Epaper – January 23-2022 ISB

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 I 19 Jamadi-al-Sani, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 206 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

CulprIts behInd lahore blast traCed, ClaIms rasheed g

I

nterior Minister Sheikh rasheed Ahmed on Saturday claimed to have reached out to the accused in Lahore blast and said that he would defeat terrorism. talking to media in islamabad, he said that all the institutions have been issued alert by the interior ministry and directed to remain vigilant.

He said that after being defeated at the hands of taliban in Afghanistan, the indian spy agency, research and Analysis Wing (rAW), backed groups are planning to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan. the minister said that thousands of lives have been sacrificed in the war against terrorism, adding that the Balochistan nationalist Army (BnA) is a small group and it is not known yet whether the BLA has claimed responsibility for the Lahore blast or not. rasheed said that the security in-

stitutions are fully prepared to curb terrorist activities in the country, adding that the incidents like Lahore blast cannot shatter “our determination and morale”.

He went on to say that investigation of the Lahore incident is underway and perpetrators of the attack will be held accountable to law.

“Deadlock over negotiations with ttP [tehreek-e-taliban Pakistan] came due to their unacceptable conditions,” he said and added two terrorist of ttP were killed in islamabad on the 18th of this month and same action would be taken against anyone who will try to spoil the peace of the motherland. the minister said: “our nation paid heavy price for restoration of peace in the country and no one will be allowed at any cost to spoil it. We have sacrificed more than 80,000 lives and suffered an economic loss of around

CoronavIrus In

pakIstan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,360,019

LAST UPDATED AT 7:15 AM ON JANUARY 22, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

12

6,540

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,267,598 29,077 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

520,415

460,335

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

183,865

33,855

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

35,130/10,480

115,939

'rAWBACKeD grouPS PLAnning to CArry out terroriSt ACtivitieS in PAKiStAn'

150 billion dollars for this purpose.” regarding speculations about presidential system in the country, he said no such move has been discussed in the cabinet.

He expressed hope that Prime Minister imran Khan will complete his five-year tenure and the current opposition will not succeed in any undemocratic move.

He also urged the opposition to postpone their rally scheduled for March 23 as oiC leaders will be in the federal capital during that period.

Meanwhile, according to a news outlet, the interior ministry has warned the security institutions of all four provinces of a possible terrorist attack following a blast in Lahore, which claimed at least three lives earlier this week. the ministry urged the provinces to be on a high-alert and prepare for any unforeseen security situation. news desk

Immunisation declared mandatory to attend mosques as Covid-19 cases soar ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

A day after the nation reported its highest daily number of infections since the outbreak of coronavirus in March 2020, the national Command and operations Centre (nCoC) introduced new restrictions, obliging mosquegoers to present vaccine certificates to offer prayers. in a statement issued Saturday, the body overseeing the pandemic response also decided to remove carpets and ensure a six-foot distance between worshipers to avoid the spread of the virus. the faithful are also directed to perform ablution at home. Prayers should be offered in verandas instead of halls, while windows and doors of the worship places should be kept open. the forum also recommended that Friday sermons should be kept brief to reduce exposure and discourage sick and elderly people and children from attending the prayers. in the wake of the ongoing restrictions in force, the forum urged the nation to stand united in supporting the steps taken for the well-being of the public. earlier this week, the task force also banned indoor gatherings, weddings

FM says PTI govt will complete its term, seeks opposition’s support for South Punjab province MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that the Pakistan tehreek-einsaf (Pti)-led government under the leadership of Prime Minister imran Khan would complete its constitutional tenure and the opposition’s wish for in-house change would remain a dream. talking to media here, the foreign minister said the opposition has been wishing in-house change for the last three and half year but it would remain their wish only. responding to a question about establishment of South Punjab province, he said Pti government is making sincere efforts for creation of South Punjab province as it is the part of Pti’s manifesto. He said Pti lacks two third majority in the parliament which is needed for creation of new province. that is why, he said, PPP and PML n’s constitutional cooperation could help in establishing the South Punjab province.

He informed that he has written a letter to Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz President She-

and dining in districts and cities with a Covid-19 transmission rate exceeding 10 percent.

DAILY CASES: Meanwhile, the nation reported 6,540 cases of the disease in the last 24 hours, a separate nCoC update showed, down from the record 7,600 infections registered the day before.

Friday’s count was Pakistan’s highest since the pandemic began two years ago. the country had last seen the most number of daily cases — 6,825 — on June 13, 2020.

Karachi recorded its highest ever positivity ratio of 46.58 percent on Friday. the latest surge in cases is believed to be driven by the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, triggering a fifth wave of the crisis. the total caseload climbed to 1,360,019 Saturday, said the nCoC. Sindh has been the worst hit, with a total of 520,415 cases, followed by Punjab where the virus was detected in 460,335 people.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus transmission rate in the Sindh capital inched down to 45.14 percent after it recorded 3,467 new cases. While the contagion rate in Hyderabad stood at 16 percent, and 12.8 percent in Lahore.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Security beefed up in Islamabad after Lahore explosion STORY ON PAGE 02

hbaz Sharif and sought their constitutional cooperation for establishment of South Punjab. the foreign minister said that the Pti government is ready to share the credit of South Punjab province with PPP and PML-n.

He hoped the leadership of both political parties would respond positively and in-writing.

Qureshi informed that he has mentioned different administrative steps taken by Pti for empowering South Punjab.

About economic improvement, the foreign minister said that the country is heading to-

wards economic uplift. He mentioned the new report of World Bank about economic situation in Pakistan and said the country is making growth by 5.37 percent. to another query about PPP’s tractor march, Qureshi said that it is political right of the PPP. He, however, hinted that the Pti would also move from Punjab to Sindh. the foreign minister paid rich tribute to armed forces for fighting against the terrorists. the enemies want to stop the journey of progress but the armed forces are foiling their nefarious designs, he added. app

uS Commission lists Khurram Parvez, Siddique Kappan as freedom of religion victims STORY ON PAGE 03

PM asks Finance Minister to ensure economic wellbeing of urban middle class STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

Security beefed up in iSlamabad after lahore exploSion ISLAMABAD

S

Monitoring rePort

ECURITy was beefed up across Islamabad, police said, days after three people were killed and 22 wounded by a bomb in Lahore. The nation has suffered a string of blasts and attacks since December when a truce between the government and the proscribed Afghanistan-based

K-electric ensured uninterrupted power Supply as the Gusty Winds continue to batter Karachi KARACHI Pr

As the strong and gusty winds continue to blow in the port city which started from Friday, K-Electric ensured that the power supply to the city and its adjoining areas remain stable and uninterrupted. K-Electric’s Director Communications Imran Rana commented, “Our systems remained predominantly intact as strong gusts of wind continued to batter the city with different intervals at the speed of 36-45 km/h for two days. We ensured that the city is provided with safe and reliable power supply without any interruption. However, in areas where theft and kundas were prevalent, a few feeders were temporarily shut down on Friday out of caution owing to safety hazards in these areas which were swiftly restored after receiving clearance from the on-ground teams.” In an unfortunate turn of events, an electrocution case was also reported in Defence Phase 6 on Saturday. Findings revealed that the incident occurred when the victim who was apparently a thief, tried to steal copper wires from a Pole-Mounted Transformer (PMT) and received electric shock as a result. Cognizant of the ongoing intensified weather, KE strongly urged citizens to exercise caution and keep a safe distance from Billboards, streetlight poles, trees, broken wires, TV and internet cables. The utility company also remained available 24/7 for any queries or complaints via its WhatsApp number +92348-0000118, 118 call center, SMS service 8119, KE Live App, and social media platforms.

europe suspension of pia operations to continue: agency ISLAMABAD StAFF rePort

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) retained a 2020 suspension of the authorisation for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate in Europe.

The agency had placed the ban on the national airline, initially for a period of six months, in June 2020 in a move following the grounding of 262 pilots after they were suspected of cheating on mandatory licence tests.

Earlier this month, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) gave the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) the all-clear in terms of resolving significant safety concerns. The ICAO “has withdrawn its objection on significant safety concerns,” PCAA spokesman Saifullah Khan said at the time. Following the development, the airline said it expected to restart Europe operations in February or March. However, the agency, in its response to a letter of PIA, said while it was pleased to hear that ICAO was able to remove the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) raised against Pakistan Personnel Licensing (PEL) following the on-site Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) activities performed from November 29 to December 10, the decision does not affect the EASA ban on the flights as it still needs to evaluate the performance of PCAA. “The closure of this SSC was an important step towards a potential lifting of the suspension of PIA Third Country Operators (TCO) Authorization (TCOA),” it said.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) lapsed.

But Thursday’s bomb blast — in the busy Anarkali market — was claimed by the Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA), the newest of several militant groups to emerge.

Police spokesman Naeem Iqbal told AFP that security would be tightened in Islamabad, the seat of the government and home to dozens of embassies and other international institutions.

He said uniformed and plain-clothes officers would

fan across the city, particularly in crowded areas such as markets. Earlier this week, a policeman was killed and two others wounded in a drive-by motorcycle shooting in the capital by two TTP militants who died in return fire.

The BNA said it carried out the Lahore attack “in response to the killing of women and children by forces in Balochistan”, but provided no evidence to cement its claim.

Militant groups, often funded by India, have been

waging a low-level insurgency for years in the province.

In Lahore, officials raised the death toll from Thursday’s blast to three after another victim succumbed to injuries.

Karachi murder convict takes top school score, wins prestigious scholarship KARACHI reuterS

An inmate serving a life sentence for murder in an overcrowded Karachi prison has won a scholarship for further study after taking one of the highest scores in the higher secondary school exams last year.

Syed Naeem Shah, 35, scored the highest in the general high school exams among private candidates — that is, among non-traditional students — last year in the Sindh capital, winning a scholarship for further studies from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP).

“What I have achieved while languishing in jail is not possible if one does not have conviction,” Shah told Reuters in an interview in Central Prison Karachi, built by the British in 1899.

The prison, like many others in the country, is notorious for being overcrowded, holding nearly 6,000

inmates in space meant for 2,400.

Prisons across Pakistan overall are at 130 percent of capacity and are poorly ventilated, with insufficient beds and limited access to medicines, safe water and bathing facilities, according to Amnesty International.

Speaking in a classroom inside the prison grounds, Shah said he enjoyed school as a child but that his family could not afford to continue his education. In jail, older inmates who were also taking classes motivated him and helped him prepare for exams.

Shah is one of 1,200 inmates studying in Central Prison Karachi, but his success is unparalleled, said Saeed Soomro, deputy superintendent of the prison.

“His results are (also) tantamount to our success,” Soomro said, in giving him the opportunity to study and providing him with books and materials.

Shah was sentenced to life — 25 years in Pakistan — in 2018 for the shooting and killing of another man in a personal disagreement in 2010. years spent as a

prisoner on trial, plus time off for academic achievements, good behaviour and blood donations, leaves him with about six years to serve.

Shah still has to pass an entrance exam to formally take up the scholarship, an ICAP official said, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media. The scholarships, of Rs1 million, are offered to students earning the top four scores in intermediate exams, regardless of whether “they are in jail or outside”, the ICAP official said.

“I feel it will be very difficult for me to pursue this scholarship from prison,” Shah said, given the technical and specialised subjects he will be pursuing.

Even before his exam success, Shah said he had filed an appeal against his conviction that is pending in Sindh High Court (SHC).

“I appeal to the president of Pakistan, prime minister and chief minister of Sindh to consider my case for remission.”

Pakistan proud of pig-to-human heart transplant pioneer KARACHI AFP

Friends and former classmates of the Pakistan-born surgeon behind the world’s first pig-to-human heart transplant say they earmarked him for greatness from his medical school days.

Karachi-born Muhammad Mansoor Mohiuddin made headlines last week as the co-founder of the US university programme that successfully transplanted the heart of a genetically modified pig into a gravely ill American man.

While hailed as a medical breakthrough, the procedure also raised ethical questions — particularly among Jews and Muslims, who consider pigs to be unclean and avoid pork products.

None of that worried Mohiuddin’s friends and former colleagues in Pakistan, who remember him as an ace student with a passion for medicine.

“He would be so interested, always there, always available and always ready to get involved in surgery,” said Muneer Amanullah, a specialist who attended Karachi’s Dow Medical College with Mohiuddin in the

1980s. College vice-chancellor Muhammad Saeed Qureshi said pride in Mohiuddin’s achievement had flooded the campus.

“There was exhilaration that this has been done by a graduate from this college,” he told AFP. Mohiuddin was quick to share the limelight with a team of 50 from the University of Maryland Medical School.

“They were all experts of their respective fields,” he told AFP by phone. “They are the best surgeons, the best physicians, the best anaesthetists, and so on.”

While the prognosis for the recipient of the pig’s heart is far from certain, the surgery represents a major milestone for animal-to-human transplants.

About 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and more than 6,000 patients die each year before getting one, according to official figures.

To meet demand, doctors have long been interested in so-called xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ donation.

“We were working on this model for 18 years,” Mohiuddin said. “Those 18 years were dotted with

different phases of frustration — as well as breakthroughs — but finally we have done it.”

The surgery is not without controversy, however, especially given Mohiuddin’s Islamic faith.

Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims and Jews — and even some Christians who follow the Bible’s Old Testament literally.

“In my view, this is not permissible for a Muslim,” said Javed Ahmed Ghamdi, a prominent Islamic scholar, in a video blog where he discussed the procedure.

But another Islamic scholar gave the procedure a clean bill of health.

“There is no prohibition in sharia [Islamic law],” Allama Hasan Zafar Naqvi told AFP, calling it a “medical miracle”.

“In religion, no deed is as supreme as saving a human life,” added Mohiuddin.

In Karachi, the surgeon’s fellow alumni feel their former colleague may now be destined for even greater glory — medicine’s top prize.

“I think […] the whole team is in for it, in for the Nobel Prize,” said vice-chancellor Qureshi.

Inflation, price hikes hit people across the world APP Inflation and price hikes have become a global phenomenon in recent months, hitting the lower and middle income classes harder across the world.

A new poll found that nearly 60 percent of Canadians are having a hard time providing enough food for their families.

The results of poll, released by the Angus Reid Institute on Friday, showed that 57 percent of Canadians reported having a difficult time feeding their family recently, an increase from 36 percent when the question was last asked in 2019.

Inflation played a role in this figure, the report indicated, as Canadians were dealing with the highest level of inflation in 30 years.

Data released on Wednesday from Statistics Canada found that items such as cooking oil (41.4 per cent) and white sugar (21.6 per cent) have already seen significant price spikes between December 2020 and December 2021.

The Angus Reid Institute also calculated the “Economic Stress Index (ESI),” which combines concern over debt, housing costs, household food costs, a participant’s financial situation compared to the past year and expected financial situation next year, and divided respondents into four categories – thriving, comfortable, uncomfortable and struggling.

Using the ESI, the Angus Reid Institute found that a whooping 98

percent of those struggling found it difficult to feed their families.

“For those who are thriving, food costs are manageable, or an afterthought,” the poll states. “For those who are uncomfortable or struggling, putting food on the table can be a substantial challenge.”

Those in the struggling category were not very optimistic about their future wealth either, as just 8 percent indicated that they expect to be in better financial standing this time next year.

Overall, 27 percent of respondents fell into the struggling category, compared to 24 percent in each of the thriving and comfortable categories, and 25 percent in the uncomfortable category.

The poll also found that 39 percent of Canadians believe their financial standing worsened in the past year, which marks the highest number of Canadians reporting a worse-off financial situation in the 13 years of tracking from the Angus Reid Institute.

According to BBC, prices have also gone up at their fastest rate in nearly 30 years in the United Kingdom.

But there is worse to come, experts have warned.

Soaring food costs and the energy bill crisis drove inflation to 5.4 percent in 12 months to December, up from 5.1 percent the month before, in another blow to struggling families.

Last time, the inflation was higher in March, 1992, when it was 7.1 percent.

And with gas and electricity costs set to rise further in the spring, analysts predict it will reach that level again.

Inflation in the United States rose 7 percent in 2021, an increase not seen since June 1982, the US Department of Labor said this week.

With energy and food prices removed from the equation, the “core” inflation rate in the US was 5.5 percent in 2021, the greatest rate increase since 1991.

High fuel costs and inflationary trends have also worsened the economic situation in countries in European Union and Asia, including India, South Korea, Pakistan and Kazakhstan among others.

The upsurge in fuel prices precipitated a political crisis in Kazakhstan, where people took to the roads to protest against rising inflation.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

uS commiSSion liStS Khurram parvez, SiddiQue Kappan aS freedom of reliGion victimS wASHINGTON newS DeSk

W

ASHINGTON-BASED Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has welcomed the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s decision to list Kashmiri human rights defender, Khurram Parvez, and Indian journalist, Siddique Kappan, on the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List.

The FoRB list is a database of persons imprisoned or detained in a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

The IAMC in a statement said, coming as it does at a time when human rights violations, including custodial killings, are rampant in India, the timely move will go a long towards engaging the government

in ensuring safety of the victims and securing their freedom. This may work as India is a Country of Particular Concern, which USCIRF defines as a country that has engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom, it said.

India has been recommended as a CPC for two years in a row by the UNSCIRF. Khurram Parvez, who was arrested in November 2021 is a world renowned human rights defender from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He is the coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), an organisation that has repeatedly criticised the human rights abuses committed by Indian troops in the occupied territory.

Parvez has played an active role in documenting gross human rights abuses by Indian forces in IIOJK

especially those perpetrated after the revocation of the special status of the territory in late 2019 by the Indian government.

On November 22, 2021, he was arrested and detained on the fake charges of “terror-funding,” “conspiracy”, and “waging war against the government of India”. The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a draconian law, was invoked against him.

On December 4, 2021, he was shifted to a highsecurity prison in New Delhi to await hearing even though the charges are leveled against him on flimsy grounds. Ever since, his current location is not known to anyone.

His arrest sparked international outrage and concern. On December 22, 2021, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement called for Parvez’s release.

Automobile prices rise as manufacturers pass on FED to consumers KARACHI Monitoring rePort

Automobile manufacturers have increased prices by up to Rs493,000 after an increase in the Federal Excise Duty (FED) as per the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021.

Automobile companies which have increased prices include Indus Motor Company (IMC), Honda Atlas Cars Ltd (HACL) and Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL).

The prices of different models of Toyota yaris have increased in the range of Rs63,000-Rs76,000. The revised rates of yaris 1.3GLI MT, GLI CVT, ATIV MT, ATIV CVT, 1.5 ATIV XMT and 1.5 ATV X CVT are Rs2.612 million, Rs2.817 million, Rs2.745 million,

Rs2.919 million, Rs2.97 million and Rs3.175 million respectively.

Similarly, prices for different Toyota Corolla variants have increased by Rs81,000-Rs100,000. The revised rates

of Corolla 1.6MT, 1.6AT, 1.6AT SE, 1.8CVT, 1.8 Grande CVT and 1.8 Grande CVT (black interior) are Rs3.38 million, Rs3.534 million, Rs3.892 million, Rs3.872 million, Rs4.179

million and Rs4.199 million respectively.

Moreover, HACL has increased the price of Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo, 1.8L VTI CVT SR and 1.8L VTI CVT by Rs100,000-126,000 to Rs5.175 million, Rs4.366 million and Rs4.079 million respectively.

Meanwhile, prices for Honda City 1.5L CVT, 1.5L ASP MT and 1.5L ASP CVT stood at Rs3.146 million, Rs3.279 million and Rs3.454 million.

However, HACL has not increased the price of Honda City 1.2L MT and CVT models since there is no FED on 1,200 CC vehicles.

Moreover, in a similar move, PSMCL has also pushed up prices of Suzuki automobiles by Rs29,000Rs150,000.

Pakistan’s current account deficit widens to $1.93bn in December NEwS DESK Pakistan’s current account deficit widened to $1.93 billion in December 2021, compared to $629 million a year ago and $ 1.89 billion in November, 2021,

according to data published by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). According to the central bank, the current account deficit is a result of a significant trade shock amid the ongoing economic recovery.

The current account deficit stood at 7.6 per cent of

the gross domestic product (GDP) in December as compared to 7.3 per cent in November.

The July-December 2021 current account deficit was at $9.09 billion, compared with a $1.25 billion surplus in the same period of last year.

Justice Isa highlights problems of litigants due to delay in dispensation of justice LAHORE newS DeSk

Supreme Court Judge Justice Qazi Faez has raised questions over the notion of ‘supremacy of law’ in the country, saying that the authorities concerned did not take any

action against the individual who threatened his family last year. He said this on Saturday while addressing the legal fraternity at two different seminars arranged by the Punjab Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar Association.

Justice Isa said a first information report (FIR) was not registered against the man who threatened to “hang him in square” for five days despite his wife had informed the concerned quarters.

“It was a serious case but no one bothered,” he

added. He also dispelled the impression that he was a “symbol of independent judiciary” and “future of judiciary”, saying the titles given to him by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon had nothing to do with reality

and he did not deserve them. The apex court judge also highlighted problems being faced by litigants saying there was a general perception that verdict in their cases will be announced “after decades”.

Judges and their staffers timely withdraw their salaries but the litigant bears the cost owing to the lawyer’s strikes, he added.

As Balochistan High Court chief justice, Isa said, he never let the lawyers to go on strikes and resolved their genuine problems amicably. Justice Isa said only the supremacy of law can put the country on the path of progress and added that civil courts had been directed not to delay the case proceedings. The superior court judge said the verdicts of the court as well as different laws should be published in Urdu language on official websites. SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon said a culture of intolerance has developed across the country and added that negative opinion should not be supported against those judges who give their dissenting notes in decisions.

NEWS

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prof Qasim bashir elected honorary fellow of royal college of physicians of edinburgh NEwS DESK Professor Dr Qasim Bashir, Clinical & Interventional Neurologist, Head of Department Neurology at Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The Society rigorously assesses the achievements of those it appoints as fellows considering their professional standing and recognizing excellence across a diverse range of expertise and experience, and its effect on society. This exceptional honor is fitting recognition of Dr Qasim Bashir’s outstanding contributions especially in Stroke & Interventional Neurology in Pakistan. Dr Qasim is son of renowned late Professor Dr Bashir Ahmad [Neurosurgeon]. He is a graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore and completed Neurology residency from University of Vermont at Burlington, USA and additional fellowship training and board certifications in Vascular [Stroke] Neurology and Neurocritical care from renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA. He completed a third fellowship in Neuroendovascular Surgery/Interventional Neurology from University of Illinois at Chicago, USA; where he also held faculty position for 5 years before relocating to his birth city – Lahore. Dr Qasim Bashir is a Fellow of Society of Vascular Intervention Neurology [SVIN], USA and holds the distinctive Neuroendovascular Surgery credentialing from The Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST), USA which falls under the Council of the Society of Neurological Surgeons, USA.

Sbp to announce monetary policy on monday KARACHI newS DeSk

State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committe (MPC) is set to announce the monetary policy on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the central bank, SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir will brief the media after the MPC meeting. A report published by The News suggests that the benchmark policy rate is expected to remain unchanged. Earlier the SBP governor had said that the central bank is taking “a pause to first look at the effects of the tightening [it has done] before considering what monetary policy settings should be.” In its last meeting on December 14, 2021, the MPC had raised the policy rate by 100 basis points to 9.75 per cent to counter inflationary pressures and address the current account deficit.

sunday, 23 January, 2022 | IsLAMABAD

04 News CM Buzdar announces compensation for Lahore blast victims LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday announced financial assistance for the families of those killed and injured in Lahore’s Anarkali blast that saw at least three people dead and several injured. In a statement, the chief minister said Rs1 million will be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the Lahore blast. Buzdar further announced that those severely injured in the Anarkali blast would get Rs500,000, while the injured would get Rs100,000 each. The suspects arrested via CCTV footage were turned out to be labourers who were working at a construction site of a building near the bomb blast site at Anarkali Bazaar. It emerged that three arrested suspects including Azam and Imran had been working as labourers at an under-construction building and went to Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar to purchase warm clothes on the day of the bomb blast. At least three persons including a child had lost their lives and 29 others were injured in a bomb blast that took place on Thursday evening at 1:40 pm in the busy Anarkali area of Lahore.

Comedians escape attempt on life LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Unidentified persons fired shots at the vehicle of stage comedy veterans Naseem Vicky and Agha Majid in Faisalabad on Saturday. The vehicle, targeted on Rajbah Road in Faisalabad by two armed men, was damaged in the attack. Vicky, Majid and Sabina Cinema contractor Raja Tahir were in the car when it was sprayed with bullets. A case was registered against unidentified attackers at Rail Bazar Police Station. Vicky said the attackers can’t shut down a theatre by harassing the actors. “You cannot scare us. We earn livelihood for our children through this profession,” he added. Faisalabad City Police Officer (CPO) Ghulam Mubashir Maken took notice of the incident and ordered the department to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

farooq spills the beans on violent events of 2007, 2016 KARACHI INp

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar made startling revelations over the role of his party’s faction now led by founder Altaf Hussain in the violent events of May 12, 2007, divisions within the party in the aftermath of August 22, 2016 episode and offers being made to him to abandon ship and join other political groups. Sattar made these revelations in an interview to a television channel and said he had not made any contact with MQM-London and its chief Hussain, day after announcing to part ways with him in 2016. “Nadeem Nusrat telephoned me and conveyed that MQM founder was seeking forgiveness over his speech and asked me to share his apology during the presser on August 23,” Sattar said and added he however refused to share the apology saying that he has nothing to do with it now.

SharifS haven’t denied preparation of affidavit on nawaz’S inStruCtionS: fawad

M

NEws DEsK

INISTER for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Saturday said that the Sharif family has not denied that former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim’s affidavit was signed in the office of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on the latter’s instructions.

In a tweet, the minister said: “Rana Shamim and the solicitor recorded this affidavit in the office of Nawaz Sharif.

All incidents appear to be an attempt at influencing the court.” Earlier on Fri-

day, Fawad had said that it is an important allegation and “I think the Sharif family should come forward and explain their position”.

Two days ago, the Islamabad High Court had indicted Shamim in a contempt of court case. The court had initiated proceedings against Shamim and the media personnel after the affidavit was published in a newspaper that accused former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of influencing the case against former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

The former G-B judge had pleaded not guilty and said he would defend himself.

Police seek more time to file final challan in Nazim Jokhio case KARACHI Staff RepoRt

A Malir court on Saturday resumed hearing of the Nazim Jokhio murder case. A judicial magistrate conducted the hearing, wherein the investigation officer (IO) sought more time to submit the final case challan (investigation report).

A prosecutor informed the magistrate that the police have not yet received the final Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and the file of the final challan has been forwarded to the prosecutor general for scrutiny.

The magistrate observed that months have gone by since the incident took place but the final charge-sheet has not been submitted yet. The court gave

the investigation officer time until Jan 26 to submit the challan.

Nazim Jokhio’s body was recovered from the PPP lawmaker Jam Awais’s farmhouse last month. His family alleged that Awais, MNA Jam Abdul Karim, and their henchmen tortured him to death for filming and stopping their guests from illegal hunting of houbara bustards.

Earlier, the police submitted the interim charge-sheet, naming the six detained suspects and 12 absconding suspects, including MNA Jam Abdul Karim.

It is noteworthy that the federal cabinet has approved forming a joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct a transparent probe of the high profile murder case.

Pakistan pushes UN action on Kashmir dispute UNITED NATIONs app

Pakistan called on the United Nations to step up its efforts and urgently resolve the Kashmir dispute in a bid to bring an end to Indian atrocities in the occupied territory and prevent a threat to regional and global peace.

“Peace and security must remain at the core of the functions of the United Nations,” Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, told the General Assembly while commenting on the report of the Secretary-General António Guterres on the work of the global organisation.

“We urge the Security Council and the SecretaryGeneral to exercise their considerable authority to promote an early and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and to end the Indian reign of terror against the Kashmiri people”, the ambassador said.

CMYK

The United Nations and the secretary-general, he said, can do “much more” to address peace and security threats by fully using the authority provided by the United Nations charter such as in Article 99 and by taking action in the General Assembly if the Security Council is unable to do so.

The primary threat in South Asia is posed by the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir and India’s attempt to annex and transform the Muslim majority state into a Hindu majority territory in blatant violation of UNSC resolutions that promised the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination through a United Nations supervised plebiscite, he said.

Detailing extensive illegal actions taken by India, which he condemned, Ambassador Akram urged the Security Council and the secretary-general to promote an early, peaceful end to the dispute.

He cited the rise of racial and religious hate and

violence, with Islamophobia among its gravest manifestations, notably as characterised by lynching and calls for genocide of Muslims in India.

“The worst manifestation of Islamophobia is the officially-inspired campaign of the ‘Hindutva’ adherents in India against Muslims.”

So far, the ambassador noted, there has been no accountability for Indian crimes. Draconian laws provide complete impunity to the 900,000 troops New Delhi has deployed in occupied region.

Pakistan condemned the increasing harassment, illegal arrests and registration of criminal cases against journalists and civil society activists such as Khurram Pervez on trumped-up charges.

The recent attack, and ban, on the Kashmir Press Club, he said, is another manifestation of India’s entrenched use of brute force and coercion to silence all those who raise their voice against its criminal and genocidal acts in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Ambassador Akram also drew attention to the statement made recently by the Head of “Genocide Watch”, Professor Gregory Stanton, in which he stated: “We are warning that genocide could very well happen in India.”

“We call on the secretary-general and the United Nations to take decisive steps to combat Islamophobia and to prevent the danger of genocide against the Muslims of India.”

At the outset, the ambassador welcomed the United Nations’ mobilisation of humanitarian and other assistance for Afghanistan, calling last September’s Flash Appeal and the recent $5 billion appeal “timely and essential”.

Similarly, the United Nations role in peacekeeping is a major success and Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner in ensuring the effectiveness of such operations, notably the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) stationed in the disputed region.

Akram went on to welcome the secretary-general’s call to address inequality and promote universal vaccination on an emergency basis, endorsing the call to restructure the global financial architecture and provide financial resources to help developing countries recover from the pandemic.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

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99 PAssengeRs TRAVellIng TO DUBAI, shARjAh FOUnD InFeCTeD wITh COVID-19 KARAcHI

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S many as 99 passengers travelling to Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi were found infected with Covid-19 on Saturday.

Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said these passengers were travelling to the United Arab

Emirates (UAE) via different flights.

They were subjected to rapid antigen tests four hours before their departure at Karachi airport, which showed they were infected with the coronavirus.

Subsequently, they were barred from boarding their flights and shifted to quarantine centres.

On Jan 14, eighteen passengers tested positive for COVID-19 after

they underwent rapid antigen tests upon their arrival at Karachi airport from Jeddah and Dubai.

Of the affected passengers, 16 landed in Karachi via a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-9732 from Jeddah, whereas, the remaining two Covid-positive travellers flew in from Dubai via EK-600.

The Covid-positive travellers included 17 men and a woman who

Immunisation declared mandatory to attend mosques as Covid-19 cases soar

Punjab University VC indicted in Dr. Maria defamation case LAHORE

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A local court in Lahore on Saturday indicted Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhter in the defamation case filed by former director of the PU Confucius Center Dr. Maria Isabel Maldonado Garcia.

Dr Maria is a Spanish national who approached the court against the expulsion from PU Confucius Center on alleged charges of corruption levelled by PU VC Dr Niaz and later circulated the termination letter to all the universities throughout the country.

Additional Sessions Judge Jahanzeb Chattha heard the case and indicted the PU VC in the defamation case.

PU VC Prof Niaz appeared before the court, though his counsel had already submitted the surety bonds for the bail.

The District and Sessions Court Lahore adjourned the case hearing till January 29 after summoning the witnesses in the case.

FIR registered against four policemen, one held for receiving Rs one million extortion money ISLAMABAD staff report

The Islamabad police have registered a case against four policemen and arrested one on charges of receiving one million rupees extortion money and unlawful detention of citizens.

A citizen Irfanullah lodged a complaint with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younas during an open court that he along with his friends was heading towards Murree in a vehicle.

When they were passing by Sangjani toll plaza, four persons wearing police uniform came in a car with tinted glasses, stopped their vehicle and shifted them into a flat in Sector G15 after making them hostage with hands and feet tied.

According to complainant the abductee tortured and harassed them from December 13 to 15 last year and demanded Rs 1million extortion money.

He further told the IGP that he delivered the extortion money to the accused in Peshawar through a friend to save their lives.

After receiving the money the accused on December 15 night dropped them on Kashmir Highway and fled away.

The capital police chief after taking notice of the incident tasked SP Saddar to trace the culprits.

The teams of police station Tarnol after registering an FIR started investigation into the case and succeeded to arrest an accused while raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining fugitives.

The IGP expressed the resolve to ensure police accountability and said there was no place for the officials which caused damage repute to the department.

A total of 29,077 people died of Covid-19 in Pakistan, including 12 patients who lost their lives to the pandemic over the last 24 hours, the NCOC said.

The nation currently has 63,344 active cases, while 1,267,598 others have recovered.

The government authorised booster vaccination shots for citizens over the age of 30. Vaccination of

children over the age of 12 has been made mandatory to attend the schools and children under 12 will attend schools with 50 percent attendance.

“We might see a peak after two weeks followed by a gradual decline,” Faisal Mahmood, associate professor of infections diseases at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), told Geo television channel on Friday.

About 70 million people, or 32 percent of the population, have had two vaccine doses.

How vaccine misinformation left children vulnerable to Omicron WASHINGTON afp

The Covid-19 pandemic took a deadly toll on adults in the United States for two years while largely sparing children from the dire statistics.

But the rapid spread of the Omicron variant led to record pediatric infections and hospitalizations in the country, and anti-vaccination misinformation that tells parents the shots are dangerous is adding to the risk.

The chances of young people dying from Covid-19 remain low. The shots greatly reduce the odds of severe illness, and vaccinated mothers may pass protection to their babies, but vaccine hesitancy pushed online leaves both parents and children vulnerable.

From worries that the shots were developed too quickly, to false claims that the jabs can impact future fertility, physician Wassim Ballan of Phoenix Children’s Hospital said combating misinformation has become part of his job.

“Unfortunately, a lot of times when we’re having this time with a family to discuss these things is when the child is already in the hospital,” he said of the problem.

Parents need to understand that vaccines are “the most important tool for protection,” especially to avoid multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare and dangerous complication that can follow a mild Covid-19 infection.

Only 27 percent of children aged five to 11 have received a first dose of the vaccine in the United States. Hospitalizations reached a pandemic high of 914 children per day this month, up dramatically from the previous peak of 342 in September 2021.

Protection from the womb: The first week of January 2022 saw Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston report 12 babies in intensive care with Covid-19.

Babies are too young for the Covid-19 shot, but Kathryn Gray, attending physician of maternal-fetal

medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said research increasingly shows that vaccination during pregnancy leads to antibodies safely being transferred to the baby, offering limited protection.

Expectant mothers have also shown hesitancy to get the shot after they were excluded from initial clinical trials.

Gray is among those who are monitoring the situation. “To date, there have been no safety signals” in the data, she said, adding that she has “a lot of confidence” in telling patients the shot is safe during pregnancy for mother and baby.

“If they truly want to protect their infants, getting vaccinated is the thing that will protect them the most at this time.”

Health agencies across the globe say the same, but the initial lack of data continues to be exploited in vaccine-opposed messaging on social media.

Posts on Facebook and Twitter claimed that stillbirths rose following the push to vaccinate pregnant people, even though going unprotected against the disease is the greater risk.

Epidemiologists Carla DeSisto and Sascha Ellington from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said data from 1.2 million US births showed “no evidence the rate of stillbirths is higher overall during the pandemic.”

But their research did reveal the risks of contracting the virus while pregnant.

“Compared to pregnant people without Covid19, pregnant people with Covid-19 are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth and stillbirth,” the researchers said by email.

‘Unvaccinated milk’: Breastfeeding has also been the target of misinformation, with posts claiming that babies suffered rashes or even death upon nursing from a vaccinated mother.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommends vaccination for those who are lactating and says there is no reason to stop breastfeeding upon receiving the vaccine.

were later moved to their homes for a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

It is noteworthy that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Jan 12 decided to revise the quarantine policy for inbound passengers. The authorities cancelled their central quarantine policy for inbound passengers and prepared new guidelines for Covid-positive travellers arriving in Pakistan.

Taliban kill eight Afghan resistance fighters in firefight The Taliban killed eight resistance fighters from a national opposition group in a firefight in the north of Afghanistan, police said on Friday. Since storming back to power in August the Taliban have flatly denied facing organised resistance, but the gun battle on Thursday night may demonstrate that armed opposition is building against their hardline rule. Fighters from the National Resistance Front (NRF), a group led by the son of legendary late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, fought Taliban forces in Balkh province. Eight NRF fighters were killed in a “direct clash” with the Taliban, provincial police spokesman Asif Waziri told reporters in an audio message. Waziri said Taliban forces also seized ammunition and machine guns from the NRF fighters. An NRF spokesman was yet to respond to a request for comment from AFP. The fighting comes less than two weeks after Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks with Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, in Tehran. After that summit an official for the resistance faction said the NRF and Taliban remained on “separate pages” with no prospect of reconciliation. Massoud’s NRF forces were the last to hold out against the Taliban takeover last year, retreating to the Panjshir Valley which fell in September, weeks after government troops capitulated. The Panjshir Valley is famed as the site of resistance to Soviet forces in the 1980s and the Taliban in the late 1990s, during their first stint in power. Its most revered figure is Ahmad Shah Massoud, known as the “Lion of Panjshir”, who was assassinated

by Al Qaeda in 2001, two days before the 9/11 attacks. His son has since picked up the mantle and there have been reports of his efforts to organise a resistance with other exiled Afghan leaders, which Taliban authorities had so far denied. The Taliban have also faced resistance from the regional chapter of the militant Islamic State group, IS-Khorasan, an extremist group which aims to create a global caliphate. afp

‘Only united nations bring down invaders’, Taliban hit back at Biden Only ‘united nations’ can expel invaders and bring down powerful empires, the interim Taliban government said on Friday, rebuffing US President Joe Biden’s assertions about divisions among Afghans. “Discord is an external phenomenon instigated by foreign invaders for their survival, however, Afghans defeated them with their shared Islamic beliefs, homeland and celebrated history, and are now taking strong leaps towards becoming an equal nation,” Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the interim Afghan Foreign Ministry, wrote on Twitter. The statement came hours after Biden’s White House news conference, where he said the US. anadolu agency

Dadu medical student case suspect arrested from Swabi SWABI news desk

Police have arrested Shaman Solangi, the main accused in the case of a medical college student’s death in Dadu, from Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

The final year student Asmat Jameel had died by suicide earlier this month after Solangi allegedly blackmailed her using a fake marriage certificate. Solangi has been on the run for the past 16 days.

According to the police, upon getting a tip-off, the investigating party conducted a major operation in the Swabi area of KP and arrested Shaman Solangi. He would be moved to Dadu after legal proceedings.

Police have already arrested two accused in the case.

Imdad Solangi was a witness to the fake marriage.

Police arrested Faizan Solangi, the son of the main accused Shaman Solangi on January 14. Faizan Solangi supported his father in the sexual harassment of Asmat and other alleged victims.

Asmat Khalid was a student at the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah.

She was found dead at her residence January 8, 2022.

When the police reached her residence to collect the body for a post-mortem examination, they found a “suicide note” there. It was addressed to her father.

“Ammi Papa I am very sorry,” it read. “You will be very upset. But I got weak. Forgive me. You both worked very hard for me in old age. Thank you,” the note reads.

Dadu SSP Aijaz Ahmed Shaikh said that investigations have revealed that the student was being blackmailed

by Shaman Solangi and his family, who claimed that

cMYK

Asmat and Shaman had “secretly married each other”.

Shaikh said that the Solangi family had prepared a fake nikkahnama to take Asmat with them.

Immediately after the incident was reported, an FIR was registered against Faiz, his father Shaman Solangi, and three other people at the Sita road police station under sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 314 (whoever, with intent to cause harm to the body or mind of any person, causes the death of that or of any other person by means of a weapon or an act which in the ordinary course of nature is not likely to cause death) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Khalid Jameel Rajput, Asmat’s father, told the police that the suspects had been blackmailing her for a while now. The victim has deposited huge amounts of money in their accounts several times.

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Sunday, 23 January, 2022

06 COMMENT

Pakistan’s Complacency and the Taliban

Omicron on the rise Spread out of control, restrictions remain unimplemented

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LtHoUGH the PtI government can claim credit for having a relatively low death count and total national case load in comparison to most regional and FirstWorld countries, the results are not attributable to its implementation of covid-19 restrictions as that has been largely insufficient and ineffective. that Pakistan on Friday reported highest ever daily active Covid cases since the start of the pandemic not only substantiates the omicron variant’s increased virulence and contagiousness but also that the nCoC’s delay in placing restrictions has perhaps been too long.

While allowed attendances at schools, wedding, cinemas and sporting events and other large gathering have been halved, much of the effectiveness of this policy depends on the wearing of masks and maintaining social distance by the 50 percent who are in attendance. this may be possible in places where entry is regulated and can therefore be denied on the basis of one wearing a mask or not being able to produce proof of vaccination but it gets trickier when installations with no restriction to entry and exit is involved i.e. pretty much anyplace other than the ones mentioned above.

Mosques are of particular concern, but because of the sensitivity attached to the matter owing to serious backlash from the clergy whenever stricter restrictions are placed, the government treads carefully, issuing notifications of actions that are mostly not implementable. the nCoC has made it mandatory for individuals entering mosques to produce proof of full vaccination. Left up to the mosque’s administrations, it is highly unlikely that the directive is followed, which is most likely what is going to happen. one suggestion to get ahead of the spread, an afterthought at this point, is to start randomized testing in schools. What the nCoC aims to achieve with this is unclear as the virus is clearly spreading at a much faster rate than expected but another problem with testing is the fact that nearly 80 percent of the testing kits currently available in the country are substandard, providing accurate results in only 50percent of cases. It is as much the duty of the federal and provincial governments as it is the general population to dispense their civic duty by being mindful of how their carelessness may endanger the community they live in. Getting vaccinated, wearing masks and avoiding close contact is the sensible and responsible way forward. one hopes this is sufficiently done voluntarily before the government is forced to resort to punitive measures. Whether or not it can with an election year upon us is another matter altogether.

Syed Sarim Fatmi

“D

on’t worry, everything would be okay”; were the words of Pakistan’s former spy chief as he graciously held a saucer with a teacup resting on it. the statement was made just days after the taliban had marched into Kabul and the last US General had raced towards the final US plane bidding the allied force’s farewell to a country that had just put soil over another grave of an empire.

Around six months have passed since then, but are things really okay? I think the answer to this query is as obvious as India’s involvement in terror activities within Pakistan. Afghans are dying for bread with the state machinery and its finances imperceptible. Unfortunately, it is not only Afghanistan that is suffering but its immediate neighbour with which it shares a 1,640 miles long border is too, though not on humanitarian grounds but that of security. Lack of bread (that undoubtedly is a greater issue, that should be resolved through the restoration of aid) is replaced with growing radicalization and attacks in the case of Pakistan, especially by the ttP, with the most recent on 31st December that resulted in the martyrdom of four soldiers in northwest Pakistan.

High hopes, however, were attached with the taliban (owing to Pakistan’s unconditional support to them both during and especially after US’s and allied force’s presence in Afghanistan), all of which are seemingly shattered after the taliban’s refusal to decisively act against ttP and their implicit support for them that in return ensures ttP’s assistance in their fight against Daesh. their positioning is quite realistic considering their old linkages with some factions of ttP, and their exposure to enormous economic and societal challenges limiting them from opening another battle-front (where one already is open against Daesh). thus, it is in no way favourable for the taliban to religiously stand by Pakistan’s stance (of taking action against ttP), just as it was not for Pakistan (unintendedly or intendedly) to save the taliban regime and secure its ambassador in Pakistan from being taken to rot inside the in-famous Guantanamo Bay prison in 2002. So, it is not the taliban that has wronged Pakistan but the unreal expectations that Pakistan has.

As a state (less Bhutto’s era of non-alignment), Pakistan has rarely been able to delicately balance its relationships, barring the exception of the Middle East where Pakistan has done relatively well.

Since an absolutist stance is easier than balancing, requiring less effort, Pakistan usually is inclined towards the former (modeling its bureaucratic environments) as is visible today in its partnership with China at the cost of the USA. the PMin none of his (countless) interviews mentions the gross rights abuses against Muslims

Peasants and PTI’s agricultural policy The tractor trolley marches

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HE PPP brought out a big tractor trolley march in Larkana showing that the farmers were not as contented as the PtI government would have people believe. As the event took place in the PPP’s heartland and the procession was led by the Sindh CM, it was widely understood that the march was bound to be a big affair. However a considerable procession in okara with peasants in tractors and trollies protesting against the government’s agricultural policies came as a surprise to many. the processions by the rural community underlined the hollowness of the government’s claims of having devised peasant-friendly policies.

Promises were made by the federal government while presenting the FY 2021-22 budget to pay special attention to the agricultural sector. there was a belated realization that the exorbitant difference between farm prices and market prices needed to be reduced. For this commodity warehouses and cold storages were to be built and farm-to-market roads constructed to reduce the role of the middleman and help the peasant get the fruits of his labour and investment. Little headway was made in the direction after the passage of the budget.

In october 2021 Prime Minister Imran Khan introduced the Kisan Card which was supposed to act as a magic wand to 'transform' Pakistan. With the card the farmers could get fertilizer and seed on concessional prices. they could use the ‘Kisan Card’ on AtM machines to get instant cash. Due to the incompetence which has become the PtI government’s hallmark, Pakistan is short of fertilizer when the peasants need it most. the reason: most of the urea has been smuggled due to lack of vigilance on the part of the government. Instead of being available on concessional prices it is being sold in black market where the Kisan Card is not accepted. Fertiliser shortage, snd oil and power prices and costly inputs seem to have canceled the benefits provided by the government.

PPP’s tractor trolley marches were a warm-up exercise before its march on Islamabad, scheduled for February 27. this will be followed by the PDM’s march. the second phase of LB polls in KP and the Punjab LB polls will take place soon after. the PtI’s agricultural policy paid no dividends in the first phase of the KP L elections. Will it be any different in coming KP and Punjab LG elections?

Protectors of the Blue Economy of Pakistan Shah Fahad

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AKIStAn Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) hosted the annual BARRACUDA exercise in the north Arabian Sea. A total of 27 participants from 17 friendly countries were part of these drills. other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Climate Change, oil marketing companies, Pakistan navy, Army, and Air Force, Port Authorities, and Institute of oceanography were also part of these exercises. the basic objective of this drill was to effectively respond to oil spillage and search and rescue situations with other friendly nations. PMSA has been hosting BARRACUDA since 2007 annually to combat the threat of marine pollution.

Historically countries with coast belts thrived more than others because they had ports to host cargo ships. these cargo ships boosted trade activities and as a ripple effect acted as a catalyst for their economic well-being. Countries with no access to the sea were dependent on them. Even today, the ocean economy constitutes a large percentage of the overall GDP for many countries. For example in the USA, counties adjacent to the coast share around 40 percent of the national GDP. Internationally, oceans contribute nearly $1.5 trillion to the world’s economy. Since sea routes can handle a greater influx of trade than other means, they carry 90 percent of international trade.

However, these coastlines could face serious maritime pollution hazards among other security issues. therefore some laws govern these waters. For that purpose, the United nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UnCLoS) was signed in 1982, coming into force on 14 november 1994.

According to UnCLoS, a coastal nation has the

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Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

However, it also adds to the responsibilities of the government to ensure the implementation of marright to implement its laws on a coastal belt up to 12 itime laws. the PMSA is thus responsible for an area nautical miles (nM) from its baseline which is called almost a third of the country’s total area. It has also a territorial sea. then there is a belt 24 nM from the been given responsibility by the International Marbaseline called a Contiguous Zone, where a country itime organization (IMo) for search and rescue opcould exert limited control. the area from the base- erations up to 840 nM from its coastline. line up to 200 nM is called an Exclusive Economic to maintain law and order in such a wide area, Zone (EEZ), which is PMSA required area supwhere the coastal nation has port apart from patrol control over the economic boats and auxiliary ships. resources including oil and therefore, in June 1988, gas exploration and fishing. the first maritime surveilAn area extending further lance squadron was inauThe role of PMSA has now than 200 nM is known as gurated with F-27, and become more important than the Continental Shelf. A later on, Britten normanbefore due to the development country based on scientific Defender aircraft were infacts can file an extension ducted. activities on the coastal belt of in its Continental Shelf.

Apart from these acPakistan. The PSMA’s this lets the coastal nation tivities PMSA also plays a explore resources on or vital role in Pakistan’s blue professionalism is truly a under its continental shelf. economy. In particular, for matter of pride for the country After becoming part of most of the population livUnCLoS, the Government ing in the coastal areas, the of Pakistan acquired only source of income is 240,000 Sq. Km of its fisheries. Unfortunately, it coastal belt and formed the has an annual yield of Pakistan Maritime Security 600,000 metric tons and contributes a nominal perAgency (PMSA) in 1987. Parliament passed the centage to GDP. PMSA act in 1994 that empowered it with necessary this means the coastal belt is under-utilized but legal powers to implement maritime laws. the has a huge potential. thousands of fishing boats opPSMA’s basic purpose is to implement national and erate in EEZ but due to a lack of knowledge, they are international maritime laws, respond to events such prone to accidents in rough waters, natural hazards, as oil spillage, deep-sea search and rescue, prevent or technical faults. For that, PMSA uses a satelliteunauthorized exploitation of economic resources, based Vessel Monitoring System to monitor deep-sea fight against human trafficking, and sea pirates within fishing vessels in real time. the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and so on. Pakistan filed for an extension in the limits of its Continental Shelf and in 2015 it was further extended to 50,000 sq. km, upto 350 nM.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has a key role to play

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

with celebrating the victory of our Pashtun brothers.

We do have the luxury of hindsight today, yet, in Xinjiang, while he is quick to point towards Isonly if Pakistan was less enthusiastic and more relamophobia perpetrated in the West and strike one of the most “un-diplomatic” terms “absolutely not” alistic in August, the taliban would not have taken which portrays Pakistan’s assertive credence for Pakistan’s word lightly and some action (if not deChina. this positioning was uncovered further cisive) against the ttP for instance in the form of when Pakistan refused to join in on a democracy allowing Pakistan to covertly attack ttP would summit chaired by the USA (in which China was have been possible rather than the provisioning of uninvited) signaling Pakistan’s absolutist stance in apparent “good-offices” for negotiations that furfavour of China that mostly results in the kind of ther emboldened the ttP. the PM must also be more cautious about about despair received from the taliban recently! making over-simplistic Adam Grant, in his statements on internalatest book, think Again, tional and national televipoints to the most valusion which imply Pakistan able skills needed for an is on one camp over the individual’s survival in Diplomacy never works by other as they make the job today’s world; “learning, of his well-versed nSA, taking firm sides; “learning, unlearning and relearnMoeed Yusuf, harder ing”. Similar skills need unlearning, and relearning” when he in contrast purto be embedded within sues to portray Pakistan’s each day with changing Pakistan’s foreign policy “neutrality” which already process to break away contexts is the need of this implies partial Anton’s from the cycle of investsyndrome (of denying ing in one actor and subhour, a skillset Pakistan blindness with hard evisequently being dence indicating otherlacks as it is deeply caughtdisappointed (such as, in wise) in the light of the case of backing the up in obstinate patterns of Pakistan’s actions emptyUSA during the 1990s but ing his studio words. He the past. Thus, everything then despising them for cannot afford to be further abandoning it). was not supposed to be contradicted by his own Similar is the case of boss. the taliban today who are “okay” in September too, we Diplomacy never now walking away from works by taking firm shall see how “everything pledges made with Paksides; “learning, unlearnistan, portraying a patten unfolds” might have been a ing, and relearning” each in our foreign policymakday with changing conbetter expression. Yet ing and I fear (hoping I texts is the need of this am wrong) that China internally, I do hope hour, a skillset Pakistan might be next on the list lacks as it is deeply of unreliable allies after everything turns alright caught-up in obstinate the taliban. thus, Pakpatterns of the past. thus, which is only possible if istan’s foreign policy apeverything was not supproach is synonymous Pakistan becomes more posed to be “okay” in with those firefighters (in September too, we shall pragmatic in its approach Grant’s book) who died see how “everything unwhile carrying their safety folds” might have been a tools as they ran against better expression. Yet inthe rising forest fire to ternally, I do hope everysave themselves. only if thing turns alright which they would have taken those tools off, Grant contends, they would have been alive! But habits and is only possible if Pakistan becomes more pragself-identification (i.e., that of a firefighter with his matic in its approach. A Pakistani poet, Abbas safety tools) are hard to let go of even when they tabish, explains the dilemma better than I in the become toxic like Pakistan’s self-identification of following words: Ham hain sokhey hue taalab par baithey hue being friends with the taliban, or China, or for that hans; reason the US in the past.

Jo ta’luq ko nibhatey hoye maar jatey hain.

Yet, it is never too late, and I hope lessons are (We are those swans sitting on dried lakes, learned, and Pakistan’s policy approach turns more Who die in the pursuit of maintaining relapragmatic and less static in the aftermath of the taliban’s episode. Just like those safety tools, Pakistan tions). should have known when to break contact with the Thewriter can be reached out at sarimtaliban, for them to early realize the consequence fatmi1@gmail.com. of not listening, but we were seemingly occupied

Pakistan overestimated its influence

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COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Legacy of British Raj

The challenges Pakistan has overcome With key landmarks achieved, chartering new paths

raooF haSan “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change. At such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened, or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back.”

–Paulo Coelho

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HE history of Pakistan is replete with expected and unexpected challenges which have mostly been self-propelled, emanating from excessive selfishness of its succeeding leaderships. Even when one casts a cursory glance at the sequence of such challenges, one would be struck by their sheer monotony and frequency as also the fact that these were never tackled in a timely and pragmatic manner by trying to eliminate their causes. It was as if the dominating urge was to always push them under the rug and be removed from the work roster.

All this while, these outstanding challenges were feeding into cultivating beneficiary mafias which kept becoming more powerful as the pile of problems mounted further. they were the ones making profit out of the consequent situation. Instead of the state addressing these challenges to alleviate the sufferings of the impoverished people and provide them the much-needed relief, the lust of these marauding mafias kept increasing as they colluded with corrupt and heartless rulers to raise their empires of profit.

With time, this collusion became the overarching umbrella to not only provide protection to these wicked mafias, but ensure their continued growth and expansion at the expense of the state. Having accumulated power and influence, and forfeiting all pretence, the rulers moved on to assume the leadership of these mafias, thus incessantly nibbling away at the emaciated frame of the state and denuding people of their rights. the country was virtually taken over by this mafia conglomerate. With increasing and blatant support and rank patronage of the ruling elite, their grip kept tightening and their lust increasing. over the years, two mafia dons emerged which controlled the operation within this criminal world: the Sharifs and the Bhutto/Zardaris. to perpetuate and prolong their hold on the levers of power, they planted a network of criminals, right across the institutional expanse of the state, which pandered to their whims and fancies by becoming beneficiaries of an ever-expanding empire of crime and corruption. there were the legislators devoted solely to stuffing their coffers, a decrepit and compromised bureaucracy

which obliged the mafia dons skinning their own profits in the bargain, and an arrogant judiciary which literally split the institution of justice in two distinct sections: one catering to the rich and the powerful and the other to the poor and the marginalised communities. the nature of justice provided to the two would be commensurate with the benefits that the judiciary and its stalwarts would accrue in the matter from either. on top of it was the media which, both as a state-run outfit and private sector groups, helped the mafias by projecting their grievous misdeeds and financial crimes as exemplary achievements.

So, for these dons and their network of mafias, the state was virtually reduced to being a hostage in their sinister grip to promote the culture of crime and corruption. they thought they had it all done to enable their family fiefdoms to keep taking turns for denuding the state to perpetuity.

In the meanwhile, the nature, expanse and bite of the challenges kept becoming more daunting. that impacted all governance echelons, thus seriously jeopardising the growth of the state, at times its survival. It was such a huge pile of existential issues that one was scared of where to start the remedial process, and whether, given the host of mafias operating with their tentacles deeply dug in, one was even possible at all. the induction of Imran Khan as Prime Minister coincided with the state having been reduced to an all-encompassing and unprecedented low, in performance and promise.

But, as expected, the dons and their mafia syndicates immediately swung into action to question the legitimacy of the government with a litany of lies and abuse. It was now that their citadel of crime and corruption, which they had built by practising deceit and cunning over years, faced a tangible threat. they set out to address it in ways both malevolent and devious. they thought that they would be able to handle the challenge through their plants at every key position in the state institutions, most notably the bureaucracy. trucks of cash were offloaded to buy the loyalties of those about whom doubts lingered. Special attention was paid to the media and its operators because they were the ones who would market the fallacious narrative of the opposition to create an anarchic situation and facilitate their passage back into the annals of power.

What they did not realise was that they were confronted with a person who had a reservoir of indomitable courage and insurmountable conviction. He was determined to put things right irrespective of the nature and immensity of the challenges that he faced. After some initial tremors, Prime Minister Khan has been gradually able to steer the ship out of turbulent waters and put it on course to the coveted destination: an economically stable, caring, beneficent, progressive and prosperous Pakistan.

In spite of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic which has put countries back by years, Pakistan has been cruising as is reflected in the latest growth figures made public. the GDP growth rate for the financial year 2021 has been revised to 5.37 percent (up from 3.94 percent) and the size of the economy rose to $346 billion from the previous $296 billion. on account of the agricultural transformation plan, the sector grew at 8.3 percent while the industrial sector grew by 11.95 percent and the services sector by 12.5 percent. Per capita income in dollar terms increased from previous $1,543 to $1,666. Fiscal deficit reduced to 6.1 percent while debt to GDP to 7.3 percent. then there is the health card and

the ever-expanding welfare programmes under the Ehsaas banner which focus on providing relief and opportunities to the most deserving communities in the country. the government’s performance has been recognised at the international level by institutions like the World Bank, Bloomberg and the Economist. In its latest normalcy index, the Economist has listed Pakistan at number 2 where “commercial, recreational and traffic activities have gone back to normal”, thus reflecting effective management of covid-19 by far. And most importantly, in spite of the challenges, there is growing hope in the health of the economy which is projected to gradually wade out of troubled waters. this is neither the performance of an inefficient government nor that of one without a clear vision for progress and growth. By the dint of sheer courage, commitment and resolve, a host of impediments, both natural and the ones created by an opposition desperate to see the back of the government, have been overcome. their frustration will grow further with time as will the government’s confidence and determination to keep pushing Pakistan up on the curve of progress and development to bring relief to its people, most importantly to the impoverished and marginalised communities.

Because of pursuing an independent foreign policy dedicated to restore Pakistan’s sovereignty and stature, there are challenges in the international arena also. We have faced them with courage and perseverance making sure that national interests would not be compromised under any circumstances. our relations with China remain on an upward trajectory while our relations with Russia are fast improving. We remain desirous of expanding our historical relations with the USA. We are further cementing our relations with the European Union and the UK. Special focus is also placed on improving our relations with the African countries. things in Afghanistan seem to be settling down gradually bringing peace to our western border. there are certain nibbling issues which need to be settled particularly with regard to the continued presence of the ttP in Afghanistan. Efforts are afoot to tackle this in the best security interests of Pakistan.

We have come far, yet there are miles to go. the chapter of comprehensive systemic reform is pending owing to the lack of numbers in Parliament. necessary amendments in the statute book need to be incorporated to make the system more functional and transparent. the government has requested the opposition to support it in the key effort for implementing the desired reform which will be to the benefit of all. the initial response, as expected, has been in the negative which is exceedingly disconcerting. the opposition appears reluctant to concede the advantage to the government even in matters which are of national importance. Petty and jaundiced politics come in the way.

Pakistan is rising. Pakistan is growing. the challenges are being successfully addressed.

With key landmarks achieved, new paths are being chartered. the country moves on. What remains is the daunting task of implementing an ambitious reform agenda for inducting equity, equality and transparency in the functioning of the state institutions for ensuring betterment of people across all divides.

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

Twitter: @RaoofHasan

tHE recent judgment made by the Islamabad High Court to protect and preserve the sanctity of land by halting construction at the Margalla Hills national Park was long overdue, given the tendency of powerful land mafias to illegally occupy land. When state funded institutions indulge in such irregularities, the trust and confidence of the people are likely to be compromised. All this can be avoided if principles such as “conflict of interest” are upheld and the Constitution reigns supreme. the British colonial occupation used state lands and titles to buy the loyalties of the natives and forcefully took over the lands and properties of those who dared to defy them. In 1943, the Raj invoked the Defense of India Rules to dispossess Muhammad Ali Jinnah of his house, as the Viceroy of the time did not want Jinnah to be more actively involved in Punjab politics. British officers could not dare to take over state lands in the UK, where the writ of the law prevails and no man or institution can even think of defying the law. this could only be done by their occupational force in their colonies. It is unfortunate that even after seven decades of independence, the Constitution is being flagrantly defied by a handful of people blinded by greed and wealth.

When the writ of the law and supremacy of the Constitution becomes slave to the whims of powerful groups, criminal elements and extremists emerge and start using threats and intimidation to defy the majesty of the law. Such states become sanctuary to criminals of all shades and thus national sovereignty and security is compromised.

Malik Tariq ali lahorE

Excessive phone use YES, we have to admit that life without mobile phones will be difficult, considering our dependence on it. But no matter how useful it might be, we cannot ignore the underlying negative effects that cellphones can have on the mind and body. nomophobia is a proposed name for a phobia of not having your cellphone with you. About 50% of teenagers admit being addicted to their phones. they claim that they very quickly become anxious if their phones are not with them. the average person checks his/her phone once every 12 minutes — which means that he/she is picking up his phone approximately 80 times a day. In many instances, people become so addicted that checking their phone without a reason becomes a regular habit. Even when people are not using their phones, you might see them fidgeting with it.

Studies show that such mobile addiction is often linked to cases of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. With the rage of social media, teenagers are becoming more and more obsessed with likes and comments on their posts, which has reduced their daily physical interactions, in turn leading to loneliness and anxiety. haMMal Zahid kolahoo

Voltaire’s enlightenment tHERE have been a lot of philosophers in the history of western philosophy who became the epitome of intelligence and whose words flowed like a river of jewels. nonetheless, no one reached the calibre of Voltaire. He was born in France and his philosophical thoughts paved the way for the great French revolution in 1789 which, nevertheless, laid the foundation of modern fundamental rights of man. His personality was an amalgamation of sophistication and extravagance. once, he said for his contemporary philosopher Rousseau, “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say till my death.” His statement speaks volumes of his advocacy for liberalism in religion and politics. He separated church from state and unintentionally gave birth to western secularism which resultantly created a spark of conflict between him and the religious authorities of that time. this pragmatic philosopher doubted the existence of God on one hand and necessitated it for social harmony on the other hand. He writes in his “Dialogue on Metaphysics” that there are many difficulties in accepting that God is present but this rejection can shackle the roots of society. He also writes in a letter to his friend Friedrich, “the concept of God should be retained; human society needs it. If God isn’t there, it needs to be created.” His intelligence can be gauged from the words of Rousseau, “If it comes to the capabilities of Voltaire, a whole life can be spent in his feet.” His sharpness earned him the luxuries of life and the supporters for whom he once said, “May God defend me from my friends. I can defend myself from my enemies.” When he became old and returned to his homeland after the exile, a young boy came to kiss his forehead to which he replied, “Life seems to be kissing the face of death. on his burial, the people were shouting, “Voltaire showed us a way to freedom.” His enlightened thoughts urged the people to stand up for their rights and fight against injustice. His stand on liberty and civil rights altered the socio-politico-cultural conditions of that time irreversibly. At the time of the French Revolution, Louis XVI said, “Voltaire and Rousseau destroyed France.” aWaiS ahMEd, lahorE

Driving license test tHERE are three driving license branches operating in metropolis and online pre-appointment services are offered for getting driving license. After getting online appointment a person has to visit his selected branch with original CnIC. If a person is already holding leaner driving license, he is supposed to be issued permanent driving license after going through MCQs online test which is consisted of 25 questions out of which 18 answers must have to be correct to proceed further i.e. physical driving test. there is no chance of tampering this online MCQs test as applicant tick the correct answer by himself in 20 minutes time and submit the same as he completes the test. Result is shown as the submission is made. this test is about meaning of different traffic signs. the ultimate test is the physical driving test.

A person is asked to park his vehicle in a square open from one side only, by reversing the vehicle without touching the obstacles in 10 minutes time approximately. this test is hardly passed by anyone as the size of the square is quite narrow according to the vehicle. If anyone somehow succeeds to park the vehicle successfully, different objections are raised by traffic police personnel present there to witness the test such as the vehicle is not parked straight in direction or not at the distance of one kilometre away from the left side obstacles.

FaiSal aNSar, karaChi

08 WORLD VIEW 23 January 2022_Layout 1 22/01/2022 9:43 pm Page 1

Sunday, 23 January, 2022

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WORLD VIEW

AfghAnistAn And the new tAlibAn THE ONLY CASE THAT MAY BE FEASIBLE FOR AFGHANISTAN IS IF WASHINGTON INCUBATES A NEW POLITICAL ELITE FROM THE AFGHAN EXPATRIATES WHO CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE WEST, TO REPLACE THE TALIBAN. THIS CAN BE DONE BY PROVIDING EXTENDED ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS IN IVY LEAGUE INSTITUTIONS THAT WILL PRODUCE A NEW GENERATION OF AFGHANS Cairo review of GloBal affairs

A

Spyridon litSaS

FgHAnistAn under the taliban may teeter under the brink of a systematic collapse. onlookers question how the taliban’s strict interpretation of islamic law will be imposed on Afghan citizens and what the repercussions of the taliban’s rule will be on the regional balance of power. in the near future, the United states and other Western countries may be tempted to support the new taliban regime in Kabul because it has positioned itself as a grassroots organization with extensive support across Afghanistan and a safer alternative to the islamic state—Khorasan Province, a newly formed local branch of isis. However, such an entente between the United states and the taliban would be detrimental to American and Western prestige worldwide. the taliban’s rule over Afghanistan is set to push back social advances—especially those of women— across the country. Moreover, the ways in which the taliban is currently governing the country are ultimately unsustainable. should the country fall into a civil war, it would be divided among separate warring militias. the next decisions leaders in Washington and other european capitals make regarding Afghanistan will be fundamental to maintaining the West’s role and influence in the modern world order. if Washington were to improve relations with the taliban, as it may need to in order to combat a rising insurgency in the country, the international community would view the United states as going back on its earlier stance against a regime that harbored one of America’s biggest enemies, osama Bin Laden.

SOCIETY AND ECONOMY in the first hours after the taliban seized power in Kabul, the banking sector froze thousands of citizens’ assets. this was expected since the foreign reserves ($9 billion) of the Da Afghanistan Bank, the country’s Central Bank, most of which is held in the United states, were already frozen due to the political developments. in addition, Western powers such as germany followed the Americans’ lead and suspended their foreign aid. the international Monetary Fund and the World Bank followed suit. the result of this financial collapse was an exodus of Afghans seeking to avoid taliban control. this new Afghan brain-drain has been the result of the taliban’s return. in addition, while schools and universities are now open for all male students, only in some provinces in the north—where the role of women has been more elevated than in the more conservative south—are female students over the age of 12 allowed to continue their education. According to the taliban’s interpretation of islam, a woman is forbidden to go outside of her home without being escorted by a close male relative. this precondition hurts a woman’s chances to pursue education and a career. if these conditions continue, the taliban may be establishing a new apartheid state against women. the lack of economic progress in the country coupled with distrust from international markets has produced a gloomy prospect for all Afghans. soon, Western states will have to make a consensus decision on whether

or not to aid Afghanistan economically so as to avoid a humanitarian disaster, despite human rights violations by the taliban.

THE SECURITY GAP now that the taliban are in Kabul, the continuous ties between the taliban and Al-Qaeda can advance to a higher level, closer to that of the years leading up to september 11, 2001. it comes as no surprise that in celebration of the taliban’s return to power, Al-Qaeda released a statement that “the way of Jihad is the only way that leads to victory”.

Despite the United states and nAto’s systematic military efforts, Al-Qaeda has managed to survive on the Afghan-Pakistani border over the past twenty years. Many reasons have contributed to this. First, AlQaeda’s elastic structure differs from the rigid hierarchy of the islamic state. it was much easier for Al-Qaeda to exist in hiding from U.s. forces, with a small number of units rarely in contact with each other and scattered across Afghanistan and Pakistan’s mountainous provinces. Unlike the islamic state, Al-Qaeda never tried to establish a capital or solidify its actions through a centralized network that would have made its fighters much easier to trace. second, Al Qaeda’s resilience can be traced to the organization’s support of the Pashtun tribes along the Afghan-Pakistani border. Due to the topography of the Pashtun land—remote and not easily accessible due to the high mountains surrounding it—nAto forces proved unqualified to control the region efficiently. the majority of the nAto troops that were stationed in Afghanistan were not trained in mountain operations, offering a military advantage to the insurgents to seek safe shelters in the remote mountain areas of Hindu Kush and beyond. this circumstance enabled both the taliban and Al-Qaeda to move freely and undetected over a large expanse of terrain, triggering off one of the oldest stratagems in guerilla warfare: waiting for the other side to collapse without committing to an open confrontation. this indirect approach was assisted by the continuous material support of local warlords. today, the islamic state—Khorasan Province (isKP) has begun to challenge, both militarily and ideologically, the taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. the isKP was formed in 2014 by taliban and Al-Qaeda members who defected to the islamic state. isKP has turned against the new regime in Kabul for ideological reasons and is responsible presently for various attacks in Afghanistan and the wider region. the Kabul Airport Attack in late August resulting in 182 dead, among them thirteen U.s. soldiers, and 150 injured was the first isKP strike but it has been followed by a rash of killings in the country, including in the northern shia provinces. in these attacks, isKP openly targeted Al-Qaeda and the taliban, accusing both of being apostates of the global islamic Caliphate. importantly, despite isKP killings and targeting of the taliban, it maintains open communication with the Haqqani network, an influential faction inside the taliban.

FAILED STATE over the past four months, the situation in Afghanistan has devolved and seems to be trending toward full-blown political chaos. Already, military and political in-fighting has taken hold. For example, the taliban have been implementing systematic purges against

citizens and military officers of the pre-August political status quo. Meanwhile, the isKP has been leading attacks against the taliban, Al-Qaeda, and shia groups. in turn, various shia groups in the north, such as the Fatemiyoun Brigade, have armed themselves and moved against the isKP. this affords iran an opportunity, or alternatively a good excuse, to expand its influence in the shia provinces of north Afghanistan, by claiming that it is sending armed forces to prevent a humanitarian disaster and protect the shia Hazara minority.

Within the taliban itself, the probability of a clash between its strongest factions— the Yaqoob and Haqqani networks—is always strong. the Yaqoob faction is under the leadership of Mohammad Yaqoob, the current minister of defence in Afghanistan and the son of the taliban founder, Mullah Mohammed omar.

Yaqoob, 31, is young and ambitious, and popular among the taliban supporters due to his father. this makes Yaqoob an open challenger for the current taliban leadership. the Haqqani faction, meanwhile, is the personal vehicle of the interior minister, sirajuddin Haqqani. it is currently one of the most powerful political factions inside the taliban, mainly due to the fact that the Haqqanis gained notoriety from violent attacks they made against nAto/U.s. forces and their Afghan allies. each of those factions strove to monopolize control over Afghanistan for their own. Meanwhile, both Mohammad Yaqoob and sirajuddin Haqqani aspire to be the future heads of the state in the near future, openly challenging each other and the current taliban government.

A civil conflict within the taliban can intensify the already violent antagonism between Al-Qaeda and isKP, which may create grounds for intervention by external forces. iran’s multidimensional engagement in the Herat province under the pretext of protecting the shia communities reveals how things may develop in the coming period if outside powers become active within Afghanistan.

Moreover, as stated earlier, the country is experiencing a paralyzing brain drain with thousands of well-educated young people searching for new lives abroad. this is a condition that will only worsen as unemployment rises and Afghanistan faces an economic meltdown. Failures may also emerge as a result of the rapid decrease in the Afghan people’s living standards or as a consequence of the taliban’s negligence in establishing an effective governing system able to manage megascale crises such as the CoViD-19 pandemic.

TAKING THE ROAD NOT TAKEN if Afghanistan and the new taliban regime cannot deal with the country’s mounting problems, then the United states and nAto will be faced with the following two options. the first option will be to turn a blind eye to what is happening in Afghanistan and allow the country to devolve into a hub of radicalism and chaos in the heart of Central Asia. the second will be to help the taliban defeat isKP by granting the regime financial and/or military aid. in the first scenario, Afghanistan will descend into a bloody multi-militia civil war. in this scenario, security in neighboring states will be greatly affected. in the second scenario, the United states and other Western powers will actually support the taliban. the logic around this, for outside observers, will be a realpolitik approach to the facts on the ground. supporters of this second op-

tion will posit that it is better to support a former enemy, the taliban, instead of giving Afghanistan over to the isKP. However, in either case, the United states’ prestige will be severely damaged. Doing nothing looks bad and yet supporting a rogue regime that was once allied with osama Bin Laden and that has killed thousands of Americans on 9/11 looks even worse. in addition, it would be almost suicidal for Washington to allow Beijing, Moscow or teheran to esablish their presence in Afghanistan and develop their own policies by taking advantage of the changing societal conditions—conditions that today only exist in part before of projects funded by the money of the American tax-payers for two decades now.

Last but not least, the United states is already on the receiving end of the results of their chaotic disengagement from Afghanistan. Many close allies openly accuse Washington of failing to notify them prior to the evacuation of the U.s. Marines from Kabul, while others are taking this disengagement process as sound proof that the so-called “American century” is over. this is causing various western capitals to be more spontaneous, or adventurous, in their diplomatic relations with russia or China. Although disengagement will generate various economic and political gains domestically for the American government, it will create diplomatic mislayings as well. the only case that may be feasible for Afghanistan is if Washington incubates a new political elite from the Afghan expatriates who currently live in the West, to replace the taliban. this can be done by providing extended academic scholarships in ivy League institutions that will produce a new generation of Afghans, who will be raised abroad and have the intellectual capacity to bring new winds of change when the time is appropriate. in order to gain grassroots support for these foreignborn Afghan leaders, it will be vital for the United states and Western allies to establish “Free Afghan” tV and radio stations. these stations will give airtime to prominent Afghan anti-taliban figures, who can provide a counter-narrative to taliban ideology. in order to connect with young Afghans, it will also be necessary to fund Afghan social media and Youtube podcasts. For a more immediate approach, the United states must show to the taliban regime that it is under close surveillance and that its actions will have negative consequences at a diplomatic level. in reality, American disengagement is not the end of the crisis that started immediately after 9/11 but rather the beginning of a new crisis that is currently affecting Afghanistan and the wider region. it would not be surprising, then, to witness the unthinkable, that is, foreign aid to the taliban to eradicate the rise of the isKP ultra-radicals who are challenging the mainstream radicals, the taliban and Al-Qaeda. However, if Western powers give such aid, it ultimately will be destructive for the country and surrounding states. Any offer from Washington to the taliban will strengthen the regime in the public eye, while it will also send the wrong message to other radical groups worldwide that the United states is adopting a new diplomatic approach that is flexible with rogue elements that exert blind violence. in order to maintain American and Western engagement in Central Asia and the wider world, it will be necessary for Western leaders to take robert Frost’s proverbial “road not taken”. instead of sitting in quietude and doing nothing, as Frost writes, or supporting a sworn enemy, the United states and its allies must bring their considerable intellectual, military, and media apparatus to the fore to combat not just the taliban and Al-Qaeda but also isKP; that way, succeeding generations in Afghanistan and the wider region can live in security and safety.

Spyridon Litsas is a Professor in Homeland Security at Rabdan Academy, UAE and Professor of International Relations Theory at the University of Macedonia, Greece. He has taught in the Supreme College of War of the Hellenic Armed Forces and in Sciences Po at the University of Grenoble, France. Among others, he is the author of US Foreign Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean: Power Politics and Ideology Under the Sun.

Members of Congress shouldn’t be trading stocks Boston GloBe

R

Editorial Board

estoring faith in government is an enormous task.

Here’s a good way to start: erect some basic barriers to crookery in Congress. Lawmakers are privy to all sorts of information that can move financial markets. And they have enormous sway over the economy. And yet, they are still allowed to trade individual stocks. that makes it far too easy for members to abuse their power for their own enrichment — or, almost as bad, to leave the impression that they are doing so. new legislation from Democratic senators Jon ossoff of georgia and Mark Kelly of Arizona would put an end to that, requiring members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children to divest securities and certain other investments or move them into blind trusts. Vanilla investments like diversified mutual funds and treasury bills would not be affected.

AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, SEVERAL SENATORS, THEIR SPOUSES, OR THEIR INVESTMENT ADVISERS DUMPED STOCK AFTER LAWMAKERS ATTENDED PRIVATE BRIEFINGS ON COVID-19 “there’s a lot of influence that people have and access to a lot of information, and there should be a lot of responsibility that goes with that,” Kelly told the Wall street Journal. if the policy case for passing the legislation is clear, so is the political case.

A December poll commissioned by the conservative advocacy group Convention of states Action found that three-quarters of voters — including overwhelming majorities of Democrats, republicans, and independents — believe lawmakers and their spouses have an “unfair advantage” in the stock market. A January poll from the progressive firm Data for Progress found twothirds of voters think lawmakers should be banned from trading stocks. that kind of public support should make the ossoff-Kelly legislation a slam dunk for

Democratic congressional leaders, who have seen much of their agenda stall in recent months and are in desperate need of some wins before the midterm elections this fall.

But, apparently, it hasn’t.

House speaker nancy Pelosi, whose husband frequently trades stocks, says she is opposed to investment restrictions on lawmakers. “We’re a free-market economy,” she told reporters. “they should be able to participate in that.”

But owning stock and actively trading it are two different matters, and no one is saying that a lawmaker can’t trade after leaving office if they want to put free-market participation above public service. if Democrats fail to move, they could cede the high ground on this issue to an ethically bankrupt goP. House minority leader

Kevin McCarthy says he may support the push to ban lawmakers from trading stocks if republicans win control of the narrowly divided chamber in november.

Critics of the new legislation point out that it’s already illegal for members of Congress to trade on insider information under a law known as the stop trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012. But that measure, which also requires disclosure of stock market moves within 45 days, hasn’t done enough to buttress public confidence in Congress. And it’s difficult to enforce because it’s harder to prove that a decision to buy or sell a stock is made based on a given piece of information than it is simply to ban active trading.

At the onset of the pandemic, several senators, their spouses, or their investment

advisers dumped stock after lawmakers attended private briefings on CoViD-19. some of the sales helped officials avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses when the virus battered the stock market. Lawmakers insisted they hadn’t made use of insider information. And they claimed vindication when the Federal Bureau of investigation closed their cases.

But even when these kinds of cases aren’t prosecuted, they can still shake public confidence. And ultimately, public confidence is what matters most here. trust in government is at worrisome lows.

We have seen, all too vividly these past few years, what that can do to a democracy. so when lawmakers have an opportunity to restore a bit of faith in Washington, they should seize it.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

corporate corner PM’s aide joins Islamabad Master Plan Commission ISLAMABAD: Meeting of Islamabad Master Plan Commission held on Friday under the chairmanship of chairman CDA at CDA Headquarters. The meeting was attended by members of the commission. Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for CDA Affairs, also attended the meeting. It was decided that the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for CDA Affairs would be a permanent member of the Islamabad Master Plan Commission from now on. Chairman CDA and members of the commission welcomed Ali Nawaz Awan.

CDA management presented traffic management system and traffic management plan in Islamabad. Briefing the commission, it was informed that under the smart traffic management system, non-motorized transport would be promoted in the city. Under this plan cycling lenses would be provided along all the highways to make Islamabad a cycling and pedestrian friendly city. Walkways will be completed and crossings along highways will be marked in addition to elimination of encroachments from road sides. In addition to ensuring the installation of road furniture on all roads, places will be marked on all highways for road signs for pedestrians. A consultant for smart traffic management system is also being engaged under PC-2. Giving further briefing to the commission, it was informed that the use of carpool and public transport service would be promoted under smart traffic management system. In this connection congestion charges would also be charged. The meeting was further informed that parking plazas would be constructed at six different locations in Islamabad to eliminate parking issue from the city. In this context, two parking plazas will be constructed in blue area and one parking plaza will be constructed respectively in F-8 Markaz, F-10 Markaz, G-9 Markaz and in I-8 Markaz for which sites have been allotted. Construction of one parking plaza in Blue Area has been started while construction of remaining five parking plazas will be started soon. After the construction of these parking plazas, roadside parking will be discouraged and fines will be imposed. In addition, parking areas in the city will be allocated to further improve the parking system. In this regard, parking zones and parking policy will be formulated. In addition, an efficient parking system and culture will be promoted in Islamabad. Briefing the commission, it was informed that under the mass transit system, the metro bus service to the new Islamabad International Airport will be made operational by March 23, 2022. It was also informed that work on Islamabad bus service has also been started and in the pilot phase, the on three routes i.e "Sawn Interchange to Faisal Masjid", "Bhara Kahu to Faiz Ahmed Faiz Metro Station" and "Tarnol Railway Station to N5 Metro Bus Station". The traffic management system will be finalized after the experts’ feedback. pr

NHA mobilises machinery to clear Murree roads of snow

KP lAUNCHES PAyPlUS ACCOUNt fOr All GOvt EMPlOyEES PESHAWAR

K

aziz Buneri

HYBER Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government Saturday launched PayPlus Current Account to help facilitate its employees in drawing their salaries in advance.

Under the PayPlus Current Ac-

count, launched in collaboration with Bank of Khyber, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government employees will be able to withdraw half of their salary in advance without any interest.

A letter issued by the Finance Department to all government departments also said that Bank of Khyber has launched Plus Current Account for the government employees of the province

under which in case of accidental death of the account holder, his family will be provided three salaries will be released Under the Pay Plus Current Account, the KP government employees can withdraw markup-free advance half Salary in advance. The Current Account Users will have the facility to submit tax returns through BOK. They will be provided free debit

Pakistan Navy Ship Tabuk Visits Bahrain during Regional Maritime Security Patrols

card, free check book, free unlimited online transactions (within the bank) free account statement, unlimited free SMS alerts, Free mobile app and there will be no initial deposit restrictions.

Similarly, the KP government employees will also be provided easy loans will and support in purchase of car, motorbike and transfer of house to solar energy.

AIOU announces results of BA,BS,B.Ed. programs ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University(AIOU) has announced results of various academic programs offered in Spring 2021 semester. These programs include BA, BA Associate dree, BS, and B.Ed. Students can check their results online by visiting AIOU website. According to Examination Department students can view their result by pressing "view grade" and then "my grade" option after clicking on exam and grade tile under CMS. The university has informed all the desiring candidates for admission in the first stage of Spring 2022 semester that admissions forms and prospectus of all the programmes are availabe at the University's website. Last date for admissions of Matric, FA and I.Com programs has been set as February 22 whereas admission forms of BS, M.Sc, MS/M.Phill and Ph.D will be submitted online till14 February, 2022. pr

ISLAMABAD pr

Pakistan Navy Ship TABUK visited Manama, Bahrain during Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP). Upon arrival at Mina Salman port, PN Ship was received by Ambassador of Pakistan HE Mr Muhammad Ayub along with Commander Combined Task Force 150 Cdre Vaqar Muhammad, Naval & Air Attaché of Pakistan at KSA and officials from Pakistan & Bahrain Naval forces.

During stay at port, Commanding Officer PNS TABUK Captain Muhammad Umair called on Commander Royal Bahrain Naval Forces (RBNF) Rear Admi-

ral Muhammad Yousif Al Asam, Acting Commander Bahrain Coast Guard Brigadier Hamad Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Deputy Commander Bahrain Coast Guard Brigadier Jasim Mohamed Al Gatam. During the meetings, matters of mutual interests and cooperation were discussed.

Commanding Officer highlighted Pakistan's efforts in promoting peace and security in the region and PN's firm resolve to deal with emerging challenges in maritime domain. He also highlighted the significance of Kashmir issue and its settlement in accordance with UNSC resolution for ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.

Commanding Officer PNS

TABUK also conveyed sincere regards from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of Bahrain and Royal Bahrain Naval Forces. The Commanding Officer PNS TABUK also called on Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Force Cdre Aldrain Fryer (UK), Captain Brendon Clarke (New Zealand) outgoing CCTF 150 and Captain Mohammed Ismail Al Tarawnch (Jordan) CCTF 151.

Pakistan Navy believes in promoting peace and is committed to maritime security and order at sea. The port visit will contribute in strengthening the bilateral ties and further enhance interoperability between both navies.

Google Doodle honours Perween Rahman on 65th birth anniversary ISLAMABAD: In the light of the heavy forecast of Snow at Murree this evening, a detailed visit has been carried out by NHA senior officers along with concerned staff members to monitor the emergency preparedness at site. According to the arrangement at site, two front blade loaders, one front blade dumper, one 640 hp tractor and two 4×4 jeeps. 10 Tons of sprinkling salt is stocked. Snow clearing machinery along with an adequate staff of NHMP and NHA present at KM 54 to cope with the situation. NHA staff and snow clearing machinery is mobilized for clearance of snow. pr

09

KARACHI staff report

Google Doodle on Saturday honoured Pakistani social activist, architect, and urban planner Perween Rahman on her 65th birth anniversary.

Rahman, according to a statement by Google, devoted her life to uplifting marginalised communities.

Perween Rahman was born on Jan 22, 1957 in Dhaka, Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and relocated with her family to Karachi in 1971. She studied architecture and went on to earn her master’s in hous-

ing, building, and urban planning from the Institute of Housing Studies in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Rahman’s personal experiences of displacement inspired her to pursue a career advocating for housing security, and in 1982, she began working as an unpaid intern for the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP).

This organization focused on sanitation, housing, and healthcare in Orangi Town on the outskirts of Karachi, one of the world’s largest informal settlements. Here, many residents could not rely on legal protection to maintain rights to their homes and were frequently evicted for construction projects.

Electricity generation hits record 136,572GWh

Electricity generation in Pakistan hit a record high of 136,572 gigawatt-hours in 2021, in turn reducing the burden of capacity payments on electricity producers, reported Express Tribune.

However, on the downside, cost of power production increased by 72.4 per cent to Rs8.24 per unit (kilowatt-hour) in December, 2021.

According to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) energy production increased by 10.6 per cent to 136,572 GWh in the year ended December 2021 compared to 123,447 GWh last year. According to reports, lower tariff on consumption of additional electricity during the current winter months compared to the same period of previous year has also resulted in an increase in power consumption. Moreover, Pakistani businesses and factories have also jacked up their production activities, which in turn led to higher electricity consumption. The increase in production and economic activity is also reflected in the revised economic growth rate of 5.4 per cent for the preceding fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2021, compared to the provisional growth rate of 4 per cent. Monitoring report

German embassy puts on display photographs revealing forms, patterns and structures of science ISLAMABAD ppi

An exhibition featuring spectacular photographs revealing the forms, patterns and structures of science went on display recently at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The German Embassy in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) organized the exhibition, which will conclude on January 23.

The 22 large-format photographs featured at the show titled Images of Science have been captured on camera

using both conventional and modern techniques by several scientists including Dr Asifa Akhtar, a native of Karachi, and the director at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigentics. heart measures only half a millimetre and consists of just one atrium and one ventricle.

A detailed explanation of context and study accompanied each of the photographs, giving visitors insight into what they were seeing whether it was plasma and magnetic movements or atoms. With Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place, the exhibition is open to visitors till Jan 23.

Providing a glimpse into the universe, the Portrait of a Black Hole is the result of a worldwide collaboration to photograph a black hole, where scientists combined eight high-resolution radio telescopes to form the virtual event horizon telescope. Signals from the individual antennas were used to calculate the image of a particularly supermassive black hole in the centre of M-87, a giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster.

Keeping the pandemic in mind, three images related to biology and medicine also stood out.

The Spikes of the Crown shows characteristic protein structures that the

coronavirus has become known for. The image shows that the stalk of the spike structure is surprisingly flexible. Caught in the Net shows the Shigella bacteria being caught in a net cast by neutrophils or the white blood corpuscles that are central to our immune system. The Immune System at Work shows a white blood corpuscle in the process of disarming tuberculosis bacteria.

Photographs, depicting iridescent feathers threatened by insects to a mosaic of Neptune on a shell from the Fonte Doria in Genoa were juxtaposed with studies of powdery mildew forming a filamentous network.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LFK iSSUeS doSSier on extra-jUdiCiaL KiLLingS in iiojK IsLAMABAD

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News Desk

AMBASTING Indian authorities for a staged encounter of a teenager in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Poonch sector, the Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK) has launched a comprehensive dossier on Zia Mustafa’s extra-judicial execution.

To highlight the ongoing situation in IIOJK, the LFK on Friday organised a roundtable debate titled “Investigation War Crime Cases in IIOJK” at a local hotel.

According to the dossier, 15-year-old Zia Mustafa from AJK’s Rawalakot inadvertently crossed the Line of Control on January 13 in 2003 and was arrested by Indian occupying forces. The family members of Zia lodged a missing report at a local police station. The army and IIOJK police led by the then Director General of Police A K Suri gave a joint press conference to the Indian media on April 11, 2003, projecting and presenting Zia as a foreign militant, allegedly involved in so-called terror incidents.

However, the dossier reports that Zia was a minor when he crossed the border unknowingly and later, was falsely implicated as a militant by the Indian forces and agencies.

The report further states that the trial court in Shopian, Kashmir framed charges against Zia under Sections 302, 120b, 450, 395, of IPC; 7/27 PACT; 2/3 IMCO. However, the state out of prosecution witnesses failed to produce a single piece of evidence

US Commission lists Khurram Parvez, Siddique Kappan as freedom of religion victims wAsHINGTON News Desk

Washington-based Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has welcomed the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s decision to list Kashmiri human rights defender, Khurram Parvez, and Indian journalist, Siddique Kappan, on the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List. The FoRB list is a database of persons imprisoned or detained in a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The IAMC in a statement said, coming as it does at a time when human rights violations, including custodial killings, are rampant in India, the timely move will go a long towards engaging the government in ensuring safety of the victims and securing their freedom. This may work as India is a Country of Particular Concern, which USCIRF defines as a country that has engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom, it said. India has been recommended as a CPC for two years in a row by the UNSCIRF. Khurram Parvez, who was arrested in November 2021 is a world renowned human rights defender from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He is the coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), an organisation that has repeatedly criticised the human rights abuses committed by Indian troops in the occupied territory. Parvez has played an active role in documenting gross human rights abuses by Indian forces in IIOJK especially those perpetrated after the revocation of the special status of the territory in late 2019 by the Indian government.

against Zia. Accordingly, the court closed the prosecution evidence. The State of IIOJK filed a criminal appeal before the IIOJK high court, which was termed meritless and dismissed by the court.

The state again approached the Supreme Court of India and filed a criminal appeal 39899/2018.

Zia’s lawyer Mubashir Gattoo while talking to local media said Zia, who had

been under trial for 17 years was facing a case before the session’s court but there was no evidence for his conviction.

The dossier highlights the extra-judicial execution of an undertrial prisoner who was in judicial custody when the joint-counter insurgent group including the Indian army without following the mandate of law took Zia outside the jail and killed him in a staged encounter.

The dossier also reveals the important documents showing Zia as a minor boy at the date of his arrest. Moreover, the prisoners’ list exchanged by the foreign offices listed Zia as an undertrial prisoner. It highlights the 111 fake encounters and the alleged perpetrators involved in the war crimes committed by the Indian army.

The LFK held a roundtable debate inviting law experts and key stakeholders on the ‘universal jurisdiction case submitted before the metropolitan war crime unit in the United Kingdom.

The experts hailed the efforts of the Stoke White Investigation Unit for filing a suit against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other

UN chief condemns Saudi-led deadly airstrikes in Yemen’s Saada City News Desk UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on Friday against a detention center in Yemen’s Saada City, his spokesman said.

Guterres urged parties to engage with his special envoy for Yemen to advance the political process and reach a negotiated settlement to end the years-long conflict. The Houthi group on Friday said that at least 77 people died in an airstrike launched by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on a prison.

“More than 77 killed prisoners and nearly 146 wounded have been transported by ambulances to the hospitals of Saada so far,” according to a statement released by the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health.

“The airstrike completely destroyed the prison building and there is no sufficient equipment to pull the victims from under the rubble,” an official from Saada’s local authority told Xinhua News Agency.

But the Saudi-led coalition later denied targeting the detention center in Saada and called media reports “baseless and unfounded,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported citing the coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki.

Saada is one of the main strongholds of the Iranbacked Houthis who have been fighting the Yemeni government forces, who are supported by the Riyadhled coalition, for years.

Screenshot from a handout video made available by the Ansarullah Media Center shows destruction at a prison in the city of Saada, Yemen, January 21, 2022.

six Indian officials responsible for torture and extra-judicial killing of the duo.

Dr Muhammad Mushtaq, former Director-General of Sharia Academy eulogised the remarkable work of Stoke White and also pitched for the constitution of a war crime tribunal for the crime against humanity in IIOJK. Hakan Camuz said he hoped that the request to British police seeking the arrest of Indian officials would be followed by other legal actions also focusing on Kashmir.

He added that Stoke White was sure that it was not going to be the last one as there would probably be many more applications.

Towards the end of the meeting, Executive Director Nasir Qadri said this is the beginning of lawfare against the occupier (India) and his organisation would further pursue the war crime cases to different available forums so that the perpetrators involved were apprehended for their crimes.

He further added that Kashmir had faced the worst human carnage for the last 74 years and the international community could no longer be silent spectators to India’s atrocity crimes and impunity.

The Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah television network said on Friday that more than 59 air raids were launched by the coalition across the war-ravaged country during the past hours.

The intensified bombardment campaign also targeted the country’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, destroying a telecommunications center and causing a nationwide collapse of internet connectivity.

Guterres has called for prompt, effective and transparent investigations into the incidents to ensure accountability, and for urgent de-escalation of the situation, according to the statement.

“The secretary-general reminds all parties that attacks directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law.

He further reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure that civilians are protected against the dangers arising from military operations, adhering to the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution,” the UN chief said.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

TOP BLA COMMANDER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN OVER ‘FINANCIAL DISPUTE’ KARACHI: A commander of outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has been killed over a financial dispute in Afghanistan. The terrorist commander was identified as Razak aka engineer who was a resident of Ahmed Wal area of Nushki and was living in Afghanistan for quite some time. “He was involved in fundraising for the outlawed BLA besides also smuggling weapons from Afghanistan into Pakistan through Nushki route,” they said. The sources further shared that Razak has also claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in Quetta in 2011 besides his involvement in other major terrorist acts in the Balochistan province. This is not the first time that a terrorist commander has been killed in Afghanistan recently as on January 10, the most wanted terrorist in Pakistan and outlawed TTP spokesperson, Khalid Balti alias Muhammad Khurasani, was killed in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Khalid Balti alias Muhammad Khurasani was killed in an undisclosed location of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Khurasani had been appointed as banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson in 2014 after Shahidullah Shahid and renowned for his anti-Pakistan stance. It was learnt that Balti alias Muhammad Khurasani had been operating a training camp for TTP terrorists in Miranshah to disturb the peace situation in Pakistan. News Desk

Unsigned Trump order told Pentagon to seize voting machines: Politico wAsHINGTONwAsHINGTON AFP

A draft executive order written by Donald Trump’s White House in the weeks after his defeat in the 2020 election directed the nation’s top military leader to seize voting machines, a report said Friday.

The explosive document, released by the National Archives and obtained by Politico, highlights the extreme measures Trump may have been willing to take to cling to power against the will of voters who picked Joe Biden to be their next president. Dated December 16, 2020, the order sought to appoint a special counsel to bring charges on any fraud allegations that arose from the seizures. But it was never signed. It is among 750-plus records turned over to the House of Representatives select committee investigating the 2021 Capitol assault after the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s appeal to block their release.

“Effective immediately, the Secretary of Defense shall seize, collect, retain and analyze all machines, equipment, electronically stored information, and material records required for retention,” says the three-page draft. The document reprises many of the debunked conspiracy theories about hacked voting machines that were pushed by figures in Trump’s orbit now being targeted by congressional investigators, including right-wing attorney Sidney Powell.

She falsely told reporters the election had been targeted by “com-

munist money through Venezuela, Cuba, and likely China.”

Powell and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani led unsuccessful efforts to have courts throw out election results in key swing states in the weeks after Trump’s defeat. The ex-president and his allies spent months pressing false claims of widespread fraud, despite experts in his own government affirming that it was the most secure vote in US history.

The claims were also rejected by Trump-appointed attorney general Bill Barr, and Trump was eventually impeached for inciting the attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters.

The draft order bears similarities with a plot outlined in a Powerpoint presentation to keep Trump in office that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows turned over to the select committee last year.

That document envisaged US Marshals seizing ballots for a 50-state hand recount.

The draft executive order that emerged Friday focuses specifically on touchscreen ballot-marking devices made by Dominion that were used in Georgia, where a hand recount and machine recount affirmed Biden’s win.

It repeats false allegations about Dominion being “owned or heavily controlled and influenced by foreign agents, countries, and interests” and alleging that its machines are deliberately designed to create “systemic fraud.” Powell and Giuliani are fighting billion-dollar defamation lawsuits from Dominion and Smartmatic, another voting machine company.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

TeAM CHinA’S SPeeD SKATing SquAD for Beijing 2022 CoMeS inTo Being

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AgENcIES

NOTHER six athletes, after three days of competitions that ended on Friday, qualified to join Team China for the speed skating event in the coming 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

The new entrants comprise of two males and four females.

Xu Fu and Yang Tao will join Gao Tingyu, Ning Zhongyan, Lian Ziwen and Wang Haotian in the men’s team. Ahenar Adake, Tian Ruining, Pei Chong and Guo Dan will become teammates of Han Mei, Li Qishi, Jin Jingzhu and Yinqi.

There will be 14 speed skating events during the 2022 Winter Games. Chinese athletes are competing in three of them: men’s 500meter, 1000m and 1500m. Of the nine medals – four golds, three silvers and two bronzes – China won in the four stops of the Speed Skating World Cup in 2021; four golds and three silvers came from Gao and Ning.

Ning Zhongyan of China skates in the men’s 1000m race during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition at The Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, December 12, 2021. /CFP Twenty-year-old Ning contributed three golds and two silvers

himself, including one gold and two silvers in his favorite event of the men’s 1500m. Moreover, he won the men’s 1000m title in Calgary, setting a new personal best record and a new national record of Chinese skaters.

In the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Gao won the men’s 500m speed skating bronze, becoming the first male Chinese speed skater to pocket a medal at the Winter Games. He and Ning will be Team China’s biggest hope to target at top 3, even top 1 during Beijing 2022.

Fifty-nine years ago, Luo Zhihuan won the men’s 1500m speed skating title in Japan’s World Speed Skating Championships. He’s the

first Chinese world champion in winter sports. In the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Zhang Hong made history in the women’s 1000m race by winning the first speed skating Olympic gold medal for team China.

Zhang Hong of China celebrates after winning the women’s 1000m speed skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics at the Adler Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, February 13, 2014. /CFP All speed skating events for Beijing 2022 will take place at the National Speed Skating Oval, which is also named “Ice Ribbon” in Beijing between February 5 and 19. Sched-

ule comes the following: 500m, men’s final on February 12, women’s final on February 13 1000m, women’s final on February 17, men’s final on February 18 1500m, women’s final on February 7, men’s final on February 8 3000m, women’s final on February 5 5000m, men’s final on February 6,

women’s final on February 10 10000m, men’s final on February 11 Mass start. Men’s and women’s semifinal and final on February 19 Team pursuit, women’s quarterfinal on February 12, men’s quarterfinal on February 13, men’s and women’s semifinal and final on February 15.

Sargent leads Norwich out of relegation zone LONDON news Desk

Pakistani boxer Muzaffar Khan wins Arabian Sea Championship title

Norwich moved out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season as Josh Sargent’s double helped beat 10-man Watford 3-0 at Vicarage Road.

Watford drop into the bottom three as a ninth consecutive game without a win piled the pressure on manager Claudio Ranieri. Sargent had not scored a league goal since his August move from Werder Bremen, but came good at a vital time for the Canaries bid to beat the drop.

“To get your first one and then your second after that was pretty crazy,” said Sargent. “It’s a big game for us so a great

night overall.

“Every game is big for us, but to get a win against the team right in front of us is a huge win.” The American’s audacious flick with the outside of his boot crept in off the underside of the bar to open the scoring six minutes into the second half.

Play was then held up due to a floodlight failure, but it was the visitors who sparkled when the game resumed.

Sargent’s towering leap to meet Milot Rashica’s cross doubled Norwich’s lead. Watford were then dealt another huge blow when top scorer Emmanuel Dennis was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

The Nigerian had been lucky to escape a straight red when picking up his

first yellow card for a high challenge on Pierre Lees-Melou and could have no complaints after another mistimed lunge on Max Aarons.

Dennis will miss another huge clash in the battle to beat the drop against Burnley on February 5.

A Juraj Kucka own goal in the second minute of 15 added for the rubbed salt into the Hornets’ wounds.

Norwich move two points clear of the relegation zone, but all the bottom three have games in hand.

Newcastle and Watford have played two fewer games than Dean Smith’s men, while Burnley have five extra matches to close the five-point gap.

However, given Watford’s ruthless

Hazlewood to return from injury for Sri Lanka series

ISLAMABAD news Desk

Pakistani boxer Muzaffar Khan on Saturday won the Arabian Sea Championship title by defeating his Afghan opponent Ahmad Samir Dawrani in Islamabad.

The match took place at Liaquat Gymnasium and lasted for five rounds. During the first four rounds, both boxers matched each other punch for punch, but the Pakistani boxer dealt the final blow to the Afghan rival, knocking him out in the fifth round. Legendary boxer Hussain Shah and World Boxing Council Middle East Champion Usman Wazir were also present on the occasion to support Muzaffar Khan. After the victory, Muzaffar thanked the administration for organising the event and credited his coaches and fans for the triumph. Pakistan Professional Boxing League Chairman General (retd) Ahsanul Haq thanked the World Boxing Council for giving Pakistan the opportunity to organise the event. He said the Pakistani youth have a real passion for boxing and wrestling. He also thanked the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for helping them in organising the event.

SYDNEY ReuteRs

Khurram Mughal and Abdul Basit exchanging MoU between Mughal Steel and Karachi Kings for HBL PSL. PR

Olympic hopeful determined to win hearts ISLAMABAD XinhuA

Muhammad Karim, a skier from Gilgit-Baltistan is all set to represent his country at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in February.

The 26-year-old is hopeful that he will give his career’s best performance at the mega event to win the hearts of the Pakistani people and Chinese spectators. In a conversation with Xinhua, Karim who is currently in Islamabad in preparation for his trip to China, said he has been training for the event for the last three years during which he practised at his hometown Naltar and by participating in several international tournaments.

Karim started skiing at the tender age of four when he used to play the sport for fun with small toy skis made by his father, and later adopted it as a profession under the patronage of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which also sent him to Austria for training, and provided him with the opportunity to participate in competitions in different countries.

He said that the Beijing Olympics will play a significant role in his career and boost his confidence as it is a mega event and will help him polish his skills and give him the chance to compete with the world’s best sportsmen.

“The Winter Olympics is a major event, and athletes from many countries are trying to improve their skills to hold a good position in

streak when it comes to sacking managers, Ranieri may not be given the chance to right his side’s slide in recent weeks. Xisco Munoz was dismissed in October despite taking seven points from the first seven games of the campaign and leading Watford to promotion last season.

Ranieri has added just seven more in the last 13, only one of which has come since thrashing Manchester United 4-1 in November.

“I speak every day with the board and we are together,” said Ranieri.

“I am convinced (Watford will stay up), also some players are convinced and want to fight and now I have to pick only the players that want to fight.”

the Olympics,” he noted.

Lamenting the United States’ intention to politicise the Winter Olympics, Karim said that politics should not be involved in sports, adding that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a success story with support from different countries.

“The US has done a bad thing, but it will not have any effect [on the Games]. Pakistan, as a close friend of China, fully supports it, and we are very excited about the event.”

Citing examples of his competitors in Pakistan, Karim said they are anxiously waiting for the event because of the latest technology adopted and the best arrangements

of the Chinese organisers for the event.

“The Pakistani athletes who participated in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics told me they were all hailed and cheered by the Chinese crowd during the inauguration ceremony which boosted their morale greatly.

I am also expecting the same response when I will enter the ceremony, holding my national flag,” said Karim.

He said that the love and respect of Chinese people towards Pakistani athletes warm up their hearts to give their career-best performance.

“I will try to put in my best efforts in the cheers of the crowd welcoming me at the inauguration ceremony.”

Lauding China for holding the event at the scheduled time when many sports events including many in his own country, and some international events of significant importance were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the athlete said: “China has made the best preparations for the Olympics and ensured a safe and protected environment for the players so that they can focus on their game without any concern, which is a big achievement.”

Karim expected that when he is back from the mega platform of the Beijing Winter Olympics, he will have a lot of new experiences and professional lessons to share with his colleagues, and aspiring athletes who “I hope will play better than me for Pakistan in the coming years”.

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will be back in action for next month’s T20 international series against Sri Lanka after a side strain cut short his Ashes campaign. Hazlewood picked up the injury on the third day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in early December and was ruled out for the rest of the series, which Australia won 4-0 against England. Australia are due to host Sri Lanka in five T20 matches, starting on February 11 in Sydney. “I’m definitely back for the Sri Lanka T20s,” the 31-year-old Hazlewood said on Friday. “I’ve got a couple of weeks up my sleeve to get right and should be fine. “It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks, no doubt (but) watching away on TV with the rest of the country was fantastic. Watching us dominate all five Test matches was awesome.” Hazlewood, one of Australia’s key players in their T20 World Cup victory in November, has picked up 32 wickets in 24 matches.

Collins downs Danish teen Tauson to set-up Mertens last-16 clash MELBOURNE AFP

American Danielle Collins staged a remarkable comeback to halt giant-killing Danish teenager Clara Tauson Saturday and keep alive dreams of bettering her last-four Australian Open heroics in 2019. Collins, the 27th seed, was a set and 1-3 down against the emerging star, but turned it around to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in searing heat on Rod Laver Arena. Her fightback set up a last-16 clash against 2018 semi-finalist Elise Mertens after the Belgium 19th-seed cruised past China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-2. “It was a long battle and super happy to be able to pull it out, especially how the first set ended and in moments not playing my best tennis,” said Collins. “She was playing really well and at an incredibly high level and we’re going to be seeing some good results from her moving forward. It’s going to be exciting.” Tauson, 19, was making her main draw debut at Melbourne Park and stunned in-form sixth seed Anett Kontaveit in round two to telegraph her arrival — her first win over a top 10 player.

Sunday, 23 January, 2022

prayer tiMiNgs

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FAJR SUNRISE

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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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PM Asks FInAnCe MInIsTer To ensure eConoMIC well-BeInG oF urBAn MIddle ClAss ISLAMABAD

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staff report

RIME Minister Imran Khan Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin today and inquired about his health condition.

During the talk, Prime Minister congratulated the Finance Minister and his team on achieving the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 5.37% in three years, which led to creation of substantial jobs and rise in per capita income.

Prime Minister highlighted that international economic organizations like Bloomberg and the Economist have recognized Pakistan’s successful economic reforms and initiatives taken during the Covid pandemic savings

PM urges int’l community to provide immediate relief to Afghans ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday once again urged the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the millions of Afghans, who are facing an imminent starvation. In a tweet, the prime minister also reminded that providing immediate relief to the impoverished Afghanistan is also obligatory under unanimously adopted UN principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

“There is an urgency for the international community as well as their obligation under the unanimously adopted UN principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to provide immediate humanitarian relief to millions of Afghans on the brink of starvation,” the prime minister wrote in tweet. The prime minister also tagged a news story published in the Guardian, carrying excerpts from an article written by former British premier Gordon Brown to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, asking her to help convene a donor conference to raise $4.5bn (£3.3bn) for Afghanistan. The former UK prime minister wrote that “we are witnessing a shameful but also self-defeating failure to prevent famine”, adding that the UK should urgently take a lead in resuming the delivery of aid dramatically halted after Taliban announced their government. “The American-led coalition that ruled Afghanistan for 20 years under the banner of helping the Afghan people has still put up only a quarter of the money that would allow UN humanitarians to stop children dying this winter,” he further wrote. app

Pakistan has entered decade of sustained growth, says Tarin ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin on Saturday said that Pakistan has entered a decade of sustained growth and that the next ten years will help reduce income disparity, increase employment and improve human development.

The finance minister said that for the third consecutive time, Pakistan has stood among the top three countries in the Global Normalcy Index, published by The Economist. app

jobs and lives.

Prime Minister stressed to the FM to initiate steps to ensure the economic well being of the urban lower and middle class population which has been affected by the imported inflation.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister have been regularly discussing the ongoing global commodity price super cycle which has adversely affected inflation and trade deficit in Pakistan.

Finance Minister has informed Prime Minister that the local food prices have been declining since December as reflected in the SPI. However, he is hopeful that the as soon as the international prices come off the pressure on imported goods will come down as well.

Overall, Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over tax collection, exports and remittances.

Asad Umar lashes out at Sindh govt over failure to provide security to green line bus service KARACHI News Desk

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar, on Saturday strongly criticised the PPP-led Sindh government over failure to provide security to newly inaugurated Karachi’s Green Line BRT service.

Stones have been pelted at the newly-inaugurated Green Line bus service in Karachi at multiple points between Surjani and Numaish areas of the city.

According to sources, side glasses and window panes of the buses running on the green line track were damaged in the stone-pelting incidents.

The stones were pelted from the pedestrian bridge and damaged the infrastructure of buses,” they said adding that however no passenger was hurt in the incidents.

Reacting to the incident, the federal minister slammed the Sindh government for not providing security to Karachi’s first modern transport system. “Federal had launched the proj-

ect and now it is the responsibility of provincial government to provide security to bus service,” he added.

“Do they want that Army to be deployed for the security of bus service,” Asad Umar said while taking a jibe at Sindh government. The minister urged the Sindh government to immediately arrest the culprits behind the bus service attack in order to avoid such incidents in future.

Talking to a private TV channel, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail also condemned the attack on bus service and asked the Sindh government to immediately arrest the culprits.

Imran Ismail further said that he had also asked DG Rangers for patrolling of Rangers personnel at Karachi’s Green Line BRT stations.

It is pertinent to mention here that the incidents have raised serious questions on the security being provided to the project which is claimed to be guarded with 900 CCTV cameras and 250 security personnel.

The Green Line bus service had become fully operational from Jan 10, with 80 buses covering a track of 21 kilometers from 6 in the morning till 10 at night. 22 bus stations have also been completed.

India orders blocking of 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels, two websites In yet another move to stop voices of dissent against its culture of hate mongering, India has blocked 35 Pakistanbased YouTube channels and two websites along with several social media handles.

The YouTube accounts blocked by India have a total subscriber base of over 12 million and their videos have over 1300 million views.

In a statement, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry said that “the YouTube channels, websites, and other social media accounts blocked by the ministry were used by Pakistan for spreading anti-India fake news about sensitive subjects related to India”. “Yesterday, based on fresh intelligence inputs which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting received, we have issued directions for blocking 35 YouTube channels, including Khabar with Facts, Global Truth, Information Hub, Apni Duniya TV and Khoji TV, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, one Facebook account, two websites, whose YouTube channels were also blocked,” said Joint Secretary (P&A) Vikram Sahay, adding that the common factor amongst all these accounts have been that they “operate from Pakistan”. News Desk

IHC issues charge sheet against former GB judge in contempt case ISLAMABAD iNp

Former Gilgit Baltistan chief judge retired Justice Rana Muhammad Shamim levelled “scandalous allegations” against the institution of the judiciary, a five-page charge sheet issued Saturday by Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the contempt case said.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah framed charges against Shamim in the case on January 20.

The charge sheet said the former judge’s affidavit contains “scandalous allegations, casting serious aspersion against the judiciary including IHC which tends to bring the court into hatred, ridicule and contempt and tends to prejudice the determination of a matter pending before the court and fixed for hearing on 17.11.2021.”

“Rana Muhammad Shamim, not only confirmed to Mr. Ansar Abbasi, [The News] journalist [who broke the story], the execution and signing of the above mentioned affidavit dated 10.11.2021 but intentionally chose not to desist him from publishing the same despite your claim in Court that it was a private document.”

“Neither did you initiate any proceedings against Mr. Ansar Abbasi or the notary public for breach of privacy, and counsel client privilege, which conduct shows your intent to publicly ridicule and bring into hatred the Court and the judge of the Court besides undermining and obstruct the course of justice and to prejudice fair trail,” the chief justice said.

He said Shamim was “fully aware of the serious consequences of the alleged incident, yet your conscience remained in deep slumber for over three years and suddenly awakened only to execute the scandalous affidavit and confirm it before publication, at the time when the appeals of the persons mentioned in the document were being heard, which conduct tends to undermine the dignity of the court, bring the administration of justice into disrespect and divert the course of justice.”

“By your conduct, you intend to interfere with, obstruct and prejudice the process of law and due course of pending judicial proceedings, thus you have committed the contempt of this Court within the meaning of Article 204(2) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (Ordinance V of 2003) punishable under section 5 of the said Ordinance, which is cognizable by this Court. I, therefore, direct that you be tried by this Court on the above-said charge.”

PTI expels dissident for launching tirade against party leadership ISLAMABAD MiaN abrar

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday expelled its former secretary information, Ahmad Jawad, for launching no-holds-barred tirade against the party’s top leadership including Prime Minister Imran Khan on social media.

PTI’s Standing Committee on Accountability and Discipline (SCAD) had received complaints from MNA Ali Zaidi, Qaiser Jahangir, Saiqa Tabassum and Shahid Naseem alleging that Ahmad Jawad was repeatedly slandering party’s leadership including PTI chairman Imran Khan on social, electronic and print media.

SCAD said in a statement that it had served a show-cause notice on Ahmad, asking him to explain his position within seven days of the receipt of the notice on leveling serious but fake allegations against the party leadership. But, the statement added the disgruntled leader did not respond to the notice.

Subsequently, on January 19, Ahmad Jawad was issued a final notice to explain his position within three days but instead of explaining his position, the dissident ‘lamented’ that he had wrote more than 40 tweets against the party chief “while SCAD had taken notice of only two of his tweets”.

In a series of tweets, Ahmad had severely criticised the policies of ruling party and also raised questions over the

regularisation of Prime Minister Imran’s properties.

The ruling PTI said the disgruntled leader could have used a different forum in the party to express his resentment, but “he used social media with an aim to malign the party causing severe damage”.

“The Sub Committee unanimously decided to strike down the party membership of Ahmad Jawad from the party membership register,” it added.

A source in the party told this scribe that in the recent reorganizing of the party, Ahmad Jawad, a former naval officer, had been ignored and was not given any office.

“Ahmad Jawad was unhappy with the party leadership over ignoring all his requests. He had requested and lobbied to

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

be appointed Managing Director of the PTV but was ignored”.

Later, Ahmad applied for being elected as a senator. In last reorganisation of the party, Ahmad was appointed Secretary Information – the highest office he enjoyed. Now after being dumped, Ahmad Jawad got dejected and came out all guns blazing,” the source added.

Another party leader said that Ahmad Jawad was committed to the party and was appointed head of the media cell of the party before 2013 general elections.

The source said that Ahmad Jawad had been working for the party with dedication and it was beyond imagination that he would part ways with the party over petty issue.