Epaper – February 9 KHI 2021

01 FRONT PAGE (9-2-2021) KHI_Layout 1 2/9/2021 12:49 AM Page 1

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021 I 26 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 222 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

Army denies bAckdoor deAls with Pdm g

'all such hearsay must come to an end now,' says isPr dg isLAMABAD

i

Staff RepoRt

nter-services Public relations (isPr) director general major general babar iftikhar on monday strictly condemned the recent wave of hearsay claiming that the army had established and used any sort of backdoor contacts with the ranks of the Pakistan democratic movement (Pdm) to intervene into political matters. in his response to the speculations raised by the Pdm leadership during a segment on a private news channel, the isPr dg said: “the army has nothing to do with politics and those maligning its role in this regard are advised to abstain from making such statements. otherwise, those people making accu-

sations should present evidence against their claims.” he maintained that the biggest responsibility of the army was of security and safeguarding of the motherland, adding that the military leadership was too busy in dispensing its duties to intervene in political matters. dg babar categorically denied any indirect contact with any political leader and said: “Please do not drag the army into this. it’s inappropriate to comment on political matters and linking it to the army without any proof or research. all such hearsay must come to an end now.” last month, the chief of the military’s media wing said had said that the leaders of the opposition would be offered tea and snacks and looked after if they decided to stage a long march

towards rawalpindi. maj gen babar iftikhar had been answering a question at a press conference about Pdm President maulana fazlur rehman’s indication that the opposition could turn the direction of its anti-government movement towards

the army leadership. recently, the Pdm president announced a long march towards the federal capital would take place on march 26, but has since forgone any claims of marching to the military headquarters.

“i don’t see a reason for [them] coming to Pindi. and if at all they want to come, we will offer them refreshments (chai pani) and look after them. what more can i say?” the isPr dg had said at the time. maj gen iftikhar had also been asked by a reporter whether any “stern action” would be taken against those propagating an “anti-army narrative” — an apparent reference to some Pdm leaders. the isPr chief had responded: “when it comes to criticism or allegations levelled, the army is doing its job. as to why are we not responding to that, only such allegations are responded to which have some weight or are based on facts. “we have our hands full and we neither want to get involved in such things nor will we. we have stayed the course [and] we will stay the course. there is nothing to worry about; we are not worried.” he had said that the morale of the entire army and that of the families of the martyrs was very high. the opposition alliance and particularly Pml-n supreme leader and former prime minister nawaz sharif have in recent months accused the army leadership of meddling in the country’s politics and bringing imran khan into power by manipulating the 2018 general elections.

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Govt ‘wants to make the Senate elections controversial’: Bilawal g

PPP chairman says that that the ruling Party's lawmakers would vote against them even in an oPen ballot News Desk

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman bilawal bhuttoZardari has said that the government does not have confidence in its own members and is pushing this oridance in a way that would “make the senate elections controversial like the general elections were made controversial”. speaking at a press conference in karachi, the PPP chairman said that that the ruling party’s lawmakers would vote against them even in an open ballot in the upcoming senate elections. on the occasion, bilawal taunted the ruling party and told Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) members of the provincial assemblies (mPas) and members of the national assembly (mnas) that “casting votes according to your conscience is easier”. he further claimed that after learning the Pakistan democratic movement would contest in the senate

coronAvirus in

PAkistAn

CONFIRMED CASES:

555,511

LAST UPDATED AT 8:05 AM ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

59

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

1,037 DEATHS:

511,502 12,026 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

251,047

160,935

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

68,531

18,869

9,219/4,916 41,994

elections, the ruling Pti lost faith in its mPas and mnas. bilawal alleged that the Pti was not ready to sit and discuss electoral reforms, and was instead imposing them through the presidential ordinance. “however, we will not let the government to arrange a ‘fixed match’ during the senate polls.” bilawal, further lambasting the Pti, said that “it does not have an organic majority in the national assembly. not only [their] allies but its aggrieved members of the provincial and national assemblies are undermined to [install] this puppet government on us.” he further stated that the only reason the Pti could function was due to support from the establishment, adding that the latter’s role in politics was part of the countries history but it is something that “we have to continue fighting against it until we succeed”. he said that the “right to secret ballot” was available for every citizen of Pakistan so that no one could impede their right to elect their representative without

fear of any reprisal or revenge of any sort. “my right to secret ballot is being attacked, my mPas’ right to secret ballot is being attacked,” he said. “we are supportive of electoral reforms but this government does not want it,” added the PPP chairperson. “they do not want transparent, uncontroversial elections. if they really wanted it, there was a lot of time. they have been in power for three years. there was a lot of time for comprehensive electoral reforms,” he said. bilawal said that while a few mPas might “sell their loyalties”, the majority is not like that, and those that do act in such a two-faced manner should be removed from the party. the PPP chairperson said that the opposition will challenge the presidential ordinance on the open senate ballot signed by President arif alvi. he also expressed the hope that the supreme court would not allow the ordinance to stand.

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Hasan Ali leads Pakistan to first series win over South Africa since 2003 g

south africa are Pushed to sixth from fifth AgeNcies

medium pacer hasan ali took a maiden ten-wicket haul to help Pakistan win its first series against south africa since 2003 with a 95-run victory in the second test on the fifth and final day in rawalpindi on monday. hasan finished with 5-60 to record his best match figures of 11-114 and help dismiss south africa — who were set a daunting 370 to chase — for 274 before the tea break. hasan’s new-ball partner shaheen shah afridi finished with 4-51, while spinner yasir shah took the last wicket to spark jubilation among the Pakistan players. opener aiden markram scored a fighting 108 and temba bavuma 61. they put on a 106-run stand for the fourth wicket to give Pakistan a scare. markram took a single off the last ball before lunch as south africa reached the break on 219-3, needing 151 for a win. but hasan ripped through the tourists’ batting order, which lost seven wickets for just 33 runs with the second new ball. hasan struck with the second

MORE INSIDE

Islam has nothing to do with extremism, terrorism: PM STORY ON PAGE 03

bad weather halts search for missing k2 climbers STORY ON BACK PAGE

over of the new ball to end markram’s resistance by getting the opener caught in the slip and end his 335-minute fight. markram’s fifth test century — the first outside south africa — included 13 boundaries and three sixes. next ball, hasan had Quinton de kock caught in the slip for nought, ending the south african skipper’s miserable series with just 46 runs.

HISTORIC WIN: hasan dismissed george linde for four to record his third five-wicket haul as he improved upon his previous best match figures of 7-83 against new Zealand in abu dhabi in

2018. in the morning, both teams were involved in a keen battle for victory as south africa resumed on 127-1, knowing the best chase at rawalpindi cricket stadium in ten previous tests was the 200 scored by sri lanka in 2000. south africa saw dussen bowled off a beautiful inswinger by hasan — only the third ball of the day — while du Plessis was leg-before to the same bowler in the fifth over of the morning. it capped a sub-par series for the experienced du Plessis who managed just 55 in four innings.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Lawyers protesting against antiencroachment drive storm IHC building STORY ON PAGE 02

army donates its covid-19 vaccine share to national drive STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

SenAte pOllS OrdinAnCe SeemS tO be iSSued On ASSumptiOnS: CJp ISLAMABAD

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TLTP

HILE issuing a notice to the federation over a plea of the Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamFazl (JUI-F) seeking the top court’s directives to cancel the recently promulgated presidential ordinance regarding open voting in the upcoming Senate election, the chief justice observed that no one can stop the government from issuing ordinances.

A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Yahya Afridi on Monday resumed the hearing of the presidential reference seeking the Supreme Court’s (SC) guidelines on holding the upcoming Senate election through an open ballot and show of hands.

On Saturday, President Dr Arif Alvi signed the ordinance as the government still awaits the Supreme Court’s opinion on whether open balloting could take place without a constitutional amendment.

At the outset of the hearing, former senator and counsel for JUI-F Kamran Murtaza submitted before the bench, “On the one hand, the government is seeking the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding holding an open ballot while on the other, it is also issuing an ordinance in this regard.”

Seeking the court directive for cancellation of the ordinance, Murtaza claimed that the step of the government sabotaged supremacy of the apex court and parliament, adding that never before such an ordinance has been promulgated in this manner.

He said that the court should take into account the circumstances under which the ordinance surfaced and why the amendment proposed by the government has not yet been passed by the parliament before deciding

SC seeks timeframe for Karak temple rebuilding ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday sought a timeframe for the rebuilding of a historical Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Karak district vandalised in December by an angry mob. In January, the apex court had ordered the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) to start the reconstruction of the samadhi (shrine) built in the 1910s. During the hearing of a suo motu case into the vandalising of the site, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MP and Pakistan Hindu Council chief Ramesh Kumar informed a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed that the construction work had not started even after the passage of more than one month. At this, Justice Ijazul Ahsan directed the EPTB to start the construction immediately. During the hearing, Chief Justice Ahmed said that the compensation money was not received from those responsible for the torching of the place. At the time of the incident, unverified reports suggested the mob was led by a local member of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). KP Additional Attorney General (AAG) Atif Ali Khan informed the court the provincial government has allocated Rs34.8 million for the reconstruction of the building. Justice Ahsan said that no one would dare violate the sanctity of any religious site if compensation was retrieved from those responsible for the act. The top judge observed that all properties managed by the ETPB have been given on lease, whereas some of them were even rented out for an indefinite period of time. To this, AAG Khan said that as many as 14 properties of the board were under illegal occupation. The chief justice said that ETPB properties could not be handed to private parties. He also questioned the establishment of housing societies on the board's land.

Justice Ahmed recalled many multi-storey buildings demolished in Karachi on the directives of the apex court also included buildings of the board. Commission on Minorities' Rights Chairman Shoaib Suddle who in a report submitted to the apex court last week painted a dismal picture of revered Hindu sites across the country renewed his complaint of the commission not extending cooperating with the one-member commission comprising him. At this, the chief justice summoned ETPB Chairman Dr Aamer Ahmed in the next hearing. Meanwhile, Kumar told the court Multan Commissioner Shanul Haq refused to take responsibility for the security of a Hindu temple during the two-day Holi festival beginning March 28 citing security risks. The court directed the Punjab government to make strict security arrangements for the temple ahead of the festival. It also directed Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani to look into the situation. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till February 15.

on the matter.

However, Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that no one can stop the government from issuing the ordinance, saying it seems that the presidential ordinance was issued on the basis of assumptions. The chief justice further observed, "If we hold that the presidential reference is under the Constitution, then the ordinance will die down."

During the course of proceedings, a member of the

bench Justice Ijazul Ahsan questioned how the ordinance was a pre-emptive attempt at legislation, adding that if anyone who has an objection with it can approach the high court.

At this, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan submitted that the ordinance was not preemptive but also a conditional legislation, adding that the AGP questioned the politicians terming it as an attack

on parliament or the top court.

Justice Ahsan observed that according to a news report, the government promulgated the ordinance because the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had scheduled the Senate elections for February 11.

During the proceeding, the events that took place last week in the National Assembly during the introduction of an amendment to the Constitution for an open ballot in the Senate, were also revealed.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that such scenes were not seen in the National Assembly in the past, to which the AGP expressed chairs were thrown in the parliament abroad saying this is not the case here. There was laughter in the courtroom after Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the seats in the Parliament of Pakistan do not work because these are fixed.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked, “We have also seen good politicians in our country and we should not weigh all politicians in the same scale – the Supreme Court in a decision said that loyalty is based on party ideology.”

He said that the court is trying to ascertain the structure of the constitution in regard to why the secret ballot method has been declared for election of prime minister under Article 226 of the constitution.

The AGP submitted that among those who drafted the Constitution were people like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Wali Khan, Mufti Mehmood and Nawabzada Nasrullah to which addressing the AGP, Justice Bandial observed that people like Nawab Akbar Khan Bughti were also among those who drafted the Constitution.

Justice Bandial further observed that the example of general elections held in 1985 is in front of everyone which resulted in the formation of the government of former prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo and in this too money was used recklessly. Later the hearing was adjourned for Tuesday.

Lawyers protesting against anti-encroachment drive storm IHC building ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Scores of lawyers protesting against the demolition of their chambers by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) during an anti-encroachment operation last night wreaked havoc on the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building on Monday.

The clearance operation against the encroachments outraged the legal community who barged into the Chief Justice Block (CJB) of the high court and broke windows. They also chanted slogans against IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah outside his chamber, leaving him trapped inside. Reports suggest Justice Minallah was inside his chamber at the time. Officials of the Special Security Unit (SSU) were not present when the lawyers entered the block and arrived much later.

There were no reports of injuries as of the writing of this report. Female staffers were evacuated from the CJB and other judges of the high court also arrived at the scene. Late on Sunday night, an enforcement team as part of the authority's anti-encroachment drive had

destroyed several lawyers' chambers built on the premises of the District and Session Court in F-8 Markaz and retrieved state-owned land.

The move came days after the Islamabad administration on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan prepared a list of 80 people allegedly involved in land grabbing activities.

Following the orders of the prime minister, the police and the capital administration on Thursday put seven purported land grabbers behind bars for 90 days under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. On Monday, the protesting lawyers also verbally clashed with a Rangers official, who had arrived with other officials at the CJB. The official was stopped at the entrance. Proceedings in district courts as well as in IHC were suspended and petitioners were stopped from entering the building.

The road outside the court was blocked for traffic.

The lawyers also misbehaved with reporters who were present on the scene and were recording videos.

Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman and Secretary of Interior Yousuf

Naseem Khokhar also arrived at the premises.

On the occasion, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and IHC Bar Association President Haseeb Chaudhry urged the rioters to opt for dialogue.

"Until you people put your stance before us, we will not be able to solve the problem," said Justice Kiyani, inviting the protestors to talk in the bar room.

The lawyers said that they "will not talk until our chambers are restored".

They also claimed that some of their colleagues were arrested. "Write the names of the lawyers who have been arrested, [I'll] order the SP straight away [to release them]," Justice Kiyani assured them.

The judge lamented that lawyers have caused "double trouble" by attacking the high court chief justice's chamber.

"Lawyers have crossed the head of their house, now I will have to placate him as well," he said. "A chief justice is a chief justice, you have put his credibility and verdicts at stake." Haseeb also asked the lawyers to submit their demands and assured them that he would get them fulfilled.

China hails Pakistan, UAE’s positions on Xinjiang ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

China on Monday appreciated the position upheld by Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) about development in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese embassy, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing while commenting on positive remarks made

by Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and UAE Ambassador to China Ali Al Dhaheri. He said that China appreciates the “objective and unbiased position” upheld by the Pakistani and UAE sides.

He said that Chairman Hussain and Ambassador Dhaheri both spoke about their first-hand experience in

Xinjiang during the interviews, which reflected the real situation in Xinjiang.

“It has also proven that the lies on Xinjiang concocted by a handful of anti-China elements in the West are nothing but a farce to malign and smear China. Their attempts to interfere in China’s internal affairs will not succeed,” he added.

He said that since 2018, more than 1,200 people from over 100 countries had visited Xinjiang. That includes UN officials, foreign diplomats posted in China, some countries’ permanent representatives to Geneva, journalists and religious groups.

“They saw with their own eyes a region thriving with stability and prosperity and commended its exemplary counter-terrorism and deradicalisation efforts,” the spokesperson said. “We welcome more foreign friends to visit Xinjiang

and see the real situation there, including its socioeconomic development and how local residents are enjoying their life and work.”

Wenbin said that the Chinese side believed more and more countries would speak up for “justice” like Pakistan and the UAE. According to media reports, Hussain said in a recent interview that the economic growth of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the population growth of the Uygur community belie the politically-motivated fiction peddled by a few Western politicians. The UAE ambassador to China Ali Al Dhaheri also spoke highly of Xinjiang’s economic development and progress in poverty alleviation, applauded the effective counterterrorism and deradicalisation efforts and expressed hope for stronger cooperation with China on this front.

COAS praises army's strategies to tackle challenges RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa praised army officials for their planning in tackling challenges, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Monday. The army chief expressed his views during a visit to the Kharian Garrison, where he overviewed war games organised by the forces. According to ISPR, the army chief lauded the operational readiness of the military officials. The army chief also praised the officers for their commitment to defend the motherland from conventional and unconventional threats.

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

KARACHI

Islam has nothIng to do wIth extremIsm, terrorIsm: Pm ISLAMABAD

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TLTP

RIME Minister Imran Khan has urged religious scholars to play their due role for spreading mass awareness about cleanliness, righteousness and national unity to make Pakistan a great nation.

Addressing the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference on Monday, the prime minister said that corruption is another important issue on which the Ulema (religious scholars) should educate people to make this menace unacceptable in the society. “The nation is destroyed when it stops distinguishing between good and evil,” he said.

Referring to the opposition parties, the premier said that "those who are facing corruption charges of billions of rupees are pressurising" his government to give them national reconciliation ordinance (NRO). The PM said that opposition leaders who own billions of rupees worth assets cannot explain their sources of income. He added that the

country can only prosper in the presence of rule of law and an improved justice system.

The prime minister said that religious scholars have a pivotal role in building Pakistan as an Islamic welfare state as envisioned by the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said that ensuring all the basic rights to every citizen and rule of law were the two main principles of the State of Medina.

Referring to the growth in the Scandinavian countries, he said, “These countries acted upon the principles practised in the State of Medina, but we lagged behind for not paying due attention to them.”

PM Imran said that unfortunately Islam is linked with terrorism in the West. He said that Islam has nothing to do with extremism or terrorism, but it is a religion of peace. He added that he has emphatically spoken against Islamophobia at international forums, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and will continue raising voice in

eCP rejects Faryal's request to bin disqualification case KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday turned down a request of Faryal Talpur, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari’s sister, seeking to quash a disqualification case against her. A fivemember bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, announced the verdict it reserved on January 11 after hearing arguments of both sides.

Further hearing was adjourned until March 22. In June 2019, the Sindh chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved an application with the commission for Talpur's disqualification under Article 62 of the Constitution. The applicants claimed Talpur was no more "truthful and trustworthy" as she had not declared her full assets and had not disclosed her properties in Larkana and Shahdadkot districts to the commission.

According to Talpur's asset statement provided to the ECP last year, her net worth is Rs396.36 million. She also has weapons worth Rs1.48 million, whereas her spouse Mir Munawar Ali Talpur, an MP from Mirpurkhas, does not possess arms. STAFF REPORT

this regard.

The prime minister said that the silence of Muslim leaders over the issue has led to increase in hatred against the Muslim community across the world.

“Unfortunately, we [Muslim world] have failed to convey to the Western world that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism,” he added.

He said that before 9/11 most the suicide attacks in the world were carried out by Tamils in Sri Lanka. “But no one called it Hindu terrorism,” the premier said while urging the Muslim leaders to speak at all forums against Islamophobia to dispel negative perception about Islam.

PM Imran said that Muslims who are living in Western world and India have to go through a lot of difficulties due to prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment in their societies due to Islamophobia. To counter this challenge, he said that Muslim nations need to take steps similar to the one taken by the Jewish community.

“Anyone who criticises the Jewish

community or even Israel in the West is labelled as anti-Semitic and no one cares about freedom of speech,” he added.

Addressing the concluding session of the conference, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the country has been facing various challenges, which need to be addressed with wisdom, sagacity and prudence. He regretted that a section in the society is trying to make national institutions and personalities controversial.

He said that the peace process in Afghanistan has reached a critical stage and the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has become more complicated after India's illegal and unilateral step of August 5, 2019. He added that Kashmiris have been in military siege for over 18 months, and they have been deprived of all the basic human rights.

Qureshi said the government has informed the UN Security Council and other world powers about the nefarious designs of the enemy to destabilise Pakistan.

PM desires net zero emissions for country ISLAMABAD STAFF REPPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed for actively looking into the possibility of net zero emissions for the country, which may become possible with enhancement of the carbon sequestration potential.

Chairing a meeting of the Committee on Climate Change on Monday, the premier directed for ensuring complete transparency, including actively engaging SUPARCO, for satellite imagery in the execution of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme across the country.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the progress on the programme and appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Climate Change.

Underscoring the need for putting in place the early warning system to mitigate impacts of erratic climate change, the premier stressed upon the need for water treatment plants to purify contaminated surface water of the rivers.

The meeting reviewed the latest inventory reserves of greenhouse gases and progress made on the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. It was informed that Pakistan's emission growth is 9 per cent below Business as Usual

baseline and also below the nationally determined commitments.

Special assistant to the prime minister on climate change updated the prime minister about the progress of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. Pakistan is set to achieve its first billion tree target by the middle of 2021, which will be celebrated across the country, the meeting was informed.

The meeting was informed that the country is ranked as 8th in terms of Climate Vulnerability Ranking and is faced with threats of rain variability, urban flooding, increased temperature and formation of glacial lakes. It was informed that 80,000 jobs were offered during the Covid-19 under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project.

Separately, PM Imran has directed the authorities concerned to accord special emphasis to reduce the burden of indirect taxes on the people.

Chairing a meeting of his economic team on Monday, the premier noted that the indirect taxes burden the poor segments of society the most.

He also directed the economic team to furnish recommendations to bring down taxes on the imported edible items so that relief could be provided to the people, especially the poor and middle class.

JUI-F challenges elections amendment in top court ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has approached the Supreme Court (SC) in an attempt to block the Elections Amendment Ordinance 2021 and prevent the holding of the Senate elections through an open ballot method, it emerged on Monday.

The petition was submitted by the party's legal counsel, Kamran Murtaza, and terms the presidential ordinance in contradiction with the constitution of Pakistan, adding that the ordinance was borne out of malicious intent.

According to the filed petition, the JUI-F sought the apex court to "declare [the ordinance] as an attempt to undermine the judicial proceedings and parliament, and declare it as illogical, irrational, ultra vires to the Constitution,

void and having no effect on Senate Election in the interest of justice.”

Last week, President Dr Arif Alvi had 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 apex court on the matter.

However, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, during the hearing of the aforementioned petition, weakened the hopes of the opposition and said that the government was within its rights to issue an ordinance.

On the other hand, the top judge of the country observed that the ruling party had "entered the domain of speculations". He further stated that

while he is not sure how the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did do, the fact of the matter is that "no one can stop them."

"If we hold that the presidential reference is under the Constitution, then the ordinance will die down," the CJP added.

Another member of the bench, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, asked how the ordinance could be considered as preemptive legislation, and further stated that anyone who took in issue in that dimension may approach the court.

In reply, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan said that the ordinance was not preemptive but also a conditional legislation. He questioned the politicians terming it as an attack on parliament or the top court.

Justice Ahsan observed that according to a news report, the government promulgated the ordinance

because the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had scheduled the Senate elections for February 11.

Separately, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Monday argued that the amendment should be withdrawn immediately and declared that it was based on malicious intent.

"We condemn the [government's move] to hold Senate elections via open ballot," the statement said issued by the PBC, adding that the Centre made a "hasty" move and did not wait for the apex court's decision in this regard.

"The government has crossed legal and ethical boundaries by promulgating this ordinance," the PBC said, adding that the government has tried "influencing the upcoming elections." "The government has gone against democratic, constitutional, and ethical grounds.

NA speaker issues show-cause letters to three lawmakers for hooliganism ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday issued show-cause notices to three Members of National Assembly (MNAs) for violating the rules of conduct by resorting to hooliganism during the lower house proceedings on Thursday.

The notices, dispensed under Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, were issued to Pakistan People's Party's

(PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar, Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz's (PML-N) Chaudhry Hamid Hameed and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Attaullah. The speaker issued the notices after a thorough examination of the record of proceedings and evidence presented by the officials. Qaisar, while chairing a meeting to probe into the unpleasant incident during the session of the NA that happened on February 4, 2021, expressed resolve to maintain the sanctity of the house at every cost, without prejudice or pressure.

At the onset of the meeting, the speaker said that the incident was highly condemnable. He said that, as

the custodian of the assembly, he would take appropriate action to maintain the order and to regulate the proceedings in accordance with parliamentary practices and the prescribed rules.

He further stated that all members of the assembly belonging to the treasury or the opposition benches are under obligation to obey the rules of the NA and to maintain decorum. NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, NA secretary, the adviser to the speaker on legal and constitutional affairs, and other senior officers of the secretariat were present in the meeting.

NEWS

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anti-encroachment drive be continued without discrimination: Pm ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed that anti-encroachment drive should be continued without any discrimination as nobody is above the law. Addressing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Tourism on Monday, the prime minister directed to ensure cleanliness, environmental protection and prevent illegal land encroachment on tourist sites in the country. PM Imran also emphasised that planning and feasibility on scientific grounds are essential before development of tourist sites in the country. He said that by-laws and regulations must be notified before the start of physical development work on tourist sites. He said that Pakistan holds great potential for tourism that can be capitalised for revenue generation, employment and promoting heritage. The premier also underscored the importance of preserving local heritage and environmental protection for tourist sites. The meeting was briefed regarding planning and feasibility conducted for development of new tourist sites in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. It was also briefed that anti-encroachment drive continues throughout the country. STAFF REPORT

slandering institutions on speculations damages national interests: Fm ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that slandering the institutions on the basis of mere speculations amounts to damaging the country's interests and narrative. In a statement on Monday, the foreign minister said that the alliance of opposition parties, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), should keep the interests of Pakistan supreme.

He said that the elements trying to stoke anarchy in the country are actually not serving the interests of Pakistan. He also said that certain foreign elements are patronising terrorism in Pakistan by using the Afghan land. He further said that United Nations' monitoring team report has vindicated the stance of Pakistan. He added that the EU-based DisinfoLab has totally exposed India. Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the report of the UN Analytical and Monitoring Report (UNAMR) vindicates Pakistan’s longstanding position on threats posed to the region by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan. TLTP

one terrorist killed, 5 arrested in Karachi IBo: Ctd KARACHI: Foiling a potential terrorism plot, officials of Sindh police's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday killed one suspected terrorist and arrested five in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Karachi. A shootout took place between the suspects and law enforcement officials at Shah Latif Town, said CTD Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Umar Shahid Hamid, adding that a stun grenade was used in the operation as well. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had previously issued an alert expressing fears of a major terrorist attack in the city, DIG Hamid said. He further said foreigners were present among the arrested suspects and a rickshaw fitted with explosives — for purported use in a suicide attack — was found at their hideout which was defused by members of the bomb disposal squad. Weapons, explosives, and suicide jackets were recovered in the operation as well, he said. STAFF REPORT

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Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

KARACHI

newS

Masood deMands ICC to try narendra ModI for war CrIMes In IoK ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

zad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan has demanded the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for war crimes in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

"If the cronies of fascist dictators like Hitler, the Italian dictator Mussolini, and Milosevic of Yugoslavia can be tried and awarded severe punishments for committing war crimes, why can Modi and his partners not be tried for their involvement in the same crimes?" he questioned. He said this while addressing two separate webinars organised by Scottish Human Rights Forum and the Pakistan Embassy in Sudan.

The aJK president said that India has always given the impression about the isolation of Pakistan and Jammu and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but the

ground realities are totally different as is evident from demonstration of solidarity with the Kashmiri people across the globe.

Touching upon the latest situation of occupied Kashmir, the state president said that the Kashmiris are being displaced from their own homeland.

The exact figures of the incidents in the held territory are not available because of communicate blockade, but it can be confidently stated that the Kashmiris are being mercilessly butchers, rendered physically disabled and deprived of eyesight while the youth are being arrested under black laws like the so-called public safety act and the armed forces special powers act, and are being thrown in the prison without trial.

While declaring occupied Kashmir as hotspot of

state terrorism and Islamophobia, Masood appealed to the Scottish parliamentarians to contact their government and counterparts across the world, and persuade them to speak in favor of the Kashmiri people, and hold India strictly accountable for its crimes against mankind.

He maintained that the people of Kashmir are being alienated, disenfranchised and dispossessed of their land. “The situation is very serious and it is hard to put it in words. The full scale of atrocities is still not known due to a communication blockade. But one thing is very certain that Kashmiris are being killed mercilessly, maimed and blinded and they are incarcerated and detained under black laws like the Public Safety act (PSa)

and armed Forces Special Power act (aFSPa),” he added. addressing the webinar at Pakistan Embassy in Khartoum, the aJK president called upon the Sudanese government and the people to play their leadership role in creating awareness in the african states about the latest situation of Jammu and Kashmir.

He asserted that Sudan has a team of best diplomats who can play their important role moulding public opinion in africa states for the solution of Kashmir conflict. Sudan is an influential country and is a rising economy. “You have a great leadership role in africa and the arab League. You have a strong voice. Please speak up for the people of Kashmir and call for the accountability of India who is engaged in extermination of a nation,” he said.

“Kashmiris are waiting for your intervention and your support as a very important prominent member of the OIC and african Union,” Masood said.

HYDERABAD: A view of drying River Indus. INP

Brt Peshawar 12 govt officers fleet to get removed over 30 more harassment in Punjab buses soon NEWS DESK

PESHAWAR TLTP

30 more buses have been acquired from China for Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The BRT spokesman in a statement on Monday informed that 30 new buses have left China to join the BRT fleet in Peshawar that would further enhance the commuting facility for its passengers. He said that these 30 new buses have a length of 18 meters and would run on Express Route, the most popular route among passengers with no frequent stops. He also said that the BRT administration is endeavouring to provide best possible commuting facilities to its people, adding that the new fleet of 30 buses would accommodate around 3,750 more passengers on a daily basis. He further said that the number of buses in BRT service would mount to 158 after induction of the new vehicles. On august 13, 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) flagship project, BRT. The BRT is a 27.5 kilometre-long main corridor track with 31 stations, besides seven feeder routes of a total of 62 kilometres with 146 stops to facilitate hundreds of thousands of passengers every day.

Work on the bus project was launched in October 2017 by the then chief minister, Pervez Khattak, who set a six-month deadline for its completion at a cost of Rs49 billion. However, the project suffered delays due to the frequent design changes and other issues, pushing up the project cost.

Punjab Ombudsperson Rukhsana Gillani has said 12 government officers have been removed from service under the Harassment act, 2020. In a statement, she said that workplace harassment has always challenged the autocracy of females as a workforce. To revitalise the energies of 51 per cent of the population ought to be the main agenda of every organisation, she added. “To provide secure environment to the females at workplace, Punjab ombudsperson

is on its toes to deal with every obstacle that comes in their way,” she further said, adding that during the year 2020, a number of cases of harassment were received, which is an alarming yet a positive sign that at least women are no longer afraid of anyone and are having serious concerns about their safety at workplace. after conducting detailed inquiries, fulfilling all the legal aspects of received cases and multiple hearings from both sides 12 officers were removed from service, which is the highest penalty, the ombudsperson said.

three laBourers KIlled, another Injured In Kalat fIrIng KALAT INP

Three labourers were killed and another injured in the firing of unidentified armed men on Monday. Levies sources said that unknown culprits sprayed bullets on labourers working in Kale Kharasani area of Mangochar, Kalat district. as a result of the firing, three labourer were killed while another sustained bullet injuries. The attackers fled the scene after committing the crime. The bodies and injured were shifted to hospital and the security forces have started an investigation into the incident.

Seminar explores India’s rhetoric of development in IOK ISLAMABAD PRESS RELEASE

a webinar on “Kashmir under Siege: a Kashmiri Perspective” was hosted by The Islamabad Policy Research Institute on Monday.

The webinar is the first of its kind to host speakers from both sides of divided Jammu and Kashmir to initiate a discussion on the political fallouts from the revocation of article 370 and 35-a, explore the legal perspectives, and weigh the

rhetoric of development in Kashmir. dr Serena Hussain, associate professor at Coventry University, gave a historical overview on the politics of the Kashmir conflict. She said that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir had been under siege, and while the Indian government uses the rhetoric of development, there is recorded evidence of underdevelopment in several districts of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). dr Raja Qaiser, assistant professor at the School of Politics and International

Relations, QaU, further shared a comprehensive note on the constitutional developments which handicap the Kashmiri people in IOK. He advised to initiate a campaign for the Kashmiri people in the international society.

Muzzammil ayyub Thakur, director of The Justice Foundation: Kashmir Institute of International affairs, underlined the wave of state terrorism in IOK by the BJP and RSS. He mentioned that the revocation of article 370 and 35-a has turned the de facto occupation into de

jure occupation, thereby reversing the economic growth and rather ensuring economic injustices. Carin Fischer, director of Kashmir action Network, Washington, dC, built on her personal work on development in IOK, described in detail the chasm between the rhetoric and practice of development in occupied Kashmir.

The webinar was concluded by Brigadier (r) Raashid Wali Janjua, acting president of IPRI, who stressed on the need of lawfare practice and for the world to take notice of the injustices in IOK.

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

BOP SiGNS uP wiTH Six MFiS TO PrOMOTE lOw-COST HOuSiNG FiNANCE

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NEWS DESK

HE Bank of Punjab (BOP) has taken onboard six microfinance institutions within the Punjab Microfinance Network in a bid to extend financing for low-cost housing and agriculture to up to Rs10 billion.

This was revealed by BOP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zafar Masud in an interview with Business Recorder published on Monday.

"I am a big supporter of MFIs. I believe commercial banks or even microfinance banks cannot do low-cost housing alone. You need to form an alliance with those

SECP proposes amendments to NBFC regulations

who understand these borrowers and can handle them through the approach of cooperatives and social collateral," he said.

On facilitative measures with regard to informal sector borrowers, he said, "We have already signed a memorandum of understanding with REALL whereby we will work together in Pakistan and they will provide first loss guarantee to informal sector borrowers."

When asked about the bank’s diversification plans, the BoP president said they are mulling to set up an insurance company - both life and general - jointly with the Punjab government. "People usually go general in-

surance first and life later; we will go the other way round: life insurance first and non-life later. So, Punjab Insurance is one idea we are working on; it will be a joint venture between us and the GoPb & its entities."

In addition, he said, the bank is also at an advance stage of entering into microfinance sector, adding that BOP will soon be advertising its interest in conducting due diligence for acquiring strategic stake in a microfinance bank.

"Both these sectors are strategic sectors for us, and we would be looking to take positions in any and all projects which are important for our franchise/stakeholders/shareholders and the country."

Provinces directed strict price vigilance of food items ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

TLTP

In order to safeguard the interest of investors and prevent mis-selling, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has proposed amendments to the Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) and Notified Entities Regulations, 2008.

The amendments have been made available on the SECP website. The proposed amendments focus on training, disciplining, and monitoring the sales force of Non-Banking Finance companies. Meanwhile, the SECP registered 2,201 new companies during the month of January, raising the total number of registered companies to 134,797. Out of these 2,201 new registered companies, the newly established Business Centre of SECP in Islamabad recording 24pc growth registered 837 new companies in January, which is the highest ever incorporation by a single company registration office (CRO), said a press statement issued on Monday. The SECP Business Centre in Islamabad is a well-equipped office to promptly process applications for incorporation of companies. It has improved the overall user experience with a perspective of providing ease of doing business in Pakistan. Out of new incorporations, 98pc companies were registered online and around 30pc applicants completed the incorporation process the same day. Around 69pc companies were registered as private limited companies, while around 28pc were registered as single member companies. Three per cent were registered as public unlisted companies, not for profit associations, foreign companies and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

During the month, 66 foreign users completed registration from overseas. Top 5 sectors in the month of January 2021 include the trading sector with 314 incorporations, information technology with 269, construction 227, services and allied 188, and e-commerce with 79, while 1124 companies were registered in other sectors. Foreign investment has been reported in 44 new companies from China, Malaysia, Sweden, South Africa, Norway, Netherlands, Turkey, the UK and the US. The highest numbers of companies were registered at Business Centre Islamabad, followed by 623 and 319 companies registered in CRO Lahore and Karachi respectively.

The CROs in Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Quetta, and Sukkur registered 156, 122, 56, 53, 22 and 13 companies respectively.

The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Monday directed the provincial and district administrations to proactively monitor the prices of chicken and edible oil in order to ensure smooth supply at fair prices across the country.

A meeting of NPMC was held at the Finance Division to review the price trend of essential commodities, especially wheat flour, eggs, chicken, sugar and edible oil during the last week.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of National Food

Security & Research, provincial administrations, PASSCO, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Competition Commission of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue and Finance Division.

The finance secretary briefed the NPMC on weekly inflation, which increased 0.5pc. NPMC noted decline in prices of wheat, sugar, tomatoes, onion, eggs and potatoes during the week.

Meanwhile, the chief secretaries from respective provincial governments updated the NPMC on the availability of sufficient stocks of wheat as well as average per day release of the commodity, which was stable across the country.

The NPMC directed the provin-

cial and district administrations to proactively monitor the prices of food items, particularly chicken and edible oil, in order to ensure smooth supply at fair prices across the country.

It also directed the Balochistan food secretary and PASSCO managing director to make an immediate arrangement for lifting of 20,000MT wheat from PASSCO to ensure steady supply of wheat flour in the province.

The committee urged the provincial governments and departments concerned to make consolidated and coordinated efforts to avoid hoarding, black marketing and smuggling so that uninterrupted supply of basic commodities at affordable prices could be ensured across the country.

Brent hits $60 as supply cuts and stimulus hopes boost prices LONDON AGENCIES

Oil prices rose on Monday to their highest in just over a year, with Brent nudging past $60 a barrel, boosted by supply cuts among key producers and hopes for further US economic stimulus measures that can boost demand.

Brent was up 68 cents, or 1.2pc, at $60.02 a barrel by 1442 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate rose 68 cents, or 1.2pc, to $57.53 a barrel.

“Managing to breach $60 again feels like the market is finally resurfacing after the long struggle and (taking) a proper breath,” said Rystad Energy’s vice president for oil markets Paola Rodriguez Masiu. “It offers a feeling of normality again.”

Both contracts were at their highest levels since January 2020.

“Oil prices are back close to pre-pandemic levels,” said Norbert Rucker, analyst at Swiss bank Julius Baer.

“Support seems robust and the narrative sees the oil market swiftly burning through the remaining crisis-surplus, potentially running into tightness later this year,” he added.

The oil market continues to tighten, with Saudi Arabia pledging extra supply cuts in February and March following reductions by other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies.

In a sign that prompt supplies are tightening, the sixmonth Brent spread hit a high of $2.54 on Monday, its widest since January last year.

OCBC economist Howie Lee said the world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia sent a “very bullish signal” last week when it kept monthly crude prices to Asia unchanged despite expectations for small cuts.

“I don’t think anybody dares to short the market when Saudi is like this,” he added.

A weaker dollar against most currencies on Monday also supported commodities, with dollar-denominated assets becoming more affordable to holders of other currencies.

Investors are also keeping a close watch on a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 aid package for the United States that is expected to be passed by lawmakers as soon as this month.

Hopes that Iranian oil exports would soon return to the market have been dampened, supporting oil prices.

US President Joe Biden said the United States would not lift sanctions on Iran simply to get it back to the negotiating table, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said all sanctions should be lifted first.

Stronger crude prices are meanwhile encouraging US producers to increase output.

The US oil rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose last week to its highest since May, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes Co.

Army denies backdoor deals with PDM While answering another question about the PDM’s allegations against the army, Maj Gen Iftikhar had denied the impression that there was “no concern” within the army over the statements, but emphasised that the armed forces’ morale remained high.

“The army is doing its job despite whatever is being said. [But] the concern remains in its place,” he had said.

In a reference to PDM’s statements, the ISPR DG had said: “the type of allegations that are being levelled have no weight”, and cited the allegation about

Global food prices soar to six-year high: FAO NEWS DESK World food prices rose in January for the eighth consecutive month, led by cereals, vegetable oils and sugar, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. The FAO said that its food price index marked a 4.3pc increase from December, reaching its highest level since July 2014. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities. The cereal price index showed a sharp 7.1pc monthly increase led by a global surge in the price of maize, the crop North Americans call corn. Maize prices spiked 11.2pc and are now 42.3pc above their January 2020 level, “reflecting increasingly tight global supply amid substantial purchases by China and lower-than-expected production and stock estimates in the United States of America as well as a temporary suspension of maize export registrations in Argentina.”

Trade deficit expands 8.25pc to $14.9bn in seven months ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD

CONtINuED frOM pAgE 01

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the 2018 elections not being fair.

“The incumbent government asked the Pak Army to conduct elections and the Army conducted them with full responsibility and integrity.

“After that, if anyone has any problem regarding that, then all Pakistani institutions are working and they are the ones who have to decide on that and they should be approached,” he had added.

On the occasion, he had also stressed: “Army neither has the need to interfere in political matters nor should attempts be made to drag it in.”

Asked about Prime Minister Imran’s statement that the opposition was asking

the army to overthrow his government, the ISPR DG had declined to comment.

At that time as well, he had stressed that there had been “absolutely no” backdoor contact between the army and the opposition. “There is no such thing. We want to stay out of it and we are out of it,” he had maintained.

In December of last year, PM Imran had said that opposition parties were putting pressure on the army because they knew he would never grant them any national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) deal.

Presiding over a meeting of the government and his party spokespersons, the

prime minister had reiterated that the government will not bow down before the opposition parties’ blackmailing tactics. He had added that the PDM should have supported the government on electoral reforms if they are on the streets against any polls-related issue.

The opposition did not take part in any legislation during the past two-anda-half years, the PM had said on the occasion, adding that they had used the parliament for their personal interests.

He had further said that they could never misguide the masses by telling lies.

The premier had maintained that the opposition would have ended its protest if the governed had accepted their proposals pertaining to the amendment in national accountability laws.

Pakistan's trade deficit during the first seven months (July-January) of the current fiscal year (2020-21) increased by 8.25pc to $14.96 billion compared to $13.82 billion in the corresponding period of the last financial year. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the trade deficit for the month of January 2021 was recorded at $2.601 billion compared to a deficit of $2.639 billion from December 2020, showing an improvement of 1.44pc.

Compared to January 2020 deficit of $2.149 billion, the trade numbers deteriorated by 21.03pc. Exports decreased by 9.89pc to $2.132 billion compared to $2.366 billion in December 2020. However, compared to January 2020, exports increased by 8.11pc. On the other hand, imports in January 2021 decreased by 5.43pc, clocking in at $4.733 billion compared to $5.005 billion in December 2020, while they increased by 14.85pc when compared to January 2020.

Govt ‘wants to make the Senate elections controversial’: Bilawal CONtINuED fOrM pAgE 01 “If this law [ for open balloting in Senate election] passes then you should lock the assemblies,” he said.

“If the entire process has to be carried out through the president’s office, then what is the use if assemblies?”

Bilawal said that if the PTI can win the upcoming elections without making them controversial then he would welcome it, terming it “a win for democracy, for the whole system”. “But if the institutions [become] controversial in this election, it will become a controversial matter for the entire country,” he added. He maintained that the government’s efforts was making “not only our parliament controversial but it can also make our Supreme Court controversial and will make Senate elections controversial”. “I believe that [the government] themselves cannot understand the consequences of these tactics before elections. You will all see this will be a very big blunder”. Replying to a question about Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar’s statement regarding not dragging military into politics, Bilawal said that he agreed with the DG ISPR. “Even our manifesto says that there should be no role of army in politics.” The PPP chairperson said that the military’s spokesperson had said that the armed forces is not involved in politics. “This is what me and my party want,” he said. “How can there be any contradiction in this?” Talking about his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Bilawal said that the government’s move to make the elections of the upper house of parliament controversial was condemned during the meeting. The PPP chairperson added that Fazl had not given any “final location” for the long march.

Hasan Ali leads Pakistan to first series win over South Africa since 2003 CONtINuED frOM pAgE 01 This is Pakistan’s only second Test series win over South Africa in 12 attempts, having lost eight and drawn three. Pakistan last beat South Africa 1-0 in a two-match series at home in 2003. Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets in Karachi. The series win also lifts Pakistan to fifth in international Test rankings — the first time they have placed in the top five since January 2017. South Africa are pushed to sixth from fifth. The two teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals on February 11, 13 and 14, all in Lahore.

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

06 COMMENT

The fourth pillar?

Treating constitution as plasticine A constitutional amendment through backdoors

A scary thought

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He way the PTi government has gone about getting some of the PM’s whizkids inducted into the senate indicates desperation. among other things it has tried to seek constitutional amendment through backdoors.

Keeping in view the prevailing dislike among PTi lawmakers for the unelected lot who devise policies that the elected lawmakers have to answer for, it was feared by the party leadership that it might become difficult to get them elected in case of secret ballot.

The government first moved a presidential reference in the sC to ask whether changing the senate election procedure to open balloting required a constitutional amendment. Within days however, the government took the matter to the Na to get a constitutional amendment passed to allow open ballot in senate polls despite knowing that it lacked the required numbers for the amendment. as the eCP started making preparations for the senate elections, the government thought time was slipping out of its hands. in sheer nervousness it decided not to wait for the sC opinion and sought the cabinet’s approval, reportedly through circulation, of a summary for presidential ordinance to allow open ballot. The move amounted to taking action on an issue which was sub judice. as the president had earlier moved the reference in the sC, respect for the highest judicial institution demanded that he waited for the apex court’s opinion before issuing any legislation on the subject. it has been maintained that the president’s power to promulgate ordinances is limited to emergent circumstances necessitating temporary legislation with a life of 120-days. Using this power with barely a month before senate elections and when the president had himself prorogued the parliamentary session only two days ago is a clear display of mala fide.

The Ordinance has created an anomalous situation as pointed out by some among the legal community. Using the ordinance-making power to temporarily suspend the parliamentary will and then placing the ordinance for approval at the end of the 120-day period before the same senators — elected through this amended procedure — amounts to making a mockery of the parliament and its legislative process.

The government should take the Ordinance back if it does not want to discredit the system.

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

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edia is often referred to as the fourth pillar of the state. Who exactly discovered this pillar (and in what circumstances) is unknown. However, the idea has taken on a life of its own, with many people (mostly journalists) wholeheartedly subscribing to it. Let us hope that the originator of the thought was not quite sober at the time, because we are in deep trouble otherwise.

The advent of the social media has made matters worse. From the tweets of renowned opinion-makers one could easily be forgiven for believing that unveiling of allama iqbal’s bust at the Gulshan-e-iqbal Park was the biggest event of last week. as a matter of fact, the week saw, among other things, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government extending coverage of health insurance to 100% of its citizens. But this was something most

ETPB only interested in possession, not management of ancient and holy sites

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damning report on the performance of the evacuee Trust Property Board (eTPB) has revealed that the federal body has miserably failed to discharge its primary duty of maintaining and preserving ancient and holy sites of minority communities. a one-man commission headed by dr shoaib suddle submitted its finding to the supreme Court stating unequivocally how the eTPB is responsible for the ‘decay and obliteration’ of two of the four most revered evacuee sites in the country. eTPB’s response to the report smacks of incompetence and a general lack of concern as it revealed how out a total of 470 places of worship spread across Pakistan it was managing only 31. The report further questions why with its ample resources and access to technology the eTPB has been unable to geo-tag a majority of the locations that have been instead left to the mercy of land mafias while some are being maintained by the communities that use them.

One of the central themes of Prime Minister imran Khan’s reform plan for Pakistan is to promote tourism, more importantly religious tourism. To that end, the Kartarpur Corridor project, a visa-free border crossing that connects the Gurdwara darbar sahab in Pakistan to india is a success story. a lot of economic activity was generated as a result with sikh devotees flocking to the site when it was opened last year, staying at hotels and spending foreign exchange on the various paid facilities there as well. apart from the economic benefit, it helped promote a softer, more tolerable and positive image of Pakistan around the world.

This was in stark contrast to india’s recent nationalistic pro-Hindu tilt that has been on display of late. it is therefore criminal that the eTPB’s shameful neglect is the only thing standing in the way of similar initiatives that develop and promote holy sites to be frequented by Hindus and sikhs who live not only across the border but in Western countries too. The government must look into the reasons as to why the eTPB, despite being sufficiently funded, is unable to deliver on the most basic of its functions. if there is an element of corruption then those responsible must be brought to book. short of this, any hopes of increasing religious tourism in the country should be abandoned.

Covid-19 has not helped AiyzA JAvAiD

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aKisTaN’s ever-increasing population is thriving in an economy, which undergoes several upheavals periodically. The population of Pakistan does not equally gain from the benefits of its economic growth. The economy of Pakistan continues facing an uneven income and wealth distribution and the high poverty rate.

There are many facts to be considered about the scenario of poverty in Pakistan in order to understand the wealth gap and poverty situation. The first and foremost fact about poverty in Pakistan is that there has been an increase of more than 40% in the poverty of Pakistan in the past two years. according to Business Recorder, the poverty in the population has increased from 69 million to 87 million by the end of 2020. Numerically, the poverty value of 87 million is really high in proportion to the current population of 220.86 million in Pakistan.

The macroeconomic crisis in Pakistan in the past couple of years has increased significantly. a budget deficit of $18 billion had been accrued by the end of year 2018, which limited the government’s spending.

The economic growth resultantly slowed, which accompanied with the COVid 19 pandemic has further limited economic activity of the country. it has led to lesser spending by the government on the welfare projects thereby limiting support and assistance of the poor population. Consequently, the poor population continues to suffer, which accelerates the poverty rate of Pakistan.

The poverty-stricken population in Pakistan has been greatly affected by COVid 19 pandemic.

Mostly women, children, disabled people and aged people are largely affected in the poor population.

They majorly suffer from ill health and malnutrition and are more vulnerable to the virus of COVid 19

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at hasanas@live.jp.

Interesting facts about poverty in Pakistan

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Joint Editor

instances of how our media typically operates could be multiplied indefinitely. Let us take but one example: the Peshawar BRT. Our worthy journalists never tire of lamenting the ‘huge’ cost of the project; Often they demand to know what took the project three years to complete instead of the originally announced 6 months; They go on and on about buses catching fire.

They compare the per km cost of the project with the Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan metros. Hardly anyone of them deems it fitting to mention that the third generation BRT – with its universal design, connectivity, hybrid buses, feeder routes covering a large portion of the city, pedestrian bridges and walkways, commercial kiosks and what not – is well-nigh incomparable with the other metro bus services of the country. That it is not only an adB financed project, but an adB led one too. That the problem of buses catching fire had been sorted out; and the buses were insured to start with. They also find it beneath themselves to ask and present views of the citizens who are using the service, or the effect it has had on mitigating the overall traffic situation in the city. and even their comparison is selective. For it stops short of weighing the ridership of the Peshawar BRT now that it has been in operation for some time with figures for the other metro bus services and the Orange Line. That would presumably confuse their audience; and we cannot have that, can we now?

No doubt there are some noble exceptions among journalists, but that only proves the rule.

Here, it would be unfair not to mention some of the redeeming qualities of our journalists. TV anchors can always be relied upon to instigate any number of slanging matches between politicians, much to the delight of their viewers in desperate need of quality entertainment after a hard day’s work. Moreover, our media men and women (associated with the print as well as the electronic media) are second to none when it comes to sermons on how things ought to be as opposed to how they are. and to be fair to our journalism fraternity, the first three pillars of the state are not exactly the world’s envy either.

Analysts and anchors who are not constantly flogging dead political horses are amazingly current – even futuristic – in their outlooks, forecasting the downfall and dismemberment of a world power one day, and the dawn of a brave new era the next – all based on their ability to decipher encoded ancient texts. Then there are those who, fully aware of the limitations of human analytical abilities, rely for their predictions directly on the stars, so to speak. To that end they invite astrologers and numerologists on their shows, whose field of interest includes (but is not limited to) local, provincial, national, regional, and global issues.

Shameful neglect

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

mainstream anchors and analysts did not find worthy of their invaluable time, what with having to cover matters such as the twenty first meeting of PdM leaders in twenty-one weeks. analysts and anchors who are not constantly flogging dead political horses are amazingly current – even futuristic – in their outlooks, forecasting the downfall and dismemberment of a world power one day, and the dawn of a brave new era the next – all based on their ability to decipher encoded ancient texts. Then there are those who, fully aware of the limitations of human analytical abilities, rely for their predictions directly on the stars, so to speak. To that end they invite astrologers and numerologists on their shows, whose field of interest includes (but is not limited to) local, provincial, national, regional, and global issues.

While we’re at it, who can forget the ‘serious’ journalists who realize that in the final analysis, it is the economy that matters? They have plenty to say on what the government is doing wrong on the fiscal front, and all that is required to reverse the tide. according to them, all the nation’s financial woes would be a thing of the past if only the government officials could bring themselves to heed their advice. The sad fact is that the owners of their own channels and newspapers do not listen to them; what else explains the failure of most of them to run their media houses profitably instead of being perpetually dependent on subsidies, government ads and the like just to be able to pay their employees on time?

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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pandemic. as part of a recommendation by United Nations, this cohort of the population should be provided a greater access to the health facilities owing to their weaker health status. a COVid 19 secretariat at Pakistan’s planning commission has been established by United Nations development Program in order to control the economic crisis resulting due to the pandemic. it aims at development of the social reforms for the citizens affected by corona virus as well as for the poor population. another grave scenario of poverty is evident in the child labor of Pakistan despite stringent laws to curb it. it prevails as part of involuntary labor services from the children, who are willing to work to feed their families amidst financial crisis. However, child labor in hazardous jobs has been eliminated to a greater extent due to special laws and regulations passed against it.

Considering the adverse state of poverty in Pakistan, different relief schemes to alleviate the poverty have been launched by the government of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s premier, imran Khan has adopted a strat-

egy to alleviate poverty under its poverty alleviation and the social safety division. it’s different ehsaas programs aim to provide relief and protection to the poor population. They provide financial support to the poor people, and look after needs of poor orphanages. some programs aim to enhance the nutrition of those in need and assets and cash to the underprivileged for establishing their livelihoods. This program has been a source of social welfare programs. in addition, the government has been active in its efforts to deal with the poverty crisis arisen during the COVid 19 pandemic.

The poverty crisis has been further accelerated in Pakistan amidst the covid-19 pandemic. it has led to jobs of many and the poor people in particular have suffered the most. There is a dire need to formulate social welfare programs to cater to the growing financial needs of the poor population especially during the pandemic.

The writer is a freelance writer and can be reached at aiyza.javaid@gmail.com

The poverty-stricken population in Pakistan has been greatly affected by COVID 19 pandemic. Mostly women, children, disabled people and aged people are largely affected in the poor population. They majorly suffer from ill health and malnutrition and are more vulnerable to the virus of COVID 19 pandemic. As part of a recommendation by United Nations, this cohort of the population should be provided a greater access to the health facilities owing to their weaker health status.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 9 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

Saving the environment

Worsening Human Rights situation in IIOJK While the world waits and watches

MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat

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s the people of Pakistan quite enthusiastically observed another Kashmir solidarity Day on February 5, 2021 with President Dr Arif Alvi addressing Azad Kashmir Constituent Assembly, Prime Minister Imran Khan a big gathering at Kotli (AK) and seminars, conferences and rallies all over the country reiterating their continued support to the Kashmiris in their just, unarmed and indigenous struggle for freedom from illegal and forcible occupation of India, it was also imperative to highlight the worsening human rights situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). It was important to draw the attention of the international community and human rights organizations towards miserable life of Kashmiris living in complete lockdown for more than 18 months there.

There is no denying the fact that the everdeteriorating situation in IIOJK has always been a matter of great concern and worry for the global rights watchdogs that have time and again raised alarm bells over the gross and systematic violations of human rights being continuously committed with impunity by the occupying Indian security forces.

The human rights situation in the occupied territory has stooped so low particularly after the India’s Modi regime stripped it of its autonomous status unilaterally on August 5, 2019.

The imperialistic decision, quite rightly criticized by the independent observers as an act of colonialism pushing Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir to a quagmire of uncertainty and chaos apparently in an unending manner.

The dissolution of the state and reducing its status from that of a state to a union territory and bringing it under New Delhi’s direct control was an atrocious assault on the rights of the people that has inflicted terrible psychological trauma on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Modi regime’s actions are quite obviously in gross violation of the UN security Council resolutions, the Charter of the United Nations and the international law have only further aggravated the human rights situation in the occupied territory .There has been massive upsurge particularly following August 5, 2019 unilateral actions in the incidents of the

state-violence that has resulted in the death of thousands of innocent Kashmiris particularly the youth who were killed during cordon and search operations (CAsO) and fake encounters staged by the Indian security forces and secret agencies.

Apart from the deaths, the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture , harassment of the unarmed innocent Kashmiris, arbitrary arrests of the youth, persecution of the political leaders, ban on human rights organizations and a witch hunt against the dissenters especially the rights activists, media houses and journalists at the hands of occupation authorities has made an already situation even worse.

BJP-Rss Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unilateral and illegal actions in IIOJK are parallel with Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied West Bank (Palestine) and this only shows the Indian fascist government’s devilish designs of turning occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory into another Palestine. since August 5, 2019, IIOJK has suffered repeated disconnections of internet and in December 2020, it had broken the record of 18 months longest blackout by the so-called big democratic state.

The Kashmiris have been facing continued oppression including the so-called cordon and search operations and fake encounters. The toxic Hindutva ideology of Rss –BJP has resulted in systematic targeting of Kashmiri youths through extra-judicial killings.

According to data available from Kashmir Media service, 95,723 civilians including women and children from January 1989 to December 2020, 306 civilians since August 5, 2019 and 263 civilians in year 2020 have been killed by the occupying Indian security forces in IIOJK. India is not only killing the Kashmiris in IIOJK but also continuously engaged in flagrant violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement with Pakistan and targeting Kashmiri civilians who are living on the Line of Control (LoC) border villages. In 2020, India has killed 25 people and injured 200 people by committing more than 2,700 ceasefire violations.

Impunity for human rights violations and inaccessibility of the right to justice are among the main challenges facing the people occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory. The draconian laws in IIOJK i.e. Armed Forces special Powers Act and Jammu and Kashmir Public safety Act provide impunity to the occupying Indian security forces.

The Indian government has detained more than 70 Kashmiri political leaders i.e. All Pakistan Hurriyet Conference (APHC) and activists since August 5, 2019 and also during the sham local elections n IIOJK in December 2020. since August 5, 2019, at least 389 people have been detained under the Jammu and Kashmir Public safety Act in jails in IIOJK and also across India without any intimation and accessibility to their relatives.

According to available data, as many as 161,330 Kashmiris from January 1989 to December 2020, 14,417 Kashmiri civilians since August 5, 2019 and 2,958 Kashmiris in year 2020 have been illegally detained by Indian security forces in IIOJK.

The unilateral and illegal actions of the India’s fascist Modi regime are direct violations of the UN security Councils resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, the United Nations Charter and the international laws, the Fourth Geneva Convention as its paragraph 6 of Article 49 clearly says “that the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”.

In early April 2020, as the stringent lockdown continued in IIOJK, the Indian government had announced a new domicile law for the occupied territory. Out of 33,000 who had applied for domicile certificates, at least 25,000 domicile certificates have been granted to nonresident Kashmiris thus raising fear of demographic changes in IIOJK besides ongoing genocide activities in order to reduce predominantly Muslim majority into minority.

The indigenous Kashmiris are thus threatened to lose their political and cultural identity, their rightful demographic majority and ownership of their properties in their own homeland. Poor health facilities despite the coronavirus pandemic, damage to children education due to closure of educational institutions and economic losses accruing from no income generating activity whatsoever due to prolonged lockdown over entire population is unprecedented in history.

Cutting long miserable, deplorable and condemnable happenings in IIOJK short, here are the sufferings and sacrifices of the Kashmiris which they have suffered in their just, unarmed and indigenous struggle for freedom from Indian slavery shackles during last 30 years from January 1990 to December 2020 at a glance; total killings 100,000 plus, custodial killings 8,500 plus, civilians arrested 150,000 plus, enforced disappearances 12,000 plus, structure destroyed/arsoned 110,000 plus, women widowed 22,836 plus, half widowed 3,000 plus. Women gang-raped molested 11,011 plus, pellet victims (youth) 15,000, mass graves 7,000 plus and children orphaned 107,872.

Pakistan has during the last couple of years activated and agitated the Kashmir issue at UN General Assembly and other international forums, continuously urging the international community to play its role in ensuring the Kashmiris get their fundamental right of self-determination in accordance with the security Council resolutions, exert pressure on fascist Modi regime to end prolonging lockdown and flagrant violations of human rights in IIOJK at the earliest.

Pakistan needs to continue voicing its support for Kashmiri brethren and agitating over the Indian brutalities and atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris and persistently exerting pressure on United Nations for exerting pressure on New Delhi to implement 72 years old security Council resolutions and let the Kashmiris decide their future themselves more aggressively and vigorously through all its missions across the world.

Kashmiris are bound to be victorious in their just struggle soon.

The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist, Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) , Radio Pakistan, Islamabad and can be reached zahidriffat@gmail.com

THe devastating glacier burst in the Indian state of Uttarakhand that has not only caused flooding but also claimed many lives has sent shockwaves across the board. According to news sources, the sudden water released from the glaciated valley has severely damaged some hydroelectric projects out there apart from leaving behind a trail of destruction. such glacial burst incidents have been common across the world, pointed out by all the geological statistics. They have confirmed the vast ice sheets covering most parts of earth. events like glaciation meaning accumulation of ice sheets and deglaciation, the opposite, have all been well related to Ice Age and Greenhouse period. In short, all the natural and geological events caused by sun and the surroundings on earth have been evolving over the vast periods of time. Of course, they all have huge lessons to the world and human society.

Yes, it is all about human attitude to Mother Nature. Human beings have been toiling hard through all the ups and downs straight from the Homo sapiens era even as the natural occurrences like climate change, global warming, greenhouse effects and glacial burst have been taking place side by side. The Western region aside, Asian nations have been naturally and neatly tucked in the midst of natural sources, rivers, seas, oceans and huge, beautiful mountains like the Himalayas. speaking as an inhabitant, my native areas like Korkai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu have been brimming with and full of natural resources like rivers, greenery areas and seas. But those environmental aspects and features must be protected. Also, beware of the possible consequences of sea ice that may be caused by Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean over there! Right now serious measures are required to thoroughly check the feasibility of ecosystems in areas like Uttarakhand and elsewhere across the world. More to the point, the beautiful Himalayan countries like Nepal have been flourishing through such great natural surroundings by means of resilience and eco-friendly growth.

Without any question, great environmental attitude and technological advances will make the planet the most liveable forever.

P SENThIL SaRavaNa DuRaI MuMbaI

Freedom for Kashmiris KAsHMIR is the biggest issue in the world which shows a very bad sign for Pakistan since the Kashmiris only want freedom and be part of Pakistan but very sadly the world is silent just seeing India’s bad acts and not having courages to fight against human rights. However, the world praises those personalities who are like immortal ones since till today their efforts are appreciated. And in reality, Kashmir is a disputed part of India which is ignored and even we think the world’s complete sufferings are on them declared by India. It is no more bearable since Pakistan along with the world and especially Human Rights organization should understand the voice of Kashmir as if they are prisoned. And in daily basis, their cryful demand is to be part of Pakistan since India is no more capable of giving their fundamental rights. Instead of loving and caring them, the soldiers try to kill them and do cruelty. I would request the world to raise Kashmir issue and all countries should take steps for supporting Kashmiris and celebrating Kashmir’s day as we do it on every 5th February of the years. , the world is failed for asking their requirements from a authorities for this issue as we should little think about humanity that is not for one community but for complete world no matter they are poor or rich. baRkaTuLLah TuRbaT

Kashmir conflict KAsHMIR dispute is a burning question today which requires world attention and a major solution. There would not be any peace and stability in the subcontinent until this long standing counondorm is not solved. It erupted long before when British sold the beautiful Kashmir Valley to Ghulab singh in 1886 . When Pakistan came into existence Kashmiries preferred to join Pakistan. India sent its troops to the valley and occupied. Furthermore, Kashmiries sought help from thier Pakistani brothers. Pakistan had to help them. The conflict started and is still going on. A part of Kashmir was liberated. The conflict was acceded to UNO( United Nations Organization).

The UNO promised to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. India agreed it in the beginning. The war ended but India backed out of its promise. India is trying to govern Kashmir by power but muslims there are full of faith and not accepting India’s cruelty. India is frequently bracking the barriers Indian soldier enter Kashmiries house rape ladies in front of thier beloved ones those women that insist to do so then they throw bombs destroy the village and create choas situation in the whole valley. Those citizens that resist Indian soldiers arrest and imprison them. These kinds of henious crimes on daily basis have now become a norm in Kashmir. If Kashmir were a part of Britian and UsA or in Kashmir Western Nationalities were being killed by another military and country then there would be panel talks widespread and United Nations would have conducted sessions worldwide. But this is all happening with muslim papulation in Kashmir which is why UNO and humman rights organizations are asleep. Pakistan and muslim world strike on 5th of February every year to pay solidarity to Kashmir and rise its issue. Now it is time to focus on Kashmir issue and we should compell the world so called superpower countries to solve this issue. Only the 5th of February must not be the day for Kashmir. Our respective leadership should rise this issue anytime when they go on visits abroad. Only passing comments on Kashmir day and releasing songs is not going to solve the issue.

MEER aFzaL hub

Internet deprivation ACCORDING to the annual report of 2020 released by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the country’s digital economy has enhanced massively during the pandemic since more and more people are using it.

Following year, Pakistan’s internet users crossed 90 million. On one hand, some areas of Pakistan ,residents enjoy digitization with the best internet service and on the other hand, in the areas of Balochistan people do not even know about digital realm. The students of Blalochistan cannot study well. The civilians there cannot do online jobs and most of them are unaware of digitization. The authorities should also provide internet in Balochistan like any other province.

FaRahNaz TuRbaT

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Macron’s IslaMIc charter Is an unpreceDenteD attack on French secularIsM

MIddlE East EyE alain GaBon

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DOPTED last month by the French Council of the Muslim Faith at the behest of President Emmanuel Macron, a new 10-point “Charter of Principles” of French islam will please all those who have been calling for a “progressive,” “reformed” or “enlightened” islam - one consistent with democratic, egalitarian and liberal western values. it also represents a significant personal victory for Macron, who for months had pressured the council to craft a document committing to a “French republican islam”. non-Muslim authorities, governments, media and public intellectuals have been demanding this for years as a way to combat “islamism” and “extremism”.

The unprecedented charter can thus be seen as a clear assertion that islam is indeed compatible with secular democracies in general, and with the French republic in particular. in a nutshell, the charter aligns islam with France’s republican principles, including gender equality; non-discrimination, including sexual orientation; and freedom of conscience, including the freedom to leave islam. it condemns “excessive proselytism” and attests to the superiority of and obligation for all Muslims to recognise France’s laws, constitution, republican principles and “public order”. Article two proclaims an obligation for Muslims to “conform to the common rules” of France, which “must prevail over any other

THE STATE’S ATTEMPT TO SHAPE FROM ABOVE THE ORGANISATION OF ISLAM IS THE WORST VIOLATION OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REPUBLIC rules and convictions, including those of our own faith”. Article eight recognises the French principle of laicite, or secularism.

But article six, the longest, is also the most loaded. it proclaims that no mosques or other islamic places can have “political agendas” or engage in political and ideological discourse or activity; these are described as “an instrumentalisation” and “perversion of islam”, whose sole and “true purpose is prayers and the transmission of values”. it condemns “the propagation of nationalist discourses defending foreign regimes and supporting foreign policies that are hostile to France, our country”. it dissociates islam from “political islam” and prohibits signatories from engaging in the latter, including “Salafism (Wahhabism), the Tabligh and the Muslim Brotherhood”. This amounts to an excommunication of those islamic trends and movements from legitimate or “true” islam.

There is no doubt that this charter was essentially crafted by the French executive itself - especially Macron and interior Minister gerald Darmanin, who for years had been calling for the assimilation of islam strictly within the limits, laws, principles and

frameworks of France’s Fifth republic. Darmanin even wrote a book about it.

The charter is not coming from Muslims. it is the brainchild of Macron’s campaign to force the French Muslim council to craft such a text, deploying against one religion a type of pressure, intimidation, threats, ultimatums and blackmail never before seen in French post-war history.

At the end of the signing ceremony, a close adviser to Macron explicitly threatened anyone who refuses to sign and live by the charter, saying: “Those who disagree will hear from us very quickly and see their operations inspected very, very closely by our services.”

This, in a context where the interior ministry is banning islamic ngOs, closing schools and shutting down mosques by the dozen.

This operation is an integral part of Macron’s crusade against “islamist separatism”, for which he is using the French Council of the Muslim Faith as a facade, an alibi, a cover to circumvent a constitution that forbids state interference in religious doctrines. The charter is a word-for-word synthesis of all the injunctions and demands that Macron has addressed to Muslims over the past year.

COVID-19 mutations perform ‘a dazzling Darwinian dance’ THE VIRUS NATURALLY MUTATES ALL THE TIME, AND THOSE NEW VARIANTS WITH A SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE DISPLACE OLD VARIANTS

sydnEy MornIng HErald Tony Blakely and dRiss aiT ouakRim

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E have not completed week six and already 2021 is turning out to be an interesting year. After much anticipation about the rollout of a vaccine, a major setback occurred on Sunday. The use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa was stopped because of lower effectiveness against the so-called South Africa variant – more formally known as B.1.351. it has been found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has poor protection against mild and moderate illness from B.1.351 among young adults. The vaccine may, hopefully, still be effective against serious illness, but definitive evidence on this is not in.

Any suggestion of weaker than expected performance by the vaccine has raised concern in Australia, where it has formed the backbone of our vaccination response. Australia expects to have 53.8 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses available to it this year, 20 million of which will be produced locally by CSL. The less-than-expected performance of the vaccine against the South African variant is what a colleague in new Zealand calls a “dazzling Darwinian dance”. The virus naturally mutates all the time, and those new variants with a survival advantage displace old variants.

The South African variant (and the uK and Brazilian variants) has the advantage of being more transmissible – so takes over. it just so happens, we now learn, the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against it.

The Moderna and Pfizer mrnA vaccines also have reduced effectiveness against these variants. But they start at 95

per cent efficacy in preventing serious illness (compared to 60 per cent to 70 per cent for Astra-Zeneca’s adenovirus vaccine), so ‘falling’ to something less than 95 per cent (say 90 per cent) is not as bad as falling to something like 50 per cent.

This is concerning. But more concerning, we think, is what might be to come – a dazzling Darwinian dance with poorly rolled out vaccine programs. By this we mean a scenario where a vaccine is being rolled out, yet there is still much circulating virus (as is the case in many countries now), meaning that not only is transmissibility selected for – but so too is vaccine resistance.

This phenomenon is called escape mutation. When a vaccine is introduced, it creates a pressure on the virus prompting it to look for survival strategies. if that pressure is not applied properly – i.e. if the vaccine’s effectiveness is not high enough and the vaccination programs are not rolled out quickly enough – the virus has more time to find a mutation that will allow it to “escape” the vaccine. Thus, the only way to avoid this vaccine resistance is to win the race against the evolutionary clock of the virus. This is sobering indeed. But no need for panic. rather the need for cool heads and adaptability by homo sapiens to out-adapt a coronavirus.

At the risk of our predictions today being outdated in a couple of weeks (for which we make no apology – this is a fast-moving environment, and we still need to think ahead and outwit this virus), there are several ways we can move forward.

First, Australia needs to keep the South African variant out. reducing leakage out of hotel quarantine and establishing more purpose-built facilities just became an even greater priority.

Second, our first tranche of vaccination in Australia will be Pfizer, which has higher vaccine efficacy to start with and should (but we cannot guarantee) have good efficacy against new mutations.

Third, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is still central to Australia’s proposed response. And it is still a good vaccine. if we were offered it tomorrow, we would still

take it – no problem. But to increase its effectiveness, we may need to have booster shots in the future.

Fourth, updating vaccines is possible for both the adenovirus (e.g. Oxford-AstraZeneca) and mrnA vaccines. no need to panic – the pharma companies with vaccines on the market have already announced that they are working on revised versions of their products to tackle new variants. However, the mrnA vaccines are probably easier and faster to update than adenovirus vaccines. no need to suddenly change tack now – but something policy makers and scientists will be thinking about in the next few months.

Fifth, vaccines work in two ways – protecting against serious illness and stopping or slowing transmission. The first mechanism is what the trials mainly measure. The second mechanism is what matters for herd immunity to happen. it appears that the Moderna mrnA vaccine might reduce the chance of someone getting infected in their upper airways by 70 per cent or more and the Oxford-AstraZenca by just over 50 per cent - for old variants.

But here is some good news. We strongly hypothesise the vaccines will be better than this at stopping transmission. Why? Because the above is the chance of a vaccinated person getting infected from an unvaccinated person. Once many of us are vaccinated, if we are unlucky enough to still be infected we will almost certainly be less infectious and for a shorter duration. So – we believe – herd immunity is still ‘game on’. Although we need more data before we bet the house on it.

Sixth, and finally, vaccines are not the endgame alone to the pandemic. Think of them as one extra (albeit perhaps most important) measure. We may need to wear masks and physically distance for some years to come, as well as all get vaccinated. That is OK – and better than 2020.

Professor Tony Blakely is an epidemiologist and public health medicine specialist at the University of Melbourne. Dr Driss Ait Ouakrim is an epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne.

Amazingly, article nine not only declares that state racism does not exist, but also that such an expression would constitute “defamation, and as such, a crime”. its timing coincides with the introduction of Macron’s anti-separatism bill, and the Elysee Palace has stated that the charter was drafted within the framework of “technical workshops” presided over by the interior minister.

What are we to make of this operation?

Firstly, it is an attempt, which some may find timely and even necessary, to align islamic theology with the values, laws and principles of liberal, secular western states.

Secondly, it very clearly aims to turn islam into a quietist, “pacified” religion whose practitioners remain docile and obedient to the political powers-that-be. Macron is trying to strip Muslims of their right to engage in oppositional and critical discourse and activism.

Thirdly, this hostile takeover is an attempt by the executive to assume control over the totality of islam in France in order to “securitise” it from A to Z: its mosques, imams, institutions, ngOs, associations - even its theology.

One should also expect that the repression and

persecution of any Muslim deemed “islamist” or “Salafist” will only get worse.

Fourthly, besides the extreme violations of freedom of religion and the brutalisation of islam, the charter is also a glaring violation of French laicite - a principle the Macron government nonetheless claims to uphold.

Based on the 1905 law on the separation of church and state, French laicite includes three sacred principles that are not open to interpretation: freedom of conscience and religion, the separation of church and state, and equal treatment by the state of all religions.

Macron is trampling on all three pillars.

Only Muslims, and no other religions, are being summoned to craft a “charter” and implement principles such as gender equality, acceptance of homosexuality, and the prohibition of political discourse and activity. How about requiring the same from Catholics and Jews, some of whom oppose French laws on same-sex marriage or medically assisted procreation?

The attempt to delegitimise as “political islam” and exclude from the religion several important islamic trends under false pretexts, along with the persecution to which these Muslim groups are increasingly subjected, represents extreme violations of freedom of religion and human rights in general.

The direct attempt by the executive to shape from above the organisation of islam and its theology is by far the worst violation of the separation of church and state in the entire history of the Fifth republic. it marks the end of French laicite and a regression to a crude form of quasi-medieval gallicanism, when the state controlled, organised and narrowly defined religion.

The fate of the charter is more than a little uncertain. it will surely be weaponised, including as a divide-and-conquer tool. in the meantime, France has finally found its grand mufti: its (non-Muslim) president himself.

Dr. Alain Gabon is Associate Professor of French Studies and Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, USA.

Dissenters within BJP must speak up IndIan ExprEss

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Rajmohan Gandhi

uring the coming two weeks, the maximum temperature in urbana, illinois, will be minus 2 degrees Celsius. That’s the projection. The minimum will go down, it seems, to minus 22. Other places in north America will be even colder.

These readings are a prod for not forgetting the kisans protesting on Delhi’s borders: Their nights and days spent in the open, close to menacing spikes, ditches, barbed wire and concrete blockades, many of them denied water, most of them barred from the internet. Even if ameliorative attempts are made, this picture of inhumanity will haunt for decades the leaders and supporters of india’s current government. it will paint them in hues of shame in history books. in due course, some members of the current regime will try to explain that they privately tried to soften the regime’s response. it will be too late for their reputations.

Here in the uS, at least some leaders of the republican Party have spoken up in time, and openly, against the excesses of Trump and his hardcore supporters. Two of America’s strongest conservative voices, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Wyoming’s Liz Cheney, have led the way. McConnell, the Senate’s majority leader until the other day, is the man most responsible for turning the Supreme Court conservative. Cheney is the daughter of Dick Cheney, george W Bush’s well-known vice president and a core architect of the iraq War. Because she had voted to impeach him, Trump and his henchmen did everything in their power to remove Liz Cheney from her third position in the republican Party’s hierarchy in the House of representatives. Putting on direct pressure, Trump made multiple phone calls to members, but the bid was overwhelmingly defeated, 145 to 61, thanks in part to secret balloting. The party’s Trumpist base is large, loud and intimidating, but its antiextremist and pro-democracy wing seems finally to be finding its spine. Those who attacked the uS Capitol on January 6 enjoy considerable support across this land.

Trumpism has become a cult with fanatical members believing that liberal Americans are traitors who, in alliance with Jews and foreigners, will destroy this country. White supremacy is the cult’s unconcealed purpose, even when the words are not pronounced. its symbols are the cross, the American flag, the Confederate flag, and the gun — all four joined to one another!

The seeming silence of leaders of America’s popular churches in face of this cult has been a curious element in the American scene. While Black pastors and progressive White clergy have spoken out strongly against Trump and against White supremacy, the strong support for Trump from men like Frank graham, son of famed evangelist Billy graham, does little for American Christianity. in less than two years, the uS will have congressional elections, where the usual pattern is for the party controlling the White House to lose seats. While this may well be repeated in end-2022, the republican schism that has occurred could work in favour of the Democrats.

How Biden will negotiate the old progressive versus moderate divide in his own party is another obvious question, but the pandemic with its troubling variants and Trumpism’s dangers should be two powerful unifying forces for the Democrats and indeed for the uS as a whole. The political impact of the Senate’s trial of Trump is not easy to predict. There are suggestions that Trump’s obsession for re-litigating the electoral verdict will hurt the main defence argument, which is that the legal provision for impeaching “the president” cannot apply to a former president.

While strongly criticising Trump’s refusal to accept his loss and also the insurrection of January 6, McConnell has so far held that an ex-president cannot be impeached, which is also the position taken by the vast majority of republican senators.

Since it requires 67 votes in a 100-member senate, impeachment looks unlikely. A formal failure to impeach may not necessarily rehabilitate Trump, and a re-enactment during the trial of his hostility towards the democratic process could weaken Trumpism.

While waiting and watching, all of us will keep a steady eye on Delhi, the farmers and the regime. An obvious question is: Who in the BJP or the Hindutva parivaar are the counterparts of McConnell and Liz Cheney? Quiet disapproval of Modi-Shah’s policies and responses must exist within the parivaar. Common sense tells us that. Competitive human nature ensures that. in due course, whenever that may be, we will find out about the ones secretly questioning.

Meanwhile, as we return our gaze to the borders of Delhi and to the farmers in whose face the doors of humanity and respect have been slammed shut, another question may be asked. it is similar to the one about voices for democracy within America’s churches.

Where are the voices of conscience from exponents of the Hindu faith?

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

BUSINESS 09

KARACHI

ECC APProvEs PAymEnt mEChAnism for iPPs

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD: Descon Engineering Limited recently conducted its annual marketing and sales conference to discuss the performance for the second quarter of the year 2020-21. The conference featured sessions led by senior representatives along with industry-specific segments, recognizing the best performances for the quarter along with strategic planning for the future.

KARACHI: EFU Life Assurance Limited has been conferred with ‘CSR Award 2021’ in the category of ‘Social Impact’ at the 10th Corporate Social Responsibility Awards, organized by The Professionals Network and Ethical Business Update (EBU). Evelyn D. Abrogena, Head of CSR, EFU Life Assurance Ltd, received the award on behalf of the company.

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AHMAD AHMADANI

N a bid clear the outstanding dues of 46 independent power producers (IPPs), the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a proposed payment mechanism under which Rs161 billion would be released for the IPPs immediately.

The ECC meeting, held with Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair, while approving the summary for immediate release of Rs161 billion to help ease pressure on companies and reduce circular debt, directed the officials concerned to present the same before federal cabinet for final approval.

Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar, Energy Minister Omar Ayub Khan, Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, SAPM on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood, SAPM on Power Tabish Gauhar, State Bank Governor Reza Baqir and FBR chairman were also present on the occasion.

The energy secretary had

GOVT TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE RS161BN AS FIRST INSTALLMENT TO HELP EASE PRESSURE ON IPPS AND REDUCE CIRCULAR DEBT briefed the ECC about the detailed report submitted by the Implementation Committee regarding the conversion of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) into agreements with IPPs to devise a payment mechanism for clearance of outstanding dues.

According to payment mechanism, a payment of Rs403 billion would be made to the IPPs in two installments; first will be 40pc of said payables -- to be paid 1/3rd in cash, 1/3rd in Sukuk and 1/3rd in PIB Bonds at floating rate of T-Bills+ 70 bps, while the remaining 60pc amount would be paid within six months of the first installment.

As per parity-wise payables to IPPs, total outstanding payables of 46 IPPs, including HUBCO and KAPCO, as on 30th Nov 2020, were Rs403,098 billion. Similarly, total payables of IPPs established under Power Policy 1994 were Rs57,210 million; payables of IPPs under 2002 Power Policy were Rs145,702 million; while total dues of renewable

plants were Rs43,203 million.

According to documents, the outstanding payables of HUBCO (residual fuel oil) were Rs57,982 million, Kot Addu Power Company (gas/RLNG & RFO) Rs99,002 million, Rousch (gas/RLNG) Rs14,223 million, Fauji (gas/RLNG) Rs4,396 million, Pak Gen Power (RFO) Rs16,337 million, Lalpir Power (RFO) Rs15,483 million, K-ELectric (RFO) Rs4,974 million, Saba (RFO) Rs1,798 million, Engro Power (gas) Rs8,147 million, Foundation Power (gas) Rs10,709 million, Orient Power (gas/RLNG/HSD) Rs7,220 million, Saif Power (gas/RLNG/HSD) Rs9,507 million, Saphire Electric (gas/RLNG/HSD) Rs9,041 million, Halmore Power (Gas/RLNG/HSD) Rs8,654 million, AGL Power (RFO) Rs10,518 million, HUBCO Norowal (RFO) Rs16,163 million, Atlas Power (RFO) Rs16,099 million, Nishat Power (RFO) Rs14,252 million, Nishat Chunian (RFO) Rs14,619 million, Liberty Tech (RFO) Rs20,772 million, FFC Energy (Wind) Rs3,454 million,

Foundation Energy-I( Wind) Rs3,871 million, Foundation Energy-II (Wind) Rs3,669 million, RYK Mills (Bagasse) Rs524 million, Chiniot Power (Bagasse) Rs631 million, Yunus Energy (Wind) Rs3,087 million, Metro Power (Wind) Rs3,180 million, Tenaga Energy (Wind) Rs2,389 million, Master Energy (Wind) Rs2,543 million, ACT (Wind) Rs1,631 million, Gul Ahmed (Wind) Rs2,886 million, Hawa Energy (Wind) Rs2,095 million, Jhimpar Power (Wind) Rs1,777 million, Harappa (Solar) Rs159 million, AJ Power (Solar) Rs67 million, Artistic Energy (Wind) Rs2,270 million, Tricon Boston Consulting (Wind( (A) Rs1,760 million, Tricon Boston Consulting (Wind) (B) Rs1, 460 million, Tricon Boston Consulting (Wind) (C) Rs1,476 million, JDW Sugar Mills UnitII (Bagasse) Rs1,161 million, JDW Sugar Mills Unit-III (Bagasse) Rs155 million, Thal Industries Corporation (Bagasse) Rs112 million, Al Moiz Industries Limited (Baggase) Rs23 million, and Chanar Energy Limited (Bagass) Rs8 million.

CDWP okays four projects worth Rs6.8bn ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT KARACHI: Building on the partnership announced in 2020, SadaPay and Mastercard are issuing the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region’s first numberless and contactless enabled card, allowing users to transact in a simpler, faster and more secure way. This announcement further strengthens Mastercard’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion in emerging markets and encouraging the adoption of secure digital payment methods.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved four projects worth Rs6.8 billion and recommended one project worth Rs43.32 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for further consideration.

The approval was given at a meeting held on Monday with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan in the chair. Three of the approved projects are related to the IT sector while one belongs to the energy sector. The meeting approved the

‘16MW Hydropower Project Naltar-III in Gilgit,’ worth Rs6,199.493 million. The object of the project is to construct a 16MW hydropower project to transmit energy to Gilgit through the existing 66kV transmission line of Naltar-V to meet power requirements of the Gilgit and its surrounding areas.

The meeting also accorded approval to three IT projects, including ‘Establishing of Jiddat Investment and Support Fund’ worth Rs84.2 million; feasibility study and consultancy for ‘Development of Special Technology Zones’ at Rs165 million; and ‘High Impact Skills Boot Camp’ at Rs420.011 million.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications

Moot calls for increase in FED on tobacco products ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

LAHORE: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) begins vaccinating its frontline healthcare professionals against Covid-19. A special Covid-19 vaccination camp has been installed outside the main hospital building where healthcare professionals, who are directly working with Covid-19 patients, are being administered the vaccine.

Tobacco control activists on Monday demanded the government to increase the of federal excise duty (FED) on tobacco products.

Speaking in a seminar titled 'Increase FED on Tobacco Products', the activists urged Prime Minister

Imran Khan to take notice of the growing use of tobacco in the country, demanding an increase in taxes on tobacco products, including FED and health levy, mainly to keep the youth away from this menace.

According to tobacco control activists, there are currently two tax slabs for cigarettes; an FED of Rs33 is

imposed on cigarettes costing less than Rs90 per packet, and an FED of Rs90 on cigarettes with a price of Rs90 and above. However, these taxes are still below the standard set by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to which Pakistan is a signatory since 2005.

MARKET DAILY

Stocks shed 183 points on profit-taking KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) endured a volatile session on Monday, with the indices failing to sustain early gains as investors adopted a cautious approach after long weekend.

Global equity markets, on the other hand, displayed positive sentiments, where crude oil prices moved north from the previous close; WTI crude price appreciating 1.23pc to $57.55 while Brent crude price rising 0.94pc to $60.12 (as at 3:57pm PST). "Profit booking was observed across the board today, particularly in banking, exploration & production, cement and fertilizer sectors, which kept any increase in the index in check," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read. "On the other hand, power, refinery and oil & gas marketing sectors contributed positively to the index following conclusion of IPPs agreement with the

government on power tariff as well resolution of circular debt."

MARKET SUMMARY: The benchmark KSE-100 Index moved in a narrow range on Monday, touching its intraday high at 47,074.16 (+168.37 points) and low at 46,659.24 (-246.55 points). It settled lower by 183.92 points at 46,721.87.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index dropped 342.20 points to end at 75,984.71, while the KSE All Share Index lost 139.15 points, closing at 32,246.94.

The overall market volumes contracted from 440.24 million shares in the previous session to 428.15 million shares (-3pc). Average traded value also declined by 16pc, from $165.5 million to $139.0 million. Worldcall Telecom Ltd (WTL +7.89pc), Telecard Ltd (TELE +25.71pc) and TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +7.50pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 52.91 million, 35.63 million and 33.18 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that dragged the benchmark index lower included fertilizer (-103.69 points), cement (-53.80 points) and banking (-47.31 points).

Among the companies, Engro Corporation Ltd (ENGRO 46.35 points), Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd (FFC -23.59 points) and Habib Bank Ltd (HBL 21.13 points) dented the index the most.

Shedding 2.10pc from its cumulative market capitalization, the fertilizer sector turned out to be the session’s worst performer, with Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd (FFC -1.36pc), Engro Fertilizer Ltd (EFERT -2.12pc) and Fatima Fertilizer Company Ltd (FATIMA -4.30pc) ending in the negative.

Meanwhile, Amreli Steels Limited (ASTL 2.76pc) announced its financial results for the second quarter of FY21. The company’s sales appreciated by 26pc YoY, pushing the gross profit up from Rs594.66 million in 2QFY20 to Rs1.03 billion in 2QFY20. ASTL’s earnings per share improved from Rs0.78 last year to Rs1.05.

presented the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway project, worth Rs43,328.552 million, which was referred to ECNEC for further consideration.

It may be noted that the federal government has released Rs476.6 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects to date under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-21.

The released funds include Rs300.06 billion for federal ministries, Rs135.64 billion for corporations, Rs39.7 billion for special areas, and Rs1.2 billion for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform.

Govt urged to expedite work on Pak-Afghan cargo train project AZIZ BUNERI PESHAWAR

Traders and industrialists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have demanded the government to give a final shape to the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Central Asia train track project without any delay, as it would provide the much-need impetus to Pak-Afghan trade. Talking to this scribe, Shahid Hussain, former senior vice president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, informed that the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway track project was agreed by the governments of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan last week. "However, details of [project] financing were not announced; it will either be funded by international institutions or the three countries themselves." Shahid Hussain maintained that the Pak-Afghan transit and bilateral trade was currently being hampered by transportation issues, as traders were being made to pay exorbitant fares to acquire the services of heavy cargo vehicles in Pakistan. "Unless steps are taken to reduce the cost of transportation here, we will not be able to realise the goal of capturing the Central Asian markets," he said. "The Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway track will enable us to provide Central Asian countries with cheaper products when compared with Iran and Turkey." According to Shahid Hussain, timely completion of this railway project would significantly reduce the transport cost being endured on local products, while products imported by Pakistan from other countries at high prices would also be available at lower prices from Central Asian countries. It may be noted that top officials of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan had met in Tashkent last Tuesday to discuss the construction plan for Mazar-e-Sharif-KabulPeshawar railway track. Afghanistan Foreign Minister Muhammad Hanif Atmar, Uzbekistan Minister of Investment of Sardor Umurzakov and PM Imran Khan's Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razoq Dawood had signed the train track agreement.

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

KARACHI

After A decAde of chAnge in MyAnMAr, feAr of the pAst drives Anti-coup protests YANGOON

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Agencies

communications blackout, the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi without word, wild rumours fed by a paucity of information. All recalled the darkest days of a succession of military juntas that ruled Myanmar during half a century of ruinous isolation – driving many people to mass protests in fear that such times could return.

That included a Generation Z who grew up with somewhat greater freedom and prosperity in what nonetheless remains one of Southeast Asia’s poorest and most restrictive countries.

“We don’t want a dictatorship for the next generation or for us,” said Thaw Zin, a 21-year-old among the sea of people massed in the shadow of Sule Pagoda in the center of the commercial capital of Yangon on Sunday.

Some carried posters that read: “You fucked with the wrong generation”.

Shaking with emotion, Thaw Zin said, “If we don’t stand this time for our country, our people, there is no one. Evil will fall on us. We will never forgive them for the trouble they have brought to us.”

Myanmar’s army seized power last Monday, detaining Suu Kyi and halting an unsteady transition to democracy, citing unsubstantiated fraud in the election landslide won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in November.

Successive military juntas ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, when a quasicivilian government started opening up the country and its economy after Suu Kyi was freed from a spell of what totalled nearly 15 years under house arrest.

In 2012, only 1.1 per cent of the population used the internet and few people had telephones, according to the International

Telecommunication Union.

But after liberalisation in 2013, the price of SIM cards dropped from more than $200 to as little as $2 almost overnight. By 2016, nearly half the population had cell phones and most were smartphones with internet access.

Pre-publication censorship was abolished and private media proliferated. While journalists remained under heavy scrutiny and arrests continued, it was a far cry from the days when the only news was state-produced propaganda that glorified the generals and lambasted “foreign axe-handles of the West”.

After the military seized power, activists responded with calls for a mass civil disobedience movement that spread rapidly online, something that would not have been possible before.

The parliament that had been due to be sworn in on Monday, the day of coup, held a

symbolic first session by Zoom.

Anger over the internet shutdown on Saturday – so reminiscent of the old days – drove both older generations all too familiar with isolation and younger ones suddenly cut off.

“Most of us youths work at I.T companies,” said one 22-year-old protester. “Since the whole server is shutdown, we can’t do anything. It affects our business as well as our opportunities.”

‘WE HATE DICTATORSHIP’: “We all know how terrible it was,” said 40-year-old Maw Maw Aung, who was also among the crowds beside Sule Pagoda, of direct army rule. “We cannot live under the boot of the military. We hate dictatorship. We really hate it.”

She remembered the legacy of crippled education and healthcare systems under the junta.

When the World Health Organization last did rankings, in 2008, Myanmar’s health system came last. “We lived in fear everyday,” she

said. “We are behind our neighboring countries in everything.” As the generals shut the internet on Saturday, echoes of the old era reappeared. Activists and politicians went into hiding. Wild rumours began to spread: that various high-profile NLD leaders were dead, that Suu Kyi had been freed, and the army chief toppled.

Without explanation on Sunday evening, the internet was switched back on. But there was no sign of the protests abating. Many are fearful about what comes next: previous uprisings against the military – in 1988 and 2007 – have been subdued with deadly force.

“With the anti-coup protests gaining steam, we can well imagine the reaction to come,” author and historian Thant Myint-U wrote on Facebook.

“But Myanmar society is completely different from 1988 and even 2007,” he said. “I have tremendous faith in today’s younger generation. Anything is possible.”

young sAudi shiAs hAve deAth penAlties coMMuted to 10 yeArs in jAil DUBAI Agencies

Saudi Arabia’s state-backed Human Rights Commission said on Sunday that three young Shia Muslims sentenced to death when they were minors have had the penalty reduced to 10 years in prison.

Ali Al-Nimr, the nephew of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr whose 2016 execution sparked demonstrations in Saudi Arabia and Iran, was 17 when he was detained in February 2012 for participating in protests in the country’s Eastern Province. Along with Dawood al-Marhoun and Abdullah al-Zaher, 17 and 15 when they were arrested, Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court and faced beheading.

Nimr has served more than nine years in jail since his arrest. His sentence was commuted on Sunday, while Marhoun’s and Zaher’s were commuted in November 2020, the HRC told Reuters. Time served would apply in all three cases, the HRC said, and they would be released in 2022. “Freedom soon, God willing,” Nimr’s mother said in a Facebook post celebrating the news. The government’s Center for International Communications (CIC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The move comes more than five months after the Saudi public prosecutor ordered a review of the death penalties issued against all three. The review followed a royal decree last year that individuals sentenced to death for crimes committed while minors would instead serve up to 10 years in juvenile detention centres. However, the decree was never carried on state media nor published in the official gazette as would be normal practice. Human rights groups and Western lawmakers had repeatedly raised concerns about its implementation, as Nimr, Marhoun, Zaher and two other juvenile offenders had yet to have their death sentences revoked. One of the five has appealed and eight others originally detained as minors still face charges that could result in execution, rights groups who follow the cases closely told Reuters in January. The HRC on Sunday reiterated that the royal decree would be applied retroactively to all cases where an individual was sentenced to death for offences committed under the age of 18. Antideath penalty charity Reprieve welcomed the news, but cautioned that the kingdom should ensure the decree was applied to all juvenile offenders. “True change isn’t about a few high-profile cases; it means making sure no-one is ever sentenced to death for a childhood ‘crime’ again in Saudi Arabia,” Reprieve director Maya Foa said. Although Saudi Arabia executed a record 185 people in 2019, the HRC said in January that it had reduced the number by 85% in 2020, noting it had documented 27 executions.

Aerial photo shows a view over the Yarlung Zangbo River in Zhanang County, Shannan City of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Agencies

Palestinian leader’s path to elections is fraught with peril RAMALLAH Agencies

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for elections has thrown his political future into peril, forcing him to negotiate competing demands to engage with a friendlier US administration, mend the rift with his Hamas rivals and keep his unruly Fatah movement from breaking apart.

The presidential decree issued last month, calling for what would be the first Palestinian elections in 15 years, stemmed from negotiations launched with Hamas last year aimed at shoring up ranks in the face of unprecedented crises.

The Trump administration had cut off all aid and proposed a Mideast plan that overwhelmingly favored Israel and would have allowed it to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. A US-brokered normalisation agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last summer put annexation on hold but left the Palestinians increasingly isolated in the region.

So Abbas embarked on talks with Hamas, the armed group that seized Gaza from his forces in 2007. Those discussions culminated in the presidential decree calling for legislative elections on May 22 and presidential elections on July 31.

It’s far from clear the elections will actually be held. Doing so will require an agreement between Abbas’s secular Fatah movement and Hamas, which have been bitterly divided for more than a decade despite multiple attempts at reconciliation. The two sides plan to meet in Cairo this week.

The outcome of the talks will largely depend on the 85-year-old Abbas. He has spent decades nonviolently seeking a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. Instead, he has come to rule an increasingly autocratic and unpopular Palestinian Authority confined to parts of the occupied West Bank.

Reconciling with Hamas and holding elections could shore up his legitimacy and meet longstanding Western demands for accountability.

But even a limited victory by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group

by Israel and Western countries, could result in international isolation and the loss of vital aid — as it did after Hamas won the last parliamentary elections in 2006.

In a briefing with Palestinian journalists, EU representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff welcomed the call for elections but declined repeated requests to explain how the EU would respond to a Hamas victory.

“Do you put the cart before the horse?” he said. “Why don’t we start with the horse.”

President Joe Biden has restored aid to the Palestinians and vowed to adopt a more even-handed approach, but the Mideast conflict is likely to take a distant backseat to more pressing crises like the coronavirus pandemic, and the US is unlikely to engage with any Palestinian government that includes Hamas. Even a government of independents supported by Hamas could pose problems for Western donors.

Elections could also precipitate the breakup of Abbas’ Fatah party. He has not groomed a successor and could face a leadership challenge from Marwan Barghouti, a popular Fatah leader who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his role in the 2000 intifada, or uprising.

“For Barghouti, running for president is his only way out of prison, or at least this is what he thinks,” said Ali Jarbawi, a political science professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank.

Abbas might also have to contend with Mohammed Dahlan, a Fatah rival who was convicted in absentia of corruption charges by a Palestinian court after being driven out by Abbas.

Dahlan has a base of support in his native Gaza and powerful allies in the United Arab Emirates, where he lives in exile.

“So far all the talk is about having one (Fatah) list, but it’s not unlikely that there would be two lists or even three,” said Jehad Harb, a Palestinian political analyst. “Or Barghouti may wait for the presidential election.”

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

SPORTS 11

KARACHI

LEwIs HAMILton And MErCEdEs AGrEE nEw ContrACt for 2021

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AGENCIES

HE wait is over - Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have finally announced a new deal, with the seven-time reigning world champion signing a one-year contract with the team for 2021.

In what had been a highly unusual situation, Hamilton had entered the year without a deal in place to race in 2021, though the 36-year-old Briton and Mercedes always insisted it was a matter of when, not if, a contract would be agreed.

Time was the crucial factor: the Covid19 pandemic made it difficult to meet faceto-face, then Mercedes and Hamilton decided to hold off on talks to focus on the title, and then Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19 to delay things further.

But at last, Hamilton and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff finalised the small details of the contract, paving the way to announce the new deal, around three weeks before the Silver Arrows reveal their 2021 challenger. Mercedes say a significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year

by Hamilton and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.

“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team mates,” said Hamilton. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking

‘Exceptional’ Ibrahimovic breaks 500-goal mark to keep AC Milan top

to improve, both on and off the track.

“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue. I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait

to get back on the track in March.”

Hamilton will partner Valtteri Bottas, whose one-year deal extension was announced last August, for a fifth successive campaign. 2021, meanwhile, will represent Hamilton’s ninth season with Mercedes.

“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process,” said Wolff. “Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport.

Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners.

“The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”

The confirmation of Hamilton’s deal means the 2021 F1 grid is now complete, with the Briton targeting an unprecedented eighth world championship – and what would be a seventh in eight years.

Fellowship event held at Karachi Race Course to commemorate Kashmir Day KARACHI STAFF REPORT

THE FORMER SWEDEN STRIKER HAS NOW SCORED 396 LEAGUE GOALS, 57 IN EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS AND 48 IN CUP GAMES MILAN AGENCIES

Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke the 500-mark for career club goals with a brace on Sunday as AC Milan held top spot in Serie A with a 4-0 win over lowly Crotone. “It’s difficult to be surprised by Ibrahimovic,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli of the 39-year-old who is powering his team’s bid for a first ‘Scudetto’ since 2011. Milan moved back two points in front of city rivals Inter Milan who had pulled ahead after a 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Friday. Champions Juventus are a further five back in third after beating Roma 2-0 on Saturday. The capital side dropped to fourth equal on points with city rivals Lazio who beat Cagliari 1-0. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the half hour at the San Siro after combining with Rafael Leao for his 500th strike with nine different clubs. And the Swede brought his tally to 501 in the 64th minute, finishing off a Theo Hernandez cross for his 83rd Milan goal. “To hold up at this level means you’re an exceptional professional and he’s helped by a physique that few have,” continued Pioli. “He’s a champion, an athlete who has great motivation, he takes care of his body scrupulously. Sometimes he’s tired, but he never fails.” Ante Rebic turned the game into a comprehensive win with a quick-fire brace of his own past Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz. The Croatian headed in a Hakan Calhanoglu corner in the 69th minute and then seconds later turned in a rebound after Cordaz kept out an Ibrahimovic strike. “The Scudetto?

The decisive matches will come later, now we have to withstand all the pressures which is a privilege to have,” continued Pioli. “The top seven are all capable of fighting for the title and the first four places. “It’s not yet time to look too much at the table, a challenging period will come with many matches and the Europa League is about to start again.”

Ibrahimovic showed his incredible form 22 years after making his professional debut for Swedish club Malmo, scoring his first goal in October 1999. “It means that I have scored a few goals in my career,” said the Swede, who was substituted off with 15 minutes to go.

“The important thing is to continue to help the team in the best possible way. My job is to score and create situations to score.”

District Governor 3271 Prof Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah and Rotary Club Karachi New Central held a grand fellowship event at Karachi Race Course, Malir, on Monday.

Commemorating Kashmir Day which was on February 5, the event which featured horse-racing, an exciting sport that has received very little media coverage in Pakistan was titled Kashmir Day Cup 2021.

Invitees largely comprising Rotarians and their friends and family, and social, print and electronic media spent the day at the race course. The event took off with speeches by president Rotary Club Karachi New Central, Alia Hasan followed by DG 3271 Prof Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah, who highlighted the importance of promoting

this sport in Karachi, which provides wholesome entertainment in fresh air and could also draw tourists, like any-

where else in the world. After a sumptuous traditional brunch, the horse-racing began.

Empty stadium only regret for Guardiola as Man City end Anfield jinx CITIZENS HAD TO WAIT SINCE 2003 FOR A VICTORY AT ANFIELD AS THEY STUN CHAMPIONS 4-1 TO STAY ON TOP OF THE LEAGUE TABLE LIVERPOOL AGENCIES

Manchester City have had to wait since 2003 for a victory at Anfield and the only thing that took the gloss off their 4-1 win on Sunday for manager Pep Guardiola was that there were no fans in the stadium to witness it. “For many years we were not able to win here, hopefully next time we can do it with people,” Guardiola said. “Anfield is so intimidating. Anfield is always impressive but with people it is much more.” Ilkay Gundogan scored twice while Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden were also on target as City made it 10 Premier League wins in a row and 14 straight wins in all competitions. It put them five points above second-placed Manchester United with a game in hand and 10 above champions Liverpool who are in fourth place having also played a game more. “Huge victory for us. Three more points at the end but I take into consideration the fact we won after we missed a penalty and conceded a goal but the way we reacted... that made the difference,” Guardiola said, referring to Gundogan’s first-half penalty fired over the crossbar. City now look overwhelming favourites to claim a third league title in Guardiola’s five seasons at the club but the Spaniard has been around long enough to know that there is much hard work ahead. “Today we will celebrate, but tomorrow our feet will be on the grass again. In February no one is champions,” he said. “I am so grateful to my players but this is now the past, we have done brilliantly so I cannot deny how happy we are.

But we are in February. For Manchester City, three points and to come here and finally win, it’s very important.” Foden was again instrumental in City’s win, setting up their second goal after collecting Liverpool keeper Alisson’s poor pass, then lashing in a beauty late on to give the scoreline an emphatic look.

The 20-year-old has really blossomed this season, making himself a first-choice in Guardiola’s starting lineup. “Phil Foden is a guy who keeps the ball really well, he arrives so aggressive but he is also still so young,” he said. “When he plays wide it is more easy for him, he will learn. The action for the second goal and the fourth goal, we know what a huge talent he is but he is still young and hopefully he can understand he can still improve.”

Formula 1 announces TV and Digital audience figures for 2020 AGENCIES Formula 1 has released its annual audience figures, which show viewership trends comparing well to other sports that were affected by shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

TV AUDIENCE: Despite the fact that the revised 2020 season had four fewer races than 2019, Formula 1 maintained a strong audience position with an average audience per Grand Prix in 2020 at 87.4m.

While this is marginally down at -4.5% on 2019, the average per Grand Prix was 87m in 2016, 2017 and 2018, 80m in 2015 and 83m in 2014 and therefore the 2020 performance was very much in line with the average for the past seven years despite the challenging circumstances.

The average audience figure for the 2020 season was largely driven by the fact the season took place in Europe and the Gulf which meant a number of regions did not host their own Grand Prix, race start times were not always suited to certain markets and the usual audience uplift seen for particular races did not occur.

However, there were strong results in a number of key markets with +43% yearon-year (YoY) in China, +28% YoY in the Netherlands, +10% YoY in the UK, + 71% YoY in Russia and +5% YoY in Germany.

The USA also saw a +1% increase even with no local time zone events and no US Grand Prix which would have benefited from wider ABC audience exposure.

Unique viewers for 2020 were 433m (-8% YoY), driven by fewer races as well as the reasons mentioned above.

The cumulative TV audience for 2020 was 1.5bn compared to 1.9bn in 2019 and this reduction is a result of the fact we had 17 races last season compared to 21 races in 2019. It does not reflect a drop off in audiences in general but is a result of fewer races and therefore fewer events to watch on TV. The highest audience figure for a race in 2020 was 103.7m for the Hungarian Grand Prix, +7% higher than the same race in 2019, and there were strong figures for the new races that joined the revised calendar with 100.5m for Portugal, 98.1m for the Bahrain outer track and 89.1m for Turkey.

In addition, Formula 1 has continued to improve its overall perception and satisfaction with fans. Out of 6,000 fans surveyed , 72% think F1 has improved over past 2 years compared to 52% in June 2019, 68% believe F1 is in good hands under Liberty Media vs 56% in 2019 and 71% rate their satisfaction with being an F1 fan as 8 or higher vs 44% in 2019.

Furthermore, fans believe Formula 1 handled itself very well during the global pandemic, with 90% believing the safety measures put in place to allow races to go ahead have been handled well, 81% believing F1 has communicated well with fans during the shutdown, 73% believing F1 has handled the absence of fans at the races well and 88% feeling positive about the calendar in 2020.

CMYK

F1’S DIGITAL PLATFORMS: Formula 1 has made significant gains across digital, making F1 the second fastest growing major sports league on the planet across the four major social platforms. In 2020, followers (across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, Snapchat, Twitch and Chinese social platforms) were up 36% to 35m, video views up 47% to 4.9bn and total engagement up 99% to 810m.

Additionally, total video views across F1.com, the F1 app and social media were up +46% vs 2019 to 4.9bn, unique users on F1.com and the F1 app were up +26% to 70.5m and page views were up +13% to 1.3bn. In China there was very strong digital growth with followers on Chinese platforms (Weibo, WeChat, Toutiao and Douyin) up +133% to 1.9m. The biggest drivers of the digital growth have been fuelled by a 20% uplift in video uploads, new races during the revised 2020 calendar and also the excitement during the races that resulted in increases in traffic and activity during a race week.

Formula 1 also amassed 14m podcast listens in 2020, with Beyond The Grid the most-listened-to motorsport podcast in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada, amongst other territories. The results mean that Formula 1 is now strongly outperforming other major sports in the digital arena including La Liga, NBA, PGA tour and the Premier League. The digital share of total minutes (including broadcast and digital) has grown from 7% in 2019 to 10% in 2020.

ESPORTS: The F1 Esports Series 2020 rounded off a very successful year as a record number of fans tuned into the action, achieving a total of 11.4m live stream views across all digital platforms, representing a 98% increase on 2019.

The nail-biting Grand Final also reached a staggering 1.7m social media engagements, an all-time record for any F1 Esports Series event, culminating what had already been a hugely successful campaign regarding social media interaction, as the Pro Series achieved 291m total social media impressions, a 151% increase on the 2019 season. Additionally, the series recorded 23.8m video views, up 29% on 2019, which was aided by increased social media output for last year’s campaign. “Last year was an unprecedented time for everyone and Formula 1 had to adapt to the challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1. “We delivered 17 races, something many thought impossible earlier in the year. We did it safely and brought excitement and new races to our fans around the world.

The audience figures for 2020 show the strength and resilience of our sport, with average audience figures in 2020 at 87.4m and a total season cumulative audience of 1.5bn.

We had strong growth figures in China, the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA, combined with the huge boost in our digital figures.

Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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Bad weather halts search for Missing K2 cliMBers THE THREE — PAKISTAN'S ALI SADPARA, JOHN SNORRI OF ICELAND AND JUAN PABLO MOHR OF CHILE — LOST CONTACT WITH BASE CAMP LATE ON FRIDAY AND WERE REPORTED MISSING ON SATURDAY ISLAMABAD

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AD weather on Monday forced Pakistan Army helicopters to temporarily halt their search for three mountaineers who went missing while attempting to scale K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. The search was stopped just hours after it resumed for the third consecutive day, with officials uncertain when weather conditions would improve enough for it to resume again.

Friends and family of the three — Pakistan’s Ali Sadpara, John Snorri of Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr of Chile — grew increasingly concerned for their fate in the harsh environment.

The three lost contact with base camp late on Friday and were reported missing on Saturday after their support team stopped receiving communications from them during their ascent of the 8,611-meter (28,250-foot) high K2 — sometimes referred to as “killer mountain.”

Located in the Karakorum mountain range, K2 is one of the most dangerous climbs. Last month, a team of 10 Nepalese climbers made history by scaling the K2 for the first time in winter.

Waqas Johar, Shigar Assistant Commissioner, said on Twitter that almost 60 percent of K2 was under

Man seeking son’s body charged under anti-terror law in occupied Kashmir AGENcIES Police in India-occupied Kashmir have charged a man seeking the body of his teenage son, who was slain by government forces, with conspiring to organise illegal processions, officials said on Monday. Police said Mushtaq Ahmed and six others, including his two brothers, were charged last week under India’s harsh anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Indian government forces fatally shot Ahmed’s 16year-old son, Athar Mushtaq, and two other young men on Dec 30 during what police described as a gunfight after the men refused to surrender on the outskirts of Srinagar city. They described the men as “hardcore associates of terrorists” opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir. Authorities buried them at a remote graveyard about 115 kilometres from their ancestral villages. Under a policy started in April 2020, Indian authorities have buried over 150 alleged Kashmiri fighters in unmarked graves, denying their families proper funerals. The policy has added to widespread anti-India anger in the region. The young men’s families have protested repeatedly, seeking their bodies while insisting they were not militants and were killed in cold blood. The killings and remote burial drew widespread public mourning. Videos on social media in which Ahmed sought his son’s body triggered an outburst of emotions as thousands rallied behind a “return the bodies” campaign.

Last month, Ahmed dug a grave for his son at his village, demanding that his body be exhumed and returned for burial at his ancestral graveyard. The grave remains empty. Two police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations said the defendants conspired to organise illegal processions, abetted anti-national elements, and spread disaffection against the state. The defendants have not yet been taken into custody. The antiterror law was amended in 2019 to allow the government to designate an individual as a terrorist. Police can detain a person for six months without producing any evidence, and the accused can subsequently be imprisoned for up to seven years. Rights activists have called the law draconian. “Police are seeking my silence,” Ahmed said by phone from his home on Monday. “But I refuse to be silenced. I will keep seeking justice and my son’s body.” India has long relied on military force to retain control over occupied Kashmir. An armed struggle since 1989 against Indian control and subsequent Indian crackdown has killed tens of thousands of civilians, fighters and government forces.

clouds. The search and rescue team was unable to find any clue of the climbers’ whereabouts so far, he said, adding it will attempt again once the weather improves.

Sadpara’s son said in a video statement released to the media that the chances of the mountaineers’ survival in the harsh winter conditions were extremely low.

Sadpara, an experienced climber, had earlier scaled

the world’s eight highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest in the Himalayas, and was attempting to climb K2 in winter.

“Miracles do happen and the hope for a miracle is still there,” said Karar Haideri, secretary at the Pakistan alpine Club. He said a statement from the authorities was expected later on Monday.

Sadpara’s son Sajid Ali Sadpara, himself a mountaineer who was part of the expedition at the start but later returned to base camp after his oxygen regulator malfunctioned, said their chances after “spending two to three days in the winter at 8,000 (meters’ altitude) are next to none.”

The younger Sadpara praised the rescue and search efforts but said “as a climber, I know that […] only a miracle can save their lives.”

The younger Sadpara’s oxygen regulator had malfunctioned when he reached K2’s most dangerous point, known as Bottle Neck, earlier last week. There, he waited for his father and two other climbers for more than 20 hours but with no sign of them, he descended.

Since the climbers went missing, Iceland Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson has spoken to his Pakistan counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, by telephone.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Qureshi assured him that Pakistan would spare no effort in the search for the missing mountaineers.

Although Mount Everest is 237 meters (777 feet) taller than K2, the K2 mountain is much farther north, on the border with China, and subject to worse weather conditions, according to mountaineering experts.

A winter climb is particularly dangerous because of the unpredictable and rapid change in the weather.

Winter winds on K2 can blow at more than 200 kph (125 mph) and temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit).

In one of the deadliest mountaineering accidents ever, 11 climbers died in a single day trying to scale K2 in 2008.

Army donates its Covid-19 vaccine share to national drive CHIEF MILITARY SPOKESPERSON MAJ GEN BABAR IFTIKHAR SAYS THE PLA DONATED AN UNDISCLOSED NUMBER OF DOSES, MAKING PAKISTAN THE FIRST FOREIGN MILITARY TO RECEIVE VACCINE ASSISTANCE FROM CHINA ISLAMABAD/BEIJING Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Army donated a batch of Chinese coronavirus jabs — delivered for the troops on Sunday by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of China — to the national vaccination drive, the chief military spokesperson said Monday.

In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said the PLA donated an undisclosed number of doses, making Pakistan the first foreign military to receive vaccine assistance from China. “However, keeping with the Pakistan armed forces’ traditional spirit of ‘nation comes first, always and every time’ it has been decided to contribute the complete donation to the national vaccination drive [for] frontline healthcare workers across Pakistan who are the real heroes fighting against the pandemic and saving precious lives,” the statement said.

“Pakistan’s armed forces extend their deepest gratitude to PLA and the People’s Republic of China for this magnanimous donation during testing times,” it added.

Responding to the development, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the lauded military’s decision to donate the vaccines. The move, he said, was in line with the government’s decision of giving first priority to the frontline healthcare workers. The Global Times reported the vaccine shots were produced by Chinese state-owned drug producer Sinopharm. Pakistan began rolling out the anticoronavirus jabs last Wednesday, a day after receiving half a million shots of the Sinopharm vaccine.

As per the roll-out plan, the vaccine will first be made available to more than 400,000 doctors and frontline healthcare workers, teachers and social workers because they run the highest risk of exposure to the contagious disease. After that, the shots will be pro-

vided to citizens over the age of 65, who generally face a higher mortality risk from the virus. Pakistan received its first tranche of the Sinopharm jabs, given by China as a “gift”, on Tuesday last. The shipment marked the first shots to be imported into the country where more than 549,032 cases of the disease have been reported since the outbreak in February last. In addition, the government is due to receive a further 1.1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine by the end of this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced late last month.

Separately, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan announced on Saturday that the government has secured 17 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine through the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) COVAX initiative. Of these, he had said, about seven million doses will be available in the first quarter of the year and the rest by the end of 2021.

CanSinoBIO’s Covid-19 vaccine 65.7pc effective in global trials, SAPM Dr Faisal says AGENcIES CanSino Biologics Inc’s (CanSinoBIO) Covid-19 vaccine showed 65.7 per cent efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases and a 90.98 per cent success rate in stopping the severe disease in an interim analysis of global trials, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said on Monday.

The positive data moves the vaccine, jointly developed by a research institute affiliated with the Chinese military, a step closer to becoming China’s third successful shot for the disease.

Although Covid-19 vaccines from Chinese developers have shown lower protection rates than some Western ones, and no detailed study results are publicly available yet, they have already been approved in several developing countries battling a surge in coronavirus infections.

The CanSinoBIO vaccine is being tested in Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, Ar-

gentina and Chile, according to clinical trial registration data, and the company has supply deals with some of those countries, including Mexico.

SAPM Sultan had said that Pakistan could receive “in the range of tens of millions” of the vaccine under an agreement with the Chinese firm. On another occasion, he said the country is entitled to receive 20 million doses of CanSino’s vaccine, “provided the results are positive and the vaccine proves to be effective”.

Hassan Abbas, head of the CanSinoBIO trial at AJ Pharma in Pakistan, said it has already applied to the government for permission to import the vaccine.

“The initial set of vaccines will come in vials already filled, but we hope in the future to get them in the form of concentrates from CanSino, and do the filling here in Pakistan,” he told Reuters.

The efficacy of the shot is based on analysis of 30,000 participants and 101 confirmed cases of Covid-19, SAPM Sultan said on Twitter, quoting data from an

independent data monitoring committee.

It was not immediately clear whether the study also looked into the vaccine’s efficacy against new and highly transmissible variants first found in South Africa, Britain and Brazil. No serious safety concerns have been raised in the study, Sultan said. In the Pakistani subset, the efficacy of the CanSinoBIO vaccine at preventing symptomatic cases was 74.8 per cent and 100 per cent at preventing severe disease, he added.

CanSinoBIO was not immediately available for comment.

SINGLE-DOSE REGIMEN: While the vaccine’s protection rate trails the more than 90pc efficacy of shots developed by Pfizer Inc and its partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc, its single-dose regimen and normal refrigerator storage requirement could make it a favourable option for many countries.

CanSinoBIO’s vaccine — which was approved for use in the Chinese military last year and has since been given to at

least 40,000-50,000 people — uses a modified common cold virus known as adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) to carry genetic material from the coronavirus protein into the body.

However, researchers in an early and mid-stage trial report expressed concern the vaccine may not work in those previously exposed to Ad5, as the pre-existing antibody against the common cold virus could weaken the vaccine-triggered immune response.

CanSinoBIO is also testing a twodose regimen of the vaccine in China including on participants aged between six and 17 and older than 55.

Shots from Chinese companies Sinovac and state-backed Sinopharm have shown efficacy of between 50pc and 91pc. The three firms have applied to join the global vaccine sharing scheme Covax for approval and China plans to provide 10m doses to the initiative, which is backed by the World Health Organisation and GAVI vaccine alliance.

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