Issuu

Monday, 2 May, 2022 I 30 Ramzan, 1443 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XII No 304 I 48 Pages I Lahore Edition

FIR lodged agaInst ImRan, otHeRs oveR IncIdent at masjId-e-nabwI g

sANAuLLAH voWs To ArrEsT ForMEr PrIME MINIsTEr For ‘PLANNINg’ sLogANEErINg

ISLAMABAD

staff report

ours after Hamza shehbaz took over as chief minister of Punjab on saturday, the police booked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, party’s senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry and Awami Muslim League (AML) president sheikh rasheed Ahmad, among 150 people, on blasphemy charges over sloganeering against Prime Minister shehbaz sharif and his delegation in Medina. The first information report (FIr), lodged after midnight in Medina Town police station in Faisalabad, the home town of Minister for Interior rana sanaullah Khan, nominated some “100 to 150” for purportedly violating the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBuH), hurting the sentiments of Muslims around the globe, insulting Islamic and violating its code of conduct at one of the holiest places in the religion, and hurling abuses and chanting slogans of thieves and traitors. Following the filing of the complaint, sanaullah vowed to arrest Khan in the case. Calling the former prime minister a fitna (mischief), sanaullah, in a statement, said those who “planned” the sloganeering “will be taken to task”. “Imran Khan will definitely be arrested,” he added. The complaint comes days after hun-

dreds of protesters loudly chanted slogans against sharif and members of his delegation in the courtyard of the mosque. Demonstrations are illegal in saudi Arabia but videos emerging on social media platforms showed the crowd around the delegation, shouting “chor, chor (thief)” on Thursday. In a separate video, Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb blamed the former prime minister, who has since distanced himself from the episode, for the protest. “I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the (Pakistani) society,” the minister had claimed. Following the incident, police in Medina arrested at least five Pakistan nationals for “abusing and insulting” Aurangzeb and Minister for Narcotics Control shahzain Bugti. The director of information at the saudia Arabia embassy in Islamabad, who confirmed the arrests, said the individuals were arrested after they “violated” the rules of the mosque. The FIr sparked nationwide condemnation, with rights activists, journalists and politicians from across the aisle lamenting the charges as “absurd” and “deplorable”. The “FIr […] is beyond ridiculous”, tweeted reema omer, a lawyer and rights activist. “295-A is an oppressive law. Pakistan’s context makes its use even more problematic,” omer said. “rana sanaullah in action. He’s play-

rAsHEED’s NEPHEW ArrEsTED

ing with the FIr. He will pay the price very soon,” warned Hassaan Niazi, another activist. Anchor Moeed Pirzada recalled Khan “is the first leader of the whole Muslim world that has raised the voice for “Namoos-e-risalat” on the global stage [and] has successfully persuaded united Nations to declare March 15, Day to combat Islamophobia.” “Who are the idiots who have registered this stupid FIr?” Former Human rights Minister shireen Mazari said she wasn’t surprised. “Clearly Crime Minister [and] his cabal of crooks [sic] brought in by us regime change conspiracy getting desperate [because] they have no legitimacy amongst [the] nation,” she said. President of PTI sindh chapter Ali Zaidi said the incident “clearly [showed] signs of frustration & nervousness”. “Don’t sacrifice religion to hateful domestic politics. Whatever happened in Medina was wrong and the cases registered against PTI today are also wrong,” said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. AHMAD’S NEPHEW ARRESTED: Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested sheikh rashid shafique, PTI MP and Ahmed’s nephew, from the Islamabad International Airport on his arrival from saudi Arabia in the wee hours of sunday. Apparently, the arrest was made in connection with the incident. People familiar with the episode said that shafique travelled to Islamabad through a private airline. Ahmed, who condemned the arrest, confirmed his nephew’s detention, saying that he had just landed in Pakistan after performing the pilgrimage when he was arrested. “None of us were in saudi Arabia, but cases are being registered [against us]. residences are being raided after the registration of the cases,” Ahmad said. It has been reported that shafique has been shifted to an FIA cell. Punjab Assembly speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi also strongly condemned the filing of the FIr against deposed prime minister Imran Khan and termed the move by the “fascist” incumbent government obnoxious.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to discuss possible rollover of $3bn deposit ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan and saudi Arabia will discuss the possibility of supporting the kingdom’s $3 billion deposit in the state Bank of Pakistan by extending its term “or through other options,” a joint statement carried by saudi state news agency sPA said on sunday. Last year, saudi Arabia deposited $3 billion in the central bank to help support Pakistan’s foreign reserves. With a yawning current account deficit and foreign reserves falling to as low as $10.8 billion, the nation is in dire need of external finances. Pakistan also welcomed a saudi decision to extend an agreement to finance exports of crude oil products and oil derivatives, sPA reported. The statement came after a visit by Prime Minister shehbaz sharif to saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin salman. ‘SECURITY, STABILITY’: Meanwhile, the two nations also affirmed their stance to consolidate security and stability, renounce violence, extremism and terrorism, support the unity and independence of the countries of the region and their territorial integrity, as well as to give priority to political solutions that bring prosperity and progress to the region and its people. In the political context, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at the regional and

Imran defends Farah Khan, says probe against her a ‘political vendetta’ ISLAMABAD staff report

PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on sunday defended Farah Khan, a close aide of his wife Bushra Bibi as “absolutely innocent”, describing the corruption probe against her as a “political vendetta” against him. His remarks come days after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)initiated an inquiry against her for allegedly possessing “illegal assets beyond known sources of income, money laundering, and maintaining various accounts in the name of businesses”. In a statement, NAB had said a “huge turnover amounting to rs847 million has been found in [Farah Khan’s] account during the last three years, which does not commensurate with (sic) her stated account profile,” NAB said in a statement. “I want to ask NAB: the case that you have opened against Farah Khan — show it to anyone. Does this even merit a case?,” he asked in a response to a question

during a press conference in Islamabad, where he presented his party’s white paper on the ruling coalition’s graft cases. “First they (NAB) say she has wealth beyond known sources of income. This only applies to public office holders. Was she ever an MNA or a public office holder? she has

been working in real estate for the past 20 years,” he said. Imran added that the NAB said her assets saw a significant increase in three years. “Just check and see how much real estate has made money [for people] — it is the most in Pakistan’s history. Ask the ones in real estate how much money

international levels, and agreed on the importance to continue to coordinate their positions in a way that serves their interests, said the joint statement. sharif along with a delegation visited the kingdom at the invitation of the crown prince. The two sides agreed to continue exchanging support and coordination in international organizations and forums and stressed the importance of all countries’ commitment to the united Nations Charter and the principles of international law, adherence to the principles of good neighbourliness, respect for the unity and sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and striving to resolve disputes by peaceful means. The kingdom welcomed the statements of Pakistan mentioning keenness to find a solution to all disputes with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India in order to resolve the issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region. During an official meeting between sharif and Mohammed bin salman, they reviewed the historical relations between the two countries and the close cooperation in various fields, as well as discussed ways to strengthen relations in all areas.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

they’ve made. But it is no crime.” “It is the same case that Jemima faced regarding alleged smuggling of tiles. Her only fault that she was my wife,” Imran said, adding that the only reason for that case was because of her connection to him. “she (Farah) is absolutely innocent. I want her to have the opportunity [to defend herself]. A proper hearing should be conducted.” The PTI chief said he was presenting the white paper so that the nation could know that all of the ruling coalition’s corruption cases started in their own tenures, from 2008-2018 — apart from the FIA cases. He alleged that the new government “have started working on getting rid of the cases”. “Their true interest was to get rid of the cases,” he said. The ex-PM said Nawaz sharif and Maryam Nawaz are on bail in the Panama Papers case. “Hassan and Hussain fled the country during their tenure,” he added. “When they were asked to give a reply, they said they are not Pakistani citizens.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

One injured in Quetta blast STORY ON BACK PAGE

Hamza reviews security ahead of Eid holidays STORY ON PAGE 03 in today’s issue

attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

PM sends seCond suMMaRy foR PunjaB GoveRnoR’s ReMoval to PResident alvi

News Desk

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again sent a summary for the removal of the governor of Punjab to President Dr Arif Alvi. According to the law, 10 days after the summary is sent the Punjab governor will automatically be dismissed, following which the premier will send advice to the president for the appointment of a new governor. Currently, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema has 10 days left and will be removed from office after this time period is over. However, PM Shehbaz had previously also sent a summary to the president and today marked 14 days since it was sent and not implemented. Punjab was embroiled in a legal and constitutional crisis last month after the federal government initially said Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema had been

My life is in danger, says Rasheed

removed on the order of the premier but the former challenged the authority of the latter to sack him. On April 17, hours after the governor had postponed the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected chief minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had announced that he had been removed. However, Cheema told a news conference that only the president, and not the prime minister, had the authority to remove him. Until the president notified the order of his removal, Cheema added, he would continue to hold office. Cheema was appointed the governor last month after the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government removed Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar. President Alvi had issued orders for the removal of exPunjab governor at 4 am, following then premier Imran Khan’s request immediately.

Pardon for Nawaz in graft cases on the cards: Sana IsLAMABAD MonitoRing RepoRt

News Desk Former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed claimed Sunday that PML-N leaders are planning to kill him, while they are also trying to attack Imran Khan’s long march to Islamabad. Rasheed, while speaking during a press conference in Islamabad stated that his life is in danger because the Sharif family and other PML-N leaders want to get rid of him. “I have registered a case against seven people at the secretariat police station as my life is in danger,” he said. “I have also written a letter to the top five institutions of Pakistan in which I have stated that if anything happens to me, then these seven individuals, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, and Rana Sanaullah, must be questioned.” The former interior minister said that as soon as PML-N came to power, they removed the names of a hundred people from the Exit Control List (ECL). “I request the army to scrutinise the list of people who have been removed from the ECL”. He said that the PML-N, soon after forming a government, started transferring all those people who had initiated investigations against them. “They are coming up with fake cases against [PTI] members which are putting a burden on the judiciary,” he said. “Now it’s upon the court to serve justice.” Rasheed then criticised Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah and said that “this man will push this country into a civil war, therefore, he should be stopped.” “How could they make this lunatic person the interior minister of the country,” Rasheed questioned. “This man only wants bloodshed.” Speaking about the unfortunate incident that took place at the Masjid-e-Nawabi (PBUH) in Media — where crow chanted slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti — Rasheed said that the incident was regrettable. Speaking about leaders of other parties, Rasheed said that “Shehbaz Shareef resorted to his flagrant bootlicking of the army 14 times, while Asif Zardari is responsible for spreading corruption in Punjab. Answering a question about his nephew Rashid Shafiq, who has been arrested at the Islamabad airport upon his arrival for KSA in connection with the incident of slogan chanting at Masjid-e-Nabawi, Rasheed said that it is “good” that he has been thrown in jail. “I am not begging for his bail,” the former minister said, adding that it would be good for Rashid Shafiq to stay behind bars for 15 days as it will be his first time in prison.”

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan hinted the government of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party is considering to commute the sentence of disgraced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a host of graft cases. The three-time prime minister was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 after failing to prove a legal source of income for buying several luxury flats in central London in the 1990s, and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the case while his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was handed seven years imprisonment for abetment. In the same year, he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference with two fines — Rs1.5 billion and $25 million. He flew to London in November 2019 on the pretext of medical treatment after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government removed his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) on the order of the Lahore High Court (LHC). He has since refused to return. In an interview with Samaa TV, Khan claimed the government reserved the authority to commute, reduce or suspend a convict’s sentence. “If an innocent person has been convicted wrongly, there is a way to suspend the sentence and the convict is given a chance to approach the court,” he added. The minister said Sharif should lead his party’s campaign for the next elections, adding that his daughter, Nawaz, will lead the mass mobilisation drive. When asked if he suspected the involvement of a foreign hand in the blast inside Karachi University, Khan replied: “Definitely.” Our eastern neighbour has been trying to destabilise the hard-earned peace in Pakistan, said the minister. “The law enforcement agencies are close to digging out the group involved in the incident,” he said. “It is very unfortunate that an entire family, an educated and well-

off one on top of it, was involved. It negates the very assumption that people get involved in such things because of poverty or illiteracy.” Khan further claimed that his name has not been removed from the Exit Control List (ECL). “My name was put on the no-fly list in a narcotics-related case, there’s a separate committee that looks after such matters,” he said. “We have provided all the data to the committee which proves the case was fictitious. My name will be removed after the meeting of the committee,” he added. When asked to comment if NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal will be given an extension, the minister said: “I think he should neither stay nor should we keep him.” Responding to a question about the dissolution of the dirty money watchdog, the minister said that the government had held a meeting where some participants were of the view that it should be abolished altogether. “But others believe that it would hurt the government’s political image.” The minister claimed the plan of sloganeering against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation in Medina was prepared in Pakistan and London. People from Pakistan and London travelled to Saudi Arabia for the purpose. We will bring the perpetrators of the incident to justice, the minister vowed.

Governor Cheema once again declares Buzdar’s resignation ‘illegal’ News Desk Punjab Governor Omer Cheema has said that his official residence was “captured” on Saturday to hold oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and termed Usman Buzdar’s resignation as chief executive of the province as “illegal”. “The oath-taking of Hamza Shehbaz was illegal after I rejected the resignation of Usman Buzdar,” said the governor while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday. He maintained that former CM Buzdar’s resignation could not be accepted by the ex-governor as it was addressed to the prime minister instead of the governor. Governor Cheema on Saturday dismissed former chief minister Buzdar’s resignation – hours before PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz was to be sworn in as the new CM – after which the former chief executive of the province immediately summoned a cabinet meeting at the Punjab Assembly. The governor Cheema wrote a letter to Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and stated that Buzdar’s resignation was dismissed on the basis of certain constitutional loopholes. “Yesterday a crime was committed at Governor House and it was ‘captured’ to hold illegal oath taking-ceremony of ‘fake’ chief minister,” he remarked. Cheema said the court had not directed the federal government to hold oath-taking ceremony at Governor House. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again sent a summary for the removal of the governor of Punjab to President Dr Arif Alvi, according to the Express News. According to the law, 10 days after the summary of removal is sent the Punjab governor would stand dismissed, following which the premier will send advice to the president for the appointment of a new governor. Currently, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema has 10 days left and will be removed from office after this time period is over. However, PM Shehbaz had previously also sent a summary to the president and today marked 14 days since it was sent and not implemented.

Shehbaz commends UAE support for Pakistan IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned home on Sunday after completing his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia. On his way back home, he made a brief stopover in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sharif and Al Nahyan discussed advancing the longstanding relations between the two nations, and the prospects of propelling cooperation on various fronts. The two sides reviewed a number of regional and international issues of common concern, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The meeting took place at Qasr alShati Palace where the crown prince wished Sharif success in leading Pakistan towards further progress and prosperity over the coming period. The two leaders exchanged greetings on the advent of Eid ul-Fitr and wished progress and development to the Islamic world and all nations of the world. Al Nahyan emphasised the historical relations between the two nations and the valuable contributions made by the Pakistani community in the UAE to his

country’s successful development drive. He wished for permanent stability to prevail for the benefit of all peoples of the region, stressing UAE’s support for all steps conducive to achieving peace and cooperation in the region and the whole world. Sharif thanked Al Nahyan for the warm reception and congratulations on

assuming the office, commending the UAE’s great support for his country in the development field. He stressed his keenness to strengthen relations with the United Arab Emirates in various fields and to exchange views on the latest developments in the region and the world.

The delegation that attended the meeting included Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Minister for Communication Asad Mahmood.

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

HaMza RevieWs seCuRity aHead of eid Holidays LAHORe

Staff RepoRt

UNJAB Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz reviewed the law and order situation, especially the security measures being taken for the safety of foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, living in the province. Shehbaz chaired a security meeting in Lahore on Sunday. The meeting took stock of the security situation in the province. It deliberated on the steps being taken for the safety of people on Eid ul-Fitr. He ordered fool-proof security for the moon night and Eid ul-Fitr congregations. He also directed to make district law and order committees active.

He asked the public representatives to play their role in the improvement of

the law and order situation in their respective districts.

The chief minister directed authorities to take steps for the elimination of one-wheeling and take legal action against those who would do this dangerous stunt during Eid days. Punjab police chief and other concerned officers briefed the meeting regarding security measures. The meeting was attended by Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Awais Leghari, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Jehangir Khanzada, Zeeshan Rafiq, Ataullah Tarar, chief secretary, IG police, additional home chief secretary, principal secretary to CM and other officials. All commissioners and regional police officers of the province participated in the meeting through videolink.

Modi’s upcoming Europe trip chance to hold him accountable: Kayani News Desk The upcoming visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to European countries starting from Monday is an opportunity for the host nations to question him on its war crimes in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K), Fahim Kayani, president of the Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK said on Sunday. “While the host nations should have avoided inviting Modi at a time when his occupying forces are persecuting Kashmiris, yet it is an opportunity for the leadership of these European nations to step up their vigil and ask Modi some hard questions,” Kayani said in a statement. The Indian premier will be on an official visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2 to 4. Kayani said these European nations have been the forerunners of upholding

human rights “but now is the time to muster courage and ask Modi why India is scuttling any move to hold UNgranted plebiscite in the occupied territory.” The activist asserted that the leadership of these nations will do a service to humanity by forcing Modi to halt military operations against Kashmiris, release all prisoners and hold plebiscite so that people of the held valley can decide their political fate. He observed that Germany, Denmark and France were influential countries and that it was not just their moral right to uphold human rights but an international obligation to force India to implement international resolutions on Kashmir. The Kashmiri diaspora leader further noted that India was witnessing a slow genocide of its Muslim community. “The reception that these nations

Wapda plans to double hydropower share by 2028-29 IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has devised a plan to increase the hydroelectric energy share in the power supply from the existing 9,406 megawatts to 20,591 megawatts by the year 2028-29. The hydropower will be added in two phases, the state news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported. In the first phase, the share of the hydroelectric energy will be raised from 9,406 megawatts to 12,366 megawatts by 2025 and in the next phase, it will be jacked up to 20,591 megawatts. At present, the hydroelectric energy share in the overall energy mix stands at 31 percent with an annual electricity power generation of 37 billion units in Pakistan, according to the report. Wapda, under its electricity generation plan, will add 17 billion units of low-cost hydroelectric energy, raising the number of units from 37 to 54 billion by the year 2025 and another 27 billion hydroelectric units from 54 to 81 billion units by the year 2028-29.

will grant to Indian PM is akin to rubbing salt on the wounds of the Indian Muslim community,” he said, urging the said nations to strongly condemn in public his complicit support to the state terror inflicted on Kashmiris and Indian Muslims.

“This is a test for the European nations which claim to be leaders of human rights; India is Achilles heel for them and they must not keep silent but ask India to uphold international law and respect the will of the international community that only a free and fair plebiscite is a solution to end military occupation of the UN-designated disputed territory,” he added. Referring to a ban on Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Kayani said such attempts only exposed the fascist nature of the Modi rule. He maintained that Kashmiris will never bow down and no power would keep them away from following their religion. Concluding, the activist urged European nations to tell Modi in clear words that his actions in the occupied territory were unpardonable and unacceptable.

NEWS

PMl-n to retain 2018 Punjab cabinet LAHORe MonitoRing RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will form the cabinet in Punjab in two phases and is expected to give the office of Punjab Assembly speaker to a member of Jahangir Tareen posse. The party has decided in principle to retain ministers who had performed well during its last stint in Punjab between 2008-2018 and give them the same portfolios. Malik Ahmad Khan will get law ministry, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan education ministry, Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir health, Bilal Yaseen food ministry while Saif ul-Malook Khokhar, Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur-Rehman will also get portfolios. From PPP, Syed Hassan Murtaza and Ali Haider Gillani will be awarded portfolios while independent candidate Jugnu Mohsin will also get a ministry. Following Lahore High Court (LHC) orders, Hamza Shehbaz Saturday was sworn in as the 21st chief minister of Punjab at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House. Shahbaz was administered the oath by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Asharaf on LHC order after Governor Omar Cheema turned down the court’s suggestion and refused to perform the job. The ceremony was attended by PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif and federal ministers including Rana Sanaullah Khan, Musaddiq Malik and Azam Nazeer Tarar.

judge, who sentenced lankan manager’s killers, transferred LAHORe Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court (LHC) transferred an antiterrorism court (ATC) judge who sentenced six men to death in the mass trial for the mob lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a clothes factory’s Sri Lankan manager. The Punjab government okayed the appointment of District and Sessions Judge Rana Zahid Iqbal in Natasha Naseem’s place after the high court withdrew the services of the Gujranwala ATC judge. The decision will be implemented after the Eid ul-Fitr holidays with the approval of the high court’s chief judge. The decision to replace Naseem was taken upon the completion of her tenure. Judge Iqbal will assume the office for three years. His services will be provided to the provincial government on deputation after approval from Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti.

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

PBC urgES FBr tO rEduCE tax ratES KARACHI

TLTP

HE Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been urged to massively reduce the withholding tax rates for annual filers of income tax returns in order to ease burden on compliant taxpayers. Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its proposals for budget 2022-23 submitted to the FBR, recommended reduction in withholding tax rates for return filers.

It said the difference in withholding tax rate between filers and non-filers is nominal. Discrimination in tax treatment of filers and non-filers is commendable. “However, this has now become a revenue measure with no effort to use the data collected to increase documentation and broaden the tax base,” the PBC said. It recommended that the withholding tax regime should be simplified by reducing the number of withholding provisions. The current withholding tax guide available on FBR website is a 48-page

document as of 2021, which clearly shows the complexity of the regime from compliance and ease of doing business aspects. “There needs to be a significant distinction in the withholding income tax rates charged from non-filers as compared with the rates for filers. The rates of filers need to be reduced so that not only the burden of complaining taxpayers is reduced, but also the cost of doing business for non-compliant persons is increased.” Earlier, the PBC urged the tax authori-

ties to monitor under invoicing and mis-declaration by commercial importers as those are destroying local industry. It further said that information regarding values at which various custom check posts clear import consignments is not publicly available. This encourages unscrupulous importers to under-declare the value of consignments to evade government revenues. “Values at which import shipments are cleared through PRAL or CARE need to be publicly available,” the PBC recommended.

President, PM pledge to improve working conditions for labourers ISLAMABAD TLTP

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has greeted workers and labourers across Pakistan and all over the world on International Labour Day, saying that the real development of the world would be incomplete without their progress "On this day, I want to commemorate the labourers of Chicago whose sacrifices became a global movement for the labourers’ rights. The development of the world is the result of the hard work by labourers," PM Shehbaz Sharif said in his message for

the day on Sunday. He also lauded the commendable efforts of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the health and safety of labourers. The premier further stated that labourers and workers include both educated, illiterate, skilled and unskilled individuals who play a pivotal role in the development of any country and society. "Allah Almighty has declared labourer as His friend and has ordered to pay wages to a labourer before his sweat dries. This is a clear definition of the status of the workers and their economic rights in Islam," Sharif said. He said that he raised the min-

imum wage to Rs25,000 as soon as he took charge as the prime minister of Pakistan. He pledged to improve the working conditions of the workers in accordance with Islam, the Constitution of Pakistan and international standards in the country. "I assure you that we will work with all parties to take practical steps to protect the rights of labourers and workers," the prime minister said, expressing commitment to solving the problems of workers and labourers at all levels. Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi paid tribute to the working men and women who have made tremendous sacrifices and contri-

butions to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. In his message on the occasion of International Labour Day, the president said, “This day symbolises the strength, character, talent and dedication of the Pakistani workforce towards making our country a prosperous and progressive nation in the world.” He said Pakistan reiterates its commitment to provide an enabling environment and a higher standard of living to all workers and their families. The president said Pakistan needs to focus on the skill development of its workforce so as to fully reap the dividends of emerging economic opportunities in the wake of increased regional integration.

IESCO to ensure smooth power supply PR During Eid holidays to ensure stable power supply and for timely redressal of customers complaint a central control room has been established in compliance of Chief Executive Officer IESCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan directives. Where more than 100 Grid Stations, power distribution network, power demand and supply position, allocated electricity quota, feeder faults and tripping will be monitored closely and its timely rectification will also be ensured. Officer having level of General Managers, Chief Engineers along with other supporting officers and staff will ensure their availability in established monitoring control room round the clock in shifts. Operation field formation leaves have been cancelled with direction to be alert. To met any unpleasant situation extra cables, meters, transformers and trolley transformers have been provided to all complaint offices. For registration of customers complainants help line number 118, complaint and monitoring cell No. 051-9252933-34 and SMS service 8118 are working round the clock. Chief Executive IESCO will monitor all field activities during Eid holidays personally, he also requested valuable customers to avoid unnecessary use of electricity to overcome current and temporary short fall of electricity.

SLIC pays Rs98.36bn claims KARACHI PR

The State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC) is the largest (AAA rated) insurance company in the country, which has now broken all previous records of financial-growth and operational-performance, across its life and health business, as reflected in its 2021 full year annual results. Over the past one year, the corporation has emerged as one of the most successful State-Owned enterprises in the country, despite the massive impact of a global pandemic and unprecedented socio-economic challenges. This year SLIC has paid the highest ever ‘Bonus’ – 85.65 billion Rupees to its policyholders, reflecting a 13% annual increase from Rs.75.97 billion. During this year, it paid a staggering 98.36 billion Rupees of ‘Claims’ to the customers, which shows a 52 percent increase from the previous year’s figure - Rs.64.9 billion. Moreover, it has achieved a phenomenal and an unprecedented 100% growth in New Business sales, at 71.78 billion Rupees, while the previous year’s figure was 35.91 billion Rupees. The Total Business Sales have grown by 36 percent, from 119 billion Rupees to Rs.161.79 billion. The ‘Investment Income’ earned this year amounted to 117.1 billion Rupees, after a 13 percent increase from previous year’s amount of Rs.103.78 billion. Taking the total value of the corporation’s Assets from 1.2 Trillion Rupees to 1.37 Trillion Rupees, an increase of 14%. The exceptional business growth and performance has resulted in an impressive 57% increase in Net Profit, from 4.2 billion Rupees in 2020 to 6.6 billion Rupees in 2021. The annual ‘Cash Dividend’ paid to the Shareholders amounted to 1.7 billion Rupees, an increase of 13 percent from last year’s figure - 1.5 billion Rupees. It is important to recall here that SLIC allocates 97.5% of its surplus from life business to its policyholders and retains only 2.5% for its shareholders. The young and dynamic Chairman of SLIC – Mr. ShoaibJaved Hussain stated that: “It is a testament of the trust placed in us by our policyholders, customers and partners that these unprecedented financial and operational results have been achieved, during the year when State Life Insurance is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Today we proudly serve more than 140 million Pakistanis. This outstanding performance has been achieved due to the dedication of our professional workforce, across our officers, staff and sales force cadres; as they pursued the innovative vision and competitive strategy of our dynamic corporate leadership. Within one year,

we have evolved SLIC into a rapidly growing organization driven by product and digital innovation with a focus on further enhancing policyholder care and services. A technology-driven enterprise, to launch a Digital Product-Line, ensuring unmatched customer-care and convenience.” Deployment of innovative solutions, like: A Digital Portal and Products, Health-App, Policyholders-App, E-Office Management System and Automated ‘Complaint Management System’, has transformed the company, enabling round-the-clock responsiveness and cellular accessibility, on-the-go. This way, the corporation is pursuing; operational excellence, complete regulatory-compliance and transparency. 2022, SLIC’s 50th year anniversary, promises to be another year of exceptional performance under the leadership of its Chairman; driven by product innovation tailored to meet customer needs, to focus on policyholder servicing and strategic initiatives for sustained future growth. State-Life Insurance Company of Pakistan (SLIC) is the largest and the only AAA rated insurance company in the country. With a 55 percent market-share, it is ensuring the wellbeing and financialsecurity of 140 million customers, by offering: Individual-coverage, Bancassurance, Group-Life & Pension, Takaful and Health Insurance.

Kuwait mulls $750m investment in Pakistan ISLAMABAD TLTP

Kuwait-backed companies are considering a $750 million investment in Pakistan, making it one of the country’s largest proposed investments in recent years. According to media reports, Kuwait’s Enertech Holding Co Investment Authority and Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company have both applied for a digital bank licence. Mohammad Al Fares, head of Pakistan Kuwait Investment Co, suggested a hydrogen plant and two smart towns. A $200 million water pipeline is already in the works between the two.

CMYK

The anticipated investments are welcome news for Pakistan, which has seen little foreign investment for more than a decade due to energy shortages, terrorism, and political unrest. Recent unrest has resulted in a change of government, while the country’s foreign exchange reserves have plummeted to less than two months’ worth of imports. According to Al Fares, Enertech and Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company have created a partnership to investigate potential in Pakistan. The latter was founded in 1979 by the governments of Pakistan and Kuwait and maintains a 30 percent share in Meezan Bank Ltd., Pakistan’s fastest growing bank by deposits.

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to discuss possible rollover of $3bn deposit continued from page 01 In the bilateral context, the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening work through the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council, diversifying trade exchange between the two brotherly countries and intensifying communication between the private sector in the two countries in order to discuss trade and investment opportunities and turn them into tangible partnerships. The kingdom affirmed its continuous support to Pakistan and its economy including the discussion of augmenting the $3 billion deposit with the central bank through term extension or otherwise, and exploring options to further enhance the financing of petroleum products and supporting the economic structural reforms for the benefit of Pakistan and its people. “Pakistan greatly appreciates the continued strong support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan,” the statement said. The two sides also agreed to deepen the investment cooperation between the two countries, stimulate partnerships and enable investment integration opportunities between the private sector of the two countries. They also agreed to join efforts to develop the investment environment in the two countries and support a number of investment sectors of common interest.

Bitcoin slips to $38,025 iSLamaBad TLTP

The cryptocurrency market remained bearish for the third day in a row on Sunday, with market capitalisation shedding 2.7 percent to reach $1.81 trillion. As of 1330 hours GMT, the largest cryptocurrency Bitcoin’s (BTC) price dipped 1.7 percent to $38,025. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest crypto has reached $723.5 billion. Bitcoin has shed 3.9 percent of its value during the last seven days. Ether (ETH), the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, slipped 2.3 percent to $2,767. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $334 billion. ETH has been 5.9 percent down in the past seven days. Similarly, XRP price went down by 5.2 percent to reach $0.594. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $28.6 billion with this decrease. XRP has shed 16 percent of its value during the last seven days. On the other hand, Cardano (ADA) price slipped by 4.2 percent to reach $0.776. Its market capitalisation has reached $25.9 billion with this decrease. ADA has shed 12.7 percent of its value in the past seven days. Similarly, Dogecoin (DOGE) price shed 2 percent to $0.132. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of DOGE has reached $17.6 billion. DOGE has shed 1.5 percent during the last seven days. On the other hand, Avalanche (AVAX) price dipped 6.3 percent to $58.80. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of AVAX has reached $15.8 billion. AVAX has shed 19.4 percent of its value during the last seven days. Meanwhile, Eric Schmidt, a former Google CEO whose net worth is $22.8 billion, has revealed that he has put “a little bit” of money into cryptocurrency. He added that he finds Web3’s economics “interesting,” noting that the platforms and the use patterns are interesting. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt talked about cryptocurrency investing and Web3 in an interview with CNBC last week. Regarding his own crypto investment, he revealed that he has invested “a little bit” of money into cryptocurrency, without naming any coins specifically. He further clarified that he’s just getting started investing in crypto.

ImrAn defendS fArAh KhAn, SAyS ProBe AgAInSt her A ‘PolItIcAl vendettA’ continued from page 01

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HERE is no example of this. A threetime prime minister had three properties in London. Their businesses are abroad and their sons say they are not Pakistanis. This is only what has been found in the inquiry, this is the tip of the iceberg.” The former prime minister said there are several money laundering cases involving billions of rupees against the ruling coalition. “So who are these people? They are the ones who have looted us for 30 years.” The PTI chairman alleged they took money on their servants names and sent it abroad. He said: “Now they have transferred the investigator and the IOs (investigating officer) have been removed from the case. The special prosecutor has been told not to come. They have kept the record with themselves […] this is what happened when Musharraf gave an NRO to Zardari.” Then they have four NAB cases on Shehbaz, Hamza and Suleman, he said. In another case, he said a drain was built towards Ramzan Sugar Mills “using the public’s money”. “This is a straight forward corruption case,” he stressed. He alleged PM Shehbaz Sharif, when the Punjab chief minister, used the premier’s plane and went on a number of foreign and domestic trips. The PTI chief voiced apprehensions that the record of corruption cases against the ruling coalition members would “disappear” soon. He termed what he said was the government’s

move to quash graft cases against itself and coalition members as “NRO II”, warning that the current rulers would “resume laundering money abroad to further dent the national economy”. “The imported government has been imposed on us and they are going to start the corruption business once again,” he alleged. The ex-premier mentioned the FIA cases against the “two families”, and regretted the “justice system of Pakistan could not take those cases to its logical conclusion”. He called the case against himself and his party leaders for Masjid-e-Nabwi incident as “foolish”. He reiterated that those leaders would be treated in the same manner in elsewhere in the world. “They do not understand the rage of Pakistanis against them.” Imran said the government should be ashamed of accusing him and his associates of planning the incident of Masjid-e-Nabwi. He also condemned the “treatment” meted out to Sheikh Rashid’s nephew. He then said his government had never opened cases against anyone of the opposition in his tenure. “Tell me one instance where that had happened.” In response to a question, Imran reiterated his criticism of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, saying his party has “no confidence” in him. He alleged that the CEC, at every opportunity, “victimised” the PTI “We believe he (CEC) influenced the courts… when it was about to make its decision [on early elections]. He said to the courts that it would take six

to seven months to conduct elections. “The courts should have — at that moment — dismissed him and brought a new chief election commissioner. Because according to the Constitution, elections have to be called within 90 days when they are announced.” Imran was referring to the Supreme Court hearing of April 7, in which Raja told the court elections could not be held in 90 days because the ECP had to conduct delimitation, which would take time. Raja told the court that the commission would take a minimum of four months to conduct the delimitation and another 90 days for the general elections. The CEC had informed the court that he personally wrote 16 letters to the then PTI government from May 2020 to 2021 seeking permission to conduct the delimitation but the government was interested in carrying out a digital census. To a question, Imran said his march on Islamabad will be the “biggest ever” in the history of Pakistan. He has on previous occasions expressed his wish for two million supporters to flood Islamabad on his call. “I want Pakistan to understand that this will be the biggest movement. The people are ready, they will come if we give the call today, but I want it to be the biggest in history.” However, he insisted the march would be “peaceful”. “When we march, you will see that women, children and families will come out,” he added. “They are saddened by what has happened in the country.”

Indian forces martyr 62 freedom fighters this year in IIOJK Srinagar ReuTeRs

Indian security forces have martyred 62 freedom fighters in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) this year, a senior police official said on Sunday. The occupied state's police chief, Vijay Kumar, claimed some of the separatists killed this year had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba. "The surviving rate of separatists has drastically decreased due to enhanced human, technical intelligence and focussed operations," Kumar told Reuters. Members of Hizbul Mujahideen were also among those killed, he said. He said 193 separatists were killed in

2021 and 232 in 2020. Broad search and detention operations by Indian forces are common in the occupied region, which has had an armed resistance movement since 1989. Rights groups say arbitrary detentions and killings by Indian troops are leading to a range of human rights violations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan. The decision, the most far-reaching political move in one of the world's most militarised regions in nearly seven decades, polarised opinion, with Kashmiri leaders calling it aggression against the state's people.

Turkey clashes mar global May Day holiday Turkish riot police clashed on Sunday with protesters and detained scores during a May Day rally, as tens of thousands marched across Europe in support of workers' rights. AFP images showed protesters being pinned to the ground and dragged away from the rally in Istanbul, which the governor's office said was unauthorised. Turkish police regarded the attempt to hold a rally as enough of a reason to detain more than 160 people in central Istanbul. The authorities said the protesters had refused to disperse despite police warnings. Elsewhere in Turkey, crowds flocked to government-approved rallies, which passed off peacefully. May 1 is a public holiday in many countries across the world and Sunday saw rallies from Athens to Colombo. Latin America was bracing for large crowds too, the region's biggest cities traditionally hosting many thousands on Labour Day. The event is massive in France, and cities across the country were filled. Paris rallies quickly turned violent with youths breaking from the main march and clashing with police, who charged en masse to disperse the troublemakers. Windows of shops and offices were smashed in Paris and in the western city of Nantes. Protesters told AFP they wanted to send a message to Emmanuel Macron, recently re-elected for a second five-year term as president after seeing off the challenge of far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

Martine Haccoun, a 65-year-old retired doctor, said she came to protest in the southern city of Marseille “to show Macron that we didn't give him a blank cheque for five years”. She said many voted for Macron simply to stop Le Pen. French unions joined together to ap-

peal for better pay and social protections, common calling cards for protesters around Europe. 'Not slogaNs': While scuffles were reported in Italian cities including Turin, crowds of thousands gathered in London and cities across Germany with no sign of trouble. In Spain, some 10,000 joined a demon-

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stration in Madrid and unions called for protests in dozens of other cities, some of them attracting thousands. Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz of the communist party said defending workers' rights made democracies stronger, adding that she wanted to show solidarity “with the workers of Ukraine, who today aren't

able to protest”. In the Greek capital Athens, more than 10,000 joined rallies against a background of spiralling inflation. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised on Sunday to raise the minimum wage by 50 euros a month. “We honour the working people not with slogans, but with acts,” he wrote on Twitter. Kenyan Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta similarly used his May Day speech to promise a 12 per cent hike in the minimum wage, though activists said it was not enough to keep pace with inflation. 'Pull him by his ear': The mood was uglier in Sri Lanka, where the opposition showed rare unity of purpose to come out and call for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign over the country's worstever economic crisis. “For over a month, the president has been barricaded in his official residence,” former legislator Hirunika Premachandra said at a rally in Colombo. “It is time for us to pull him by his ear and kick him out.” In China, May Day is one of the year's busiest holidays with millions travelling across the country and tourist sites enjoying one of their most hectic times of the year. But the country is in the grip of a series of lockdowns sparked by rising Covid cases. “Obviously it's bad in terms of our own self-interest, but it's necessary overall for the good of the country,” said a young waiter at a deserted restaurant near the Forbidden City in Beijing. afP

06-07 Comments - 2nd May 2022_Layout 1 5/2/2022 12:30 AM Page 1

Monday, 2 May, 2022

06 COMMENT

Saffronization: A threat to regional peace and stability

Going too far The blasphemy case against Imran is playing with fire

HE FIR lodged in Faisalabad on Sunday, against former PM and PTI chief Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill and about 150 others, in Faisalabad, on blasphemy charges over the incident where PTI supporters raised slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his entourage in the Masjid-i-nabvi compound, represents a falling back on the sort of vengeful politics of which the present government accused the PTI. Using the blasphemy laws is particularly dangerous, for blasphemy charges have shown before that they can take on a life of their own, leading to damaging, even fatal, consequences for those charged, any lawyer defending them, any police officer investigating the case, even judges hearing the case. Suggesting that the blasphemy laws need revision cost Punjab Governor Salman Taseer his life. Accusations seem enough; no one waits for conviction. The PTI itself has played this religious card, notably in its support for the Tehrik i Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) when it was campaigning against then Law Minister Zahid Hamid, but now it seems to have been the victim of the kind of charge it used to bring against opponents. Besides, the charge seems misplaced. The actual offenders are presently in the custody of the Saudi authorities, who have matters well in hand. They would have priority, and it is only after they have been punished by those authorities, would it be possible for them to be brought into the custody of a Pakistani court. Since those, like Mr Khan, who are in Pakistani jurisdiction, cannot be tried until those in Saudi custody are made available, it seems that the game is not worth the candle. The PML(n)’s frustration and anger is understandable provided how the PTI left no stone unturned to ensure there was always some form of legal pressure and a persistent fear of incarceration looming. But for them to use the religion card to settle scores is a dangerous road to go down, which can easily and quickly escalate into violence. Perhaps there’s still room to do the sensible thing and take it back. PPP’s silence on the matter is slow troubling. It should distance itself from this to maintain some semblance of their ‘secular’ credentials. However, it is doubtful any of this will happen owing to political exigency.

The whole regon is being destabilised

SAiMA AfzAl

nDIA declares itself a democratic and secular state that claims to promote religious harmony within it. However, the reality is opposite, and the Indian constitution has failed to transform the Indian society into a secular state because of the biased and bigoted attitude of the BJP-led Modi government’s Hindutva ideology. Hindutva is a modern political ideology that supports Hindu supremacy and wants to transform constitutionally a secular state of India into an ethno-religious nation recognized as the Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation). Whether it is Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Budhists and Dalits, all the minorities are victimized under the BJP’s biased policies. It seemed that India has become an apartheid state where human rights and equality have become a distant idea. Karnataka is a state in the south-west of India, and has been in the news due to the BJP-led Hindutva ideology and discriminatory attitude towards Muslims and Christians. Minorities have borne the brunt of Hindutva policies throughout India under the current BJP/RSS neo-nazi government. Even the liberal Hindus who disagree with Hindutva policies have to face the consequence of being opposed. The tussle over hijab and saffron scarves continues to spread to more colleges in Karnataka and the issue has entered the national discourse; and is likely to gain momentum in coming days.

Break the cycle Amend, if not scrap, the NAB Ordinance

HAT goes around, comes around. As was predicted by this paper and many others, the new government has started using the state’s anti-corruption apparatus, nAB in particular, against the opposition. The aforementioned predictions were always accompanied by pleas to the then government to stop their hamfisted - and blatant - pursuit of the cases against the PML(n) and the PPP. Those pleas went unheeded and now, the shoe is on the other foot. Given how some within the current treasury benches were treated, there would be an impulse in the dispensation to pay back, in kind, and with interest, as it were. In his Sunday press conference, where he also presented a White Paper on his government’s performance, Imran Khan stepped up to defend the First Lady’s friend Farah Shehzadi alias Gogi, against whom nAB has recently initiated an enquiry. The PTI chief, as always, hadn’t sent the memo, so to speak, to any of his spindoctors, including Fawad Chaudhry, who was sitting next to him in Sunday’s press conference, because earlier, the former information minister and others had been taking a ‘Gogi who?’ stance. Even though one can understand the new government’s vindictive impulses, the principle of the matter should be to cease and desist from anything that resembles political victimisation. This is a better time than any, for the main federal parties to reach a consensus on amending the shoddily drafted nAB Ordinance. The League’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi even goes to the extent of saying that the Ordinance should be scrapped in its entirety and that the Bureau should be shut down - and its officials be prosecuted for their excesses. The Ordinance was brought in by a military dictator to further his political ends, many of the apparatchiks of that junta having admitted this in subsequent interviews. But after the return of democracy in 2008, neither the PPP nor the League, both having had a term at the federal government each, used it in the manner that the PTI has in its three-and-a-half-years in power. Tempers would be flaring. But it is time for the two (relatively) more mature parties to break this vicious circle and defang this macabre organisation that doesn’t fight corruption as much as it scuttles the political process.

RAYEES AHMAD KUMAR

n 2007 Gh43am nabi Azad, former chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, carved eight new districts out of the existing 14 districts of the state through a cabinet decision thereby raising the tally of districts to 22. Kulgam was carved from Anantnag, Bandipora from Baramulla, Shopian from Pulwama and Ganderbal from the capital city district of Srinagar. The following year almost all the district offices started functioning from the newly created districts. People of these districts were thrilled and excited as their decades old dream was transformed into reality. The district administrators posted in these newly districts showed vibrance in mitigating the public grievances. People felt a sigh of relief when their issues were redressed without having to travel long distances as earlier. Besides other spheres of life, the tourist resorts of these newly created districts received a big fillip in being explored both by the national and foreign tourists under the new administration. Since I have been residing in Ganderbal, one of these newly created districts, for the last 13 years and have visited most of its resorts during this time. So let me talk about the resorts located in this picturesque district of central Kashmir. Sonamarg is 94 kms from the capital city Srinagar, in Ganderbal district. The route passes through beautiful locations of Ganderbal, Kangan, Gund, Mammar, Rayil, Kulan, Gangangir, among others. Sonamarg, the meadow of gold, is a heaven of trekking for its trekking routes are beautiful green and frozen around. The magnificent Thajwas Glacier pro-

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is an Islamabad based analyst and can be reached at sarahamidkhan21dec@gmail.com.

There is great potential for tourism in the new district

Arif Nizami (Late)

M. A. Niazi

From Kashmir to mainland India, minorities’ rights are being abused under the patronage of the Indian state.

Ganderbal on tourism Map

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

The Hijab ban is another blow to the Indian secular outlook that India is losing rapidly. Hijab ban has once again highlighted Modi’s hatred towards the Muslim minority. In the past, during 2002, Modi was the mastermind of Gujarat massacres to eliminate the resistance of Muslims. Ethnic democracy and an authoritarian approach is defining the future contours of Indian policy with intolerance and discrimination as its key pillars. Forcing Muslim women to give up their hijab is a clear violation of Article 25 of Indian Constitution that guarantees religious freedom and forbidding them from entering classrooms infringes upon Articlthe e 21(A) & Article 15 that give assurance of right to education and prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth respectively. On the 15 March 2022, a three-judge bench of Karnataka High Court has upheld the state government’s ban on Hijab in schools and colleges on the grounds that wearing it was not essential in Islam. The discriminatory verdict makes a mockery of India’s so-called liberal and secular credentials under Modi’s Hindutva-inspired regime that protects and pleased the Hindu majority. Therefore, India not only violated its constitutional article on religious freedom but also being a signatory to several international conventions, violates Article 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 18 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) that stresses on freedom of thought and conscience and religion. In continuation to the anti-minorities policies of BJP/RSS, the administration has now called for the boycott of Muslim fruit vendors on 4 April 2022. Hindu janajagruti has called for Hindus to set up more fruits shops to break the monopoly of Muslim traders in the fruits business. Muslim population is 7.8 million in Karnataka that constitutes a small number among the Hindu domination. The propaganda that Muslims have economically dominated the Hindus by depriving them of their due share thus is baseless and illogical. Before this Muslims were facing ban on halal meat and use

of loudspeakers during prayer time. It highlights that Hindus cannot bear Muslims being a progressive community and want to suppress them in all aspects, so they could be forced to live under the poverty line. Despite increasing international criticism, Human Rights abuses (HRAs) against the minorities in India is the new normal, and not a single day goes by when Indian minorities do not face a new demand to sacrifice their basic human rights to fulfill the aspirations of neo-nazi Hindutva groups. The recent inhuman acts of HRAs in the Indian state of Karnataka has once again unmasked the socalled secular face of India. International human rights organizations and groups have time and again raised alarm at the deteriorating situation of human rights in India especially with regards to the ever growing element of state sponsored activities of Hindutva groups. However, rising Hindutva terror is becoming a potent threat to the regional peace and security of South Asia. RSS influence can now be seen in national policies affecting everything from education to commerce. Through its affiliates, it has been able to scuttle legislation it does not like. The Indian Armed Forces, institutions and education system are being saffronized at a rapid pace within the framework of Maha Bharat. Growing saffronization have made India an unsafe country for the world to invest, visit and engage on the basis of democratic values. The Saffronization drive has undermined Indian democracy, pluralistic values and has introduced autocracy and majoritarianism. India is embarked on self-destructive path and it’s saffronizing policies are widening the communal, ethnic and linguistic divide. Polarized Indian society will be a serious challenge to global peace and harmony. In a nutshell, India is considered the biggest violator of human rights. From Kashmir to mainland India, minorities’ rights are being abused under the patronage of the Indian state. The Indian constitution has a secular outlook which has a conflation of state and religion. Today’s India is anything but not a secular state. India acts irrationally on the global stage and uses disinformation to hide its heinous crimes. The western powers, often claiming to be champions of human rights, have failed to hold India accountable for its bad human rights records because of their vested interests. Human rights organizations should come forward and stop India from human rights violations that is potent threat to peace and stability of South Asia.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

vides a chance to enjoy a sledge ride on snow even in mid-summer. Good quality trout fishes are also available there. Manasbal Lake is the deepest lake of Kashmir. It is 32 Kms from the heart of Srinagar. The deep clear water of the lake makes it one of the most beautiful and attractive lakes surrounded by the natural beauty, including great mountains which forms an effective contrast to the gentle beauty of the lake. This lake is also covered by lotus flowers, shelters many aquatic birds, making it a bird watcher’s paradise. The lone Sainik school of the valley is located just close to the lake. The sacred Gangabal Lake at a height of 3657 meters and is at the base of the snow-clad peak of Harmukh. Its turquoise sheet of water lends a subtle charm to the valley which is known as the Haridwar of Kashmir. This icebound valley also contains many other lakes, and perhaps nowhere in the Himalayas are there so many high altitude lakes in the eastern fringe. In Tulmulla village there is a famous Hindu shrine the Khirbawani Temple. It is said that its water changes colours to various shades like green light, blue and even blue light. The sacred spring symbolises the goddess Ragnaya Devi. Her annual festival here is held every year in June-July. A visit to this famous temple is ..a worthwhile trip. naranag is a famous tourist place of Ganderbal District, lying about 12 Kms from main Kangan town. The dilapidated ruins of the ancient Hindu temple at narang is an archaeological site thronged by the local and foreign visitors during the summer months. noted for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains, it is a base camp for trekking to the Mount Haramukh and Gangabal Lake. The village lies at the left bank of the Wangath river, which is a tributary of the Sind River. From main Kangan town to the narang tourist attraction, the famous villages enroute include nizampora,

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

Baranbugh, Khanan and Wangath. The meadow also known as “Mohand Marg” is located on the banks of the Sindh at an altitude of 3400 meters. This meadow is located atop the Koaihama range overlooking the Sindh valley with a panoramic view of Pir Panjal range, Gadsar range and Mount Kalahoi. There is another meadow called Lal Marg near to the famous Mohand Marg. Both the meadows have historic importance. Hungarian-born archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein translated the famous Rajtarangi from Sanskrit to English in the 1930s in these meadows.Stein spent many summers at Mohan Marg meadows translating the Rajatarangini. After completion of his work, Stein erected a memorial at the place to commemorate his achievement which is still intact in the place. Besides these main natural resorts, the government has developed a couple of parks also in the district to attract more local and national tourists. Some of the most visited parks are Hung Park near Sonamarg, Environment Park near Kijpora, another one at Manigam on banks of river Sind and a beautiful and well-developed park, the Qamria Park, near the minisecretariat 6f Ganderbal. Ganderbal is also an abode of many popular and prominent saints as a good number of God-fearing saints have their last resting place here. Some of the distinguished and most popular shrines include of Hazrat Baba Ji at Babanagri, Mir Hyder at Tulmulla, Shah Sadiq Qalandar at Lar, Baba Daryawudin at Khalmulla, Syed Qamurudin Bukhari at Saloora Ganderbal and Baba Hanifudin Yarmuqam, 06ng 6thers. A huge rush of people round the year is witnessed at these shrines.

Besides these main natural resorts, the government has developed a couple of parks also in the district to attract more local and national tourists

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

The writer is a columnist and hails from Qazigund, Ganderbal district, Union Territ6ry of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 2nd May 2022_Layout 1 5/2/2022 12:30 AM Page 2

Monday, 2 May, 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

The importance of innate nature!

KFUEIT – a symbol of hope in South Punjab How a new university is transforming the region zAin Ul AbEDEEn ARSHAD

E are living in a globalized world. no doubt, it is challenging to align higher education with the changing socio-economic conditions of the country. It is the need of the hour to equip the youth with valuable skills which are compatible with the market and industry. It is necessary for universities in Pakistan to do out-of-box thinking to meet modern challenges like to impart leadership and entrepreneurial skill to students. It is one of the core responsibilities of the university to develop a research environment to properly address the needs of the region and indigenous society. Universities must develop good linkages with the industry and community. It is difficult to turn youth into success stories without the development of a vibrant educational, research-oriented, innovative and healthy environment in universities. new universities in the country have the potential to develop such a vibrant structure for a better education future. Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, located in extreme south Punjab, is a hope to change the socio-economic conditions of the region. It is one of the leading universities in Pakistan which has adopted the modern university model and its management has evolved new strategies to cope with the modern challenges in higher education. Two and half years before Prof. Dr Suleman Tahir took charge of KFUEIT as vice chancellor. In a short period, under his leadership, it has become one of the rapidly growing universities in Punjab. Recently KFUEIT was ranked 740th overall, 440th in Research, 449th in Innovation and 248th in societal rankings by ‘SCIMAGO Institutions Ranking’ among 8084 universities and higher education institutes in the world. SCIMAGO ranked KFUEIT 5th countrywide and 378th globally in Environmental Science. Similarly KFUEIT stands 12th countrywide and 625th globally in Chemistry. In the International Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2022, KFUEIT ranked 601-800th worldwide with improvement of 200 positions as compared with last year. It ranked 201-300 worldwide in quality education with improvement of 100 positions and ranked 101-200 worldwide in Affordable & Clean Energy. Similarly, in 2021, KFUEIT secured 1st rank among engineering and public sector universities in Pakistan in UI International GreenMetric Ranking. It got the 6th rank nationwide and the 234th rank worldwide, with the improvement of 94 positions in UI International GreenMetric Ranking. Recently, KFUEIT won 24 nRPU research grants which is the highest figure among universities in Punjab. In the last two years, and research publications were increased by 111 percent. More than 90 book chapters and 20 books were written by the faculty,. a 2050 per-

cent increase in research project submission for different research grants was observed and as a result, KFUEIT won research grants of Rs 400 million, including nRPUS. A variety of labs including the Hi-Tech lab were established under various annual development schemes. KFUEIT is the only university offering 100 percent scholarships for girls in its engineering programmes. An increase of 107 percent in the number of students getting scholarships and a 955 percent increase in scholarship amount was recorded. A University endowment fund was established. Last year, the fee for different undergraduate and graduate programmes was reduced by 15 to 25 percent. Due to such a vibrant and enticing learning environment and quality education, the number of students almost doubled. More than thirty new BS, MS and PhD programmes were initiated. To enhance the exposure of the students and for improved learning, guest lectures of professors from foreign universities were arranged in the majority of classes. To improve classroom teaching, a variety of faculty training workshops were organized in collaboration with PHEC. Eight development projects are in the completion phase under PC 1 Phase II and 12 development projects from the university’s resources were initiated. These development projects include five faculty hostels, three boys hostels, two girls hostels, a community centre, executive club, guest house, market, wastewater treatment, shed for buses, etc. University service statutes were approved and implemented in April 2021. The process of recruitment of candidates was initiated in accordance with service statutes. Seven thousand new books were included in the library. A new cafeteria was established. The University’s first research journal and e-Magazine Baat was initiated. The University fitness gym was opened for students and faculty. Twelve new buses were included in the transport fleet. To improve the co-curricular and extra-curricular 18 new student societies were initiated. KFUEIT students participated in different national competitions and got distinctions. The Business Incubation Center was established. The first business expo was organized in 2021 in which students presented their business ideas and the winners were awarded seed money for their business startups. It is an effort to promote the culture of entrepreneurship. To provide students with all services at one window and to save their time, a ‘Student Fa-

cilitation Center’ was established. A bank branch was established on the campus. Under the vision of the Government of Pakistan, more than 50,000 plants were planted on the campus. South Punjab Skill Development Institute was established in collaboration with nAVTTC. More than 600 students are enrolled in different certificate courses. The directorate of sports was established and proper coaching of the athletes was initiated. KFUEIT athletes participated in different national events and won more than 60 medals. Indeed, it is a big achievement in a short time from zero to success. A daycare centre and a Directorate of Academics were established. To improve research and collaboration more than 45 MoUs were signed with different national and international universities or organizations. A policy to improve financial discipline and implement austerity measures was formulated and as a result, the university got financial stability in 2021 , when the first surplus budget of the university was approved. The research scholars at KFUEIT prepared a variety of consumer products in its labs which are ready for marketing. KFUEIT initiated different community development services like donating to the covid-19 relief fund, blood donation camps, RO water plants for the community, free medical camps and Iftar Dastarkhwan, and on. The University hosted national and international conferences on science, technology and religious harmony. Vice chancellors of different universities and government ministers visited KFUEIT at different events and appreciated the efforts for its rapid developments. A policy to improve good linkages with the industry was implemented. Recently students of KFUEIT got internships in Unilever RYK. no doubt, with all above said achievements KFUEIT is a successful model for all emerging higher education institutions in the country. Such excellent planning is the need of time for a better education future and to address the needs of the region and indigenous society. KFUEIT is an emerging university in all avenues of higher education under the vision of its vice chancellor Prof. Dr. Suleman Tahir that soon KFUEIT will become one of the leading universities in Pakistan.

KFUEIT is a successful model for all emerging higher education institutions in the country. Such excellent planning is the need of time for a better education future and to address the needs of the region and indigenous society

The writer is Public Relations Officer of the University.

THE word “Fitr” is an Arabic word which has been taken from “Fitrat,” which means “the innate nature.” It’s called “zakat of the body.” All Muslims are commanded to observe the fasts of Ramadan, and it is mandatory for the fasting person to pay the Fitr for the fasts. Scholars believe that a person will be rejected if he does not pay for his fasts. That is, the fasts can’t go above the sky; they are dangled in the sky. The Hadith says: “The fasts of the month of Ramadan lie between the sky and the earth, and they do not go to the refuge of God without the remittance of the Fitr.” Two days before Eid-ul-Fitr, in 2 AH, the Prophet (PBUH) directed them to pay the Fitr. Consequently, the proper time to pay the fitr is two days before the Eid prayer. It’s mentioned in the Hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) commanded that the Fitr must be given to the poor before the Eid prayer. Similarly, if the Fitr were paid within the first 10 days of Ramadan, it would be rather better. Apart from that, it should be recompensed at the appointed time. In Islam, there are eight heads of the Fitr, as the heads of Zakat are described in Islam. In Islam, the summons of Fitr is the best and most beautiful way of expressing affection to the poor, incapable, and inaccessible, and sharing it with Eid. The Fitr is obligatory for every adult and younger as a Muslim. It is compulsory on a person who has seven and a half pieces of gold, fifty-two and a half pieces of silver, or equal to their cash value to be paid. Thus, it is not obligatory for children to pay Fitr because they don’t own the possessions. So, instead, their parents can pay for their innate nature. In addition, it is the parents’ responsibility to pay attention to their innate nature when living at home. The Hadith says, “The person who pays the Fitr before his death returns for one year.” In Islam, it is not required to give the Fitr to nonMuslims, religious institutions, people of the Syed race, parents, and those of their next generation. Furthermore, the person is required to pay Fitr to those who are needful. So, it is very important that you have complete information about this person. The Prophet (PBUH) says that the first right to pay Zakat or fitr is that of your relatives. That’s why there are two major well-being to giving zakat or fitr to relatives. The first benefit is that Allah becomes contented with him, and secondly, your relationships with him are also strengthened. According to scholars, the innate nature of an individual should be credited to only one deserving person. Similarly, innate nature should be given to the other person as long as the fitr is appropriately paid. The Prophet (PBUH), who often gave “raisins” or “date palm” in Fitr, weighed 3 kg. Likewise, the amount of wheat, rice, barley or their cash equivalent of 3 kg can be paid as Fitr. If Allah Almighty says, “If you thank you, I will give you more.” May Allah Almighty grant every Muslim the potential to pay ‘Charity Fitr’! ASLAM PARVEZ LARKANA

Who is the Loser? PAKISTAn, once again, is wallowing in a political, democratic and constitutional crisis. What has been going on for the last three to six months – taking unconstitutional steps by both the government and the opposition in order to ‘’surprise’’ each other, does it depict a true sense of democracy? The PTI led government says it has won the game by defeating the attempts of horse-trading and foreign intrigue. Contrarily, the opposition professes that it will get a victory after the verdict issued by the Supreme Court against the unconstitutional act of the Deputy Speaker of the national Assembly – the abrogation of a noconfidence motion against the PM. If both are champions then the question is: Who is the actual loser? One cannot escape the conclusion that the state and its constitution are the actual losers. Once again democracy proved ineffective in this country. I got astonished by the fact that no PM of Pakistan completed a five-year tenure – the basic code of democracy. It does not mean democracy is not acceptable to this country rather it is the best form of government to welcome the vision of the founder of this state. There are some politicians, who, due to their self-interest in gaining power, tarnish the values of democracy. This is a moment of reflection for us that we could not implement a true sense of democracy in seventy-five years of independence. If it continues in future it will not only deter our economic growth and political stability, but it will also attract geopolitics to the country. ALI HAIDER LAHORE

Transnational activities IT is quite interesting to note that passenger train services have commenced between India and nepal. First up, such mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation are commanding and something worthy of emulation by other nations next door. Added to this, nepal has been a beautiful country surrounded by Mother nature and backed by a vibrant economy. Plus, India is a country with vast geography covering so many states, people and traditions. Yet, these two nations have miles to go on political and economic matters. Furthermore, all the vibrant Asian nations like Pakistan, India, nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh should open their doors to new economic and political opportunities in the region. This means let there be many more cross-border activities mutually, politically and economically so as to avoid issues on the border or within the region. Interestingly enough, my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in Tamil nadu have been interconnected and well-equipped in terms of natural sources like water and agricultural/economic activities – all thanks to mutual understanding among people and their close proximity/hard work. In the same way, a number of activities from people’s travel to politics to economy to cargo movement should be carried out between our beautiful and growing Asian countries like nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. no doubt such transnational activities will pave the way for a strong region capable of dealing with any future crisis out there – natural, political or economic. ABDUL QAYUM LAHORE

08 WORLD VIEW 2nd May 22_Layout 1 5/1/2022 9:53 PM Page 1

Monday, 2 May, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

The Ukraine war is ballooninG america’s miliTary indUsTrial complex BIDEN ASKED CONGRESS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $33 BILLION IN AID, $20 BILLION OF WHICH WOULD ‘PROVIDE WEAPONS TO UKRAINE, REPLENISH U.S. ARMS STOCKPILES, AND HELP OTHER COUNTRIES SHIFT AWAY FROM A DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIAN WEAPONS’

new repuBlic AnDRew J BAcevich

n Shakespeare’s Henry iv, Part ii, the dying monarch famously counsels Prince Hal “to busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels,” a practice certain to “waste the memory of the former days.” For American politicians and pundits given to giddiness—and to distracting attention from recent failures—the proxy war in Ukraine is the perfect foreign quarrel. it is rejuvenating Cold War–style militarized globalism as the cornerstone of U.S. national security policy. For those on the antiwar left or the antiinterventionist right, this comes as a worrisome development. Within establishment circles, however, it is encouraging good news. Writing in national Review, the reliably bellicose elliot Abrams looked forward with evident anticipation to “a dangerous and lengthy struggle” with Russia “that may last for generations.” in the pages of The Week, the typically dovish Damon Linker threw in with the likes of Abrams. “The Ukraine invasion marks a return to a world primarily dominated by competition and hostility among states,” he wrote. “Such a world resembles the Cold War, but also the world that preceded the Cold War.” it was back to the darkest days of the twentieth century. The hawks’ position is winning out. in March, the Pentagon ordered roughly 12,000 troops to the continent, bringing the total U.S. presence in Central and eastern europe from 60,000 personnel to more than 100,000. earlier this month, Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised that the U.S. deploy yet more troops and de-

velop additional bases in the region. Meanwhile, Congress and President Biden have already allocated $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, nearly half of which is termed “lethal”: $6.5 billion to fund arms for Ukraine and the aforementioned troop deployment. On Thursday, Biden asked Congress for an additional $33 billion in aid, $20 billion of which would “provide weapons to Ukraine, replenish U.S. arms stockpiles, and help other countries shift away from a dependence on Russian weapons,” nPR reported. The consequences of this war—undeniably our war, too, given the number of Russian soldiers killed by U.S.-supplied weaponry—will not become fully apparent for some time. Yet we can already glimpse its probable impact on American politics and on U.S. national security priorities. That impact is likely to be profound and almost certainly destructive. Put simply, the war will divert attention and resources from more urgent priorities. in fact, given where negotiations stand on a hollowed-out version of Biden’s Build Back Better, it already is doing so. it’s a disappointing turn of events, but not entirely surprising to those who listened closely to the president’s message on the campaign trail and at the outset of his term. Biden has consistently argued that the contest between autocracy and democracy is the central crisis of our era. At a moment when the planet faces an unprecedented threat in the form of climate change, while America’s own democracy is mired in dysfunction, this perspective qualifies as a gross oversimplification.

Take at face value the depiction offered by the administration and echoed by most mainstream media outlets, however, and Ukraine fits nicely into Biden’s preferred framework. With good pitted against evil, the war replays—and seemingly revalidates—the canonical events of the American Century. in an instant, the disappointments of the post–Cold War decades are essentially forgotten. Russian aggression and brutality thereby provide a rationale for discounting bothersome historical complexities dating from prior to, during, and after the existence of the Soviet Union, the reckless folly of nATO expansion not least among them. Ukrainian President volodymyr Zelenskiy’s interpretation of events is deemed authoritative, even as U.S. war aims diverge from Ukraine’s. With weakening Russia now an explicit U.S. policy objective—“We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday—it serves Washington’s purposes not to end the fighting, but to prolong it. Whether that prospect squares with the desires of the average Ukrainian qualifies at best as an afterthought. Of even greater immediate significance, the terms of U.S. involvement—providing Ukraine with massive quantities of arms without (thus far) sustaining a single American casualty—go far toward erasing memories of other wars in our very recent past. Just last year, the embarrassing U.S. evacuation

why bangladesh should worry about its economy Star, BangladeSh AFM MAinul AhsAn

iven the gloomy global macro-economic outlook, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal’s assessment that Bangladesh’s macroeconomic stability is not at risk over the RussiaUkraine crisis is questionable. increased prices of cereal grains, agricultural inputs (e.g., fertiliser cost), fuel cost, devaluation of the taka, combined with high transportation cost will exert tremendous pressure on the country’s food security. A food crisis is on the horizon even if the crisis gets sorted soon. Special attention and relevant actions are needed from the concerned authorities to soften the impact. Bangladesh is already struggling with the widening income gap which was worsened by the Covid-led inflationary trap. issues in the international market combined with the Ukraine crisis will put further strain on domestic prices. Price of grain and multiple household items have skyrocketed in the international market. For example, price of wheat, which accounts for over 10 percent of the daily calorie intake in Bangladesh, is significantly higher compared to last year. The country’s annual demand for wheat, which is growing 10 percent per annum, stands at around 77 lakh tonnes, 85 percent of which is met through imports, as per the national Board of Revenue (nBR). However, wheat production worldwide has declined due to the pandemic and unfavourable weather. in addition, both Russia and Ukraine missed the current sowing season which will impact wheat supply and prices even next year and beyond. Bangladesh imports almost half its wheat from Ukraine and Russia. Data on Bangladesh from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) shows that consumers had to pay Tk 34 to buy one kilogramme of flour in november in Dhaka, which was 19 percent higher from Tk 28.69 a year ago. Like wheat, price of barley, corn and edible oil could hit all-time highs. increased fertiliser cost will also seriously affect global prices of other essential crops like rice., vegetables, etc. To produce a variety of crops, Bangladesh uses over 50 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilisers annually, three-fourths of which is imported. Russia and Belarus are big exporters of fertilisers and their raw materials

account for 37 percent of potash, 32 percent of ammonia and 14 percent of the world’s urea market. in January 2022, the international price of a range of key fertiliser ingredients shot through the roof. Since January 2021, the price of ammonia has gone up by 220 percent, urea by 148 percent, di-ammonium phosphate by 90 percent, and potassium chloride by 198 percent. Currently, the government provides Tk 1020 subsidy for each kilogramme of fertiliser. Given the price of fertilisers in the international market, to lessen inflation, the government will need to at least double its subsidy for fertilisers in the next financial year. Freight cost is also at a record high. According to the Freights Baltic index, while global spot rates for 40-foot containers have declined from their peak in September, they are still running at USD 9,604, more than double from a year earlier. And with oil price rising over USD 100/barrel, it is unlikely to go down any time soon. Depreciation of the taka will also push up import costs. An import dependent country like Bangladesh needs to be careful in depreciating its currency to avoid further inflation. Widening income gap has always been a critical issue in Bangladesh, and it has gotten worse in recent times. The South Asian network on economic Modelling (SAneM) shows that the percentage of Bangladeshis living below the poverty line (upper poverty line) has nearly doubled from 21.6 percent in 2018 to 42 percent in 2020, while the percentage of extreme poor (lower poverty line) tripled from 9.4 percent in 2018 to 28.5 percent in 2020. increased inflationary pressure will push more people below the poverty line which might lead to social unrest. in its latest assessment on Bangladesh, Moody’s assessed that Bangladesh’s exposure to social risks is very high because of poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation. even though Bangladesh can’t do much about the rising price level in the international market, the country needs to focus on internal supply chains. Actions like active market surveillance, targeted subsidies, reducing extortions on roads and highways and deploying more TCB trucks with essential products are urgently needed for the near future. AFM Mainul Ahsan, PhD, Analyst, Department of Transport, Victoria, Australia.

from Kabul seemed like a big deal. Today it counts for nothing, as do our military misadventures in Afghanistan and iraq. The military-industrial-congressional complex has moved on, with Ukraine a “good war” behind which Americans of all political persuasions can—or ostensibly should—rally. Classifying Ukraine as such has practical implications. it imparts new life to discredited or outdated habits dating from the Cold War. For example, it is renewing the national security state’s penchant for threat inflation as a device to boost U.S. military spending. Despite the Russian army’s abysmal battlefield performance, scaremongers in and out of government will warn of the grave danger posed by the Kremlin—or by a “Sino-Russian Axis”—for years to come. So with broad bipartisan support, the Pentagon’s budget, easily the world’s largest, continues to grow. One consequence is to assure arms manufacturers of massive contracts, not only to replenish the weapons stocks drawn down in support of the Ukrainian war effort but also to equip U.S. forces with the “next generation” of advanced weaponry. Thanks to vladimir Putin, in other words, generous increases in Pentagon spending are all but assured. So too, should anyone bother to notice, are more years of huge federal deficits. But consider this less immediate concern: U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war undermines prospects for restoring even a modicum of equilibrium to American politics. Today, of course, there is no existing

consensus as to what any such equilibrium might entail. Per Shakespeare, crises abroad provide a convenient excuse for allowing pressing domestic concerns to fester. And so, in America, some 12 million American children live in poverty, more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses last year, and hundreds of thousands—we don’t even know how many—experience homelessness. As the Biden administration supplies Ukraine with greater sums of money, provides its military with heavier weapons, and sends ever more senior U.S. officials to visit Kyiv, the drift of U.S. policy toward ever more direct American participation in the war becomes apparent. indeed, as Biden’s political standing at home continues to plummet, the temptation to double down in Ukraine to salvage his presidency is likely to grow. Let there be no doubt: Down that path lies the prospect of involving the U.S. military in direct combat, along with the concurrent risk of nuclear confrontation. On that score, to quote a famous American general, Ukraine may well prove to be “the wrong war at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy.” Should that occur, any hope of “building back better,” or even of preserving what we have, will evaporate. Andrew Bacevich is president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. His most recent book is After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed.

western leaders must prepare public for a war economy THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS IS LIKELY TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER

Financial timeS MARTin sAnDBu

He expression is ugly and its content even uglier, but “Ukraine fatigue” is a real risk in western democracies. Their citizens are repulsed by vladimir Putin’s war of unprovoked aggression and are full of sympathy for the Ukrainian people. Their leaders have surprised even themselves with the strength of their support for Kyiv. But as things drag on, challenges closer to home could increasingly steal their attention. it is easy to see how the cost of living crisis, which is compounded by war and snarled-up supply chains, and which is probably already putting a chill on demand, could erode western leaders’ focus on Ukraine. To let this happen would be an error and a failure. An error, because inflation in the west is to a significant extent made in Moscow. A failure, because it would mean that political leaders had neglected their chief task of preparing the public for the unavoidable hard choices to come. Western politicians must explain to their voters that the cost of living crisis is likely to worsen, and why. This is the sort of speech they could give: “My fellow citizens, “The past few years have been hard. The pandemic brought illness and death, heartache and loneliness, and threats to the livelihoods and businesses of millions among you. even as we were opening up our economies and thought the worst was behind us, we were hit by rising inflation and more expensive energy. “Since February 24, we have witnessed the horrors of war revisited upon europe, decades after we swore ‘never again’. We stand with Ukraine against the unjustified assault by vladimir Putin’s Russia. Our soldiers will not join the battle; we will not enter a third world war unless Russia attacks us. But we will do everything to help Ukraine’s brave people defend themselves, and to weaken Putin’s capacity for unleashing violence in the world.

“if we ourselves are not at war, the consequences of war have long since reached us. The price of freedom in europe is paid by Ukrainians first and foremost, but also by so many of you, who worry how you are going to keep on your lights and heating, buy healthy meals for your children, or keep your businesses running. “Let us be clear: the cost of energy has soared because Russia’s dictator has turned oil and gas into weapons. The price of food is going up because he is laying waste to europe’s most productive farmland. And our sanctions on Russia inevitably involve economic sacrifice from ourselves. “i wish i could tell you that things will soon get better. But the truth is that they are likely to get worse. Prices of energy, food and commodities could go up further. Our economic growth and our incomes may slow. it is essential that we look this reality in the eye and that we work together to face these coming challenges. “We cannot deny that higher import prices make our economy poorer. Our central banks cannot save a lost Ukrainian harvest or fix global supply chains by raising the cost of credit. And should Putin cut off more of Russia’s gas supply overnight, we cannot pretend that we would not be harmed. “Something like a wartime economy is being imposed on us — not of our choosing, but we must not shrink from it. That requires all of us to put the common good first. “Those with broader shoulders must be prepared to contribute more in taxes. Those most exposed to inflation should expect more help but also accept that help cannot do away with the need to adapt. “We may have to ration some essential goods. everyone must be patient with more indebted public finances. And we have to help those countries worse placed than us, or their problems will soon be ours. “it is tempting to close one’s eyes to what is right and go with what seems comfortable. But the path of least resistance is both wrong and unwise. Backing down against Putin for some short-term respite in commodity prices would only leave us more at his mercy. “And let us be honest that this crisis forces us to take steps we should have taken long ago for the sake of our grandchildren. The future health of their planet requires an end to fossil energy. Today, our immediate geopolitical security demands the same — starting with Russian fuels. “it is our duty to invest in an energy system that is both clean and safe from democracies’ enemies. Jobs may be lost and consumption curtailed in the process. But like war, this is a task our generation must carry out for the sake of the next.”

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

AssAm stAte leAdeR pushes to ReplAce IndIA’s RelIgIon-bAsed lAws In fuRtheR tARgetIng of muslIms NEW DELHI

Rupee rises 0.57pc against dollar on weekly basis KARACHI TLTP

Pakistani rupee held ground against the US dollar last week and gained 0.57 percent (Rs1.06) after shedding 2.86 percent (Rs5.20) in the preceding week. The rupee recovered from 186.75 to Rs185.69 against the American currency in the interbank market last week. However, within the open market, the rupee suffered from 185/186 per dollar to 185.50/187 a dollar during the week. The rupee continued to rise on the back of improvement in the supply of the greenback as an increase in remittances for Ramzan lent support to the domestic currency. The market remained optimistic about results of recent talks between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the loan package, which can provide more stability to the currency market. Overall, the rupee has depreciated by Rs28.26 against the US dollar during the ongoing fiscal year 2021-22 and Rs9.24 during the current year 2022. According to experts, the rupee witnessed some respite on the back of limited trading activity. However, the gloomy macros will continue to put pressure on the local unit. They said though there is stress on the economy, yet some stability is visible. Despite better exports, the current account deficit has surged to alarming levels and in order to address this challenge, there is a need to look at the agriculture sector and curtail needless imports, they added. Currency dealers believe that the IMF statement, saying the Fund mission will visit Pakistan in May to resume discussions over policies for completing the seventh review has helped sentiment, as did the news of extending the stalled programme by up to one year and increasing the loan size to $8 billion from $6 billion. Traders and markets are looking at the IMF as progress with the Fund instils investor confidence in the economy, stabilises Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, and unlocks funding from other international financial institutions. Besides IMF programme revival, expected $2.4 billion rollover from China and other foreign inflows would provide much-needed support to the balance of payments and the currency as well. The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank decreased 3 percent on a weekly basis and were recorded at $10,558.2 million on April 23, down by $328 million compared with $10,885.7 million on April 16. According to the central bank, the decrease came due to external debt and other payments. Overall liquid foreign currency reserves held by the country stood at $16,668.2 million. Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,110 million.

REUTERS

NDIA should replace marriage and inheritance laws that are based on religion with a uniform civil code, the chief minister of a northeastern state said on Sunday, taking aim at rules that allow Muslim men, for example, to have four wives. Successive governments have steered clear of adopting such a code for fear of angering voters from India's Hindu majority as well as its Muslim and Christian minorities. But members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party and its hardline affiliates want to roll out the code in some states to gauge the strength of any backlash prior to a national push. "A majority of the Muslim people that I have met want a uniform civil code," said Himanta Biswa Sarma, the

chief minister of the state of Assam and a senior member of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "No Muslim woman wants her husband to marry three to four wives ... just ask any Muslim women and

they will endorse what I am saying," he told Reuters. More than 30 per cent of Assam's population of about 34 million belongs to the Muslim community. The code, which aims to unify and

implement personal laws, will apply equally to all citizens, regardless of religion, sex, gender, and sexual orientation. Legal matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance are now governed by different religious rules. Sarma said he favoured the code as a way to end regressive religion-based rules and empower Muslim women who cannot easily challenge polygamy in the courts. But critics see the code, which has figured in some BJP election manifestos, as part of the party's efforts to deliver on its agenda and boost antiMuslim sentiment. "There is no need for the government to debate over Islamic religious practices," said SM Siddiqui, a professor of Islamic studies in the financial capital of Mumbai. "We do not oppose some of the regressive traditions followed by the Hindus."

Gold falls 1.84pc as demand lowers

ISLAMABAD TLTP

Gold price decreased for the second straight week by 1.84 percent amid a worsening demand outlook due to strong US dollar and firm bond yields. Broad-based US dollar strength and a sharp upsurge witnessed in the Treasury bond yields kept nonyielding gold under pressure. The gold futures closed the week on a negative note in the international market at $1,896.70 from $1,932.30 per ounce, shedding $35.60 on a week-on-week basis. The price of 10 grams of 24-carat yellow metal in Pakistan, meanwhile, decreased by 2.91 percent (Rs3,300) to Rs113,300 from Rs116,600 during the

last week. A relatively higher decrease in the local gold prices was due to the Pakistani rupee’s appreciation against the US dollar, which appreciated by 0.57 percent last week and it also impacted local gold prices. Gold is considered a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks. However, rising US interest rates will raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion and boost the greenback in which it is priced. Gold started last week under heavy bearish pressure and lost nearly 2 percent on Monday. Following a meagre recovery attempt on Tuesday, gold failed to hold above $1,900 and touched its weakest level in more than two months at $1,872 but erased a large portion of its losses to close the day around the $1,900 mark.

The unabated dollar rally continued on Wednesday and gold ended up losing more than 1 percent. On Thursday, the US inflationary data showed that the economy contracted at an annualised rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter of the year following the impressive 6.9 percent expansion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021. The initial market reaction to the disappointing growth data forced the dollar to lose some interest and gold closed the day in positive territory. On Friday, the gold prices edged up by 0.13 percent and the yellow metal closed the week just close to the $1,900 mark. During the week, the US dollar capitalised on safe-haven flows and put additional weight on gold. On top of China’s Covid-related concerns, the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict caused investors to grow increasingly worried about a global economic slowdown. In the coming week, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to hike its policy rate by 50 basis points. Such an action is likely to cause US Treasury bond yields to fall sharply and provide a boost to gold. From a technical perspective, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the daily chart is rising towards 50, pointing to a loss of bearish momentum. On the upside, $1,930 aligns as key resistance and gold might stay in a consolidation phase between that level and $1,900 (psychological level. Above $1,930, the next hurdle aligns at $1,940 (20day SMA, 50-day SMA) ahead of $1,960. On the flip side, the first support aligns at $1,880 (100-day SMA) and second at $1,870 (former resistance, static level).

As Beijing tightens Covid curbs, hard-hit Shanghai sees signs of life BEIJING REUTERS

The Chinese capital Beijing tightened Covid restrictions on Sunday as it battled an outbreak, while Shanghai let more of its 25 million residents venture out for light and air after reporting a second day of zero infections outside of quarantine areas. The outbreak in Shanghai, which began in March, has been China's worst since the early months of the pandemic in 2020. Hundreds of thousands have been infected and the city has forbidden residents from leaving their homes, to great public anger. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, personally in Shanghai to oversee the city's counter-epidemic work, said on Sunday that while now is not the time to relax, communities with no new cases for seven days should be allowed to return to "normal social order". The outbreak in China's most populous city and the risk of a spread in Beijing are testing the government's zero-Covid approach that has placed tremendous pressure on local economies in a year when Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third term as president. Beijing, with dozens of daily infections in an outbreak now in its 10th day, has not locked down. More than 300 locally transmitted cases have been logged since April 22. But on Sunday the capital tightened so-

cial distancing rules and launched a new round of mass testing in its worst-hit district. The city of 22 million has in the past week conducted mass testing in most of its 16 districts, suspended all entertainment venues and banned restaurant dining. "The impact of all this on us is too great - 20,000 yuan ($3,000) in a day gone, just like that!" said Jia, a manager at a burger restaurant in the east of Beijing. "Our boss is stressing out about this too," Jia said, asking to be identified only by his surname. "We have three branches in Shanghai. They've all been shut and losing cash for a month. And now this." Beijing's Universal Studios theme park closed on Sunday, while in the highly visited Badaling section of the Great Wall, visitors were told to show proof of negative Covid test results before entering. Chaoyang district, accounting for the biggest share of infections in Beijing's outbreak, started an additional round of mass testing, with public health workers knocking on doors to remind residents to get tested. "I do the PCR test everyday and I know I am not sick," said a Chaoyang resident surnamed Ma, whose local health app on her mobile phone had marked her profile as abnormal. "I feel caged, like I am sick. These restrictions are too excessive," said Ma, who works in finance. ANGER IN SHANGHAI: Shanghai's city-

wide lockdown since early April has caused worries about food and concern about being taken to crowded quarantine centres should they catch the virus. Extreme measures taken to seal up residential compounds, including fencing up entrances of buildings, have prompted outrage. Some residents have turned to social media to vent their frustration, some clanged pots and pans outside their windows, and others clashed with public health workers. The song "Do you hear the people sing?" from the musical "Les Miserables" has become a popular protest anthem. On Saturday, an online video of a Chinese orchestra playing the song, with the musicians performing from their respective homes, went viral with nearly 19,000 shares before it was blocked. While much of the city remained in lockdown, new cases have fallen by half in recent days, prompting state media to describe the situation as steadily improving and to be "effectively under control", suggesting a loosening of curbs ahead. Shanghai officials, striking an upbeat tone at a news conference on Sunday, said curbs on some areas would be eased after the city managed to rein in transmission risks at the community level, excluding cases in quarantine centres. Six of its 16 districts attained zero-Covid status, meaning three consecutive days with no new daily increases in infections, senior

city government official Gu Honghui told a virtual news conference. Public transport will be allowed to resume in five districts, but residents must remain in their districts as they visit supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals, a health official told the news conference. Social media posts showed the streets of Fengxian, one of the six districts, filled with

pedestrians and choked with scooters and bicycles. Excluding imported cases arriving from outside the mainland, China reported 8,256 new local cases for Saturday, down from 10,703 a day before. Beijing accounted for 59 of the infections, while Shanghai saw 7,872 new cases and all of the nation's 38 fatalities.

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Britain SayS ruSSian trOll FactOry iS SprEading diSinFOrmatiOn On SOcial mEdia

Agencies

HE British Foreign Office said on Sunday Russia is using a troll factory to spread disinformation about the war in Ukraine on social media and target politicians across a number of countries including Britain and South Africa. Britain cited UK-funded expert research, which it did not publish. It said the research exposed how the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign was designed to manipulate international public opinion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, boost support for it and recruit new sympathisers. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fas-

cists. Ukraine and the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and the war is an unprovoked act of aggression. Russia says the Western media have provided an excessively partial narrative of the war that largely ignores Moscow’s concerns about the enlargement of Nato and what it says is the persecution of Russian speakers in Ukraine, something denied by Kyiv. “We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putins illegal war,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement. “The UK Government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian informa-

tion operations.” Moscow has denied past accusations by Western countries of disinformation campaigns, for example Washington’s accusation that Russia sought to meddle in the 2016 US presidential election. Britain said the research showed the troll factory was using Telegram to recruit and co-ordinate new supporters who then target the social media profiles of Kremlin critics, spamming them with comments in favour of President Vladimir Putin and his war. Among their targets have been senior British ministers and other world leaders, Britain said, adding that traces of the operation had been detected across eight social media platforms including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.

Hamas warns of synagogue attacks in case of new Al-Aqsa raid WesT BAnK AFP

Omicron sub-lineages can dodge immunity from past infection: study Agencies Two new sublineages of the Omicron coronavirus variant can dodge antibodies from earlier infection well enough to trigger a new wave, but are far less able to thrive in the blood of people vaccinated against Covid-19, South African scientists have found. The scientists from multiple institutions were examining Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages – which the World Health Organisation last month added to its monitoring list. They took blood samples from 39 participants previously infected by Omicron when it first showed up at the end of last year. Fifteen were vaccinated – eight with Pfizer’s shot; seven with J&J’s — while the other 24 were not. “The vaccinated group showed about a 5-fold higher neutralisation capacity … and should be better protected,” said the study, a pre-print of which was released over the weekend. In the unvaccinated samples, there was an almost eightfold decrease in antibody production when exposed to BA.4 and BA.5, compared with the original BA.1 Omicron lineage. Blood from the vaccinated people showed a threefold decrease. South Africa may be entering a fifth Covid wave earlier than expected, officials and scientists said on Friday, blaming a sustained rise in infections that seems to be driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants.

Second bombing in two days in Kabul on eve of Eidul Fitr holiday Agencies A bomb blast in a passenger van in Kabul on Saturday killed at least one person, officials said, in the second explosion in the Afghan capital in two days, as security concerns rise on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eidul Fitr. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday, according to the group’s telegram channel. “One woman was killed and three more injured,” Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for Kabul’s commander, told Reuters. A day earlier, an explosion killed more than 50 worshippers after Friday prayers at a Kabul mosque amid a spate of mosque attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. One witness to the passenger van blast, Ali Maisam, 19, who was waiting outside a nearby bakery at the time, said he saw a number of bodies. “I saw people coming out of the minibus with bloody and burnt faces… I saw that four bodies were taken out and a woman was among the dead,” he said. Security concerns have risen across Afghanistan as the country marked Eidul Fitr on Sunday under Taliban rule for the first time in more than 20 years, after the group was removed from power following a US invasion in 2001. The Taliban retook power last August after foreign forces pulled out of the country and since then Afghanistan grapples with a rise in attacks by Daesh. Taliban authorities announced on Saturday that Eid would be marked the following day, leading to raucous rounds of celebratory gunfire in the streets of Kabul late on Saturday night. The authorities also moved to assuage people’s fears over security ahead of Eid. “We ensure our countrymen we will ensure security during Eid,” spokesman for Afghan interior ministry Abdul Nafee Takor said.

The Palestinian movement Hamas warned Saturday of attacks on synagogues if Israeli forces carry out another raid on the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied east Jerusalem. “Whoever takes the decision to repeat this scene (of a deployment inside the mosque) will be taking the decision to destroy thousands of synagogues across the world,” Yahya Sinwar, Hamas chief in the Gaza Strip, said in a speech. Israeli police have over the past two weeks clashed repeatedly with Palestinian protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, with footage showing them firing tear gas inside the mosque, sparking condemnation from across the Muslim world. “You should be ready for a great battle if the (Israeli) occupation does not stop attacking Al-Aqsa mosque,” said Sinwar. He said Hamas would fire off hundreds of rockets at Israel in case of an act of “aggression” on Al-Aqsa at the end of

May, when Israel marks its capture of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel’s attacks on east Jerusalem have raised fears of another armed conflict similar to an 11-day war last year between the former and Hamas, triggered in

part by similar unrest at Al-Aqsa. The latest Al-Aqsa violence brought to nearly 300 the number of Palestinians wounded in clashes at the site. The Al-Aqsa compound is the holiest place in Judaism, known to Jews as the Tem-

ple Mount, and the third-holiest in Islam. Palestinian Muslims have been angered by an uptick in Jewish visits to the compound, where by long-standing convention Jews may visit but are not allowed to pray.

Experts see harsh realities ahead for Musk at Twitter sAn FRAnciscO AFP

Tesla boss Elon Musk’s road to turning Twitter into a money-making platform where anyone can say anything looks to experts like a tough one. Musk’s $44-billion deal to buy the global messaging platform must still get the backing of shareholders and regulators. And while Musk has not revealed nitty-gritty details of how he would run the business side of Twitter, he has voiced enthusiasm for dialing back content moderation to a legal minimum and making money from subscriptions. “Other than advocating free speech, Musk hasn’t articulated a vision of what the platform can be,” Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi told AFP. “He hasn’t said if Twitter has an age issue, a geographic skew, who is the biggest competitor — what else he is thinking.” Subtract adS? Musk’s talk of doing away with Twitter’s advertising model for revenue, relying instead on subscriptions, does not appear feasible, Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian said in a note to investors. “Elon Musk has floated the idea of ditching the ad revenue model,” Sebastian said. “We struggle to believe this will happen altogether, unless he plans to fund interest payments on debt out of his own pocket.” Analysts doubt that Twitter users would flock to pay for premium content or features such as retweeting posts when social media platforms such as Facebook are free of charge. Musk could try selling posts or asking other websites to pay for anything they use from tweets. Musk’s proclaimed stance as a free speech absolutist also promises to undermine the advertising on which Twitter currently depends for revenue.

Brands are averse to having their ads associated with controversial content, such as misinformation or posts that could cause real-world harm, analysts agreed. Pushing heavily into subscriptions is likely to reduce the audience at Twitter, at the same time that allowing more controversial posts creates a “toxic environment” that puts off advertisers, said Lauren Walden of Tinuiti digital marketing specialty firm. As Twitter struggles with profitability, Musk will be on the hook for hefty interest payments from financing arranged to buy the San Francisco-based company. Meanwhile, US legislators are already threatening to modify a law sparing internet platforms from responsibility for what users post. They could use a Muskled Twitter as a poster child for the effort. troll roadmap? Musk’s talk of getting rid of “bots,” software-powered accounts that fire off

posts, and verifying user identities runs up against privacy concerns as well as the very free speech right he claims to cherish, academics noted. “Spam is a form of free speech,” said Duke University sociology professor Chris Bail. “Some of the proposals Musk’s put out there might actually contradict each other.” Changes Musk plans for Twitter include making public the software running the platform, letting people see how posts are handled and even recommending tweaks. Making Twitter software “open source” could give users insight and control at the platform, but would provide “uncivil actors” with instructions on how to better spread their posts, Bail told AFP. “Paradoxically, open-sourcing the platform may actually make it easier for trolls to dominate the platform,” Bail said. Musk would be taking control of

Twitter while still running electric car maker Tesla; tunnel-drilling enterprise Boring Company; private space exploration endeavour SpaceX and a Neuralink project to sync brains with computers. “It is like he is collecting CEO jobs,” quipped tech analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group. “Maybe with 10 he gets free coffee.” Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was heavily criticised for dividing his time by running digital payments firm Block, then called Square, while he was chief of Twitter. However, Musk is a proven success as a businessman and the world’s richest person. “The only thing that gives me pause is that he has expertise in engineering firms, but Twitter really isn’t an engineering firm,” Bail said. “It’s not about teaching a car to drive itself, it’s about serving the interests of people.”

Monday, 2 May, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

EvErtOn Earn pricElEss win, spurs intO tOp fOur LOndOn

AFP

VERTON kept alive their hopes of Premier League survival by beating Chelsea 1-0 on Sunday as Tottenham leapfrogged London rivals Arsenal into the top four with a thumping win against Leicester. The result at a raucous Goodison Park means Frank Lampard’s side are just two points from safety with five games to play — and will leave Leeds and Burnley sweating. After a goalless first half in which Everton had the better of the play, the hosts made the crucial breakthrough just after the restart. Cesar Azpilicueta was pressured into losing possession and Brazilian forward Richarlison swept a shot past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the 47th minute. Just before the hour mark Everton had a huge let-off when a shot from England midfielder Mason Mount hit both posts before Jordan Pickford produced a fine save from Azpilicueta. Pickford produced a fine save to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek from range before Demarai Gray squandered a chance to increase Everton’s lead. The home crowd faced the agony of seven minutes of added time but Everton held out, prompting a huge roar of relief at the final whistle. Former Chelsea boss Lampard, who took over from the unpopular Rafael Ben-

itez at the end of January, has struggled to revive the fortunes of the Merseyside giants. Everton would arguably be the biggest club ever to drop out of the Premier League — only Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have won more English top-flight titles — and they have not played in the second tier since the 1953/54 season. KanE, son show: Son Heung-min scored twice as Tottenham eased past a weakened Leicester side 3-1 to climb to fourth, one point clear of Arsenal, who travel to face West Ham later on Sunday. Antonio Conte’s side have recently lost momentum in the race to qualify for Europe’s top club competition, taking just one point from their previous two matches with no shots on target. Brendan Rodgers made eight changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Roma in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final last week, with only Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton and Timothy Castagne keeping their places. Harry Kane powered home a header from Son’s corner midway through the first half and Son doubled the lead on the hour mark after a pass from substitute Dejan Kulusevski. Son scored a third in the 79th minute to kill the game, curling an unstoppable effort into the top corner before a late consolation for Kelechi Iheanacho. Arsenal face the Hammers at the London Stadium after morale-boosting wins against Chelsea and Manchester United,

knowing they have fourth place in their own hands. Victory for the Gunners would take them back above Spurs and just three points behind 2021 European champions Chelsea, who have one eye on the FA Cup final against Liverpool.

But Mikel Arteta’s side still have to face Spurs on May 12 in a potential winner-takesall game in the effort to reach the top four. Manchester City still lead Liverpool by a single point at the top of the table after both sides won on Saturday. Norwich were relegated on a day of

drama at the bottom end and Watford look certain to join them after Burnley grabbed two late goals to win at Vicarage Road. Burnley and Leeds are both on 34 points — two ahead of 18th-placed Everton, who have a game in hand over both of their relegation rivals.

Rizwan, India’s Pujara share Sussex century stand LOndOn AFP

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara scored his second double hundred in three matches on Saturday as he shared a century stand with Mohammad Rizwan for English county Sussex. Pujara made 203 — his third century in three matches for Sussex — with wicketkeeper Rizwan marking his home debut for the south coast club with 79. The pair put on 154 for the sixth wicket at Hove as Sussex piled up an imposing 538 in reply to Durham’s first innings 223 in the Second Division of English cricket’s red-ball County Championship. Durham, however, ended the third day of four with hopes of holding out for a draw at 169 for none in their second innings. That Pujara and Rizwan are both at Sussex is a rare example of Indian and Pakistani cricketers turning out for the same team.

India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that authorities blamed on Pakistan and the teams now only play each other in multi-nation events. The South Asian rivals have not faced each other in a bilateral series since Pakistan toured India in 2012-13 for a set

of one-day internationals and T20 matches during a brief thaw in relations. Pakistan’s stars also do not play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most high-profile T20 competition, which is currently taking place in India. In the First Division, uncapped

Hampshire batsman Nick Gubbins did his hopes of making an England debut no harm by scoring his second century of the match against a Lancashire attack led by James Anderson. The left-hander followed up his 101 not out in the first innings with 130 to leave Hampshire well-placed at the Ageas Bowl, for all that Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker was bowling for Lancashire. Hampshire were eventually dismissed for 344 and at stumps Lancashire were nine for none, chasing a target of 351 for victory. Gubbins, 28, made his name with 1,409 runs, including four hundreds, as Middlesex won the First Division title in 2016 only for the runs to dry up the following season. But a move south to Hampshire last year appears to have rejuvenated Gubbins and he is giving an England set-up now headed up by managing director Rob Key and new Test captain Ben Stokes a remainder of his talent.

Rahm takes two-stroke lead into last round of Mexico Open MeXICO CITy AFP

World number two Jon Rahm closed with a 13-foot birdie putt to seize a two-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Mexico Open. The 27-year-old Spaniard fired a three-under par 68 to stand on 15-under 198 after 54 holes at Vidanta Vallarta resort. “I played really good golf,” Rahm said. “Tee to green was really good.” Rahm seeks his seventh career US PGA title and his first since winning his maiden major last year at the US Open at Torrey Pines. “It has been a little bit of a while,” Rahm said. “So far I’m proud of the way I’ve played and I can just keep enjoying each moment and hopefully play as solid as I have tee to green, keep hitting fairways, keep hitting greens and just roll a few and hopefully extend that lead.” Clinging to a one-stroke lead, Rahm found a greenside bunker at the par-5 18th, then blasted his third shot to the back of the green and rolled in the clutch birdie putt for his third birdie on the hole in as many days. “That one on 18 was the first one outside 10 feet I saw roll in,” Rahm said. “If I can just keep that going and make putts like I did the first two days, I think tomorrow I’ll give myself a really good chance.” That putt restored Rahm to the two-stroke edge he enjoyed when the round began with Americans Kurt Kitayama and Cameron Champ sharing second on 200 after late stumbles. “My game has felt good. I’m in great spirits, so tomorrow I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Champ said. “I’ve hit a few shaky shots, but I’ve just been able to get around and score.” Americans Patrick Rodgers, Nate Lashley and Davis Riley shared fourth on 201 with countryman

Alex Smalley seventh on 202 at the long-established event, which makes its US PGA debut this year. Rahm reached the green in two at the par-5 sixth and two-putted for birdie then drove the green at the 298-yard seventh and tapped in for birdie after missing a 14-foot eagle putt. The Spaniard found water off the 10th tee and made bogey but answered with a birdie at the par-5 14th, dropping his approach inches from the cup, then closed with a final birdie. “The only hiccup was the tee shot on 10,” Rahm said. “And it wasn’t even that bad.” ‘EmbracE thE nErvEs’: Kitayama, seeking

his first PGA title, missed the green at the par-3 17th and made bogey to fall off Rahm’s pace. “I feel pretty good about today’s round,” Kitayama said. “I hit it fairly long out here so that helps. I’m good on the greens. I feel like I’m seeing the line and rolling it well.” Champ had back-to-back bogeys at 15 and 16 after being warned for slow play to drop behind Rahm. “Just got to embrace the nerves and excitement,” Champ said. “Just try to control them the best you can and knowing that all the other guys will be just as nervous as you no matter how many wins they have.”

Olympics chief praises Brisbane 2032 after 'honeymoon' meeting Sydney AFP

Brisbane is making impressive early preparations to host the 2032 Games, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Sunday after a "honeymoon" first meeting with organisers. But Bach warned that like any marriage there would likely be surprises causing problems in the relationship. "We are not only satisfied. I have said it before, we are impressed and happy," Bach said during a visit to Sydney to meet members of the Brisbane 2032 organising committee. Bach also bid farewell to powerbroker John Coates, who stepped down on Saturday after 32 years as president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). "It was like a honeymoon meeting," Bach said after meeting Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games organisers, including Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. "This honeymoon will not last forever. As we know by experience, like every marriage it will have its ups and downs," he added. "But the mutual respect and the enthusiasm, I think, will make sure that we will also overcome maybe some unexpected obstacles." Asked whether cricket or surf lifesaving might be included in the 2032 Games, which were awarded to the Australian east coast city last July, Bach said only that the IOC sought to include sports that inspired younger generations. Kirsty Coventry, chair of the IOC's athletes commission, said it was probably too early to be deciding on sports for 2032. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer and world record holder from Zimbabwe, pointed out that she was from a cricket-playing nation. "We've got to take it step-by-step," she said, by evaluating how different sports integrated into the Olympic movement and also their influence on young people. Despite leaving his post as AOC president, Coates remains vice-president of the International Olympic Committee until the 2024 Games in Paris and is still president of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ian Chesterman, Chef de Mission for Australia's 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games team, was elected as Coates' successor at the AOC.

Monday, 2 May, 2022

prayer timings

NEWS

ONe iNjured iN QuettA blAst islamabad

staff report

T least one person was injured after a blast hit the customs intelligence office located at Quetta’s Airport Road, the police said on Sunday. The police have said that they have summoned the bomb disposal squad to determine the intensity of the blast. A security guard posted at the office revealed that three unidentified armed men had entered the office and held the staff hostage. He added that the men had tied the hands of the staff and issued “grave threats to them”. The guard said that the explosion

took place as soon as the unidentified men left the office. Meanwhile, SSP Operations Abdul Haq Umarani said that the police had received reports of a fire at the customs office. He added that they are yet to find any evidence related to the blast. “Investigation of the guards is underway. Further probe will be done after the fire is extinguished,” said the SSP. On the other hand, rescue officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that a person was injured due to the blast. They added that the customs office also caught fire after the blast. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:53

12:01

3:39

5:21

6:40

8:08

fiqah-e-hanfia lahore sehr: 3:52 am iftar: 6:41 Pm

islamabad sehr: 3:50 am iftar: 6:49 Pm

karachi sehr: 4:37 am iftar: 7:01 Pm

fiqah-e-jafaria islamabad sehr: 3:40 am iftar: 6:59 Pm

lahore sehr: 3:42 am iftar: 6:51 Pm

karachi sehr: 4:27 am iftar: 7:11 Pm

Pakistan to celebrate Eidul Fitr tomorrow The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Sunday announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted at any place in Pakistan and therefore Eidul Fitr would be celebrated across the country on Tuesday (tomorrow). The announcement was made after the moon sighting committee met in Islamabad with its Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad in the chair. Addressing a press conference following the meeting, Maulana Azad said that the zonal committees did not receive any shahadats (testimonies) from anywhere in the country and the decision was made unanimously. “No credible testimonies of moon sighting were received from any part of the county,” he said, adding that the committee reached the decision after consulting with the all zonal moon sighting committees. “The first day of Eid will fall on May 3 (Tues-

day).” The meeting was also attended by members of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, SPARCO, Meteorological Department and Ministry of Science and Technology. Astronomers last week predicted that Eidul Fitr was likely to be celebrated on Tuesday, May 3 this year, saying the Shawwal moon may not be sighted anywhere in the country on the evening of 29 Ramazan (Sunday, May 1). They added that the new moon will be born at 1:28am between the night of April 30 and May 1. The experts further said that the dimensional difference between the moon from the sun needs to be at 10 degrees but it will be at 8 degrees in Pakistan, which will make it near impossible to be seen even

with a telescope. On the other hand, the time difference between the sunset and moonset, which should be at 40 minutes, will be more than 89 minutes in all areas of the country. Therefore, if there are clear skies on Monday evening, the moon will be sighted clearly and for long in all areas of the country. However, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has announced officially celebrating Eidul Fitr tomorrow (Monday) across the province after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Pakistan. “No credible testimonies of moon sighting were received from any part of the county. The first day of Eid will fall on May 3 (Tuesday),” announced top moon-sighting body chief Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad following the meeting. K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan will offer Eid prayer at the Governor House Peshawar along with cabinet members and senior government officials, according to an official announcement. K-P government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali said as many as 130 moon testimonies were received from different parts of the province. “The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to officially celebrate Eidul Fitr on Monday, May 2,” he said in a statement. The announcement comes minutes after a local Ruet-e-Hilal Committee led by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai in Peshawar has also announced that the Shawwal moon was sighted and Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Monday in the light of “more than 17 testimonies”. Mufti Popalzai is the Khateeb of the historic Qasim Khan Mosque in Peshawar and the head of his own Ruet-e-Hilal committee. However, he has become controversial after his committee sighted the moon — which marks the beginning of the Islamic months — at different dates than the central moon-sighting body. As a result, Ramazan and Eid in parts of K-P were observed at different times to the rest of the country. app

Ashrafi condemns Masjid-e-Nabwi incident Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council and former special assistant to the prime minister on interfaith harmony Maulana Tahir Ashrafi on Sunday excoriated the incident of hooliganism that took place at Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madina and said that “we all are ashamed” since the sanctity of the holy place was violated. Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, Ashrafi said that Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH), which is one of the two holiest places of worship for Muslims, had not seen such an incident in the last 100 years. “The gravity of the situation cannot be described in words,” he said. Ashrafi said that he was an eyewitness to the situation as he was present over there at the time. “We’re even supposed to recite the durood in a low voice when present in Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH), but unfortunately, gangs were deployed in different parts of the mosque,” he said. He said that when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation entered the mosque shortly before iftar, the hooligans loudly chanted slogans. “They even continued chanting slogans during the Maghrib azan,” he said. The head of the Pakistan Ulema Council went on to say that the treatment meted out to Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb was also reprehensible. “The incident is a matter of shame for every Pakistani as the country’s image has been tarnished across the globe,” he said. Ashrafi said that the incident was “encouraged by former ministers and PTI activists”, as it was all done in the name of Pakistan. He said that those involved had been arrested by the Saudi government, adding that the prime minister had requested the Saudi authorities not to arrest any innocent person. He, however, stressed that those involved should be punished under the Saudi law.

Taliban supreme leader hails 'security' in rare appearance to mark Eidul Fitr Afghanistan supreme leader appeared publicly for only the second time in six years on Sunday, telling worshippers celebrating Eidul Fitr that the Taliban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year. Speaking just two days after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul, an atmosphere of heightened security surrounded the man introduced as Hibatullah Akhundzada, the chief of the Taliban. "Congratulations on victory, freedom and success," he told thousands of worshippers at the Eidgah mosque in the southern city of Kandahar, the group's de facto power centre. "Congratulations on this security and for the Islamic system." While the number of bombings across the country has dropped since Kabul fell to the Taliban last August, attacks soared over the final two weeks of the fasting month of Ramazan, which ended Saturday for Afghans. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the primarily sectarian attacks — some claimed by the Daesh — targeting members of the Shia and Sufi Muslim communities. Friday's bombing of a Sunni mosque in the capital killed at least 10 people. Akhundzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshippers in Kandahar without turning to face the crowd, according to social media posts. Taliban officials did not allow journalists

to approach him, while two helicopters hovered over the mosque for the whole of the two-hour event. Dozens of Taliban fighters were deployed where Akhundzada and other Taliban leaders were sitting and they stopped worshippers from taking their pictures on cellphones. An AFP correspondent who reported from the mosque confirmed that the voice said to be Akhundzada's came from the front rows of worshippers. It was Akhundzada's second known public appearance since taking control of the Taliban in 2016. When the man introduced as the Taliban leader began to speak, worshippers chanted "Allahu Akbar! Long live Islamic Emirate and Long Live Akhundzada!" Worshipper Aziz Ahmad Ahmadi said he was overwhelmed. "I cried when I heard the voice of Sheikh Saheb (Akhundzada)... to hear him is like achieving my biggest dream," he said, but added he had failed to spot the leader among the crowd. Another Kandahar resident Bismillah, who attended the Eid prayers at the Eidgah mosque, said, "I'm so happy that I can't even describe it". "I had a dream to pray alongside my supreme leader, to hear his voice or to see him," he told AFP.

Akhundzada's low profile has fed speculation about his role in the new Taliban government, formed after the group took control of Kabul on August 15 — and even rumours of his death. His public profile has largely been limited to the release of messages during Islamic holidays from his office in Kandahar. In October, Akhundzada visited the Darul Uloom Hakimiah mosque in the southern city, according to an audio recording circulated by Taliban social media accounts. On Friday, in a message released ahead of Eidul Fitr, he made no mention of the bloodshed that had rocked Afghanistan over Ramazan, instead praising the Taliban's building of "a strong Islamic and national army" and "strong intelligence organisation". In Kabul, Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund held Eid prayers at the palace, where he slammed Washington for intervening in Afghanistan's internal affairs. "Didn't they (Washington) withhold the wealth of this country which was in its bank? Isn't that intervention in this country?" Akhund said in a statement released by the authorities. Washington seized billions of dollars of Afghanistan's assets after it withdrew in August, deepening a humanitarian crisis in the country. Many Afghans in Kabul preferred to stay

indoors on Sunday rather than pray at mosques after the recent deadly attacks. "The situation of our people is very sad, especially after what happened in the mosques," Kabul resident Ahmad Shah Hashemi told AFP. "Many young and old people have been martyred. The people of Afghanistan have nothing but sorrow." The deadliest attack during Ramazan was in the northern province of Kunduz,

where a bomb ripped through a mosque as a group of Sufis performed rituals. At least 36 people were killed and scores more were wounded. No group has so far claimed that attack. The record of thousands of vehicles also burnt because of the fire that erupted after the blast, a Customs officer told a news outlet. He preferred anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media. "We are investigating the matter," he said. afp

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