 36 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) were standing in the courtyard of his poor little house, looking at his young daughters with their lusty hungry eyes .as his house was located in seclusion there was no one to save his daughters from the clutches of those barbar-

Senate polls

Pakistan’s Fragile Foreign Policy

The government does not trust its own ministers

F

OLLOWIng the pandemonium in the national assembly after the government tabled the 26th Constitutional amendment bill seeking open balloting in senate elections, the federal cabinet approved yesterday, without practically any debate on the matter, the promulgation of a presidential ordinance that would instead amend the Election act 2017, allowing polls to be conducted through open vote. What transpired in the Lower House was to be expected considering the ever-increasing and bitter animosity between the government and the opposition.

In terms of numbers, the PTI would never have been able to secure the two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution in any case. This way it can at least say that it tried the more conventional route but the opposition did not play ball. Prime Minister Imran Khan says his motivation to go for open balloting is to eliminate horse-trading, but in reality he does not trust his ministers to vote the way he wants them to and secure senate seats for his many unelected advisors, including Zulfi Bukhari, shahzad akbar and Hafeez sheikh. The government seems to be in an unholy haste to ensure senate polls are done through an open ballot as on one hand it has asked for the supreme Court’s guidance on the matter and on the other, without any verdict on the matter so far, will be passing a Presidential Ordinance to achieve its goal.

It is no secret that huge sums of money are spent on senate Elections to get desired results. With constitutionally mandated secret balloting, ministers will break ranks with their respective parties if the price is right, and vote for opposing candidates without the fear of being exposed.

Open balloting would eliminate the possibility of such corruption. It would have been better if the government had opted to rationally debate this problem in parliamentary committees that include opposition members to formulate a strategy that would reform the process of voting in senate polls with consensus. Barring any aggressive judicial intervention in the matter, it is very likely that this senate Election will be carried out through open ballot. It is disappointing that it wasn’t handled in a more systematic and inclusive way rather than the autocratic manner in which the government has addressed its incapability to keep party members loyal.

Recovering from past blunders requires care

Abdul MAnAn

“A

country that demands moral perfection in its foreign policy will achieve neither perfection nor security” (Henry Kissinger) since the birth of Pakistan, its foreign policy has remained most haphazard and dysfunctional. Pakistan joined the american bloc despite having a deplorable socio-economic situation in those early days, and jumped into the war of two giants, the. Usa and Russia. There was the U-2 Incident in 1960, a confrontation between the Usa and the UssR that began with the shooting down of a Us U-2 reconnaissance plane over the UssR and that caused the collapse of a summit conference in Paris between the Usa, the UssR, the UK, and France; the spy plane was operated from Pakistani soil and the UssR officially protested against Pakistan for its dubious role. Then there was the Fall of dhaka in 1971, in which, Pakistan had to face worst ever humiliation in the form of giving 90,000 prisoners of war and the secession of EastPakistan. These two incidents are the darkest chapters of the country’s history and provide a glimpse into Pakistan’s fragile foreign policy.

Many historians have written that social and political inequality, decade-long dictatorship and selfinsecurity of Western Pakistanis were the reasons of the fall of dhaka, but it is pertinent to note that actually, the collapse of a dismal foreign policy was the prime cause. Perhaps Pakistan was punished by the UssR in the shape of the Fall of dhaka with the col-

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

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Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

ian villains. The helpless old father could do nothing to attention to their miserable plight. It might be because protect the chastity of his innocent daughters but shut the most of the Kashmiris are Muslims and according his eyes and close his ears. That was really the extreme to the Western book of rules and regulations, no Musof a father’s helplessness. as the news about the inci- lim needs sympathy. They seem misguided by the nodent spread in the area next morning, hundreds of peo- tion that the Muslims are nothing but terrorists.

It is the helpless of the people of Kashmir who ple assembled and held demonstrations against the are unable even to raise their voices in protest against troopers. That was all they could do.

Instead of getting better with the passage of time, Indian atrocities. Those who raise their voices against the situation regarding human rights violations in the the Indian cruelties have to face inexpressible torture Indian Occupied Kashmir became more horrible. In and turmoil. They are pushed into dark and narrow 2019, People were deeply shocked when they came prison cells without any reference or record. Their families are most of the time to know of the slogan introunaware of their being in the duced by Maj gen sP sinha, custody of the Indian army. “death for death and rape for It has also been reported that rape.” He is now a member of such protesters are so inhuthe ruling Bharatiya Janata It is the responsibility of all manly tortured that they very Party after his retirement influential and powerful often lose their lives. Refrom the army. "Balaadkar cently it was exposed by the Ke Badle Balaadkar" (rape countries of the world to give Human Rights Commission for rape) are the exact words he used. In other words, he a helping hand to the helpless that the Kashmiri prisoners are leading the worst life in not only supported rape of the Kashmiris. They must try to different jails of India.

Kashmiri women, but also Kashmir is a continuous urged and encouraged the make India realize the gravity bone of contention between armymen to do so. Unfortuof the situation so that the Pakistan and India. The connately such morally corrupt frontation on this issue is deand filthy officers enjoy full sufferings of Kashmiris may stroying peace of the whole protection under aFsPa-like of south-asian region. The draconian Laws. Human come to an end two countries are always in a rights violation by the armystate of war just because of men in the Indian-held Kashthe Kashmir dispute. mir has become a routine The government of Pakmatter. On one hand the Indian government terms troopers the guards of people, istan has always been eager to settle the issue through while on the other hand they attack the chastity of negotiations and table talk. so many confidence buildKashmiri mothers, daughters and sisters. The painful ing measures have been suggested to the Indian austory of Kashmir has so many chapters, so many ti- thorities but India never showed any positive gesture tles; fake encounters, burning of houses and shops, in this regard. Whenever there is a peace process going kidnapping, killings in jails and above all the rape of on between the two countries, India tries to disrupt it Kashmiri women. The Indian army deputed in Kash- with the help of some terrorist activity. The basic purmir is using rape as a war-weapon against voiceless pose behind this disruption is to keep Pakistan away from the demand of peace and prosperity of the KashKashmiris.

The dreamlike charismatic Valley of the Indian- miri people. It is the responsibility of all influential held Kashmir is turning into a land of death and ha- and powerful countries of the world to give a helping rassment. not a single moment without fear .no hand to the helpless Kashmiris. They must try to make peace, no security. The people of Indian-held Kash- India realize the gravity of the situation so that the sufmir sometimes feel they are not human beings but ferings of Kashmiris may come to an end. lifeless objects, having no feelings and no emotions.

The writer is an Associate Professor of English The cruelty above all is that the international pseudoactivists of human rights movements never pay any at Govt College of Science, Multan

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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laboration of India, because Pakistan was playing an unnecessary role to build sino-Us ties, despite looming regional security issues.

But Pakistan did not learn lesson from its blunders and once more became a launching pad for Jihadists in afghan Jihad on the wills International Establishment. Pakistan’s intelligence agencies played a crucial role in the collapse of the UssR with the collaboration of the Usa and its allies. after that, the Usa emerged as the sole superpower in 1991. Pakistan continued its lapses in foreign policy and again became designated as a major non-naTO ally of the Usa in its War on Terror after 9/11. Undeniably, we may forget them, but history would never forget these bloopers.

Pakistan was considered the Muslim leader especially, after achieving nuclear capability, but sadly, it lost the leadership of the Muslim world due to an ambiguous and delirious foreign policy. Pakistan was among the founders of the OIC, however, its position was misplaced and gradually the Muslim world slipped from its hands. Moreover, Pakistan has a firm, logical and legal position on the Kashmir cause, but it could not make the world realize her concerns, due to an ineffective military-oriented foreign policy. The OIC and arab states did not pay heed to the Indian illegitimate occupation and siege of Kashmir; and in fact they invited the Indian Foreign Minister as an observer, in the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting of 2019. also, the Indian army Chief made his first four days diplomatic tour to the UaE and saudi arabia in december 2020. The feeble economy, declining export market, extra inclination towards Iran and Turkey and civil-military disunity are the main reasons for Pakistan’s shrinking role in the Middle East. It should be understood, that in international relations, enemies or friends change but national interests remain the same. now, arabs have established conditional relations with Israel, in which Israel would provide them strategic and economic support along with the provision of covid-19 vaccine. India-Israel cooperation has endangered the position of Pakistan in the arab world. Islamabad’s inconsistent foreign policy is damaging its reputation and losing old friends. Kuala Lumpur conference, last year was an attempt to shift the balance of the Muslim world, but because of it, arab states, especially saudi arabia, have maintained distance from Pakistan, even though it did not attend. Pakistan should understand that more than eight million of its workforce is living in the Middle-East to earn livelihoods and constitutes a prime source of foreign remit-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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tances. saudi arabia is Pakistan’s main oil supplier and a fair-weather friend, as Pakistan’s national interests are still associated with the arab world.

The dynamic shift in the foreign policy of Pakistan has created a vacuum in Middle East which would be filled by the Indo-Israel nexus. Pakistan needs to understand its fragile economic situation after covid-19 and should not take more risks. It should be noted that CPEC’s success depends on arab participation in this landmark project, but the increasing involvement of India in the arab countries is diminishing Pakistan’s role.

We should understand that the current era of international relations is associated with geo-economic versatility rather than geo-strategic expansionism, while nations develop and re-arrange their relations with the others on the basis of geo-economic dominance. Economy at centre-stage in international relations, and foreign policies are being driven on its groundwork. Our economy is constricted in the spiral of foreign debts, trade deficit, less generation of revenue and ineffective exports. We need to build geoeconomic relations to make our economy stand firm.

Pakistan should try to revisit its economic-oriented foreign policy and immediately post senior diplomats in the arab World to neutralize the situations. For that, Islamabad can use Chinese influence to engage arab attention, and can play decisive role to bring two arch rivals, saudi arabia and Iran, to the table.

Pakistan, as an important Chinese economic partner could establish a concrete role in the Middle East. a Pakistan-China alliance in the Middle East could maximize: trade, economic feasibility and peace sustainability. anti-Iran sentiments in the arab world can be reduced through a Pak-China agglomeration in the Middle East. Moreover, the Chinese presence with the support of Pakistan in the Middle East could reserve the region’s peace as well. according to new McKinsey global Institute, the global center of gravity is shifting toward asia, The 21st century is called the “asian Century”, especially, after the upheaval caused by the covid-19 pandemic, and after the Chinese economic model has proven reliable and sustainable in the pandemic. a China-Pakistan economic alliance could become an effective tool for our foreign policy and Pakistan can get regional economic dominance. Pakistan should focus on a constructive regional foreign policy to enhance trade and commerce, mainly for the Middle East. an economic-oriented foreign policy could increase our role in arab world as well.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. e-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Money laundering observed

End of the farce Dreaming beyond one’s capacity triggers disastrous consequences

Candid Corner rAoof hASAn “The criminal is not alone when he returns to the scene of the crime. He is joined there by his victim, and both are driven by the same curiosity: to relive that moment which stamped past and future for each.”

–elie Wiesel

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T is common knowledge that one is able to do only as much as one is capable of. dreaming beyond one’s capacity and capability can trigger disastrous consequences. an apt example of the phenomenon is the Pakistan democratic Movement (PdM) and its Bucket List. not long ago, 11 parties with vastly conflicting objectives had got together with the express aim of escaping accountability of their grime by holding a series of rallies ending with leading a charge on Islamabad with hordes of captive supporters from the seminaries. In between, the idea of resigning en masse from the assemblies also titillated their imagination.

In less than six months, instead of toppling the government, the PdM has effectively toppled itself. Even more than that, the disarray it is currently engulfed in is seamless. Every segment of the original stratagem, be it resignations from the assemblies or moving a no-confidence resolution against the government, has been divorced. Instead, this rabid conglomerate has now announced that they will think of resigning from the assemblies after participating in the senate polls and by-elections to the assemblies. Becoming part of the forums PdM does not recognise as legitimate only to resign from them makes for unadulterated farce. Maybe this unnatural communion was destined to imploding within.

On the part of the constituent leaderships, this abject failure reflects serious miscalculations in terms of gauging the public mood and the people’s willingness to participate in agitation on the side of corruption. Times may have been difficult for them but, by all given accounts, a vast majority of people still repose unshakable confidence in the person of Prime Minister Khan and his sincerity in putting things right for the country. a number of initiatives which he has taken exclusively for the benefit of the impoverished communities make a case in point. Even at the height of the covid-19 crisis when the entire opposition was hollering that he should put the country under lockdown, he did not budge for the benefit of the poorest communities of the country whose survival, he was

convinced, would be imperilled in such eventuality.

In spite of the recent setbacks, it appears the opposition parties remain intransigent in their inflexibility and would keep doing everything possible to upstage the government. That’s why, inside the assemblies, their attitude has been riotous. Use of foul language, shouting, indulging in physical brawls and charging the speaker’s dais not to let the House function has been their priority. Having realised that the chances of getting an nRO are all but extinct, this is possibly the only mechanism they could employ to impress their presence. One fails to understand what good such an attitude will do to their cause because they cannot pressurise the government through the use of crude tactics. In fact, they are guilty of defeating the very purpose for which they had avowedly plunged into the politics of agitation. This has been a customary approach of the opposition from the day the Prime Minister first came to the House to address it. They did not let him speak. This is a damaging precedent which is being set in the parliamentary domain which will affect every party that comes to rule. This also does not fit in well with their claim that they are engaged in bringing genuine democracy to the country. In fact, what they are doing will only create doubts in the minds of the people about its efficacy.

In reality, this has been the actual agenda of the opposition parties. With the spectre of accountability looming, they have resorted to employing tactics not to let Parliament function.

They thought that they would be able to exert pressure this way to force the government to accede to their demand for a reprieve. This has not happened so far and, no matter what tactics the opposition may opt for, this will not happen in the future as well. I fail to understand why are they not able to fathom that Prime Minister Khan does not belong to their tribe of corruption and crime.

Those who know him well also know that even if he were left alone, he would not create an exception in his pursuit to hold the guilty accountable. This process will not stall. Instead, it is likely to pick up steam in the future. so, while the opposition misread the people’s mood, they also failed miserably to grasp the Prime Minister’s mind and his indomitable resolve to cleanse the country of perpetration of corruption. The sooner the opposition leaders are able to digest this reality, the better it would be for them and their battalions of cronies who are all lined up to have their gruesome sins forgiven.

This is not happening. and it should not because

it does not concern the fate of a few individuals alone. It is about securing the state and its future. as albert Einstein said, “The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.” This is the Prime Minister’s comfort zone. He came with a pledge to bring about a change– a resolve he remains steadfastly committed to. In spite of numerous difficulties which came his way, he remains focussed on his goal.

But, may be, writing epitaphs of the PdM is not as important as evaluating how things are likely to proceed from here onwards. With their bandwagon having lost steam, the road is clear for the government to move on. With or without the proposed voting through open balloting, the PTI is well placed to become the single largest party in the senate. With the support of allied parties, it will also likely command a majority in the House. Thus, the path to legislation will be facilitated so that the government can bring changes to improve performance in conformity with its manifesto─ something which has been long overdue. This will, inevitably, throw up new challenges for the opposition leaders who have been used to going by what they had tailored exclusively to suit their spree of loot and plunder.

The chances are that a lot will change in the future to the detriment of the opposition’s traditional interests.

That is what people with a lifetime of trust reposed in the person of Prime Minister Khan are actually thrilled about.

This country has been ravaged mercilessly and shamelessly. It can barely breathe to sustain itself. The wounds are deep which are no longer curable by injecting a tablet alone. It requires a major surgical procedure to put it back on the road to recovery.

Proceeding further with accountability is only the initiation of that process. There would be miles to go till the state fully recovers from the maladies it was forced to embrace.

This is not just everyone’s job. This requires real grit and courage which the person of Prime Minister Khan has in abundance. Only he can weather the venomous opposition and remain steadfast in his resolve to change the face of Pakistan.

This country has been ravaged mercilessly and shamelessly. It can barely breathe to sustain itself. The wounds are deep which are no longer curable by injecting a tablet alone. It requires a major surgical procedure to put it back on the road to recovery.

Proceeding further with accountability is only the initiation of that process.

There would be miles to go till the state fully recovers from the maladies it was forced to embrace

The writer is a political and security strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: raoofhasan@hotmail.com.

Twitter: @RaoofHasan

adVIsOR to the Prime Minister on accountability and Interior Barrister shahzad akbar on saturday said a British judge in the preliminary hearing of defamation lawsuit against daily Mail had observed that shehbaz sharif and his family were involved in money laundering of billions of rupees.

The London court would set the seal that the sharifs were corrupt as they would fail to produce any evidence in their favour, he said while addressing here a press conference. shahzad akbar also dared the Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-n) president to file a libel case against him in London court so that he (shahzad) could bring fore the evidence of their money laundering. Brushing aside the impression created by a section of the media that shehbaz sharif has won the defamation case against the daily Mail, the advisor said the PML-n leaders were in the habit of distributing sweets without going through courts judgments. He said both Maryams (PML-n Vice President Maryam nawaz and secretary Information Maryam aurangzeb) were 'habitual liars'. Though the regular hearing of the libel case had not yet started, but they had claimed of winning the lawsuit, he added. The advisor said it was misreported in the media that shehbaz has won the case. It was in fact the interpretation of the meaning of words "complained of" in the petition filed by shehbaz by Justice Matthew nicklin, who presided over the Queen’s Bench division. The question of winning the case did not arise at the preliminary stage of hearing, he added. Journalist david Rose, who accused shehbaz sharif and his family of embezzling the funds given by the United Kindom's department for International development (dFId) and then laundering the same to the UK, said in a tweet it was only the first stage of hearing of the defamation suit. The daily Mail would present the available evidence in the next stage of hearing and then court would take the decision, he added. shahzad akbar said there was dearth of evidence against shehbaz's money laundering when he filed the defamation lawsuit last year. However, today dozens of proofs were available as a reference against him had been filed in the accountability court on their basis. The PML-n leader had even been indicted in the Rs 7 billion money laundering case and his bail plea was also rejected by the court, he added. according to the reference filed by the national accountability Bureau, shehbaz had purchased properties worth billions of rupees from the laundered money. His son-in-law ali Imran had misappropriated Rs 131 million and Rs 499 million respectively in the same case.

Sohail ali Khan iSlamabad

America and Russia WE humans have been living through the changes and crises taking place across the world since time immemorial. First up, asia has been home to all like wealth, culture, education, knowledge, extensive beautiful habitats and natural sources. as a recap, both america and Russia were the mostpronounced names in syllabus during my 1990s schooldays in my native areas like Tuticorin, Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari in Tamil nadu. now that the political story of Mr. navalny who is the Opposition leader and a crusader against corruption in Russia has been churning out like anything, there have been some negative vibes emerging from the Kremlin. It is time to safeguard the dissenting voices in Russia for the sake of overall well-being. secondly, there are some surprising moments to cherish and rejoice. Us President Joe Biden has now been in full swing to review and even rescind the previous laws and orders enacted by the Trump administration. Making changes to the immigration policy out there in the Us is the best thing to appreciate. Mr. Biden has even ordered setting up a task force to reunite the families and children separated at the Mexico border. Yet, there are a lot more changes to come through, especially bringing some more positive news to all the Us-based employees and all the immigrants out there. Having been to various locations like Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai for my profession, all a long way off my native areas like Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Korkai, I could easily place myself in the position of all those separated from families. On the whole, the Biden-Harris administration deserves many a round of appreciation for their compassionate yet bold acts in the immigration policy.

The media both in the Us and at the world stage should voice for all the good deeds of the new regime in america. On their part, both Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris should be careful and cautious of handling the opposing voices all over there.

P Senthil Saravana durai mumbai

An Inspirational woman a social, human right activist, a person who has been listed to the hundred top women inspired is Karima Baloch. sadly, she was dead on december 2020 in the city of Toronto Canada, the cause of death is unknown, the family of Karima is still unaware the cause of her death because she received several threat but the Canadian police didn’t bring any criminal report yet. Family demands the investigation toward her cause. Besides, she was sent to her own country Pakistan to laid her rest in her hometown Tump for the funeral but unfortunately, her dead body wasn’t under the custody of her own family and none of Baloch or other people were allowed to visit her funeral except her owns. This is what people wanted to come and join the Karima’s condolences but they were sent back to their homes without making their presence in the graveyard. On the other side, the overall mobile networks were switched for two days and people suffered owing to go their homes and the precious works were disturbed.

This wasn’t the way that they have done to the living being since they are Muslims too. Being a part of Islam doesn’t mean disrespect the women for laying and the funeral, in Quran it’s not mentioned that people should not go in funeral of the other people.

Though, Karima Baloch was belong to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who was a Baloch human rights activist and talked for the rights.

We are known to be famous to our people who are worldly known towards creativity, inspirational and many other award winnings but sorrowfully we aren’t being a proper means of loyalty. We aren’t being the known personalities of the country.

We are what belong to Islam religion, we are born to an Islamic country, and we are to follow the teachings of Prophet (PBUH), and the Holy Quran perspectives, but the way we have done with the dead body doesn’t suit the rational beings and this was what we mustn’t do with the dead bodies at least.

Junaid baKht baloch and naiK baKht baloch Kech

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Why Joe Biden should keep us Troops in AfghAnisTAn A PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL WILL TRIGGER A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY EXPOSE THE US HOMELAND TO MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACKS national interest

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rafi BatekH

here are five national security reasons why the United States should keep a strong residual force in Afghanistan. There is also an important moral argument for why America should not abandon the Afghan people and leave them in the clutches of the world’s most savage terrorists. In a highly controversial withdrawal deal signed in February 2020 between the Trump administration and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, U.S. troops are to be fully withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 2021. Such a premature withdrawal will trigger a chain of events that will ultimately expose the U.S. homeland to major terrorist attacks.

As of December 2020, there was a bare minimum of 4,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They had specific, limited missions: to fight global terror; prevent safe havens for Al-Qaida; stop terror attacks on the U.S. homeland; and train, assist and mentor Afghan Security Forces partners. In his final days as president, Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 2,500 of those troops and left in place a plan to fully withdraw the remaining troops despite Congress passing a new U.S. law prohibiting such a drawdown. The withdrawal decision was made in a slapdash manner without any strategic thought, foresight or deliberation.

President Joe Biden should reverse that order and revise the Doha deal for the following reasons: 1. WITHDRAWAL EMBOLDENS GLOBAL TERROR If the birth and rapid expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the aftermath of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in late 2011 is any lesson, there is the danger that a similar withdrawal from Afghanistan could result in a similar catastrophe that would revive global terrorism and embolden dangerous jihadists all around the world. The Taliban and other terrorists will exploit a U.S. withdrawal as propaganda to attract more finances, bolster recruitment, and expand the reach of their cause. Flushed with cash and donations, terror networks will have the financial wherewithal as well as the charm of a presumed victory to attract flocks of dissatisfied, jobless youth from the Middle east, South Asia, Africa, and even europe, to join their ranks.

A similar situation happened in Iraq after President Barack Obama ordered a full with-

drawal of the U.S. military prematurely in late 2011. As analyzed by NPr, that withdrawal, among other factors, resulted in a security vacuum, which led to the emergence and spread of ISIS—a ruthlessly vicious terrorist caliphate that wreaked havoc across the region, threatened europe, and sent terror shockwaves across the globe. To this day, ISIS and its affiliates remain relatively active in many parts of the world, including Afghanistan, albeit significantly subdued by U.S.-led coalition forces that were re-deployed to stop ISIS. As the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol inspired domestic violent extremists in America, according to DhS, a premature departure from Afghanistan will inspire global terrorism all over the world.

The United States has an unrivaled military might that no other country can match.

The American military is respected and feared by both foes and friends alike. Imagine now, however, that U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan as dictated by the TrumpTaliban deal, just to appease a terrorist group—the result would be catastrophic for national security. Critics and tabloids would flush the internet with big headlines and juicy literature labeling U.S. military with defeat at the hands of a terrorist group. This would harm America’s credibility, taint America’s military, affect soldiers’ morale, torment U.S. military strategists for generations, and inflict damage to America’s reputation. In an interview with BBC last week, Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh succinctly warned that “the fate, reputation, and standing of the Western Civilization” hangs

in the balance in Afghanistan. he added a sobering reminder that the Taliban would falsely label the U.S. withdrawal with “defeat, surrender, and escape.” Saleh emphasized that no one wants a jihadist state to come to power “anywhere in the world, especially if it comes, God forbid, by kicking the Western Civilization and the whole world out.”

3. WITHDRAWAL DESTABILIZES A NUCLEAR-ARMED REGION The South Asian region is packed with some of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups determined to harm America and the West. With the U.S. military stationed in Afghanistan, those terrorists have been kept at bay and largely contained for the past twenty years. If the U.S. military withdraws from Afghanistan, those militant groups will be unleashed, mobilized, and on the march once again—destabilizing the region where two nuclear-armed arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, reside. This could spell further chaos for the global order. It is in America’s interest to help keep South Asia stable.

4.

WITHDRAWAL EXPOSES U.S. HOMELAND AND EUROPE TO ATTACKS Once unleashed and left uncontested, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda along with other terror groups will start planning to target U.S. interests including U.S. embassies, consulates, and citizens around the world. Their growth will inspire terror cells in europe and America to target the U.S. homeland as well as european capitals. Without a forward-deployed military presence in Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda will regain territory, strength, and base of operation from

which it could once again mastermind attacks on the U.S. homeland and the european allies.

In the war on terror, Afghanistan is the global frontline. You lose that frontline; you lose to terrorists everywhere.

5. TALIBAN VIOLATING PEACE DEAL The withdrawal of U.S. troops is tied to the Doha withdrawal deal. The deal was negotiated by Trump envoy Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. Afghans, although thankful for U.S. assistance, are critical of the deal and distrustful of Khalilzad. The Afghan government sees him as the architect of a deal that essentially surrenders Afghanistan to a terrorist group. In his BBC interview last week, Vice President Saleh argued that the Doha deal was a “fatal mistake” because it gave “massive concession[s] to a terrorist group” and elevated the group’s status by giving them undue international legitimacy.

In exchange for full U.S. withdrawal, the deal required the Taliban to cut ties with AlQaeda, renounce violence, and negotiate a political settlement with the Afghan government. The Taliban complied with none of those terms, but Trump ordered pulling out regardless. Many months after the deal, the United Nations reported that the Taliban had not cut ties with Al-Qaeda, instead they enjoyed a close working relationship with promises to “honor their historic ties.” Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department also issued a report stating that “Al-Qaida was gaining strength in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s protection.” Furthermore, Taliban violence has increased ten-fold in lethality, complexity, and scope across Afghanistan.

In addition to attacks on the government, the Taliban are now assassinating and targeting journalists, civil society and women’s rights advocates, TV personalities, female judges, American translators, doctors, and other civilians as well as destroying public infrastructure. Lastly, Taliban talks with the government are dishonest. They’re only engaged in talks to encourage U.S. departure. Afghan intelligence services say the Taliban are preparing for a massive “Tet Offensive-like” terror campaign this summer. Their aim: to overthrow the government and establish a jihadist emirate and a global terror launching ground.

6. COLLAPSE OF THE GAINS OF THE PAST TWENTY YEARS Lastly, it is morally imperative that America does not abandon its allies—the Afghan people. America and the world made significant investments in both blood and treasure in Afghanistan over the last twenty years. Close to a trillion dollars spent, thousands of U.S. and NATO soldiers sacrificed, and over 50,000 Afghan soldiers died fighting to establish democracy, allow girls to enroll in schools, and empower women to participate in society. While the gains are re-

markable, they are fragile, nonetheless. A premature withdrawal will certainly result in the return of a Taliban jihadist clerical regime, waste all of these sacrifices and hard-fought gains, and usher in the collapse of the current regional order that will harm America’s national interest greatly.

NEXT STEPS: President Biden should revise the Doha deal. A new agreement should follow a five-year plan and must require the Taliban to agree to and abide by a full ceasefire for a period of ten months. The deal must have a robust verification mechanism for compliance. During the first year of the ceasefire—the United States, in coordination with the Afghan government and NATO allies—should help move the site of the peace talks to inside Afghanistan. This is important because negotiators must be attached to the realities on the ground to engage in honest talks. An expensive tropical vacation spot like Doha doesn’t cut it. The parties should discuss the formation of a participatory future government based on fair and free elections as per the timetable in the Afghan Constitution. That future government should include Taliban members in it, in due time, as part of a national reintegration effort.

In the second year, the Taliban must go through a disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration process. In the third year, they should be able to participate in local parliamentary elections. By the fourth year, a fully disarmed, demobilized Taliban could participate in national elections with a formula to form a participatory government at the end of the term of the current government. Taliban must agree to respect women’s rights, international human rights, sever ties with Al-Qaeda and other terrorists, and pose no threat to other nations. The United States should remain in Afghanistan throughout this process with a strong residual force to see through this five-year plan.

There is already bipartisan support behind troops remaining in Afghanistan. Biden is also not tied to any campaign promise of troop withdrawal. The cost of the war is already significantly lower compared to what it used to be a few years ago. And Afghans are doing the fighting themselves. It is far cheaper to remain and contain threats in Afghanistan than to leave, render America vulnerable to attacks, and then be forced to re-deploy the military.

Rafi Batekh is a national security analyst and Vice President of Operations at CAPITALIZE LLC, a DC-based government consulting firm. He previously worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan for several years. He holds two advanced degrees in international relations from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and the American University, School of International Service.

If India can charge journalists with ‘sedition’ for doing their jobs, it has no free press Guardian

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HartosH singH Bal

he protests against farm laws that were hurriedly passed by the Indian government in September pose the most severe challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authority since he first came to power in 2014. Farmers fear the laws, which the supreme court has now paused, will pave the way for the entry of large corporations into the agricultural market, weakening their ability to negotiate a fair price. Several rounds of talks between farm leaders and government ministers have failed to reach a resolution, so now the government is using the large and visible presence of Sikh farmers to suggest the protests are influenced by religious separatists. In the process it is also coming down hard on the few media organisations that still act independently.

At 4:09pm on 26 January, as more than 100,000 farmers on tractors poured into Delhi, the monthly magazine where I work, the Caravan, tweeted: “Navneet Singh, a 34year-old farmer protester from Uttarakhand, was shot and killed at ITO [the Income Tax Office area of the city] this afternoon, acc to an eyewitness.” This was followed by more details: “harmanjit Singh said he was walk-

ing alongside a tractor that Navneet was driving when the latter was shot.”

Our reporters had been on the scene for more than an hour and our web desk waited for video footage of the eyewitness before putting out the tweet. Another tweet clarified: “An eyewitness told The Caravan that he saw the police firing from behind the grills of the Andhra education Society …”

Our reporters on the spot saw that the police made no attempt to secure the crime scene, but strolled through the blood-stained area and refused to heed requests by the protesters to look into the incident. One of the policemen told our reporters that the other policemen had run away “out of fear”.

Over the next four days while we were preparing to run a story on the death of Navreet Singh (as his name turned out to be), the Delhi police didn’t answer several of our queries. Finally, on 30 January, a senior official at Delhi police responded, not to the queries but to our Twitter account, stating: “Due to misleading and false information by The Caravan that a farmer protester has died due to police firing, a case has been registered in IP estate police station.”

This turned out to be one of up to 10 similar cases filed across the country in states where the local government is run by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). While the BJP does not run the state government in Delhi, the Delhi police answers to the central BJP government. The cases invoked sections of the law that included “sedition”, a non-bailable offence with a sentence that can range from three years to a life term. Those booked

from the Caravan include the executive editor, Vinod Jose, Anant Nath, editor and executive publisher, and Paresh Nath, owner and publisher of the group that runs the magazine.

Others booked include the politician Shashi Tharoor and a few other prominent journalists. The next day, a case was filed against Siddharth Vardarajan, editor of the digital website the Wire, for running a video story where Navreet Singh’s family alleged that he had been shot.

These cases in quick succession seem to be no coincidence, given the Caravan and the Wire are among the few media organisations willing to look at the ruling government critically, at a time when much of the mainstream media has effectively become a propaganda outlet for Modi’s government.

The very next day, Mandeep Punia, a free-

lance reporter who contributes to the Caravan, was picked up by the Delhi police at Singhu, a major protest site on the outskirts of Delhi. And then the Caravan’s Twitter account was suspended on government orders.

It was one of 250 handles that went down.

They have since been restored.

Much of this has gone unchallenged because the institutions of constitutional democracy that are meant to function as a check on executive overreach have largely given way.

Modi’s majority in both houses of parliament and an ineffectual political opposition mean there is little by the way of legislative restraint. The civil service and the police act more as political extensions of the government rather than constitutional functionaries.

In this climate, the government is invoking a tried and tested method to clamp down

on protests. In 2018, violence broke out between Dalit and hindu fundamentalist groups when the former gathered to commemorate a 200-year-old battle in which Dalits helped the British defeat an army led by high-caste Brahmins. Since then several academics and activists have been arrested for aiding what the police claim was a conspiracy by ultraleft groups, but the leaders of the hindu fundamentalist mobs have escaped accountability. A year ago, when protests by India’s large Muslim minority broke out against the government’s new citizenship laws, they were targeted by large rightwing mobs, abetted by the police. In the ensuing violence in Delhi, more than 50 people were killed, the majority of them Muslims. Since then a number of activists and student leaders have been rounded up and charged for being part of a conspiracy to instigate the violence.

Again political leaders from the BJP have largely escaped legal consequences. It is no coincidence that Dalits, Muslims and the farmers, a huge number of whom are Sikhs, are among the groups that stand outside the government’s hindu-nationalist project.

Much of India’s press has already been compromised, exhibiting complicity and subservience to the government. But these new legal actions have a clear aim: to silence or weaken what remains of the fourth estate.

If honest reporting from the ground can be treated as “sedition” then there may soon be little serious journalism left in India.

Hartosh Singh Bal is political editor at the Caravan magazine.

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

buSIneSS 09

KARACHI Govt to further curtail expenditures to facilitate common man: minister HAFEEZ SHAIKH SEES IMPROVEMENT IN MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS; SAYS PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND SERVICES SECTORS AMONG TOP GOVT PRIORITIES ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Finance and Revenue Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said the incumbent government would further curtail its expenditures to pass on relief to the common man. Talking to a private news channel, the finance minister said that the government has already taken austerity measures to control the fiscal deficit, adding that macroeconomic indicators are now showing signs of growth, which means "the country's economy is on an upward trajectory". He attributed the positivity [in indicators] to prudent policies and initiatives taken by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He noted that the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had left the economy in a weak position by taking huge foreign loans. "The incumbent government has been focusing on improving the real sector growth through the promotion of agriculture, industry, and services sectors of the economy." Realising the importance of subsectors of the economy, he said the government had initiated different programmes, including National Agriculture Emergency Programme (NAEP), under which 13 mega projects worth Rs277 billion are currently in the execution phase. "The objective of NAEP is to bring about improvements in water availability, soil conservation, shrimp fanning, and establishment of new agriculture markets." The minister said that the Rs10.964 billion megaproject namely National Oilseed Enhancement Programme (NOEP) under NAEP was launched to boost the adoption of oilseed crops at a cost of Rs10.964 billion for five years. Likewise, the government allocated Rs10 billion for locust control in the current budget while an amount of Rs12 billion was allocated under Public Sector Development Programme 2020-21 to ensure food security and promote the agriculture sector.

He said that the government enhanced agriculture credit disbursement by 3.5pc during the fiscal year 2020 to Rs1,214.7 billion as compared to the corresponding period of last year while during the first three months of the financial year 2020-21, agriculture credit disbursement stood at Rs250 billion. Meanwhile, to support the industrial sector, the government has taken many initiatives including reduction of Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cement from Rs2 per kilogramme to Rs1.5 per kg, relaxation of excise duties on textile items, Rs33 billion markup subsidy for the construction sector, Export Finance Scheme (EFS) maintained at 3pc, while Long Term Finance Facility (KTFF) was reduced from 6pc to 5pc. Moreover, the State Bank of Pakistan had announced additional support of Rs190 billion for exporters and investors, he added. The minister opined that the government's measures in agriculture, industries, and external sectors along with controlling inflationary pressures would not only stimulate economic growth but would also provide significant support in reducing poverty.

FPCCI seeks lonG-term strateGy as budGet deFICIt shoots uP to rs1.4tr KARACHI

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INP

HE Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's Businessmen Panel (BMP) has sought a longterm strategy amid high cost of debt servicing due to heavy loans, jumping to over 87pc of the GDP in first half of 2020-21.

BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar observed that the budget deficit was continuously going up despite the government's claim of tight control over expenditures, while the only main head of expenditure that remains out of control was the debt servicing cost, which jumped by 15pc to Rs1.4 trillion during 1HFY21, he added.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Nisar opposed the excessive borrowing policy of successive governments, noting that the incumbent government has added an additional Rs11.35 trillion to public debt during the first two years in power, which was more than the total debt accumulated by the previous government in its five-year term.

"Pakistan's fiscal policy continued to focus primarily on macroeconomic stabilization in response to financial crisis, instead of putting more emphasis on reforms to foster long-term growth through industrialization," he opined.

Nisar called for growth-friendly policies, upgraded tax and social spending, and active industrial strategies in close consultation with real stakeholders to achieve sustainable development goals.

“In terms of the size of the economy, the budget deficit remained at last year’s level, but in absolute terms, the deficit went up,” he noted, adding

'GOVT'S FISCAL POLICY FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON MACROECONOMIC STABILITY IN RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL CRISIS, INSTEAD OF PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL REFORMS TO FOSTER LONG-TERM GROWTH'

that the government had set the federal budget deficit target at Rs3.43 trillion or 7.5pc of GDP while it has obtained Rs1.2 trillion in loans to finance the deficit.

Quoting the figures, the BMP chairman said that the net federal revenue fell short of the expenditure incurred on the two largest heads - debt servicing at Rs1.5 trillion and defence at Rs505 billion, while defence spending remained less than the previous year.

"Overall, the government's total expenditures increased 7pc to Rs3.2 trillion during the July-December FY21 period. But the entire increase was on

account of current expenditures, as development spending fell below last year’s level," he explained. "The government is exercising tight control over the development and defence spending, which has helped contain the deficit despite a significant surge in debt servicing cost due to high borrowing."

Nisar observed that over 40pc of the additional debt in the past two years was only because of debt servicing expenditures, while about 30pc was due to rupee devaluation. He flayed the economic managers for keeping the interest rate artificially high at 13.25pc in the past, besides devaluing the rupee more

than the requirements.

Amid rising markup rate, Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities skyrocketed to around Rs36.3 trillion in the wake of a soaring budget deficit, he deplored.

"The country’s growing need for dollars has compelled it to periodically knock at the doors of the IMF over the last three decades, at the cost of economic growth, to avert potential defaults on foreign repayment obligations and shore up forex reserves. With cheaper and softer bilateral and multilateral flows becoming scarce, the government’s reliance on expensive foreign commercial debt is rising."

As per the statement, the exponential growth in foreign debt levels underscored that the country has been unable to attract adequate non-debt-creating, long-term inflows like FDI or increase its exports, which remain stuck at $23 billion a year, to meet its external account requirements.

The extremely low level of formal domestic savings as reflected by banking deposits meant that the government would have to depend on foreign savings to finance its budgetary operations as well as for balance-ofpayments support. For example, the total loans taken during the last two and a half years were meant for balance-of-payments or budgetary support. Similarly, the failure to reform the tax system and increase revenue collection is a major factor behind heavy domestic and foreign borrowings by the government.

Nisar said the government should put its house in order to attract FDI, boost exports, increase tax revenues and incentivize domestic savings to get out of this trap.

KP receives another Rs3bn in hydropower profits PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received an additional Rs3 billion from the federal government on account of net electricity profit, KP Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra said on Saturday.

“The federal government has so far provided Rs11 billion to the province under electricity profit during the ongoing financial year,” he informed. “The KP government will now negotiate on the increase the instalment amount with the federation.”

Jhagra attributed the continuous inflow of net electricity profit to the prudent efforts of the KP government.

“Earlier, Rs3 billion was received in December and November, while in Oc-

tober 2020, the provincial government received Rs2 billion,” he added.

According to Jhagra, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had been making concerted efforts to secure hydropower benefits for the province, while Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, federal ministers Umar Ayub, Pervez Khattak and Faisal Wada also played a key role in this regard.

The provincial minister said that discussions would be held to increase the monthly instalments of hydropower profits so that all the royalties for the current financial year are provided to the province and arrears are recovered soon under a comprehensive strategy and mechanism.

According to sources, in the last financial year, the KP government had al-

located Rs55 billion in net profit from the federal government in its budget documents, of which the federal government only managed to release Rs15 billion.

Sources said the provincial government had earlier protested against the

federal government for delaying the payment of instalment. However, despite facing several financial constraints to complete its developmental projects, the province remained unable to secure its net hydel profit from the centre.

Study finds artificial intelligence cannot predict decisions BABAR KHAN JAVED In a 2013 report titled “The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerisation?”, authors Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne examined how susceptible jobs are to computerisation. Using a Gaussian process classifier, they implemented a novel methodology to estimate the probability of computerisation for 702 detailed occupations.

The researchers concluded that 47pc of total US employment is at risk, which prompted another set of researchers to add information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to further extract the probability of automation of all types of jobs.

This effort has culminated in the ongoing platform known as “Will Robots Take My Job?”, which allows site visitors to learn how likely their occupations are to be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence (AI). For instance, the database concludes that there is 1.4pc chance that people trained in marketing – employed in demand generation, media planning, client servicing, media management, brand strategy roles to name a few – will be replaced by robots and AI. The database further adds that a poll taken based on responses from website visitors suggests that there is a 38pc chance of

CONTEMPORARY METHODS FOR PREDICTING CONSUMER CHOICES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE LARGELY INACCURATE, WORSENED BY THE FINDING THAT INCREASING METHODOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION ONLY LEADS TO DIMINISHING RETURNS marketers being replaced by robots and AI in the next two decades. Unfortunately for those contributing to the poll, the latest in academic research suggests that even this guess is far off by a century.

In a paper published with the Consumer Psychology Review, marketing professors David Gal and Itamar Simonson, respectively from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Stanford University, conclude that claims that AI can anticipate and predict consumer preferences with great accuracy are largely exaggerated. The report suggests that marketers spend less time in trying to predict consumer choices with great accuracy and instead divert resources into the information environment that affects the choice of their products.

Examples of the aforementioned infor-

mation environment predominantly feature user generated content in the form of user reviews, online recommendations, and new options, which the researchers argue have an increasing influence at the point of purchase decision and can neither be measured nor anticipated ex ante.

They acknowledge that in some rare instances – such as the recommendation algorithms of Netflix or TikTok for instance – sophisticated methods and big data can improve predictions. The caveat is that these predictions are improved slightly and can be very imprecise, so much so that attempting to improve it is often a waste of effort.

In the 2020 mass collaboration paper titled “Measuring the predictability of life outcomes with a scientific mass collaboration”, researchers tasked 160 teams to build predic-

CMYK

tive models around six life outcomes using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study.

“Despite using a rich dataset and applying machine-learning methods optimized for prediction, the best predictions were not very accurate and were only slightly better than those from a simple benchmark model,” the authors concluded. “Within each outcome, prediction error was strongly associated with the family being predicted and weakly associated with the technique used to generate the prediction.”

Across a range of additional research, Gal and Simonson concluded that there is limited evidence that complex human behaviors can generally be predicted with much accuracy, adding that the evidence suggests that sophisticated methods do not dramatically increase the accuracy with which these behaviors can be predicted, which is the cornerstone of behavioral economics, which argues that framing and presentation has a sizable impact on driving purchase behavior.

“These findings should serve to limit our expectations of the degree to which consumer choices are predictable using current technologies,” said the researchers. “Like preferences, research suggests that many consumer attitudes are not stable, but are, to a degree, constructed at the time they are called for. As such, measures of attitudes (e.g., ratings) to-

wards products or brands are likely to be noisy measures, and thus noisy predictors of future attitudes and preferences.”

The authors add that attitudes are particularly strong, stable, and well-defined, while noting that in the short-term, marketers and their activities are less likely to influence attitudes and so the focus should be on improving product consideration through proactive participation in the information environment.

This suggestion about focusing on the user generated content in the information environment is supported in “Understanding Behaviors that Lead to Purchasing” which analyzed the purchasing behavior of over two million Pinterest users to determine short-term and long-term signals in user behavior that suggest strong purchase intent.

“We found that users with long-term purchasing intent tend to save and click through more on content,” said the Pinterest study researchers, noting that user generated content drives consideration further down the purchase funnel. “However, as users approach the time of purchase their activity gets more topically focused and actions shift from saves to searches.”

These researchers found that purchase signals in online behavior can exist weeks before a purchase is made and is amplified in the last three days before a purchase.

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

10 FoReIgn newS

KARACHI

Tens of Thousands proTesT MyanMar coup despITe InTerneT ban

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AGENCIES

ENS of thousands of people took to the streets of Myanmar’s cities on Saturday to denounce this week’s coup and demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite a blockade on the internet by the junta. n an upwelling of anger in the country’s largest city, Yangon, protesters chanted, “Military dictator, fail, fail; Democracy, win, win” and held banners reading “Against military dictatorship”. Bystanders offered them food and water.

Many in the crowds wore red, the colour of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) which won Nov. 8 elections in a landslide, a result the generals have refused to recognise, claiming fraud.

Thousands marched on Yangon’s City Hall. Drivers honked horns and leaned out of their cars and raised the three-finger salute, a gesture returned by protesters.

Some of them held up NLD flags or pictures of Suu Kyi and clapped and danced.

By evening, the protesters had mostly dispersed. But for a fifth night, a cacophony

rose in the darkness as people banged on pots, pans and drums in a show of resistance even as power cuts affected many districts of the city.

Thousands more took to the streets in Myanmar’s second city Mandalay and its military-built capital Naypyidaw, home to the nation’s government servants, where demonstrators chanted anti-coup slogans and called for Suu Kyi’s release.

The protests built despite a blockade of the internet imposed after demonstrators first began to gather. All day, the staterun broadcaster MRTV showed scenes praising the military.

Monitoring group NetBlocks Internet Observatory reported a “national-scale internet blackout”, saying on Twitter that connectivity had fallen to 16% of usual levels.

The junta did not respond to requests for comment. It extended a social media crackdown to Twitter and Instagram after seeking to silence dissent by blocking Facebook, which counts half of the population as users.

Facebook urged the junta to unblock social media. “At this critical time, the people of Myanmar need access to important informa-

Indonesian village turns red as floods hit batikmanufacturing hub JAKARTA

tion and to be able to communicate with their loved ones,” Facebook’s head of public policy for Asia-Pacific emerging countries, Rafael Frankel, said in a statement.

The United Nations human rights office said on Twitter that “internet and communication services must be fully restored to ensure freedom of expression and access to information.” Norwegian mobile network provider Telenor ASA said authorities had ordered all mobile operators to temporarily shut down the data network, although voice and SMS services remained open.

Myanmar civil society groups appealed to internet providers to resist the junta’s orders, saying in a joint statement they were “essentially legitimising the military’s authority”.

Telenor said it regretted the impact of the shutdown on the people of Myanmar but said it was bound by local law and its first priority was the safety of its local workers.

INTERNATIONAL FALLOUT: Army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power alleging fraud, although the electoral commission says it has found no evidence of widespread irregularities in the November vote.

African leaders tackle Covid, conflict at virtual summit ADDIS ABABA AGENCIES

AGENCIES

A surreal, blood-red river inundated the Indonesian village of Jenggot after floods hit a nearby batik factory on Saturday, causing a frenzy on social media. Thousands of users on Twitter shared photos and videos of the village south of Pekalongan city in Central Java being flooded by crimsoncoloured water, which some social media users said reminded them of blood. “I am so afraid if this photo gets into the bad hands of hoax spreaders,” said a Twitter user Ayah E Arek-Arek. “Fear mongering narratives about signs that it is the end of the world, bloody rain etc”. Pekalongan is a city known for manufacturing batik, a traditional Indonesian method of using wax to resist water-based dyes to depict patterns and drawings, usually on fabric. It is not uncommon for rivers in Pekalongan to turn different colours.

Bright green water covered another village north of the city during a flood last month. “Sometimes there are purple puddles on the road too,” said Twitter user Area Julid, who claimed to be from the area. The head of Pekalongan disaster relief, Dimas Arga Yudha, confirmed that the photos being circulated were real. “The red flood is due to the batik dye, which has been hit by the flood. It will disappear when it mixes with rain after a while,” he said.

The junta announced a one-year state of emergency and has promised to hand over power after new elections, without giving a timeframe.

Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi, 75, has been charged with illegally importing six walkie-talkies, while ousted President Win Myint is accused of flouting COVID-19 restrictions. Neither has been seen since the coup. Their lawyer said they were being held in their homes.

NLD member Aung Moe Nyo, chief minister of the Magway region, said on Facebook before the shutdown: “It is not OK to let the country fall under junta government. I am very much thankful to those who oppose this, to those government staff who oppose this. This act is to save the country.”

Sean Turnell, an Australian economic adviser to Suu Kyi, said in a message to Reuters on Saturday he was being detained.

Australia’s government, without naming Turnell, said it had summoned the Myanmar ambassador to register “deep concern” over the arbitrary detention of Australian and other foreign nationals in Myanmar.

A civil disobedience movement has been building in Myanmar all week, with doctors and teachers among those refusing to work.

Every night people bang pots and pans in a show of anger.

The protests in Yangon would resume on Sunday, demonstrators said. One, who asked not to be named, said: “We will go and protest again tomorrow. If they arrest one person, we will try to pile in and fill up the [police] truck as a group.”

The coup has sparked international outrage, with the United States considering sanctions against the generals and the UN Security Council calling for the release of all detainees.

It has also deepened tensions between the United States and China, which has close links to Myanmar’s military. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in a phone call on Friday to condemn the coup, the State Department said.

The generals have few overseas interests vulnerable to sanctions but the military’s extensive business investments could suffer if foreign partners leave - as Japanese drinks company Kirin Holdings said it would on Friday.

Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest after leading pro-democracy protests against the long-ruling military junta in 1988. After sharing power with a civilian government, the army began democratic reforms in 2011. That led to the election of the NLD in a landslide victory four years later.

November’s election was meant to solidify a troubled democratic transition.

African leaders opened a two-day virtual summit on Saturday to discuss the continent's Covid-19 response as well as security issues that have been overlooked during the pandemic.

The African Union summit comes almost exactly one year after Egypt recorded the first coronavirus case in Africa, prompting widespread fears that member states' weak health systems would quickly be overwhelmed.

But despite early doomsday predictions, the continent has been hit less hard than other regions so far, recording 3.5 percent of virus cases and four percent of deaths worldwide, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Today, though, many African countries are battling damaging second waves while straining to procure sufficient vaccine doses.

"This disease has caused great suf-

fering and hardship across our continent," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the outgoing AU chairman, said in opening remarks Saturday.

"It is not only a severe health emergency. It is also a grave economic and social crisis."

African leaders have been speaking out against vaccine hoarding by rich countries at the expense of poorer ones. "There is a vaccine nationalism on the rise, with other rich countries jumping the queue, some even pre-ordering more than they require," Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the AU's executive body the African Union Commission, said in a recent interview.

Ramaphosa was due to deliver a pandemic response update during the closed portion of the summit on Saturday, according to a draft programme seen by AFP. In his opening speech he called for "a fresh injection of resources" from

the International Monetary Fund to "correct the glaring inequality in fiscal stimulus measures between advanced economies and the rest of the world."

ELECTIONS AND CRISES: Separately, member states are due to hold internal elections to lead the restructured commission -- the results of which will shape how the AU responds to the pandemic and a host of economic and security challenges.

Faki, a former prime minister of Chad, is running unopposed for a second four-year term as commission chief.

He still needs to get two-thirds of the vote, overcoming accusations -which he denies -- of "a culture of sexual harassment, bribery, corruption and bullying within the commission," the International Crisis Group wrote in a recent briefing.

In another race, Nigerian Bankole Adeoye is favoured to head the AU's newly-merged political affairs and peace and security departments, diplo-

mats say, though AU rules dividing top positions among Africa's sub-regions could lead to a surprise result.

Whoever wins could play a critical role, along with Faki, in addressing crises the AU is accused of overlooking.

There are multiple internal conflicts the AU has done little to resolve.

Its Peace and Security Council has failed to hold meetings on a conflict between government forces and anglophone separatists in Cameroon, for example, as well as rising Islamist militancy in Mozambique.

A three-month-old conflict in the AU's host country Ethiopia, pitting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government against the former ruling party of the northern Tigray region, has proved especially sensitive.

Abiy has rejected appeals from high-level AU envoys for talks with Tigrayan leaders, sticking to his line that the conflict is a limited "law and order" operation.

Arrest in Thailand of second drug kingpin tightens dragnet on huge syndicate BANGKOK AGENCIES

A second senior leader of a vast drug syndicate has been arrested, a Thai narcotics official said, as a transnational dragnet tightens on the Sam Gor group, which police say dominates the $70 billion annual Asia-Pacific drug trade.

The October arrest of Hong Kong citizen Lee Chung Chak in Bangkok preceded last month’s high-profile arrest in the Netherlands of Tse Chi Lop, a China-born Canadian national who police suspect is the top leader of the syndicate, also called “The Company”.

Lee, 65, is a former prison mate of Tse’s suspected of being involved in drug trafficking for four decades. A 2018 Australian Federal Police (AFP) document reviewed by Reuters outlining the top 19 targets in the syndicate described Lee as a “senior project manager responsible for big ventures of border controlled drugs”.

The two arrests on different continents within three months stem from a decadelong investigation by the AFP, which also leads the multinational Operation Kungur task force targeting the syndicate.

It is rare for suspected senior drug traffickers to be arrested and successfully prosecuted in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The suspect was arrested by Thai Nar-

cotics police on Oct. 1 based on an arrest warrant issued by a Thai court, which followed an extradition request by the Australian authorities,” Lieutenant General Montri Yimyaem, head of Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau, told Reuters when asked about Lee. “The extradition is currently being processed by the court.”

In recent years, Lee has emerged as a rival to the Canadian as a major player in the region’s drug trade, according to two investigators, who spoke to Reuters on condition they not be identified.

“We understand his star had risen to be an equal or even a bigger player,” said one of the investigators. “He’s a very significant arrest in his own right.”

Thai authorities seized a laptop and multiple phones when they searched Lee’s serviced apartment in an upscale Bangkok area, a potential treasure trove of intelligence, the two investigators told Reuters. A third official added that a document and cash in several denominations were also seized.

Lee is appealing the November approval

by Thailand’s Criminal Court of Australia’s extradition request, said a source at Thailand’s Ministry of Justice. Tse is in prison in the Netherlands, where a court has yet to rule on his extradition to Australia.

Lee could not be contacted in prison, nor could his lawyer be identified by Reuters. A

lawyer for Tse declined to comment. An AFP media officer declined to comment.

The alleged role of Tse - whose nickname is Sam Gor, or “Brother Number Three” in Cantonese - as leader of the syndicate and the investigation into his activities was revealed by Reuters in 2019.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has estimated the syndicate made up to $17 billion from methamphetamine trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region alone in 2018. The UNODC representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Jeremy Douglas, compared Tse to the notorious Latin American cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Police also suspect the crime group traf-

fics heroin, ketamine, cocaine and MDMA, known as ecstasy, multiple officials across the region have told Reuters.

DRUG VETERAN: Tse and Lee were the subject of requests by the AFP for law enforcement authorities around the world to arrest them. They are expected to be charged in connection with importing illicit drugs a decade ago, the investigators say.

The two men supplied drugs to a Melbourne-based drug ring and were recorded on intercepts directing the leader of the ring, Suky Lieu, the investigators alleged.

A judge’s verdict rejecting Lieu’s attempt to have his prison sentence reduced said that Lieu owned a small Asian grocery store and was regularly in touch with his

Hong Kong-based drug suppliers, using as many as 60 phones and SIM cards and speaking in code. The verdict said Lieu was the leader of the drug ring. Tse and Lee were not named in the verdict.

The two investigators told Reuters that Lee was arrested in Sydney in the 1980s, allegedly for being a manager of heroin couriers. He never went to trial because a key witness died, they said. Reuters could not independently confirm this.

Lee was sentenced to 140 months in prison in 1998 for playing a “supervisory role” in a conspiracy to import heroin into the United States, federal court filings there show. Lee - extradited from Thailand to face the charge - spent time in the Elkton penitentiary in Ohio while Tse was imprisoned there.

Tse was sentenced to nine years in prison for a separate conspiracy to import heroin into the United States. The two were released from Elkton within a month of each other after completing their sentences, US Bureau of Prisons records show.

Police suspect Lee later played a key role for the syndicate overseeing drug lab operators in Shan State in northern Myanmar and regularly travelled there, the two investigators said. Shan State, which is largely controlled by ethnic armed groups, has been the epicentre of drug manufacturing in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle for decades.

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

KARACHI

ProTeaS coMeBack STroNG aGaINST PakISTaN oN day Three ISLAMABAD

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APP

OuTH African all-rounder George Linde and spinner Keshav Maharaj proved fatal for the Pakistani batsmen as the green-shirts lost six wickets on day three of the second Test at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Despite the five-wicket haul from pacer Hasan Ali the Pakistani batsmen failed to create magic in the second innings and lead by 200 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Pakistan's top order yet again failed as Imran Butt 0 and Abid Ali 13 were dismissed in the 5th and 17th over, respectively in the second innings.

Imran was trapped lbw by Rabada as the ball hit him in front of middle stump

TOP ORDER FAILS AGAIN; RIZWAN, FAHEEM STRETCH PAKISTAN’S LEAD TO 200 and was given by the umpire while Abid went straight into the keeper's gloves down the leg side in Maharaj’s over.

The second highest scorer (77) of the first innings Skipper Babar Azam (8) went early as he was trapped lbw by Maharaj in the 23rd over. Babar looked to defend, but the ball whizzed past the inside edge of the bat and hit his front pad.

George Linde destroyed the middle order of Pakistan as he took two major wickets of Azhar Ali (lbw) 33 and danger man Fawad Alam 12 in the 32nd and 36th over, respectively. Linde struck again in the 50th over and took the highest scorer (78)

of the first innings Faheem Ashraf on 29.

Meanwhile, Hasan bagged two wickets on the second day while took three on the third. He bagged wickets of Elgar 15 and Rassie van der Dussen 0 on day two while took wicket of George Linde 22, Keshav Maharaj 1 and Arnich Nortje 0 on day three. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Nauman Ali took one wicket each.

Afridi struck early morning on day three as he grabbed the South African Skipper Quinton de Kock in the 31st over when he tried to drive the ball away from his body, but an inside edge crashed into

the leg stump. Quinton de Kock was out for a 20-ball 29.

South Africa were 106 runs for four in 28 overs and trailed by 166 runs at end of the second day. South Africa lost its 6th wicket of Wiaam Mulder who was run out as he attempted to make second run in the 54th over while George Linde 22 and Keshav Maharaj 1 was bold by Hasan in the 58th and 62nd overs, respectively, who made a comeback in the Pakistan team after June 2019.

Hasan also bagged two wickets on day two of Dean Elgar 15 and Rassie van der Dussen 0.

The 66th over bowled by Hasan saw the last two wickets coming. Kagiso Rabada was run out by Abid Ali on a duck while Arnich Nortje 0 was dismissed by Hasan. South African was all out of 201 runs in 65.4 overs.

England dominate as Joe Root hits second double-century of 2021 NEWS DESK Joe Root's second double-hundred in three matches helped England turn the screw on the second day in Chennai, as India conceded more than 550 in a single innings of a home Test for the first time since 2011.

Dom Sibley's dismissal in the last over of the first day had provided India with an opening, with England in danger of wasting an impressive start to the Test and with memories of their last visit to Chepauk when they had racked up 477 and lost by an innings - still fresh.

But Ben Stokes opted to attack as the

pitch started to show signs of wear, racking up 82 off 118 balls to take England to lunch unscathed, before Root's stand with Ollie Pope in the afternoon session helped them towards 500. India were eventually rewarded for their bowlers' hard work, taking four wickets for 52 in the evening session to leave England eight down, but their focus may now be on saving - rather than winning - the Test.

RECORD BREAKER: England skipper Joe Root today became the first man to score a double century in his career's 100th Test match. Root, while batting on 196, danced down the track and launched India

Vince stars with 95 in Sixers BBL final triumph AGENCIES England's James Vince blasted 95 and took a crucial catch as the Sydney Sixers downed the Perth Scorchers for their third title in Australia's Big Bash final in Sydney on Saturday. Vince's fireworks propelled the Sixers to 188 for six and they restricted the Scorchers to 161 for nine to win by 27 runs. Coming on the back of an unbeaten 98 against the Scorchers, Vince again blitzed the Scorchers' bowling, surviving two dropped catches in the 80s before he was dismissed just five short of a century in the Sixers 188 for six. Vince crowned his night with a sensational diving catch at short extra cover to dismiss big-hitting Mitch Marsh for 11 and put the defending champion Sixers firmly on top in the 15th over. Vince earlier overcame the unsettling run out of opening batting partner Josh Philippe for nine in a huge mix-up. He failed to make contact and retreated back to his crease while Philippe charged down the pitch leaving both batsmen at the same end. Vince went on his run rampage and was dropped on 82 by Marsh running backwards when he skied Aaron Hardie into the night air and then was narrowly missed by diving Cameron Bancroft before he was finally out. He sliced Fawad Ahmed to Marsh at short third man to end his blistering 60-ball knock. Only a week ago Vince was stranded on 98 when AJ Tye ended his team's finals qualifier game with a bouncer that was called wide in the Sixers' nine-wicket win in Canberra. Bancroft hit a lively 30 off 19 balls in the Scorchers' innings before he skied Jackson Bird to Vince for the initial breakthrough in the fifth over. Bird got the big wicket of Englishman Liam Livingstone who unleashed a big hit but was caught on the ropes by Jordan Silk for an explosive 45 off 35 balls with two sixes in the 11th over.

BIRMINGHAM AGENCIES

Arsenal crashed to a second successive Premier League defeat as Ollie Watkins' early goal fired Aston Villa to a 1-0 win on Saturday. Mikel Arteta's side fell behind after just 74 seconds at Villa Park and were unable to muster a convincing response.

Arsenal lost at Wolves on Tuesday and have now gone three league games without a victory.

The Gunners are languishing in 10th place, nine points adrift of the top four as their faint hopes of Champions League qualification look less realistic by the day.

When Arsenal faced Villa in November,

spinner Ravichandran Ashwin over longon for a six to bring his double century.

Root is also the first English cricketer to reach his double century with a six.

In the process, Root also eclipsed Pakistan great Inzamam-ul-Haq's record of the highest score in the 100th Test.

Inzamam had scored 184 runs against India during the Bengaluru Test in 2005.

And, the England run-machine broke the 16-year-old record in style.

“The first cricketer ever to score a double century in his 100th Test match,” England Cricket acknowledged on Twitter.

The in-form batsman, who made his

Test debut in India in 2012 and played match-winning knocks of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka, joined England greats Colin Cowdrey and Alec Stewart in scoring a century in their 100th Test match. He scored 218 runs off 377 balls, including 19 fours and 2 sixes, before being dismissed

by Shahbaz Nadeem. “Without question @root66 will end up being England’s greatest Batsman across all formats,” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted. The 30-year-old, who has scored over 8,000 runs at an average of over 49, is the 15th England player to have appeared in 100 Test matches.

Bayern fume over seven-hour flight delay to Qatar BERLIN AGENCIES

Bayern Munich's Club World Cup mission got off to a rocky start with their take-off from Berlin on a direct flight to Qatar delayed seven hours overnight Friday. After beating Hertha Berlin 1-0, the team made their way to the airport and had boarded their plane expecting to arrive in Doha six-and-a-half hours later.

But after heavy snow in the German capital the plane's de-icing took longer than expected and air traffic control refused permission for take-off due to a 00h00-07h00 (2300-0600GMT) ban on flights.

Bayern had to disembark the Qatar Airlines plane which had been due to leave at 2315 but in the end was only given the allclear for departure one minute before the flight curfew began.

The German champions, who have a

semi-final against Egypt's Al-Ahly on Monday, were forced to remain at the airport overnight, eventually leaving a few minutes before 0700, but this time with a stopover in Munich to change airline crew.

"We had the impression that the competent authorities didn't care about us," an irate Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern's chairman, told Bild.

"Those in charge (at the airport) don't have an inkling of what they've done to our team." After Monday's semifinal against Egypt's Al-Ahly and either the final or third-place play-off on Thursday Bayern are back home on Bundesliga duty against Arminia Bielefeld on Monday week. One consolation for Bayern: they finally took off buoyed by five successive wins which left them 10 points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, who have a game in hand away to crisis-hit Schalke later Saturday.

Watkins strikes early as Villa sink Arsenal they suffered a lacklustre 3-0 defeat that sent them sliding towards the relegation zone.

Although Arsenal had managed to claw their way back up the table, eighth-placed Villa once again showed the flaws that still plague Arteta's men.

Arsenal, badly lacking a cutting edge, have scored just once in their last three matches and retain a fatal inability to stay focused at the back.

Villa took the lead with their earliest Premier League goal since 2014, aided by some woeful defending from the Gunners.

Arsenal's Cedric Soares gave the ball away and Bertrand Traore crossed to the unmarked Watkins, whose shot went in via a deflection off Rob Holding.

When Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette clashed heads, it looked as though the Premier League's new concussion substitute rule might be used for the first time, but the pair were eventually able to play on.

Former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez made a superb save to keep Villa ahead when he tipped over Granit Xhaka's free-

kick, with Holding headed just wide from the resulting corner.

With Bernd Leno suspended, Mat Ryan was making his first appearance in goal for Arsenal after joining on loan from Brighton.

Ryan did well to keep out Traore's closerange chip before Gabriel blocked Ross Barkley's follow-up effort.

Villa had won 10 of the 11 league games in which they had scored the first goal this season. They were back on top at the start of the second half and John McGinn's blast was saved by Ryan.

SPORTS 11 1st Test: Mehidy aims for history as Bangladesh pressure West Indies CHITTAGONG APP

Mehidy Hasan looked for a place in history as Bangladesh set the West Indies a formidable target of 395 to win the first Test on Saturday. Mehidy took the three wickets to fall as West Indies set about the challenge, reaching 110-3 at the close of the fourth day in Chittagong. After his 103 in Bangladesh's first innings total of 430 and 4-58 when they bowled out the West Indies for 259, Mehidy needs only three more wickets to become just the fourth allrounder to get a hundred with the bat and take 10 wickets in the same Test. Only England great Ian Botham, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and his star Bangladesh teammate Shakib Al Hasan have managed it so far. Mehidy had been left out of Bangladesh's last three Tests after a run of poor form but has overshadowed Shakib in the campaign to put pressure on West Indies. After captain Mominul Haque completed his hundred and declared Bangladesh's innings on 223-8, West Indies reached 110-3 at the close of the fourth day, still needing 285 for an unlikely win. Kyle Mayers (37) and Nkrumah Bonner (15) were at the crease. Mehidy's spin claimed Kraigg Brathwaite (20), John Campbell (23) and Shayne Moseley (12) to finish the day with 3-52. Mominul's 115 of 182 balls and Liton Das's 69 put Bangladesh in control. The pair put on 133 for the sixth wicket after the home side lost Mushfiqur Rahim (18) early in the morning to Rakheem Cornwall's bowling. Mominul and Liton frustrated West Indies with their fluent century partnership, which ended when Liton attempted a reverse sweep and was caught by Kyle Mayers off Jomel Warrican. Mominul brought up his hundred off 173 balls but as he sought to accelerate the scoring he was caught by Kemar Roach at deep mid-wicket to give Shannon Gabriel his second wicket. Warrican dismissed Taijul Islam (four) and Mehidy Hasan (seven) before Bangladesh declared. Warrican (357) and Cornwall (3-87) were the most effective West Indies bowlers.

PSG's Neymar a doubt for Marseille derby PARIS AGENCIES

Brazil attacker Neymar is a doubt for this weekend's trip to arch-rivals Marseille with a stomach bug Paris Saint-Germain announced on Saturday. PSG head to the Velodrome on Sunday for the 100th meeting between the outfits and three points off leaders Lille, who travel to Nantes earlier on. "Neymar JR is unable to train this morning due to gastroenteritis, he will be evaluated in the coming hours," the Ligue 1 champions said in a statement. PSG are also without goalkeeper Keylor Navas who has an adductor issue while Thimothee Pembele has contracted Covid-19.

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has recovered from the virus but Spain playmaker Ander Herrera remains sidelined for the tie against a side in turmoil. Marseille are without a win in a month, supporters invaded the training complex and coach Andre Villas-Boas resigned in midweek.

Barkley fired just over after a fine run from Jack Grealish opened up the Arsenal defence.

Back in the squad for the second successive game after his mother's illness, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came off the bench with 30 minutes left.

The Gabon forward was unable to convert Nicolas Pepe's cross as Martinez beat him to it with an out-stretched hand.

Pepe was Arsenal's lone bright spark and the Ivorian's low strike forced Martinez to save with his feet.

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, on as a substitute, wasted a late chance to equalise when the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder smashed over from the edge of the area.

Sunday, 7 February, 2021

prayer timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:36

12:14

3:07

7:01

5:27

6:52

PM AssuREs suPPoRt to PRoMotE touRisM, CoNsERvE foREsts iN KP ISLAMABAD

P

IMRAN STRESSES TO MODERNISE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO MEET MARKET NEEDS

staff report

RIME Minister Imran Khan has assured the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of all-out support to promote tourism and conserve forest in the province to cope with the environmental challenges.

The prime minister gave the assurance in a meeting with the parliamentarians, who called on him on Saturday.

The premier also called for exploiting immense tourism potential in KP, besides assuring for the expansion of Swat Motorway on the request of the parliamentarians.

The meeting was attended by SAFRON Minister Sahibzada Mahboob Sultan, Punjab Minister Sardar Asif Nakai, MNAs Mian Shafiq Arain, Malik Umar Aslam, Muhammad Amir Sultan, Prince Nawaz Alai and Haider Ali Khan, MPA Zubair Ahmed, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Malik Amir Dogar.

The meeting discussed the problems faced by the respective constituencies of the parliamentarians and development works.

The Prime Minister also assured for the construction of a new district headquarters hospital in Jhang on Sultan’s

request and Railway underpass in Lodhran on the requested of Arain.

Arain thanked the prime minister for approving the up-gradation of Multan-Lodhran Road.

Haider apprised the premier of the steps being taken for promotion of tourism in Swat as well as across the KP province.

Prince Nawaz thanked the prime minister for approval of a grid station and con-

struction of a road in Battagram, which, he said, would help boost tourism and create investment and job opportunities.

As requested by a parliamentarian, the prime minister also instructed the early issuance of notification to define boundaries between Battagarm and Kohistan by the Survey of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the premier, while presiding over a meeting for promotion of the knowledge economy, stressed for

designing and imparting modern technical and professional training to youth in accordance with market needs.

The prime minister said that imparting modern skills training can better help explore youth’s potential. He also emphasised for building a strong linkage between educational institutions and the market.

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood and head of Prime Minister Task Force on Science and Technology Dr Attaur Rehman also attended the meeting.

Imran said as a considerable size of the country’s population comprises youth and their potential can be utilised only by equipping them with modern sciences. He added the government’s educational reforms are not merely meant to elevate the education standards but also to inculcate high moral values in the students’ personalities.

He said the purpose of introducing the subject of Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) in higher classes is to acquaint the students with the Islamic teachings.

Shafqat apprised the meeting of the various initiatives for promotion of the knowledge economy in the country while Rehman put forward proposals to promote artificial intelligence, biotechnology and other sciences.

Qureshi calls for world pressure on India over Kashmir dispute ISLAMABAD staff report

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday called on the international community to force India to rescind its recent actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and sought a peaceful settlement of the longstanding dispute in line with the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Addressing the virtual ambassadorial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, Qureshi commended the brotherly ties shared by Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Niger for articulating the voice of the Ummah in solidarity with the oppressed people of the Indian-occupied region.

Referring to the November meeting of the 57country Islamic bloc in Niamey, the foreign minister said the steadfast and resolute support extended by the organisation is a source of great strength to the people of Kashmir in their just and legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.

Qureshi said it is imperative to sustain the momentum. A unified political message to India from the OIC would be critical, he said.

He was of the opinion the Muslim world should forcefully demand a halt to gross human rights violations in the region and provide unimpeded access to independent global rights bodies in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Qureshi said under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan has pursued an intense political and diplomatic campaign on the dispute.

LB polls to cost Rs18 billion, ECP secretary says ISLAMABAD staff report

The local bodies (LB) elections will cost Rs18 billion to the national exchequer, the secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said Saturday. Briefing a meeting on the upcoming LB polls, he said the number of local constituencies in Punjab is 25,000 and in 4,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 200 million ballot papers will be printed for Punjab and 100 million for KP. The number is four times greater than the general election, he revealed.

The secretary said it would take the commission three months to procure election materials under the Papers Rules. He recalled in the first phase, the polls in KP will be held on April 8 and in the second phase on May 29. In Punjab, he said, elections will be held on June 20, July 16, and August 8. On the occasion, KP Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Sultan Mohammad Khan said the provincial cabinet had proposed local body elections on September 15, however, given the rising number of coronavirus cases in the province, it is not appropriate to hold the poll on the said date. The provincial government wants to amend the local body law. But the ECP secretary said no such amendment that could affect the election programme of the commission should be made in the Local Government Act. Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said the provincial government is ready to hold LG polls in September. However, he said, the Punjab government wants to change the LB rules as well. Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik said LB elections should not be held before August to complete administrative matters. The military land director-general suggested the elections in cantonment boards be held in a single phase.

The secretary said the results of the census have not been announced yet, to which Sindh government’s Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said local body elections could not be held on the basis of the 1998 census.

PN releases promo of multinational AMAN drill ISLAMABAD tLtp

Referring to the Indian atrocities in the region, he said the held valley has been shrouded in a veil of darkness following its annexation in August 2019.

He said the inhuman military siege and communication blockade there has already lasted for more than 18 months.

He observed the region has been converted into the largest open-air prison in the world. He said India has introduced controversial legislation to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory in violation of international law including the 4th Geneva Convention and the UN Security Council Resolutions.

The Pakistan Navy (PN) has released a new promo in connection with the multinational drill "AMAN".

According to a spokesperson, the PN has been arranging the naval exercise "AMAN" since 2007 in which naval forces from around the world participate. This year, about 45 countries are participating in the exercise with their naval assets and delegates. The exercise is aimed at enhancing joint operational capabilities and professional skills for regional peace and stability. The spokesperson said in a statement that naval forces from across the world carry out joint operations and exchange their experiences at a single platform in order to achieve peace. “Aman” naval drill will play a pivotal role in strengthening maritime cooperation, promoting a secured maritime environment and for regional and global maritime peace and stability. In 2019, the five-day multinational naval exercise had been participated by 46 nations. The exercise had displayed the resolve of 46 countries under the title “Together for Peace”.

Tractors, trucks block India’s roads as farm protests widen KUNDLI agencies

Thousands of farmers across India blocked roads on Saturday with makeshift tents, tractors, trucks and boulders to pressure the government to roll back agricultural reforms that have triggered months-long protests.

While the initial protests were started by rice and wheat growers from northern Indian who camped out on the outskirts of New Delhi, support for them has been growing especially in states not ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.

The federal government has offered concessions to the farmers but refuses to repeal three laws passed last year that it says are crucial to bring new investment to the sector, which accounts for nearly 15 percent of India’s $2.9 trillion economy and about half its workforce.

But farmers fear the reforms will leave them at the mercy of big corporate buyers,

gradually ending the current practice of assured government purchases mainly for grain such as wheat and rice.

Saturday’s three-hour “chakka jam”, or road blockade, started around noon except in New Delhi and a couple of neighbouring states. “Today, the support of the whole society is with farmers,” Yogendra Yadav, a political activist who is one of the leaders of the farmers’ movement, said on Twitter.

“Victory is certain.”

On a highway near the capital, some farmers smoked hookah as songs played on a loudspeaker.

Farmers squatted on the road in the eastern state of Odisha and Karnataka in the south with flags and banners protesting against the laws, with some carrying placards urging the government not to treat them as enemies.

‘MAXIMUM RESTRAINT’: Tens of thousands of farmers have already been braving New Delhi’s winter by sleeping in

the open for months on national highways.

Their protests have mostly been peaceful but a tractor rally on January 26 flared into turmoil as some farmers clashed with police.

Since then, authorities have shut down the mobile internet in parts of the national capital and heavily barricaded border roads to prevent protesters from coming into the city again.

“The rights to peaceful assembly & expression should be protected both offline & online,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Twitter, calling on authorities and protesters to exercise “maximum restraint.”

“It’s crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all.”

The issue has also caught international attention with celebrities such as pop star Rihanna and environment campaigner Greta Thunberg announcing their support for the farmers. The United States has also urged India to resume talks with farmers.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk