Epaper – March 23-2022 KHI

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 I 19 Shaʽban, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 264 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

IslamIc world ‘faIled’ KashmIr, PalestIne: Pm Imran Khan tells oIc moot g

says stable afghanIstan CruCIal to fIght terrorIsm

ISLAMABAD staff report

c

allIng for unity in the Islamic world, prime minister Imran Khan on tuesday said a strong voice from the platform of the organisation of Islamic Cooperation (oIC) as the representative body of 1.5 billion muslims was crucial to address the lingering disputes of Kashmir and palestine.

“We have failed both the palestinians and Kashmiris. I am sad that we have not been able to make an impact despite being the massive voice of 1.5 billion [people],” the prime minister said in his keynote address at the 48th annual session of the Council of foreign ministers (Cfm) after pakistan assumed the chair of the oIC body.

PaKIstan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,522,419

LAST UPDATED AT 7:13 AM ON MARCH 22, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

2

228 DEATHS:

1,476,796 30,333 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

573,850

504,507

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

218,736

35,459

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

43,222/11,672

IslamophobIa Day trIbute to ChrIstChurCh vICtIms

the two-day summit of the 57-nation bloc is being held at parliament house under the theme of “building partnerships for unity, Justice, and Development”. the session on tuesday highlighted the challenges facing the muslim world and the opportunities which could be seized through joint efforts. oIC secretary general hissein brahim taha, Islamic Development bank president muhammad sulaiman al Jasser and saudi and Chinese foreign ministers faisal bin farhan al-saud and Wang yi were among the participants. the prime minister, who commenced his speech with a prayer seeking guidance from allah for the righteous path, focused on issues including Islamophobia, global conflicts and the situation in afghanistan, occupied Kashmir, palestine and ukraine.

Khan pointed out the international

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community had decades ago made a pledge with the people of Kashmir to help them decide their fate. however, he regretted the status of the region had been changed illegally with the residents experiencing gross rights violations.

“I ask oIC that unless we have a united front, we keep having seen these abuses,” he said, adding that altering the demography of a population by turning the muslim majority into a minority was a war crime under geneva Convention. he warned the world was heading towards a second Cold War with the chances of the countries being divided into blocs. “unless we, as an Islamic platform, get united, we will stand nowhere,” he warned.

Commenting on the crisis in ukraine, he proposed to consider ways where the oIC nations along with China could play their role in diffusing the violence.

Khan said he will later hold a discussion with yi on how China and oIC together could step in to mediate a ceasefire and end the conflict which had already started impacting the world in the form of a historical rise in prices of oil, gas and wheat.

STABLE AFGHANISTAN CRUCIAL TO FIGHT TERRORISM: In afghanistan, the stability of the country was extremely important after the 40 years of conflict, said the prime minister as he called for the lifting of international sanctions to avert the looming humanitarian crisis. he said the only way to stop terrorism in, and coming from, afghanistan was to encourage and support a stable government in place.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

CJP forms larger bench to hear presidential reference seeking opinion on Article 63 (A) ISLAMABAD app

Chief Justice of pakistan (CJp) umar ata bandial on tuesday constituted a five-member larger bench to hear the presidential reference seeking the apex court’s opinion on article 63 (a) and a petition of the supreme Court bar association (sCba). the larger bench, headed by the CJp and comprising Justice Ijaz ul ahsan, Justice mazhar alam Khan miankhel, Justice muneeb akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan mandokhel, will hear the presidential reference, seeking interpretation of article 63 (a) of the Constitution, and the sCba petition for restraining political parties from holding public meetings in Islamabad before voting on the noconfidence motion. according to the supplementary cause list, the hearing for the presidential reference and the sCba’s petition would be held at 1pm on thursday. notices for the hearing have been issued to pakistan tehreek-iInsaf’s lawyer ali Zafar, ppp’s lawyer farooq h naek, pml-n’s lawyer

‘Allies no more with PTI,’ claims Fazl after meeting MQM-P in Karachi pakistan Democratic movement (pDm) chief maulana fazlur rehman claimed tuesday the ruling ptI’s allies were no more with the government after meeting with mQm-p in the metropolis. fazl made the announcement during a press conference alongside mQm-p’s top brass — convener Khalid maqbool siddiqui and other leaders — after meeting the government’s ally party at their head office in Karachi’s bahadurabad area. “they (mQm-p) will announce that they are with us in a day or two […] after meeting the mQm-p leadership, I am completely satisfied that the no-confidence motion will be successful,” the pDm chief said, as the days for the national assembly to vote on the no-trust motion against prime minister Imran Khan draw close. na speaker asad Qaiser has convened the crucial session of the lower house to deliberate on the no-confidence motion against pm Imran Khan on march 25. the pDm chief said the language pm Imran Khan has used during the recent rallies in Khyber pakhtunkwa was not that

makhdoom ali Khan and Jamiat ulema-i-Islam-fazl’s lawyer Kamran murtaza, as well as the advocate general for sindh, Islamabad inspector general of police, interior secretary and president of the sCba, among others. according to the written order of the apex court’s hearing held on monday, the Islamabad Igp had filed a report in relation to the incident at the sindh house. the Igp had assured that strict measures are being taken to avoid any repetition of such an incident anywhere in the red Zone in relation to the moving and voting on the no-confidence motion. the Igp had stated that the fIr already registered would be vigorously pursued in accordance with law. the advocate general sindh had expressed strong reservations as to the fIr and desired for the province’s version to be put on the record. the advocate general Islamabad had assured that any representation made by the province through the advocate general would be dealt with in accordance with law.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

PM Khan, Saudi FM discuss situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, Afghanistan STORY ON BACK PAGE

of an “honourable person”.

“I think it is disrespectful to have such people assume such big offices,” fazl said. before meeting the mQm-p delegation at their head office, a journalist asked fazl whether the opposition was afraid of the outcome of the no-confidence motion. at this, the pDm chief said: “hum ghabratay nahi hain (we are not afraid).”

With the na session for voting on the no-confidence motion against pm Imran Khan expected to take place this month, the government is trying to woo its allies for supporting it during the voting. the opposition is also at-

tempting to cajole the ptI allies and seeking to break the government’s alliance in the lower house — by holding back-toback meetings with them. pm Imran Khan has said that he is ready for everything that the opposition plans to throw his way — but he has also intensified meetings with allies ahead of the no-trust motion session. the government’s ally in the Centre, the grand Democratic alliance (gDa), has assured pm Imran Khan of complete support ahead of the no-trust motion, while other allies — bap, mQm-p, and pml-Q — are still indecisive. news desk

Zardari, bilawal to act as ‘guarantors for mQm, pDm deal’ STORY ON BACK PAGE

Govt’s delaying tactic on noconfidence motion intolerable: Shehbaz, Bilawal STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

Pakistan Day: Historic PersPective

M

arch 23 is a significant date for Pakistan in two respects. In 1940 on this date, the all-India Muslim League moved a resolution in its annual session in Lahore that demanded the establishment of a separate homeland for the Muslims of British India. This substituted the Muslim League’s earlier demand for constitutional guarantees in a federal system for the protection and advancement of Muslim identity, rights and interests.

In 1956, on this date, Pakistan’s first constitution, approved by the second constituent assembly, was implemented which declared Pakistan to be an Islamic republic with a parliamentary system of government, incorporating all the basic features of a democratic political system. For a couple of years, March 23 was celebrated as republic Day. however, the 1956 constitution was abolished as a result of the first military takeover on October 7, 1958.

This date then began to be observed as Pakistan Day or the Pakistan resolution Day. If we return to the events that took place on March 23, it is not difficult to discern that the high ideals that inspired people in 1940 and 1956 have been lost to a great extent over time. We hear speeches and statements and read articles on or around this date expressing commitment to these ideals but their substance and spirit is conspicuously absent in political and societal processes as well as

in the day-to-day affairs of the people of Pakistan. The Muslim leadership in British India did not start with the demand for a separate state. Its primary objective was to secure Muslim socio-cultural identity, rights and interests. Initially, the Muslim elite thought that this objective could be achieved through separate electorates, constitutional safeguards and guarantees, and adequate representation of Muslims in governmental institutions, jobs and elected bodies. They also demanded the establishment of a federal system with provincial autonomy in the hope that the Muslim majority provinces will be able to govern them in accordance with their political and societal ideals and aspirations.

The congress party adopted a dismissive attitude towards these Muslim demands. The fear of being overwhelmed by an unsympathetic majority in the name of democracy led the Muslim League elite to review their support for a federal system in India and they moved on to demand a separate state. however, as late as 1946, the Muslim League was willing to work with the cabinet Mission Plan, which would have established a loose Indian federation. This offer collapsed because the congress party was not willing to accommodate the constitutional conditions laid down in the cabinet Mission Plan because its leadership thought that these would strengthen the Muslim League’s demand for the establishment of Pakistan.

Pakistan was thus established to provide a secure cultural, political and economic future to the common people within a democratic framework that was also inspired by the ideals of Islam. Pakistan’s experience suggests that the political leaders failed utterly to secure the future of the common people in the post-independence period. Instead of establishing a democratic political order that created a sense of political participation and socioeconomic justice among the diverse populace, the dominant elite established a highly elitist model that served the interests of the dominant political and bureaucraticmilitary elite and the affiliate affluent section of the populace, like the feudal, tribal chiefs and industrial magnates.

The dominant elite adopted a selfserving policy for the use of state resources and patronage. They adopted those development projects that gave them monetary gains through legal and illegal means. The development projects that had a large scope for such money-making were implemented on a priority basis rather than those that addressed the immediate problems of the common people. The net consequence of such a skewed development strategy was that the gap between the rich and the poor increased. The major victims of such policies were the common people. The neglect of the issues of human and societal development increased poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment and

socioeconomic deprivation.

Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments are more interested in highprofile, publicity-oriented projects like quality highways and motorways and related construction projects, distribution of laptops to students and offering of bank loans at concessional rates to buy transport vehicles. a major part of the benefit of such projects has gone to the ruling elite and their affiliates. This produces prosperity for the middle, upper middle and upper classes at the expense of lower middle and lower classes. There is a serious neglect of education, healthcare, drinking water and civic amenities in Pakistan, which affects most adversely the lower middle and poor strata of society, who cannot afford to use private sector educational institutions for their children and private sector hospitals for medical treatment. This has accentuated inequalities that resulted in alienation of the common people from the current democratic system. Pakistan has democratic structures but there is a deficit in their quality. Such a political system cannot command voluntary loyalty of the people.

The current democratic system is becoming irrelevant for the common people because it has failed to ensure good governance and has not delivered essential services to them. The growing alienation of the people has weakened the political support of the PML-N’s federal and provincial

governments that are securing their political future by conceding ample space to the military in governance, maintenance of internal security and fighting terrorism and extremism. The current democratic order is living on borrowed time mainly because of the blessings of the military top brass.

The civilian political leadership cannot create a credible civilian alternative to the military’s enhanced role without ensuring good governance and improving the quality of life for ordinary people. The government’s policies need to assign the highest premium to the welfare of the common people in a concrete and consistent manner if the celebrations on national days are to be made meaningful for ordinary Pakistanis.

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | KARACHI

PaKistan, China, saudi arabia Can Play role in MusliM world’s ConneCtivity: Mushahid ISLAMABAD

s

App

ENATOR Mushahid Hussain Sayed Tuesday said that Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia can play a pivotal role in strengthening unity, economic development, and connectivity in the Muslim world.

Speaking at a webinar held under the banner of the “Friends of Silk Road” hosted by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) welcoming China’s participation in the OIC, the senator said: “China is emerging as a key player in the Muslim world and this role is being enhanced also due to its ties with Pakistan and

Saudi Arabia.”

He welcomed the close coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, enabling the invitation to China in the OIC, which was in recognition of China’s longstanding relationship and support to the Muslim world.

He said that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia close collaboration is reminiscent of the brotherly bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that enabled the first successful OIC summit in Pakistan in 1974. He lauded the strategic shift in Saudi Arabia’s policies, both domestic and foreign, especially liberalization and opening up in Saudi society, economy, culture, plus policies curbing religious extremism and promotion of women’s

rights, as well as improvement in Saudi Arabia’s relations with Iran and Turkey.

He said the strategic shift in Saudi Arabia was due to the enlightened leadership of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) and there are now even discussions between Saudi Arabia and China for selling oil in RMB, the Chinese currency, instead of the US dollar, while in the summer of 2022, President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Saudi Arabia and the Saudi crown prince is likely to visit Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, former Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid, who served in China for six years, said that China had developed its own model of law-based state governance, adopting

global best practices, in which democracy entails prosperity and a consultative process. He said President Xi Jinping remains very popular, as the lives of the Chinese people are being improved on a daily basis. He urged the need for cooperation between China and the United States.

Sultan Hali, who has authored books on President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, referred to the remarkable transformation of China through people-centric development that has changed the lives of millions of Chinese, particularly lifting 800 million Chinese people out of poverty in just over three decades, and said this ‘system suits China’.

PPMA extends deadline for nationwide strike by pharma industry ISLAMABAD StAff report

Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has deferred it’s decision to close down drug manufacturing units across the country after fresh assurances from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over refund of 17 percent General Sales Tax (GST) being charged from the pharma industry on the import of raw material.

Chairing an emergent meeting of the PPMA, Chairman of the Association Qazi Mohammad Mansoor Dilawar however made it clear that the PPMA would be forced to give a call for strike if the commitment was not honoured within five days.

He warned that a nationwide strike by the pharma industry would lead to shortage of medicines but made it clear that the responsibility for the sufferings of the people would squarely lie on the Government.

He told a large number of Association’s members who attended the meeting that following the ultimatum of going on strike given at a recent press conference, the FBR

contacted the association and various meetings with senior officials of the bureau took place where they once again promised to consider refund of GST on purchase of raw material, seeking more time for it.

In the last meeting with FBR, all multinational pharmaceutical

Pakistan, Kazakhstan agree to enhance ties ISLAMABAD StAff report

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday held a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Tileuberdi here on the sidelines of the 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and discussed bilateral ties.

Foreign Minister Qureshi recalled his previous meetings with the Kazakh FM and took stock of progress on a wide range of bilateral issues. Both the ministers agreed on the need to further enhance bilateral ties in the fields of trade, connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people contacts. Qureshi stressed the importance of regular exchanges and institutional mechanisms, including the Joint Ministerial Commission, as well as an effective follow-up on their outcomes. He underlined the need to intensify cooperation in the railways and transportation sector. The two foreign ministers also discussed regional issues.

Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised Foreign Minister Tileuberdi of Pakistan’s perspective including on human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Both the foreign ministers reaffirmed the commitment to continue enhancing bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including at regional and international forums like the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Economic Cooperation Organisation.

companies along with national pharmaceutical manufacturers were present representing 97% of the pharma industry of Pakistan and presented a unified stance.

PPMA’s demand of sales tax refund on purchase basis is still not adapted by FBR and the online portal

is also not operational while the industry is paying sales tax on all purchases of raw materials/API since January 16th.

He however regretted that no headway appears to have been made as neither any notification nor any press release to this effect had so far been issued by the FBR so far.

Recalling that the government had earlier agreed to reimburse GST on import of raw materials on purchase basis ,but later went back on their word, the association urged it to resolve the matter at the earliest.

Later talking to reporters, Member of the PPMA’s Central Executive Committee Usman Shaukat noted that the FBR continues to give a run around to the pharma industry and now they were seeking more time saying that an amendment in the law would be required.

Referring to the multiple challenges facing the industry, he said most of the raw material is imported and any increase in dollar rates adversely affects the cost of the local manufacturers. “The addition of GST on import of raw material is something indigestible”, he remarked.

NEWS

03

13 suspects arrested for alleged murder of rice cracker seller at Pattoki wedding NEWS DESk The Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested 13 suspects allegedly involved in the murder of a papad (rice cracker) seller in a wedding hall in Pattoki. The incident came to the limelight when footage, allegedly showing Mohammad Ashraf’s body near a seemingly apathetic crowd that continued eating at the wedding, went viral on social media and aroused public anger at the callousness on display. The first information report (FIR) was registered at Pattoki police station by the deceased’s brother-in-law, Parvez, under section 147 (punishment for rioting), section 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, the rice cracker vendor, Ashraf, got into a dispute with guests at a wedding procession in Pattoki, after which he was beaten up and dragged inside the wedding hall. “Severe injustice has been done to us,” Parvez said in the FIR, demanding that action should be taken. Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan took notice of the incident and directed Kasur District Police Officer (DPO) Sohaib Ashraf to immediately arrest the culprits. Meanwhile, Punjab CM Sardar Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident and sought a report from the IGP, saying that the culprits should be apprehended immediately.

“The suspects do not deserve any leeway. Justice should be ensured to the family of the deceased,” he said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asif Hanif told a news outlet that he formed teams when he got to know of the incident and 13 suspects were arrested, who are being interrogated. Talking to the media, the Kasur DPO said that last night, some guests of a marriage party allegedly tortured Ashraf to death, adding that the police teams conducted raids in Kanganpur, Pattoki and Sarai Mughal and arrested twelve accused. He said that evidence has been collected and real causes of the death would be ascertained in the light of forensic report. The accused are being identified with the help of CCTV cameras, he added.

KP govt plants olive, saffron orchards in Khyber District PESHAWAR Aziz Buneri

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has planted eight olive and saffron orchards in tribal districts for which the forest Department has provided more than 21,000 plants.

The Secretary Forest Department Abid Majeed and Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Israr during briefing to governor Shah Farmam said that Khyber District, orchards have been planted on 5 acres of land in collaboration with Agriculture and Forestry Department.

It was informed that eight different types of fruit plants including olives have also been planted.

The officials said that 1.3 million olive saplings are being planted in other tribal districts including Khyber t while orchards are being planted on 6,000 acres under Frontier Corps Enforcement project and 597,000 saplings will be planted by the end of this year. Similarly, the Forest and Agriculture Department is also planting 5,670,000 saplings a total of 5,172 hectares of land in Khyber.

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman said that Khyber District especially Tirah Valley is a very

attractive area for saffron and olive in terms of excellent climatic conditions. Farman said that the present government was paying full attention to the proper use of natural resources.

The governor said, “saffron and olive are the most valuable asset and effective steps are being taken to increase its production.” The Governor said that Frontier Corps and Forest Department, in collaboration with Agriculture Department, were planting trees in Khyber District for economic and environmental benefit. He said that the government is well aware of the immense potential of tribal areas which will not be wasted.

Yet another March and political turmoil ISLAMABAD nAveed MirAj

Situation in the capital of Pakistan will be quite tense starting from March 24 and it may drag up to the first week of April. On March 24th, the Supreme Court (SC) would take up the crucial Presidential reference on Article 63-A and then the National Assembly session has been summoned for Friday March 25th.

Thus Pakistan has one again moved into a period of constitutional and legal wrangling.

A major possibility of clashes between supporters of the government and the opposition close to the day of voting on the no confidence motion, though, was averted when the district administration denied permission to both sides to hold rallies in the Red Zone.

There is a likelihood that the parties now would be using separate venues for holding their public rallies.

Supreme Court was initially approached by the Pakistan Bar Council to intervene and ensure that political parties do not hold public rallies outside the parliament house when the house is going through the proceedings of the no confidence motion.

This was necessitated as first the ruling party, PTI,

announced to hold a public rally outside the parliament on March 27th and then the opposition parties responded with the announcement of their own rallies.

In the meanwhile, some PTI supporters attacked Sindh House where some of the dissenting members of the ruling party had been housed by the PPP to protect them from the government’s coercive tactics. But the government believes and claims that these members have been bought out or housed there not under their free will.

This led the Supreme Court to take up the matter on Saturday March 19th instead of March 21st and issue a short order that all proceedings of the house should be conducted according to the constitutional article 95 that deals with the no confidence motion.

While the opposition insists that Speaker National Assembly had to call a session within 14 days of receiving a requisition notice as the notice was filed on March 8th.

The speaker, however, used the excuse of OIC foreign ministers conference to delay the summoning of the National Assembly.

Opposition is terming this unconstitutional. Although another article of the constitution, Article 254 does give coverage to such digressions from the constitutional deviations. In such circumstances, the opposition’s claims

that the Speaker National Assembly may be charged with article 6 of the Constitution is quite fanciful.

The government has also approached the Supreme Court to seek its opinion on Article 63-A. The article lays out a procedure to de-seat a member of the parliament in case he/she votes against his parliamentary party’s directions on key issues (Election of the leader of the house, Vote of confidence and No confidence and voting on the Finance Bill).

Government is taking a position that the votes of such members cannot be counted and the Speaker should stop such members from voting. Government also is holding a position that the disqualification for such members would be for life. But the opposing view is that such members would just lose their membership for their remaining term and that they can come back after contesting elections again. The Supreme Court has decided to form a larger bench to hear the government reference on 63-A and will hold the next hearing on March 24th.

The Advocate General for Pakistan has assured the court that parliamentary proceedings will continue without being hampered by the court proceedings. He as in much indicated that the government was not looking to stall the parliamentary procedure.

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | KARACHI

04

NEWS

BrOadsHeet BOss’ claIm prOves Nawaz suBjected tO wItcH-HuNt: sHeHBaz LAHORE

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stAff report

ML-N president Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday slammed authorities for subjecting Nawaz Sharif and his family to a “vicious politicallymotivated witch-hunt” to keep the deposed prime minister out of public life as has been claimed by the Kaveh Moussavi, chief of the asset recovery firm Broadsheet.

Giving vent to his dismay at the NAB inquiry initiated against Nawaz, Shehbaz in a tweet wrote: “Broadsheet CEO’s revelations expose politically inspired witch-hunt of Nawaz Sharif & family in the name of socalled accountability. Corruption allegations were made to keep him out of public life.

Now the whole edifice of lies, deceit [and] character assassination stands demolished.”

Later, while addressing a press conference, Shehbaz said that the Broadsheet CEO has issued an “unconditional apology to

Nawaz, acknowledging that they did not find a single loose corruption against him”.

“This is a tight slap on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s face …..NAB-Niazi nexus along with Shahzad Akbar tried hard to prove corruption against Nawaz Sharif; however, they failed miserably,” he said. He said that the Imran Khan-led government ridiculed, propagandised Nawaz and the party on television; and today everybody witnessed the “drop scene.”

He added that nothing has been proved against Nawaz despite 20 years of investigation, questioning that where is the joint investigation team (JIT) that had held Nawaz accountable.

Earlier, during an interview given to The News, Moussavi extended an apology to Nawaz for blaming him for corruption.

He said that after a probe spanning 21 years, no corruption charges were proved against Nawaz or any other member of his family.

He said that he feels no hesitation in is-

suing an apology to the former prime minister for his being party to a scam masquerading as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He declared the dirty money watchdog a fraud “through and through”.

Broadsheet was contracted by former president Pervez Musharraf’s government to probe corruption charges against Nawaz and his family.

ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBE: Interestingly, Moussavi had in January last year accused Nawaz of offering a bribe to Broadsheet for abandoning the probe against his foreign assets.

In an interview, he said his firm had refused the deal offered by the person, who introduced himself as the nephew of the former premier, in 2012, saying Broadsheet did not negotiate with crooks.

The Sharif family owned assets not only in the United Kingdom but across the globe, he claimed, adding the family had to explain the resources used to amass these assets.

A timeline of Pakistan-India military Bajaur shootout confidence building measures leaves four terrorists

killed: ISPR PESHAWAR Monitoring report

LAHORE AnAdolu Agency

At a time when the world was grappling with the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, war clouds nearly hovered over South Asia on March 9 when an Indian nuclear-capable cruise missile, launched “accidentally”, landed in Pakistan.

Experts are, therefore, urging both nuclear-armed neighbours to strengthen military to military level contacts to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

Anadolu Agency takes a look at past military confidence-building measures (CBMs) and their utility to maintain a semblance of peace in the region.

1965: Pakistan and India refrain from using air force in an open desert area of Rann of Kutch. Both sides decide to avoid targeting cities.

Maritime CBMs process takes place in the light of arbitration of the Sir Creek Boundary dispute between 1965 and 1968, resulting in the delimitation of a line of 403 kilometres (250 miles) that was demarcated later by joint survey teams.

1971: A dedicated hotline communication comes up between the director generals of military operations of both countries to carry important information in a short period.

1988: Agreement on not attacking each other’s nuclear installations, including nuclear power and research reactors, fuel fabricators, uranium enricher, isotope separation, and reprocessing facilities.

1990: An agreement to set up a hotline between the director generals of military operations so they can talk every week for frequent communications.

1991: Ratification of an agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear facilities and an arrange-

ment put in place to share information and exchange an updated list of nuclear sites on January 1 each year.

An agreement on advance notifications of military exercises, manoeuvres, and troop movements.

No military activity by land, naval, and air force within 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) of the international border.

A mandatory notification for exercises comprising two or more divisions.

A near Line of Control (LoC) notification for any exercises involving division level or above.

Division-level exercises are to be conducted only 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) away from the border.

1992: Both countries agree to update the annual exchange of nuclear lists to include details of the location of nuclear facilities.

They sign an agreement on the prevention of airspace violations.

Combat aircraft (to include fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, jet military trainer, and armed helicopter aircraft) will not fly within 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) of each other’s airspace including the air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Unarmed transport and logistics aircraft including unarmed helicopters and air observation posts aircraft are permitted up to 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) from each other’s airspace including ADIZ. Aerial survey, supply dropping, and rescue missions and flights less than 1 kilometre from each other’s airspace including ADIZ will provide advance notification to their air headquarters.

1993: A memorandum of understanding is signed on resumption of weekly hotline communication between director generals of military operations.

1999: Lahore Declaration is signed, which includes an agreement on the

prevention of incidents at sea to ensure the safety of navigating naval vessels and aircraft belonging to both countries.

A memorandum of understanding on ballistic missile flight tests comes up, making it mandatory to provide a three-day notice before the commencement of a testing window. It prohibits launching from or targeting missiles within certain geographical proximity of the International Border and the Line of Control to ensure that the trajectory of the missiles neither transects nor is directed toward the same borders.

2003: The informal cease-fire along the LoC and actual ground position line along Siachen Glacier come up.

Joint patrolling along the international border and periodic flag meetings.

Prohibition of development of new forward posts.

2004: For the first time, Indias’ Border Security Force (BSF) and Rangers of Pakistan conduct their bi-annual meeting.

2005: Establishment of a link between the Indian Coast Guard and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.

Singing of an agreement on advance notice on ballistic missile tests. The 1999 memorandum of now becomes an agreement.

2007: The signing of an agreement on reducing the risk from nuclear weapons-related accidents, and it is reaffirmed for a five-year term until 2012.

2018: Indian military’s announcement of observing a cease-fire in disputed Kashmir during the month of Ramadan for the first time.

The terms of the 2003 cease-fire agreement are restored.

2021: A joint announcement by the director generals of military operations for reverting to the 2003 ceasefire agreement along the LoC.

CMYK

Terrorists armed with assault rifles attacked security forces in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghanistan border late Monday, triggering a shootout that left four terrorists killed, the army said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Bajaur which is a former militant stronghold.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the three civilians and two soldiers also were martyred by militant fire.

The statement said the army was “determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and (that) such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent citizens further strengthen our resolve.”

The northwestern tribal regions, which share a lengthy porous border with Afghanistan, for years served as a safe haven for terrorists until the military carried out massive operations to try to clear the area. That forced the terrorists to escape into Afghanistan or hide in other areas near the border. But such terrorist attacks on troops have continued in recent years in the region.

FM extends sympathy to China over plane crash

ISLAMABAD Monitoring report

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday extended deep sadness and sympathy over the passenger plane crash to visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Qureshi, on behalf of the government, offered deep condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families in the incident while meeting Wang here.

While expressing gratitude to Qureshi, Yi said the Chinese government and people feel deeply sad about the air crash,

adding that Chinese aviation has been among the world’s safest ones, and the Chinese authorities are sparing no effort in the search and rescue operations and will find out the cause of the crash as soon as possible.

Yi arrived in Islamabad on Monday to attend the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and for a visit to Pakistan.

A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 passenger plane with 132 people aboard on a domestic flight crashed in southern China on Monday afternoon.

Opposition will ‘clean bowl’ Imran, declares Hamza

LAHORE inp

Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to descend from the hills of Banigala and listen to the grievances of people.

During a media talk after appearing before an accountability court in Lahore, Shehbaz, who is also a vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), asked the prime minister to go to the public and know firsthand what the public thought of him.

“Now the same ‘voice of conscience’ has caused Imran Khan to have sleepless nights,” said Shehbaz, before criticising him for saying the marriages of the children of defecting MPs would not take place.

“Every parliamentarian has the constitutional right to vote,” he said and lambasted the prime minister for “hurling threats” at the elected members of the Parliament.

“Political leaders care for the public.

But you will flee into Banigala,” Shehbaz stated.

“The nation gave you [Khan] four years. Did you build five million houses [as promised]? Did you provide 10 million jobs?” he questioned.

“You [Khan] ask from Shehbaz Sharif about money laundering despite the fact you have got no evidence,” he added.

Shehbaz also blamed the prime minister for regularising the illegal encroachments in Banigala and added: “You used to boast so loudly in the past. Now, you are in the grip of God’s wrath.”

He maintained that the nation could not bear Imran Khan anymore, adding that the no-confidence motion would clinch a thumping victory.

“When our long march arrives in Islamabad, we will show you how a big public meeting is held,” he said.

He also flayed that the President House had become an “ordinance factory”.

“You have played your innings. Now the opposition will clean bowl you.”

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS CJP forms larger bench to hear presidential reference seeking opinion on Article 63 (A) continued from page 01 The SCBA counsel had stated that the political parties had filed the no-confidence resolution, and expressed strong reservations and concerns that the speaker had summoned the session of the National Assembly for March 25, which is beyond the stipulated 14-day period.

“Our attention has been drawn to the order issued by the NA speaker in this regard. We are not inclined to take up this matter as it is collateral to the questions of constitutional interpretation raised before the court not only in terms of CP 2/2022 but also the reference filed by the president today in terms of Article 186. In any event, for such matters the Constitution envisages a remedy before Parliament itself,” the court order read.

The order stated that the attorney general had made a categorical statement before the court that the federal government would not in any manner hinder or obstruct, or interfere with, any members of the National Assembly (including those of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf) who wish to attend the session summoned as above, and to participate in, and cast their votes, on the no confidence resolution.

Regarding the “grave concerns” expressed about political rallies in Islamabad and the influx of supporters into the federal capital and especially in the Red Zone, the AGP had suggested that representatives of the political parties sit with Islamabad’s administration and work out a mechanism to the holding of rallies, as well as their days and venues. The apex court had dubbed this a reasonable and practical suggestion.

The court had directed the AGP to coordinate with the political parties’ lawyers to arrange the meetings with the administration on an urgent basis as suggested by him.

The order stated that the court is cognizant that the matter is time-constrained and directed all counsel to file concise statements of their submissions by or before March 24, so that the oral hearing could be completed within an acceptable timeframe.

South Punjab secretariat likely to achieve complete financial autonomy soon: ACS Saqib muLtan Staff RepoRt

South Punjab secretariat is likely to achieve complete financial autonomy to ensure matchless development in the region. Additional Chief Secretary Capt. (Retd) Saqib Zafar while chairing a meeting, attended by secretaries of different department, here remarked that South Punjab Secretariat was moving towards another milestone.

“Significant progress has been made to give financial autonomy to the South Punjab Secretariat”, he maintained.

The preparations have been started to give full financial control over the budget to South Punjab Secretariat. With the acquisition of financial autonomy, the power to issue nondevelopment budget to the subsidiaries will be transferred from Lahore to South Punjab.

Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Captain (R) Saqib Zafar directed the secretaries to complete their homework.

“All secretaries should complete verification of funds and cost centers of subordinate departments by March 25”, instructed Captain (R) Saqib Zafar. South Punjab Finance Department will hand over all records to Lahore Finance Department for mapping soon.

“Until now, the secretaries of South Punjab had the authority to spend on non-developmental expenses of their offices only,” Saqib stated, adding that after getting financial autonomy, each department will have the power to issue budget to its subsidiaries.

“Health and Education departments will be able to release budget to district authorities concerned. Similarly, housing, livestock, forest and all other departments will release budget to their subordinate offices,” Saqib Zafar said and

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ISlAmIC world ‘fAIled’ KASHmIr, PAleStIne: Pm ImrAn KHAn tellS oIC moot continued from page 01

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S a word of caution, please do not push the proud and independent-minded people of Afghanistan [towards the extreme]. Let us help them and involve in the international community,” he said.

Khan stressed that self-belief could help the Islamic world revive its glory to address their common challenges.

The prime minister welcomed the visiting foreign ministers at the OIC platform which coincided with the occasion of Pakistan Day. ISLAMOPHOBIA DAY TRIBUTE TO CHRISTCHURCH VICTIMS: He congratulated the bloc over getting Islamophobia recognised at the United Nations as a global threat and setting March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

The resolution, adopted last Tuesday by consensus by the 193-member world body and co-sponsored by 55 mainly Muslim countries, emphasises the right to freedom of religion and belief and recalls a 1981 resolution calling for “the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief”.

The date, he mentioned, was in connection with the terror attack at two New Zealand mosques on March 15, 2019, when a white supremacist

killed 51 worshippers and injured dozens of others.

The prime minister stressed that Islam did not permit terrorism and rejected the notion of differentiating between a “moderate and terrorist Muslim”. “The moment someone describes as moderate Muslims automatically tags others as radical,” he said, urging the Muslim countries to take a stand on this.

He emphasised that there were no two types of Islam and Muslims, but the one taught through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).

He pointed out the 9/11 attacks led to demonising of Muslims across the world and said that mocking or ridiculing the prophet in the name of freedom of expression could not be justified.

Khan said Pakistan was the only country that was created in the name of Islam with its Objective Resolution based on the vision of the religion’s first socio-welfare state of Medina.

He said Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was sent to the world as a blessing for the entire humanity and not specific for the Muslims only.

Khan regretted that the world was witnessing a situation where the poor countries were being robbed through the illegal transfer of $1.6 trillion to rich countries.

MINORITIES RIGHTS: He said an Islamic state must protect the rights of

minorities, and imbibes the spirit of compassion and humanity for all.

The prime minister mentioned that one of the ideals of the OIC was to protect Islamic values, however, expressed concern over the culture of obscenity on social media, which he said was leading to a rise in the incidents of sex crimes.

He sought consideration by the Islamic platform to suggest ways for combating vulgarity impacting the social values and family system.

OIC SESSION: The inaugural session of the two-day summit of the Council of the Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began in Islamabad Tuesday morning.

Khan joined the gathering of the foreign ministers of the Muslim world at the session held at the Parliament House.

As the session started, the national anthem of Pakistan was played on the occasion.

The verses from the Quran were recited. A short video of the OIC journey was screened on the occasion highlighting Muslim unity as key to success.

In his speech, Nigeria Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou, who chaired the 47th session of the OICCFM, focused on the objectives of the bloc and emphasised the need for collaborated efforts to address the common challenges.

He handed over the chair of the

Cracks widen in Tareen Group as another MPA meets CM Usman Buzdar LaHore Staff RepoRt

Slowly but surely, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar is working to dent the Jahangir Tareen group — a disgruntled faction within the ruling Pakistan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as another lawmaker from Tareen group met with the CM Punjab here on Tuesday.

According to sources privy to the matter, the Tareen group MPA Syed Rafaqat Gillani met with CM Usman Buzdar and discussed political situation of Punjab.

The meeting comes on heels of widening cracks in the group of estranged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen. At least six members of Punjab

Assembly (MPAs) have met Punjab Chief Minister Buzdar since Tareen group demanded Buzdar’s removal.

The meetings between Usman Buzdar and five MPAs from Tareen group occurred two days back in Lahore. “Those who made contact included Taimoor Lali, Bilal Asghar, Iftikhar Gondal, Faisal Hayat Jabbuwana and Aslam Bharwana,” the sources said.

The sources said that the MPAs approached the provincial government after they failed to get assurances of a PML-N ticket in the upcoming election. One member of the Tareen group shared that the meeting with Hamza Shehbaz was a failure as he did not offer PMLN tickets to Tareen group members during the meeting.

FM Qureshi calls for early resolution of Kashmir dispute iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday called for early resolution of the Kashmir dispute for ensuring durable peace in the region.

He was addressing the meeting of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held here with the OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, in the chair on the sidelines of the 48th session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan is making all out efforts for peace in the region but India is blatantly violating human rights in the Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He said Pakistan remains committed to the early, just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu

and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan calls on India to immediately reverse its unilateral and illegal measures in IIOJK since 05 August 2019, end human rights violations there, withdraw its occupation forces, reverse the demographic changes in the occupied territory, remove hurdles and extend full cooperation to UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan in fulfilling its mandate, release all political prisoners and lift curbs on educational institutions in IIOJK to allow Kashmiri youth especially girls to exercise their right to education.

The Foreign Minister said India must fulfill its obligation of holding a free and impartial UN supervised plebiscite to let the Kashmiris exercise their inalienable right to selfdetermination as enshrined in numerous UNSC resolutions.

48th session of the OIC-CFM to Pakistan represented by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Earlier, Qureshi received the visiting foreign ministers on their arrival at the Parliament House.

The session coincides with the 75th-anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s independence.

On March 23, the visiting ministers will visit the Pakistan Day military parade venue and witness the capability of Pakistan’s armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting the national unity.

The OIC foreign ministers will also discuss developments in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and other regions during the summit.

Pakistan has a proud history of hosting major OIC events including Summits and CFM meetings. The country hosted the second OIC summit in Lahore in February 1974.

A so-called extraordinary summit was held in Islamabad in 1997 on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of Pakistan’s independence.

Pakistan also hosted the OIC CFMs on four occasions — second session in December 1970, 11th in May 1980, 21st in April 1993 and the 34th session in May 2007. The first and the 17th Extraordinary Sessions of the OIC-CFM were held in Islamabad in January 1980 and December 2021, respectively.

Hindu girl shot dead in Sukkur, suspect arrested An 18-year-old girl from the Hindu community was gunned down on Monday near the Chhuahra Mandi area of Sukkur, the police said. According to Sukkur Station House Officer (SHO) Bashir Jagirani, the assailant — identified as Wahid Bux Lashari — and two of his accomplices broke into Pooja Kumari’s house and opened fire on her. Officials said Lashari wanted to marry the teenager but she refused.

The victim’s father, Sahib Oad, lodged a first information report (FIR) against the suspects under Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), Section 302 (punishment for murder), and 337H(ii) (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The police arrested Lashari today and presented him before a local court, which subsequently remanded him into police custody for 10 days.

Kumari’s murder drew condemnation on social media, with #JusticeforPooja trending on Twitter. Former MQM leader Raza Haroon was among those who demanded justice for the slain girl. He urged Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take action, calling it the “worst form of human rights violation and persecution of religious minorities in Sindh”.

Activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir criticised the provincial authorities, saying: “Under the PPP government, child marriage laws aren’t worth more than the paper they’re printed on. NewS DeSk

All set to celebrate Pakistan Day with traditional zeal, fervour raWaLpindi NewS DeSk

All preparations have been finalized here to celebrate Pakistan Day in a befitting manner as the nation is preparing for the day celebrated across the country to mark the passing of the Lahore Resolution, when a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire was demanded on March 23, 1940 in Lahore.

Elaborated arrangements were underway to celebrate the day with great national zeal and patriotic spirit. As the Pakistan Day holds a significant place in the history of Pakistan and to mark it in a befitting manner, Armed Forces were busy in rehearsals and drills at ‘Shakarparian’ parade ground to celebrate the day in a spectacular way.

Armed forces troops and other departments were busy in rehearsals and making

other administrative arrangements for the day, to be observed in dignified and respectful manner on March 23.

The day would dawn with gun salutes and special prayers in mosques for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, liberation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and eradication of Covid-19.

The nation would renew its pledge to work with dedication and professional commitment besides paying rich tributes to national heroes of Pakistan Movement for their sacrifices. They would commemorate the historic ‘Lahore Resolution’ passed on March 23, 1940 that eventually led to creation of Pakistan within seven years of its adaptation on August 14, 1947.

The nation would pay tributes to leaders of Pakistan Movement including Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Na-

tional Poet Philosopher, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal for their matchless services for Pakistan. In Karachi and Lahore respectively, officials, parliamentarians and people from all walks of life would throng their tombs.

The national flag would be hoisted atop of all important and historic buildings which are decorated with colorful lights and buntings to mark the day. The youth have decorated their vehicles, motorcycles, cars and motorbikes while residents decorated their houses, bazaars and markets to express their love for the country.

The residents of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were also taking keen interest in the rehearsals and visiting nearby areas such as Faizalabad and I-8 interchanges to witness aerobatics maneuvers of fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Participating troops include foot columns

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of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, PAF, Frontier Corps, Northern Light Infantry, Mujahid Force, Islamabad Police, Tri-Services Lady officers, Tri-Services Armed Forces Nursing Service, Girls Guide, Boys Scouts, Special Service Group from three Services, mechanized columns of Armored Corps, Artillery, Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Strategic Force Command, Camel Band and Presidents Body Guard.

According to a District Administration spokesman, the administration has finalized all the arrangements for Pakistan Day. Rawalpindi District Police and City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi have chalked out special plans to ensure holding such a mega event in a magnificent manner.

Strict security measures have also been taken in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to avoid any untoward incident.

CTP Rawalpindi have finalized all the arrangements under a comprehensive traffic plan formulated for Pakistan Day. The spokesman informed that traffic from Faizabad to Rawalpindi and Islamabad would remain closed during Pakistan Day parade from morning to conclusion of the parade.

He said that all the traffic on Murree Road heading towards Islamabad would be directed to use diversion point of Double Road Chowk and 9th Avenue, whereas traffic coming from Koral Chowk would use Khanna Pull service road to enter Islamabad, after passing through Shamsabad via Double Road and 9th Avenue.

Heavy vehicles, including buses, trucks and trailers, would not be allowed to enter the city after 3 am, he added. Public transport vehicles coming from Murree, he said, would not be allowed to move towards the capital city from Lower Topa, Motorway Turn.

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Wednesday, 23 March, 2022

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No-confidence motion or miscalculation?

SC steps in Worry for PTI dissenters

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Whatever the outcome of “number game”, Imran is already the winner

Wo of the hotly debated issues concerning the no confidence move were settled on Monday by the Supreme court. The first was related to the presence of the crowds that were invited to the Red Zone by the government and the opposition, and the other relating to the PM’s avowed powers to disqualify the PTI legislators from voting. Both the issues had been created by government supporters. Information Minister Fawad chaudhry had warned that those who wanted to vote for the no-trust motion would have to pass through a millionstrong crowd of PTI supporters on their way to and from Parliament. The PTI side was also twisting Article 63-A to argue that the party head could declare that the dissident MNAs had defected even before the voting took place and the National Assembly Speaker could then reject their votes. After clarification by the Supreme court, political rallies called by governmentt and opposition have been assigned places far from D-chowk. The apex court has also clarified that every legislator would be allowed to vote freely.

Important issues still remain undecided for which a larger bench is being formed. Two issues raised in the President’s reference are of crucial importance. one seeks the apex court’s opinion if the dissenter’s vote can be considered valid. In case the answer is in the negative, dissenters’ votes will be rejected. The other question is whether the floor crossers can be permanently barred from contesting the elections as punishment. If the answer is in the affirmative the PTI dissidents voting against Imran Khan will be out of electoral contests for the rest of their lives.

The Attorney General of Pakistan thinks permanent disqualification is the sole remedy against floor crossing which is a problem faced over the past 70 years by governments, including those by the PPP and the PML(N).

Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is one of the dissenters, maintains if there is the issue of life-time disqualification, the dissenters would prefer resigning to be able to contest elections again. This will deprive Imran Khan of 14 legislators. It remains to be seen if ongoing attempts to woo back any of the 14 issued show cause notices succeed. In case three bigger allies, which remain uncommitted, decide to join the opposition the PTI could lose the required majority even if some of the dissidents return to its fold.

younus sanDeela

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oLLoWING Pakistani politics is nothing less than watching an award-winning mystery film– you just never know what is about to happen or who the villain really is. The drama of the no-confidence motion has kept the entire nation on the edge of the seat for at-least a fortnight now. Emotions have been running high. Political pundits are once again dominating the media, deciphering every move of government and opposition and trying to predict the final outcome.

Rising international oil prices, weak rupee as a result of large-scale plundering of national wealth, economic mismanagement during the last few decades, and tough IMF conditionalities, nhave been causing unprecedented inflation in the country. This has, obviously, put the government under tremendous pressure.

Just when the government was finding itself in a tight spot, the opposition came to its rescue. If the opposition succeeds in its no-confidence move against the Prime Minister, it may actually prove to be a blessing in disguise for the government as this will allow it to exit this unfavorable situation and let the opposition steer through the bumpy road ahead. And in doing so, as icing on the cake, gain sympathy from the masses as well. And if the no-confidence motion gets defeated, the opposition loses face, yet again, and Imran Khan comes out stronger than ever before. So, it seems like a win-win situation for Imran. however, for now Imran seems in no mood to give in: he clearly plans to fight till the very end.

Many who voted for the PTI in 2018 were getting disoriented due to high inflation, and other issues like Imran’s insistence on continuing with usman Buzdar as chief Minister of Punjab, in-spite of strong opposition from within the party. These people are now returning to the PTI camp with a renewed soft corner for their leader. They are again seeing him as a saviour – a sole crusader against a gang of corrupt looters. The opposition has made him a hero again. That too just when his most loyal supporters were beginning to get a bit edgy: they now see him as the victim of international politics that wants to keep Pakistan subservient to its demands and wishes. There was no way Imran could have achieved all of this without the no-confidence move by the opposition.

By miscalculating the move, the opposition has

Locking horns with the ECP It seems the PTI cannot help itself

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ARLIER this month, a verdict by a two-bench Supreme court bench limited the promulgation of ordinances solely to emergency situations, if neither house of Parliament is in session or a subject does not fall within the Federal Legislative List. The PTI government has issued no less that 54 ordinances during its tenure and the latest one enables the leadership of an elected government to campaign for candidates in their respective constituencies prior to an election, which clearly bypasses the Election commission of Pakistan’s (EcP) rules restricting this practice. Despite the EcP’s multiple warnings, Prime Minister Imran Khan attended public meetings in Swat and Malakand, for which he has been fined Rs50,000. That the Ihc, upon being approached by the government to suspend EcP’s notices, rejected the plea, harshly reprimanding the former for relying on ordinances to “get things done”, just goes to show how independent constitutionally established federal bodies are casually disregarded and their laws violated. The PTI does not seem to regard Parliament as the fount of legislation, and instead of putting in the hard work of not just piloting legislation through the houses, but also making sufficient compromises with the opposition to ensure its ability to pass required legislation, it prefers to issue ordinances The PTI and the EcP have been at loggerheads for quite some time now and since the former’s coming to power, and have had multiple run-ins whereby federal minsters have made belligerent statements against the institution, only to apologize later for their remarks. This animosity is understandable when one considers the ongoing foreign funding case and Faisal Vawda’s disqualification. In both instances, the PTI has delayed proceedings and bought time using the executive and administrative powers it holds. Mr Vawda was about to be unseated for having made a false declaration at the time of election to the National Assembly and thought he could save himself if he went up to the Senate on a true declaration. however, the EcP also unseated him from the Senate because of the original false declaration.

The PTI must realise two things. First, the EcP is not acting arbitrarily, but merely according to the laws it must administer. The PTI must also remember that this is precisely why it must lose, because it is acting illegally, and the EcP is winning the legAAal battles.

Anti-Arab Bias and Ignorance of European History Europe has no reason to think of itself as absolved of guilt

Washington Watch

M

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Dr James J Zogby

uch has been written about the double standards in political commentary regarding the war in ukraine. This has been on display in the way that ukrainian refugees have been welcomed (while Arab refugees have found doors closed); that the ukrainian right to self-determination and resistance to invasion has been supported (while these same rights are denied to Palestinians); and that the uSA and Europeans have decried the illegality of invading a sovereign nation (while ignoring our own histories of having done the same to many other countries).

There have been so many examples of these and other instances of double standards, as well as articles calling them out. But one additional and sometimes subtle form of bigotry on display in some comparisons of ukraine and the Arab World is particularly galling. It requires a response. here’s an example from a prominent New York Times columnist comparing the world’s response to Russia’s preparation to invade ukraine with its response to Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait:“Kuwait is a small authoritarian

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

once again given Imran the opportunity to bat on his favorite wicket: public rallies. Nowhere else can he use his charisma better than when addressing large public gatherings. The opposition should have known that no Pakistani politician can attract crowds better than Imran– it seems like a loose delivery which Imran is well positioned to hit for a six. Blinded by the greed for power, the opposition is deliberately ignoring the fact that inflation, after all, is not entirely Imran’s doing. Rising international prices will continue to cause inflation at home, irrespective of who is ruling. The rupee, though adjusted to its realistic value, is still vulnerable. In case the opposition actually manages to remove the PTI government through the vote of no-confidence, it will need to tackle sticky issues like inflation and a weak currency. unlike last time, it may not be easy for any new government to keep the rupee overvalued. Imran, now with experience of running the country, that too with a very hostile opposition, will be a ferocious opposition leader with a much bigger presence inside Parliament than what he enjoyed last time around.

It is no secret that the strategic relationship between china and Pakistan has reached new heights in recent times. No matter what is said for public consumption, this coziness has come, at least to some extent, at the expense of Islamabad’s relations with Washington. It was no coincidence that Imran Khan was in Moscow at the time when Russia decided to invade ukraine. The timing of the no-confidence motion, therefore, is naturally being seen as an attempt to punish Khan by those who were disturbed by his presence in Moscow at a moment most unpleasant to them. This card is already being played, presumably with quite a bit of success, in the social media by Khan’s supporters to discredit the current opposition leaders as agents of the West and to present Imran as the liberator!

Success of the no-confidence move by the opposition, which is generally seen as being close to the West, would effectively mean a huge setback to china. how would china, now a major supplier of arms to Pakistan, view this? could the no-confidence move be some kind of proxy war by the Westt against china being fought in Pakistan’s Parliament?

With a precarious situation in central Asia due to the Russia-ukraine conflict, will Russia, a powerful member of the china-led Eastern Bloc, sit back and let the strategic balance of power in the region tilt in favor of the West? This will surely cause jitters which may be felt beyond the region.

Regional and international realignments, which

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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emirate, representing few grand political ideals, in a war-torn region. ukraine is a democracy of more than 40 million people, on what was a largely peaceful continent home to major democracies.”

There is so much that is objectionable in these two sentences; most egregious is the point that underlies the writer’s thinking, i.e., ukrainians are more deserving of being defended than Kuwaitis. Looking more closely at what he is saying reveals the bias (and ignorance of history) that led to this observation.

We can dismiss the comparative size of the two countries. Size isn’t really the issue; while I have no direct evidence to make this claim, I would feel certain the writer wouldn’t claim that Egypt, because of its size, is more worthy of defence than Israel.

As for the forms of government involved, the writer clearly doesn’t understand that Kuwait, while being a traditional society, has a vibrant political culture, complete with highly competitive parliamentary elections.

The parliament has a long history of challenging government ministers, frequently clashing with them on matters of policy and accountability. And while it’s true that ukraine has a democratically elected executive, its governance has not been without turbulence, the presence of unsavoury characters, and charges of corruption.

In any case, the form of government can’t be the measure of a nation’s worthiness to exist or a people’s right to self-determination.

From the above quote, it appears that the Times columnist feels ukraine is more deserving of support than Kuwait is because ukraine comes from “largely peaceful Europe” while Kuwait is located in the “wartorn” Arab World— in other words, invasions and violence are to be expected with the Arabs, but not Europeans. In just a few words, the writer demonstrates a willful ignorance of history coupled with a healthy dose of bigotry.

“Largely peaceful?” In the last century, Europeans fought two bloody World Wars in which they killed more than 60,000,000 people on their continent. The first of these wars saw millions of young men sacrificed as pawns in a competition between European powers. This was followed by the birth of fascism in Germany, Italy, and Spain, which then gave way to an

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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are surprisingly being ignored by some political commentators,are what need to be carefully assessed as these trends will have a huge bearing on Pakistani politics.

Many political commentators define Imran as a puppet in the hands of the establishment, accusing him of doing whatever is being told to him. And in the same breath the same commentators go on to say “ye kissi ki sunta hee nahi hai” (he just doesn’t listen to anyone). These commentators are not only confused but they are also stuck in the past, evaluating political events in Pakistan using an obsolete yardstick, oblivious to the paradigm shift that has already taken place in national, regional and international politics they misguide their audience.

It is naive to believe that the all-powerful Pakistan Army will quietly sit and watch the drama unfold. True, it is not Army’s job to rule the country or even interfere in the politics. But it is very much its job to identify and dismantle conspiracies that can damage Pakistan’s strategic interests. If there is the slightest outside role in what is currently happening in the country, then this simply cannot be termed “politics”. This will be taken as effort to undermine and sabotage Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Also, the Pakistani voter is now far more aware than ever before. Gone are the days when voters were taken for a ride with hollow slogans. Maneuvering things in Parliament where the government lacks simple majority is one thing, but in general elections, which are just around the corner, getting well-informed masses to vote for people who have repeatedly failed to deliver in the past is going to be quite a different ball game. And the undeniable fact is that whatever the outcome of the vote on the no-confidence motion, all parties will soon be campaigning for 2023 general elections. coming back to the no-confidence motion, in case the PTI loses the vote it can make Parliament ineffective by tending mass resignations and forcing early elections. or should the Parliament somehow manage to continue, in-spite of mass resignation by PTI MNAs, the remaining 15-odd months will be used as an election campaign for 2023.

Thanks to the no-confidence motion, Imran is already in the election mode. While the new government will be busy settling down, Imran would be back on his container building support for the 2023 elections. In fact, it may not be surprising if he calls early elections even if the no-confidence motion is defeated. This will enable him to build on the momentum that has been created in his favour and try his luck in getting a bigger majority in Parliament.

The writer is freelance columnist

even more deadly war that witnessed an effort to exterminate the Jewish people, mass murders of Poles, Russians, Gypsies, and others, and cruel and indiscriminate mass bombings of cities (by both sides). At war’s end, Europe was divided with the establishment and expansion of the Soviet union which repressed and murdered millions as it consolidated its control and the brutal suppression of rebellions against its rule. With the end of communist rule, there was more violence in Bosnia, Kosovo, chechnya, Georgia, and ukraine, coupled with the rise of far-right racist movements in many European countries.

During the last century, when European powers weren’t engaged in murderous conflicts among themselves, they were fighting wars to expand their colonial holdings or, by mid-century, using brutish repression in a last ditch effort to maintain their hold over the colonies they were in danger of losing to independence movements. During this period, millions of Arabs, Africans, and Asians lost their lives seeking to throw off the European colonizers who had conquered their lands, exploited their treasures, and denied them their rights. But the legacy of “largely peaceful” Europe didn’t end with their departure from the lands they had despoiled. To serve their purposes, European colonial powers drew artificial lines dividing peoples and creating new states out of whole cloth. In other instances, they courted one indigenous community and placed it in a dominant position over others — oftentimes pitting religious, tribal, or ethnic groups against one another. In still others they gave lucrative concessions to compliant partners, allowing them to prosper at the expense of their compatriots.

Thus, in almost every region they colonized, European powers left a legacy of division and the seeds of future conflict. The bottom line: Europe hasn’t been “largely peaceful,” and a healthy dose of blame for the Arab World being “war torn” can be found in the way European powers ruled, divided, and distorted the Arab polity.

My intention in writing isn’t to dump on Europe or totally absolve Arabs from responsibility for their current situation. Nor has it been to pick on one New York Times writer, as this same observation has been shared by others. Rather, my purpose has been to make clear that the invasion of ukraine isn’t a solitary blot on an otherwise pure European landscape.

Russia is to be condemned for its invasion and ukrainians deserve their freedom— not because they are Europeans from a “largely peaceful” continent, but because invasion and occupation by bullies are wrong wherever they occur and whoever they are.

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 23 March 2022_Layout 1 3/23/2022 12:16 AM Page 2

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022

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

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Modern Problems

YouTh are considered to be the future of any nation. But unfortunately, our youth face many problems and challenges. Nowadays our young generation has become so much addicted to their mobiles. They spend their valuable time on social media leaving them nothing but hopeless idols.

The youth of Pakistan has become engrossed in digital media that they are unable to learn moral values from their elders. Social media has made them so isolated that many mental health issues are seen in young people.

Depression, social anxiety, suicide, hopelessness and other mental health issues have marred our young generation.

Peer pressure is also considered a big concern for youth. The pressure of becoming successful in their careers from their elders leave the young generation frustrated. They become incompetent and begin to degrade themselves. Moreover, lack of opportunity and unemployment make youth unable to perform efficiently. They feel disappointed which in turn results in them using drugs and they become addicted to social media and other games. In essence, the youth of the modern era have found themselves in the abyss with mental health issues, disappointment and frustration. This situation is in dire need of attention from peers, parents, educational institutions and the government. Where is our youth headed? It is food of thought for everyone in this age of the modern world.

MAHNOOR FATIMA, GujRANwAlA.

Pakistan Day: retrospect and prospect Drawing lessons

amJeD JaaveD

T

hE All-India Muslim League was born in Dacca in 1906 after the partition of Bengal. Lord curzon partitioned Bengal for a number of reasons, including a swollen population of 85 million. The Muslim population was happy but hindus started agitation against English raj, alleging the partition was the outcome of the British divideand-rule policy. hindus’ reaction made Muslims realize that hindus did not care a fig for Muslim interests.

The partition was actually due to curzon’s realization that Bengalis harboured deep resentment against hindu domination in various realms of life. The Muslim identity came to the fore in the partition of Bengal.

Lord curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 (a year before birth of Muslim League in 1906) to split the population, then 85 million, into smaller administrative units. The population was broadly divided into hindus and Muslims.

The British recognized that Bengal was too large for a province. The congress initiated mass agitation that brought the province to the brink of rebellion.

The All-India National congress believed that the dividing line cut right through the heart of the Bengali-speaking “nation”. It deprived Western Bengal’s “respectable people” (bhadralok) of their intellectual leadership. The partition resulted in the creation of a new Muslim-majority province of Eastern Bengal and Assam with its capital at Decca.

The All-India congress accused the Raj of acting upon the “divide and rule” policy. congress termed the division “vivisection of mother province”. ‘hail to mother’ (Bande Mataram) became the congress’s national anthem. The hindus (congress) began to boycott British goods. Lancashire-made cloth was burnt in bonfires. Lancashire imports began to be shunned.

The congress-led agitation forced Lord Linlithgow to abrogate the partition in 1912.

The Muslim League of West Bengal (19121947) came into being in response to the hindu nationalists’ violent agitation. The agitation exclusively focused on hindu identity, heritage, education and other interests. The partition strengthened Muslims’ identity. It gave them confidence that they could stand up and fight for their rights. The ugly anti-Muslim face of congress was unmasked in te 1937 elections in the 11 provinces of British India. congress won a majority of seats in eight provinces. congress began to shout that Muslim League had no

grounds to claim that it was the Muslims’ sole spokesman. The Quaid-e-Azam did not lose heart at 1937’s poor electoral performance. The subsequent 1946 elections confirmed that Muslim League was in fact the Muslims’ sole spokesman.

Bengalis were in the forefront of the Pakistan movement. Yet they developed the impression that West Pakistan treated them just as the British raj did. urdu was imposed on them. They developed the perception that their due share in economic resources was denied.

Mujibur Rehman was treated as a traitor (Roedad Khan in Pakistan: A Dream gone Sour says that there was a sound case against him).

Even when East Pakistan had practically slipped out of West Pakistan control, he tried to maintain a semblance of union in the form of a confederation (Rao Farman Ali, how Pakistan was Divided). India continued to stoke the Bengali cauldron of resentment. It kept preparing to attack East Pakistan.but the West ignored all indications.

Field Marshal ‘Sam’ Manekshaw makes no bones in a YouTube interview that Indira Gandhi compelled him to attack East Pakistan; he initially delayed the attack because of the impending monsoon. But he later complied. he admits “The Pakistani forces fought extremely well”.

In a published letter, RAW officer R.K. Yadav made the startling revelation that India’s prime minister Indira Gandhi, parliament, RAW and armed forces acted in tandem to dismember Pakistan’s eastern wing. The confessions in his letter are corroborated by B. Raman’s book The Kaoboys of R&AW. he reminds `Indian parliament passed resolution on March 31, 1971 to support insurgency. Indira Gandhi had then confided with Kao that in case Mujib was prevented from ruling Pakistan, she would liberate East Pakistan from the clutches of the military junta. Kao, through one RAW agent, got a Fokker Friendship, the Ganga, of Indian Airlines hijacked from Srinagar to Lahore…. Not only intelligence officers but also officers of armed forces were employed to carry out subversion and sabotage inside Pakistan.

“In July 1971, the first Bangladesh irregulars, trained in India, were infiltrated across the border at Madaripur. This first group of 110 guerrillas destroyed tea gardens, riverboats and railway tracks. These acts tied down troops, undermined East Pakistan’s economy and destroyed “communications between Dhaka, comilla and chittagong.”

The Indian forces initially set up six camps with some 3000 volunteers each, for training.

By September 1971, recruitment went up to a staggering 20,000 guerrillas monthly.

Eight Indian soldiers were committed to every 100 trainees at 10 camps. on the eve of the war, at the end of November 1971, over 83,000 Gano Bahini fighters had been trained, 51,000 of whom were operating— a guerrilla operation perhaps unrivalled in scale until then.

In the chittagong hill Tracts, Brig. uban sent in Indian soldiers, or rather cIA-trained, Indian-funded Tibetans using hastily-imported Bulgarian assault rifles and u.S.-manufactured carbines to obscure their links to India. Fighting under the direct command of RAW’s legendary spymaster Rameshwar Kao, Brigadier uban’s forces engaged in a series of low-grade border skirmishes.

India’s coAS issued a secret order to the Goc Eastern command, initiating the campaign

that would end with the dismemberment of Pakistan The Eastern command was to ensure that the guerrilla forces were to work towards “tying down the Pak [Pakistan] Military forces in protective tasks in East Bengal,” “sap and corrode the morale of the Pak forces in the Eastern theatre and simultaneously impair their logistic capability for undertaking any offensive against Assam and West Bengal,” and, finally, be used along with regular Indian troops “in the event of Pakistan initiating hostilities against us.”.

Even after secession,Bangladesh retains its Muslim identity. The spontaneous outrage in Bangladesh over desecration of the holy Quran at a Durga Devi temple speaks of consciousness of Muslim identity in Bangladesh.

After separation of East Pakistan, India shouted the two-nation theory is dead. But subsequent events reflected that the impression was mistaken. Several events corroborate that the hindus and Muslims remain apart even after separation of East Pakistan. When India suddenly stopped supplying onions and vaccines, Bangladesh tapped other avenues.

After the failure of the Bay of Pigs, John F. Kennedy told a journalist that, “victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan.”

The autobiographies of the East Pakistan commanders like AAK Niazi, Abu Bakr osman Mitha et. al. bear out the victory dictum. Niazi was rueful that he was removed from service.

But several of his colleagues went scot-free, he wrote a 13 page application to the then Pak president Farooq Leghari for restoration of his pension (AAK Niazi, The Betrayal of East Pakistan, pp.291-304).. But “the president chose not to reply” Major General Mitha also lamented that his pension was delayed After his retirement was announced on national television, his pension was withheld for seven years and his life made difficult.

In psychological parlance, such autobiographies are “defence mechanisms” and can’t be quoted as evidence, as the Indian writers including generals, do. In his over-ebullience, Niazi alleges Sahibzada Yaqoob ‘opposed the two nation theory”. Niazi blamed Yaqoob for the war plan that “the battle of the East will be fought in the West”. he blamed General Tikka for”atrocities” which in fact were figments of his own imagination. Rejecting an offer for conditional surrender in the East, the Indian forces entered Dacca on December 15.

It baffles one’s imagination why a land that gave birth to the Muslim League and the Pakistan Resolution became fed up within just a few decades. The perception of not being treated at par with West Pakistanis became a belief over time. The perception should have been discussed threadbare at the political level.

But it was too late.

Even after becoming independent, Bangladesh has retained its Muslim complexion. Indian Bengal is at loggerheads with Bangladesh on the issue of sharing river waters. Bangladesh never called for reunification with West Bengal. India welcomed refugees from East Pakistan but now BJP President and home Minister, Amit Shah, calls them “termites”. BJP stalwarts openly threaten if Bengali refugees do not go back they would be shot dead. India refused to supply vaccines notwithstanding a written accord. It blocked onion exports. Bangladesh is home to a million Rohingya refugees. But, India refused to accept even 81 refugees stranded in a boat in Andaman waters.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Ukrainian Weapons Manufacturing Industry

WARS can be expensive. And for a war to take place, someone has to be footing the bill to make a windfall profit later. Russia’s attack on ukraine to take over large swaths of land that are mostly farms and empty land is mainly to destroy the ukrainian weapons and military industry, which is in direct competition with Russia. The ukrainian weapons industry gained many customers after the Armenia and Azerbaijan war. Although Pakistan cannot stop a World Superpower like Russia. Pakistan should instead proactively work to transfer the ukrainian weapon experts, especially the drone experts to Pakistan, which would greatly enhance Pakistan’s fairly new weapons industry. ukraine’s government might even agree to help save their experts through a deal with transfer to Pakistan.

SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER PESHAwAR.

Way Forward SEEING the drama of psychological exploitation, it falls as the responsibility on the citizens to keep a check on those who accumulate power, not to blindly believe everything they say, rather investigate and ask for empirical evidence and reasons. If those in the state fail to come up to the truth, there must be a criminal liability against them based on law. To utter disappointment, such lies and deceptions are used globally. Tragic incidents are dealt with on the basis of emotionalism rather than legal inquiry. It is the prime reason why such tragedies keep happening, scapegoats keep getting sacrificed for the evils done by big fishes and by wolves in sheep’s clothing. If accountability ever takes place, it must commence with the united States itself.

MuHAMMAD SHARIF OTHO, SOBHODERO.

Stable currency and economic growth

A stable currency is very important to achieve real economic growth for any country in the world. It appears that our honourable Prime Minister, Mr Imran Khan does not understand this economic matter in the real sense because he is a cricketer turned politician.

Pakistan Rupee has depreciated about 45% during the last three and a half years since Imran Khan came into power in the August of the year 2018. The exchange rate of Pak Rupee was Rs 120 = 1 uS$ in August 2018 which is now Rs. 175= 1 uS$. Forty-five percent of the depreciation of its currency is an economic disaster for any country. When a currency is depreciating and has a weaker outlook, the investment stops coming from abroad. A country like ours can’t achieve real economic growth without foreign investment. Secondly, a devaluation tends to cause inflation especially in our country which has huge imports of goods. Since we have very sizeable imported contents in our consumption, the prices of goods and services increase immediately after devaluation making the life of a common man very difficult. Theoretically, devaluation should result in an increased demand for exports because our exports become cheaper abroad for the foreign buyers but we don’t get any noticeable increase in our exports after devaluation because we don’t have any significant exportable surplus.

EjAZ AHMAD MAGOON lAHORE

Heart disease in Pakistan

AT present, approximately 2380 deaths worldwide are caused by heart attacks every year. In the coronary heart attack deaths, Pakistan is ranked 18 out of 183 countries of the world according to global health rankings.

In a conference, Dr Naeem Malik, chairman of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, said that 47 people die of heart attack every hour in Pakistan. According to cardiologists, the main cause of heart diseases is high blood pressure, smoking, and non-exercise. According to a global report, 17 million deaths occur every year in the world, and 19% of deaths in Pakistan are due to heart attacks, which has reached 29%.

Medical experts should immediately investigate this as part of their research paper, that What are the causes of the spread of the disease, which has been increasing rapidly every year. In Pakistan, The National Institute of cardiovascular Diseases (NIcVD) has been gaining worldwide recognition for the establishment of satellite centres in every district of Sindh with all free treatment of heart diseases. NIcVD is the first and largest flagship institute of heart diseases in Asia. The government of Pakistan should expand free heart care services overall the country by establishing medical institutions same as NIcVD as well as providing information on prevention and treatment of this alarming disease through social awareness campaigns for healthy diet and lifestyle in the public.

IMDAD jAMAlI KARAcHI

08 WORLD VIEW 23rd March 22_Layout 1 3/22/2022 10:40 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

The fuTure of The world Is beIng decIded In beIjIng

Middle easT eye

A

Marco carnelos

DEcaDE ago, the British historian christopher clark wrote a masterful book, Sleepwalkers, which described how, in the summer of 1914, European nations stumbled into the First World War. the conflict in Ukraine seems to be more and more a repeat of 1914’s fateful summer. the US, Europe and Russia should carefully consider their next moves and keep in mind the tragic lessons of a century ago. if the covid-19 pandemic became a huge black swan, the conflict in Ukraine could turn into a black hippopotamus, a stagflationary shock.

Manichean views and zero-sum games are running rife, as the protagonists label each other Nazis and madmen. the war is escalating rapidly. the delivery of weapons labelled as “defensive” is leading to the use of bigger and bigger rockets, some plainly capable of carrying a nuclear payload. Strategy is inflationary, too, with open advocation of a no-fly zone, as if nuclear weapons did not exist.

Nato and the EU will have extraordinary summits on 24 March and the hope is that an exit strategy might be devised. Sanctions have been put in place that are designed to cripple the Russian economy; the rouble has collapsed and part of Moscow’s currency reserves have been frozen, even by the historically neutral Switzerland. the anglosphere (the US, canada and the UK) has embargoed Russian oil, sending the price of a barrel of crude on a rollercoaster, while EU countries are frantically attempting to reduce their high dependence on Russian gas.

SNOWBALL EFFECT: Economic pundits predict that Russia is doomed, and its default is considered a matter of when not if. the all-too evident expectation is that sanctions will cause so much economic distress to Russia that they will likely trigger an internal revolt or coup, and then propitiate a long-awaited regime change. at the same time, the economic blowback from these sanctions should not be underestimated. they could have a snowball effect. While many countries are economically decoupling from Russia’s energy supplies and commodities, others may accelerate an already visible decoupling from the US dollar as the global reserve currency. Russia and china are trading in their respective currencies and aim to launch their alternative to the western-based Swift bank clearing system.

Major oil producers such as Saudi arabia are considering trading with china in renminbi, casting a cloud on the petrodollar. india has already quadrupled its imports of

Russian oil, and the two nations are considering a rouble-rupee interchange. after the global financial stability mechanism set up by the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, and its update in 1971 with the US's unilateral and uncoordinated end of the convertibility between the dollar and gold, some analysts are even predicting a Bretton Woods iii. Should the dollar’s share of world trade decrease further, it would not be a comforting situation for the most indebted country on the planet: the United States.

Do the US treasury and the Federal Reserve really believe they can keep on printing dollars for eternity?

Do the wonks of the so-called Washington consensus really think that by persevering in the dollar’s weaponisation they can reasonably maintain its decades-old “seigniorage”? the timing of this new crisis could not have been worse. Quoting the late Saddam Hussein, the mother of all storms is hitting the post-pandemic world economy’s recovery and the efforts to stop climate change. the Green New Deal and covid pandemic have now been swept away from tV primetime. Virologists and green activists have disappeared from the talk shows. Starting up coal-fired power stations is even being talked about.

HUNGER AND POLITICAL TURMOIL: the world economy, already exposed to a two-year supply shock due to covid, is now “enjoying” a 1970s-style energy supply shock. it could soon become a crisis of basic commodities, and fuel the disruption of the food supply chain, considering that Russia’s and Ukraine’s crucial wheat production and export will probably be disrupted as well. in some countries (Egypt and lebanon to limit oneself to the Middle East), it could mean hunger and political turmoil. there is widespread volatility. inflation, which has been underestimated for too long, is now higher than it has been for the last four decades.

US President Joe Biden’s domestic reform agenda, already stunted by Senator Joe Manchin, appears doomed, and his hopes for mid-term election success next autumn, and Democratic hopes for the presidential ones in 2024, could be over too.

Next Generation EU, the massive €8oobn ($883bn) investment plan to get Europe out of the covid-generated economic depression, may be hijacked or need completely rewriting. the bare truth is that no one really knows what might happen to the world economy when the single-largest commodities producer on the planet, Russia, is sanctioned so heavily. Such uncertainty is introducing a hugely disquieting question: who will crash first? Russia under western sanctions or the western neoliberal economic and financial order because of its own sanctions’ blowback?

EUROPE POLITICALLY IRRELEVANT: other curious developments are unfolding. Former international pariahs such as Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi arabia are now courted to

mitigate the oil supply shock; and as for iran, the hope now is that its oil and gas will flood the markets again.

Saudi and UaE rulers have apparently rejected phone calls from the White House’s tenant.

Riyadh is considering trading oil with china in renminbi, and has extended an invitation to President Xi Jinping to visit the kingdom. Syria's Bashar al-assad has recently travelled to the UaE on his first visit to an arab state since the Syrian war erupted in 2011. it took a war in Europe to awaken its leadership from the torpor of its energy dependence on Russia. Now there is a frantic search for alternatives, even though neither the Soviet Union at the apex of the cold War nor Russia over the last three decades has ever stopped supplying energy to Europe.

For countries like Germany and italy it is a pressing issue. liquified natural gas (lNG) from the US and Qatar is not only more expensive, but it needs additional major infrastructures such as regasification plants, which are not popular in a nimby-dominated European mind frame. Decoupling from Russian gas will be neither easy nor cheap. above all, it will not be fast.

While transatlantic relations have been reinforced by the conflict, the EU's widely claimed strategic autonomy is its bigger political casualty.

Europe is not only politically irrelevant, but it will also take the biggest hit in terms of blowback. it will have to geographically reorient its trade and it will have to do it under highly unfavourable economic conditions, determined by the forced diversification of its energy needs, which will imply major additional costs. collaPSE oF US GloBal HEGEMoNY Yet the war in Ukraine is about much more than redefining Europe’s security architecture according to President Vladimir Putin’s wishes. What we are seeing is the ignition of a major global power struggle centred around the predicted collapse of US global hegemony. the partnership that china and Russia agreed on in Beijing on 4 February has appeared unequivocal on this point. the 6,000-word joint statement Xi and Putin issued was nothing less than a manifesto against the USled and enforced rules-based world order. Ukraine is probably the first theatre of a global epic confrontation that will decide the fate of the Russian-chinese plan for a multipolar alternative to the american unipolar system.

Beijing and Moscow had probably hoped to co-opt Europe into the great asian heartland economic integration project, which Russia and china have been working on for some time. this plan has nothing to do with the imposition of new politics and values on Europe. in contrast with western democracies, china and Russia do not care about how other countries are ruled.

From this point of view, they are cynically pragmatic. the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU), the Belt and Road initiative (BRi), the asian infrastructure investment Bank (aiiB) and the asian Regional comprehensive Economic Partnership (RcEP) - and the hinge that

the Shangai cooperation organisation (Sco) provides to all these multilateral projects - represent a strong pattern for continental Eurasian consolidation for the first time in history. if accomplished, it would constitute a tectonic shift from the current world order; a strategic setback that all the 20th-century's major anglo-Saxon geopolitics scholars (Halford Mackinder, Nicholas Spykman, Zbigniew Brzezinski) had always warned about. it is then fully understandable that Washington has been frantically multiplying its efforts to prevent such a scenario. this has happened by “normalising" Europe, especially Germany, fully re-binding it into the US and Nato corral; without Europe’s 500 million consumers, the Eurasian economic and trade bloc would be mutilated.

UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITIES: thanks to Putin’s crass miscalculation, the conflict in Ukraine is offering two unexpected opportunities: yanking Europeans back from the Eurasian economic path; and attempting to sever the chinese-Russian partnership. the first objective has been accomplished, and it will be ratified when Biden presides over the 24 March Nato and EU summits. the second is much more problematic. it would have been easier if over the last 10 years US policy had not thrown china and Russia into each other's arms. Nonetheless, while the weaker link of the Russia-china duo is bleeding in a war of attrition in Ukraine, team Biden hopes that Beijing will be forced to reconsider its partnership with Moscow; and the more Russia bleeds, the more china may reconsider its choices and calculus. So far, decoupling china from Russia has been unsuccessful. the meeting in Rome between Biden’s National Security adviser Jake Sullivan and his chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, was not productive. the same seems true for Biden and Xi's phone call last week. on the contrary, the mouthpiece of the chinese communist Party, the Global times, even urged Europeans to escape from the dangerous american tutelage. likewise, for the efforts to align the rest of the international community behind sanctions against Russia. only the anglosphere, the EU, Japan, South Korea and oceania have adopted them. the rest of the world seems indifferent. chinese leaders know perfectly that conflict with Russia is an intermediate step before going after china, which, at the bipartisan level in Washington is considered america’s major threat in the 21st century. it would be over-optimistic, to say the least, to expect china to drop Russia altogether. at this moment, everybody is watching the decisions that Beijing makes. it is probably the first time in the last two centuries that the future of the world order is hanging on a decision taken in an asian capital.

Marco Carnelos is a former Italian diplomat. He has been assigned to Somalia, Australia and the United Nations.

Ins & outs of phone tapping and privacy ACCORDING TO A 2010 REPORT IN A NATIONAL WEEKLY, THE UPA GOVT WAS WATCHING OVER A MILLION MOBILE PHONES ‘ALTHOUGH THE GOVT WOULD ADMIT ONLY 6,000’. SEVEN CENTRAL AGENCIES WERE AUTHORISED TO DO INTERCEPTION ‘IN SILOS’. TELEPHONES TAPPED BY STATES WERE IN THOUSANDS. THE NDA GOVT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF AGENCIES TO 10 IN 2018 Tribune, india

P

Vappala Balachandran

olitical pyrotechnics between the ruling Maha Vikas aghadi (MVa) and the main opposition party, the BJP, in Maharashtra on the ‘tapping war’ have confused the public. the BJP claims the moral high ground as ‘whistleblowers’ by handing over ‘pen drives’ to the authorities, seeking protection under the Whistleblowers Protection act, passed by the UPa government in 2014. the MVa government has accused the BJP of violating the indian telegraph act, 1885, and privacy laws through illegal recordings. the ‘war’ started in March 2021 when former chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, now leader of opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, claimed that he had handed over evidence on the ‘Maharashtra Police transfer racket’ to the Union Home Secretary in New Delhi. He also demanded a cBi probe. the second part of the ‘war’ started on March 8, 2022, when Fadnavis handed over a pen drive with 125 hours of video recording to the Maharashtra assembly Speaker complaining about a ‘conspiracy’ against the BJP by Pravin chavan, the MVa-appointed Special Public Prosecutor. anil Gote, former

BJP Mla, now with NcP, has lodged a police complaint against Fadnavis for this recording. the purpose of this article is not to judge the validity of these charges, which the police are investigating under the court’s supervision. it is only to analyse the history of the law on ‘tapping’ and its privacy implications. in india, government tapping is done under the indian telegraph act (ita), enacted by the British Parliament. the latter’s intention was to protect new communication technologies from interlopers into national security as it was state monopoly: the telegraph from 1837 and telephone from 1854-1876. later, railway communication, which was an essential service, was included. in 1870, the telegraph industry was nationalised and became part of the British Post office. italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi’s invention of radio during 1894-96 resulted in speedier communication, enabling the military use of cipher. that made it imperative for all countries to strictly control that medium. as a result, Section 5 of the ita gave total powers to the government to license, control, intercept and seize the medium “on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety”. in those days, no thought was given to individual privacy rights. British parliamentary debates even on May 26, 1930, revealed

that Parliament was concerned only about some restrictions (censorship) placed on British Press in india reporting to England. this was explained by William Wedgewood Benn, the then Secretary of State for india, due to the ‘delay’ in Peshawar owing to ‘exceptional conditions’. it may be amusing to know that the american government ‘interceptors’ were using “pocket telegraph” in the 1860s. they would climb up a telegraph or telephone pole and listen to all voice calls or record telegrams passing over the lines. later, agencies started having telephone or telegraph exchange equipment set up in secrecy, running parallel to the official exchanges. that was the position even in the 1970s with Bombay Special Branch, which catered to the ‘tapping’ requirements of the police, customs, Directorate of Revenue intelligence, cBi and Enforcement Directorate after taking permission from the commissioner of Police, who was the competent authority.

However, the entire complexion of this issue changed in 1996 when our Supreme court (Justices Kuldip Singh and S Saghir ahmad) emphatically highlighted the individual citizen’s right to privacy against inroads by the government by way of technical interference. that was the famous case of People’s Union for civil liberties vs the Union of india when the learned judges said that “telephone tapping is a serious invasion of an individual’s privacy”.

in america, all domestic wire tapping had to be done with court warrants under the Foreign intelligence Surveillance act, introduced by Senator ted Kennedy and approved by President Jimmy carter on october 25, 1978. However, ‘warrantless’ tapping was being done under the 1928 judgment in olmstead vs United States which had permitted domestic wire tapping ‘without trespass’ on privacy. the american civil liberties Union was carrying on a campaign against this. taking advantage of the olmstead law, a sports ‘bettor’ named charles Katz started using public call offices for his gambling activities. the FBi wiretapped that public call office and prosecuted Katz in 1966-67. although the lower court convicted him, the Supreme court acquitted him, radically changing the definition of ‘privacy’ in Katz vs United States. on December 18, 1967, it ruled that the FBi’s wiretapping even a public call office where he expected ‘reasonable privacy’ without a search warrant violated his Fourth amendment rights. in a similar manner, our Supreme court overhauled the entire system of telephone interception in 1996. it designated the Union Home Secretary or the State Home Secretary as the competent authority to permit such interception for an initial period of two months, which can be renewed up to six months and no further. it was decided that any extension up to six months should be granted by the Review commit-

tee. it prescribed what all records had to be maintained.

During this hearing, a suggestion was put forward to have prior judicial scrutiny into interception as in the US to take away the apprehension of arbitrariness or unreasonableness of the action. However, the learned judges decided to follow the practice followed in UK through the interception of the communications act, 1985, prescribing warrants. all these did not prevent our successive governments from authorising more and more departments with powers of interception. according to a 2010 report in a national weekly, the UPa government was watching over a million mobile phones “although the government would admit only 6,000”. Seven central agencies were authorised to do interception “in silos”. telephones tapped by states were in thousands. the NDa government increased the number of agencies from seven to 10 on December 21, 2018. the only way to remove this confusion is to adopt the British practice of Regulation of investigatory Powers act, 2000, which has replaced the interception of the communications act, 1985, under which all technical interceptions by police, military and intelligence agencies must be audited by the investigatory Powers commissioner.

Vappala Balachandran is a Former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat.

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

corporate corner CHief Of sOutH afRiCan naVy Calls On aiR CHief

Rally in MuzaffaRabad tO dRaW OiC’s attentiOn tO indian state teRRORisM in iiOJK MUZAFFARABAD

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Islamabad: Vice Admiral Mosuwa Samuel Hlongwane, Chief of South African Navy called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office on Tuesday.

The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of PAF personnel and the exceptional progress made by PAF over the years, especially through indigenization. The Air Chief highlighted that both countries enjoy cordial relations and reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing bilateral cooperation between the PAF and South African Air Force. Various matters of mutual interest and professional cooperation also came under discussion during the meeting. PR

dHa islamabad organising flower exhibition, food festival and music concert tomorrow Islamabad: Defence Housing Authority Islamabad is organising flower exhibition, food festival and music concert in collaboration with Urban Elements. The three day festival will start from 24th March in Jacranda Family Club, DHA phase 2, Islamabad. The festival will accommodate families and children of twin cities with social, cultural and leisure activities starting from 5 pm onwards. PR

WHO prequalified Remington Pharmaceuticals to supply covid19 medicines under global licences

Remington Pharmaceuticals, the only WHO Prequalified Pharmaceutical Company in Pakistan, has received licenses from the Medicines Patent Pool for the development, manufacturing & supply of generic versions of two Novel Oral Anti-Viral medicines for COVID-19 in Pakistan and export to over 100 countries globally. PR

Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, is presenting the official crest to Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Chairman FBR. Mian Anjum Nisar & Mr. Zakaria Usman, former Presidents of FPCCI and other prominent business personalities are also present on the occasion. PR

09

staff RePoRt

rally was held in Muzaffarabad, today, to draw the attention of Organization of Islamic Cooperation towards the Kashmiris’ demand of right to self-determination in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to condemn the Indian atrocities in the territory.

A large number of people rallied from Burhan Wani Shaheed Chowk to draw attention of the OIC to the deteriorating situation in IIOJK and

the worst human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian troops in the territory.

The participants of the rally, held under the aegis of Pasban-e-Hurriyat, carried banners and placards with slogans demanding of the OIC member states to play a practical role in the holding of plebiscite in the Jammu and Kashmir and to increase diplomatic pressure on the Indian government to settle the Kashmir dispute.

The participants in the rally were chanting slogans against India and in fovour of Kashmir’s freedom from Indian illegal occupation.

Speakers on the occasion hoped that the 48th Session of the OIC Foreign Ministers being held in Islamabad would be a good omen for the solution

of the problems faced by the oppressed and subjugated Muslim states and territories including Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and inara fashion Research Centres launch Zakat Campaign for 2022 officially launched Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres have launched their Zakat campaign for 2022. On this occasion, Acting CEO, Dr Muhammed Aasim Yusuf said, “We treat Zakat as a sacred trust, and have always taken all possible steps to ensure that the utilisation of Zakat complies with Islamic injunctions regarding utilisation for Zakateligible patients. Zakat funds are used for the medical treatment of deserving patients, and not for other expenses such as construction. SKMCH&RC has independent certification confirming that its Zakat processes are Shariah-compliant.”

Dr Muhammed Aasim Yusuf also gave an overview of the impact of charity over the last year, highlighting, “In 2021, we treated approximately 40,000 patients at our facilities and the generous support of our donors enabled us to provide financially supported treatment worth Rs. 9.7 billion to over 75 percent of our cancer patients. The proportion of Zakat collections in this was approximately Rs. 5.1 billion, which reaffirms that Zakat funds are completely exhausted on providing direct patient care within the same year they are collected.

Dr Yusuf further added, “For the year 2022, we have a budget of Rs. 28 billion, which will help us not only to treat an ever-increasing number of cancer patients for free, at our facilities in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi; but also to continue the construction of our third, and Pakistan’s largest, cancer

in Karachi

KARACHI PR

hospital in Karachi, where comprehensive cancer care will be available for all, under one roof. As in past years, we expect about half of this goal to be met through your generous Zakat and donations.

Ramzan is the month of giving and in this month, I would like to urge everyone to open their hearts and donate generously to support our mission of providing equitable access to quality healthcare to thousands of cancer patients from around the country and beyond.” PR

Inara Fashion (Smc-Private) Limited successfully launched its brand, INARA FASHION, on Friday, March 18, 2022, at its flagship store in Clifton, Block 8, Karachi.

INARA Fashion is a Ladies Shoes, Handbags, and Accessories Brand. Located in Karachi's Posh Clifton Area, INARA Fashion Aims to Bring Offerings That Are Beautifully Crafted, Comfortably Durable, and Elegantly Stylish. Led and managed by a seasoned team of professionals, INARA Fashion has set on a journey that encompasses a values-driven corporate culture, an utmost respect for all its team members and patrons, especially female staff and clients, a business model with a triple bottom line (Planet, People, Profit), and a mission to incorporate Islamic business guidelines and processes.

Pakistan Navy seizes narcotics in a joint operation at sea KARACHI PR

In an intelligence-based joint operation at Sea Pakistan Navy and office of Customs collectorate Gwadar seized approximately 3000 Kgs narcotics at sea off Balochistan Coast. Afterward the seized narcotics valued nearing 750 million rupees was handed over to customs for further legal proceedings. The successful execution of Intelligence based joint Operation is a demonstration of Pakistan Navy’s resolve to deter and disrupt illegal activities in maritime zone of Pakistan. Pakistan Navy will continue to should its national obligations and determined to ensure maritime security and order at sea.

The 5th International Conference on Patient Safety (ICPS) on the ‘Implementation Research in Healthcare Quality & Safety’ was hosted by Riphah Institute of Healthcare Improvemnet & Safety (RIHIS) in partnership with the Martin Dow Group and collaboration with the World Health Organization, Imperial College London, City University London, National Institute of Health. The conference was hosted at Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital (LNH). Picture shows (Mr. Ali Akhai, Chairman Martin Dow Group receiving a memento

by Dr. Salman Faridi, Medical Director Liaqat National Hospital and Dr. Zakiuddin). PR

10th Annual Convocation of Wah Medical College (WMC) held at College Auditorium 10th Annual Convocation of Wah Medical College (WMC) held at College Auditorium.

Prof Dr.Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences, Lahore awarded M.B.B.S degrees to successful students.

Major General Muhammad Asim Khan DG Production POF attended the event as Chief Guest. Principal Wah Medical College Major General (R) Dr.Abdul Khaliq Naveed presented the annual report of the college. He mentioned that, Wah Medical College had provided 1303 Qualified Doctors to the country since its inception. During 2019 and 2020 percentage of qualifying doctors remained 91 and 95 respectively. He added

that WMC is ranked among top 10 Government / Private Colleges affiliated with University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Furthermore, WMC won Award of Excellence in NLE examination from Pakistan Medical Commission. He also lauded the outstanding performance of Medical Education Department. Dr.Amna Sajjad, Dr.Shahzaib Khalid Butt, Dr.Hadiqa Ghazaf were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively on securing top 3 positions. Dr.Saqib Nasir, Dr.Laiba Mehboob and Dr.Zara Sheraz bagged 1st, 2nd and 3rd position respectively. They were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Principal

WMC distributed cash prizes of rupees three lac, two lac and one lac among three position holders respectively. Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences, Lahore, admired the faculty of WMC especially the Dean of Academic Professor Mussarat Ramzan for her untiring efforts to raise the professional capabilities of faculty and students. In the end, Chief Guest Major General Muhammad Asim Khan, DG Production congratulated the Doctors for their entry in professional life. He advised the doctors to serve the humanity with high sense of dedication and devotion. DG Production commended the efforts of faculty of WMC. PR

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Biden callS india ‘Shaky’ in RuSSia confRonTaTion

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AgeNCieS

S President Joe Biden said Monday that India was an exception among Washington’s allies with its “shaky” response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He lauded the US-led alliance, including Nato, the European Union, and key Asian partners, for its united front against President Vladimir Putin. This includes unprecedented sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s currency, international trade, and access to high-tech goods.

However, unlike fellow members of the Quad group – Australia, Japan, and the

United States – India continues to purchase Russian oil and has refused to join votes condemning Moscow at the United Nations.

Addressing a meeting of US business leaders in Washington, Biden said there had been “a united front throughout Nato and in the Pacific”. “The Quad is, with the possible exception of India being somewhat shaky on some of this, but Japan has been extremely strong – so has Australia – in terms of dealing with Putin’s aggression.”

Biden said that Putin was “counting on being able to split Nato” and instead, “Nato has never been stronger, more united, in its entire history than it is today.”

Indian oil refiners have reportedly con-

china searches for victims, flight recorders after first plane crash in 12 years

tinued to purchase discounted Russian oil, even as the West seeks to isolate Moscow.

An Indian government official said last week that the world’s third-biggest consumer of crude relies on imports for almost 85 per cent of its needs, with Russia supplying a “marginal” less than one percent of this. But “the jump in oil prices after the Ukraine conflict has now added to our challenges …

India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources,” the official added.

New Delhi, which historically has had close ties with Moscow, called for an end to the violence in Ukraine but has stopped short of condemning Russia’s invasion, abstaining in three votes at the United Nations.

Beijing and Islamabad share concern about sanctions on Russia, says China ReUTeRS China and Pakistan share concern about “spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions” on Russia over its war against Ukraine and called for a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution of the crisis, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Old allies China and Pakistan have refrained from condemning Russia over its Feb 24 invasion of Ukraine, unlike Western countries that have imposed unprecedented financial and corporate sanctions in response to what Russian President Vladimir Putin calls a “special military operation”. “Both expressed concerns about the spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement following a meeting on Monday in Pakistan between the neighbours’ foreign ministers.

“Both called for a ceasefire through diplomatic dialogue and hope that based on the principle of indivisible security, a fundamental solution to the Ukraine problem can be found,” the Chinese ministry said.

The Foreign Office also issued a statement on the talks in Islamabad, echoing the call for a ceasefire, but it did not mention concern about sanctions.

According to the FO, the foreign ministers discussed strategic, economic and security cooperation between Pakistan and China, the coronavirus pandemic,

wUZHOU ReuteRs

Rescuers scoured heavily forested mountain slopes in southern China on Tuesday looking for victims and flight recorders from a China Eastern Airlines passenger jet that crashed a day earlier with 132 people on board.

Parts of the Boeing 737-800 were strewn among trees charred by fire after China’s first crash of a commercial jetliner since 2010. Burnt remains of identity cards and wallets were also seen, state media said. Flight MU5735 was travelling to the port city of Guangzhou from Kunming, capital of the southwestern province of Yunnan, when it suddenly plunged from cruising altitude and crashed in the mountains of Guangxi less than an hour before it was due to land. Chinese media carried brief highway video images from a vehicle’s dashboard camera that appeared to show a jet diving to the ground at an angle of about 35 degrees from the vertical. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. Si, 64, a villager near the crash site who declined to give his first name, told Reuters he heard a “bang, bang” at the time of the crash. “It was like thunder,” he said. State media, which described the situation as “grim”, have said the possibility of the deaths of all on board could not be ruled out. The crash site was hemmed in by mountains on three sides, state media said, with just one tiny path providing access. Rain was forecast in the area this week. Excavators were clearing a path to the site on Tuesday, images on state television showed. Earlier, video images from the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, showed search and rescue workers and paramilitary forces scaling tree-covered hillocks and placing markers wherever debris was found. Police set up a checkpoint at Lu village, on the approach to the site, and barred journalists from entering. Several people gathered near the crash site on Tuesday for a small Buddhist ceremony. aBrupt desCent: An investigation team sent by the State Council, or cabinet, will give details of the search and rescue effort and the hunt for the black boxes at a news conference on Tuesday evening, state television said. The last commercial jetliner to crash in China was in 2010, when an Embraer E-190 regional jet flown by Henan Airlines went down, killing 44 of the 96 aboard. Highlighting the top-level concern, Vice Premier Liu He went to Guangxi on Monday night to oversee search and rescue operations. The disaster comes as planemaker Boeing seeks to rebound from several crises, notably the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on air travel and safety concerns over its 737 MAX model following two deadly crashes.

Once it is found, the cockpit voice recorder could yield clues to what went wrong with Monday’s flight.

“Accidents that start at cruise altitude are usually caused by weather, deliberate sabotage, or pilot error,” Dan Elwell, a former head of US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration, told Reuters. Elwell, who led the FAA during the 737-MAX crisis, said mechanical failures in modern commercial jets were rare at cruise altitude. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Monday appointed an investigator, as the Boeing aircraft was produced in the United States, but it was unclear if the investigator would travel to China. On Monday, China Eastern and two subsidiaries grounded its fleet of 737-800 planes. The group has 225 of the aircraft, data from British aviation consultancy IBA shows. As of Tuesday, other Chinese airlines had yet to cancel any flights that use 737-800 aircraft, according to data from Chinese aviation data provider Flight Master. Among the passengers on flight MU5735 was the chief financial officer of Dinglong Culture, a Guangzhou-headquartered firm whose businesses range from entertainment to titanium mining. A provincial daily cited a woman as saying six of her family members and friends were on the flight to Guangzhou, where they had been due to attend a funeral. Onshore-listed shares of China Eastern slumped over 6.5 percent on Tuesday, while those trading in Hong Kong fell nearly 6 percent.

China threatens countermeasures against US visa restrictions NewS DeSK China has urged the U.S. to immediately revoke sanctions on Chinese officials related to visa restrictions, warning that otherwise the country will respond with countermeasures, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. will impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in so-called human rights abuses.

China is firmly opposed to the U.S. statement, Wang said, adding that it is full of ideological bias and political lies.

The Chinese people are in the best position to judge China’s human rights condition, not the U.S., he stressed.

Noting that China’s human rights situation is at its best in history, he said that the Chinese government adheres to the people-centered philosophy of human rights, and earnestly implements the constitutional principle of respecting and protecting human rights.

“The biggest human rights abuser in the world is the United States,” Wang stressed, citing human rights violations by the U.S. in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and in aggressive wars.

China urges the U.S. to reflect on and correct

its numerous human rights crimes and view China’s human rights situation in an objective and fair manner, Wang said.

China urges us to stop sowing disCord in the south China sea: The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged the U.S. to stop sowing discord and flexing muscles in the South China Sea as US Indo-Pacific commander earlier claimed in an interview that China has fully militarized three islands in the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a regular press conference responded that China, as a sovereign country, is naturally entitled to deploy necessary defense facilities on its own territory.

It is consistent with international law and beyond reproach for China to do so, he added.

The spokesperson also pointed out that the U.S. has been enhancing military deployment around the South China Sea in recent years and frequently sent warships and military aircraft on a large scale for provocative purposes, which gravely threatens the sovereignty and security of littoral countries and undermines the sound order and navigation safety in these waters. Wang said he hopes the U.S. will play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

the situation in Ukraine and other international matters.

Qureshi welcomed his counterpart’s participation in the OIC summit and the Pakistan Day parade. pak-China ties: The foreign minister also stressed China’s significance in Pakistan’s foreign policy, saying that the two countries have “always supported each other in matters of interest and critical junctures”.

He also briefed his Chinese counterpart about India’s “so-called accidental firing” of a missile into Pakistan on March 9, stressing Pakistan’s demand for a joint probe into the incident and ensuring that it does not happen again. Qureshi also informed Yi about India’s human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, according to the FO statement.

He emphasised that “both countries must continue deeper engagement to promote peace, and stability in Afghanistan and avert the humanitarian crisis there”.

They also “reaffirmed the resolve to sustain and build upon the current momentum of bilateral relations”. According to the FO, five documents were signed during the meeting, including an agreement on mutual recognition of higher education certificates and degrees and a Memorandum of Understanding between China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Economic Affairs on the project of China-Pakistan Joint Research Center (CPJRC) on earth sciences.

Teen arrested after deadly knife attack at Swedish high school STOCKHOLM AFP

Two women died after being stabbed at a high school in southern Sweden on Monday, police said, adding that an 18year-old student had been arrested. The two women, both in their 50s, “were employees of the school”, the police said in a statement following the attack at Malmo Latinskola, a secondary school in the centre of Malmo, the country’s thirdlargest city. Local media said the alleged attacker called the emergency number to say where he was and that he had put down his weapon and admitted to having killed two people.

He was armed with a knife and an axe, according to several Swedish media. The suspect was arrested without difficulty shortly after the arrival of the first patrol, according to the police account. Earlier in the evening, police had initially reported two injured among the around 50 people in the school at the time of the incident. The two victims “were taken to the hospital but their lives could not be saved”, the authorities said. Police were alerted around 5:15 pm (1615 GMT) and a first patrol was able to enter the school.

Footage shows heavily equipped and armed police inspecting the interior of the building. The school remained cordoned off with police tape several hours later, and numerous police cars and ambulances were still at the scene. After initial reports of screaming in the school, “we have had more information that pointed to a serious crime being committed and that violence was occurring in the school,” police spokesman Nils Norling told AFP. “The first police patrol on site was able to arrive at the school and arrest a male suspect. They were also able to see that there were two injured people inside the school,” he said, speaking in front of the building. No motive has been established so far.

After extensively inspecting the scene and interviewing witnesses, the authorities are convinced the suspect acted alone. “A lot of work remains ahead of us to understand what happened and the motivation behind this appalling act,” said Asa Nilsson, one of the heads of the investigation. A press conference is scheduled for 9:30 am (0830 GMT) Tuesday. In January, a 16-year-old boy was arrested after wounding a student and a teacher in the town of Kristianstad, also in southern Sweden. The case had been linked to a similar attack in August in the town of Eslov, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) away, when a student attacked a 45-year-old school worker. No link has been established at this stage with the Malmo incident. In October 2015, three people were killed in a racially motivated attack at a school in the western town of Trollhattan by an assailant later killed by police.

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

PAkIStAN SteADy After NASeem, SHAHeeN HAlt AuStrAlIA IN tHIrD teSt

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NewS DeSk

ACE spearheads Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi knocked over eight wickets and restricted Australia to 391 before Pakistan ended day two of the deciding Test at 90-1 in Lahore on Tuesday.

The duo led a late charge to close the second session as Australia lost their last five wickets for 71 runs after reaching a commanding 320-5 at lunch. Naseem finished with figures of 4-58 and Shaheen 4-79.

The series is tied at 0-0 after the first two Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi ended in high-scoring draws.

At stumps on Tuesday, the game was evenly poised and the series hanging in the balance as Abdullah Shafique, 45, and Azhar Ali, 30, returned to the pavilion five overs early due to bad light.

Shafique and Azhar had to rebuild after Pakistan opener Imam-ulHaq was trapped leg-before by Australian skipper Pat Cummins on 11. But the pair looked untroubled, putting on 70 for the second wicket.

Azhar survived a stumping scare while batting on 14 but the review showed his foot was planted well in-

side the crease after he was beaten by a well-flighted delivery from spinner Mitchell Swepson.

Before Naseem and Shaheen brought Pakistan back into the game, Cameron Green, 79, and Alex Carey, 67, had frustrated the hosts in the morning session, adding an invaluable 135 for the sixth wicket.

Fortunes turned after spinner Nauman Ali had Carey leg-before in the fourth over after the break.

The wicketkeeper-batsman had hit seven boundaries in his 175minute knock.

Green was then bowled by Naseem after a resolute 223-minute stay intermittently lit up by nine boundaries. Pakistan were looking to make early inroads at the start of play with the second new ball only five overs in.

But Australia, who resumed at 232-5, took advantage of a placid Gaddafi Stadium pitch to bat through 28 overs unscathed.

Pakistan thought they had removed Carey for 27 when umpire Aleem Dar gave him out caught behind off fast bowler Hasan Ali

Mancini gunning for World Cup glory with Italy’s qualification in the balance MILAN AFp

Italy are aiming for World Cup glory despite having to navigate a treacherous play-off path in order to get the 2022 tournament, with North Macedonia the first barrier standing in their way.

The European champions begin a potential twomatch mini-campaign in Palermo on Thursday with missing a second straight World Cup a real possibility, as a trip to either Turkey or Portugal awaits should they get through their semi-final.

However, coach Roberto Mancini says he is looking past the playoffs and at Qatar, where the tournament kicks off in November.

“Our goal is to win the World Cup, and to win the World Cup we have to win these two matches. There’s nothing else to say,” Mancini told reporters on Monday.

After the so-called ‘Notte Magiche’ (‘Magical Nights’) of Euro 2020, Italy looked certain to banish the ghosts of the disastrous qualifying campaign for 2018 as Mancini’s team not only won, but won playing an expansive style of football rarely associated with the Azzurri.

Those balmy summer evenings soon gave way to a frosty autumn in which Italy drew four of their final five World Cup qualifiers and two missed Jorginho penalties in their two matches with Switzerland cost them an automatic spot.

Italy’s displays in those matches did not live up to

the swaggering style which characterised their play right up to their Euro quarter-final win over Belgium.

“I’m confident. I have good players, professionals who from nothing built a victory that nobody believed in beforehand,” added Mancini.

“They managed to form themselves into an extraordinary team. We need to build our confidence from that, from what we have accomplished.” defensive worries: Although the manner in which the top spot in Group C was handed to the Swiss has caused alarm, Mancini is sticking with the blueprint which brought him to triumph at Wembley.

“We don’t have much time to try out new things in training. The basis will the same as in the Euro,” he

said.

Italy will likely be missing their entire first-choice back four, with Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola and Giovanni Di Lorenzo all expected to be out of the semi.

Right-back Di Lorenzo was taken out of the picture at the last moment when he limped out of Napoli’s 2-1 win over Udinese on Saturday afternoon, while on the other flank Spinazzola hasn’t played since injuring his Achilles tendon against Belgium in July.

The last time Bonucci played was early March while on Sunday Juve teammate Chiellini made his first appearance for the best part of two months, in the first half of his team’s 2-0 win over Salernitana.

Mancini said he probably would not risk as important a figure as Chiellini for a home match against a team they would expect to dominate, given the tough nature of the final should they get through.

“Giorgio is pretty good, we’ll see if he can play both matches, probably not, but we’ll talk about it together,” said Mancini.

Backing his team will be a sell-out crowd at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in the Sicilian capital, the first match in Italy to be played in front of a full-capacity stadium since the coronavirus pandemic first curbed attendances.

Stadiums in Italy are not due to fully open until April after fluctuating between 50 and 75 percent since the start of the season but special permission has been granted for the play-off as Italy hope to not repeat the nightmare of just over four years ago.

KPL plans to stage semi-finals, final matches of season two in England BIRMINGHAM Monitoring report

Organisers of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) are in talks to stage the last three matches — that is semifinals and final — of the second season of KPL in England. KPL President Arif Malik and CEO Chaudhry Shahzad Akhtar told media about their plans after a roadshow event to promote KPL held at the Consulate of Pakistan in Birmingham.

The KPL officials said that the league also plans to hold an exhibition match in May at a major cricket venue in England to pay tribute to star cricketer Shahid Afridi. “Shahid Afridi has made a huge contribution to the game of cricket, not only in Pakistan but also around the globe. He is a trendsetter. To honour his services to the game of cricket, we are planning to organise an exhibition match in England,” said the KPL president.

Malik said that the planned match will be played between KPL Stars and England Stars and Afridi will be the captain of one of the teams.

He termed it like presenting a guard of honour to Afridi for his services to the game.

“All the superstars of KPL will be in action in that game. [Two to three] Kashmiri origin players will also play that match and It will be a huge moment for them too to feature along with some great players,” said Malik.

For his part, Akhtar said that the plans are now to make this league a global event and for that reason, they are in discussion to hold the semi-finals and final match of the second season in England.

“The reason is that the largest diaspora of Kashmiri origin lives in the UK which is nearly one million now.

So, this will provide an opportunity to them to see the players in action in KPL and also meet them,” said Shahzad.

Akhtar also said that it was unfortunate that before KPL, there wasn’t a single organisation in Kashmir that could utilise and polish the local cricketing talent.

KPL is like a bridge for those players who are from Kashmir and want to play in the PSL, he said.

“Players like Zaman Khan and Kashif Ali are two such players who have even proven themselves in the PSL — which is now the biggest cricket brand of Pak-

istan were the product of Kashmir Premier League”.

The CEO of KPL said that the cricketing talent is in abundance in Kashmir which can now use the platform of a global league like KPL. “KPL will open the window of opportunity for more players to play and star in international leagues and county cricket around the world. We will also facilitate players from Kashmir to play and learn in England from KPL’s platform,” said Akhtar.

Responding to a question about challenges and issues faced during the inaugural edition of KPL, Malik said that the moment the first ball was delivered in the tournament only then he realised that the league is actually happening.

He said that the role played by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) was unfortunately very negative and lake sportsmanship.

“The reaction which came from BCCI was totally unnecessary. We were only thinking about cricket and there was no politics involved. Broadcast service providers were pressurised not to travel to Kashmir

telling them that it was not a safe place and they can face security issues”.

“Even the production crew members coming from other countries and the companies who provide production technical services were also stopped.”, added Mr Malik.

He said that foreign players were also pressurised to not take part in the league, but thanks to English spinner Monty Panesar who brought this issue into the media.

“When he made statements in media, only then everyone realised the amount of pressure those players were facing,” he said.

In this year’s edition of KPL, the organisers are set to encourage a bigger number of overseas Kashmiris players from the UK. As the number of teams has risen to eight now in the league and it’s mandatory to have five Kashmiri players in each team, it is estimated that around forty players from Kashmir or Kashmiri origin will feature in the second edition of KPL.

but the Australian reviewed straight away.

The replay showed he had missed the ball, which had also not carried to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Carey took full advantage of his reprieve by smashing spinner Sajid Khan for two boundaries before reaching his third Test fifty with a single.

Australia are on their first tour of Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to tour the country over security fears.

Shaheen Afridi becomes leading wicket-taker since his international debut StAff RepoRt Shaheen Shah Afridi has become the leading wickettaker in international cricket since he made his debut back in 2018. The left-arm pacer achieved this feat during the third Test match against Australia after he dismissed Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Swepson. Shaheen has now taken 192 international wickets since his debut and has overtaken Australian captain Pat Cummins who has 191 scalps under his belt. In addition to this, Shaheen Afridi also has the best strike rate (36.0) of all the bowlers with 150+ wickets.

Here is tHe breakdown of sHaHeen afridi’s 192 international wickets: tests Total Wickets: 94 Best Figures: 10/94 9 four-wicket Hauls, 4 five-wicket Hauls, 1 ten-wicket Haul odis Total Wickets: 53 Best Figures: 6/35 4 four-wicket Hauls, 2 five-wicket Hauls t20is Total Wickets: 45 Best Figures: 3/20

Naseem Shah becomes only the third Pakistan teenager to achieve this feat StAff RepoRt Pakistan youngster Naseem Shah has become only the third teenager hailing from Pakistan to take four or more wickets in an innings against Australia. The previous two players to achieve this feat were Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir. Naseem reached the milestone during the third and deciding Test match of the series between Pakistan and Australia. He played an integral part as he provided the much-needed breakthrough by claiming the wicket of Steve Smith for 59. Naseem then claimed the wicket of Travis Head and also sent Cameron Green back to the pavilion on 79. Nathan Lyon was the fourth wicket which the youngster claimed. The youngster returned the figures of 4 for 58 and bowled a total of 31 overs.

DHA Islamabad International Squash Championship ISLAMABAD pr

Rawalpindi is set to host high-profile international squash championship taking place from March 26-30.

DHA Islamabad International Squash Championship 2022 will start with effect from Saturday, 26th March 2022 at Jacaranda Family Club Squash Complex, DHA Phase Islamabad. A total of 23 matches will be played in the championship, which will continue till Wednesday, 30th March 2022. As many as 14 local and 10 international players carrying international ranking will be seen in action. International players are participating from 5 different countries including France, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar and Egypt. The tournament will be played as per rules of international "Professional Players Association" (UK). Legendary Mr Jahangir Khan will be the Chief Guest of the final event.

Wednesday, 23 March, 2022

prayer tiMiNgs

NEWS

TOP SAudI dIPlOMAT cAllS On cOAS Gen BAJwA LAHORE

S

staff report

AUDI Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in hosting the 48th annual meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) under the banner of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, the latest situation in Afghanistan, and bilateral defence relations between the two nations were discussed, said an Inter-Services

Public Relations (ISPR) statement.

Gen. Bajwa said Pakistan valued its historical and brotherly relations with the Kingdom and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world.

He termed the OIC session a historic development for bringing the international community to a shared vision and joint strategy to find solution to emerging challenges vital for peace and stability.

Al-Saud appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, efforts for effective border management, role in regional stability and pledged to play his part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Islamabad at all levels.

ISLAMABAD With reference to the no-confidence motion, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif have said that the government’s delaying tactics are intolerable.

In a telephonic conversation that took place between the PPP and PML-N leaders on Tuesday, the national political situation was discussed. During the meeting the opposition decided that instead of facing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the delaying tactic of PTI is intolerable.

PPP Chairman and PML-N President agreed

that the opposition parties will not forgive Imran Khan for his economic crimes against the people.

It was further conveyed that the opposition will not let PM and his team members flee away.

Meanwhile, vice-president of PML-N Maryam Nawaz has said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan could not prove corruption of even Rs65 after spending an amount of 65 million Pounds against Nawaz Sharif.

Taking it to Twitter, Maryam mentioned that PM Imran Khan spent the national money and failed to prove the corruption charges. She added that Allah protected Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam Nawaz went to say that PM Imran should be held accountable to answer that who gave him the authority of spending the national money for revenge purposes.

Zardari, Bilawal to act as ‘guarantors for MQM, PDM deal’

ISLAMABAD A day after the government asked the Supreme Court to advise if it could seek lifelong disqualification of dissidents from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan insisted that only such a stringent punishment will be potent enough to end the notorious practice of floorcrossing.

Article 63-A of the Constitution, the law on floorcrossing, provides that MPs who defect could lose their seats if they then vote against their party, but the government aims to find out whether that also applies before they cast their votes.

Last week, several ruling MPs withdrew their support for the prime minister ahead of the no-confidence vote, weakening his prospects of retaining power.

Speaking after filing a petition to the Supreme Court on Monday, Khan told reporters the government had asked it to advise why MPs who ditch their party and switch sides cannot be disqualified for life.

Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Tuesday, he said floor-crossing was not only illegal but also an immoral act that must be condemned.

“Penalty for crossing floor should not be a one-time disqualification if Article 63-A is read with Article 62,” he said, contending those not fulfilling the Article 62-1 (f) criterion stand disqualified for life as interpreted by the Supreme Court.

Therefore, a defecting MP should be considered to have lost the qualities mentioned in Article 62-1 (f) if Article 63-A is to be made effective, he asserted.

Khan said the two questions — is Article 63-A an isolated provision of the Constitution or is it part of the larger scheme that includes Article 62-1 (f) — is the government’s case in the top court.

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 3:41

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PM Khan, Saudi FM discuss situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, Afghanistan ISLAMABAD

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Govt’s delaying tactic on noconfidence motion intolerable: Shehbaz, Bilawal

Only lifetime disqualification will end horse-trading: attorney general

FAJR SUNRISE 5:01

ISLAMABAD MiaN abrar

Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday assured Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to act as guarantor for MQM’s deal with the leadership of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leadership.

“I and Bilawal will look after the settlement reached with MQM-P,” Zardari assured Khalid Maqbool in a telephonic conversation following Maqbool’s meeting with PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The PPP co-chairman also invited the MQM-P stalwart to Islamabad and meet him to finalise the matters before the no-confidence motion.

It merits mention here that the MQM leadership has been accusing Asif Zardari and Bilawal for the suffering of the people of Karachi for the past four decades and they contest elections on slogans promising the Karachi citizens to oppose the PPP. Zardari phoned MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to discuss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The PPP co-chairman asked the MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui about his party decision on the no-confidence motion.

Asif Ali Zardari asked Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to directly remain in contact with him and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to which the MQM-P convener replied: “Yes will remain in touch,” the sources said.

Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Tuesday and discussed regional and international issues including the situation in Afghanistan and the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The prime minister conveyed cordial greetings for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He underscored the special significance of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relationship, which was based on close fraternal ties, historic links, and support at the gross-roots level.

Recalling his visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2021, the prime minister took stock of the latest developments and stressed the importance of exploring new avenues of cooperation to further deepen bilateral relations in diverse fields.

The prime minister commended the leadership role of the Kingdom to advance the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) into a vital platform for the Islamic world’s causes.

Recalling the issues faced by the Islamic world, the prime minister stressed the need for enhanced cooperation for addressing the myriad of challenges confronting the Ummah.

Highlighting the contemporary challenge of Islamophobia affecting the Muslims around the world, the prime minister underscored the importance of collective action by the OIC member states for dealing with this pernicious phenomenon.

The prime minister thanked the Saudi FM for the Kingdom’s steadfast support for the just cause of Jammu and Kashmir. Prince Farhan congratulated the prime minister on the successful holding of the 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad.

Two pilots martyred as PAF trainer aircraft crashes near Peshawar Two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots embraced martyrdom on Tuesday as a trainer aircraft crashed near Peshawar during a routine training mission.

According to a statement issued by the PAF, no other loss of life or property was reported on the ground.

Meanwhile, the PAF spokesperson said that a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the incident.

Earlier in September 2021, a small trainer aircraft had crashed near Mardan during a routine training mission.

In a similar incident in August 2021, a fighter trainer aircraft had also crashed during a routine training mission near Attock, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Both pilots had ejected successfully. No loss of life or property had been reported so far on the ground,” the official had said. staff report

ECP fines PM Imran Khan for Rs50,000 over code breach The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday once again slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Prime Minister Imran Khan for violating the code of conduct as he attended a public gathering in Swat. Earlier, on March 19, Lower Dir’s District Monitoring Officer (DMO) Hameedul Lah had imposed an Rs50,000 fine on Prime Minister Imran Khan for violating the code of conduct as he attended a public gathering in Dir as well.

The ECP had barred PM Imran Khan and other public holding officers from attending public gatherings in districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the second phase of the local bodies elections are due.

However, the PM continuously attended public gatherings and neglected ECP’s warnings. According to sources, DMO Swat imposed a fine on the PM for breaching ECP’s code of conduct as he attended and addressed a public gathering in Swat on March 16.

Following the violation of the code of conduct, ECP also slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Communication Murad Saeed and two provincial ministers Dr Amjad Ali and Muhibul Lah. ECP has also taken notice of the PM’s upcoming

visit to Mansehra and called it a breach of the code of conduct. News Desk

‘Allies no more with PTI,’ claims Fazl after meeting MQM-P in Karachi Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed Tuesday the ruling PTI’s allies were no more with the government after meeting with MQM-P in the metropolis.

Fazl made the announcement during a press conference alongside MQM-P’s top brass — convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other leaders — after meeting the government’s ally party at their head office in Karachi’s Bahadurabad area.

“They (MQM-P) will announce that they are with us in a day or two […] after meeting the MQM-P leadership, I am completely satisfied that the no-confidence motion will be successful,” the PDM chief said, as the days for the National Assembly to vote on the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan draw close.

NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has convened the crucial session of the lower house to deliberate on the no-confidence motion against

PM Imran Khan on March 25.

The PDM chief said the language PM Imran Khan has used during the recent rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkwa was not that of an “honourable person”.

“I think it is disrespectful to have such people assume such big offices,” Fazl said.

Before meeting the MQM-P delegation at their head office, a journalist asked Fazl whether the Opposition was afraid of the outcome of the no-confi-

dence motion. At this, the PDM chief said: “Hum ghabratay nahi hain (we are not afraid).”

With the NA session for voting on the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan expected to take place this month, the government is trying to woo its allies for supporting it during the voting.

The Opposition is also attempting to cajole the PTI allies and seeking to break the government’s alliance in the lower house — by holding back-to-back meet-

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

ings with them.

PM Imran Khan has said that he is ready for everything that the Opposition plans to throw his way — but he has also intensified meetings with allies ahead of the no-trust motion session.

The government’s ally in the Centre, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), has assured PM Imran Khan of complete support ahead of the no-trust motion, while other allies — BAP, MQM-P, and PML-Q — are still indecisive. News Desk