Issuu

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020 I 7 Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 31 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Govt and oPP loCk horns over anti-Graft law amendments g

Qureshi says Opp’s amendments call for excluding anti-money laundering laws from ‘list of offences’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

HE opposition and government on Tuesday locked horns over proposed amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, and a legislation related to the action plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). According to the government, the opposition’s proposed amendments to NAO were against the country ’s interest and will hurt Pakistan’s position in the FATF. “The opposition had proposed 35 amendments to the NAB ordinance which were presented before Prime Minister Imran Khan and after detailed discussion the PTI government decided to reject them,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday. He was speaking on the floor of National Assembly after the Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Business comprising members of both opposition and treasury benches met to reach a consensus on proposed amendments to the law

that governs the country’s top graft buster, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Reading the opposition proposed amendments, Qureshi said anti-money laundering laws will be excluded from the “list of offences” of NAB if proposal was accepted. “This is against the objective of FATF and will cause damage to the Pakistan’s interest.” FATF has given the September 2020 deadline to Pakistan to comply with the 27-point action plan and the federal government is in the process of meeting the remaining legal requirements. Terming the suggestions “shocking”, the foreign minister said the opposition had proposed that cases below Rs1 billion should not be dealt by the country ’s top graft buster and the tenure of its chairman should also be reduced. “As a matter of fact the incumbent NAB chairman was appointed by PML-N and PPP with

consensus, we [PTI] had no role in it,” he said while dispelling the speculations that the government was mulling to extend tenure of NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal. In addition to this Qureshi said, the opposition had also objected the government’s suggestion of 10 years bar on NAB’s convict for holding any public office. “Instead they have [opposition] suggested to reduce it to five year which we think that no concessions should be given to those who plundered nation’s wealth.” Qureshi claimed that the opposition had linked changes to the NAB law with the FATF-related legislation. “When the PTI came into power, Pakistan was already on the FATF grey list,” he said, adding that he had “no doubt” over the opposition’s patriotism. “Everyone wants the sword hanging over Pakistan to be removed,” he said.

PML-N’s Abbasi says Opp won’t negotiate with govt over NAB laws, says it lacks seriousness over the issue

“We are trying to bring Pakistan out of the grey list through diplomatic engagement. This is an issue of national security. At the last meeting in Paris, our efforts were lauded but we have to fulfill some more conditions which require legislation. “We require the cooperation of the opposition,” he said, adding that the government had introduced four bills. “These bills are time-bound; if we pass these bills today then our case will be reviewed by October.” The opposition wants to club the FATF and NAB bills, he said. “The FATF legislation is time-bound whereas we have been discussing changes in NAB’s laws for the past 10 years.” OPP WALKS OUT OF MEETING: Earlier, the opposition lawmakers staged a walk out from the proceedings of the committee after the government’s lawmakers refused to accept their suggestions. Addressing a press conference outside the Parliament House, PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said they won’t negotiate with the government over the NAB laws, alleging that the PTI government lacked seriousness over the issue.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

In-house change, mid-term polls’ on Opp’s APC agenda g

Bilawal says Imran Khan’s ‘selected’ govt has become a threat to masses LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday separately met with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamFazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here to discuss ways to dislodge the “selected” government of

Prime Minister Imran Khan. He also held two separate press conferences after the meetings, saying that his party would stand by the joint opposition’s decision, including holding mid-term elections, following a multiparties conference after Eidul Azha. “Imran Khan’s selected government has become a threat to the masses,” the PPP chairman told journalists following his meeting with Shehbaz. “An in-

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

276,043

house change and mid-term elections among other options are on the table,” he added. “A very good news for the masses will come out of the APC [allparties conference] which will be held after Eid, he remarked. Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz said the PTI government had failed to deliver, adding that the longer it stayed at the helm the more it will become a threat to the country. “This selected government is incapable of bringing the country out of trouble,” he added. The PML-N president also accused the PTI government of “witch-hunting”, questioning as to why NAB was unable

to investigate “massive corruption” in Peshawar Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and Malam Jabba among other PTI projects. MEETING WITH FAZL: Following a meeting with Maulana Fazl earlier in the day, the PPP chairman blamed PM Imran for the hardship currently being faced by the masses, adding that the people

Traders protest as Punjab govt imposes lockdown ahead of Eid g

Business leaders call lockdown ‘economic murder ’ of traders, demand opening of shops till festival LAHORE

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

1,176 DEATHS:

242,436 5,881 SINDH:

119,398

PUNJAB:

92,279

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

33,724

11,654

2,040/2,010 14,938

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Five CTD personnel martyred, five injured in Chilas raid STORY ON PAGE 02

Cabinet okays formation of commission to probe petrol crisis

SHAHAB OMER

A strict lockdown started across Punjab on Tuesday as police forcibly closed shops amid protests by traders, who called the provincial government’s directive to close businesses till August 5 ‘economic murder’ of the business community. Lahore’s Anjuman-e-Tajiran General Secretary Naeem Mir said in a press conference that the lockdown is not acceptable and business should be allowed to open till Eid as the business community was implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to curb the spread of Covid-19. “The government should make some considerations and immediately reverse its decision,” Mir said. “Markets all over Pakistan, except Punjab, are open. What is the fault of Punjab’s trader community? Traders should leave their homes and open shops.” Traders in other major cities of Punjab, including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Jhang, also protested against the smart lockdown and vowed to open their shops. Faisalabad traders opened shops in surrounding areas of Clock Tower, Rail Bazaar, Makki Market and Gol Bazaar. On the other hand, police arrested several traders for violating the government’s orders. In Lahore, Pakistan Today observed that busi-

were on the same page against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. The PPP chairman also condemned politics on the health condition of Shehbaz Sharif. “It is unfortunate to do politics on someone’s heath,” he said.

STORY ON BACK PAGE

nesses continued in various markets of the city such as Shah Alam Market, Neela Gumbad Bicycle Market, Flea Market Railway Station and Gold Market of Rang Mahal. The traders kept the shutters of their shops down and were present outside until the customers arrived. Upon their arrival, the shopkeepers would secretly let them in. Khalid Ameen, a buyer at the Neela Gumbad Bicycle Market, told Pakistan Today that he had bought two bicycles from a shop. “The shops are apparently closed, but the shopkeepers are sitting outside their shops or at some other spots, and when the customer comes, they figure it out, and the shop shutters are secretly opened, and the customer is allowed to enter the shop,” Khalid said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

NAB chief okays new references against Sharif family, Abbasi STORY ON PAGE 02

Karachi continues to suffer from aftermath of rain STORY ON PAGE 02

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

NEWS

NAB chief okAys New refereNces AgAiNst shArif fAmily, ABBAsi ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

HE National Accountability Bureau (NAB) approved three corruption references on Tuesday pertaining to accumulation of assets beyond known means against members of the Sharif family, corruption in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and non-transparent dealings in the LNG-1 contract. NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal approved the three references implicating various stalwarts of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), a former ambassador of Pakistan, and current and former officials of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and others. The first reference is against Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Suleman Shehbaz and others, pertaining to accumulation of as-

sets disproportionate to their known sources of income to the tune of Rs7,328 million. According to NAB, the proceedings of the investigation thus far have revealed that Shehbaz Sharif and his co-accused family members, benamidars, frontmen, accumulated assets beyond known means of income. The anti-graft watchdog claims that for the said assets, accused persons laundered their disproportionate funds under the garb of foreign remittances, loans, which have been proved to be fake/fictitious. The accused persons were also operating benami companies held in the name of their employees/associates to place the proceeds of crimes for their own benefits, claims the bureau. The second reference pertains to corruption and corrupt practices in the sale of the Embassy of Pakistan building in Jakarta, Indonesia, has been approved against officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. NAB claims that during the period of 2001-02,

five ctD personnel martyred, five injured in chilas raid CHILAS: Five personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were martyred and another five injured during an exchange of fire with suspected terrorists in Chilas city of Diamir district in GilgitBaltistan early on Tuesday. According to a report, two civilians received injuries as well. According to the police, the CTD raided a house in Rohnai mohalla to arrest alleged arms smugglers. During the raid, the suspects opened fire and managed to escape. The deceased were identified as Inspector Sohrab Khan, Junaid Karim, Zia, Ishtiaq Ahmed and Ghulam Murtaza. Gilgit-Baltistan police spokesperson Mubarak Jan said that the operation was carried out after police received information that criminals wanted for murder and attempted murder were seeking shelter at a house. The operation was carried out at approximately two in the morning, he said. He added that police cordoned off the area immediately after the incident took place and were carrying out raids in adjoining areas. The spokesperson said that the bodies of the martyred officials had been shifted to a nearby hospital. GB Counterterrorism Force AIG Hafeezur Rehman said that after police personnel entered the house and started searching a man present inside, at least three suspects hiding in other places of the house opened indiscriminate fire on the security officials, leading to the casualties. During the exchange of fire, two women police personnel narrowly escaped the bullets, the AIG added. Police had been keeping the house and its occupants under watch for a while, the officer said, revealing that the property was being used to sell weapons to criminals across the region. He said the house will be searched for any hidden weapons after clearing the debris from it and the burial of the martyred police personnel. GB caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal has sought a report on the incident from IG Dr Mujeebur Rehman and directed that the accused be arrested immediately. STAFF REPORT

Pm directs Punjab govt to ensure uninterrupted wheat, flour supply ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the Punjab government to ensure that that there should be no shortage of wheat and flour as it is a basic need of the citizens and the Food Department and local administration should not shy away from any action in this regard. He said this during a meeting with Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, who called on the premier in Islamabad and gave him a detailed briefing on the current situation of wheat and flour in Punjab. The provincial minister told PM Imran that this year, the official release of wheat has been started prematurely in all the districts of Punjab with the objective of ensuring ample supply of flour. He thanked the premier for accepting the proposals of the provincial government regarding import of 1.5 million tonnes of wheat immediately. He also expressed gratitude for the approval and supply of wheat at low rates like Punjab to the flour mills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He further said that these two decisions would reduce the burden on Punjab province regarding wheat and flour and there should be less price margin between the two provinces. Aleem Khan also apprised the prime minister about the operations being carried out in different districts of Punjab against hoarding and illicit profiteering. STAFF REPORT

Major General (r) Syed Mustafa Anwar, who was at the time the ambassador of Pakistan in Jakarta, sold the Pakistani embassy building at “a throwaway price”. The bureau alleges that this was done by the then ambassador through a non-transparent procedure without lawful authority. According to NAB, Anwar caused a loss of 1.32 million US dollars. Meanwhile, the third reference is against former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, his son Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, former chairperson of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) board Sheikh Imranul Haq, former chief executive officer of Engro Elengy Terminal Private Limited (EETPL) and PSO managing director Agha Jan Akhtar, former chairperson of Port Qasim Authority Brigadier (Retd) Saeed Ahmed Khan, former chairperson of OGRA Aamir Naseem, former oil member at OGRA Uzma Adil Khan, former chairperson

PM calls for facilitating access to education for the youth ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan, praising the measures taken for tele-schooling and provision of education through internet, said on Tuesday that facilitation of youth towards education was a must for utilization of their talent. He was heading a high-level meeting here about ensuring enhanced and improved coverage of internet in the country. Issues of the telecom sector were also discussed. Federal ministers, including Shafqat Mehmood and Asad Umar, PM’s Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant to PM Tania Aidrus, secretary Information Technology, chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Universal Service Fund (USF) and other officers attended the meeting.

The prime minister lauded the measures taken by USF about broadening the mobile and internet coverage, especially in the backward and inaccessible areas, and directed to speed up all the necessary steps for the inclusion of priority sectors like education in the jurisdiction of USF. Provision of cheaper internet packages for easy internet access for the youth was ordered and he directed to consider the telecom issues in the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) and take decisions within the next two weeks. The meeting discussed in detail the measures being taken to ensure enhanced and improved internet coverage and addressing the issues relating to the telecom sector. During the meeting, views were also exchanged on various USF projects for ensuring mobile and internet coverage in the country’s backward areas.

Karachi continues to suﬀer from aftermath of rain KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The electricity crisis has severely hampered the daily lives of people residing in the metropolitan after it was hit by a recent spell of heavy rain in the past two days. K-Electric, which monopolizes in the supply of power, is carrying out unannounced load shedding in

various areas of the city amid the heavy rain. The most adversely affected areas from these power outages include Surjani, Orangi, New Karachi, North Karachi, and Paposh. Karachi’s Liaquatabad, Khamosh Colony, Saeedabad, Baldia, Manghopir, Kanwari colony, Qasba colony, Banaras, and Valika areas also fell victim to the pro-

cused resulted in an estimated liability of Rs21.584 billion as of September 2019. The anti-graft watchdog claims that further loss to be incurred for the next 10 years will amount to approximately Rs47 billion as the contract in question is to expire in March 2029. The bureau alleges that during the time period in question, unexplained deposits amounting to Rs1.426 billion were received in the accounts of Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi, while Rs1.294 billion was deposited in Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s bank account during 2013-17. The LNG Terminal deal in question was made during this time, claims NAB. It alleges that by concealing the said deposits and layering, the accused committed money laundering.

OGRA Shahid M Islam, former managing director PSO Husain Dawood, Chairperson Engro Abdul Samad Dawood, the director of Engro and others. The anti-graft watchdog alleges that the accused awarded the LNG Terminal-1 contract through a non-transparent process. NAB claimed that the accused public office holders misused their authority in connivance with other accused to ensure wrongful gains to the EETL/ETPL/ECL amounting to Rs14.146 billion. Besides, they caused a wrongful loss of an estimated Rs7.438 billion for non-utilisation of unused capacity of the second LNG terminal of PGPL [Pakistan GasPort Limited] from March 2015 till September 2019, claims NAB. According to NAB, the actions of the ac-

longed power failures. In the current hot and humid weather, certain areas that had no load shedding also faced an unstable electric supply such as Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, and PECHS. The rain destroyed the infrastructure in areas such as Gadap Town, Lyari, Malir, and Korangi, forcing the K-Electric to halt the electric supply for several hours. The thunderstorm has inflicted heavy damages to the city’s infrastructure and properties, flooded streets and neighborhoods, disturbed the flow of traffic, and took 10 lives, seven of which were electrocuted.

Petition in ihc seeks removal of sAPms having dual nationalities ISLAMABAD: A petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday challenging the appointment of special assistants to the prime minister having dual nationalities. The petitioner, Justice Party Chairman Malik Munsif Awan, pleaded that the appointment of four SAPMs, who were dual nationals, be declared null and void as somebody who owed their allegiance to another country should not be holding key government positions and making decisions about the country. He pleaded that the court should issue directions for the removal of the four SAPMs from their posts for the sake of national interest as they had access to sensitive information about the country, including its nuclear assets. The petitioner also asked the court to refrain the four SAPMS from working until it had decided the case. Earlier this month, the government went public with the assets and nationalities of 15 SAPMs – bringing to light that seven of them were either dual nationals or held another country’s permanent residency. SAPM on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill has US Green Card while SAPM on Parliamentary Coordination Nadeem Afzal Gondal holds permanent residency of Canada. SAPM on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Wasim Yusuf holds permanent residency of the US, which, according to him, he is not availing since his return to Pakistan. The opposition parties have criticised the PTI-led federal government for appointing these SAPMs despite PM Imran Khan’s stance in the past that such individuals should not run government affairs. STAFF RPEORT

Over 300,000 Pakistanis repatriated amid the pandemic ISLAMABAD APP

The government has repatriated over 300,000 citizens under the world’s largest evacuation operation launched amid the coronavirus pandemic when global travel had come to a halt. Now, some 3,500 citizens are to be brought back, which would not be an issue since normal flight operations have resumed to Pakistan. The repatriation of a whopping number of stranded Pakistanis in such a short span of time validates the vows of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who wished only the wellbeing of the Pakistani diaspora. A senior officer of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and human Resource Development (OP&HRD) told APP on Tuesday that all of this was achieved because of improved coordination among all stakeholders, timely mobilisation of human and financial resources, active participation of affluent overseas Pakistanis in relief activities, effective diplomatic efforts, and above all, political will. He said that the government had brought back over 200,000 stranded Pak-

istanis through special flights until June 20, after which normal flight operations were resumed. “At least 533 flights were operated under the special flight operations, which were carried out between April 1 and June 20,” he added. Moreover, around 100,000 citizens had been brought back to the country under 532 normal flights, whereas 4,329 citizens were repatriated via land borders of Iran, Afghanistan and India, he further said. According to a document shared by the official, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remained the government’s main focus where the Pakistani diaspora is in high concentration. Some 154,856 were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by Saudi Arabia, from where 63,595, including 480 Umrah pilgrims and 195 detainees, were brought back to the country. Similarly, 17,062 were repatriated form Qatar, 7,122 form the United Kingdom, 11,792 from Oman, 4,714, including 80 Tablighis and 331 detainees, from Malaysia, over 4, 000 from Afghanistan (via land and air routes), 1,702 from United States, 924 from Iran (via land route) and

418 from India (via land route). Multiple countries such as Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, China, Congo, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Norway, South Africa, Somalia Sri Lanka, Sudan Turkey, Thailand, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan were also among others from where a number of stranded nationals were airlifted by the government. The repatriated nationals also included 2,018 Tablighis, 1,745 prisoners and detainees, and 1,326 Zaireen. The official said that the government did not limit its focus to the repatriation operation only as it had also taken extensive measures to provide food, accommodation and free air tickets to the destitute Pakistanis, who were stuck in foreign countries due to massive lay-offs caused due to socioeconomic impact of the pandemic on the private sector. He said that a reintegration programme for jobless Pakistani expatriates was also in making as the OP&HRD Ministry has chalked out a complete plan for their re-employment. Highlighting the relief activities of the Pakistani missions and consulate generals abroad, he said that the Community Welfare

Attaches and officers of Ministry of Foreign Affairs had distributed around 36,000 ration bags, worth Rs20 million, among the overseas Pakistanis. They also provided free air tickets, stretcher facility, dead body transportation, medical treatment and accommodations to the needy Pakistanis, he added. He further said that so far bodies of 973 Pakistanis, who had died abroad due to various ailments, had been brought to the country since the beginning of the pandemic. The official said that the government transferred cooked meal amounting to Rs20 million to those students who was stuck in Wuhan, China. Rs10 million were spent on subsidy given to those Pakistani students who had returned from Wuhan, China, he added. He said that the OP&HRD ministry had set up a portal to register Pakistani workers, who had lost their overseas jobs in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. So far more than 50,000 Pakistani workers had registered themselves with the Overseas Employment Corporation's (OEC) portal in search of job opportunities, training in modern skills and financial assistance. The officer said that the ministry had also been developing partnership with public and private sectors to facilitate the jobless Pakistani workers in skill development and getting job opportunities.

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

NEWS

NA committee rAises questioNs over PsDP Projects, PlANNiNg commissioN’s PerformANce ISLAMABAD

GHULAM ABBAS

HE National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Tuesday raised multiple questions over the performance of the Planning Commission (PC) and its criteria for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects and allocation of funds. During a meeting of the committee chaired by Member National Assembly (MNA) Junaid Akbar, the committee asked the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to clarify the criteria for the allocation of PSDP funds to different areas. The committee in its written query also asked the ministry regarding how the PC and the ministry have been working without having a full-time chief economist since 2018.

The commission also questioned why the budget for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been freezed at Rs29 billion which previously stood at Rs47 billion in 2018. The committee also directed the planning ministry to explain the impact on the efficiency of line ministries of enhancement of up to Rs2 billion in the Departmental Development Working Party’s (DDWP) project approval limit. The committee also enquired if the planning ministry has come up with a three to five-year plan to augment the capacity of the ministry. It also raised questions regarding the delay in the release of the 13th five-year plan despite its first draft having been approved by the National Economic Council in May 2018. “How many new initiatives have been taken by the ministry during the last two years to enhance productivity and economic growth?” the committee asked in its written query shared with

Pm imran seeks sc’s help in empowering lg system in karachi ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday asked the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to approach the Supreme Court (SC) for seeking its help in empowering local bodies system in a rain-battered Karachi. “The issues of Karachi could not be resolved without the empowerment of the local bodies’ representatives in the city,” Imran Khan said during the federal cabinet meeting. Taking key decision to resolve Karachi issues, the prime minister directed the attorney general to approach the apex court to set an early hearing of a case pertaining to the implementation of Article 140 of the Constitution of Pakistan in the city. It is necessary to give financial, political and administrative powers to the local government in Karachi to resolve issues faced by the metropolis, he said. Moreover, the federal ministers Asad Umar and Ali Zaidi also raised issues faced by the city during the cabinet meeting. “People of Karachi are looking towards federal government after the ongoing situation,” said Ali Zaidi while asking the federation to play its role for the metropolis. Asad Umar also seconded him and said that Karachiites have voted for PTI and the federation should come forward in a situation where houses have submerged after the recent rains. STAFF REPORT

Nation urged to follow soPs during eid to control outbreak ISLAMABAD: Dr Zafar Mirza, special assistant to the prime minister on health, has appealed to the nation to adopt precautionary measures during Eidul Azha to curtail the coronavirus infection. Urging the public to refrain from thinking of this as “a normal Eid”, Mirza said: “We have to follow standard operating procedures for curbing the spread of the virus. The basic objective is to stop crowding and minimise interactions with others.” The SAPM added that there were five things each individual could do to stop curb the spread of the virus. “These include wearing a face mask when leaving the house, maintaining a safe distance from others when in public, maintaining personal hygiene, taking care of the elderly and taking care of those suffering from other ailments,” he added. He cautioned the nation against repeating the mistakes made on Eidul Fitr, adding that the slightest irresponsibility could cause a spike in cases. STAFF REPORT

the planning ministry. The planning ministry is expected to submit its reply within a few days. Earlier the committee unanimously confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on February 26, 2020. During the meeting the committee also inquired about the report on its previous recommendations. Deputy commissioner Kohistan briefed the committee regarding the status of previous recommendations pertaining to Dasu Dam. However, the committee demanded the provision of a soft or hard copy of the brief, which the deputy commissioner was unable to produce. The committee directed the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to supply the brief to the committee within 48 hours. The committee also directed its secretary to write a letter to the speaker and the minister for planning, development and special Initiatives stating that

the planning ministry has not been seriously looking into the matters of the committee. Deputy commissioner Mansehra briefed the committee regarding the proposed Mansehra Airport. He said that the funds were granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) through PSDP but work on the airport has not been started till now. The committee directed that the funds should be utilised in another project with the consultation of Members of the National Assembly of the area. The committee also suggested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to launch another project on the area acquired for Mansehra Airport. The committee also expressed its displeasure over the absence of the HEC chairman, therefore, it deferred the briefing of HEC and directed the committee’s secretary to launch a privilege motion against the HEC chairman.

Nawaz’s latest medical report says Covid-19 could be fatal for ex-PM LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s latest medical report has recommended that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader should avoid going outside as he could contract the coronavirus which could prove to be fatal for him. The PML-N supremo’s latest medical reports were submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday by his lawyer Amjad Pervez in which doctors have suggested the three-time former prime minister avoid going outside due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nawaz, who is undergoing treatment in London, is said to be suffering from unstable platelet levels, diabetes, heart, kidney and blood pressure related ailments, and his heart is not getting an adequate supply of blood, according to the report. Doctors have also instructed Nawaz to continue with his physical activities and keep consulting medical experts. The medical report added that doctors are aware of his current health condition. Nawaz’s health deteriorated in October 2019 while he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau when his platelets count dropped abnormally. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on October 26

heard the petitions of Al-Azizia reference for suspension of bail on emergency grounds and granted him an interim on medical and humanitarian grounds. The federal government had stipulated an indemnity bond for Nawaz to go abroad for treatment, which was lifted by the Lahore High Court. The court had allowed the PML-N leader to go abroad for four weeks based on his affidavit, after which he left for London on November 19 for four weeks to receive medical treatment. The government, however, did not allow an extension in his stay.

Senate body approves bill criminalising torture on under-custody suspects ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights approved a bill on Tuesday criminalising torture and death of suspects in custody. According to the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2020, anyone found guilty of torturing someone in custody will be sent to jail for over three years and fined Rs2 million. On the other hand, harassment or death in custody will lead to a fine of Rs3 million. This will be a nonbailable offense. The law states that the person responsible for making sure that the crime doesn’t take place will be punished with five years in prison and Rs1 million fine if they are unable to prevent it. A man will not be permitted to hold a woman sus-

pect in custody. The court will record the statement of the complainant tortured in custody and then conduct a psychological and physical examination of the person. According to the bill, if the torture is proven then the case will be sent to a sessions court. The court will be obliged to pass a verdict over the matter within 60 days of the crime. An appeal over that can be made in the high court within 30 days. The complainant will also be provided security during all court hearings, the law added. The bill was presented by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman in the Senate. She said that the country “badly needed to curb the often violent abuse in official custody that our vulnerable and non-empowered face”. The law is being lauded on social media, especially by human rights activists.

Bilawal says will ask rehman malik to explain meeting with gen Bajwa LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday said he will seek an explanation from Senator Rehman Malik over his meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. “I will seek an explanation from Rehman Malik sahab,” said Bilawal when a reporter asked him about the meeting between Malik and General Bajwa on Monday. He added that the senator may have met the army chief as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Interior. “But I will certainly ask him,” said Bilawal while speaking to reporters with JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. On Monday, PPP’s Senator Rehman Malik met the army chief in Rawalpindi. According to the ISPR, the two men discussed “matters related to defence and internal security.” “Rehman Malik appreciated Pakistan Army’s success in bringing peace to the country and pledged support of the Senate Committee on Internal Security towards consolidating the gains,” the army’s media wing had said. STAFF REPORT

imran announces to celebrate tiger force Day on Aug 9 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced the government will celebrate Aug 9 as Tiger Force Day on which volunteers from the Corona Relief Tiger Force will lead a tree plantation campaign across the country. The volunteer force was launched in June this year to assist the civilian administration in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Later on, the prime minister had sought their help to assist the government in its mission to tackle climate change and battle the locust invasion. Speaking to the volunteers through a pre-recorded address shared on Twitter, Imran said: “To all the volunteers, I am telling you that you have to lead this [campaign] on Aug 9. Our youth and school students must participate in this exercise.” He added that planting trees in the country was necessary for tackling the adverse effects of global warming and combating an increase in pollution. The prime minister concluded his message by appealing to citizens to volunteer for the force, adding that the government was planning to set a record for planting the most amount of trees on this day. STAFF REPORT

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

NEWS

SindH CM orderS Monitoring oF rAin-AFFeCted AreAS oF KArACHi KARACHI

APP

INDH Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday decided to monitor the city of Karachi through 28 dub-divisional committees comprising elected representatives, including ministers, advisors and special assistants for timely and properly disposal of the rain water. “I need a solid mechanism for saving low lying areas where rainwater has flooded the houses,” this he said while presiding over a meeting to review monsoon situation and cleanliness of storm water drains, said a spokesperson to the CM Sindh. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Saeed Ghani and Syed Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Mumtaz

Shah, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shahalwani, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Sindh Solid Waste Management MD Kashif Gulzar, PD SWEEP Zubair Channa, Water Board MD Khalid Shaikh, Masood Alam of KMC and others. The chief minister said that the local bodies should have an emergency plan to deal with the heavy rain situation in the city. “The irrigation department maintains a mile-wise protection plan of embankments of their canals under which they mark vulnerable and weak points and take prompt action in case of riverine floods,” he said and added that “the local bodies should have a similar plan under which low-lying areas, choking points, bottlenecks, culverts of nullahs and their catchment areas should have been identified on a map so that deploy-

Hamza’s judicial remand in assets case extended till August 10 LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz, till August 10 in the assets beyond means case. The leader of the opposition in the Punjab assembly was not presented in the court due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Justice Jawad-ul-Hassan presided over proceedings and awarded the accused an extension of 14 days in his judicial remand. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor presented a report in the court regarding filing of reference against the PML-N stalwart. Justice Jawadul Hassan in the previous hearing had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against Hamza. Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till August 10. Hamza is accused of accumulating assets through unfair means and was involved in money laundering through his servants. It must be noted that the NAB had arrested the PML-N leader in the assets beyond income case on June 11, 2019, after the Lahore High Court (LHC) had turned down his applications for extension in interim bail. TLTP

ment of concerned staff and necessary machinery could be installed in case of heavy downpour. Murad said that only cleaning of nullahs was not enough but a detailed plan must be prepared through a proper and professional survey. “Our natural water ways have either been encroached or turned into housing societies, therefore rain water could not flow away in gravity,” he said. He directed the local government minister to remove encroachments from the storm water drains and continue their cleaning under World Bank (WB) projects and with local funding of the government. The local government minister told the chief minister that from July 26 when the rain had started, he along with the water board, local government, DMCs

senior officers had been on the roads. “The rain water where accumulated was pumped out through machinery and clearance of choking points that is why all the major roads have been cleared,” he said. The chief minister said that in low lying areas rain water flooded various houses. “I want a plan under which these houses could be protected,” he said and added that the small nullahs crossing from such residential localities must be maintained properly. Murad decided to look after the city of Karachi on sub-division level where elected representatives would be assigned the duty to ensure proper discharge of the accumulated rain water. It may be noted that there are 28 subdivisions in Karachi division and every sub-division is headed by an assistant commissioner. The local government minister, on the directives of the chief minister, chaired a joint meeting of water board, DMCs, KMC and SSWMA officers to identify choking points on the main roads, residential and commercial areas for necessary action so that further action could be taken accordingly.

IHC seeks detailed comments in PTV's appointment case ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought detailed comments from the information ministry and Pakistan Television (PTV) on a petition challenging the appointments of members of PTV's board of directors (BoDs). The court also clubbed all identical petitions related to the PTV and adjourned the hearing till August 21. Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani conducted the hearing against the appointment of chairman, managing director (MD) and members of PTV's BoDs. The petitioner's lawyer pleaded that Arshad Khan had been appointed PTV MD after he resigned from the post of chairman of state-run TV channel. He argued that rules and procedures were not followed in the appointment of Khan and other members of the BoDs. He further contended that the Supreme Court

had already set guidelines for the appointments on the top slots of PTV in a case pertaining to Attaul Haq Qasmi. The PTV's lawyer pleaded that the petitioner had the secret documents and summaries pertaining to the appointment. To this, Justice Kiyani said that the government should look into the matter that how the official record was leaked. The petitioner said that the members also did not meet the required qualification for their post pertaining to the age and education. The court observed that those were controversial facts and there was need of detailed reply from the PTV on it. The court sought detailed answers from the PTV's BoDs and adjourned the case till next date. The court also ordered to club the petition pertaining to the termination of PTV employees in matter of on airing controversial map of Kashmir.

SC takes notice of non-availability of video-link facility in Adiala Jail ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday took notice over non-availability of video-link facility in the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi and issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Advocate Generals of Punjab and Islamabad. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed took notice of non-availability of videolink trial in the bail matter of Secretary Union Council Rawat. During the course of proceedings, the bench asked what was the policy regarding the video link trials. Justice Mushir Alam said provision of videolink facility was not difficult in the era of technology. Advocate Shah Khawar said that the trial of his client was delayed. The National Accountability Bureau Prosecutor General said that the trial was delayed as videolink facility was not available in Adiala Jail. He said that the NAB had written letters to the departments concerned and the inspector general (IG) prisons for provision of video-link facility but no progress was made until now. In many cases, including Asif Ali Zardari’s case, trial had been commenced on video-link, he added. Advocate Shah Khawar pleaded the court to grant bail to accused Javed Akhtar Chaudhry. Justice Mushir Alam said that many people would benefit on this count. He said that if the court granted bail, the matter of video-link would be further delayed. APP

Zaidi tweets Sindh govt’s letter requesting services of Fazl’s brother ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi has said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government is lying that services of Ziaur Rehman were gifted by the federal government to Sindh. Zaidi in his tweet shared a letter written by the Sindh government to the secretary Establishment Division for transfer of Ziaur Rehman to Sindh. “For the correction of the record, this is the letter, written by Sindh government to the secretary Establishment Division for transfer of Rehman’s services to Sindh”, Ali Zaidi stated in his tweet. The letter was penned on 16 January, 2019. After serious criticism and strong reaction from opposition parties in Sindh, the federal government on Monday last transferred the services of Ziaur Rehman, a younger brother of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, back to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government. Rehman was recently appointed as the deputy commissioner of Karachi’s Central district by the PPP government in Sindh. TLTP

KP CM opens Havelian-Thakot section of Hazara Motorway HAVELIAN TLTP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Tuesday said that it is the responsibility of the government to provide job opportunities to the people. Khan said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Havelian-Thakot section of Hazara Motorway. The motorway will lead this area to the path of progress, the chief minister said. Talking about promotion of tourism in the province, Khan said the road will create employment opportunities for local people. The journey of rebuilding and progress will continue despite difficult condi-

tions, he added. This project is key to progress and prosperity of the region. It will promote tourism and trade activities in the area, the chief minister said. Construction work of Havelian-Thakot section of Hazara Motorway was recently completed. 118-kmlong motorway section has been completed at a cost of more than Rs133 billion. This section of the motorway starts from Havelian, passes through Abbottabad, Mansehra and Shinkiari and ends at Thakot. The motorway has five tunnels; two at Abbottabad and one each at Battal, Karmong and Mansehra. Up to Haripur it is a six-lane highway, while Havelian to Mansehra portion has four lanes and Mansehra-Thakot section has two lanes.

FPCCI for more practical steps to enhance Pakistan-Russia trade KARACHI TLTP

The bilateral trade of Russia and Pakistan needs more practical steps as there is huge potential for investment and economic cooperation in Pakistan’s energy sector, steel production, telecommunication, oil and gas. This was stated by Mian Anjum Nisar, President FPCCI in the first virtual meeting of Pakistan–Russia Business Council (PRBC) of FPCCI attended by newly-elected PRBC Chairman Zakir Jaffer, former chairman Mohsin Sheikh and the members of PRBC. While talking to the members of Pak-Russia Business Council, Mian Anjum Nisar said that there is a need to revitalize the activities of both countries’ friendship for bringing Pakistani and Russian people closer through exchange of trade delegations. A coherent strategy should be adapted for enhancing people-to-people contacts in various fields of business and commerce, social and culture, etc. He further said that the matter of long pending outstanding amount has also been resolved with the efforts of FPCCI. He expressed his hope that PRBC will work for the promotion of Pak–Russia bilateral trade and

economic relations. On this occasion the Mohsin Sheikh shared brief performance report of his one year tenure and said that the matters visa on reciprocal basis, both side banking facilities, FTA with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union, establishment of Pak-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, establishment of warehouses, etc. are the main issues which has already been under discussion between the authorities of both countries. He further said that PRBC under the chairmanship of Zakir Jaffer will pursue these matters in the concerned quarters for the promotion of bilateral trade relations with Russia. Chairman PRBC Zakir Jaffer assured his full contribution to enhance and strengthen Pak-Russia bilateral relations on the line of the previous team of PRBC. During the meeting he presented a comparative study of Pak-Russia bilateral trade and economic relations and said that PRBC will focus on ways and means to utilize for smooth bilateral trade with Russia such as opening of commercial banks and corresponding banks in both countries to provide a level playing field to the business communities of both countries.

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

NEWS

Impact of covId-19 more pronounced In emergIng markets, says khusro Bakhtyar ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday said that the impact of Covid-19 is more pronounced in emerging markets and developing countries. The minister said this while addressing the annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. "The pandemic has caused severe disruptions in the global economic system and stress on the health infrastructure. The impact is more pronounced in case of emerging markets and developing countries,” he said.

The minister further appreciated AIIB’s Covid-19 Crisis Response Facility which was announced to support the economies of the member countries. He said that the AIIB should take the lead in technological and Information Technology (IT) related infrastructure in the short to medium term horizon particularly in sectors like education, health and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the post covid scenario. He also expressed hope that AIIB would enhance climate financing and provision of primary physical infrastructure for water and sanitation and rural connectivity for developing countries. The federal minister also mentioned that the develop-

ment of basic infrastructure in countries within Asia and beyond had remained a priority for the bank. Currently, due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, fiscal space declines even further with rising domestic spending and exchange rate movements against the US dollar in the Asian countries. In this situation infrastructure financing has been sustained by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) including AIIB; and by leveraging on Public Private Partnership (PPP) potential. In his closing remarks, the minister expressed the hope that AIIB, being a relatively new MDB, should provide innovative solutions to satisfy the needs of its clients and fulfill its mandate.

BIse to set up one-window Consent management platforms have peaked expectations: Gartner investment of their solutions, which the world and businesses are looking facility for students SINGAPORE BABAR KHAN JAVED

LAHORE: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore has announced to set up a stateof-the-art students’ facilitation centre to provide a onewindow facility for solving students’ problems. Presiding over a departmental meeting at his office, BISE chairman Professor Riaz Hashmi said that various services including issuance of duplicate certificates, no objection certificates (NOC), roll number slips and verification of educational documents will be provided to the applicants under one roof. These facilities will be arranged for visitors within 10 minutes to save them from moving from pillar to post, he added. The board is committed to providing prompt services to the visiting students and this one-window facility will especially benefit the females, the chairman continued. STAFF REPORT

In the months leading up to the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), research firms, consultancies, advertising agencies, and media conglomerates began development consent management platforms (CMPs) based on the GDPR Transparency & Consent Framework from the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Two years later, the first Hype Cycle study focused solely on digital advertising from Gartner says that vendors offering CMPs have largely overpromised and undelivered the return on

were meant to obtain data processing consent from users based in the European Union. The global research and advisory firm said, in a press release, that CMPs have reached a peak of inflated expectations, brought about by the mini gold rush that kicks off among privacy tech vendors that hurried to help businesses tick the necessary boxes around GDPR. Gartner says that today the technology has been pushed to its limits and it creates widespread failure. Today is the second anniversary of the California Consumer Privacy Act and marks a time where privacy regulations coming into force around

Govt and Opp lock horns over anti-graft law amendments CONtINuED fROM PAGE 01 Speaking alongside Abbasi, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also concurred with his views and vowed to not cooperate with the government on the matter. Abbasi said that the government’s bill

concerning NAB was the same as before. “We said that this can’t be accepted and it was then decided that the bill concerning the NAO would be debated section by section and a new amendment bill will be finalised,” he said, adding that discussion on the bill took place on Monday but when the

committee again met on Tuesday it was told that the government does not agree with these amendments. “We questioned which amendments they had an issue with, but they didn’t have an answer. So we said that if they can’t talk on the amendments in good faith, when they were the ones to bring the bills, then we can’t move forward,” he said. “Because the government isn’t talking in good faith and because their intentions, I don’t think, are for working in national interest, we walked out of the meeting,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Federal Minister

for complex solutions that allow them to operate across multiple geographies while following distinct consent requirements. Gartner believes that many businesses divert resources to the acquisition of technology and fall flat when the time comes to build platform expertise or vet consent. One of the VPs of research at Gartner, Andrew Frank, said that after a CMP is implemented, businesses have to balance customer experience, which is degraded if users are offered too many privacy choices, which the data suggests leads to opt-out settings and high abandonment rates.

for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry questioned the effectiveness of amendments to the NAO if they were deliberated upon by members of the National Assembly currently facing charges by the anti-corruption watchdog. “I think that members facing NAB charges should distance themselves from the committee, out of respect for the parliament,” he said. The NAO amendment bill reportedly seeks to spare public office holders from NAB action for any step taken in “good faith”. The NAO amendment bill proposes omitting the word “non-extendable” from clause (i) of sub-section (b) of Section 6 that pertains to the tenure of the NAB chairman that is currently four years. It has also been suggested that extension in tenures of the NAB deputy chairman and prosecutors general of accountability, who are appointed for three years, be allowed by removing the word “non-extendable” from Sections 7 and 8.

ecp to hear dual citizenship case against vawda after eid ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced to hear the case against Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for allegedly holding dual nationality while filing nomination papers for the general poll in 2018 on Aug 4. It had emerged in January this year that Vawda was a US national at the time of filing his nomination papers to the ECP to contest the election. Subsequently, a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking his disqualification for allegedly concealing his foreign nationality. “The parties should either show up in person or send their counsel on Aug 4,” the ECP said in an order on Tuesday. The commission also said if the concerned parties did not show up in the next hearing, it will announce its verdict on the available information and evidence. It merits a mention here that a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inquiry in June 2018 had found Vawda to be a dual national.

In-house change, mid-term polls’ on opp’s apc agenda CONtINuED fROM PAGE 01 Bilawal further said that the opposition was on the same page to dislodge the government of PM Imran Khan. “Any unanimous decision of APC including mid-term election will be implemented,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, the JUI-F chief said that he will bring all the political parties on one page, adding that the opposition’s Rehbar Committee will formulate proposals after Eidul Azha. “Rehbar Committee’s proposals will be presented in the all parties conference,” he said. It is pertinent here to mention that Shehbaz Sharif, after holding a meeting with Fazlur Rehman on Monday, had announced to convene an all parties conference of the opposition after Eid, falling on Saturday, August 1. The PML-N president said that getting rid of the government is need of the hour as country is being ruled by “illegitimate and incompetent people”. He added that inflation has skyrocketed in last two years and massive increase in petrol prices is an example of incumbent government’s bad governance.

Traders protest as Punjab govt imposes lockdown ahead of Eid CONtINuED fROM PAGE 01 A shopkeeper, Jawad Mustafa, said that the lockdown before Eid was tantamount to destroying businesses. “Businesses were already in a slump due to the lockdown previously imposed by the government. Now that the situation was improving, the government announced a lockdown again. Expenses have gone up due to Eid. If we don’t do business, how will we meet the expenses?” he said. Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat visited various areas of Lahore including Liberty Market, Barkat Market, Jail Road and Gulberg to review the lockdown position. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that relaxation in lockdown before Eidul Azha will bring negative results like Eidul Fitr. The business community should extend its support to the government and implement lockdown. Raja Basharat said that lockdown has been enforced by the government to ensure safety of the masses as coronavirus is still a threat. The provincial government on Monday announced that all business and commercial centres in the province will remain closed till August 5.

CMYK

According to a notification by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, “All educational and training institutes, marriage halls, business centres, expo halls, restaurants (except takeaway and home delivery), theme/amusement parks, public parks, play areas and arcades, beauty parlours and spas, cinemas, theatres shall remain closed.” The notification added there would be a complete ban on sporting tournaments/ matches (indoor and outdoor) except noncontact professional sports without spectators. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the nation to take preventive measures during Eidul Azha and Muharram, warning that Covid-19 cases may increase if SOPs are not

followed. “I appeal to the whole nation to thank Allah that he has saved us from a big catastrophe,” PM Imran said during his address to the nation. “We have to be careful in Eid and Muharram as coronavirus cases could increase if we are not careful.” The premier also urged the nation to buy sacrificial animals online and if need be, go to the cattle market while adhering to the preventive SOPs. “If we are successful in these two months, then we would be able to open other sectors such as tourism and education,” he said. “If were are not careful, then we would be putting the lives of our loved ones especially the elderly in danger.”

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

06 COMMENT

Will China kowtow to US pressure?

Developing economy while fighting Covid-19 Need to take all stakeholders along

T is a matter of considerable satisfaction that the coronavirus related cases have shown a downward trend during the last five weeks. On Monday no pandemic-related death was reported in Punjab for the first time in months. This has led some to conclude that the pestilence had peaked in June and is now tapering off. But the virus has reappeared in some of the countries which seemed to have eliminated it and where no new cases were reported for several weeks. What is needed under the circumstances is extreme caution and a strict adherence to the SOPs for months ahead, if not more. The people’s resolve to follow the SOPs is going to be tested during eidul Azha and Ashura. Prime Minister Imran Khan, Planning Minister Asad Umar who also chairs the NCOC and health SAPM Dr Zafar Mirza have called on the people to strictly observe the SOPs during the two ceremonies to avoid any surge in the cases. Any large scale violation of the SOPs from now till the end of August could be dangerous. Mr Khan envisages opening all educational institutions and businesses in case the downward trend in the infections is maintained. The continuous closure of schools and colleges poses the danger of the waste of a whole academic year. The suspension of the business activity has brought down revenues, multiplied the number of the unemployed, and raised the number of the poor while pushing hundreds of thousands of people down the poverty line. To ensure that the downward trend in new coronavirus cases is maintained, the Punjab government has imposed a smart lockdown for eight days ordering the closure of all markets in the province’s urban centres. A better way would have been to take the trading community into confidence before the announcement. Failure to do so has led the traders to defy the decision in several cities. Business activity and education can go side by side with smart lockdowns provided all stakeholders are taken on board to thoroughly discuss and evolve workable SOPs for every enterprise. While there is no shortage of laws and regulations in this country, what is lacking is an efficient system to implement them. The shortcoming needs to be removed.

Amjed jAAved

he USA, through its satellite and proxies, is coercing China to abide by US-dictated rules of multifaceted interaction, particularly in economic transactions. Chinese history tells that it had to kowtow to accept humiliating terms of trade following defeats in the Opium Wars. Britain resented China’s efforts to curb opium imports, or other nefarious trades. So it was because it militated against British economic advantage. Lord Macartney led a mission in 1793 to the court of the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-1796) of China. The British government wanted Macartney to convince the Chinese emperor to open northern port cities to British traders and to allow British ships to be repaired on Chinese territory. The supercilious ambassador refused to kowtow to Chinese emperor in the Chinese style. The kowtow was a prescribed ritual of nine kneeling bows to the ground (three sets of three) to humble oneself in the emperor’s presence. Macartney was adamant that he would perform the ceremony of nine kneeling bows as long as it was reciprocal , that is, if a Chinese official would do exactly the same before the king of england. having failed to get any concession Britain later mounted an attack on China, known as the Opium Wars. The First Opium War was fought from 18 March 1839 to 29 August 1842, and was also known as the First Anglo-Chinese War.The Second Opium War was fought from 23 October 1856 to 18 October 1860, and was also known as the Arrow War or the Second Anglo-Chinese War, (although France joined in). Britain won southern Kowloon and Western powers got extraterritorial rights and trade privileges. China’s Summer Palaces were looted and burned to ashes. Qing forces lost battles to the British both at sea and on land for over two and a half years. The British seized Canton (Guangdong), Chusan (Zhousan), the Bogue forts at the mouth of the Pearl River, Ningbo, and Dinghai. In mid-1842, the British also seized Shanghai, thus controlling the mouth of the critical Yangtze River as well. Stunned and humiliated, the Qing government had to sue for peace. On 29 August 1842, representatives of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and the Daoguang emperor of China agreed to a peace treaty called the Treaty of Nanking. This agreement is also called the First Unequal Treaty because Britain extracted a number of major concessions from the Chinese while offering nothing in return except for an end to hostilities. The Treaty of Nanking opened five ports to

Intimidating the press Scare tactics will only go so far

OURNALISM in Pakistan is a dangerous profession. According to the CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) a total of 61 journalists have been killed here in the line of duty since 1992, 34 of which were murders. A less severe form of this silencing of dissenting voices is practiced through persistent intimidation and scare tactics, one example of which was witnessed yesterday at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) when Rangers ‘raided’ the premises under the pretense of a ‘security rehearsal’. Back in late 2018, a similar incident took place when around a dozen plainclothes with guns barged into KPC, examined its rooms, shot videos and took pictures. KPC, the country’s first press club, was established in 1958 and has been through some of the worst periods of press oppression under various dictatorships, but never before has there been such a blatant violation of its rules that do not allow the unannounced entry of security agency personnel into its building. The PFUJ has correctly described the incident as an attempt to ‘terrify the journalist community’. Only a week ago, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad high Court (IhC) described the abduction of journalist Matiullah Jan as an attempt to “scare others”. efforts made to control the narrative, or contain reporting that is critical of certain institutions or the government, will never fully succeed, especially in the long-run. Conventional media, given the financial constraints it already faces, is more likely to make certain compromises when it comes to its editorial policy, for the sake of self-preservation. Social media however does not operate within these same parameters, has more reach and a tendency to make stories, especially the controversial ones, go viral. This makes it harder to control and any attempts to do so result in outlandish talk of banning content creation websites like Youtube or asking international tech powerhouses like Facebook and Google to set up offices here and grant access to their user data, which is simply not possible in this day and age. The flow of information and the news that runs through it will always find a way to reach a curious audience from one source or another.

Dark side of the brighter face The media must be careful

ALI SUKHANveR

OMeWheRe in 2012, I was in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The purpose of being there was to present my paper in a conference organized by the South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society (SAYPPS). The hosts provided me with accommodation in a very luxurious guest house; someone told me that it was a State Guest house. One day, when I had some spare time late at night, I simply started searching for some Pakistani TV channel to learn what was happening in my country. No Pakistani channel was available there on the cable network but one; the most ‘popular’ one. I was really depressed to know that there was no pleasant or encouraging news on that channel. “A son killed his father. A girl had been stoned to death for eloping with her lover. A deadly bomb blast at a shrine. A milkman was arrested for selling impure milk.” That was all in the news; I could no longer waste my time, I switched off the TV. That was the horrifying picture of my Pakistani society, that the channel was showing to the world. That night practically I realized how pivotal role media could play in building or demolishing,

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

the crucial International Atomic energy Agency vote in 2005 that opened the pathway for coercive sanctions against Tehran. In 2008, New Delhi reportedly British traders, instead of requiring them all to trade launched an Israeli spy satellite targeted at Iran. at Canton. It also provided for a fixed five-percent The Sino-Iranian deal also has a political dimentariff rate on imports into China, which was agreed sion. Iran’s enthusiasm for a partnership agreement with to by the British and Qing officials rather than being China is in line with domestic politics. Iran’s supreme imposed solely by China. leader has long been a proponent of forming more Britain was accorded “most favored nation” trade strategic alliances with non-Western powers. President status, and its citizens were granted extraterritorial hassan Rouhani may have pushed for an opening with rights. British consuls gained the right to negotiate the West, but he has also supported greater integration directly with local officials, and all British prisoners with Asian economies such as those of China, Japan, of war were released. China also ceded the island of and South Korea. his mentor, former president Akbar hong Kong to Britain in hashemi Rafsanjani, was a perpetuity. Finally, the Qing major advocate of modelling government agreed to pay Iran’s economy on that of war reparations totaling 21 Deng Xiaoping’s China. And China will need to carefully million silver dollars over Rouhani has his legacy to the following three years. consider as he enters the final balance deepened relations Meanwhile, in 2020, year of his administration. The USA closed China’s After the failed attempt to rewith Iran against the concerns mission in houston. The open Iran’s economy to the White house accused it of of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the West following the nuclear attempting to steal scientific deal, he is now looking to creUnited Arab Emirates– data from facilities in the ate an equitable arrangement state, including the Texas with the only major world important economic partners A&M medical system. The power whose economic Chinese embassy in Washweight can match that of the in the Middle East. It remains ington retorted `The U.S. US or europe. to be seen how far China’s accusations are groundless Such a major deal will refabrications’. China struck quire approval from Iran’s commercial and banking back by ordering the closure new ultra-conservative parliaof the US consulate in the ment– some members of sectors will be willing to western city of Chengdu. which have already voiced engage with Iran under the The US has increased strong opposition to the move. arms supplies to Taiwan and There is also a polarised pubthreat of US sanctions other allies. It has increased lic debate over deepening remenacing exercises in the lations with China. South China Sea. US proxy Ultimately, however, the final India has redoubled efforts call on Iran’s participation in to topple Oli’s government in Nepal. It stimulated the deal will be made by the supreme leader. pro-India groups in Myanmar to protest against ChiTo conclude, China will need to carefully balance nese copper exploration. deepened relations with Iran against the concerns of Shortly after his visits to the North, Indian Defence Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab emirates– Minister Rajnath Singh said that the ongoing negotia- important economic partners in the Middle east. It tions with China should help resolve the border dispute remains to be seen how far China’s commercial and but he couldn’t guarantee to what extent the situation banking sectors will be willing to engage with Iran would be resolved. This statement contradicts earlier under the threat of US sanctions. report of steady de-escalation to comply with creation Be it noted that Mao tse Tung travelled a thousand of a 1.8-kilometer buffer zone at disputed Galwan. kilometers on foot to bring home two messages, `now Cornered China signed a 25-year strategic deal China shall not be attacked’, `it shall not be humiliated. with Iran envisaging barter exchange of Iranian crude for China’s multi-faceted cooperation in building Amjed Jaaved is a freelance journalist, has Chahbahar port and railways. served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and In addition to massive infrastructure investments, holds degrees in economics, business administration, the agreement envisions closer cooperation on defense and law. He can be reached at and intelligence sharing. India voted against Iran in amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

The opium wars provide an abject lesson

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rather damaging, the image of a country. Whatever we write, whatever we say does not remain limited just to our own people; it goes all around the world. A few days back when a renowned Pakistani journalist was allegedly kidnapped from a very busy road of the federal capital Islamabad, some mediamen started pointing their fingers towards the security agencies of Pakistan without any proof and without any investigation. Whosoever was behind this heinous act must be taken to task, but after thorough investigation. Blaming abruptly simply mars the facts; moreover such type of ‘blame-game’ defames and discredits not only the working of our security agencies but the whole country and the whole nation. Today countless Indians are sarcastically asking on social media ‘What were the security agencies of Pakistan doing when that journalist was being kidnapped from that busy road of the federal capital?’ It is the professional responsibility of all mediamen to file their stories after complete investigation and certainly they must provide proofs in support of their investigative reports. Recently another example of this journalistic ‘heat and haste’ was observed in different analyses based on a news report on the chief of (defunct) Jama’at-udDa’wah hafiz Muhammad Saeed. This news-report said that Pakistan had restored the bank accounts of five top leaders of (defunct) Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JUD), Lashkar -e-Taiba (LeT) including hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, haji M. Ashraf, Yahya Mujahid and Zafar Iqbal. ‘All of them are UNSC’s enlisted terrorists though and currently facing sentences ranging from one to five years in Lahore jail for terror financing cases filed against them by the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department’. The report further revealed that the defunct JUD leaders had appealed to the United Nations for restoring their bank accounts so that they could run their family affairs. The news report further said that these leaders in their request to government of Pakistan had also mentioned about their financial income and sources of earning. The same was forwarded to the UNSC along their bank account numbers and other related details. It means that the government of Pakistan simply acted upon the directions given by the United Nations; there was no personal interest or will of the government in restoring their bank-accounts. Unfortunately, keeping the facts and figures aside, some Pakistani analysts tried to convince their audience that this restoration of

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accounts was the result of that ‘soft corner’ somewhere hidden in the heart of the government of Pakistan. They tried to misguide the world around that this restoration of bank-accounts was independently done by the government of Pakistan. The facts are altogether otherwise; as Pakistan has never encouraged any kind of terrorism as Pakistan itself has been the worst victim of this menace. Restoration of the bank accounts of all these leaders of (defunct) Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JUD) and Lashkar -e-Taiba (LeT) has nothing to do with the ‘will and desire’ of the government of Pakistan; it was simply done on the direction of UNSC. Dragging Pakistan into a new blame game is in fact an attempt to defame the whole nation in the international community and to weaken the very foundation of the country already facing a lot of problems. As per tradition, the Indian media took full benefit of the situation and exploited the news published in Pakistani newspapers in the most negative way. It was also propagated that at the initial stage, Pakistan had restored the bank accounts of the ‘terrorists’, at some later stage, arrangements would be made for their release. The South Asia Monitor said, focusing on that news report, “The report raised eyebrows over Pakistan’s actions on ground and claims on papers in front of the global community and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where it has claimed to seize all assets, offices and bank accounts of the JUD and its affiliate individuals.” The ball was never in the court of the government of Pakistan; the applicants sent their applications for the restoration of their bank accounts to the government of Pakistan and forwarded the same to the UNSC. The United Nations Sanctions Committee, following all rules and regulations, approved the application and directed the government of Pakistan to take necessary action. That is the whole story but our own people simply violated all moral and ethical values and started claiming that the frozen bank accounts were restored by the government of Pakistan. Blaming someone for the thing he has not done is a crime and this crime becomes an act of terrorism when our own people get involved into it. While reporting on some issue of a sensitive nature or analyzing some sensitive situation of national importance, we all must keep in mind that words become more poisonous and more disastrous than nuclear weapons if misused. Ali Sukhanver is a free columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

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

Balochistan Development package

India treading disastrous course Approaching a year of the Indian action of 5 August 2019

mALIK mUHAmmAd ASHRAf

he Modi government is pursuing the Israeli model in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It is similar to the Israeli strategy of annexing the Palestinian lands and establishing Jewish settlements on it to change the demographic realities. India already controlled Jammu and Kashmir on their side of the Line of Control. It has formally annexed Indian-Occupied Kashmir to the Indian Union first by scrapping Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and thus ending its special status and then through the promulgation of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organization Act 2019. This was followed by a scripted step of issuing new domicile law for the state on April 1. Under this law those who have resided for a period of 15 years in Indian-Occupied Kashmir or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or class 12 examinations in education institutions located in the region are now eligible to become permanent residents. Also, children of Indian government employees who have served in the state for 10 years are eligible to settle and claim local residency rights. The law applies even if the children have never lived in Kashmir. Out of 66 top bureaucrats serving in the region, 38 are outsiders belonging to other Indian states. Many other outsiders serve in various central government institutions like banks, post offices telecommunication facilities, security institutions, and universities. The promulgation of this law is a blatant attempt to change the demographic realities of the state. Reportedly India has issued domicile certificates to 25,000 outsiders since May 11. It would facilitate non-Kashmiris to flood into the state and tilt the balance in their favour. All the foregoing actions taken by India in Indian-Occupied Kashmir constitute blatant violation of the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir, the bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan, the 4th Geneva Convention, as well as an affront to the conscience of the global community besides being against all humanitarian norms. That is exactly the strategy adopted by Israel in regards to Palestine. The anti-Pakistan nexus between India and Israel is also a well known fact which has gained greater strength since the advent of Narendra

Modi as Indian Prime Minister. Robert Fisk, the has been happening in Palestine notwithstanding multi-award-winning Middle east correspondent UN resolutions because it suited their strategic of The Independent in his article written in the interests. human lives and human rights never backdrop of the Indian attack at Balakot last year tickled their conscience. I am sure the same powers are encouraging observed “ For months, Israel has been assiduously lining itself up alongside India’s national- India to continue with her actions without bothist BJP government in an unspoken– and ering about the international reaction. The curglobal politics, especially the politically dangerous– “anti-Islamist” coalition, rent an unofficial, unacknowledged alliance, while “contain-China” policy of the USA and its westIndia itself has now become the largest weapons ern allies works in favour of India, their strategic market for the Israeli arms trade. Not by chance, partner. So long as India remains committed to therefore, has the Indian press just trumpeted the being part of that effort, they will look the other fact that Israeli-made Rafael Spice-2000 “smart way and allow her to continue with her oppresbombs” were used by the Indian air force in its sive actions in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, strike against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) “terror- notwithstanding strong protestations from Pakists” inside Pakistan. Like many Israeli boasts of istan. Sadly even the UN cannott have its resohitting similar targets, the Indian adventure into lutions implemented on Kashmir or condemn in Pakistan might owe more to the imagination the strongest possible terms the Indian indiscrethan military success. The “300-400 terrorists” tions in Indian-Occupied Kashmir because of the influence of those powsupposedly eliminated ers in the world body by the Israeli-manufacand the veto powers entured and Israeli-supthem. plied GPS-guided Any aggressive action by India joyedButbythey are making bombs may turn out to a big mistake. Kashmiris be little more than against Pakistan is surely and Pakistan would not rocks and trees.” The going to elicit a matching take it lying down. article incidentally also Kashmiris are deterexposed the false response. Pakistan and India mined to take their freeclaims of India of havdom movement to its ing hit an imaginary are both nuclear powers and logical end and Pakistan terrorist camp. It is pertinent to military confrontation between as ever is steadfastly extending moral, political point out that there them could have horrible and diplomatic support were credible intellito their cause. Any aggence reports about a consequences not only for this gressive action by India missile attack on against Pakistan is Karachi and Baregion but the entire world. In surely going to elicit a hawalpur on 27 Februthat event their own strategic, matching response. Pakary 2019 by India and istan and India are both Israel. But timely acpolitical and commercial nuclear powers and miltion by the Pakistan Air Forced thwarted the interests would be jeopardized itary confrontation between them could have implementation of that horrible consequences plan. Back in 1986 and not only for this region 1987 there were also but the entire world. In intelligence reports about India, Israel, and the USSR planning to that event their own strategic, political and commercial interests would be jeopardized. strike the nuclear installations of Pakistan. The architects of our foreign policy must Indian-occupied Kashmir is going to become another Palestine. While India is continuing its clearly understand that USA was never our killing spree in the Valley under strict curfew friend and never will be. It will side with India since 5 August 2019, the resistance movement is if it has to make a choice between the two. It is becoming more and more irrepressible. There are already clear by her support to the Indian narrathreatening portents in regards to regional peace tive regarding Pakistan being epicenter of terrorand security. Pakistan has not only rightly re- ism and allowing safe havens to the terrorist jected the Indian actions but has also been sensi- entities on its soil. US state department annual tizing the world through her diplomatic offensive report for 2019 on terrorism is a ranting testiabout the dangers lurking on the horizon posed mony of this reality. Pakistan’s security, ecoby the proponents of the RSS ideology which is nomic well being and strategic interests are very much akin to the Nazi supremacist ideology inextricably linked to this region. We need to be that pushed the world into a horrible World War careful in our relations with USA. We have sufII. India, by annexing Indian-Occupied Kashmir fered a lot for being her ally in the past. We as a nation can thwart nefarious designs and adopting hostile posture towards Pakistan, is of our enemies when we stand united. We are a treading a disastrous course. But who cares for the human sufferings, UN nuclear power and surely would not be a walkresolutions, international law and UN conven- over for any aggressor unless driven by sheer tions? Those powers which really matter and can madness it opts for mutual destruction. play an effective role in ending conflicts, wars Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. and ensuring implementation of UN resolutions, are simply not pushed to take notice of it. Same He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com

IRONICALLY, the notion of Balochistan development package that is proposed by successive federal government leads to further marginalization and alienation of the province that is rich in minerals and promises prosperity for Pakistan. It is because, whenever the government of the day decides to structurally develop the deprived provinces, such an effort is nothing but a lip service. Whether it was the Aghaaz-huqooq Baluchistan project in 2009 or the 2017 economic package for the province, they either sank without any trace or die a natural death. Therefore, the recent initiative taken by the government of the day to uplift the staggering economic and social condition of Baluchistan by pumping life in the infrastructure through finance and assistance has raised many questions. What is the probability that this initiative will be a success when the previous ones have failed terribly? has there been any introspection within the state apparatus that compelled us to revisit our hitherto ruinous approach towards Baluchistan? And what difference would this specific package would bring to improve the lives of people in Baluchistan. For years trust deficit, broken promises, enforced disappearances and political wrangling has widened the gap between the center and the province to such an extent that it has become almost unbridgeable. even with the promulgation of 18th amendment, the woes and grievances for Baluchistan have not been ebbed because the space to exercise provincial autonomy and their rightful share in the mineral wealth that lie beneath their soil remain unaddressed. With the province been viewed from a narrow security lens and the needs of the people taking a backseat at the backdrop of national geostrategic concerns, the environment, as a result becomes favorite for the regional powers to foment rebellion, insurgencies and checkmate one another. As the insurgencies continue to simmer as the banned terrorist outfits emerge in one form or the other, the dynamics shift towards a more lethal modus operandi. Hadia MukHtar karacHi

Need for education PReSeNT and all the past governments of pakistan promised to rise the graph of literacy, but unfortunately educational institutes are increasing in number but literacy rate is still very low. The act is now badly resulting in no awareness not only in rurals but also in big cities like lahore. which is leading towards many losses especially loss of lives,respect and prestige of many innocent humans and now animals too. Lack of literacy is the main reason behind the frustration being grown in one. We have had heard about many incidents about rape of different genders they could be of any age ,can be a girl, old lady, 2 year old girl or boy. Then it was shocking to hear even transgenders are targeted ? But this time when a group of boys raped a cat it was. The most disturbing news ever. This might be true if a woman is dressed inappropriately she attracts the opposite gender but what’s the sin of a cat. A dog hunts a cat becuase a dog is an animal but these boys are even worse than animals. This is indeed sick I mean seriously these kind of people should be hanged till death or should be given fearsome punishment so that they become an example for others who tend to do this in future. The time has still not passed yet, government is a super power, its an urge to have some sort of sessions all over Pakistan to save Allah’s creatures.These beasts can grow and target any one. There is no prediction from them hence government is the only source to look forward to this very important issue not only electricity, metro and petrol are the main things to look at. For the sake of Allah help us anf save us. We want a nation free of sins we want a nation where we feel safe. MaHnoor kaMal rawalpindi

Two disappointing years GROUNDS of hope, promises & pledges, the two years of PTI government has, if nothing else, made people realize that ‘appearances can often be deceptive’. And for the premiers, it might’ve made them realize that criticizing your opponents is always the most trouble-free thing one could ever do. It wouldn’t be wrong to acknowledge the fact that the kind of challenges that the PTI administration confront were quite unusual in their nature, from tensions with India to Covid-19, and they actually did try do deal with the set of circumstances, to all intents and purposes. Austerity drive, dismantling governor houses, and redesigning PM house into a university, though these all became very celebrated notions, but most importantly, what actually did thrive under the PTI administration was the notion of accountability, something that was always in focus of Mr. Prime Minister. even though, the nature of this accountability remains debatable, where big names from the opposition parties were behind the bars, Mr. PM’s close aides despite being accused were at liberty. Besides this, Pakistan’s most populous province Punjab remained in focus throughout these years, mostly due to the extra-ordinary leadership that Mr. Prime Minister designated there. Mr. Khan’s fondness with the astounding leadership resulted in a number of chief secretaries and IG’s being replaced, mostly as a justification for his government’s non-fulfilment in the province. Malik MaSHHood laHorE

Insane blood sport The sea turns red with blood in Faroe Islands as dozens of whales and dolphins are slaughtered. On average, 1500 dolphins are massacred every year in the Faroe Islands, which invoke an ancestral tradition to justify this barbaric practice,” Despite an international ban on commercial whaling, whales are still being killed across the world’s oceans. If whaling continued on such a massive scale the whales could be extinct in less than 30years. Consequences from over-whaling include increased carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming and leads to melting of the polar ice caps and changes in the eating habits of many marine animals. It should ensure that whaling would remain strictly limited and stringently controlled. It must close the door on the aspirations of other countries which may be anticipating taking advantage of the growing anarchy swirling around the IWC. It is, in short, the whales’ best hope. SyEda ruqiya FatiMa karacHi

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Editors in Modi’s india havE two choicEs — spEak up or givE in to intEllEctual slavEry the press, which is the fourth pillAr of indiAn democrAcy, is not given the sAme stAtus As the other three pillArs todAy. JournAlists hAve to mAke their choice

PaTriCia MUKhiM

AN the press speak? If it does not speak, then is it still the press? But what does it speak? To whom does it speak? These were questions debated at a webinar organised recently by Newslaundry — that audacious news portal that dares call out the most imperious editors of our times. As the editor of The Shillong Times, I have to confess that for the first time in my dozen years of service to this 75-year-old newspaper, I feel a sense of bondage; of not being able to breathe the air of freedom guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution that is destined to secure our freedoms for us. Am I the only one who feels that I have to correct a phrase here and a sentence there lest it offends someone? There was a time when one could just shoot from the hips

when it came to issues that hurt the public cause, of course, bearing in mind that wellrehearsed adage – ‘Your freedom ends where my nose begins’. Why is the press, which is the fourth pillar of Indian democracy, not given the same status as the other three pillars – the legislature, executive and judiciary? Why are these three pillars today almost sacrosanct and beyond reproach? Why is the press being shown its place time and again by the three other pillars, especially by the executive and judiciary? What are we in the media doing wrong? Are we doing something we have not done before? Will someone point out our transgressions? And by someone, I mean a neutral third party with no vested interest in any of the four pillars. THE JOB OF THE PRESS: Why should the press speak, and freely? The answer to this question was given long ago by US Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland who said, “For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time.” This is true of most of us today. We are appalled at the grovelling by a section

chevron buy reflects new realities with israel and us/Arab alliances A compAny like chevron cleArly sees its ties within the ArAb middle eAst As less importAnt thAn ever JerusaleM Post daVid KeSSLer

On July 20, Chevron Corporation, America’s second-largest oil company with a formative role in shaping modern-day Saudi Arabia, announced its acquisition of Noble Energy, a much smaller US oil and gas company with major exposure in Israel. Through the lens of energy, this acquisition rewrites the rules of US-Israel-Arab relations, reflecting recent changes in the way the energy will balance these regional powers. Chevron’s history in the Middle East goes back almost a century, when the company was named Standard Oil of California. In more recent decades, Chevron has explored for and produced oil and gas in nearly every member state of OPEC, in several countries where Israel’s name is unspeakable. Chevron still maintains a close relationship with the government of Saudi Arabia, operating various fields on behalf of the kingdom within the neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Recently, Saudi Arabia extended its agreement with Chevron through 2039. Conventional wisdom has always been that the prize of oil and gas in Arab countries was far too valuable for any Western oil company to risk over Israel, a country with comparatively minimal proven reserves. Like its largest industry peers, known as majors, both in the US and overseas, Chevron sat out of Israel and prioritized its allegiances elsewhere in the Middle East. It was the same with Italy’s ENI, Norway’s Statoil, and other government-owned oil companies like OMV of Austria, and Repsol in Spain. Even Hess and Occidental Petroleum, both large oil companies headed by Jewish Americans for the majority of the twentieth century, steered clear of Israel while remaining very active in North Africa and the Gulf states. Shunned by North America and Europe’s oil and gas industry, Israel was all too willing to admit Noble Energy, a midsized Houston-based oil company with no Middle East interests, into its Mediterranean waters in the late 1990s. In 1999, Noble announced its first discovery in Israeli waters, and in the two next decades, Noble transformed Israel’s petroleum sector from the butt of a famous Golda Meir joke to a world-class growth area.

Israel’s gas fields include some of the largest discovered anywhere in the world since 2010. The CIA World Factbook ranks Israel 45th in the world for proven natural gas reserves – still well behind Libya, Kuwait, and of course Qatar, but on par with the United Kingdom, a well-known energy producer, and far ahead of Turkey, Jordan and Greece. As Israel’s petroleum sector has gained prominence, so has America’s; the United States has led the world in oil and gas production for the last few years, experiencing its own energy revolution. The oil fields of West Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, and elsewhere in the United States are now so prolific that the United States is essentially independent of the OPEC nations. It is in this entire context that Chevron’s July 20 press release about its Noble Energy acquisition should be read. The press release mentions Israel before any other area of Noble’s operation, including its asset base in the US. Only a few years ago, this press release would be inconceivable for two reasons: an oil company mentioning petroleum in Israel, and mentioning Israel at all. A company like Chevron clearly sees its ties within the Arab Middle East as less important than ever. The United States, Canada, Brazil and West Africa have enough petroleum reserves to carry the American economy into the end of the hydrocarbon age. As the world transitions to a renewable-dependent energy economy by the middle of this century, the Middle East countries will leave most of their oil reserves, and perhaps their gas reserves, in the ground. That will likely include Israel, but for the time being, Israel’s clean-burning natural gas means something to Chevron. In other words, the Israeli oil and gas sector has blossomed (better late than never); the United States is envisioning itself as a self-reliant energy exporter; and the OPEC states of the Middle East, from Algeria to Kuwait, are rushing to retool their economies and preserve, if not to prioritize, their alliances. The writer is the director of international business at Energy Advisors Group in the US. He holds two degrees from Stanford University in Middle East history, focused on the petroleum sector.

of the media in India. The primetime panel discussions on TV are orchestrated to sing praises to the Narendra Modi government. After the Emergency, when Indira Gandhi was defeated in the elections and the Janata Party government came to power, L.K. Advani—who was the information and broadcasting minister at the time—admonished certain media persons and said to them, “When you were asked to bend, you crawled”. The irony is that it is Advani’s party, the BJP, which is now drawing the boundaries within which media should operate. So, are we any better today? And yet we do nothing other than discussing these distasteful episodes amongst ourselves. Each one of us fears to call out these journalistic misdemeanours. So they continue happily, basking in the glory of those who hold the reins of governance today. They enjoy a privileged status because they oblige and brook no dissent against the status quo. Then there are media houses with no revenue model other than an undue reliance on government and corporate advertisements. Well, the coronavirus pandemic has revealed some ugly facets — this model is

unsustainable and not by a long shot. Hundreds of journalists have been laid off, some with not even a package that will see them through for the next six months. They lost their jobs just like that because the media barons never really delved deep into the model upon which their revenues were built. Yes, the pandemic has brought down that house of cards and publications from different cities have just winded up and staff let off. What happens to those voices from the periphery? Is India now going to be a country of a few top metros where only the lives of the metrosexual matter? A LONG DUE CORRECTION: Why must the press speak? Is that a tough question to answer? Not if one is a disciple of the old school journalism. The press gives voice to the disempowered. At least that is what was drummed into our ears by seniors in the profession. The press should bring before the executive, legislature and judiciary the social, economic and political maladies that the ordinary citizens experience on a daily basis. It is expected that such reports would nudge the conscience of the three pillars of democracy and they would rush in to address those infirmities. It worked for a while, that is until the Modi government stepped into the corridors of power and decided it was not going to be bothered by a vigilant, questioning, meddlesome media. Period. So, who is now holding the legislature, executive and judiciary accountable? Well, a section of the media is still doing so, although it’s gasping for air. Conformity is the

order of the day. If you don’t conform, you perish. It’s a hugely polarised world we are living in. It’s the Liberal Left versus Radical Right, and most of us are caught in the middle (minus the ideology except to continue to live our lives in some meaningful way, if that is possible). We continue to speak because we still cling to our dear lives and to Freedom of Speech and Expression or its much watered-down version. There are so many virtues attached to our freedoms and yet, when we are now seeing up close and personal the rapid erosion of those freedoms and the complete politicisation of the law enforcing agencies investigating the Delhi riots, we are stunned into silence. Speaking up extracts a price, but it’s either that or intellectual slavery. The choice is ours. Russian anarchist Michael Bakunin, in Federalism, Socialism and Anti-Theologian, aptly remarked that “Intellectual slavery, of whatever nature it may be, will always have as a natural result both political and social slavery”. If at all we are to reclaim our intellectual freedom, then the press has to lead the way. We have a responsibility to correct the infirmities in the three supporting pillars even as we lend ourselves to correction. Yes, correction, not denunciation, because no single pillar of democracy should have overarching influence or control over the other. The author is a journalist and editor of The Shillong Times.

Letter from Karachi: In a too-familiar crisis, signs of life and love in A crisis like covid-19, where do you turn for help, let Alone hope? Amid the pAndemic, pAkistAni neighbours “wAtch out for eAch other the best wAy we know how”

Christian sCienCe Monitor Zehra abid

When my city, Karachi, quiets down at night, I often go for a drive by myself, driving slowly, savoring every moment of the few minutes I have in the world outside home. On my stereo, the same verses from South Asian poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz play each day. The poem, “Intesab,” begins with a dedication: to this day and to its sorrows to the day’s sorrows, cross with life’s overflowing garden this thicket of yellowing leaves this thicket of dying leaves, that is my land this assembly of anguish, that is my land (as translated by Mustansir Dalvi) I listened to this poem for days in 2014, after the attack on the Army Public School (APS) in the city of Peshawar, where almost 140 children were killed by the Taliban. It understood the grief I had no power to articulate when nearly 100 people were killed in church one Sunday; or when 70 lawyers were killed in a suicide attack, wiping out a generation of Balochistan province’s sharpest legal minds. It is the poem I now listen to when I drive through the streets of my city, wondering how many people in how many houses are mourning; how many people today will be in need of a hospital bed, of an ambulance, of a ventilator. For weeks, Pakistan broke its own record of new coronavirus cases and deaths every other day. Now they are finally falling – but so is testing, creating an impression that the country has emerged victorious. Some restrictions remain, but worshippers congregate in mosques, markets are open, and the government has encouraged tourism. The government says cases stand at 274,000, with more than 5,800 lives lost – though these counts are

little trusted. As Pakistan climbed to join the most affected countries in the world, it felt as if the possibility of prevention had not even occurred to the government. Declining to extend the lockdown, Prime Minister Imran Khan told the people of Pakistan that there are two options: to be exposed to the virus or die hungry. As I write this essay, I feel it could have been written 10 years ago, in different ways, on different pages of my journal. The same questions always emerge: of how we learn to live in a country that appears always willing to claim our tragedies, but not prevent them. This pandemic is another reminder of our collective insignificance, in a land where thousands have died in conflict since 9/11. Their names are on no walls or monuments; the number of total casualties remains uncertain. In the post-2001 Pakistan, the extraordinariness attached to moments of tragedy is long gone. Yet anyone can be branded a shaheed, a martyr, with no choice in the matter: air crash victims, health care workers, children. Victims of terrorism are barely mourned before they are officially exalted in the nationalist narrative. In April, when the government announced that doctors too would be given the title of shaheed, it was obvious there would be no place for acknowledging their deaths as a loss, but only as an honor for the nation. Soon after, the military produced a video urging people to live with the virus; reminding us to be “brave,” that “life comes and goes.” But this pandemic is a reminder of something else, as well: how, unprotected, we have indeed learned to survive – together. My city of over 16 million runs on ambulance services that are entirely dependent on charity. Countless citizen-led initiatives collect donations for low-income workers to allow them to stay home, while some people cook food for patients, their families, and front-line workers as an act of service. On Facebook groups, home cooks post photos of what they’ve cooked that day,

asking anyone in need to message them. Food is the language of love here; it’s the best way we can express that which we do not say. I have never told anyone I love them in my own language, Urdu, and I have never been told that myself. It is, instead, communicated through biryani, through yakhni soup or daal that a loved one has taken the time and care to cook, that love felt all the more profusely when one is frail and unwell. Caretaking works in myriad ways. A fisherman often visits my house with his occasional catch of the day. On his last visit, he insisted that I have the honey his wife had sent me from their village. The only way I know how to protect him is to buy fish I don’t want; the only way he knows how to protect me is to give me a present of raw honey. We both watch out for each other in the best way we know how. Karachi, a city best known for violence and chaos, is perhaps for the very first time knowing how it feels to be loved and wanted. During summer holidays, Europe’s quaint streets usually occupy our Instagram feeds, but today Karachi is finding its due place. Images of our Arabian Sea and the city’s bougainvillea and jasmine flowers are shared with that sense of awe and wonderment that comes when an object of love is seen for the very first time. Without a lockdown, there is no expectation here of reaching a peak or flattening a curve. I am not sure how many of us will not survive this, and in how many ways our lives will forever change. I do know that the state will tell us it could have been worse, representing tragedies as moments of triumph. But what I also know is that we will continue to find togetherness in the sharing of food and honey, and find comfort in the sights and smells of jasmine flowers, holding on dearly to signs of life that are promised in every flower that blooms. Zehra Abid is an independent journalist who has lived in Karachi for most of her three decades. She tweets at @ZehraAbid_.

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

BUSINESS 09

ECC OKAyS IMPOrT Of UP TO 0.3M TONNES Of SUgAr, fOrTNIgHTly rEvISION Of POl PrICES

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: Enabling the youth by connecting them to what matters most, Telenor Pakistan has joined hands with the Ministry of Information & Technology and Virtual University to introduce subsidized internet packages for students of DigiSkills Programme.

KARACHI: METRO Pakistan is all set to launch “Madadgar”, a support initiative, in collaboration with Akhuwat Foundation. Madadgar is an effort to provide moral and financial support to the hardworking people who have lost their business during the current pandemic.

K-Electric receives over 2,000 fake emergency complaints during rains KARACHI: The K-Electric has highlighted operational challenges created due to over 2,000 exaggerated or fake emergency complaints raised via its 118 call-centre. Constituting nearly 57pc of the total emergency complaints received, these exaggerated complaints resulted in diversion of constrained resources from other serious and lifethreatening hazards and were an underlying reason for extended outages in few areas. As per the KE spokesperson, “Emergency complaints can be lodged at KE’s 118 call-centre in case of downed power lines, damaged electrical infrastructure or sparking during torrential rains and urban flooding. Per protocol, to ensure public safety, we immediately suspend power supply to the area from where the emergency complaint is received, and our teams are also dispatched urgently to resolve the issue on priority. Unfortunately, when our teams reach the reported sites, we learn that a majority of the complaints are not genuine emergencies, but rather an effort to bypass the process.”

NBP, Winrock signs MOU for credit availability to farmers KARACHI: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and US-based Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development (Winrock) for collaboration between the two organizations to look at increasing ways and means of credit availability to farmers, processors and service providers and enhancing financial literacy in selected areas and crops. Initial focus will be on four non-major crops namely dates, banana, tomato and red chili. Winrock is being represented via its Pakistan office through the Pakistan Agriculture Development Project (PAD) and is undertaking tasks on value chain development in the four crops in 12 districts (6 each in Sindh and Punjab). Winrock International is a recognized leader in US and international development, providing solutions to some of the world’s most complex social, agricultural and environmental challenges.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday approved a Ministry of Energy's proposal for revision in the prices of petroleum products on a fortnightly basis instead of the existing monthly basis. The ECC meeting, chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, also gave a go-ahead to the Ministry of Industries & Production proposal for the import of up to 300,000 tonnes of refined white sugar in order to maintain buffer stocks and prevent any shortage of the commodity in the coming months (before the start of next crushing season). According to details, the revision

of oil prices on a fortnightly basis would come into effect from 1st August 2020, subject to endorsement from the federal cabinet. This would help the government improve its planning mechanism with refineries and OMCs, which would subsequently ensure better inventory management, better reporting of sales and enforcement of stock requirements, transparency and visibility of prices, and reduced dependence on one OMC. As per the existing system, the prices of petroleum products are determined by allowing refineries to fix and announce the ex-refinery sale prices on a monthly basis subject to the condition that the ex-refinery price of the petroleum products cannot be more than the Pakistan State Oil's average actual landed import

price of previous months. While considering a proposal by the Ministry of Industries and Production for import of refined sugar by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to maintain buffer stocks, the ECC allowed import of up to 300,000 metric tonnes of white sugar through a mode of procurement and other modalities to be decided by a three-member committee comprising I&P, commerce and finance secretaries. The ECC also asked the committee to seek input from the Law Division on the preferred mode of procurement and report to the committee in its next meeting. Meanwhile, on a proposal by the Finance Division, the committee approved the upgradation of Habib Bank Ltd's representative office in Beijing.

KPRA eyes Rs20bn revenue collection in FY21 PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

After successfully achieving the revenue target for the financial year 2019-20, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) has planned to collect a revenue of Rs20 billion in the current financial year (FY2020-21). Chairing a meeting on KPRA's performance on Tuesday, KP Finance Minister Taimur Salim Jhagra lauded the company for achieving the FY20 revenue target and directed its personnel to continue striving hard to achieve the same in the ongoing financial year. Earlier, while briefing the minister on KPRA's performance, the officials said that last year's revenue would have exceeded the target had there been no outbreak of coronavirus. It was informed that prior to the coronavirus epidemic, KPRA was showing an average monthly growth rate of 73pc compared to the previous financial year. However, after the outbreak of the epidemic, the twomonth growth rate fell to only 15pc. The epidemic caused the company to incur a deficit

of Rs700 million, especially in the construction and tourism sectors. The minister was further informed that the number of taxpayers registered with the institution had exceeded 11,500 in the last financial year. Appreciating the authority's performance, Jhagra said that KPRA has not only earned a good name in a very short span of time but has also gained people's trust by prioritising the interests of taxpayers. He stated, "We have to build organizational structures in government institutions on the same principle as the KPRA was constituted. We must also work on creating more facilities for the taxpayers so that the process of registration and filing of returns with the authority could become easier." Speaking on the occasion, KPRA Director General Fayyaz Ali Shah said that the authority is currently working on an application through which taxpayers could easily submit their returns. It is pertinent to mention that KP finance minister holds a detailed meeting every month on the monthly performance of the KPRA and this was the first meeting of FY21.

SECP adopts measures to strengthen capital markets ISLAMABAD APP

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) during the past few months has undertaken reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening capital markets in the country. According to sources in the SECP, measures taken by the commission have resulted in a turnaround at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The SECP has revamped the regulatory framework to remove non-practical and burdensome requirements and ease out operational level requirements to create a facilitative environment for market intermediaries and investors. In order to put an end to the strict regime which had been affecting working capital management and liquidity, SECP removed the additional Value at Risk (VaR) based margins which were imposed in 2017 and also abolished additional cuts on securi-

ties deposited as collateral with National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL). Furthermore, security deposit requirements in the deliverable futures segment was also reduced significantly. Additionally, the mechanism for the imposition of liquidity margins was revisited whereby margins were only imposed on large positions while also taking into account the credit rating of clearing members. On the product development front SECP revamped the regulations for market making and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in order to remove bottlenecks. ETF is one of the most popular modes of investment in capital markets across the globe, however, it has been non existent in Pakistan's capital markets till now. SECP also took another major initiative towards the development of capital markets in line with international practices by widening circuit breakers and introducing market halts.

The ECC also allowed exemption from government's re-lending policy a proposal by the Ministry of Climate Change seeking AFD loan of $20 million as part of 'Emergency Assistance to Fight Covid-19 Pandemic' aiming to strengthen health workforce capacity, adopt infection minimisation measures and support the implementation of Covid-19 National Action Plan across the country. Moreover, the committee considered and approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs340 million for the operationalisation of Swat Motorway. It also discussed a proposal by the Ministry of Energy for third-party access to LNG terminals for use of excess capacity or government contractedunutilised capacity. It approved the proposal to sell the unutilised capacity.

British Airways may resume Pakistan flights from August ISLAMABAD TLTP

The British Airways has planned to restore Pakistan flights from August after suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airlines, in a letter penned to the Islamabad airport manager, has sought details of arrangements before the resumption of flight operations. The authorities have been asked to give details about cleanness arrangements at the airport and facilities available there to ensure the safe landing of planes. “Ensure that fixed bridges connected with the planes are safe to use,” the letter read. British Airways is likely to operate three flights for Islamabad weekly. It may be mentioned that after a long gap of 10 years, the first flight of British Airways, BAW-261, had landed at Islamabad International Airport from Heathrow, with 240 passengers on board, on June 3, 2019.

Pakistan receives $505m from World Bank KARACHI APP

Pakistan on Tuesday received $505 million from the World Bank under a financing agreement that was signed last week. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), "This is concessional financing in the form of budgetary support with the objective to enhance institutional framework and improve fiscal management and regulatory framework." The development comes at the moment when Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Nepal agreed to work together to fight Covid-19.

COMSTECH to hold first AI, IoT exhibition on Aug 4 ISLAMABAD SYEDA MASOOMA

MARKET DAILY

Stocks add 406 points to overnight gains KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Bulls extended their stay at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, as the indices continued to amass gains throughout the day amid a surge in volumes. Equity markets around the world also showed a positive trend, whereas global oil prices remained mixed; WTI crude oil price dropped 0.29pc to $41.48 while Brent crude oil price climbed 0.16pc to $43.97. "The banking sector once again remained in the limelight, with further backing from cement, refinery, textile and

ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTE INVESTORS' OPTIMISM TO THE ONGOING RESULTS SEASON chemicals. Selling pressure was largely observed in the exploration & production and fertiliser sectors, but this did not affect the market sentiment," said a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd. "Despite the fact that Eid is round the corner, investors look optimistic considering the ongoing results season, especially due to banks." The benchmark KSE-100 Index moved north right from the word go, touching its intraday high at 38,700.96 after accumulat-

ing 479.80 points. It settled higher by 406.11 points at 38,627.27. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gained 721.85 points to close at 61,633.37, while the KSE All Share Index added 225.05 points, ending at 27,253.42. Of the total traded shares, 214 advanced and 121 declined. The overall trading volumes improved from 288.10 million shares in the previous session to 393.10 million shares (+37pc). Average traded value also increased by

22pc, from $79.7 million to $97.3 million. Pak Elektron Ltd (PAEL +0.45pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +3.68pc) and The Bank of Punjab (BOP +3.45pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 26.22 million, 26.10 million and 23.40 million shares, respectively. Sectors that kept the benchmark index in green included banking (175.09 points), cement (70.39 points) and technology (29.68 points). Among the companies, Meezan Bank Ltd (MEBL 42.97 points), Lucky Cement Ltd (LUCK +40.65 points) and Bank AL Habib (BAHL 31.88 points) remained the top contributors.

The Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) will hold its first artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) products and services exhibition on August 4, 2020. This was announced by COMSTECH Coordinator General Professor Dr Iqbal Choudhary during an event organised by the committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoIT&T), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), and Centre for Advanced Research in Engineering (Care Pvt Ltd) on Tuesday. The purpose of the "1st COMSTECH Showcasing of Artificial Intelligence and IoT Products and Services: AI and IoT for Pakistan" is being dubbed to foster interest in science, technology and innovation, and to popularise the field of artificial intelligence among the youth of Pakistan, stimulating their interest in the sphere of innovation.

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

China suspends hong Kong extradition treaties with australia, Canada, uK BEIJING

AGENCIES

HINA on Tuesday announced the suspension of Hong Kong’s extradition treaties with Canada, Australia and Britain, following similar decisions by those countries over a controversial new security law. Canada, Britain and Australia are part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance. The other members are New Zealand, which suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong earlier on Tuesday, and the United States, which has signalled it is preparing to do the

same. “The wrong action of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicising judicial cooperation with Hong Kong has seriously hurt the basis of judicial cooperation,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing. “China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australia and the UK, as well as criminal justice cooperation agreements.” Critics have claimed the Hong Kong security law is an erosion of civil liberties and human rights in the financial hub, which has been semi-autonomous from China since its handover from Britain in

1997. But Wang accused the countries of having used the national security law as “an excuse to unilaterally announce the suspension of extradition treaties” with Hong Kong. DIVISIONS: Britain suspended its extradition treaty last week, following moves by Australia and Canada, saying the security law had “significantly changed key assumptions” including a provision to try certain cases in mainland China. London and Canberra have also angered Beijing by offering pathways to citizenship or residency to Hong Kongers looking to leave because of the new law. New Zealand’s updated travel advice

said the security law had led to an increased risk of arrest for activities such as protests, with the possibility of being removed to mainland China to face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Wang warned on Tuesday that China reserved the right to respond after New Zealand suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. “Any schemes to suppress China will never prevail,” Wang said. “China urges New Zealand to immediately redress its mistake, and stop all forms of interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, to avoid harming China-New Zealand relations.”

Malaysia's Najib found guilty of corruption in first 1MDB trial KUALA LUMPUR AGENCIES

Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak was found guilty of corruption on Tuesday in the first trial linked to a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that stretched to the Gulf states and Hollywood. The case was widely seen as a test of Malaysia’s resolve to stamp out corruption and could have big political implications for the Southeast Asian nation. As a Malaysian judge read out a verdict of guilty on all charges, the former prime minister, who had led the country for a decade before losing the 2018 election, sat silently in the dock. Najib offered no visible reaction to the verdict. Masked against the coronavirus, wearing a brown suit with red and black striped tie, he had recited a brief prayer, flanked by leaders of his political party, before he entered the dock. The court is expected to deliver a sentence later on Tuesday, after the judge rejected pleas by Najib’s lawyers to delay the sentencing until next week. The corruption charges carry hefty fines and jail terms of up to 15 or 20 years. Najib, who denied wrongdoing, has pledged to appeal to Malaysia’s Federal Court. The former premier has suffered a dramatic slide in fortunes since he was first charged in 2018, after he led his National Front ruling coalition to its first

CMYK

election defeat in six decades since independence from Britain. He had faced a public backlash over accusations of rampant corruption in his administration and his family’s opulent lifestyle of overseas holidays and luxury shopping sprees. In the weeks after the election loss, authorities seized hundreds of luxury handbags, jewellery and millions of dollars of cash during raids on properties linked to his family. Najib was later arrested, and a raft of corruption charges linked to 1MDB, which he co-founded in 2009, followed. Before his arrest, Najib told Reuters there was nothing improper about the seized luxury items or cash, which authorities had valued at up to $275 million. “I didn’t benefit from 1MDB, because I believe that 1MDB was created to do something good for the country,” he said. Najib has yet to be sentenced, but unless his conviction is overturned, he could end up in a cell at a prison complex on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, that houses common criminals. CHARMED LIFE: The eldest son of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein, Najib was groomed for high office from his political debut, aged 23. Until recently, he was the youngest person elected to parliament. He was also one of the youngest to be appointed a federal deputy minister, and later the youngest to head his home state of Penang as chief minister.

egyptian, saudi FMs call for political settlement in libya CAIRO TLTP

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stressed the importance of reaching a political settlement for the Libyan crisis. In a joint televised press conference, Shoukry highlighted that "Egypt aims at reaching a ceasefire in Libya and seeks its stability." "Some international sides target the Arab national security in Libya, Syria, and Iraq via sending extremists and terrorist elements," he said, adding that Egypt has experienced some terrorist operations after the transfer of militants through the borders. The top diplomats reiterated the necessity of forming a presidential council with a government that could meet the demands of the Libyan people under the supervision of the Libyan parliament. The Saudi foreign minister voiced his country's support of the Cairo Declaration, which was announced on June 6 and sought ceasefire between warring Libyan parties, and UN-supervised election of a Libyan presidential council, and drafting a constitutional declaration to regulate elections for the later stage. Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments with warring forces, namely the UNbacked Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli and another in the northeastern city of Tobruk allied with the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Haftar.

north Korea's nukes guarantee security and prevent war: Kim Jong un PYONGYANG TLTP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called his country's nuclear weapons a solid security guarantee and a "reliable, effective" deterrent that could prevent a second war on the Korean eninsula.Kim made the remarks on Monday as he celebrated the 67th anniversary of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War at a reception for war veterans in Pyongyang, according to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday. The speech signalled once again that the North Korean leader has no intention of giving up his nuclear arsenal despite the United States's attempts to get him to do so. Kim said North Korea had developed nuclear weapons to win the "absolute strength" to prevent another war. "Now we are capable of defending ourselves in the face of any form of high-intensity pressure and military threats from imperialist and hostile forces," he said. "Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent, there won't be any war on this land again, and our country's safety and future will be firmly guaranteed forever." The Korean War, which pitted Soviet and Chinabacked troops from the north against US-led United Nations forces, killed an estimated two million people and laid to waste cities and villages on both sides of the border. The three-year conflict ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty, leaving North and South technically at war. Kim's speech, emphasising the defensive nature of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, followed recent remarks by both North Korean and US officials suggesting they were reluctant to engage in a new round of diplomacy on Pyongyang's nuclear programme anytime soon.

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

SPORTS 11

LONDON AGENCIES

rain holds up england as West indies ponder Wisden trophy escape plan

NGLANd’S attempts to push for victory in the decisive third Test against West Indies were held up by the Manchester weather, with no play possible on the fourth day. England must win the series to regain the Wisden Trophy - before it is replaced by the new Richards-Botham version - but the of getting a big hundred on this wicket”, sight of a sodden Old Trafford left despite the difficulties of facing West Indies the cheerier of the Broad and James Anderson, two teams. closing in on 600 wickets The task for the tourists himself, in helpful condiWEST INDIES 197 will now be to try and , (HOLDER 46, BROAD 6-31) tions.But while a draw against an in-form Stuart AND 10 FOR 2 (BROAD 2-8) Broad - still one away will do for West Indies, from the 500-wicket NEED A FURTHER 389 TO BEAT England need to win mark - and a refreshed which makes forecasts ENGLAND 369 AND 226 FOR 2 for England attack. more rain on TuesJermaine BlackDECLARED (BURNS 90, day particularly worrywood’s 95 in the first Test for the hosts and not ROOT 68*, SIBLEY 56) theingslightest remains the highest individbit dreary for ual score for West Indies in the the tourists. series - but Phil Simmons, the Watching the rain fall at Emihead coach, said after play on the third day rates Old Trafford on Monday, the lyrics that he would be to “set themselves targets and droning chorus line of the Beatles’

“Rain” was particularly apt. Weather aside, West Indies had some

further good news with confirmation that wicketkeeper Shane dowrich has been

deemed fit to bat after suffering a cut lip when he was hit in the mouth by a Shannon Gabriel delivery which deflected off his gloves on the third day. They also have plenty of players with points to prove, not least the two men at the crease, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope. The trouble for them is they are facing a with a mix of greatness, on the cusp of greatness, jaw-droppingly talented and “Mr dependable”. You know who they are. So, in the interests of a chance to witness something special from someone let’s hope that on Tuesday, in the words of that other foursome - the fab kind - it’s not so much “Rain, I don’t mind” and more “Shine, the weather’s fine.”

Sri Lanka announces new cricket Wahab Riaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed in 20-man premier league in August Pakistan squad for England Tests LONDON AGENCIES

COLOMBO AGENCIES

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Monday said the country will resume top-level cricket from next month with a new premier league tournament. SLC said the proposed 23-match Lanka Premier League (LPL) involving five teams will start on August 28 and end on September 20. The matches will be played at four international venues on the island. “Over 70 international players and 10 top notch coaches have already confirmed their availability to take part in this tournament along with leading Sri Lankan national players,” the board said in a statement. The lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) is due to start in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 19. The UAE’s coronavirus rules require all visitors to self-isolate for two weeks after arriving in the country.

Sri Lanka Cricket did not name any of the foreign stars who it says have agreed to play in the LPL. It also did not say if the Sri Lankan health authorities were making an exception to quarantine rules for visiting players. All those entering the island are currently required to quarantine for two weeks at statemanaged centres followed by another two weeks of self-quarantine. The government had announced the reopening of the country’s international airports to foreign tourists from August 1, but it has since been put off indefinitely amid fears of a second wave of infections. Sri Lanka has reported over 2,800 infections with at least 11 virus deaths since the first case, a Chinese woman tourist, tested positive on January 27. The England team abruptly pulled out of their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on March 13 as the pandemic spread. Since then, South Africa and Bangladesh have cancelled their scheduled tours of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have announced a 20-man shortlisted squad for the threeTest series against England starting August 5. The experienced pair of and wicketkeeper have returned to the Test set up, while middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed has been left out. Initially, the PCB had announced a combined squad of 29 players for both Tests as well as the three T20Is that follow. There were expectations of Ifthikar replacing Haris Sohail, who had chosen to of the tour due to concerns about the pandemic. Meanwhile, Riaz had expressed his to the longest format last month after opting out of Test cricket indefinitely last year, and has eventually found a place in the squad. Former captain Sarfaraz, who was from Test and T20I captaincy the previous October, is the second choice wicketkeeper in the squad, behind the younger , who also toured Australia last year and played Bangladesh at home this February. Also included is the uncapped , although he is likely to be behind Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan in the spin-bowler pecking order, as well as , whose last Test appearance came in 2009. The first Test will be played at Old Trafford, with the next two games will be played in Southampton before the T20Is start on August 28. Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Imamul-Haq, Imran Khan Sr, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah.

Former olympian asad malik dies in road accident Former Olympian Asad Malik, a member of the gold-winning Pakistan’s 1968 Summer Olympics team died in a road accident on Monday. He was 78. His gold medalwinning goal against Australia in the 1968 final had the honour of his action photograph of that goal immortalised on a Pakistan postage stamp. Malik, who hailed from a hockey-playing family also won two silver medals in the 1964 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He was also a recipient of the Pride of Performance in 1969. He also had two Asian Games gold medals in 1962 and 1970 and a gold medal in the World Cup 1971. Later, he took part in the 1973 World Cup before bidding adieu to the sport. His younger brother Saeed Anwar and nephews Anjum Saeed and Naeem Amjad have also represented Pakistan at the Olympics. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary-General Muhammad Asif Bajwa and the entire PHF family expressed their deepest sympathies on the sad demise of Malik. SPORTS DESK

ACB sacks its CEO for ‘unsatisfactory performance’ and ‘misbehaviour’ KABUL AGENCIES

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has abruptly sacked its chief executive officer Lutfullah Stanikzai on Monday, two years before his contract expires. In a letter written to Stanikzai, which ESPNcricinfo has seen, ACB chairman Farhan Yusefzai said Stanikzai’s contract was being terminated for “mismanagement”, “unsatisfactory performance,” and “misbehavior with managers.” The board also made the announcement through a release on Monday. “This is to inform you that this letter serves as confirmation that your employment contract in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghanistan Cricket Board is terminated effectively. Your last employment date with ACB is July 29, 2020,” the letter said. “The reason(s) of your contract termination is as below: Mismanagement Unsatisfactory Performance Misbehavior with Managers.” The ACB release also stated Stanikzai had been sacked due to “ignorance in his responsibilities,” and he had been “warned verbally and in writing in the past.” The board said it would advertise for the vacancy soon. Stanikzai said he was surprised by the development and first found out about it from social media and not by any communication from the board. He said he had spoken to Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhail, the state minister for parliamentary affairs, who sits on the ACB Board and even he was not aware. “I spoke to a [ACB] board member and was told that

they are not aware” Stanikzai told ESPNcricinfo. “According to ACB constitution, the CEO is appointed by the Board and any decision concerning the CEO should be done by the Board.” Stanikzai, who had served previously as a media manager, was hired as the CEO on a three-year contract in July last year immediately after Afghanistan’s dismal performance at the 2019 World Cup where they finished last in the 10-team tournament without a single win.

CMYK

Stanikzai , who had been charged with breaching the ACB constitution and policies on various decisions. Khan’s tenure as acting chief executive was short-lived after he was replaced in July. He had replaced Shafiqullah Stanikzai whose four-year term had ended in February 2019. The hand of the Afghanistan government in the ACB politics is not lost upon the ICC. According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC last year alerted the ACB that it was concerned by the inconsistency in the leadership in the Afghanistan board. That message was delivered by Imran Khawaja, then ICC’s deputy chairman, who was recently appointed as interim chair of the global cricket body. It is understood that Khawaja raised three issues with the ACB last September: concerns about its leadership, the money that the ACB receives from the ICC be strictly utilised for development of cricket in the country and, thirdly, the ACB should strengthen its internal audit. Afghanistan were granted Full Membership in 2017, which entitled them to a distribution cost from the ICC for participating in global tournaments. As per the new finance model, they would get around US$ 40 million for the 2016-23 commercial rights cycle for projected ICC revenues of $2.7 billion. However, with the ICC’s projected revenues coming down, those costs have been adjusted to close to $4.8 million per year. In January this year the ACB received about $2.4 million as part of the ICC’s distribution money. However, the ACB has been reeling financially after one of its major team sponsors pulled out in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently the of its entire coaching staff since May.

real madrid striker mariano tests positive for covid-19 MADRID: Real Madrid striker Mariano has tested positive for Covid-19, the club said on Tuesday. A statement said the 26-year-old Spanish-born player was in “perfect health” and “complying with the sanitary isolation protocol at home”. He was an unused substitute for Real’s last match – a on 19 July. Madrid play at Manchester City in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Friday, 7 August. City hold a 2-1 lead after the Bernabeu first leg, which was played in February before the coronavirus pandemic caused the competition to be halted. Mariano has made seven appearances for Real in all competitions in 2020 and scored in a 2-0 win over Barcelona at the beginning of March, a result that helped Real become Spanish champions. AGENCIES

Wednesday, 29 July, 2020

PRAyER TImINGS

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:43

12:09

4:59

5:16

7:01

8:34

CABinet OkAys fOrmAtiOn Of COmmissiOn tO prOBe petrOl Crisis SHIBLI SAYS SUFFICIENT STOCK OF WHEAT, SUGAR AVAILABLE

MEDIA HOUSES TO BE PAID OUTSTANDING DUES AFTER EIDUL AZHA

ISLAMABAD

APP

HE federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the formation of a commission to probe the petrol crisis. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that the cabinet has approved the constitution of a commission to inquire into the causes of shortage of petrol last month. He said the commission will give recommendations to ensure that such a situation does not develop in future. The information minister said that the country has sufficient stock of wheat and sugar, and there is no issue of demand and supply in the products. He said that wheat is being supplied to the flour mills in Punjab, and the provincial government is providing Rs16 billion subsidy on the product. He, however, said the private and public sectors have been directed to import

wheat to meet the deficit of 1.5 million tonnes. The minister said the district administration has been directed to take strict action against hoarders of wheat and sugar. The minister said that Prime Minister Imran expressed satisfaction over the encouraging indicators about Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme. He said a boost to the construction sector will have a positive impact on the overall economy. He said the matter about payment of

Afghan talks back on track as new ceasefire agreed KABUL: Long-delayed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban appeared back on track Tuesday after President Ashraf Ghani signalled negotiations could start next week and the two foes agreed a three-day ceasefire. The truce would start Friday, marking the first day of the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha, and continue for the duration of the religious holiday. The Taliban proposed the ceasefire after Ghani described progress in a contentious prisoner exchange that has thrown up numerous hurdles to talks starting. "To demonstrate the government's commitment to peace, the Islamic Republic will soon complete the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners," Ghani told officials, referring to the number of insurgent inmates the government originally pledged to free under the auspices of a USTaliban deal in February. "With this action, we look forward to the start of direct negotiations with the Taliban in a week's time," Ghani added. Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP that Kabul would observe the ceasefire, but cautioned it did not go far enough. "The people of Afghanistan demand a lasting ceasefire and the start of direct talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan," Sediqqi said. Kabul's readiness to start talks comes after the Taliban last week indicated they too are prepared to negotiate after the Eid holidays. APP

outstanding dues of media houses will be resolved immediately after the Eid. The minister said the poor sewerage system in Karachi has been exposed in the recent rains, which caused serious problems for the residents of the city. He regretted that the Sindh government has not improved infrastructure in the city. The minister assured that the federal government will perform its role in the matter to mitigate sufferings of the people of Karachi.

About Covid-19 situation, Shibli Faraz said the trend of the coronavirus cases has considerably declined due to the government’s effective smart lockdown policy. He, however, warned that carelessness during Eidul Azha will again raise coronavirus cases. He urged the people to strictly follow safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) against Covid-19. Earlier, the cabinet discussed the 13point agenda and overall political and economic situation in the country. During the meeting, PM Imran vowed to hold those accountable responsible for the petrol crisis in the country. A draft of rules and regulations for the appointment of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) chairman and members was also presented for suggestions. Furthermore, the federal cabinet also approved the decision taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on July 22 while a progress report on institutional reforms was also presented during the meeting. It is pertinent to mention here that the oil crisis surfaced across the country in the month of July after the government made significant cut in petroleum prices on recommendation of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

Head of China's CDC gets injected with experimental Covid-19 vaccine BEIJING AGENCIES

The head of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says he has been injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine in an attempt to persuade the public to follow suit when one is approved. “I’m going to reveal something undercover: I am injected with one of the vaccines,” Gao Fu said in a webinar on Sunday hosted by Alibaba Health, an arm of the Chinese e-commerce giant, and Cell Press, an American publisher of scientific journals. “I hope it will work.” The Associated Press reported earlier this month that a state-owned Chinese company injected employees with experimental shots in March, even before the government approved testing in people — a move that raised ethical concerns among some experts. Gao did not say when or how he took the vaccine candidate, leaving it unclear whether he was injected as part of a government-approved human trial. He did not respond to requests for comment. The claim underscores the enor-

mous stakes as China competes with US and British companies to be the first with a vaccine to help end the pandemic — a feat that would be both a scientific and political triumph. China has positioned itself to be a strong contender. Eight of the nearly two dozen potential vaccines in various stages of human testing worldwide are from China, the most of any country. Gao declined to say which of the vaccines he was injected with, saying he didn’t want to be seen as “doing some kind of propaganda” for a particular company. Last month, Gao was a co-author on a paper introducing one candidate, an “inactivated” vaccine made by growing the whole virus in a lab and then killing it. That candidate is being developed by an affiliate of state-owned SinoPharm. The company previously said in an online post that 30 employees, including top executives, helped “pre-test” its vaccine in March, before it was approved for its initial human study. Scientists vehemently debate such self-experimentation, because what happens to one or a few people outside a well-designed study is not usable ev-

idence of safety or effectiveness. Chinese state media have also reported that employees of state-owned companies going abroad are being offered injections of the vaccine. Gao said he took the injection to instil public confidence in vaccines, especially amid a tide of rising mistrust that has fueled conspiracy theories and attacks on scientists. “Everybody has suspicions about the new coronavirus vaccine,” Gao said. “As a scientist, you’ve got to be brave. […] If even we didn’t do it, how can we persuade the whole world — all the people, the public — to be vaccinated?” Andrew Rennekamp, an editor at Cell and one of the moderators of Gao’s webinar, said, “This is a brave thing to do, and it shows his faith in what he believes is the safety of the vaccine and his commitment to the science and to public health.” Even as China is among the leaders in the global race for a vaccine, it is also striving to overcome years of drug scandals — the latest coming in 2018 when authorities recalled a rabies vaccine and later announced that batches of children’s DPT vaccines, for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, were ineffective.

Defence preparation to ensure 'peace within, peace without', says Gen Bajwa RAWALPINDI: Reiterating the need for bolstering defence and operational preparedness, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that armed forces’ defence preparation and operational readiness are “to ensure peace within and peace without.” “However, if provoked we shall respond and respond with all our might,” added the army chief while addressing the handing over ceremony of Tank Al Khalid-I to Armoured Corps Regiment (ACR) on Tuesday. The ceremony was held at Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) and the Army Chief was chief guest on the occasion, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). General Bajwa expressed his confidence, satisfaction and appreciation for HIT’s state-of-the-art products and capabilities. He lauded the efforts of HIT towards attainment of self-reliance and manufacturing of world class indigenous defense products, direly needed in evolving security environment. Tank Al Khalid-I is a joint venture with friendly countries China and Ukraine. During the ceremony Tank Al Khalid-I displayed some of its outstanding capabilities including mobility, speed, Bi-axis gun stabilization of the control system and use of smoke screen to mask movement. Al Khalid-I will be handed over to formations, which have a critical and decisive role during war. HIT Chairman Major General Syed Aamer Raza highlighted the ongoing projects, achievements of HIT and its contribution in defence industry by pursuing self-reliance. STAFF REPORT

Covid-19 pandemic is 'one big wave', not seasonal: WHO GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday raised concerns that the virus did not behave like influenza that tended to follow seasonal trends, warning against complacency about new coronavirus transmission in the northern hemisphere summer. “People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and…this one is behaving differently,” Margaret Harris told a virtual briefing in Geneva, urging vigilance in applying measures to slow transmission that is spreading via mass gatherings. She also warned against thinking in terms of virus waves, saying: “It’s going to be one big wave. It’s going to go up and down a bit. The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet.” AGENCIES

Contentious Kashmir domicile law raises fears of losing land, culture NEW DELHI AGENCIES

At 75 years old, Zareef Ahmad Zareef has been witness to several major events that have shaped Indian held Kashmir — for the worse, he says — since 1947. Now, the historian and poet worries for the future of Kashmir’s culture and its people, after India passed a new law in May that allows non-locals to become permanent residents of the Muslim-majority territory. “Our Kashmir is a garden. The new laws have thrown the doors open for plunderers to ruin it,” said Zareef in a phone interview from Srinagar, Kashmir’s main city. “The days are not far when we will be left with no job opportunities or economic resources, including land and forests,” he added. “Kashmiris will become second-class citizens in their own homeland.” The law makes it possible for people from outside Kashmir to become permanent residents, sparking fears among locals that non-locals will get priority when it comes to housing, jobs and education. It follows India’s unilateral annexation of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, which opened the door for non-Kashmiris to buy land and property, get government jobs

and attend institutes of higher education. Those receiving domicile certificates include war refugees from Pakistan, Gurkha soldiers from Nepal who had served in the Indian army and marginalised groups such as sanitation workers from the state of Punjab, noted Haroon Reshi, a freelance journalist based in Srinagar. “Our distinct social and cultural identity, whether it’s our languages or traditions – everything is in danger,” Reshi told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The office of Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Pandurang K. Pole did not respond to several requests for comment. Speaking to reporters this month, Girish Chander Murmu, lieutenant governor for Jammu and Kashmir, said the aim of the law is to encourage investment in the region. “Our one-point agenda is the development and creating [job] opportunities for the youth. Our target is a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. In another move officials said would generate jobs and boost development, the Indian administration on July 24 approved setting aside 488 hectares (1,205 acres) of state land to build industrial estates in about 35 locations across the region. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, chairman of the J&K RTI Movement, an anti-corruption

charity, described the decision as “disastrous” in a statement on Monday, saying the government should instead focus on establishing more agricultural land and creating green jobs. FEARS FOR LAND AND PROPERTY: Kashmir is claimed in full by India and Pakistan and both rule parts of it. India’s portion has been plagued by separatist violence since the late 1980s. The new domicile rule states that any Indian national who has lived in Jammu and Kashmir for at least 15 years or has studied for seven years and taken certain exams can become a permanent resident. India’s government has said applications must be issued or rejected within 15 days and has introduced a fine of 50,000 rupees ($670) to be deducted from the salary of any official in the territory who delays the process. Zareef, the historian, said one fear among many Kashmiris is that rich non-locals will use their new residency status to buy up land and property from financially struggling Kashmiris, taking away the only permanent asset that most locals have. Some civil society groups in Kashmir have been forming committees to warn people not to sell their land to non-locals, he added. INVESTORS: Some Kashmiris look to India’s coastal state of Goa as a sign of

things to come. In 2008, India placed strict restrictions on non-Goans owning land in the state, a popular tourist destination. At the time, Goans complained that those rules were routinely flouted and blamed illegal homeowners for erosion in local culture and rising crime. Real estate experts have said that, for now, fears that the same could happen in Kashmir are unfounded. Shoukat Ahmad Anim, managing director of Arco InfraCon, a commercial construction company based in Srinagar, said his company has not received a single query from non-locals since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. “No one wants to own land or property here due to the turmoil. Everyone would prefer to go to America, Dubai or Sharjah,” he said. Even with the real estate sector at a standstill, the Jammu and Kashmir State Industrial Development Corporation has been creating a bank of state-owned land to sell to outside investors, according to officials who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the press. ECONOMIC PAIN: Along with possibly losing land and property, Kashmiris say they fear that giving non-locals the rights of residents will make it harder for locals to get ac-

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cess to jobs, spaces at schools and universities, and public housing. Khurram Pervez, a prominent human rights activist based in Srinagar, noted that currently, residents living in slum areas in Jammu and Kashmir are entitled to affordable housing. The new law could make “tens of thousands” of migrant labourers from other Indian states eligible for public housing, too, he warned. Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that the territory’s economy is struggling. Tourism, exports and other sectors have been hit hard by frequent lockdowns and internet blackouts since August last year – which India said were necessary to maintain security in the region – and then the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Since the August lockdown, he said, Kashmir’s economy has suffered a loss of more than $5.3 billion. “I have been associated with the Chamber for the last 10 years and this is the worst time that I have ever witnessed,” he said. Ashiq worries that an influx of non-locals will prolong and complicate Kashmir’s recovery efforts. “Adding more people to the union territory will only aggravate the economic crisis and increase the burden of unemployment,” he said.