Epaper – February 06-2022 ISB

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 I 4 Rajab, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 219 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Pakistan, China vow to ProteCt eaCh other’s ‘Core interests’ g

Two leaders agreed To work on furTher deepening bilaTeral economic engagemenT, furTher advance mulTifaceTed sTraTegic cooperaTive Ties

BEIJING

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Mian abrar

akisTan and china saturday underlined the importance of ‘all-weather strategic partnership’ between the two neighbouring countries and reiterated to support each other issues of core interest.

The statement comes after prime minister imran khan held wide-ranging talks with his chinese counterpart li keqiang. pm khan was accompanied by the foreign minister, minister for finance, planning minister, information minister and other senior officials, according to a statement issued by the prime minister’s office.

The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional sentiments of warmth, deep mutual trust and understanding. during the meeting, they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties including discussions on the bilateral economic and trade relations, onward

march of cpec and important issues of regional and global concern, read the communiqué.

“The two sides reaffirmed the centrality of the pakistan-china all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and reiterated support on each other’s issues of core interest.” congratulating premier li for organising beijing winter olympics, pm imran khan highlighted that strategic ties between pakistan and china served the fundamental interests of the two countries and were a factor of peace and stability in the region. he added that successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations held last year injected a new impetus to the bilateral friendship.

The prime minister thanked the chinese government for support and assistance to pakistan in dealing with the covid-19 pandemic and timely supply of vaccines. he appreciated the transformational impact of cpec on pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, socio-economic

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,454,800

LAST UPDATED AT 9:21 AM ON FEBRUARY 5, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

28

6,137

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,333,732 29,448 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

549,872

487,407

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

200,710

34,711

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

40,355/10,873

130,872

development and improvement in livelihoods of the people. he underlined that pakistan is committed to the high-quality development of cpec through its mutually reinforcing industrial, trade, health, digital and green corridors. pm imran shared with premier li the measures taken by the government to provide policy guidance and support for enhanced chinese investments in the cpec seZs and special technology zones, and for the safety and security of chinese nationals, projects and institutions in pakistan. exchanging views on the regional security situation, the prime minister highlighted the serious situation in indian illegally occupied Jammu and kashmir (iioJk) as well as the importance of urgent action by the international community to alleviate the sufferings of the kashmiri people. he also underscored the importance of pakistan and china working together to promote shared objectives of peace, stability and development in afghanistan and regional connectivity.

The two leaders agreed to work closely on further deepening bilateral economic engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to further advance the multifaceted strategic cooperative ties and building the ‘pakistan-china community of shared future in the new era’. meanwhile, pm khan also held a separate meeting president of uzbekistan shavkat mirziyoyev.

“Just a moment ago, prime minister imran khan’s meeting with chinese prime minister li has ended. it was followed by a meeting with uzbek president shavkat. kashmir and afghanistan were the main topics of discussion in both the meetings,” information minister fawad chaudhry tweeted.

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Top leadership reaffirms commitment to Kashmir cause on solidarity day ISLAMABAD staff report

Top civilian and military leadership said islamabad had a “complete and continuing commitment” to kashmir as the nation and people living on both sides of the line of control (loc) dividing the himalayan region between pakistan and india observed annual solidarity day. prime minister imran khan said that he, being an “ambassador of kashmir”, reassured pakistan’s support to the people of kashmir, urging the international community to hold india accountable for her gross violations of rights in the occupied region. “it is time for the international community to make india accountable for its heinous crimes in kashmir and to work towards a just and peaceful settlement of the dispute in accordance with the un security council resolutions and the wishes of the people,” the prime minister said in his message on kashmir day observed on february 5 every year.

The nation commemorates the day to reaffirm its unwavering support to the people of kashmir in their struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination. khan said the region was an internationally recognised dispute, the resolu-

PPP, PML-N agree on joint strategy for 2023 elections former president asif ali Zardari and pakistan peoples party (ppp) chairman bilawal bhutto-Zardari arrived at the model Town neighbourhood of lahore to a warm welcome at the residence of pml-n president and leader of the opposition in national assembly shehbaz sharif for a luncheon meeting on saturday. however, minister for information and broadcasting fawad chaudhry took a jibe at the meeting, saying the opposition’s defeat in the senate had brought them together. pml-n vice-president maryam nawaz, leader of the opposition in the punjab assembly hamza shehbaz and other pml-n leaders welcomed the ppp duo. leaders of both parties discussed the political situation in the country, anti-government movement, and future strategy in the parliament.

They also discussed moving a no-trust motion in the assembly, besides agreeing on making a joint strategy for the next general elections in 2023.

The recommendations for making a joint strategy for next general elections was presented by Zardari, which was accepted by pml-n leaders.

The meeting also agreed

tion of which was firmly anchored in the relevant unsc resolutions. he said the rights situation in the region had continued to worsen following india’s revocation of the special status of the disputed region on august 5, 2019.

The inhumane military siege, which has remained in place for almost two and a half years now, has resulted in the martyrdom of hundreds of people, most of them muslims, he added.

The prime minister said the indian forces continued to use brute force indiscriminately against men, women, children and the elderly.

“The youth have been particularly targeted in their campaign of unabated repression. The most oppressive illustrations of this are the use of pellet guns and destruction of entire neighbourhoods, including collective punishments on communities,” he remarked. khan said the unending killing spree, arbitrary arrests of people and rights defenders, and refusal to hand over the mortal remains of dead by occupation forces were a matter of grave concern for people across the world. he said india had unleashed the worst form of state terrorism to break the will of the kashmiri people and crush their legitimate struggle.

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more inside

United, strong Pakistan vital for Kashmir liberation: Shehryar Afridi STORY ON PAGE 02

over using all legal and constitutional options to sent the pTi-led federal government packing. later, while addressing a press conference alongside bilawal, maryam, and hamza, shehbaz said the huddle discussed in detail about bringing a “no-confidence motion against prime minister imran khan”.

“There are different opinions within pml-n on no-confidence motion issue,” he said, adding that the final decision regarding no-confidence motion would be made in the next few days after discussing it with pml-n supremo nawaz sharif. “if we want to save this country from more destruction, then we will have to get rid of

this government,” he said. bilawal said he has discussed his party’s strategy against the government with shehbaz and other pml-n leaders present in the meeting. “we discussed matters in detail. we came to a conclusion that a decision [with regards to ousting the government] is very crucial, given the burden of rising inflation on the masses.” he said despite ppp’s differences with pml-n in the past, the party is ready to keep them aside “for a greater cause”, adding that a better working relation between pml-n and ppp would pose a danger for the government.

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pakistan, china to discuss resumption of cross border trade through khunjerab STORY ON PAGE 03

Xi Jinping declares Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics open STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

LUMS Vice Chancellor named International Educator of the Year LAHOre

United, strong Pakistan vital for Kashmir liberation: Shehryar Afridi

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LAHOre

The Academy of International Business (AIB), the premier global organization of international business and management scholars, has named LUMS Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad, the AIB International Educator of the Year for 2022. Established in 1959, AIB’s membership spans more than 70 countries worldwide. AIB fosters excellence in education by advancing the highest professional standards in international business and management. Dr. Ahmad is the first recipient from a South Asian university to receive this prestigious award.

He joins eminent colleagues from Europe, North and South America, Australia, and China who have previously received this high distinction. Dr. Lorraine Eden, Dean of the AIB Fellows, congratulated Dr. Ahmad for his contributions “to enhancing transdisciplinary, global learning and education among students, scholars, managers, and leaders worldwide”. In thanking AIB, Dr. Ahmad said that “this Award is a tribute to 35 years of excellence at LUMS and its relentless commitment to innovation and the transformation of education through inclusive, global learning networks.”

US okays Masood’s appointment as Pakistan envoy news Desk Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Saturday said that the United States has conveyed its ‘agre’ment’ to the appointment of Sardar Masood Khan as the Ambassador of Pakistan to the US. Responding to media queries regarding Khan’s appointment, the spokesperson in a press release said that the official approval by the US government has been conveyed in this regard. “Ambassador Masood Khan is a seasoned diplomat who has served Pakistan with distinction and honour. He would assume his responsibilities in Washington DC in due course of time,” he added. The agrément for Khan’s appointment was sent to the State Department in November last year. The delay in the approval had stirred speculations that the US has reservations over his credentials. Khan was appointed as the 27th president of Azad Kashmir by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2016. He was replaced by PTI’s Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary following the AJK elections in August, 2021. He is a career diplomat who has served the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in different capacities since 1980, before elevation as the AJK president. He has also served as the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August 2003 to March 2005. He was also Pakistan’s Ambassador to China between September 2008 and September 2012 and Permanent Representative to the United Nations between October 11, 2012 and February 7, 2015.

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Staff RepoRt

HAIRMAN of the Parliament’s Special Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi has said that a united and strong Pakistan can help Kashmiris; therefore, our young generation must strengthen its roots and rise above any differences to stand together for liberation of Occupied Kashmir.

He was addressing a seminar on Kashmir, an emblem of courage organised by Punjab University Human Rights Chair in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day at Al Raazi Hall.

PU Human Rights Chair head and PU Department of Public Relations and Advertising Chairperson Prof Dr Abida Ashraf, Department of Journalism Chairperson Prof Dr Bushra Rehman, Dr Mujahid Gillani, Haroon Rafique, Dr Rabia Noor, faculty members and a number of students participated in the event. Earlier, Shehryar Afridi called on PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmed at his office.

The VC lauded the role of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Shehryar Afridi for highlighting the Kashmir issue at international level and making serious efforts for its resolution.

Addressing the seminar, Afridi said that our youth could convince the world to resolve the Kashmir issue through their achievements and strength of character.

He said that no one would value us if we did not

advance in science and technology. He said that we must not fall prey to hybrid war launched by India and we must keep our minds clear. He said that India was distorting history and we must counter her propaganda.

He said that we must not be confused in our concepts and we must thwart any intrigue hatched to creating division among us. He said that we not only condemn serious violations of human rights and genocide in Kashmir but all over India where minorities were being tyrannised by Indian forces. He urged the youth to recognise their glory and present a positive image of Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan had fought wars for the people of IIOJ&K and Kashmiris had also sacrificed their lives, property and everything for Pakistan. He said that India had launched demographic terrorism in Kashmir.

He criticised and expressed sorrow over the criminal silence of international community over the war crimes and humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and other Muslim countries. He questioned why 95 percent of the migrants in the world are the Muslims and what does it mean?

Kashmiri leader Mujahid Gillani said that Kashmiris stood with Pakistan and they looked towards Pakistan for help. He requested the university teachers to allocate some time in their lectures to highlight the Kashmir issue. Prof Dr Abida Ashraf said that since one picture was better than 1,000 words, the PU Human Rights Chair had produced several documentaries to

China, Pakistan increase barter trade Aziz Buneri Chinese companies have recently increased their participation in barter trade between China and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, a number of enterprises from Pakistan participated in the in-auguration of the Cross-Border Barter Trade Alliance (CBTA) held in China, reflecting Pakistani entrepreneurs’ willingness to promote barter trade with their counterparts in China.

Barter trade refers to the exchange of goods or services by one party in return for goods and services from the other without the use of money.

CBTA Secretary General Wang Hui said that the platform of cross-border barter trade would address the deep-rooted problems of inadequate rules and regulations, mismatched information and further boost the barter trade among member enterprises.

Pakistan is enriched with natural resources like minerals, which can be bartered with the urgently needed merchandise from China. Pakistan and China have not aggressively pursued enhanced barter trade, though the volume of trade between the two countries was $17.49 billion in 2020.

Pakistan’s exports to China posted a massive

increase of 70 per cent to reach $888 million in the first of quarter of 2021 from $526 million in the same period of the preceding year.

China, who is already barter trading with different countries is growing by the day and is also encouraging companies through regulatory frameworks to realise the growth potential of barter trade.

International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA), a global organisation for barter trade, indicated that an estimated 65 per cent to 80 per cent of 500 fortune enterprises have been engaged in a few forms of bartering, and 65 per cent of New York Stock Exchange’s listed corporations were also involved in barter trade.

The scope of barter trade between Islamabad and Beijing can be enhanced through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the BRI economies are progressively integrated with the rest of the world and with each other. The contribution of these economies in global exports has almost doubled in the last few years.

Through the BRI, the simple system of barter trade can be used to address the intricate complexities of the modern-day monetary systems, and overcome the impact of foreign exchange crisis and adverse balance of payments.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

present the factual position of the Kashmir issue before the international community.

Detailing the features of the dossier prepared by Foreign Ministry of Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, she said that the 131-page document exposed war crimes being committed by India while citing 113 international references, including foreign media reports. She said that the dossier had also cited reports of Indian human rights associations that were raising the voice of Kashmiris over human rights violations.

She said that the dossier described the usage of 31 types of tortures, including use of chemical weapons on innocent Kashmiris.

She said that there was a complete blackout of information in the valley and independent journalists were not being allowed to access the occupied valley.

She said that in this situation, it was our prime responsibility to become their voice and sensitise the world about what was going on in the valley.

Govt working to promote net-metering based solar energy systems, says Hammad Azhar TLTP Federal Minister for Energy Muhammad Hammad Azhar has said that the government and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) have been promoting the installation of net-metering based solar energy systems under the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) regulations. The minister said agencies including NEPRA and DISCOs have also been promoting net-metering awareness amongst their consumers by promotional material disseminated through websites and electricity bills. Moreover, the minister said that Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is carrying out the certification of installers for net-metering based systems under AEDB Certification Regulations. Hammad said that the certified installers are obligated to provide the minimum warranties for the equipment as prescribed under the regulations. Further, the minister said that the installer shall ensure that the project and the equipment comprising therein is compliant with the prescribed international standards and specifications. The number of AEDB certified installers has reached 150 as compared to only 24 in December, 2019. The certified installers are also carrying out net metering awareness and promotion through electronic, print and social media. Hammad Azhar said that Balochistan has an immense potential of solar energy all across the province with an average daily Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) of 2200 kWh/m2. He said that with immense wind and solar potential, significant number of ARE based projects are envisaged to be developed in Balochistan. However, the wind energy potential in Balochistan is available mostly in western and north western parts of the province.

He said that the coastal belt of Balochistan has relatively lower wind potential as compared to the other wind corridors in the province. The minister informed the house that no renewable energy based PSDP project has been initiated in the last three years since the renewable energy based rural electrification projects are mostly being carried out by the provincial government. However, he added that the government is planning to carry out offgrid village electrification through renewable energy resources in southern Balochistan. In this regard, the minister said that a project for off-grid village electrification of 9 Districts of southern Balochistan is being devised. The government is also preparing a project for solarization of all grid operated tube wells in Balochistan. Hammad went on to say that the development of large-scale grid connected renewable energy-based power generation projects is being pursued through private sector investors on IPP mode. Under the new ARE Policy 2019, the development of ARE based power generation projects for supply to the national grid will be carried out through competitive bidding.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

Pakistan, China to discuss resumption of cross border trade through Khunjerab

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RIME Minister Imran Khan on his visit to China will discuss the issue of the closure of Khunjerab border for trade activities since the outbreak of Covid-19.

The prime minister will also be accompanied by Adviser to PM on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood during his visit to Beijing.

Pakistani importers and exporters, who have trade associated with this land route, have been badly affected by the closure of the border; the Khunjerab border remains closed for routine trade since December 2019.

Earlier, Pakistan had asked China to reopen the border to facilitate crossborder trade and people-to-people exchanges.

In a letter sent to the Embassy of China in Pakistan, the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs had stated that the border was closed on December 1, 2019 as per schedule due to the winter season, while its opening on April 1, 2020 was postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“To support the lives and livelihood of the local population on both sides of the border, it is imperative that regular cross-border trade and P2P exchanges may be resumed. Therefore, the border may be opened from April 1,” the ministry stated, adding “the esteemed embassy is requested to take up the matter with relevant quarters to open the border on the said date for smooth and regular cross-border movement.”

Earlier, following Pakistan’s persistent requests, China had agreed to open the Khunjerab border for trade on May 1, 2021 with stiff conditions in view of the Covid-19 situation.

However, the neighboring country had

not opened the border despite all arrangements made on Pakistan’s side.

After a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce, China again promised to allow goods to cross the border by July 10, for only cargo containers, leaving the goods near the border from where the same would be lifted by Pakistani importers.

As per a letter issued in April, 2021 the Chinese government had informed that their exporters would leave the goods on a specific location of Pakistan’s side of the border from where importers may receive them after following the SOPs. Similarly, exporters would also leave their goods at the same location which buyers from China would receive after completion of the same process on their side of the border.

Personnel and the vehicles of both parties were directed to work in different time frames to avoid direct

contact. In this regard, loading and unloading, dropping and hanging up the trailer was to be done separately when the cargo inspection channel was opened.

However these arrangements could also not work for unknown reasons.

The concerned officials at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad were approached and shared queries about the issue. However the official version was not shared till the filing of this story.

It may be mentioned here that apart from the prolonged closure of border for Covid-19 issue, the China-Pakistan border usually remains closed from December 1 till March 31 every year due to severe weather conditions, as per the bilateral agreement. For the rest of the year, however, the border remains open for two-way movement of passengers as well as transportation of goods and cargo.

NEWS

03

Opposition’s politics to be buried soon: Rasheed news Desk Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Saturday said that the future of PML-N’s politics would be the same as the NASLA tower faced.

Addressing a rally at Lal Haveli in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day, the minister said that organising protest rallies or a long march is the opposition’s right, adding the government would not create hurdles in their way; however, the politics of corrupt opposition parties, including PML-N and PPP, would be buried soon. The minister said that the previous ruling parties had looted the country badly and were responsible for the prevailing inflation in the country. Rasheed said that Pakistan’s development is linked to stability in Afghanistan, adding that Taliban got independence after 40 years of war and Pakistan has friendly relations with the government in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan’s defence is in safe hands and “we have not made bombs to use them on Devali or Shab-e-Barat, adding that any move to destabilise the country would be dealt with iron hands”, he added. The minister, on the occasion, said that Lal Haveli always did the politics of the well being of the oppressed people and never supported any land mafia in the city, adding that 10,000 volunteers would be enrolled in his constituency who will assist the needy people. He said the Pakistani people are united on the Kashmir issue, adding that Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and freedom is the fundamental right of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which cannot be denied by anybody. Talking about the recent rise in terrorism incidents and attacks on security forces, he said that incidents that had taken place over the past week could further increase. “I do not want to comment on the talks here. The Taliban have intervened but the incidents that occurred in the past week could increase.

They could rise [further],” he said.

Authorities complete demolition of Nasla Tower kArACHi NewS DeSk

LAHORE: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar in a group photograph after a meeting with the CPNE delegation.

PM concludes meetings with senior leadership of China’s corporate sector BeiJing MiaN abRaR

Prime Minister Imran Khan concluded his second day of meetings with business leaders of mega China’s top state-owned and private enterprises in Beijing on Saturday.

The executives who met the Prime Minister included Chairmen of China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC), China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), Power China, East Sea Group, China Railway Group Limited (CREC), China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC), Beijing Century Industrial Development Co. Ltd (CENTINCO) and the CHINAMEX Group.

During the meetings, the Chinese businesspersons briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of their ongoing projects in Pakistan and future investment plans worth billions of US dollars in the fields of energy, Refining, Petrochemical, infrastructure development, water management, information and communication technology (ICT), and housing.

China Energy is a Fortune 500 conglomerate

operating in the fields of energy, water management, transportation and construction; CSCEC’s major areas of focus are communications and engineering; Power China provides services in the energy & water sectors; East Sea Group is an international energy and chemical trading company; CREC focuses on engineering, real estate development, Railways and mining sectors; MCC is the world’s largest metallurgical construction contractor; CENTINCO specializes in industrial, infrastructure refining & petrochemical projects; and CHINAMEX Group has carried out urban development projects in several countries.

Appreciating the interests of Chinese companies for enhancing business ties with Pakistan, the Prime Minister highlighted that government of Pakistan had offered many incentives to foreign enterprises especially from China for investment in Pakistan Special Economic Zones . He assured that Pakistan would continue to support and facilitate the Chinese companies for their expanded footprints in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister was accompanied in the meetings by the members of cabinet and senior officials.

Rupee to rise further against US dollar, says Tarin MOniTOring rePOrT Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said on Saturday that the Pakistani rupee has shown a sharp recovery against the US dollar after approval of a $1 billion loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said this while on a four day official visit to China, where he is accompanying Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Moreover, Shaukat Tarin has predicted that the rupee would continue to recover in the days to come.

On Friday the rupee jumped 0.6 per cent against the US dollar in the interbank market. In addition the rupee has also shown an increase of Rs1.04 against the dollar, which is the biggest single day rise since November 17.

After the successful completion of the 6th review of the IMF program, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) received a $1.053 billion loan tranche.

In line with a Supreme Court (SC) order, the 15-storey Nasla Tower has been razed down completely. According to the administration, the demolition continued for 24 hours and five heavy machinery were used to demolish the building. The process started on November 28, 2021 and it took 69 days to take down the building. However, the lifting of the debris is in process. Earlier on October 25, 2021, the SC had directed the Karachi authorities to demolish the Nasla Tower through a controlled implosion within a week. In its detailed verdict, the apex court directed officials to use the latest technology to demolish the high-rise building on the Shahrah-e-Faisal via a controlled blasting.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

PM Khan attends world leaders' banquet hosted by Xi JinPing BEIJING

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rIMe Minister Imran Khan Saturday attended a banquet for heads of state and international organisations attending the Winter Olympics, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of a diplomatic blitz following nearly two years without face-to-face meetings due to the pandemic.

Dozens of dignitaries were treated to musical performances and a traditional handicrafts display alongside the meal at the Great Hall of the People, state media reported.

Xi has launched a diplomatic marathon in the leadup to the Games, meeting with russian president and “old friend” Vladimir Putin on Friday and attending the Olympics opening ceremony later in the day with dozens of foreign guests.

This week’s meetings are a striking change for Xi, who has avoided travelling abroad or meeting foreign

visitors face-to-face since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

China has largely closed its borders for the last two years in a zero-Covid strategy that has seen daily infections dwindle.

Beijing is keen to shore up international support and pull off a Games that will burnish its reputation, despite multiple countries including the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada announcing diplomatic boycotts over allegations of rights violations.

Besides Putin, the banquet guestlist included egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as a handful of leaders from europe and the Asia Pacific, according to Chinese state media.

Heads of international bodies including the World Health Organization’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whom state media said was among the Olympic torchbearers, were also invited.

The Chinese president had individual meetings with

leaders on the sidelines of the banquet on Saturday, reaffirming his support for Kazakhstan’s President KassymJomart Tokayev, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Beijing praised Tokayev’s “strong measures” against protesters earlier this year after the Kazakh leader took a hardline approach to quell demonstrations — including authorising his forces to shoot to kill.

Official photos showed a massive banquet table featuring a miniature winter landscape as its centrepiece, lit from above by crystal chandeliers.

CCTV showed masked guests including International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach inspecting traditional clay figurines and painted kites in the Great Hall of the People as a Chinese musical group played.

Xi was photographed greeting and posing for photographs with Putin on Friday with both men going maskless, even though the russian leader had skipped the lengthy quarantine period normally required in China for people arriving from overseas.

Gas explosion in Balochistan coal mine kills four workers QUETTA Staff RepoRt

two militants killed in north waziristan ibo: isPr ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

A methane gas explosion in a coal mine in Balochistan early Saturday killed four workers, while three others were rescued from the partly collapsed mine, an official said. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) shifted three injured miners to a nearby trauma centre.

“An inquiry to find the cause of the explosion inside the coal mine has been underway,” the authority’s Director General Imran Khan Zarkoon said.

Chief mine inspector Abdul Ghani said the blast took place in the Sra Ghazgai mine area outside Quetta, where the mine was allegedly being operated illegally. No owner or contractor linked to the mine could be located after the explosion because the rescued workers were in no condition to provide details, he said. Ghani said the mine was being thoroughly examined to ensure no others were trapped deep in the collapsed mine.

Compromised safety conditions and a lack of proper training for mine workers have resulted in similar incidents in provincial mines.

Earthquake measuring 5.7 strikes northern Pakistan ISLAMABAD

Two wanted terrorists were killed in an intelligencebased operation (IBO) launched by the security forces in North Waziristan district, said the Inter-Services Public relations (ISPr) on Saturday. In a statement, the military’s media wing said the personnel conducted the IBO on the reported presence of terrorists in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan district. During intense exchange of firing, two terrorists were killed. One of them was identified as Asmat Ullah alias Hafiz while the identification of the second was in progress, the ISPr said. A huge cache of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from their possession which included submachine guns, hand grenades and a large number of multiple calibre rounds. The fighters were involved in terrorist activities against the security forces, target killing and kidnapping for ransom.

Staff RepoRt

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit several cities in the north — including Islamabad — on Saturday morning, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.

The quake struck at 9:16 am and at a depth of around 209 kilometres (130 miles) with its epicentre in the eastern Ishkashim district of Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey said.

Tremors were also felt in rawalpindi, Taxila, Sargodha, Chiniot and Hafizabad, reports said.

Peshawar, Charsadda, Swat, Mardan and other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also experienced tremors which were also felt in various districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

There were, however, reports of some damage to the accommodations in

Chinese martial arts film ‘shadow’ screened in islamabad ISLAMABAD MonitoRing RepoRt

Chinese film “Shadow” was screened for the public in the capital of Islamabad amid strict measures against Covid-19. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Chinese embassy in Islamabad jointly hosted the film screening at a cinema in downtown Islamabad, which was attended by dozens of people from different walks of life. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib inaugurated the event, saying he hopes that such exchanges would help the peoples of the two countries understand each other’s cultures. Assistant Director at the external Publicity Wing (ePW) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Sana Saif told Xinhua the film is being screened as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China. “Shadow,” directed by Zhang Yimou, is a martial arts film set in China during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220280) that tells the story of a “shadow” man — a body double for royals and aristocrats. The film made its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in 2018. In 2020, a Lollywood military actionromance film “Parwaaz Hai Junoon” hit Chinese cinemas, getting attention and praise from viewers.

slum housing.

In AJK, the people of rawalakot and Neelum Valley rushed out of their homes after the earthquake shook the mountainous cities.

Tremors were also felt in parts of the Indian capital of New Delhi, the Times of India reported.

This is the third quake to hit Pakistan in less than a month. On January 14, an earthquake measuring 5.6 jolted Islamabad and northern towns.

On New Year eve, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck several northern cities.

In October, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Harnai district of Balochistan in the early hours, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 200.

A woman and six children were among 20 dead, Suhail Anwar Hashmi, a senior provincial government official, told AFP.

Pakistan tells UN: Kashmir’s struggle for freedom will triumph UNITED NATIONS Staff RepoRt

Marking Kashmir Solidarity Day, Ambassador Munir Akram said he was confident that the struggle of the people of the disputed region would triumph in achieving self-determination and freedom from Indian occupation.

“Kashmir is an inalienable part of the body and soul of Pakistan,” Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent representative to the United Nations, said in a message to the global community released in New York on Saturday.

“The people of Pakistan have always stood resolutely with their Kashmir brethren against Indian oppression and aggression. They will continue to do so.”

The dispute, he said, was the unfinished agenda of self-determination in the subcontinent. In 1948, the UN Security Council resolutions declared that the final disposition of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of its people expressed through a free and impartial plebiscite

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conducted under the auspices of the body.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s strong advocacy of the rights of Kashmiris has revived global recognition of India’s grave and human rights violations in occu-

pied Jammu and Kashmir,” Ambassador Akram said, adding it had made the world aware that a just resolution of the dispute was essential for durable peace and security in South Asia.

Secretary General António Guterres has reaffirmed the UN’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is based on its charter and the resolutions of the Security Council, he noted.

During the last two years, the Security Council has met three times to consider the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, it was pointed out.

The General Assembly president, the High Commissioner for Human rights, and other high-ranking UN rights experts, special rapporteurs, and human rights organisations had on numerous occasions expressed grave concern over India’s massive atrocities and crimes in occupied Kashmir.

The ambassador said the mission of Pakistan in New York would continue to utilise every opportunity to advocate and promote the just Kashmiri struggle for self-determination and to expose India’s oppression and naked occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | iSlamabad

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Pakistan, China vow to protect each other’s ‘core interests’ continued from page 01 Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in China on a four-day official to Beijing, met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony here on Saturday and the two leaders exchanged views in detail on the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

According to a handout issued by PM Office, the two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to comprehensively upgrade PakistanUzbekistan partnership across the broad spectrum and continue taking practical steps for implementation of the key projects.

Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored the importance of enhanced trade and economic cooperation, particularly through operationalizing the landmark bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and finalizing the Preferential Trade Agreement. He also reiterated Pakistan’s full support to the Trans-Afghan railway project and exchanged views on next steps in taking it forward over the coming months. They also exchanged views on issues of regional peace and stability. The two sides stressed the need to continue economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by the international community to avoid any further eterioration of the situation. The two sides agreed to work closely to ensure concrete outcome of the visit.

PPP, PML-N agree on joint strategy for 2023 elections

AMBASSAdor KHAN UrgES WorLd To HELP rESoLvE KASHMIr dISPUTE WaShington

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PEAKERS at a webinar, organised by the Pakistan embassy in Washington, reaffirmed their unflinching support to the people of occupied Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination, and called for ending the unparalleled atrocities being committed by the Indian forces. The webinar — A Day to stand up in solidarity with Kashmir — was participated in by Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Asad Majeed Khan, British

MP Afzal Khan, retired ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, US-based Kashmir rights activist Danielle Khan, and Wes Martin, a political analyst.

The speakers said the Indian-occupied Kashmir faced a human rights catastrophe and demanded that India should immediately repeal draconian laws, end the military siege, stop demographic changes in the occupied region, lift the communication blockade and release all political prisoners.

Saluting the courage and steadfastness of the people of Kashmir in the face of the worst rights violations, they refuted New Delhi’s narrative of Kashmir

continued from page 01

Answering a question about differences with Bilawal, Maryam said differences of opinion exist between political parties, but “we are ready to unite for the people.” Earlier on Friday, Shehbaz had extended the invitation to the PPP leader under the direction of Nawaz Sharif. He had called Bilawal to invite him over luncheon to chalk out a strategy against the government. Defeat brought Sharifs, Zardaris together: Fawad Chaudhry Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday slammed the PML-N and PPP, saying the Opposition’s defeat in the Senate had brought them together. The Senate had last month passed the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2021 amid an outcry from the Opposition, where they enjoy a majority.

“The humiliating defeat that they suffered in the Senate has resulted in today’s meeting and they will face similar defeats in the future,” Chaudhry said in a press conference from Beijing shortly after PML-N and PPP decided to use “all options” at their disposal to oust the government. The information minister said with time, the “desperation of Pakistan Dheelidhali Movement” is increasing, and they have started to lose patience. “They believe they might face defeat in the next elections. Therefore, they have decided to join hands and contest elections,” Chaudhry said, assuring the Opposition that the government would defeat them even if they unite. The information minister said whenever any government seeks to bring the “money they have stashed abroad or try to put a stop to the crimes they commit”, the Opposition starts coming together. “We have time and again reiterated that this is a gang of criminals.” Chaudhry said PM Imran Khan is the most popular leader of the country and the incumbent “does not care” about the Opposition parties uniting to oust his government. “It has never bothered us in the past, and neither will it bother us in the future.” The information minister said the prime minister was currently working for Pakistan’s foreign policy — as he is in Beijing on a four-day visit. “The dream he had envisioned of a Naya Pakistan will come true” as the government is working on all fronts for the country’s progress, he added.

“The whole Indian state machinery is involved in these unspeakable crimes against humanity. The over 900,000 troops continue to terrorize the Kashmiris through an assault on their distinct identity and culture through illegal demographic changes and economic marginalization,” he said.

The prime minister said the Indian actions, aimed at converting the Muslim majority in the region into a minority in their own land, were in violation of the UNSC resolutions and international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

He said the pattern of ongoing atrocities in the region reflected the anti-peace and anti-Muslim Hindutva agenda of radical Bharatiya Janata PartyRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS-BJP) dispensation.

India has not reciprocated Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability. Through its machinations, India has destabilised the entire South Asian region. Her illegal and unilateral steps were rejected by Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, he reiterated.

Khan viewed the durable peace, security and development in the region hinged on the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

It is imperative that India let the people of Kashmir exercise their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN without further prevarication, he added. ‘freedom not fAr off’: President Dr Arif Alvi said Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the UNSC, guaranteeing the right of self-determination to the oppressed people.

The president said Kashmir had never been a part of India and Pakistan did not even recognise the application of the Indian constitution — which “illegally” enlisted the occupied territory as its part — over the mountainous region.

The president was leading a walk participated in

by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Chairman Shehryar Afridi, Minister for Interior Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed, MPs,

Karachi pr

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being India’s internal matter and pledged to continue to raise their voice for the basic human rights of the people.

The speakers also highlighted the state-sanctioned discrimination against Muslims and other minorities in India as well as in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised that urgent international intervention was warranted to hold the BJP government to account.

In his remarks, Ambassador Khan thanked the speakers for highlighting various aspects of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and expressing solidarity with the people.

He said that the Indian-occupied

Kashmir was today witnessing the heaviest concentration of security forces anywhere in the world, which were committing unprecedented atrocities against the people with impunity.

He also expressed deep concern over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) long-term project of altering the disputed state’s demography and called on the international community, especially the United States, to play their due role and urge India to cease its human rights violations there and take meaningful steps to resolve the dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Top leadership reaffirms commitment to Kashmir cause on solidarity day

continued from page 01

Huawei launches new TWS Bluetooth earbuds HUAWEI FreeBuds 4, leading the way in open-fit active noise cancellation

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media and a large number of people.

The solidarity walk was taken out in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) at Constitutional Avenue and ended at D-Chowk.

The participants carried placards and banners, and raised slogans, expressing moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their right to self-determination.

The president said the day was not far when the oppressed people of Kashmir would get freedom from the Indian clutches. He called upon the international community to ensure the implementation of its promises made to the people.

Alvi said that in order to suppress the freedom voices, the Indian troops had imposed a complete lockdown in occupied Kashmir and there had been a blanket media ban so that the voices of the locals and images highlighting continuous Indian atrocities could be gouged.

He said: “The hearts of people of Pakistan and Kashmiri people beat together, when there is bloodshed in Kashmir, the people in Pakistan are hurt.”

The president said Pakistan had been reminding the world to honour its commitment to the people of Kashmir.

Lauding their sacrifices, he said founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had termed Kashmir a jugular vein of Pakistan and its people were proving it by shedding their blood.

He also referred to late All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Syed Ali Geelani’s statement that both Kashmir and Pakistan belonged to them.

The president said, on this day, he wanted to reinforce such sentiments.

He said with August 5 actions, New Delhi had violated the UNSC resolutions, Geneva Convention and their charters. It also breached its promises made with the international community.

The president said to silence the voices, Indian forces in the region were conducting cordon and search operations, ensuing fake encounters with the imposition of curfew whereas putting local leaders under house arrest.

They even did not allow people to attend Geelani’s funeral.

JUI-F denied permission for DI Khan rally on ECP directive dera iSmaiL Khan staff report

The Deputy Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan Saturday rejected a request by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) for permission to hold a public rally in the city. The district administration denied permission for the rally on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The deputy commissioner said he cannot allow the opposition party to hold a rally following the directives of the election monitoring body.

JUI-F wanted to hold a rally in connection with the second phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Party chief Maulana Fazlur Reham was to address the rally. On Friday, the ECP served a notice on the JUI-F chief’s brother Zia-ur-Rehman for flouting election code of conduct.

Rehman, a government official, was served the notice for his participation in the election campaign. He has been summoned by the district returning officer (DRO) for running the campaign of the JUI-F candidate, Kafil Nizami, who has also been directed to appear before the DRO on February 05. The commission restrained the district administration from allowing JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to hold a public gathering on February 5 and 7.

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The president reiterating Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Kashmir, said that Indian cruelties had been continuing unabated during the last seven decades.

India took the issue to the UN and Pakistan reposed trust in the global body to resolve it, he said, lamenting that due to the vested interests, morality no longer had any value in the materialistic world.

All the suppressed people across the world had been looking towards an organisation to come to their rescue, he added. The president said there had been institutionalised crimes committed against the people of Kashmir, including sexual assault and the use of pellet guns.

Alvi dared India to use pellet guns in any part of India. New Delhi had been using the Israeli model to suppress the pro-freedom voices.

The president also denounced the demographic changes being made in Kashmir. He said India would not succeed in its nefarious designs.

“Pakistan stands with Kashmir and will continue to stand as it is part of our body,” he maintained.

The president said Pakistan had given a befitting reply over the 2019 Balakot intrusions and was ready to respond to any Indian aggression with full might. The president reiterated that the Indian government should open Kashmir to independent media, and international delegations to witness the ground situation there.

He said the holding of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) showed the world the contrasting pictures of Azad Kashmir and its occupied counterpart. ‘humAn trAGedY’: Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated the nation’s desire to resolve the dispute as per the aspirations of the people of the region and the UN resolutions.

In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Bajwa paid tribute to the people of Kashmir, their resolve and valiant struggle.

He said the people of Kashmir are “braving gravest human rights violations [and] lockdown in [Kashmir] under Indian occupation forces”. “[It is] time to end this human tragedy [and] resolve Kashmir issue as per aspirations of people of [Kashmir and] UN resolutions,” he stressed.

MQM-L hitman Pahari secretly released from Sukkur prison Karachi staff report

Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) hitman Mohammad Ajmal, better-known as Ajmal Pahari, who remained involved in scores of terrorism and murder instances in Karachi, was secretly released from the Sukkur prison on Saturday.

Pahari was released from Central Jail Sukkur after his request for bail was accepted by a local court. At the time of his release, he is said to have completely changed his appearance.

Pahari was first arrested in 2000 and booked in several cases, including one related to the killing of four American Union Texas employees along with their Pakistan-origin driver. However, he was acquitted in all the cases within five years and was released in 2005.

He was re-arrested in New Karachi in March 2011 and booked in a number of criminal

cases, including an armed attack on the convoy of Crime Investigation Department (CID) superintendent of police (SP) Mohammad Aslam Khan in Gizri in January 2006 that left two police officials dead.

He was among the 74 condemned, undertrial and convicted prisoners who were shifted from the Karachi central prison to other penitentiaries in the province in 2014 after the approval of the then Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar.

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Sunday, 6 February, 2022

06 COMMENT

Criminal law reforms

Solidarity with Kashmiris Peace in South Asia requires Kashmir resolution

Not enough thought has gone into the much-touted reforms

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S usual there were rallies across Pakistan in support the Kashmiris’ valiant struggle. A chain of human hands was formed in AJK to show solidarity with the Kashmiris and pay homage to their martyrs. While in Beijing on a four day visit, PM Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the struggle in the Valley. Mr Khan also called on the world to stop India's 'genocidal acts' in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Spontaneous protests broke out all over the Valley after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rescinded the status of IOK in August 2019. India tried to put down the protests through draconian measures. With separatist leaderships in jail, and peaceful protestors dispersed by recourse to pellet guns, this forced young political activists to turn into militants. Instead of realizing that militancy in IOK was a homegrown affair India blamed it on Pakistan.

This further strained relations between Pakistan and India.

Kashmir is a disputed region. Kashmiris alone can decide whether they want to join Pakistan, remain a part of India or as Mr Khan put it, go for an independent state.

The blame game can increase tensions between the two countries. Any war between India and Pakistan, who possess nuclear bombs, could be devastating not only for the two neighbouring countries, but also the entire region and beyond. The only way out for India is to seek the resolution of the issue through talks with Kashmiris and Pakistan, who are also stakeholders in the resolution of issue.

For decades, Pak-India tension has forced both to spend an extra large chunk of their budgets on defence instead of education, health and poverty alleviation.

While fully supporting the Kashmiris’ right of self determination at all international forums, Pakistan should simultaneously try to normalize relations with New Delhi. Improved relations could become a factor in a peaceful resolution of the conflict. An enhanced PakIndia trade and facilitation of people-to-people interaction can create strong peace lobbies in both the countries that could help in the resolution of all disputes, especially the Kashmir issue.

YahYa Farid Khwaja

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he frustration and anger expressed by netizens on the slow pace of Zahir Jaffer’s trial for the murder of Noor Mukaddam is justified. With all the media attention and the Government’s full support, the case still lags behind the timeline of two months granted by the Islamabad high court to wrap up the trial. Leaving aside the visible legal lacunae reflecting the sheer ineptitude and incompetency of our investigation agencies, the case also demonstrates the crumbling criminal legal system of Pakistan. There is no denying that the journey of registration of a criminal case (First Information Report) to conviction of an accused is a rollercoaster ride.

Successive governments have floundered in reforming our criminal system. All stakeholders are to be blamed. A system that works well for everyone’s pockets bids better; except for the litigants who are pushed to the wall to an extent that they either opt for an out-of-court settlement or stop demanding justice.

The case of Usman Mirza, accused of forcing a couple to have intercourse and taping it, wherein the victims refused to pursue the case, is a good illustration of how a broken system affects the victims. Look at the irony that despite unshakable video evidence, the victims opted to give an affidavit refusing to recognize any of the accused.

Our Law Minister has now taken the charge of reforming the criminal law. A thumping ceremony was held attended by the Prime Minister, where the Law Minister proudly demonstrated his “700 amendments” terming it as a “defining moment” in the country’s history. Leaving aside his civil law reform exercise that fell as a house of cards, there is all likelihood that the criminal law reform’s fate would not be very different. The Bar Councils and legal fraternity have already rejected them with SCBA President Ahsan Boon stating that the Law Minister has “effectively demonstrated his inability, as well as the lack of capacity in his team.”

The majority of the proposed amendments are completely identical to the amendments made by India in their criminal legal system. Though a threeyear reforming programme at such a high level should have been bigger than merely hunting the opponents, India was not even a good example to follow. The Indian criminal system is besieged with its own problems with a conviction rate as low as 20 percent. Nonetheless, India’s reform agenda has fallen in the same trap as the Law Minister’s. The exercise seems to have been a patchwork rather than

Thin skinned Banning Olympians new way to suppress freedom of speech

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he PTI government may receive valid criticism over a number of undeniable performance shortfalls ranging from governance to the state of the economy but its track record for suppression of free speech is perhaps the most unfortunate hallmark of its tenure so far. The latest example of this is the 10-year ban slapped on Olympian Rashid-ul-hasan by the Pakistan hockey Federation (PhF) for his alleged ‘offensive criticism’ of Prime Minister Imran Khan, using ‘abusive language’. According to Mr hasan, all he said was that Mr Khan had not kept his word about putting Pakistan hockey back on track if he came to power and that it was unlikely he would not be able to do anything meaningful for the game. It is indeed ironical that the very statement for which Mr hasan is being penalized will probably turn out to be true as the ban on a gold medalist hockey player will disallow him from contributing to the game through coaching and advice to younger players. Pakistan used to be one of the most formidable field hockey national teams in the world, having won 20 official titles that include three gold medals in the Olympics. Unfortunately, those glory days are now over as the sport has been in a steady decline in quality and performance over the past two decades, which is all the more reason to inject some much-needed human capital in the form of veteran PROFeSSIONALS into the game to lift it out of the doldrums.

This ban can be viewed in a much wider context as well where the country is being run by a regime that is so thin skinned that it cannot digest even the most trivial and lightest of criticisms without childishly reacting in an unnecessarily harsh manner. It seems that after muzzling the press and media effectively through a concentrated effort at forcing newspapers and television channels to self-censor, the same treatment is being meted out to other critics, ones who are simply expressing a personal opinion in an inoffensive manner.

It is no wonder then that he has hired a team of mouthpieces whose sole purpose is to berate his opponents round the clock.

The USA still makes the running

dr Saira aSad

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he recent talks between Taliban, senior US, and european officials at Oslo, the Norwegian capital, seems to be promising in terms of an increase in humanitarian aid, human rights, and recognition of the Taliban government. The Oslo visit is the first official trip of acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his delegation to europe.

The Oslo meeting demanded the Afghan government to form an ‘inclusive government’ with the provision of human rights, a strong political system for a stable and peaceful future for Afghanistan. On the other hand, the Taliban gov-

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When the Taliban captured Swat, the biggest dilemma for the State was Nizam-eAdl. The locals favoured the new legal system of the Taliban as compared with the ordinary criminal courts. The reason being that Nizam-eAdl was a complete departure from the old system and it gave hope to the locals that their grievances would not be stuck in a quagmire the way it is being stuck today.

Similar is the case of Panchayats and Jirgas which triumph over the ordinary criminal courts in villages for resolution of disputes

The writer is a practising lawyer

Oslo Talks a Step to Prevent Collapsing Afghanistan

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

shaking the very foundation upon which a dilapidated structure stands.

Cosmetic and paper amendments without a calculated impact, cost and feasibility analysis, will not help much. It will only add to problems and increase the already painful lawyers of processes a litigant has to go through. Just to give an example, proposing strict timelines in disposal of cases has never been a workable solution. The proposed criminal law amendment proposes nine months timeline for conclusion of a trial. Islamabad high Court through its appeal policy had also notified nine months timeline for disposal of appeals. Yet, the same court itself now has been violating its policy in the case of Nawaz Sharif’s appeal which has been pending for three years now.

The proposed amendments introduce modern ways of recording evidence through electronic audiovideo means. A similar amendment was introduced in NAB law for recording of evidence. Accountability judges throughout Pakistan expressed inability to comply with the law and to proceed with the references without installation of audio-video recording equipment in the courts. The law ministry was quick to ask accountability courts to follow the previous procedure until the government procures necessary gadgets.

In the end it only became a futile exercise.

Such cosmic amendments can never build a broken system. The conceptual elements upon which the entire edifice of procedural law is built have to be re-thought and re-analyzed. A doctor, rather than doubling the dose of medicine which has no effect on the body, would rather change the dose, effectively changing the formula of the medicine. Such an approach is required for criminal re-

forms which would include questioning the very notions such as concept of bail, arrest, warrants, cognizable and non-cognizable offences, challans, sureties, bonds, and so on.

Why is the onus on the detained person to apply for bail and prove to the court that the arrest is unwarranted? Why are the police not duty-bound in all kinds of offences to prove to the court that certain conditions are fulfilled for curtailing the liberty of a person?

Why is the threshold of “beyond reasonable doubt” applied in criminal cases when our investigation and prosecution is weak enough to leave evidence dented?

Should we move to a lighter threshold or make the balance of probability the yardstick?

Would Islamic concepts of criminal law bid better or should we adopt the jury system of the USA? Such questions, debates and analytical thinking are required for any reformative exercise. Adding layers to an already complex system of processes and procedures would only add misery for the litigants. The original Code of Criminal Procedure was above 400 sections. The amendments have included 700 new sections in the law now. how is this a smart way of dealing with an already complex procedural code?

When the Taliban captured Swat, the biggest dilemma for the State was Nizam-e-Adl. The locals favoured the new legal system of the Taliban as compared with the ordinary criminal courts. The reason being that Nizam-e-Adl was a complete departure from the old system and it gave hope to the locals that their grievances would not be stuck in a quagmire the way it is being stuck today.

Similar is the case of Panchayats and Jirgas which triumph over the ordinary criminal courts in villages for resolution of disputes.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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ernment is not officially recognized by the international community so far and is known as the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan (IeA).

The international discussion group is looking forward to a flexible face of Taliban as in the 1990s they were known as strict on the implementation of Islamic Shariah Law, and harsh restrictions were imposed on women. At that time, severe human rights violations were observed. The Taliban are being recognized with the same impression in the international community. The Oslo talks declare that the present government is not on the merit of diversity, and an inclusive upcoming government is expected to be established based on the culture, values, and nature of the Afghan community.

The meeting had the expectations that human rights are expected to be given to all men and women in the new inclusive government. A wise decision is expected to be made by the current government for political stability. There is also a call to the international community in talks to investigate the inhumane behavior towards women, minorities, children, and citizens in Afghanistan. The strict attitude from the USA towards Afghanistan is dragging a citizen to the worst situation that requires to be softened.

Frozen Afghan assets dragging the country to collapse drastically, and restricting foreign aid leaving the population to humanitarian and hunger crises.

According to United Nations, more than half of Afghanistan's population is in extreme hunger. earlier in January, an appeal of $4.4 billion was raised by UN Secretary-General Guterres to avoid the nutritional,, economic, and educational collapse of Afghanistan. At a moment, according to the UN, Afghanistan is at the edge of collapsing, and humanitarian aid would be able to improve the worsened condition of the country. It is all dependent on the Taliban how much flexibility they will show in their attitudes by providing basic rights of life to Afghans.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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According to a joint statement of the US-european group, they demanded the Taliban to stop human rights violations including media crackdowns, forced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, prohibitions on women and girls’ education, travel freedom, employment, and so oon.

The joint session announced an alarming humanitarian crisis and urged to eliminate the sufferings of Afghans and provide fundamental human rights that every citizen has a right to have.

The Oslo talks have given engagement opportunities to the Afghan government with the rest of the world. Former Afghan Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Sulaiman bin Shah stated that Oslo and these forms of other engagements create an effective situation where a new rule is de-facto recognized. even after the departure of the USA from Afghan soil last August, the international community is still accountable for the peace, and stability situation in Afghanistan.

Due to heavy dependency on imports, the Afghan economy is dependent on dollars. It is reported that the 30 percent depreciation of the afghani against the dollar makes it difficult to afford the heavy price of imported goods. On the other hand, the imported goods have increased by approximately 20-30 percent in the last few months.

The recent Oslo meeting shows that the USA has the power to negotiate on many issues of Afghans’ national interest. US policies have restricted them from prospering. Afghans have the right to have a safe and stable country. They are looking forward to a fruitful and beneficial response from the USA in the coming days as the international community has already raised the alarming humanitarian and economic situation of Afghanistan.

The writer is Adjunct Assistant Professor at Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

She can be reached at saira.asad2011@gmail.com.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Hydro storage

Changing Strategic Dynamics in Central and South Asia

In the wake of the crises in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, Moscow has moved closer to Beiand information technology. Russia has now jing following US sanctions on Russia and has pledged $14 billion to invest in Pakistan's energy extended its interests to Southwest and South sector, including $2.5 billion for the North-South Asia. Russia is now in a delicate balance of relations with South Asian countries. From Rus(TAPI) pipeline project.

Russia wants to integrate Pakistan into its sia's point of view, Afghanistan's future has a proposed eurasian economic Union (eAeU) significant impact on Russian security interests and Pakistan would like Russia to join CPeC in the southern vector. Russia has also found a and invest in Pakistani infrastructure projects. significant market for defense sales and cooperPakistan has already allowed Russia to use ation in South Asia. Both Islamabad and New Gwadar port under CPeC. Both Pakistan and Delhi are frustrated with Russian politics but Russia intend to take their bilateral relations to both the countries are looking for good relations a strategic level. Russian and Pakistani Special with Russia. Russia's sale of the S-400 system Operations Forces conducted joint military ex- to India has created worries for Pakistan. On the ercises in November 2020 at the Tarbela Train- other hand, New Delhi is disappointed that Ining Ground in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa dian strategic partner Russia is now forging new Province as part of the "Friendship 2020 exer- defense ties with its traditional rivalm Pakistan.

President Xi Jinping and his Russian councise". Along with Chinese and Iranian assets, terpart Vladimir Putin have a good reason to Russian warships also participated in the recently concluded 45-nation AMAN-21 two-year strengthen their cooperation and partnership. naval exercises hosted by Pakistan in the Ara- China and Russia have been described by the USA as geopolitical rivals. It would be better for bian Sea on 16 February 2021. both the countries to work more closely on isOn the other hand, China is a real strategic partner and like-minded friend of Pakistan. Their sues of strategic and economic benefit. The leadcooperation in the international arena will have erships of China and Russia have expressed a a lasting impact on the global and regional situ- desire for more dialogue when they held a viration. The two countries also called for a special tual meeting and promised to hold private talks UNSC summit of the P5 countries to establish on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympics direct talks on ways to address the common in February. Better relations are inevitable when Washington presents them as a threat to global problems of mankind order and stability and in the interest of mainseeks to isolate them. taining global stabilUS President Joe ity. Both the countries Biden is leading a remain iron brothers China’s towering as an economic diplomatic boycott of and "all-weather" alChina, hong Kong lies. China also has fapower and Russia’s strong and Taiwan, using alcilitated missile political influence and security leged human rights technology, weapons abuses as an excuse. relations in the region are design horizontally, Therefore, Putin may and the JF-17 Thunder changing the strategic realities of be the first leader to develop infrastructhe region. After the withdrawal of who accepted the ture.

Games invitation.

The rise of India the USA from Afghanistan, the Russia's presence as an Asian power afregion is at the mercy of China would therefore be a fected Pakistan's persign of its good relaceptions of and Russia. Thus, the regional tions with China, but cooperation with the states are also thinking of since it will be the USA and role as a first foreign dignitary remodeling their strategic frontline state in the to meet Xi face-toWar on Terror in policies in the region face in more than a Afghanistan. Initially, year, it is even more Pakistan believed that important. it was playing a signifIn the midst of the icant role for the USA in Afghanistan, but over covid-19 epidemic, the USA and some Western time it became clear that the larger US targets had little room to accommodate Pakistan's countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese strategic interests. Pakistan became convinced and Russian companies, institutions and individthat the Western powers preferred Indian domi- uals, threatening additional measures and critination as a model of stability, rather than a bal- cizing their alliance and unity. China and Russia ance of power and a solution to the complex have several common strategic and geopolitical nature of the Pak-India conflict. With this prem- interests. They are committed to uphold a mulise, Islamabad began to come closer to Russia tilateral and UN-based system, from the perspecand China. Pakistan's and India's membership in tive of equality.

China’s towering as an economic power and the SCO has allowed Pakistan to have a forum Russia’s strong political influence and security in which to expand its strategic and economic interests and balance India's efforts to isolate relations in the region are changing the strategic Pakistan diplomatically. however, with the in- realities of the region. After the withdrawal of creasing geopolitical importance, especially the USA from Afghanistan, the region is at the when China's BRI introduced CPeC as its flag- mercy of China and Russia. Thus, the regional ship project, Pakistan's geographical location has states are also thinking of remodeling their strategic policies in the region. gained new geopolitical importance.

Russia’s growing closer to Pakistan bothers India

dr MuhaMMad aKraM Zaheer

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he re-emergence of Quad on 12 March 2021 triggered strong reactions from the regional powers that felt strategically threatened. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov strongly criticized the US-led Quad initiative, saying it would undermine ASeAN's centrality. Lavrov already had expressed his displeasure with India, saying that "India is constantly falling prey to the constant, aggressive, sinister, unipolar, antiChina camp of the United States." he indirectly accused India of undermining Russian and Chinese efforts to create a multipolar world. On the other hand, China calls QUAD "losers" and it also responded that no exclusive cliques should be created. In a commentary for the South China Morning Post, Liu Zongyi, an associate research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, argues that the Quad will create disruption in the region and a more hostile environment for China in terms of security.

It is very important to note that a Russian conference for peace on the future of Afghanistan took place on 18 March 2021, following the Quad Virtual Summit. Russia did not invite India as a party even though China, Pakistan and Iran were invited. Russia is believed to have dropped India because of Pakistan's concerns and China's attempts to control India in the South Asian region. The Moscow conference was attended by US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, Abdullah Abdullah, head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Taliban.

Pakistan and Russia have been attempting to establish concrete relations amid deteriorating regional security and shifting of geopolitical competition after the Cold War. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov have agreed to work for the regional political settlement.

Both countries have stepped up their military and economic cooperation. Russia started selling arms and ammunition to Pakistan in 2015, despite Indian concerns. Russia wants to cooperate with Pakistan in various fields of trade, defense, energy and power, railways, telecommunications

SOLAR and Wind power produce intermittent energy. Therefore they require large energy batteries that can store full days of energy and provide it to the user at peak time to be truly effective.

Similarly in Pakistan, during summer peak time, there is excessive demand for electricity but during the rest of the year, the demand is normal. To overcome this high peak energy demand in Pakistan, we need to increase energy storage to cover the peak demand.

Storing energy can be very expensive if using batteries. energy nowadays is also stored by using blocks conserving potential energy by storing them at heights. The cheapest and most efficient method of storing energy is Pumped hydro.

In Pumped hydro, water is pumped from a lake at a lower elevation to a lake at a higher elevation, using excess renewable energy during early daytime. When energy demand peaks, the water from the higher lake is released to the lower lake, passing through turbines that produce energy that is supplied to the grid.

Unfortunately finding suitable locations for Pumped hydro energy storage was always a challenge until now. Using satellite images suitable locations can easily be mapped.

The Australian Government has released a worldwide database of all potential sites for Pumped hydro called the National Map. The sites show over a hundred suitable locations for Pumped hydro in Pakistan. I, therefore, request the Government of Pakistan to use the National Map database to construct Pumped hydro Power stations in Pakistan, especially near big cities. These large energy storage systems will help Pakistan overcome the peak time load shedding and also reduce the stress on Pakistan’s power system.

SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER P.ENGR., PESHAwAR.

Plastic bottles ALThOUGh plastic bottles have made mineral water and other drinks easily accessible and portable, the price we have to pay for this luxury is extremely high. Plastic bottles are one of the major contributors to plastic pollution throughout the world. The manufacturing process of plastic water bottles itself releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contaminates the oxygen.

Resultantly, it is difficult for people to breathe.

Not only do plastic bottles litter the landscape but the plastic does not decompose and remains in the soil for decades eventually disintegrating into microparticles. The microplastic particles are polluting the ocean and threatening marine life and biodiversity. Plastic waste is either consumed by seabirds, seagulls, and marine mammals, or they get entangled in the waste. It is estimated that 20% of sand is composed of microparticles across the world’s beaches and approximately 46,000 pieces of plastic are floating in the ocean. Some plastic waste also ends up in landfills and is responsible for chemical leakages, disruption of ecosystems, etc. I request the government of Pakistan to either switch to glass bottles or implement strategies to reuse plastic bottles. To ensure that it is effective, people should be given an incentive to return plastic bottles to retailers. Companies should be encouraged to reuse bottles by thoroughly sterilising them. Also, companies should be told to collect non-usable or damaged plastic bottles that can be converted and used to manufacture other items.

Given the deteriorating environmental conditions, the use of plastic bottles must be drastically reduced.

SHAHRYAR KHAN PESHAwAR

Revaluation of immovable property A lot of clamour was heard regarding the new policies implemented by the government in the real estate sector. The real estate business community and other relevant stakeholders of about 40 major cities were seemingly upset as the government announced new market prices for the immovable property on December 1st, 2021. The decision to increase the prices came under the government’s plan to generate greater tax revenue from property and boost the economy of the country.

The new evaluation caused a hike in prices from 100 to 600 percent depending on various factors of residential and commercial properties.

The rapid and enormous change will only cause a rippling effect in many quarters of the economy involving immovable property. hence, an uproar was seen and felt throughout the country especially Punjab, and the decision was halted within a week of the said announcement.

Significant stakeholders’ inclusion in the revised decision is needed for the revaluation of changes in property prices as promised by the Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue. Although, this news is a sign of relief compared to the storm that brewed for the real estate community, yet it only softens the blow. It is not a major concern for only real estate property owners and dealers, including builders and construction businesses per se, but it will affect the other segments as well. Those planning private and public investments in schools and hospitals will have to look again at their decisions to invest. Other major reviews would include banks taking collateral referrals for loans, judiciary resolving property cases, and people spending money saved from a lifetime, on the purchase of property for their dream homes.

AAA Associates recognizes the need to set a transparent valuation standard by the government, and finding the Real estate fraternity onboard, recommends that it needs to be shaped by including everyone on a single page, including government with all stakeholders, to reach a smooth transition rather than as a sudden jolt.

The new prices, moderately hiked and not as steeply escalated as previously decided should be deemed effective from 1st of July with the next year’s budget announcement and not as early as 16th January 2022.

Doing this will not only enable the stakeholders to be fully prepared and ready but also prevent destabilizing a major contributor to the country’s economy. The real estate business is currently in the recovery phase after the effects that the pandemic had on the trade. The sale and purchase of plots shall receive major setbacks causing market stagnancy, as inflation is already a major concern for investors. Foreign investors who share a prime interest in real estate in the country can take a step back, which will not be good for revenue generation.

MARYAM NAwAZ KAYANI ISlAMABAd

Sunday, 6 February, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

Can Qatar save europe From a Cold winter in the event oF a russia-ukraine war?

WILL QATAR APPROACH ITS ASIAN CUSTOMERS OVER DIVERTING GAS SUPPLIES TO EUROPE?

middle east monitor

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ElIf SElIn CAlIK

nY war scenario between Ukraine and Russia would undoubtedly imperil european energy security. existing energy supplies in the region are still not enough, filling only 38 per cent of europe's storage capacity, according to Gas Infrastructure europe. but the shortfall compared with pre-

vious winters is narrowing, and prices are retreating from record highs. against this background, the emir of Qatar was invited by US President biden to the White House this week to discuss opportunities for the country to adequately supply liquified natural gas (LnG) to europe.

Speaking alongside Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad during the oval office meeting on Monday, President biden designated Qatar a "major non-naTo ally", thus putting it in a top-tier position of US security partners who are not naTo members. This, it seems, would be a well-earned status if Qatar were to address europe's energy security needs in a time of acute crisis.

In the event of such a short-term solution, some of the long-term Qatari LnG buyers will need to be willing to divert shipments to europe. The government in Doha would prefer that any diversion requests come directly from the US to buyers. comparably, seeking Qatar's support for future supplies, should the energy crisis in europe worsen, is a major geo-economic step to mitigate in the wake of Russian aggression on Ukraine. "no discussions have taken place… this has not happened," Qatarenergy chief and Minister of State for energy Saad al-kaabi told Reuters. according to an atlantic council report, Qatar sells

most of its LnG to asia on long-term oil-indexed contracts. Therefore, it is important to ask, will Qatar approach its asian customers over diverting gas supplies to europe? at present, this seems unlikely, and most europeans can expect a limited increase of gas from the Gulf state.

Minister al-kaabi has already made it clear that if Russia cuts its supply to europe, no one country will be able to fill the gap. This statement shows that Qatar is still in the stages of finalising the selection of its commercial partners for the upcoming trade. It is still having discussions with client countries to supply gas and would not name the selected buyers, apart from the Uk. In late 2021, following coP26, Qatar rerouted four LnG tankers to the Uk to assist with the energy shortage. additionally, LnG relations between the two nations go back to former Uk Prime Minister Theresa May's term in office. In 2008, britain received the first LnG ships from a dock at the South Hook terminal near Milford Haven, one of europe's largest LnG terminals, which Qatar owns. Qatar invested in the Uk with the launch of LnG terminals, being the majority owner of South Hook LnG terminal in Wales. Meanwhile, the Uk's energy and serv-

Amnesty apartheid report: The walls protecting Israel are finally crumbling WITH THE PUBLICATION OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S NEW APARTHEID REPORT, ISRAEL'S SUPPORTERS HAVE JUST ONE TACTIC LEFT: TO ACCUSE CRITICS OF ANTISEMITISM middle east eye

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JonAThAn CooK

He walls protecting Israel are quickly crumbling. a year ago, it was Israel’s most celebrated human rights group, b’Tselem.

Months later, it was the new York-based Human Rights Watch, whose senior staff have often enjoyed a revolving door with the US State Department. now, the one speaking up is amnesty International - an organisation widely viewed as the most authoritative arbiter of what constitutes human rights violations. over the past year, all have reached the same conclusion: Israel is an apartheid state. according to amnesty’s new report published on Tuesday: “Israel’s system of institutionalized segregation and discrimination against Palestinians, as a racial group, in all areas under its control amounts to a system of apartheid.”

This is not just a criticism of Israel’s occupation. all three groups have been pointing out for decades Israel’s flagrant disregard of international law, and its likely commission of war crimes, in the occupied territories. but Israel was little concerned, so long as public debate was confined to the occupation. Its advocates quickly learned that they could always deflect to matters of Israel’s security, by presenting any Palestinian resistance as terrorism. now, the consensus is shifting to entirely new terrain - a discursive battlefield where Israel has less effective weapons with which to defend itself. The biggest human rights watchdogs are agreed that everything about Israel’s rule over Palestinians is connected, from its military oppression of those under occupation, to the civil legal system inside Israel that systematically confers inferior rights on the country’s large minority of nominal Palestinian “citizens”.

In other words, Israel’s apartheid structures cannot be disentangled, separating out the occupied territories from “Israel proper”. It is all part of the same, single system of rule by one ethnic-national group, Jews, designed to oppress and marginalise another ethnic-national group, Palestinians.

Late in the day, the champions of human rights have fully understood that the divisions between Israel and the occupied territories are simply cosmetic. They have served a public relations purpose, hiding Israel’s true intent: to dispossess Palestinians wherever they find themselves under Israeli rule.

'NOT PERFECT': crucially, all the major human rights groups have now jettisoned the key artificial distinction insisted upon by Israel. Israel’s premise was that its 1.8 million Palestinian “citizens” - a fifth of the population inside Israel - faced informal and unconscious discrimination, similar to that suffered by minorities in western democracies, such as the US and Uk. The message was intended to reassure: Israel’s treatment of its Palestinian citizens was not perfect, but it was no worse than other liberal democratic states.

That allowed it to rationalise its brutal, repressive treatment of Palestinians under occupation. The military occupation was supposedly an anomaly, forced on Israel

by the need to protect its citizens and democratic structures from constant, unprovoked Palestinian violence and terrorism. Israel’s foreign minister, Yair Lapid, rehearsed exactly that line in a pre-emptive strike against amnesty. Shortly before the report was published, he said: “Israel isn’t perfect, but we are a democracy committed to international law, open to criticism, with a free press and a strong and independent judicial system.” For good measure, he accused amnesty of echoing “the same lies shared by terrorist organisations”.

In britain, the board of Deputies of british Jews took a similar approach: “Israel is a vibrant democracy and a state for all its citizens, as exemplified by its diverse government and robust civil society.” except every mainstream Israeli politician vehemently rejects the idea that Israel could ever be a “state of all its citizens”. That was the expressed view of former Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. and four years ago, a council of legislators even took the rare step of banning a bill from being debated in the Israeli parliament because it promoted Israel as a “state of all its citizens”. In fact, the phrase itself is the slogan of Palestinian leaders inside Israel who have been mobilising their supporters in a campaign for sweeping change to end Israel’s current status as a racist Jewish state. Well-worn deflection campaigns by Israel and its defenders are looking ever more threadbare. amnesty has now joined b’Tselem and Human Rights Watch in repudiating this narrative as a smokescreen. all have accepted that Israel’s Palestinian minority faces systematic, structural and malign discrimination - and equated that discrimination to the oppression of black and “coloured” populations in apartheid South africa. In short, Israel’s racism is not an add-on or temporary. It is hard-baked into the very idea of a Jewish state.

COLLISION COURSE: The implication of all these apartheid reports is that Israel, as it is currently constituted, cannot be reformed. as with apartheid South africa, there has to be a fundamental realignment of power within the region. change has to be deep and all-encompassing. and as was the case with South africa, it will not happen without strong international pressure. That’s why amnesty has called on the Un Security council to “impose targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes, against Israeli officials most implicated in the crime of apartheid, and a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel”. Potentially waiting in the wings is the International criminal court, which is examining Israel’s violations of international law. amnesty has called on the war crimes court to extend its deliberations to consider whether Israel is guilty of apartheid too.

This is likely to prove a decisive moment for Israel.

Its narrative, and that of the human rights community, are on a collision course. once Israel’s security rationale for oppressing Palestinians is dismissed, as it has been by amnesty and others by classifying Israel as an apartheid state even inside its recognised borders, then there is only one defensive position left: to call critics antisemitic.

This, of course, is exactly what Israel and its sup-

porters have been doing. Lapid’s foreign ministry issued a press statement labelling the report “false, biased and antisemitic”. Pro-Israel lobby groups variously described amnesty as “vilifying” and “demonising” Israel. The Uk’s board of Deputies accused amnesty of “bad faith”.

STRUCTURAL RACISM: b’Tselem, Human Rights Watch and amnesty all knew they would face a concerted campaign of vilification themselves if they dared to present Israel in a more truthful light - which is arguably why they delayed so long. after all, Israel did not become an apartheid state a year ago. It has been one since 1948, when it was explicitly founded as a Jewish state, premised on the mass expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland. It was just too radioactive for the human rights community to identify Israel’s apartheid character until recently.

For years, the legal group adalah, which advocates for the Palestinian minority, has maintained an online database of Israeli laws that explicitly discriminate based on whether a citizen is Jewish or Palestinian. It has grown to more than 65 laws. but the turning point came with the decision in 2018 of netanyahu’s ultranationalist government to do what its predecessors had carefully avoided: to write the systematic discrimination experienced by Israel’s Palestinian citizens into a single, constitutional-type piece of legislation - the socalled Jewish nation-state law. That broke the dam. by declaring Israel the national homeland of Jews only, the flood of apartheid reports was inevitable. It was a largely self-inflicted wound.

FULL IMPLICATIONS: but amnesty and the wider human rights community are still holding back from clarifying the full implications of Israel’s apartheid character, as the nation-state law underscores. It states that the right to exercise “national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people”.

That right is reserved not just for Jews living in Israel, but for all Jews around the world. all of them whether they support Israel or not, whether they have ever lived in the region or not - have more rights to the historic lands of Palestinians than any Palestinian does, even a so-called Palestinian “citizen” of Israel. Fervent pro-Israel Jewish organisations in the US and britain that are currently defending Israel from the charge of apartheid know full well that the system they seek to protect is designed explicitly to privilege them over Palestinians whose families have lived in the region for generations. These groups have actively colluded in Israel’s campaign of misdirection, one intended to shield from scrutiny an apartheid system. The next frontier in this battle - one the human rights community will need to take on urgently and bravely - is to expose this misdirection campaign for what it is, and to shame those who participate in it.Zionist Jewish organisations inflict suffering on Palestinians by excusing and propping up Israel’s apartheid system - and wrongly, like Israel, they do so in the name of all Jews. They see themselves at war with Israel’s critics, including groups such as amnesty. The human rights community must confront this fight head-on, not shy away from it. The struggle isn’t only to end Israel’s catastrophic deceptions, but those of its apologists too.

Jonathan cook is the the author of three books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a winner of the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism.

ices company centrica has a long-term Qatari LnG import agreement for delivery into the Isle of Grain terminal. Therefore, it is most likely that Qatar's LnG diplomacy in the Uk might end britain's energy supply crisis, regardless of what happens in europe. on the other hand, despite the worsening energy crisis in europe, Germany is preparing to apply sanctions on Russia. In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany would be forced to halt the nord Stream 2 pipeline, within the context of the european Union (eU)'s political or military sanction strategy. This scenario would further intensify europe's energy crisis.

However, the eU is just one stakeholder of this nord Stream project signed during angela Merkel's period. as such, Russia can bargain with other parties to protect its own interest.

Seemingly, luck is not a long-term strategy for energy security in europe. It is clear that Putin's gas weaponisation tactics and europe's clumsy mistakes regarding energy prices could harm europe's energy security. The US and europe will need to convince Qatar's LnG clients to reroute some supplies to europe, as any deal struck between the emir and the biden administration relies on the willingness of client countries to reroute, as well as the availability of unallocated LnG. Ultimately, the US will have to compensate Qatar and its client countries. This might be tough, but it is possible to some extent, as Qatar did reroute its LnG supplies in 2011, prioritising Japan after the tsunami of that year. It may just be able to keep some parts of europe warm if war does break out between Russia and Ukraine.

Is TikTok the biggest threat facing Facebook?

FACEBOOK PARENT META PLATFORMS IS NOT ONLY LOSING CONSUMERS TO TIKTOK BUT ALSO SEEING LOWER REVENUE FROM ADS DESTINED FOR THE SHORTER FORMAT ON ITS OWN APPS BloomBerg

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TAE KIM

acebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. has suffered a string of public challenges in the past year as regulators intensified their scrutiny of the company and apple rolled out a privacy feature that crimped a key source of user data. but as Meta’s wobbly revenue outlook made clear Wednesday, the company is facing yet another threat to its business. The social media landscape seems to be rapidly shifting toward short-form video, a space dominated not by Facebook but

by TikTok. Meta warned in its earnings results that revenue for the current quarter would come in at about $27 billion to $29 billion, well below the $30.25 billion median estimate of analysts surveyed by bloomberg.

Meta also reported that user numbers for the quarter ended in December had stagnated. The weak showing sent Meta’s shares plunging more than 20% in afterhours trading.

While investors were braced for signs of slowing user growth, they were taken aback by the extent to which the company expected to lose out on ad dollars as competitors such as TikTok gain ground. Meta’s Instagram platform has its own short-form video feature called Reels, but TikTok, owned by byteDance Ltd., dominates the space for short user-generated videos.

Meta is not only losing consumers to TikTok but also seeing lower revenue from ads destined for the shorter format on its own apps.

There have been signs for a while that Meta was grappling with how to deal with the TikTok threat and consumers’ evolving tastes. Last summer, Instagram chief adam Mosseri said the platform planned to move beyond its emphasis on photo-sharing and embrace video, citing TikTok’s success. on the earnings call Wednesday, chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said the company was focusing on Instagram Reels due to TikTok’s rising popularity.

The growing competition from TikTok compounds the uncertainty surrounding Meta’s future.

Zuckerberg has been adamant that the company’s long-term success depends on the metaverse, his vision of a virtual world where consumers can play, socialize and work. He is spending accordingly. Results released Wednesday show Meta has lost more than $20 billion over the last three years on projects tied to the metaverse.

The massive financial commitment toward an idea that remains largely theoretical has created uncertainty about Meta’s trajectory. Yet many investors have been willing to accept the huge expenditures as long as they knew the core social-media business would continue to pump out billions in advertising revenue. They learned today that the revenue stream might not be as dependable as they had thought.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS Chronicles of Barbarism over Kashmiris - How Long, Till When? “... INDEED, THE WRONGDOERS WILL NOT SUCCEED.” AL-QURAN (6:135)

By Nisar ahmed I am all ears but all I can hear is a deliberate silence of the world powers over inhumane treatment of innocent Kashmiris. The world powers have turned a blind eye to the atrocities and cruelties over 13 million innocent Kashmiris by Indian state. The extremist elements have been unbridled in their attacks since late 2019 following the promulgation of fascist regime by Modi-led government with the introduction of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 thus repealing Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Previously, Article 370 gave Indian held Kashmir the autonomy to have its own constitution, flag, administrative independence except for foreign affairs, defence and communications however, the newly introduced legislation shook the demographic make-up and dissolved the only Muslim-majority state in India into two union territories, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Brazen precedent was set by India with the flagrant violation of peace, basic human rights, and deployment of increased security forces; large scale house arrests and communication blackouts were imposed in efforts to suppress the voices of enslaved Kashmiris by so-called democratic secular state of India.

Kashmir, an ethnically rich nirvana spanning over 138 sq km, praised for breathtaking beauty of its rivers, lakes, meadows, and snow-capped mountains has become a carnival of bloodshed for decades. What is keeping the global imperium to look the other way in the face of sanguinary campaigns against the innocent Kashmiris? The answer to this unspoken question seems writ large from the trade opportunities available with India. As per data for 2020 by a highly regarded numbers cruncher, The World Bank, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India stood at 2,623 billion USD while Pakistan could hardly hit 264 billion USD mark. As far as one can tell; India is providing a much bigger marketplace for investment & trade to the world, giving it a brass neck to repeatedly violate ceasefire agreement. With bland effrontery, India is fomenting a cultural, political, and social unrest and a surge is seen in spate of rebel attacks in heavily militarized valley of Kashmir since promulgation of this Draconian law. Years ago, an agreeable and finest solution was presented by United Nations (UN) after first war over Kashmir; UN recommended holding an independent plebiscite after demilitarization of the region. Humanity in Kashmir still awaits holding of that referendum; how long, till when? If not we, who will guard against the ideological and regional hegemony of Kashmiris?

As long as we have a peace-loving pacifist organization, United Nations, we must not lose hope; an applaudable speech

by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address at 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly during September 2019, found an echo in the hearts of not only Kashmiris but also anyone who holds an element of sympathy for humanity. Our puissant PM gave a striking message to the world community against the global propaganda against Islam and Muslims. Vigorous attempts were made by Islamabad to strengthen the diplomatic ties with counterpart for peaceful resolution of issue, however the callous response clearly shows rigid and repugnant manifesto of the party ruling India.

The incumbent government of Pakistan left no stone unturned in bringing the matter to the peace table however unilateral actions by the extremist elements have once again reaffirmed the diabolical and non-secular stance of India. Kashmir Day reinvigorates the morale and spirits of our entire nation and assures Kashmiri people of our unflinching support in their struggle for independence. Are we doing enough to absolve ourselves from our responsibility towards Kashmiri brethren?

Is it enough to hang posters in the capital on the day showcasing Indian terrorism and violence or do we need to act more than we express? Kashmir issue is no more limited to Indo-Pak subcontinent rather has become a global concern. In the present age, a population of more than 13 million should not be allowed to be ruled under the prerogative of a fascist leader, world powers need to set up think tanks to figure out an optimal solution to the problem; if not addressed, it would have far-reaching dreadful repercussions across the globe, and the world must not forget, peace in Kashmir is fundamental to global peace!

The writer is a professional under apprenticeship in a private organization in Islamabad & is accessible at nisarahmed.2na@gmail.com

09

CHairman FBr HoLds WeeKLy e-KaCHeHri

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S a sequel to E-Kachehries held regularly to comply with the directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)/Secretary Revenue Division, Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed held yet another Weekly E-Kachehri at FBR (HQs) on Friday to listen to the complaints and concerns of taxpayers.

This is in continuation of holding weekly E-Kachehri by the Chairman FBR after he decided to hold it on every Friday in order to expedite redressal of grievances of taxpayers. He listened to the complaints of the taxpayers and issued on-spot directions for immediate resolution of complaints. He also advised the taxpayers to visit their nearest RTO and Collectorate of Customs for redressal of any

problem confronted by them.

The Chairman FBR appreciated the suggestions put forth by the taxpayers and assured them that their

valued input would be duly considered for formulation of tax policies and initiatives for taxpayers’ facilitation. He reaffirmed that FBR was

making all out efforts to facilitate the taxpayers. The Chairman FBR has already issued categorical directions to all Field Formations for according top priority to the grievances and concerns of all taxpayers, particularly, related to females and those belonging to remote and marginalized areas of Pakistan. Needless to add that the weekly E-Kachehri being held by Chairman FBR on regular basis is not only contributing significantly to the timely redressal of the grievances of taxpayers but it is also aimed at keeping a strong check on the performance of the Field Formations.

Chairman FBR has already instructed all field formations to resolve the outstanding issues of taxpayers and made it clear that any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated. pr

PARC and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) signs Mou to promote olive farming in Thar desert isLamaBad pr

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) have signed Memorandum of Understanding to boost olive farming in Thar Desert. Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman PARC and Muhammad Azhar Malik Vice President SECMC signed on behalf of their organizations. Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Mr. Kamal Uddin members of NA Standing Committee on National Food Security & Research and Dr. Muhammad Younus Arain DG PARC-SARC Karachi including other high officials were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasions, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman PARC said that olive farming in Pakistan has got boost results, since olive is drought – tolerant plant therefore; it has been decided to introduce olive farming in Thar desert which has been found best suited for olive plantation. Through MoU it is intended to establish a cooperative relationship for the development of a commercial value chain that will enhance livelihood opportunities and the economic development of the people of Thar Block-II. Under the MoU, the Chairman further told that,

SECMC will provide 05 acres of Land to be used for the purpose of plantation and water to carry out trial of Olive plantation whereas PARC shall be responsible for technical support along-with provision of Olive plants and drip irrigation for 05 Acres to SECMC site.

“Based on this collaboration, an area like Thar which we consider as a desert / arid zone, it can be a very productive zone for olive and it also can be a timely move to save foreign exchange” the Chairman also added.

Sharing his views. Muhammad Azhar Malik Vice President SECMC said that our collaboration spans

about three and a half years, we have done a lot of work on biosaline agriculture and supported eachother deliberately. Earlier we have developed 20 acres orchard and fodder under high efficiency irrigation system established by PARC-AZRC Umerkot which have given promising results in Thar desert.

Muhammad Azhar Malik Vice President SECMC appreciated PARC efforts in agriculture sector and also thanked Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman PARC who kindly consented to get MoU signed to uplift the livelihood opportunities of barren land.

Secretary Board of Technical Education (SBTE) Alia Fatima and Director London College of Online Learning( LCOOL ) Syed Amjad Hussain signing the MOU at SBTE head office, Karachi. Chairman SBTE Dr. Masroor Shaikh, Gul Muhammad Khand, Syed Mansoor Ahmed and Fatima Mahmood are also present at this occasion. pr

Shibli Faraz Inaugurates Project of Upgradation of Polymer and Plastic Laboratory at PCSIR LahOre pr

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz Inaugurates the Project of Upgradation of Polymer and Plastic Laboratory at PCSIR, Lahore.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony of upgradation of Polymer and Plastics Laboratory, Federal Minister for Science and Technology said that Plastic Industry in Pakistan is expanding at annual growth of 15% during last few years. The project directly relates to the objectives of sector especially in terms of Pakistan Vision 2025 established by Planning Commission of Pakistan which include the upgradation of infrastructure, as well as R&D facilities in Polymer and Plastics Technology.

Moreover, this will put Polymer and Plastics Laboratory in a comparatively better position to assist the private sector in terms of various scientific services that it requires to sustain and augment its productivity in field of Polymer Science.

The project will enhance available facilities at Polymers and Plastics Laboratory, PCSIR Lahore. It will also provide advisory and information services for the sake of improvement in quality of Polymer-based products and will lead to provision of testing and evaluation facilities for Polymer and Plastics Industry in Pakistan.

Senator Shibli Faraz congratulated the administration and Chairman PCSIR and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence.

Federal Minister was on one day

visit to Lahore. He also inaugurated Technology transfer and Capacity Building Centre and Technology Innovation Support Centre. The centre aims to enhance the impact of research through engagement with Industry and Non-Industry partners.

In addition to this, Federal Minister visited Precision Green-House for Ginger Cultivation. Pakistan itself is not a ginger cultivating country and hence resulting in imports of nearly 79 thousand tons ginger in 2017. “Ministry of Science and Technology has taken a step towards ginger cultivation by building Precision Hydroponic Green house. This will enable self-reliance production of ginger in Pakistan and help in Technology transfer to the farmers and local growers.” said Senator Shibli Faraz.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS China, RUSSia vow to tURn mUtUal tRUSt into CoopeRation in vaRioUS fieldS

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Mian abrar

reSIdenT of China Xi Jinping and his russia counterpart, Vladimir Putin have vowed to turn mutual trust between the two countries into cooperation in all fields.

The relationship is also in the spotlight as russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Beijing. nearly three years after Putin’s last visit to China, the trip featured the 38th meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the russian president since 2013.

CLose CommUniCAtion mAintAined: noting his attendance at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi at the invitation of Putin, Xi said that they promised to meet again in Beijing eight years later.

“Your visit this time fulfills our promise,” he said, adding that he hopes the meet-

ing at the beginning of spring will inject more vitality into China-russia relations.

“Lichun,” the first of the 24 solar terms on Chinese lunar calendar, falls on February 4 this year and it is considered the beginning of spring.

Putin said the exchange of visits at the Olympics is a symbol and a good tradition of close relations between the two countries’ heads of state. “The COVId-19 pandemic has not stopped me from maintaining close exchanges with President Xi in various ways,” he said. After the talks, Xi hosted a banquet for Putin and the two leaders attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Promoting ALL-roUnd PrACtiCAL CooPerAtion: China and russia will strengthen their strategic partnership in energy, steadily advance major oil and gas cooperation projects, and advance cooperation of scientific and tech-

nological innovation in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and the International Lunar research Station project, according to Xi. The Chinese president also highlighted the promotion of bilateral cooperation in goods and services, agriculture, green trade, medicine and health, and the digital economy. russia is ready to deepen cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy, science and technology, finance and transportation, Putin said.

Meanwhile, the two leaders agreed to jointly announce the Years of Sports exchanges between China and russia.

The two countries also signed a series of cooperation documents in key fields. strengthening CoordinAtion in internAtionAL AffAirs: Xi stressed China and russia’s commitment to deepening back-to-back strategic coordination in the face of profound

and complex changes in the international situation, and highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination with russia within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BrICS. noting the joint statement on international relations in the new era and global sustainable development issued at the meeting, Putin said that it reflected the highly consis-

tent position of russia and China on major international issues. russia is ready to further strengthen strategic communication and coordination with China, firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly uphold the central coordinating role of the United nations, he concluded.

UN seeks to define its role in Taliban-run Afghanistan aFP

U.S. house passes competition act to take on China agencies The U.S. House of representatives passed on Friday a multi-billion-dollar bill aimed at increasing American competitiveness with China and boosting U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-eminence in Technology and economic Strength (America COMPeTeS) Act of 2022 seeks to bolster U.S. manufacturing and r&d, and reduce dependence on China for semiconductors. The bill authorizes about $300 billion for research and development, including $52 billion to subsidize semiconductor manufacturing and research into the key components used in autos and computers.

It also earmarks $45 billion over six years to ease supply-chain problems that have exacerbated shortages.

The bill’s passage by the House set up negotiations with the Senate on a compromise version of the legislation, which must pass both chambers before it can be sent to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature, reuters reported on Saturday. The talks could take weeks or months, although Biden urged quick action in a statement praising what he called “vital” legislation, according to reuters. The U.S. bill will not sway China’s industrial policies and innovation, but it could provide impetus to Chinese companies to make more efforts in r&d. The bill will boost heavy investment in building semiconductor factories and solar power panels, making the act a state aid, which is what the U.S. has been criticizing China for.

The act may increase borrowing at a time when the U.S. national debt has surpassed $30 trillion.

The Un Security Council will soon launch negotiations on the world body’s future role in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, after a report from the organisation’s chief called for dialogue and advised against isolation.

Led by norway, which recently hosted landmark talks between Western diplomats and Taliban officials in Oslo, the negotiations are expected to be “very tricky and very difficult,” said one Un ambassador under the condition of anonymity. The envoy, who represents a country currently on the Security Council, added that the West wants “to make sure (that) particularly women and girls are not sidelined in that discussion.”

But on the other side, China and russia — both vetowielding council members — could attempt to minimise the impact of human rights issues on the future of the United nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UnAMA), the envoy suggested.

Another diplomat who asked not to be named said that “consensus” could be found on the issues of humanitarian aid and combating terror groups in the warwracked South Asian country.

That same diplomat said “differences” could crop up between those who want to see “cooperation with the Taliban (Beijing and Moscow) and those in the West who support a “tough approach” to extract concessions from the group. The mandate for UnAMA, which has been present in Afghanistan since 2002, expires on March 17.

Beyond the talks within the Council, the definition of the Un’s role in Afghanistan will depend in part on the goodwill of the Taliban, who took power in August and are seeking international recognition.

So far, no country has obliged, but Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who attended the Oslo talks, told AFP in an interview this week that the regime was inching closer to earning foreign recognition.

The new government in Kabul has so far failed in its efforts to assume the country’s seat at the world body, with the nomination of its new ambassador, former Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, still in limbo.

The process of both recognising the government and subsequently accepting its new Un envoy has been frozen at the world body in a deal reached by the United States, russia and China.

In a report published this week, Un Secretary-Gen-

Cyclone Batsirai nears Madagascar, poses ‘very serious threat’ aMPasiPOTsY gare AFP

Cyclone Batsirai was expected to reach eastern Madagascar on Saturday, posing a “very serious threat” to millions with powerful winds and torrential rains set to batter the large Indian Ocean island. residents hunkered down before the storm’s arrival and winds of more than 200 kilometres per hour (124 miles per hour) were forecast as it bore down on the country still recovering from the deadly Tropical Storm Ana in late January.

After passing Mauritius and drenching the French island of La reunion for two days with torrential rain, Batsirai was about 250 kilometres east of Madagascar early Saturday, the Meteo-France weather agency said.

Batsirai should make landfall between late afternoon and evening Saturday as an intense tropical cyclone,

“presenting a very serious threat to the area”, the forecaster said in its morning bulletin Saturday.

The eye of the storm was forecast to cross the centre of the island overnight into Sunday, before leaving its western shores by Monday.

Winds could reach “more than 200 or even 250 km/h […] at the point of impact” and waves could reach as high as 15 metres (50 feet), Meteo-France said.

The United nations said it was ramping up its preparedness with aid agencies, placing rescue aircraft on standby and stockpiling humanitarian supplies.

The impact of Batsirai on Madagascar is expected to be “considerable”, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the Un’s humanitarian organisation OCHA, told reporters in Geneva Friday. At least 131,000 people were affected by Ana across Madagascar in late January. At least 58 people were killed, mostly in the capital Antananarivo. The storm also hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe,

US waives sanctions for Iran civil nuclear program WasHingTOn AFP

The US State department is waiving sanctions on Iran’s civilian nuclear program in a technical step necessary to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, a senior official said late Friday.

The resumption of the waiver, ended by the donald Trump administration in 2020, “would be essential to ensuring Iran’s swift compliance” if a new deal on controlling Tehran’s nuclear program can be reached in talks in Vienna, the State department official said.

The waiver allows other countries and companies to participate in Iran’s civilian nuclear program without triggering US sanctions on them, in the name of promoting safety and on-proliferation.

The civilian program includes the country’s increasing stockpiles of enriched uranium. “Absent this sanctions waiver, detailed technical discussions with third parties regarding the disposition of stockpiles and other activities of nonproliferation value cannot take place,” the official said, insisting on anonymity.

The step came as talks to restore the

eral Antonio Guterres called for a one-year renewal of UnAMA’s mandate.

Offering the reasons for his suggestion, Guterres noted: “With the Taliban not having established the trust of many of the Afghan people or convinced Afghans of its capacity to govern, many continue to seek to leave their country.”

“The best way to promote stability and future international support is for the Taliban to avoid the isolation that characterised its previous experience in power,” he added, referring to the 1996-2001 regime. “developing a constructive dialogue between the de facto authorities, other Afghan stakeholders, the region and the international community that is focused on the wellbeing and rights of the Afghan people is therefore essential.”

Guterres highlighted the need to address Afghanistan’s economic and financial paralysis since the Taliban took over, with more than half of the country’s population of roughly 38 million expected to face food shortages this winter. For months, he has called for sanctions relief for Kabul, in order to avoid the nation’s complete collapse. nearly $10 billion in Afghan state assets held abroad have been frozen by Washington since August.

2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which former president Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018, were at an advanced stage.

Joe Biden moved quickly to return to the agreement after he became president a year ago, but Iran in the meantime has moved increasingly closer to producing enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon. The Vienna talks, which include Iran, the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and russia, are at a key stage where the parties have to make “critical political decisions,” a senior US official said last week. “The tech-

nical discussions facilitated by the waiver are necessary in the final weeks of JCPOA talks,” the State department official said Friday.

But even if a final deal is not reached, the official said, the waiver is important to holding discussions on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, of interest to the entire world. The official insisted that the move was not “part of a quid pro quo,” as the partners in the JCPOA talks await Iran’s response on key issues.

But the senior administration official who briefed reporters on the talks last week said that time was running out, and

urged Tehran to make important decisions. “I think we’re at the point where some of the most critical political decisions have to be made by all sides,” the official said. The official proposed direct talks between Washington and Tehran to focus on the most difficult issues separating the sides.

“If our goal is to reach an understanding quickly… the optimal way to do that, in any negotiation, is for the parties that have the most at stake to meet directly,” the official said.

In late January, Iran said for the first time it was open to the idea of direct negotiations with the United States, but since then has not said where it stands. experts say the JCPOA talks could resume next week, after halting a week ago. Barbara Slavin, an Iran expert at the Atlantic Council, said the resumption of the waiver was a positive step.

“It’s a necessary prerequisite to restoring the JCPOA and thus a good sign that this can be accomplished,” she told AFP. “These sanctions were among the dumbest and most counterproductive imposed by the former administration,” she added.

causing dozens of deaths.

The Un’s World Food Programme (WFP) pointed to estimates from national authorities that some 595,000 people could risk being directly affected by Batsirai, and 150,000 more might be displaced due to new landslides and flooding. “We are very nervous,” Pasqualina di Sirio, who heads the WFP’s programme in Madagascar, told reporters by video link from the Indian Ocean island.

Search and rescue teams on the island have been placed on alert and residents reinforced their homes.

Sitting on top of his house, Tsarafidy Ben Ali, a 23year-old coal seller, held down corrugated iron sheets on the roof with large bags filled with soil.

“The gusts of wind are going to be very strong.

That’s why we’re reinforcing the roofs,” he told AFP. The storm poses a risk to at least 4.4 million people in one way or another, the International Federation of red Cross and red Crescent Societies said.

US probe finds single attacker in Kabul evacuation bombing KABUL: An attack that killed at least 173 people including 13 US service members during the chaotic Kabul airport evacuation last year was undertaken by a single suicide bomber, a Pentagon investigation concluded. The investigation ruled out more than one perpetrator or anyone using firearms in the August 26 attack, which was claimed by the so-called Islamic State group. At least 160 Afghan civilians and 13 US troops were killed by the bombing, which came during the final days of the US military’s withdrawal after two decades of war, according to the investigation. The bomb exploded in a dense crowd just outside the airport’s Abbey Gate as thousands of people pushed to try to get inside and leave the country in the US-managed airlift. Although some gunfire erupted after the bombing, US officers said they were warning shots and none of those who died in the event were killed by them. “There were no gunshot wounds” among the victims, said Brigadier General Lance Curtis, who presented the investigation findings Friday. He said that the deaths were from shrapnel including ball bearings from the bomb, the wounds of which can look like gunshot wounds. Curtis admitted that on the day, the US military thought the attack was “complex,” involving an Islamic State gunman as well as the bomber. “We now know that the explosive fired ball bearings causing wounds that looked like gunshots. AFP

Sunday, 6 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

BeijiNg 2022: Team ChiNa wiN FirST gold iN ShorT-TraCk Speed SkaTiNg

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MIAN ABrAr

HINA claimed its first gold at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games from the 2,000m mixed relay of short-track speed skating on Saturday.

China, consisting of Fan Kexin, Qu Chunyu, Ren Ziwei and Wu Dajing, won the gold in 2 minutes and 37.348 seconds.

Italy and Hungary took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Norway’s Therese Johaug wiNs firsT gold of wiNTer games: Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug powered to victory in the women’s skiathlon race to take the first gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics on Saturday.

The 14-time world champion obliterated the field after the switch from classic style to freestyle, winning by a margin of 30.2 seconds to claim the first individual Olympic gold of her glittering career.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve been training a lot for this for many,

many years. And it’s been a special week for us, we just came here two

days ago,” emotional Johaug said.

Gold medalist Therese Johaug

of Team Norway (C), Silver medalist Natalia Nepryaeva of Team ROC

(L) and Bronze medalist Teresa Stadlober of Team Austria (R) pose after the women’s cross-country skiing 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon in Zhangjiakou, China.

Natalia Nepryaeva, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, took silver while Austria’s Teresa Stadlober snagged the bronze medal, but the day belonged to Johaug.

“I’m happy with today’s race.

The competition was so difficult, but I tried my best and I got a result that I am satisfied with…It gives me a lot of confidence for the races later this week. I feel very powerful now,” said Nepryaeva.

Meanwhile, Stadlober said that it was an emotional day for her as it was her first Olympic medal.

“Four years ago, I was tied for a medal and then I made a mistake and I didn’t get it. I was working four years, and always had the dream to reach a medal. And now I have it and it’s unbelievable for me.”

The race, contested in bitter cold and blustery winds, got off to a chaotic start as Coralie Bentz of

France and Finland’s Anne Kyllonen crashed to the snow after an early clash while American Rosie Brennan was making the early going.

Johaug gradually took control and finished the first lap in front before the Finnish pair of Krista Parmakoski and Kerttu Niskanen took over for a grueling uphill climb.

That uphill stretch cut the leading group to eight and their ranks were further halved as the switch to freestyle skis was made with Johaug holding a slender lead and Niskanen, Parmakoski and Nilsson hot on her heels.

Their challenge was short-lived after the switch as Johaug leveraged her raw freestyle power to cruise away from her rivals, opening up a gap of 26 seconds at the 10km mark.

She never let up, despite a frenetic spurt by Nepryaeva, Stadlober, Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen and Swede Frida Karlsson, and glided across the line with her arms aloft, crying freezing tears of joy in the knowledge that the coveted individual gold was finally in her grasp.

Langer delivers shock resignation as Australia cricket coach sYDNeY afp

Australian men’s cricket coach Justin Langer announced his surprise resignation Saturday, just weeks after trouncing archrivals England in a lopsided Ashes series and months after winning the T20 World Cup. The 51-year-old walked away from the top management job in Australian sports after a sometimes difficult relationship with players and acrimonious talks with governing body Cricket Australia.

Board members held lengthy discussions about Langer’s future into Friday night but appeared to have failed to reach an agreement on a new deal with the former

Test batsman.

The coach is said to have bristled at being asked to effectively reapply for his job and being offered a short-term contract, despite a stellar record that culminated in a 4-0 Ashes victory and Australia being ranked the world’s number one Test team.

Sports management company DSEG announced Langer’s departure in a terse statement saying “our client Justin Langer has this morning tendered his resignation as coach of the Australian men’s cricket team”.

“The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately.”

Cricket Australia confirmed the news

but did not immediately comment.

Langer took the job in 2018, with Australian cricket at its lowest ebb for decades in the wake of a cheating affair.

He restored the team’s reputation — despite a series of scandals including the recent resignation of Test captain Tim Paine.

But senior players were reportedly irked by his “headmaster-like” leadership style and new captain Pat Cummins pointedly did not publicly back Langer when asked to do so.

“I am intense, yeah, I am serious, I am — do I get grumpy sometimes? Yeah, I get grumpy sometimes,” Langer acknowledged early last year. “I’m not perfect that’s for sure.”

HBL PSL: Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings by nine runs News Desk

Beijing 2022: Chinese mixed pair clinch second win in curling BeIJING Staff RepoRt

Team China’s Fan Suyuan and Ling Zhi clinched their second consecutive win in the round robin of curling mixed doubles at the Beijing Winter Olympics, defeating Team Australia’s Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt 6-5 on Thursday. The Chinese pair took an early lead by the 4th set, outscoring their opponents 3-1. The score remain unchanged till the 5th set, where the Chinese pair extended the lead to 4-1. Team Australia gave Fan and Ling a scare in the sixth set, where they evened the score at 4-4. The Chinese pair sealed the deal at 6-5, following an error from Team Australia in the deciding set.

Team China will face Team Sweden on Thursday evening.

Peshawar Zalmi bowlers and Shoaib Malik guided their team to a comprehensive nine-run victory against 2020-champions Karachi Kings in match number 11 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Wahab Riaz-led Zalmi had set a 174-run target for Karachi Kings after they were put to bat first by the Kings. Despite the Kings batters’ early collapse, Babar Azam played a sensational inning and scored 90 runs off 63 balls with the help of 12 fours and one six.

No other batter could score even 35 runs against a strong Peshawar Zalmi’s bowling attack.

Mohammad Umar picked up three wickets, while Shoaib Malik, Hussain Malik and Usman Qadir took a scalp each.

Early in their innings, Zalmi looked set to post a

huge total in the powerplay but once Umaid Asif removed the dangerous Hazratullah Zazai in the sixth over, the run rate slowed down.

Peshawar’s batting faced another setback after Asif removed Kamran Akmal in the 10th over.

Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik looked all set to capitalise on the start given by the openers but Aamir Yamin removed Ali to put a dent in Peshawar’s batting.

When Ali’s wicket fell, Zalmi were 103/3 with seven overs left in the innings.

However, a 59-run partnership between Malik and Australian Ben Cutting helped Zalmi recover. It was Umaid Asif, once again, who broke the partnership by dismissing Cutting in the last over of the Zalmi innings.

Peshawar ended their innings for 173/4 courtesy of Malik’s 52 from 28.

3rd National School and College Throwball Championship starts from Feb 24 QUeTTA Staff RepoRt

The 3rd National School and College Throwball Championship will start from February 24, under the auspices of Pakistan Throwball Federation and in Collaboration with Wahaj Colleges Group, at Lahore. This was stated by the Secretary General, Pakistan Throwball Federation, Maqbool Arain on Saturday. He said that the President, Pakistan Throwball Federation, Razaq Gill has approved to hold the Championship and Asghar Anjum will be the Organizing Secretary. He said that two categories competitions will be played in the Championship namely boys and girls. He said that Schools and Colleges from all over the country can participate in the Championship. The concluding ceremony of the event will be held on February 26, at 4.30 p.m, in which Trophies, Medals, Certificates and Cash Prizes (Rs 100,000) will be delivered to the winning teams. He further said that interested Schools and Colleges who wants to register their names, they should register their names on WhatsApp 032130777577.

Sunday, 6 February, 2022

Prayer tiMingS

NEWS

XI JINPINg deClares BeIJINg 2022 WINter OlyMPICs OPeN ISLAMABAD

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Mian abrar

HINESE President Xi Jinping officially declared the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics open at the National Stadium on Friday night.

The Beijing Winter Olympics features 109 events of 15 disciplines across seven sports. It will take place from February 4 to 20 in three competition zones in downtown Beijing, Beijing’s northwest suburban district of Yanqing and Zhangjiakou in neighboring Hebei Province.

The motto of Beijing 2022 is “Together for a Shared Future.”

Dozens of world leaders and heads of international organizations attended the opening ceremony of the Games, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Beijing, where the Summer Games was held in 2008, is the first city in the world to host both editions of the Olympic Games.

“China will do its best to deliver to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Games, and act on the Olympic motto ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together,'” Xi

said on Thursday when delivering a video address at the opening ceremony of the 139th IOC session.

From “One World, One Dream” in 2008 to “Together for a Shared Future” in 2022, China has taken an active part in the Olympic Movement and consistently championed the Olympic spirit, he said, noting that China has achieved its goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports.

According to official statistics, over 346 million Chinese people have participated in winter sports training, amateur or professional competitions, or winter sports leisure activities, surpassing the goal of 300 million the government set in 2015 when Beijing won the Olympic bid.

Xi hosts welcoming banquet for world leaders: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on Saturday hosted a welcoming banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for distinguished guests from around the world present at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

More than 30 world leaders and heads of international organizations gathered in the Chinese capital for the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday night at the National Stadium – an iconic venue from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Having successfully hosted the Sum-

IMF sets six new conditions for Pakistan The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set six new structural benchmarks (SBs) for Pakistan including preparation of draft Personal Income Tax (PIT) legislation till February 2022. As per the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP), the IMF has set six new conditions for Pakistan that will be met till June 2022. New benchmarks include preparation of draft personal income tax (PIT) legislation by February 2022. Document states that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is in the process of drafting PIT legislation by end February 2022 to ensure it will be ready to come into effect on July 1, 2022 with the FY 2023 budget. The government will reduce both the number of rates and income tax brackets under the PIT besides reducing tax credits and allowances (except those for disabled and senior citizens, and zakat receipts) are also on cards. Moreover, the tax department will also introduce special tax procedures for very small taxpayers; and bring additional taxpayers into the tax net; however low-income households will remain protected as the reform preserves the current PIT threshold. Document states that Pakistan is also bound to establish an appropriate Development Finance Institution by April 2022 to support the eventual phasing out of SBP refinance facilities. The Ministry of Finance and SBP to jointly design a plan, in consultation with other stakeholders, to establish an appropriate Development Finance Institution by end-April 2022 as a basis for a plan to transfer the refinancing schemes to the government; and also assessing the Export Refinancing Scheme (EFS) by end-February 2022 and take needed actions to improve its effectiveness. Shahzad Paracha

mer Olympics 14 years ago, Beijing is the first-ever city to stage both summer and winter editions of the global sporting gala.

In his address at the banquet, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, extended a warm welcome to all the guests, and thanked all those who have supported Beijing 2022.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan host a welcoming banquet for distinguished guests from around the world at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, February 5, 2022.

He said China has delivered on the promise it made to the international community by presenting a green, inclusive, open and clean Games.

Xi added, China has made renewed contributions to the Olympic cause by realizing the goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports through hosting and promoting the Games.

Noting that the Olympic Movement since ancient times has carried humanity’s aspirations for peace, solidarity and progress, Xi urged all parties to keep in mind the original aspiration of the Olympic Movement and jointly uphold world peace.

“We need to uphold mutual respect, equality, dialogue and consultation, strive to bridge differences and eliminate conflict, and work together for a world of

durable peace,” he stressed.

Xi called for promoting the spirit of the Olympic Movement and addressing the common challenges facing the international community through solidarity.

The only way for all countries to address the various challenges effectively is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and work together for a shared future, he added.

Xi also voiced the necessity of acting on the purpose of the Olympic Movement and continuously pursuing human progress.

“The Olympic Movement aims to achieve well-rounded human development.

We need to follow the trend of the times, stay true to humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.” China has just entered the Year of the Tiger according to the lunar calendar, Xi mentioned.

As Tiger is a symbol of strength, courage and fearlessness, Xi wished all Olympic athletes to have excellent performances with the strength of the tiger.

“I am confident that with the joint efforts of us all, Beijing 2022 will surely go down in history as a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Games,” said the Chinese president.

Modi’s fascist policies have failed to crush Kashmiri resistance spirit: PM Khan ISLAMABAD agencieS

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said the fascist policies of the Narendra Modi-led government had failed to “crush the spirit of Kashmiri resistance” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The prime minister tweet, on the occasion of Kashmir Day, emphasised that Pakistan stood united with its “Kashmiri brothers and sisters” and was committed to the “legitimate” Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.

Urging the world to take notice of grave human rights violations in the occupied valley, the premier highlighted that India had committed “crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocidal acts” in Kashmir and had perpetuated the “threat of forced demographic change”, all of which was in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

PM Imran reiterated that it was the international community’s responsibility to ensure an impartial plebiscite in Kashmir.

“The world must not ignore the plight of the people of IIOJK and their undeniable desire to free themselves from the Indian state’s draconian military occupation”, he said.

Reiterating Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris, President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday said the entire nation stood

with Kashmiris.

“It is our firm belief that the Kashmiris will succeed in their valiant struggle to secure freedom from oppression and illegal occupation,” he said.

The head of state highlighted that over 900,000 Indian occupation forces had turned IIOJK into an open prison. “India was using state terrorism against Kashmiris including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, staged encounters and search operations.”

He added that, “For more than seven decades, IIOJK has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear, and of sacrifice against tyranny but through all of it, the Kashmiri people have persisted and stood firm in the face of continuing Indian campaign of brutalisation which has used every inhuman tactic and draconian laws to perpetuate the illegal occupation IIOJK.” In a bid to express solidarity with the people living in IIOJK, Kashmiris living all over the world including Pakistan will observe Kashmir Day on Saturday.

Banners, posters and flags have been hung on the main streets and squares of cities, highlighting Indian atrocities in IIOJK, sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri people and expressions of solidarity by Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister

Imran Khan, who is on a four-day visit to China, cited India’s aggressive behaviour and the prevailing Hindutva ideology as a threat to regional peace and a cause of lingering instability of the region.

The premier’s remarks came in an exclusive session with the heads and representatives of leading Chinese think tanks, universities and the Pakistan Study Centre in Beijing.

PM Imran said that the present Indian regime is causing long-lasting instability in the region. “The atrocities of India are continuing in IndianOccupied Kashmir (IoK). The world should pay attention to the ongoing atrocities of India against Kashmiris,” he maintained.

He also thanked China for its unwavering support to the IoK dispute, emphasising the importance of PakChina relations and ensuring regional stability and prosperity.

“In view of myriad global challenges, the world did not need another Cold War. Divisions could result in mounting sufferings and prevent common benefits. Pakistan was, therefore, of the belief that the key driver in international politics should be cooperation, rather than confrontation,” he said.

He recalled that Pakistan in the past had played a role in building bridges and remained ready to do so again.

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there. In Panjgur, the ISPR said, security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some of the militants had fled the area.

Security forces had carried out a clearance operation to hunt down the hiding terrorists in the vicinity, it said, adding that initially four fleeing terrorists were killed there and as many were encircled by security forces the next day.

“All encircled terrorists were killed in today’s (Saturday) operation as they failed to surrender,” the ISPR said.

The military’s media wing said five soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer, were martyred and six injured during follow-up operations in Panjgur over the past 72 hours. Moreover, the ISPR said, three ter-

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CPJ condemns arrest of journalist in occupied Kashmir, calls for release NEW YORK Staff rePort

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) criticised the arrest of a Kashmir-based journalist, and called on India for his “immediate and unconditional” release and to end its crackdown on journalistic freedoms in the occupied region. “The arrest of Fahad Shah shows Jammu and Kashmir authorities’ utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely,” Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator, said. “Authorities must immediately release Fahad Shah, and all other journalists behind bars, and cease detaining and harassing journalists for simply doing their jobs,” he added. According to reports, authorities arrested Shah, editor of the online news portal The Kashmir Walla, at a police station in the southern city of Pulwama where he had been summoned earlier that day for questioning.

In a statement, police claimed Shah had been identified among “some Facebook users and [news] portals” that had published “anti-national content,” but did not mention any specific content. A first information report (FIR), which CPJ reviewed, said Fahad Shah is being investigated for alleged sedition and making statements causing public mischief, both crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and unlawful activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). “If charged and convicted of those offenses, he could face up to seven years imprisonment under Indian law.” Before his detention, Shah told CPJ in a phone interview that police had questioned him on February 1 about The Kashmir Walla’s coverage of a gunfight between pro-freedom fighters and government forces on January 30, which was published on the outlet’s website and its official Facebook page. Shah has also repeatedly advocated for the release of Sajad Gul, a contributor to The Kashmir Walla, on his Twitter, where he has about 55,000 followers. Gul was arrested on January 5, as CPJ documented at the time. He was granted bail on January 15, but police filed another dossier against him on the following day and he remains in detention, according to news reports. CPJ said it repeatedly called Kashmir Police Director-General Dilbag Singh and Pulwama Police Senior Superintendent Ghulam Geelani, and contacted them via messaging app for comment, but did not receive any replies.

In letter to UN bosses, Qureshi urges timely resolution of Kashmir dispute ISLAMABAD aPP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi apprised the Security Council president and UN Secretary General António Guterres about the deteriorating rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

In a letter, Qureshi underscored that all illegal and unilateral measures imposed by India in Kashmir in the wake of August 5, 2019 — including attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory — were flagrant violations of international law including the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention.

He maintained that a just settlement of the dispute is essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia.

He further reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for peaceful relations with all its neighbours, including India.

Security forces conclude combing operation in Balochistan: ISPR The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday that the clearance operation in Balochistan, which was launched after terrorists attacked security forces camps in the province’s Panjgur and Naushki areas late on Wednesday evening, had been completed.

Twenty terrorists were killed during operations after the attacks, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement, adding that nine security personnel had embraced martyrdom.

“Both attacks were repulsed successfully by prompt response from troops at both locations,” the ISPR said.

It added that nine of the terrorists were killed in Naushki and four security personnel, including an officer, were martyred during an exchange of fire with the militants

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rorists, including two high-value targets, linked to the attacks were killed in Kech district’s Balgatar area on Friday.

These terrorists were killed in a follow up clearance operation conducted at a makeshift terrorist hideout.

“Our security forces stand firm and resolutely committed to eliminating the menace of terrorism from our soil no matter [at] what the cost,” the ISPR said.

Earlier, the ISPR had said intelligence agencies had intercepted communications between the terrorists who carried out attacks in Balochistan and their handlers in Afghanistan and India.

The attacks in Naushki and Panjgur were claimed by the banned militant outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Staff rePort

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk