Issuu

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 I 6 Shawwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII no 308 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PM assures Provision of basic facilities to KP residents g

AnnoUnCES RS2Bn dEvEloPMEnT gRAnT FoR BISHAM

sHAnGLA

staff report

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the government would work hard to transform Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) into a developed province and provide all the basic facilities, which had been taken out of the reach of the poor people by the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) government. How many hospitals and health facilities the PTI’s provincial government had

constructed and provided free of cost treatment and medicines to the poor people during its rule?” questioned the prime minister while addressing a huge rally at Bisham. Criticising the PTI’s government, he said the price hike had reached to a historic peak in the last four years with huge debt hovering around Rs24,000 billion. “due to their corruption and incompetency, the previous rulers even did not put a single brick to the stalled projects. The BRT was delayed causing billion of rupees losses,” he said, adding the former

rulers only unveiled plaques of the projects launched by the PMl-n government. He said during the PMl-n rule in Punjab province, the orphans, widows and hopeless were provided with free-of-cost treatment and now the same facilities have been restarted after gap of four years. The medicines are being provided irrespective of the class differences, he added. The prime minister also assured similar provision of health facilities in KP as well. He went on to say that if Punjab develops alone then it is not development of Pakistan. RS2 BIllIon GRAnT FoR BIShAM: He announced a development grant of Rs2 billion for Bisham tehsil to resolve civic and municipal issues related to water and road maintenance. He also announced a medical college for the area. He said that among other measures, he would make efforts to ensure the completion of the Puran grid station in three months and expedite work on the Bisham-Khwazakhela expressway. He said Punjab would be reducing wheat prices and appealed to KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to do so as well. He added that if the chief minister does not reduce the prices, then he would himself “give money for cheaper wheat”. The price of wheat in KP and Punjab would be brought at par over the next few days, he added. He also appealed to the KP chief minister to make medicines and treatment for poor people free in hospitals, otherwise, Shehbaz said he would address the issue himself and ensure the free provision of health facilities. He said that if he is given the opportunity then he would ensure free health services in all hospitals of the country. “People of KP, it is my promise to you that I will rest only after solving your basic issues,” he assured.

Govt nominates Baligh-ur-Rehman as Punjab governor news desk Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) leader Mohammad Balighur-Rehman has been nominated for the position of Punjab governor. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a summary to President dr Arif Alvi, seeking appointment of Balighur-Rehman as Punjab governor. Earlier, Rehman had served as education minister in former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s cabinet from August, 2017 to May, 2018. He was elected as Member of national Assembly (MnA) on PMl-n’s ticket for the first time in 2008 and then later in 2013. The Shehbaz-led government had approached the president twice for the removal of incumbent Punjab governor omar Sarfaraz Cheema. Cheema has been causing problems for the PMl-n in Punjab ever since he was given the post by former premier Imran Khan during his last days in power. The governor

Marriyum announces withdrawal of FIA’s petition seeking restoration of PECA Section 20 news desk Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday announced the immediate withdrawal of a review petition filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the Supreme Court for restoration of the section 20 of Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. In a series of tweets, Marriyum said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken strict notice of the petition filed by the FIA regarding PECA. “The Prime Minister and I learned a short while ago that FIA has filed a petition in SC against the IHC judgment regarding PECA, 2016 to seek restoration of section 20 of the Act. Please note that this petition stands withdrawn immediately, as it is squarely against the government’s stated policy and principle of standing for and ensuring freedom of expression,” tweeted the information minister. She regretted that the news of the petition had reached to her and the prime minister a “little late” as

they were in Bisham for a public gathering during the day and there were no signals. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which was made part of the petition, welcomed PM Shehbaz Sharif’s order for withdrawing the petition.

The journalists’ body said that it has been appealing for an “urgent meeting” of the Joint Action Committee to review the PECA. “For cordial media-government relations, dialogue is the only solution for ensuring right of expression and press freedom,” said the PFUJ.

Before the directives were issued to withdraw the petition, the PFUJ had expressed concern over the plea. In a statement, the body had demanded the FIA to withdraw the plea and also appealed to PM Shehbaz to take notice of the petition. PETITIon: Earlier in the day, the FIA had approached the Supreme Court for the restoration of the section 20 of the PECA. In its plea, the FIA had contended before the Supreme Court whether the Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah was “justified or correct” to strike down the section 20 of the PECA. The agency had asked the apex court to examine whether the Islamabad High Court “has not advertently overstepped its legal parameters earmarked” in Article 199. It wanted the court to determine whether the striking of the section was tantamount to “undue intermeddling with the affairs of the federation”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

had triggered a constitutional crisis after he refused to administer the oath of office to Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz. Hamza was finally sworn in after the lahore High Court ordered national Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to administer the oath to Hamza. PPP’s Ali Haider gillani, Makhdoom Syed Usman Mehmood and Mumtaz Ali Khan Chaang are expected to become Punjab ministers, while Hassan Murtaza is expected to be named Punjab's senior minister. The names of Shazia Abid, ghazanfar Abbas langah, Rais nabeel Ahmad have been proposed for parliamentary secretaries, while Shehzad Saeed Cheema’s name has been proposed for special assistant. Earlier, it was reported that PPP had demanded the slot of Punjab governor and three provincial ministries.

more inside

Imran says he would never have agreed to US demand of military bases in Pakistan STORY ON PAGE 02

PM expresses desire to strengthen ties with EU STORY ON PAGE 03

Won’t allow Islamabad march till assured it won’t be violent: Sanaullah tells PTI STORY ON BACK PAGE

sunday, 8 May, 2022 | IsLAMABAD

nEws

Imran says he would never have agreed to us demand of mIlItary bases In PakIstan

NEWS DESK

AKISTAN Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday said that during his time in power he would “never have agreed” to any US demands of being given military bases in Pakistan. Last month, the PTI-led government was toppled via a no-confidence movement, which Imran alleges was masterminded by the US through the help of local players over his pursuance of an independent foreign policy. Addressing overseas Pakistanis in a video message on Saturday, he said that the US wanted bases in Pakistan in order to “conduct [counter attacks] from here in case if there were any terrorism in Afghanistan” — something he said he found “absolutely unacceptable”. Imran said Pakistan had already lost 80,000 lives in the US-led ‘war on terror’ and still its sacrifices were never appreciated, with many US politicians blaming it instead. “First they blamed us, then they didn’t appreciate us, our country and tribal areas were destroyed and now [they] are again asking for bases. I would

have never agreed to this and the problems [between us] started from there.” “Unfortunately, our ruling elite is corrupt, soft and a slave and they think we cannot survive without the United States,” he added. Talking about his planned long march towards Islamabad, he said “we want everyone to be part of our protest including families. I want institutions to know where our nation stands [on alleged US conspiracy].” He said that India negotiated and

received oil at a cheaper rate despite their close bonds with the US, but our trip to Russia angered the West. “They never appreciated our (Pakistan) efforts to help during the war on terror and now they threatened us,” he added. The PTI chief said that he knew something was up since July and August after “frequency of opposition lawmakers’ visits to the US embassy increased”. “Donald Lu threatened our ambassador on March 7 and said that if the noconfidence motion was successful then Pakistan will be forgiven but if Imran Khan is not ousted then Pakistan will suffer severe consequences,” he said and added that with the help of local Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs, his government was isolated and subsequently removed from power. “[PM] Shehbaz Sharif and his family have corruption cases. In the West, will someone with ongoing corruption cases be allowed to stand for elections? If you want to destroy a country then get thieves to run it. This is detrimental to the future of Pakistan,” he added. Imran Khan said that handing over power to these “corrupt” people was even a

achievements, the PTI chief said that when they assumed power, Pakistan was on the verge of bankruptcy and the economy was in tatters. “It was a great embarrassment for me that I had to go to other countries and seek money as we were getting bankrupt,” he added. He said that Pakistan’s economy grew despite Covid-19 and the country was praised for its tackling of the pandemic. We saw record exports and remittances. We encouraged overseas Pakistanis to send remittances. In India, according to the latest figures, five million people died but Pakistan’s figures are much lower. India’s economy shrank 7 per cent but we grew by 2.7 per cent.” He said that the PTI government collected record taxes and they were removed from power at a time when Pakistan was on the brink of ‘taking off’. “You must raise your voice and write letters to your countries’ representatives. You must contribute to our website and help us with our campaign. We need the help of overseas Pakistanis. This is a defining moment for Pakistan,” Imran Khan further said.

Food products’ prices rise as Ramazan package ends

Elections only solution to political crisis: Hamza

NEWS DESK

NEWS DESK Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has said that “free and fair elections” are the only solution to the prevailing political crisis in the country. Talking to the media in Faisalabad on Saturday, he expressed confidence that his party – PML-N – is prepared to face PTI chairman Imran Khan in the political battleground. He said that Pakistan Is presently facing several challenges when it comes to the economy and governance. “In the last four years, they (the PTI) did nothing but lie. Imran Khan never fulfilled his promise of a ‘naya Pakistan’ and instead destroyed the old one.” So now, Hamza continued, the governments — both federal and provincial — have begun the journey to revive the old Pakistan where “the growth rate was 5.8 per cent, labourers were paid on time, and essential food items were available”. “We will work with our allies and take steps that will be beneficial for the public,” he vowed. “And I believe that in the upcoming period, whenever economic reforms are completed, free and fair elections are the only solution to the crisis in the country. “I am hopeful that despite all these challenges, God will pave a path and God-willing, we will make this country Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan,” he said, adding that the PML-N is prepared to face Imran in the political battleground. But some people, Hamza went on to refer to the former

“bigger conspiracy” and a great disrespect to a nation of 220 million people. “Why don’t the media questions them (current government) about inflated prices? Run campaigns on social media and express that you do not support this government,” he urged the overseas Pakistanis. He asked the overseas Pakistanis to seek clarification from their government whether will they allow such a conspiracy to happen in their own country. “Your voice matters and you should raise your voice. We will never accept it (toppling of PTI government). We will give call for Islamabad after May 20 and there will be an ocean of people [in the capital city]. I have never seen so much awareness and unity in public and they are united on one point that they will never accept slavery,” he added. The former prime minister said that the current government was accusing PTI of blasphemy when they were insulted in Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH). “We didn’t even know they were in Madinah at the time. Wherever they go in the world, they will listen to slogans such as traitors and thieves.” Talking about his government’s

prime minister, want to start a “civil war” in the country. “I have always said that Imran Khan is a man who is wearing a suicide vest to damage the Constitution of Pakistan and trample the law,” he said, citing examples of the ruling of the National Assembly deputy speaker on the no-trust motion and the Punjab CM elections. “Unlike Imran, we don’t believe in the politics of revenge, but we won’t forgive Imran for making people wait in queues for sugar, wheat and medicines. We will reveal how he raided the pockets of the people and make him pay for it,” Hamza added.

The prices of various food products have surged at utility stores across the country as the government’s Ramazan Relief Package came to an end. The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Saturday released a new rate list of various food products, including pulses, cooking oil and gram flour. According to the list, the discount of Rs10 per kg being offered on dal mash and dal moong has been reverted while the price of gram flour has risen by Rs20 per kg. New prices of items at utility stores: Dal mash: Rs270 per kg (up by Rs10) Dal moong: Rs170 per kg (up by Rs10) USC gram flour: Rs190 per kg (up by Rs20) USC dates: Rs80 per 500gm (up by Rs10) Fresh Bru Tea 475gm: Rs442 (up by Rs23) Fresh Bru Tea 950gm: Rs846 (up by Rs47) Dalda Cooking Oil 5 litre: Rs2,155 (up by Rs100) Habib Cooking Oil 1 litre: Rs400 (up by Rs20) Meezan Cooking Oil 1×5 litre pack: Rs402 (up by Rs20) Eva Cooking Oil (1×5) litre pillow pouch: Rs410 (up by Rs20) Tullo Cooking Oil 5 litre tin: Rs1,990 (up by Rs100) Yellow Label 380gm: Rs479 (up by Rs19)

Lipton Yellow Label 475gm: Rs575 (up by Rs24) Supreme Tea 495gm: Rs525 (up by Rs24) Tapal Danedar Tea 450gm: Rs545 (up by Rs22) The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the previous Imran Khan-led government had approved a Ramazan relief package worth Rs8.3 billion in March, under which 19 kitchen items were to be supplied at subsidised rates through the utility stores. According to a notification issued at the time, a 20kg bag of flour would be sold at Rs800, sugar at Rs70 per kg, ghee at Rs260 per kg and gram flour at Rs170 per kg while other items, including pulses, dates, rice, black tea and spices would also be sold at subsidised rates.

Dua Zehra case: Interim charge sheet filed against suspects NEWS DESK The Karachi police have filed an interim challan against four suspects in the Dua Zehra case over her alleged abduction, rape and forced marriage, a news outlet reported on Saturday. According the the report, the suspects, including the girl’s purported husband Zaheer Ahmed, Hafiz Ghulam Mustafa — who solemnised their 'free-will' marriage — and two witnesses of the marriage, Shabbir Ahmed and Asghar Ali, were charged with kidnapping the teenage girl from Karachi and arranging her forced marriage. Dua’s mysterious disappearance from her Malir Halt residence on April 16 had led to an outrage on social media about growing incidents of teenage girl’s alleged abductions from Karachi and their marriages in Punjab. The investigating officer (IO) on Saturday recommended for the suspects to be tried under Section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of fourteen) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 3 (punishment for male contracting party) and 4 (punishment for parents or guardian concerned in a child marriage) of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013 and Section 3(i) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Person Act, 2018. The IO showed the four suspects as absconders and listed six witnesses. He mentioned that according to the complainant, his daughter went missing from their house on April 16, adding that they had managed to obtain footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the neighbourhood in order

to find out any clue about her whereabouts. The IO stated that the CCTV footage was analysed for clues but the girl was not seen in the video. The IO added that three cell phones of the complainant and other family members were also analysed but no useful information could be found during their forensic analysis. He informed the court that the help of other departments was also sought in search for the captive teenager but it had not borne any fruit. The IO stated that according to the media reports, Dua had solemnised a free-will marriage with Zaheer in Lahore and their purported nikahnama (marriage certificate) was also shared on social media. He submitted that on the directives of Lahore Model Town's judicial magistrate, he recorded Dua's statement under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in which she denied her alleged kidnapping and claimed to have married Zaheer out of her free will. The IO stated that the record of the National Database and Registration Authority showed that Dua was aged 14, adding that Zaheer had allegedly subjected her to rape in the name of a free-will marriage. The IO requested the magistrate to accept the interim challan and also requested a 15-day period for submission of the final challan, arguing that DNA testing and medical examination of the girl were yet to be performed. However, the magistrate only gave eight days to the IO for completing the investigation and submitting the final challan. Till then, the magistrate also told the IO to arrest all the suspects and produce them before the court.

sunday, 8 May, 2022 | IsLAMABAD

nEws

Pm exPresses desIre to strengthen tIes wIth eu

NEWS DESK

DELEGATION of the European Union (EU), led by Charge d’ Affaires Thomas Seiler, on Saturday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to congratulate him on assuming his office. According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, PM Shehbaz thanked Thomas Seiler for his felicitations and underlined the importance Pakistan attaches to its relations with the EU and its member states. “The premier highlighted the strong economic, trade and investment ties between Pakistan and EU and expressed his desire for further strengthening this multi-faceted relationship in diverse sectors, including climate change and legal migration,” the statement read. PM Shehbaz also underscored the importance of regular high-level exchanges between the two sides to deepen bilateral collaboration and enhance mutual cooperation on issues of peace and stability in the regional

wheat flour price increased by rs10.50 per kilogramme LAHORE Staff RepoRt

and international context. During the conversation, Thomas Seiler affirmed the EU’s commitment to further deepening bilateral

cooperation with Pakistan. The Foreign Office noted that Pakistan and the EU are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the

establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Events marking this milestone are envisaged to be held both in Islamabad and Brussels.

SHC takes up PTI petition on Sindh LG elections KARACHI Staff RepoRt

A bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday approved the request to immediately hear a petition concerning local government elections in Sindh moved by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). The petition was filed by PTI lawmakers Haleem Adil Sheikh and Firdous Shamim Naqvi, among others. The court issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the provincial government, the Local Government secretary and others. it also summoned written responses from the parties by May 9. The PTI has filed a petition in the high court challenging the schedule

issued by the commission for the polls. In its plea, the party requested the SHC to suspend the ECP schedule regarding the elections and order the electoral body for amendments to Sindh LG laws in light of the Supreme Court decision. “ECP April 14 notification regarding local government polls in Sindh is illegal and in clear violation of apex court ruling on Sindh LG Act 2013,” the party further contended in the petition. It is pertinent to mention here that the ECP on April 20 announced the schedule of the first phase of local government polls in Sindh. The local council elections will be held on June 26, the election commission announced. The result of the first phase of the local bodies’ elections in Sindh will be announced on June 30.

national assembly session on monday ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned a session of the National Assembly on May 9. The session was summoned under Article 54 of the Constitution and on the recommendation of the prime minister, the presidency said in a press statement. The session will begin at 4:30 pm.

motorway police chief removed

Minister grieves death of journalist ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed deep sorrow over the death of Khalid Hameed Farooqui, a journalist associated with the Jang group, who passed away on Saturday. In a tweet, Aurangzeb said Farooqui was a veteran with a “serious temperament and high journalistic standards”. He was a wellknown journalist from Pakistan working in Europe who made history by covering the violent crisis in Ukraine, she added. Paying tribute to his journalistic services,

Flour producers across Multan on Saturday announced an increase of Rs10.50 per kilogramme in commodity price after which the rate of 20 kilogrammes bag increased by Rs210. With the increase, the latest price of the 20 kilogrammes bag surged to Rs1,310 from Rs1,100. The price of 10 kilogrammes bag has also increased by Rs110 to Rs660 from Rs550. The new and revised rate list has been issued by the producers. They argued that they have increased the flour price due to the increased price of wheat in the market. “The flour mill owners are buying the wheat at Rs2,425 per maund much more than the rate fixed by the government,” the union of mill owners maintained. Sources said that the price of bread will be increased eventually with the price hike in flour prices. The move comes after the crisis in Ukraine shut off access to cheaper wheat from the Black Sea region, particularly affecting exports to the Middle East and north African region. Last week, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation warned there was a danger of severe hunger, as the war in Ukraine threatened supplies of key staple crops.

Aurangzeb prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude. Farooqui, who remained associated with Geo News since its launch in 2002 and was its bureau chief in Europe, belonged to Karachi but was settled in Brussels. Among his recent assignments was the coverage of the French presidential election. Geo News said Farooqui suffered a heart attack in Brussels after arriving from London. He is survived by his wife and two children — a son and a daughter. “Greatly saddened to hear this news […] You fought the good fight. Never sold out.

ISLAMABAD MonitoRing RepoRt

Courageous journalist, [a] consistent fighter for media freedom and democracy,” wrote Beena Sarwar, a journalist. “Khalid Hameed was a lovely man. Rest in peace,” tweeted Zia ud-Din Yousafzai, Malala Yousafzai’s father.

daily Covid-19 report: 36 new cases ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan reported 36 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the ministry of health said on Saturday. The tally of infected people increased to 1,528,690 after adding the new cases, according to the data released by the ministry. A total of 30,372 people died from Covid-19 in Pakistan, with no more deaths recorded on Friday, according to the ministry’s statistics. On Friday, 7,750 tests for Covid-19 were conducted in Pakistan while the positivity rate stood at 0.46 percent. Currently, there are 105 active cases who are in critical condition in the South Asian country.

Inspector General of Motorway Police Inam Ghani was Saturday removed from his office and ordered to report to the Establishment Division.

Khalid Mahmood has been appointed as his successor. A BPS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), Ghani assumed on October 21 last year. He previously served as chief of the Pakistan Railways Police.

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

RePoRt PlaCeS PakiStaN aMoNg food-iNSeCURe NatioNS IsLAmAbAd

anadolu agency

OME 193 million people experienced “acute food insecurity” last year, a joint report by the EU and UN said on Wednesday, calling it a record figure and warning that the war in Ukraine will add to a “perfect storm” to make the hunger crisis even worse in 2022. Acute food insecurity is defined as a lack of food so severe that it puts a person’s life or livelihood in immediate danger. Its most serious form is famine, leading to starvation and death. The Global Report on Food Crises, compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP), and the European Union, has been monitoring it since 2016 when acute food insecurity was said to have affected 108 million people. Last year’s figure of 193 million marked an increase of nearly 40 million from 2020. However, part of the increase is due to the fact that the latest report looked at a wider population sample. In 2021, the countries with the highest numbers of food-insecure people were the Democratic Republic of Congo,

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Nigeria, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Pakistan, and Haiti, the report said. It added that around 570,000 people in Ethiopia, South Sudan, southern Madagascar, and Yemen faced famine. This was four times the number that was observed in 2020 and seven times higher than in 2016. The report listed conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic shocks as the “key drivers behind rising acute food insecurity in 2021,” and said the outlook for 2022 was gloomier even before Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24. “The unfolding war in Ukraine is likely to exacerbate the already severe 2022 acute food insecurity forecasts included in this report, given that the repercussions of the war on global food, energy, and fertiliser prices and supplies have not yet been factored into most country-level projection analyses,” it said. The report also predicted “major deteriorations” in food security in northern Nigeria, Yemen, Burkina Faso, and the Niger due to conflict, as well as in Kenya, South Sudan, and Somalia, largely due to the impact of consecutive seasons of below-average rains. “Conflict, the climate crisis, Covid-19, and surging food and fuel costs have created a perfect storm — and now we’ve got the

PMC determined to facilitate students IsLAmAbAd pReSS ReleaSe

Pakistan Medical Commission has called a meeting of Sindh Dental Colleges on 11th May 2022 and a Seminar of all Pakistan Dental Colleges on 12th May 2022 to discuss the issues regarding the reducing number of admissions in dental colleges. In this regard, a letter has been received from the President PAMI Sindh chapter setting out proposals which along with other issues & proposals presented by colleges will be discussed in the said meetings. One of the key proposals put forth by PAMI Sindh is to remove the ‘conflict of interest’ clause from the PMC Act 2020 and consequently to allow those regulated to be a part of the regulator and decision making while also suggesting the removal of the requirement to qualify the MDCAT for admission and consequent grant of a medical license. This, however, is a matter for the Parliament to decide and not the Commission. Similar issues were raised by the Sindh Government on which a report was sought by the Ministry of Health from the Commission. The Commission has submitted a detailed report addressing all the concerns including that all Provinces and sectors have representation and presence at the Commission with nominated members from each Province as part of the National Academic Board. It is the Academic Board that primarily formulates the standards of education including curriculum and examination standards including the MDCAT. The detailed report also addressed the concerns raised by the Sindh Government regarding lowering the pass percentage of MDCAT which was determined by the Academic Board and the subsequent decisions of the larger bench of the Sindh High Court and previously of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. However to address these issues for future admissions the Commission will be seeking the proposals from the dental colleges in the upcoming seminar and forward these to the Academic Board for its consideration. It is pertinent that MDCAT 2021 was conducted in 25 centers across 22 cities nationally and in 6 international centers. Another misleading information being circulated by certain quarters is that the MDCAT curriculum ignores the curriculum of different provinces. The Commission has clarified to the Federal Government in its report that the Council issued a policy that the MDCAT curriculum to be formulated by the Academic Board must be a common curriculum to all HSSC Boards of all Provinces and regions. MDCAT curriculum is a public document and has been available since April 2021. It was prepared by the Academic Board which consists of highly respected senior educationists with the help of experts from the different provincial education boards and verified by the IBCC to ensure that it has no topics that are not covered in the curriculum of any provincial board. To address this concern the Commission has scheduled a National Conference on 21st May, 2022 regarding the MDCAT curriculum and has invited education departments from all provinces and the federation to take part in the conference and assess the existing MDCAT Curriculum to point out any topics which may be beyond a provincial curriculum. Any such topic if found would be as per the Council policy decision would be removed from the MDCAT Curriculum.

war in Ukraine piling catastrophe on top of catastrophe,” the head of the WFP, David Beasley, said in a statement.

“Millions of people in dozens of countries are being driven to the edge of starvation. We urgently need emergency funding

to pull them back from the brink and turn this global crisis around before it’s too late,” he added.

Pakistan among receivers of Turkey Ramadan aid ANKARA anadolu agency

Turkiye’s state-run aid agency extended a helping hand to more than 1 million people across 92 countries as part of its Ramadan campaign. Serkan Kayalar, head of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), told Anadolu Agency: “We reached out to more than 1 million people by bringing Turkiye’s aid to 92 countries from Afghanistan to Albania, from Bangladesh to Ethiopia, from Pakistan to

Colombia, from Azerbaijan to Somalia and Palestine.” TIKA also helped refugees from Ukraine where the war with Russia rages on. “Almost 100,000 Ukrainian refugees benefited from food packages we distributed in Moldova. Also, we provided food packages to 200 families in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Ukrainian refugees,” said Kayalar. The projects carried out by TIKA are aimed at the development of friendly and brotherly countries, he said.

Uncontrolled use of technology brings dangerous behavioural addictions ANAdOLu AgENcy Uncontrolled use of technology and the internet brings various behavioral addictions that can harm people both physically and psychologically, according to the Turkish anti-addiction body. Unconscious and uncontrolled use of technology and the internet is a type of addiction that manifests itself with addictive sub-behaviors such as behavioural addictions, internet gaming disorder, and excessive use of social media and smartphones, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from Turkiye's Green Crescent organisation. The problems caused by technology addiction include physical complaints such as eye burning, pain and stiffness in the neck muscles, poor body posture, numbness in hands, and physical weakness. Also, social complaints, including low academic achievement, personal and family problems, time management issues, sleep disorders, decrease in physical activities, as well as social isolation, are counted as other problems related to technology and internet addiction. To help people deal with these issues, Green Crescent Counseling Center provides free support to those aged 12 and over. According to research by the UK-based GlobalWebIndex last year, the average daily time spent on the internet worldwide was six hours and 58 minutes. However, users in Turkey spent an average of eight hours on the internet -- above the world average. Japan ranked last in internet use

time, with four hours and 26 minutes, according to the research. Meanwhile, Green Crescent recommends a maximum of 120 minutes of screen time daily for people aged 12 and over. Infants and toddlers should be kept away from the screen, preschoolers aged 3-6 should spend no more than 30 minutes, children aged 6-9 a maximum of 50 minutes, and those aged 9-12 should spend no more than 70 minutes daily, according to the Turkish NGO. Recommendations: To get rid of tech addictions, Green Crescent recommends limiting hours of daily internet use through weekly schedules or participating in support groups or family therapy. Guiding children to meet their friends in natural environments and enabling them to socialise in peer groups are also advised for families.

"Direct your children to sports branches that match their talents and interests. Support your child's friendships and plan activities that will bring them together. Check your child's computer use and get to know his friends in the virtual environment. Make sure you have secure internet applications on your computers," the group also suggested. It also warned parents that they should never use technological devices such as smartphones and tablets to keep their children busy. Established in 1920, the Turkish Green Crescent is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation that aims to empower youth and adults with factual information about drugs to help them make informed decisions against different kinds of addictions, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling, according to its website.

Heavy rains trigger landslides in Neelum Valley, scores trapped LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Scores of tourists were trapped on Saturday in the remote region of Margalla station of upper Neelum Valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a mixture of landslides resulting from heavy rains and traffic brought long delays to roads. Those stranded also include children and women, while rains have also brought bursts of cold weather, increasing problems for the stranded. Meanwhile, the Met Office has predicted partly cloudy weather and thundershowers accompanied by strong winds for the region, Murree, Galyat and suburbs. The agency has predicted hot and dry weather for much of the rest of the country, including Islamabad. However, there are chances of dust raising winds blowing in the capital later in the afternoon, it forecast.

USC tries to provide best services PREss RELEAsE The federal government subsidy will now be continued on five items instead of 19 items. Sugar will be available at Rs 70 per kg, flour 10 kg bag at Rs 400 and ghee at Rs 260 per kg. Rice and pulses will also be subsidized. CNIC requirement would still be intact with limits on quantities, Sugar 5kg, Flour 40kg and Ghee 5kg. Moreover the prices of other branded items available at the utility stores are much lower than the general market. The management of Utility Stores Corporation is always striving to provide the best services to the public. The arrival of more than one crore customers at utility stores across the country and record sales achieved during Ramadan Relief Package is a manifestation of the best trust of the people. USC value this trust of its customers.

CMYK

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

Marriyum announces withdrawal of FIA’s petition seeking restoration of PECA Section 20 continued from page 01 The FIA had also asked the Supreme Court to examine whether the IHC’s order was in “direct clash and conflict with Article 184 (3)”. The FIA had prayed before the apex court to accept its appeal and “suspend” the IHC order till it hears the case. Last month, the IHC had declared the PECA ordinance “unconstitutional”, including the section of the law. The court had instructed the federal government to investigate the abuse of law and submit a report in 30 days. President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated the ordinance in February to amend the PECA law as the government had moved to curb “fake news”. According to journalists and experts, the government’s move was aimed to silence dissent on social media and control the media.

Improvement in Railways will be witnessed soon: minister

press release Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday visited Faisalabad railway station where divisional officers briefed the minister about the steps taken to facilitate the people. During his visit, the minister also interacted with those travelling by Karakoram Express and inquired about the facilities being provided to them. Khawaja Saad Rafique directed the Lahore Divisonal Superintendent to construct shed between platform number 2 and 3 to facilitate the passengers besides restoring parking stands outside the railway station. He further directed the relevant authorities to repair the platforms besides levelling them. The minister also heard the problems of the porters and directed the relevant officers to restore the facilities provided to them in past. He also gave instructions to upgrade the main entry point of the railway station. Khawaja Saad directed to change the location of vending points so that passengers might not face difficulty while getting on the train. Talking to media on this ocassion, the minister said that those who wanted to make new Pakistan had unfortunately ruined the old Pakistan adding that all things have to be started anew. He said that improvement in railways would be witnessed soon.

UkRAInE ConFlICt tAkIng hEAvy toll on RUSSIA'S MoSt CAPAblE UnItS: bRItAIn

HE conflict in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll on some of Russia's most capable units and most advanced capabilities, the British Ministry of Defence tweeted in a regular bulletin on Saturday. At least one T-90M, Russia's most advanced tank, has been destroyed in the fighting, the ministry said. Approximately 100 T-90M tanks are in service amongst Russia's best equipped units, including those fighting in Ukraine, it revealed. The report said that it will take considerable time and expense for Russia to reconstitute its armed forces following this conflict. "It will be particularly challenging to replace modernised and advanced equipment due to sanctions restricting Russia’s access to critical microelectronic components." It will, the report added, be particularly challenging to replace modernised and advanced equipment due to sanctions restricting Russia’s access to critical microelectronic components. Ceasefire violation: Meanwhile, local authorities in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol have accused Russian forces of opening fire on a car on its way to evacuate civilians from a vast steel works, killing a fighter and violating a ceasefire agreement. Russia did not immediately comment on the Mariupol city council’s statement. Moscow has denied targeting civilians and had offered a ceasefire to allow the evacuation of civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel plant with Ukrainian fighters. “During the ceasefire on the territory of the Azovstal plant a car was hit by Russians using an

anti-tank guided weapon. This car was moving towards civilians in order to evacuate them from the plant,” Mariupol city council said in an online post. “As a result of the shelling, 1 fighter was killed and 6 were wounded. The enemy continues to violate all agreements and fails to adhere to security guarantees for the evacuation of civilians.” Reuters could not verify the city council’s statement.

Russian forces have occupied Mariupol, leaving the city’s last defenders — and scores of civilians — holed up in the Azovstal plant. The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have helped evacuate some of the civilians and Ukraine said a new attempt was under way to evacuate the civilians on Friday. ReuteRs

North Korea fires unidentified projectile: Seoul seoul ReuteRs

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into waters off its east coast Saturday, the South Korean military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The latest launch comes just three days after Pyongyang last fired a missile, as warnings grow that it may conduct a nuclear test. "North Korea fires at least one projectile into East Sea," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the Sea of Japan. Japan's coast guard, citing information from its Defence Ministry, said that North Korea had launched an object "likely to be a ballistic missile," and warned its vessels to be aware. The launch is likely the nuclear-armed country's 15th weapons test so far this year. On Wednesday, North Korea test-fired what Seoul and Tokyo said was a ballistic missile, although Pyongyang's state media — which typically report on weapons tests — did not comment on the event. Despite biting international sanctions over its weapons programs, North Korea has dramatically ramped up testing this year while ignoring the United States' offers of talks. The Saturday test comes just a few days before South Korea's new hawkish President Yoon Suk-yeol is inaugurated on Tuesday.

Putin to send 'doomsday' warning to West at Russia's WW2 victory parade President Vladimir Putin will send a "doomsday" warning to the West when he leads celebrations on Monday marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, brandishing Russia's vast firepower while its forces fight on in Ukraine. Defiant in the face of deep Western isolation since he ordered the invasion of Russia's neighbour, Putin will speak on Red Square before a parade of troops, tanks, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles. A fly-past over St Basil's Cathedral will include supersonic fighters, Tu-160 strategic bombers and, for the first time since 2010, the Il-80 "doomsday" command plane, which would carry Russia's top brass in the event of a nuclear war, the Defence Ministry said. In that scenario, the Il-80 is designed to become the roaming command centre for the Russian president. It is packed with technology but specific details are Russian state secrets. The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler's Nazis invaded in 1941. "The attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly," Putin said on February 24 when he announced what he called a special military op-

eration in Ukraine. "We will not make such a mistake a second time, we have no right." Putin casts the war in Ukraine as a battle to protect Russian speakers there from persecution by Nazis and to guard against what he terms the US threat to Russia posed by Nato enlargement. Ukraine and the West dismiss the fascism claim as nonsense and say Putin is waging an unprovoked war of aggression. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, more than any other country, and Putin has railed in recent years at what Moscow sees as attempts in the West to revise the history of the war to belittle the Soviet victory. Beside the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the defeat of Nazi Germany is the Russians' most revered military triumph, though both catastrophic invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its borders. The war in Ukraine will cast a long shadow over this Victory Day. Russia's invasion has killed thousands of people and displaced nearly 10m. It has also left Russia in the grip of tough Western sanctions and has raised fears of a wider confrontation between Russia and the United States — by far the world's biggest nuclear powers.

Although 11,000 troops marching across Red Square along with what the Defence Ministry has said will be 131 pieces of military hardware will present a grand spectacle, the Ukraine conflict has exposed weaknesses in Russia's armed forces despite Putin's attempt in his two decades in power to halt the postSoviet decline. The Kremlin has been denied a quick victory and the Russian economy — squeezed hard by sanctions — is facing the worst contraction since the years following the fall of the Soviet Union. Less than two decades ago, US President George W Bush joined Putin for the May 9 celebrations in Moscow. This year no Western leader was invited, the Kremlin said. The United States and its allies have ramped up supplies of weapons to Ukraine and Putin has faced calls from some in the Russian military to unleash greater firepower on Ukraine, two sources close to the armed forces told Reuters. Moscow has told the West that its arms supplies are legitimate targets. Ahead of May 9, speculation swirled across Moscow and Western capitals that Putin was preparing some sort of special announcement on Ukraine, perhaps an outright declaration of war or even a national mobilisation. ReuteRs

cmYK

Sunday, 8 May, 2022

06 COMMENT

Electables go where the wind blows

The war of the narratives Need to reduce tensions

And the challenges the new government faces

TI chief Imran Khan’s announcement of six public meetings before the so called Two million march on Islamabad has provoked the PmL(N) to announce its own schedule of counter rallies. On Friday the PTI held its first public meeting of the series in mianwali while the PmL(N) held a similar event in Attock. mr Khan and PmL(N) Vice-President maryam Nawaz presented their respective narratives before their supporters. mr Khan claimed that his government had been brought down through a conspiracy engineered by the USA because he was implementing an independent foreign policy. The former Pm took recourse to religious terms to achieve his political objectives. he described the ongoing tussle between the PTI and the ruling alliance as a battle between the righteous and the evildoers. he claimed he was fighting a "jihad" against the leaders of the coalition government who according to him were dacoits and traitors. he asked the judiciary why it opened the courts at midnight but did not take suo motu action ‘against these people.’ mr Khan called upon the public to teach a lesson to the PTI’s dissidents in case they dared to return to their constituencies. At the PmL(N) rally in Attock, ms maryam Nawaz rubbished mr Khan’s claim of a foreign conspiracy to topple his government. Instead, she maintained that the real objective of mr Khan’s march on Islamabad was is to save Farah Khan, who acted as a "front person" to secure bribes in different projects on behalf of the PTI leadership. According to her, mr Khan wanted to take away attention from the PTI administration’s numerous financial scams by threats to march on Islamabad while demanding fresh elections. henceforth the PmL(N) is likely to aggressively pursue the narrative, adding further to the political temperature. Two public meetings with two equally toxic narratives which are going to be propagated in a dozen public meetings this month. The narratives will promote hatred and add to existing polarization. The two antagonists need to realise the negative impact of the ongoing confrontation on society at large before it is too late. The PTI should stop the rallies and call off Islamabad march. The eCP should hold the elections at the earliest after introducing electoral reforms. The PmL(N) should concentrate on improvement of the economy instead of holding public meetings.

Yousaf NizaMi

Ormer Prime minister Imran Khan has managed to convince the staunchest of his followers that he was indeed removed from office through an elaborate plot, planned and successfully executed by the USA, using all major opposition parties in Pakistan. Apart from those who believe that the former Pm can do or say no wrong (the cultish types) there is also a large anti-US presence in the country as well (the ‘death to America’ types) who have eaten up the foreign conspiracy narrative. There is still the rational lot that is able to see through the smoke and think beyond the ‘cypher’ nonsense, refer to history and understand that what has happened to Khan isn’t new and has been the fate of many prime ministers before him; an abrupt and unceremonious end to their tenure as soon as relations with the establishment turn sour. Khan has admitted he had been made aware of the joint opposition’s plan to oust him back in July 2021 and therefore wanted to retain then DG ISI Gen Faiz hameed to help through the political turbulence that such a move would bring. he proceeded to define the ISI chief’s role as “the eyes and ears of the government.” This was the primary reason why Khan created an impasse in October of last year when General Faiz was being transferred to Peshawar as Corps Commander. Speaking during a meeting with journalists where I was also present, Khan divulged that a rule for the minimum time period a general had to command a corps to qualify for the position of COAS was changed during this time as well, increased from six months to one year. This meant that Gen Faiz had to

Balancing act No training period for the new foreign minister, it seems

e’S hit the ground running as Foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has. Ordinarily, the US Secretary of State making a phone call to his counterpart in Pakistan wouldn’t be something out of the ordinary, but given the strained relations between the two countries, it is seen as a sign of a possible thawing of relations. Though Secretary Blinken has invited the newly swornin foreign minister to the global food security summit at the UN in New York, there are expectations of subsequent meetings of a more bilateral nature. It’s going to be a tightrope walk that the young Foreign minister will have to walk so soon after taking office. relations between the two countries have taken a tumble as a consequence of the events in Afghanistan. Yes, it was the USA that decided to cut its losses and evacuate from our western neighbour, but now, with lesser skin in the game, the USA is going to be more forthcoming about the Pakistani establishment’s peculiar role in facilitating the insurgency against the US-supported government in Afghanistan. Add to this the lack of subtlety shown by the former military spymaster in the aftermath of the fall of the Ghani regime. Then there is the issue of russia, and the signalling done, and damage caused by, the former Pm’s oddly-timed trip to meet President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the war in Ukraine. And then, of course there is China, and the western desire for us to wean ourselves away from Chinese influence. A negotiation on russia isn’t going to be without its hiccups but will be the most doable of the three. Quarters much more influential on foreign policy than the Foreign Office, unfortunately, have already signalled as much. The issue of Afghanistan is pricklier but there is no formal recognition of the regime as yet, and even the hawkish elements in the State Department would concede that the Pakistani government has to have a measure of coordination with the regime there for complications caused by sheer proximity. The China equation, however, cannot ever, in any form, be to the liking of the West, and we would be better off trying not to attempt any recalibration of ties in the first place, unless it is caused by exclusively bilateral issues with China.

Parvez Moula Bakhsh

here is no doubt that everyone is not equal and what a wonderful example God has set, that the five fingers are not equal. Unfortunately here in this age, many people are seen from the same point of view. If one is from one nation, one is from one caste, one is from one religion, then people would look at him from the point of view of what he belongs to, even though we all know that it is not lawful to punish all people for what they are. No one can deny that Balochistan is very rich, is the largest province of Pakistan, and has a lot of mineral resources, but still the Baloch are living the worst life, such a miserable life as no one can imagine. The rich Baloch nation lives without clothes, without rations, without schools, without doctors, without hospitals If we look at Balochistan now, we will see a lot of things. how is it that every Baloch has a bad mind? What did he think? If it is not possible to say so, then it is the duty of every human being to speak for someone. That is why I look at the Baloch, I look at my people, then I find myself in pain, why is their condition like this? Is it because they are poor or 5s Balochistan the poorest place? Is it because the Baloch do not have skills? Do they not know? Why are they going through this condition because of their children? Their lives are being ruined, their daughters are being ruined, their generations' lives are being ruined, why is poverty ruining them? This question is not mine, but that of everyone who knows the situ-

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Writer is editor, Pakistan Today

The Baloch are as varied as any other people

Arif Nizami (Late)

M. A. Niazi

Leadership on both sides is correctly stating that elections are the only way to end the constitutional political crisis. However, that may only solve certain short-term problems. Unfortunately, the hatred and intolerance that has filled the hearts and minds of voters and supporters on both sides will take much longer to address and remove

The dilemma of the Baloch

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

go to Peshawar immediately. Imran Khan is currently trying to peddle two contradictory narratives simultaneously. One, which he is able to do much more freely, is that this is a USbacked regime change. The other, where he has to use his words cautiously, is that he lost the support of the establishment and consequently the allies that made up his thin majority. “Only animals are neutral”, is an example of this indirect messaging. Seasoned politicians, the ‘electables’, have a knack of sensing which way the wind is blowing. Once the establishment became ‘neutral’, there was no longer any compulsion to stick with the PTI’s sinking ship and the rest is now history. Fawad Chaudhry, the PTI’s former information minister, conceding on live television that had their relations with the establishment been better, they would still be in power, is a testament to where the PTI really drew its power from. The three jalsas that followed soon after his exit were well-attended, indicating towards a resurgence in his popularity that was undeniably at its lowest during the last months of the PTI government. Whether or not this reinvigorated support base translates into similar numbers at the polls, only elections can tell. Khan sure seems to think that is the case, demanding fresh elections be held at the earliest. however, the new coalition government led by the PmL(N) and PPP has no plans to go into elections this year before November when the current COAS is set to retire, or perhaps even until fresh elections are due. After a very shaky start that saw significant problems in forming a federal cabinet, finally some stability seems to have been managed, at least for the time being. This is also why voices from within the PmL(N) calling for early elections in the initial days of this government, such as Khawaja Asif, are now silent. That is not to say that the new regime doesn’t still face serious challenges. There is the economy which will only respond positively to measures that are long-term, for which there is not enough time. In the meanwhile, it will mostly be firefighting and some-

how managing the political fallout of the imminent unpopular inflationary decisions such as the petrol price hike that the ImF is expecting before any more tranches of much-needed dollars are released. A lot of mending is required on the foreign policy front, especially with regards to the USA. Imran’s ‘conspiracy’ charges notwithstanding, Pakistan’s recent closeness to Putin and increasing dependence on China are sticking points. Newly sworn-in Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto has been invited by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the global food security summit at the UN in New York with the possibility of a one-on-one meeting as well. how he manages to begin repairing ties with the USA while not alienating other important allies such as China will be a tough tightrope walk that will test his diplomatic chops. Imran gearing up for a long march at the end of the month however should have the government worried, not because it might turn into something similar to the 2014 dharna, but because of the political and social climate within which it will take place. Polarisation has reached unsustainable levels in the wake of the recent change of government and with neither side willing to tone down the rhetoric, a worrying level of unpredictability has set in. The masjid-e-Nabwi incident and the government’s FIr under the blasphemy law against 150 members of the PTI are both equally condemnable. The incident in medina was a symptom of Imran and his party’s relentless barrage of abuse and allegations against his opponents. Charges brought against them by the government is a dangerous use of a law that has led to unspeakable atrocities against innocent persons in the past. Leadership on both sides is correctly stating that elections are the only way to end the constitutional political crisis. however, that may only solve certain short-term problems. Unfortunately, the hatred and intolerance that has filled the hearts and minds of voters and supporters on both sides will take much longer to address and remove.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

ation of the province. But their only answer is that they are Baloch. Therefore, they are numbered as traitors. Who said that all Baloch people are traitors, whose thinking is this, who is this Baloch? Some gave their lives for Pakistan, then they gave their lives for this country. Isn't this the same Baloch whose land, Gwadar is the biggest reason for friendship between Pakistan and China? Is CPeC possible without Gwadar? Isn't this the same Baloch whose land is equal to the life of Pakistan? Then I ask why their condition is like this? Why does no one think about them? Why, because of one or a few Baloch, is the whole of Balochistan deserted? In this age, conscious people live. Knowledgeable people exist. educated people dwell. So people should not punish the whole nation for the mistake of a single individual or a group of people. every child should be taken care of, first education should be given in every place in Balochistan, and more hospitals should be established and facilitated. If they become a nation then they will revolt and then they will not call Pakistan this country because time gives examples of Baloch loyalty. Time gives an example of how loyal Baloch are. There is no denying that. he does not want to be hostile to Pakistan, and even if he is an enemy of the Baloch, he will accept the fact that the Baloch nation is faithful. I ask you, what do you want from this nation, why do you look at this nation with such a hoswtile eye?

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whether it is Baloch, whether it is someone else. The only and only request in this article is that all Balochs should not be looked at the same glance. The plight of Balochs should be taken care of. even human beings cannot do that and how they are going through poverty. They don't have it, they have Balochistan, but why are they still in this poverty? I ask that is not there any peaceful place for Baloch in Pakistan? One thing we all know is that we have the example of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, which used to be a province of Pakistan, and what is beyond Pakistan, but I do not mean to say that Balochistan is tomorrow. The point I will make is that when a nation is not given priority when a nation is trampled, that nation will never be righteous to the victimizers. everyone should treat the Baloch with love so that they don't think of themselves as anything else considering themselves the part of the country not as somebody else. Peace has no replacement. really, peace is everyone's want and wish but when it is destroyed, no one puts a hand on the head but uses these hands to regain peace and stability. Let us all be humanitarian except being humans only in the name. Let us love everyone and meet them with the only thinking of humanity no discrimination and no bad intentions in our hearts.

In this age, conscious people live. Knowledgeable people exist. Educated people dwell. So people should not punish the whole nation for the mistake of a single individual or a group of people. Every child should be taken care of, first education should be given in every place in Balochistan, and more hospitals should be established and facilitated

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The writer can be reached at parvezmoulabaksh@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 8 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

Inheritance rights PAKISTAN has a poor record of providing women with the right to inheritance and property. Although there is clear Islamic jurisprudence on it, women across the country still have to fight for their inheritance rights. One example is the case of Zahra Banu who was given property by her father; however, upon his death, her brothers claimed all the property. Article 23 of the Constitution guarantees the right to own property for every man and woman. Other legal acts protecting women’s property rights include the muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, the West Pakistan muslim Personal Law Shariat Application Act 1962, and the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011. more recently, the enforcement of Women’s Property rights (Amendment) Bill 2021 was also passed to ensure that women’s right to own and possess property is not violated through harassment, coercion, force or fraud. even though depriving women of their inheritance or property through deceitful or illegal means is punishable with imprisonment, most Pakistani women remain unable to claim their inheritance. many women often do not claim their property to avoid disputes and appease their brothers. Some do not want to take the risk of going to court because of the cultural taboo against women who appear in court. There is a disconnect between the laws and the ground reality of what is happening in the country because of regressive culture and tradition. many women are subjected to emotional blackmail and violence, which eventually compels them to forego their inheritance share. Also, there is a large proportion of the female population who are unaware of the existence of laws. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness about women’s right to inheritance and property and they should be offered legal counselling, particularly those in rural or tribal areas. FARIS KHALIQ ISLAMABAD

Reliving 1953 in 2022; yet unconvincingly! The difference between Khomeini and Imran was post-revolution planning Naqi akBar

AKISTAN has been in political turmoil during the last month or so; the causes of conflict rooted in governance, economy and an ever-increasing volume of people going under the proverbial poverty line. having passed three elections since 2008; each electing a party into power and that party completing the tenure with its stated economic policy and governance; it has been a foregone conclusion in the minds of the average Pakistani voter that whatever his or her choices; will be exercised in the next due general elections. however, the event-of the last month or so have belied that confidence. The reason being failure of a prime stakeholder to adhere to the basic assumption that the system has the strength to self-correct itself and it is not necessary for the system to be jolted externally to enable it to initiate the correction process. Before proceeding further, we can take stock of the self-correcting systems at work globally. Turkey, which started as a militarydominated state in the aftermath of the First World War, has now changed itself without resorting to any coup or military intervention. All the changes took place through the ballot. Iran, which has its share of divergent political trends best personified in the form of President-led administrations; has always waited till the next election to set the course for the next four years. These periods have been characterized by a belligerent president; Ahmadinejad’s second tenure; an economy in very bad shape dring rouhani’s second tenure and so forth. however, the solutions within the system have been allowed to prevail. The process at work in Pakistan, it was thought by the majority, had taken its route towards maturity. In 2012; the Supreme Court sent a PPP Pm packing as he was found holding the court in contempt. In 2017; a PmL(N) Pm was sent home; as the positions he undertook, as the Pm of a country were not commensurate with his profile. For an average Pakistani, the vote of no-confidence for the current PTI dispensation was thought to be just another solution within the system to initiate autocorrection. The political line-up was meant to correct the things in a manner that the system is not jolted to the core; but the necessary changes are effected. however, as things have developed; the voter who facilitated the last political dispensation has been led to believe that the neo-colonial era of the 1950s has returned and the waning world powers have enough leisure at hand to plot coups and political disruptions around the globe. In such an era, a political movement, which was unable to properly translate its manifesto, resorting to reliving the colonial demons, looks detached from reality. Given the fact that the political following has not been able to critically evaluate the content forwarded by the leadership has helped create an

atmosphere where a considerable mass of people are simply not ready to question the leadership which they follow on the basis of personality worship; a type of political culture which is not in vogue globally. That type of political discourse coupled with refusal to see the reality; that too by a very large group in the society runs the risk of extreme polarization in the country. experience in political analysis has shown that societies’ refusal to look within for their faults and bad strategy has caused them to look for scapegoats outside their domains. here it may be argued that the foreign intervention too has been a globalized phenomenon. In short, colonial tactics have taken the shape of “best international practices” for which the armoury for defence is entirely different. To be able to defend one’s country; it is imperative that a state enhance its knowledge base and technological knowhow, expand its economy, cultivate its market-based advantages and cutting edges; more than organizing a narrative which might be totally outdated to counter the likely onslaught from the outside world. To take a critical look: Pakistan has come a long way towards that. Its first agreed constitution was not before 1973. It fought a stalemate in 1965; entirely dependent on US gadgetry. Three years ago, it fought off a stalemate with 75 percent of its own indigenized armoury; its locally built combat jet and a heavily customized old machine; mirage multirole aircraft. The basis of that journey were not slogans; but a sustained r&D; coupled with availability of funds and not to ignore the required leadership commitment. Pakistan; as a nation-state, might still not be perfect. Its civilizational life cycle might be just tw6 and a half years. A kid that age might have a long way to go. It might be the case for Pakistan too. Pakistan as a South Asian nation state has strived hard in creating a democratic polity; where even successive military takeovers and hybrid systems had to market themselves painstakingly as acceptable entities; making full use, rather overuse of the “fifthgeneration” discourse. The Pakistani political scene cannot afford to advance its narrative like yesteryear’s fascist parties, for instance the Arab nationalist Baath

Party. While nation-building strives squarely on the knowledge economy and narrative, political fascism can only be justified to create a oneparty dictatorship. Such a dictatorship can undertake greater services to a foreign colonial power than a democratic setup where everything has to be justified in detail. making a reference to the 1953 CIA-backed coup against nationalist Iranian Pm mossadeq out of a 2022 vote of no-confidence is taking the country back. With an electorate receptive to such a narrative, it is imperative that public opinion is mo4lded towards a realistic counter narrative. Towards that end, a pointed reference to 1979 can ease out the narrative. The events in 1979 were part of the reactions to the 1953 coup. The person overthrown in 1979 was the Shah; who was restored in 1953 as part of the coup. The events in 1979; though an outcome of the wounds of 1953; were defined differently by the leaders of the uprising as well as the populace which responded to that. The cutting edge for Khomeini, which was not with mossadeq, was the planning to put into action the posttakeover period. A dispassionate analysis of both Bhutto and Imran Khan, the comparative radicals, shows that neither wanted to depart from the system. Bhutto’s leftist government remained a part of the military pacts like SeATO and CeNTO. Likewise Imran Khan remained part of the military programmes, taking part in the military exercises with the USA as well as Saudi Arabia; in the domain of Army, Navy and Air Force. It was a hard fact that both ZAB and IK acted within the system, yet the latter claimed to be close to the one who was the leader of the 1979 revolution in stature! Fake radicalism leading to fascism might not be a desired action plan for a state like Pakistan. Unless people want to change the state of affairs in a radical manner; any hope for a change of track will always be a mirage; never realized. Pakistan might not turn out to be a post-revolution China or Iran; but has the danger signs of becoming a Syria or Lebanon; given the high level of polarization.

Fake radicalism leading to fascism might not be a desired action plan for a state like Pakistan. Unless people want to change the state of affairs in a radical manner; any hope for a change of track will always be a mirage; never realized. Pakistan might not turn out to be a post-revolution China or Iran; but has the danger signs of becoming a Syria or Lebanon; given the high level of polarization

The writer is a freelance columnist

Prevailing crises The very notion that the incumbent political class is equipped to handle the severity of the prevailing economic crisis is indeed a sweet pill for citizens to swallow. however, this could not be far from the truth. It is a matter of great concern that there is an inability to do any substantial work for the sake of progress and prosperity. Agriculture, education and healthcare — the three pillars that lead to socio-economic development — have long remained neglected. Covid-19 has shown that in case of an emergency, it is extremely difficult for these sectors to cope, which could eventually result in a complete collapse. The degradation of the housing stock is currently the most visible indicator of the population’s well-being. Pakistan has witnessed an erosion of property title and civic rights, under whichever jurisdiction plaintiffs have wished to contest. how has such immaturity remained persistent under practitioners of the constitution? It may well derive from a shared principle amongst many of the political class that the people of Pakistan are “servants” of the state and they the “rulers”. Karachi was deemed as a city having national importance, a city that kept Pakistan functioning. Unfortunately, neither the federal nor the provincial government have made substantial progress in improving the standard of living of the residents of this tattered city. There has long been a willingness by the political heavyweights in Sindh to forgo the required work, which has in turn caused the people of Karachi to become averse to bringing investment within the regulatory purview of the provincial administration. This, having been the case for over a decade, has presented a singular issue with regard to the functioning of Karachi: With the welfare of the nation in question, will Karachi ever see a time when there is no corruption? ABRAIZ SHAH KARACHI

Eco-preneurship The concept of eco-preneurship emerged from the growing trend of sustainability because it is a possible solution for the transition toward a more sustainable society. ecopreneurs execute businesses based on sustainable ideas and methods and aim to tackle environmental and social needs. Globally eco-preneurship has gained significant momentum and has encouraged businesses to pay closer attention to their social and environmental impact. The transition toward a more sustainable system requires interactions between technology, economics, policymaking, and sociology. This interrelation between businesses and the environment concerning the role of entrepreneurs concludes that sustainability has developed as a key policy in executing business. Green entrepreneurs have speeded up innovation and demonstrated the ability to adapt and respond promptly to changes, which has also increased employment opportunities. Some examples of green entrepreneurship include energy auditing for impact assessment, green consulting for reducing environmental pollution associated with industrial activity, the use of environmentally friendly and ecological products (e.g., food, beauty products), renewable energy installations, etc. In Pakistan, eco-preneurship has received little attention in research and practice. however, it has the potential to provide opportunities for economic growth and can assist in the transition toward sustainability. relevant authorities should facilitate educational institutes to raise awareness and provide training on green entrepreneurship. INTIKHAB ULFAT KARACHI

My way or highway PAKISTAN, a nuclear power and a country of over 220 million people, has been embroiled in a constitutional crisis. This is because individual ego seems to prevail over the collective national interest. This country also faces an acute economic crisis because of years of mismanagement, poor governance and political engineering. This needless prolonging of political uncertainty is not only having an adverse impact on an already ailing economy but is also sowing seeds of hatred and division among the masses. In the process, the Quaid’s motto of “unity” between all citizens who have “faith” in the constitution and “discipline” enforced through laws to which all citizens must submit to is being ridiculed. Who gains if Pakistan and its citizens suffer needlessly because of the egoistic pursuits of a few? A political party which enjoys the support of the majority in the parliament is allowed to form a government and exercise all the powers given by the constitution. The moment the political party loses support of the majority, it stands removed from office. MUHAMMAD SHAHZAIN LAHORE

Sunday, 8 May, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

Are we bAck to Armed conflict over oil? Middle eaSt Monitor/ arabi21

AbdullAh Al-KAbIR

IL is returning to the forefront of the conflict as a political pressure card, which has proven useless in previous times, except when used as a means of extortion to obtain money or some political gains. The demands made for distributive justice, or the prevention of a political party from benefiting from the revenues, were nothing but slogans for consumption. This time, the oil shutdown occurs in a different international context, due to Russia's war on Ukraine, and the ensuing turmoil in the international energy market. Therefore, Western countries called, about two weeks before the shutdown, in more than one statement, for neutralising the oil sector, and not to use it as a card in the political conflict. The demand this time is clear, according to the statements of the groups that adopted the closure: to enable the Bashagha government to take over its duties and for the Dbeibeh government to step down, although this demand was wrapped up in the same slogan as the previous closures: the equitable distribution of wealth. Prior to the recent wave of closures, Bashagha stated that he does not support the closure, and oil should not be used in political conflict. After the suspension of work in some fields and ports, the UN adviser, Stephanie Williams, said that she stressed, during a telephone conversation with Bashagha "the need to refrain from using Libyan oil production as a weapon for political purposes, while calling for an end to the oil fields closure." Bashagha, along with some of his government ministers, communicated with the individuals who claimed respon-

IT IS ACTUALLY HAFTAR, WHO IS AN ALLY OF THE PETROLEUM FACILITIES GUARD, AND WHO CONTROLS THE FIELD MOST OF THE TIME AND POSSESSES MOST OF THE FIELDS AND PORTS sibility for the closure in the Oil Crescent region, but he did not succeed in dissuading them from their position, contenting himself with them supporting his managing the revenues and distributing them fairly to all Libyans, which means that his government is powerless and that it basically does not possess any cards to play in the political game. It is actually haftar, who is an ally of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, and who controls the field most of the time and possesses most of the fields and ports. Production and export of oil will not be disrupted without orders issued by him, and we cannot rule out the Russian influence, as it will play the card of the Libyan oil as part of its conflict with the Western countries, using its influence of its support for haftar and the Tobruk Parliament. There is an international keenness to freeze the situation in Libya, and to prevent it from erupting with the obstruction of the political process, after the disruption of the elections and the conflict of legitimacy between the government of national unity and the government proposed by Parliament. europe is not prepared for another heated front on its southern border but, contrary to what it was hoping for,

Sri lanka needs a currency board

Project Syndicate

R. M. MANIVANNAN

he war in Ukraine has generated an economic tidal wave, which is crashing over countries near and far. Among the more far-flung is Sri Lanka, half a world away from the battlefield, where surging food and fuel prices have supercharged a downward spiral that was already underway. Now, the island is being rocked by street protests, and every member of the cabinet – except Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa – has resigned. To save Sri Lanka from economic collapse and sociopolitical disaster will require radical action. Currently, no credible discussions on a viable strategy to meet the deepening crisis are taking place. So, while escalating protests may bring about a change of government, it is far from certain that this would lead to improved social or political conditions. Whoever is in charge, the imperative remains the same: Sri Lanka must address the grave economic crisis it faces, beginning by putting its public finances in order. There is no time to lose. Finance Minister Ali Sabry, who has been on the job barely a month, says that the country’s foreign-exchange reserves now stand at under $50 million. And with around $7 billion of the country’s $51 billion in external debts due this year, a debt moratorium has been put in place. Moreover, the $600 million the World Bank has given to provide for essential food imports won’t be nearly enough to stop the financial bleeding. With public coffers all but empty, balanceof-payments pressures mounting, and a massive debt overhang looming, the first priority should be a plan to address Sri Lanka’s dire fiscal position, including an effective implementation mechanism. Such a plan must include all the standard consolidation measures, such as eliminating waste and tightening budget management. But, with confidence in public finances depleted and the rupee’s value plummeting, Sri Lanka must also take the more radical step of installing a currency board. Under such a system, the exchange rate would be set by law, and the central bank would have to be able to cover the entire monetary base with foreign-exchange reserves. By stripping the govern-

ment of its discretionary power to run big deficits, a currency board would restore credibility to Sri Lanka’s finances relatively quickly. Once established, the board would provide the necessary solutions to Sri Lanka’s economic problems, with a particular focus on stemming the rupee’s decline. Yes, a currency board is a form of shock therapy. But that is what Sri Lanka’s current crisis demands. And, in fact, because it can be installed immediately, and requires no immediate reforms affecting public budgets, state assets, or trade, a currency board amounts to faster-acting and more effective medicine than the long dose of austerity that is often proposed. The record speaks for itself. The most widely acclaimed modern currency board was established in hong Kong in 1983. But examples of successful currency boards abound. In fact, in the more than 50 countries where currency boards have been installed, they have always succeeded at restoring confidence in public finances and the national currency. In 1992, estonia established its currency board in record time – just 30 days – to support the transition from the Russian ruble to the new kroon after independence. Its success inspired Lithuania, another post-Soviet state, to establish a currency board in 1994. Lithuania – a country that I represent in Sri Lanka as an honorary consul – has been praised by the International Monetary Fund for its economic transformation, in which the currency board played a central role. In Bulgaria, a currency board stopped a bout of hyperinflation in its tracks in 1997. The country quickly turned its fiscal deficit into a surplus and tripled its foreign-exchange reserves. Today, it boasts among the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios in the european Union. Critics argue that currency boards are suitable only for small countries, and that a weak banking system will reduce its impact. But none of this would preclude a currency board in Sri Lanka. We are an island of 23 million people, and there are no weak banks now in operation in our country. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, with whom I have discussed this proposal, believes that a version of a currency board should be incorporated within the central bank, rather than as an independent entity. But the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s problematic past performance, including its history of politicization, makes this suggestion a non-starter, despite the increased credibility and international goodwill brought by its new governor, P. Nandalal Weerasinghe. In any case, a currency board is a very different creature from a central bank, because of its strictly limited functions. Upended by crisis, Sri Lanka must finally face its financial demons head-on. It will be a difficult fight. But a currency board – which strips the government and the central bank of the opportunity to mismanage the budget and the exchange rate, thereby restoring the credibility of our economic governance – vastly improves Sri Lanka’s chances of winning. R. M. Manivannan, one of Sri Lanka’s leading businessmen, is Chairman of Supreme Global Holdings.

half of the oil exports have been disrupted. It is worth noting that its reaction was different this time, as it did not issue statements condemning and threatening sanctions with the call for an immediate return to export at the same previous rates, and this is an indication of the possibility of planning unconventional solutions for treatment, led by Britain. If a new war does not erupt to remove the cards of the ports and oil fields from the grip of Russia and its allies, it will at least be preoccupied with the possibility of its positions in Libya being subjected to military pressure that may distract some of its focus in Ukraine. The article that was published in the name of the proposed Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, in the British newspaper, The Times, contained an explicit statement of his government's readiness to ally with Britain to expel Wagner's mercenaries from Libya and end Russian influence, in return for supporting him in his confrontation with the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity and his allies. This statement is a great risk that could destroy his alliance with haftar and Aguila Saleh, as they are two allies that Russia has provided political, military and diplomatic support over the past

years, in exchange for obtaining a foothold in Libya, to occupy europe and extend from it to Central Africa. Does Bashagha have assurances on the inevitability of British-Russian confrontation in Libya? Is this why he offered to ally with Britain to expel Wagner's mercenaries, thus cutting off any possibility of continuing a futile alliance with Aqila and haftar? It is unlikely that haftar and Aguila will abandon Russia, their most prominent ally in the world. The whole scene is getting blurry, and there are no signs of a political movement on the horizon that might make some progress towards ending the conflict through elections. The ongoing dispute in the Security Council between the major powers has prevented the nomination of a new envoy, to succeed the resigned former envoy, Jan Kubis, and the UN mission was only extended for three months, which is not enough time to lay any foundations for a new consensus under the auspices of the UN. Moreover, without ruling out the possibility of a renewed armed conflict over the oil regions, the crisis is heading towards freezing the situation until the picture becomes clearer in the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine. Translated from Arabi21.

Ukraine is already winning: victory can be achieved without risking nuclear war A MOOTED US PROXY CONFLICT OVER EXISTING RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED TERRITORIES WOULD BE UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS

Guardian

ANAtol lIeVeN

KRAINe, with some western help, has won a great victory, and the original aim of Russia’s invasion – to capture Kyiv and replace the Ukrainian government – has been utterly defeated. The Russian army has now regrouped in the east for a much more limited objective: that of capturing the whole of the Russian-populated Donbas region, which Moscow has already recognised as independent. If the Russian army can achieve this in the coming weeks then we cannot say for sure what Moscow’s next move would be. however, Russia has suffered huge casualties among its elite troops, and even taking the relatively small city of Mariupol has taken two months and required reducing the city to ruins. In view of this, a further Russian campaign to capture much bigger cities such as Odesa looks implausible, and it seems possible Russia could go on the defensive, and offer a ceasefire and peace talks. Putin will pretend to the Russian people that taking a bit of extra territory in the Donbas has been a victory for Russia, but there is no need for the west to agree with him. The truth is that this war has proved a military, political and moral catastrophe for Russia. The reputation of the Russian army has been shredded; Russia’s economy is badly damaged; and the european Union is moving with surprising speed and resolution to end its dependence on Russian oil and, more slowly, gas. This would suggest that in future, Russia will be dependent on China as a market for its gas – meaning both political subordination to China and its ability to set the price for it. What are the wider implications of

Russia’s defeat? The first is that on the most important issue by far – that of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and western alignment – Ukraine (and the west) have already won. That should allow a degree of flexibility when it comes to compromises over territorial issues, especially since most of the territories concerned have been held by Russia since 2014. Second, if there ever was a Russian plan to use Ukraine as a springboard for further aggression, that too is now over. If the Russian army cannot capture cities less than 20 miles from Russia, it is hardly likely to invade Nato. Russia will no doubt defend the positions it already holds, in defence of breakaway territories in Moldova, Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh. If the war in Ukraine continues, there will be an increasing danger that Georgia and Azerbaijan will again seek to recover their lost territory by force. The result would be a much wider and even more dangerous conflict. Such an extension of the war will be greatly encouraged if Ukraine becomes a US proxy war against Russia, as the Biden administration apparently now intends. The defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said the US should use the war in Ukraine to “weaken” Russia in order to prevent it invading more countries. Important voices in the US and Britain have said we should help Ukraine to win a complete victory, by which they seem to mean drive Russia from all the territories it has taken since 2014, and impose such a humiliating defeat that the Putin regime is overthrown. Incredibly, it has been suggested that US support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s – with all its appalling consequences for Afghanistan, the US and the Middle east – is some sort of positive model for this. Western public acceptance for the economic suffering created by sanctions has been mobilised through the argument that this is necessary to defend Ukraine and stop Russian aggression. Permanently weakening or even destroying Russia is a very different matter. Support for Ukraine is legitimate and necessary, but it has also already achieved its most impor-

tant goal: that of preserving Ukrainian independence and sovereignty over the great majority of Ukrainian territory, and deterring further Russian aggression. It is also horribly dangerous. In the first place, for the Ukrainians to attack entrenched Russian positions across open country would be a very different matter from defending Ukrainian cities. The tactical advantage would inevitably shift to Russia. Ukraine could thereby suffer immense losses and turn victory into defeat. If, on the other hand, Ukraine – with western backing – did seem on the verge of complete victory, the threat to Putin’s regime and to Russian vital interests would be such that it really would seem possible Russia might escalate to missile strikes against Nato supply lines in Poland, in an effort to terrify France and Germany into making a separate peace. Once a Nato member is attacked, there will be tremendous pressure in the US to declare a no-fly zone in Ukraine – in other words, to send the US air force into action to support the Ukrainian forces on the ground. Some of these planes will then be shot down by missile batteries based in Russia itself. how long would the US accept these casualties before launching attacks on Russian territory? We would then be faced with a prospect that, during the cold war, eight US presidents took great care to avoid: Russia and Nato firing missiles into each other’s territory, and a direct conflict in europe between two nuclear superpowers, with the ability between them to destroy humanity. US presidents did not exercise this restraint out of sympathy for the Soviet Union, but from a cold calculation of the terrible risks involved. And running these risks is unnecessary, given the strategic defeat we have already helped to inflict on Russia. Anatol Lieven is a senior fellow of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of Ukraine and Russia: A Fraternal Rivalry.

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 | iSlaMabad

newS

ForeIGn CoMpanIes wILL be FaCILItateD: pM

LHC reserves verdict in Murree tragedy case NEWS DESK The Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved its verdict in the Murree tragedy case on Saturday as Justice Abdul Aziz heard the case in the high court’s Rawalpindi bench. The high court reportedly lashed out at the Murree Development Authority (MDA) for negligence, questioning the role of agencies when the roads of the hill station were blocked and thousands of people were stranded. During the hearing, the lawyer said that according to the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), Rs1.5 billion was acquired for the construction of a parking plaza in Murree. In response, Justice Aziz criticised concerned authorities, questioning where the allocated funds went. “When the contract for the parking plaza was confirmed and the funds allocated, it was all over. This money does not belong to the rich it belongs to the worker [labourer].” The high court accused the authorities of neglect adding that they have “eaten this country” and are still not satisfied. Justice Aziz also lambasted the department of forestation for the ongoing deforestation within the region, “we steal wood and set it on fire.” “A firm from the United Kingdom was allocated Rs 2.4 million. Where is the logic?” the LHC judge probed, asking why the country was damaged for Rs30 million. The court had earlier directed the chief officer Murree municipal corporation and the chief officer district council to submit an affidavit, stating that no construction was taking place in Murree after they filed a report in the court. The court had directed the divisional forest officer to submit an affidavit stating that there was no deforestation in Murree forests while the wildlife department was ordered to file a similar affidavit. The LHC had inquired into detailed records of all government lands of the forest department, buildings constructed in forests and a complete record of Jhega Gali parking plaza. Murree tragedy: At least 23 people lost their lives due to a strong blizzard that swept through the hill resort on January 09, 2022. The initial investigation report was made public which had pointed to the failure of relevant government departments in taking pre-emptive measures in light of the warnings issued by the Met Office. The probe had also uncovered that the measures were not taken to regulate the influx of tourists. The initial findings of the five-member committee to investigate the causes and lapses that led to the tragedy in Murree had pointed to the failure of relevant government departments to take pre-emptive measures in light of the warnings issued by the Met Office.

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that Pakistan offers huge opportunities for investments in technology sector. He said this while meeting Yi Xiang, Senior Vice President of Huawei, President of Middle East and Africa Region of Huawei. The Prime Minister said that foreign tech companies would be facilitated in all respects with regards to investment and expansion. The current government intends to increase the IT exports of Pakistan from $1.5 billion to $15 billion in the coming year and for that close collaboration with Huawei will result in the provision of training to the youth of Pakistan through various mean including setting up ICT academies. He emphasized that investments in the tech sector would increase employment and skills enhancement of Pakistani youth, especially women as the government is focused to increase the number of women in the e-commerce sector by providing them the suitable environment to get themselves trained and raise capital. He also emphasized the need to expedite the process of strategizing the collaborative efforts within a week and highlighted the government’s willingness to not leave any stone unturned to achieve the said objectives. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over Huawei’s long association with Pakistan and invest-

ments in the telecom sector. SVP Huawei Yi Xiang while thanking the Prime

Trade deficit widens to $39.26bn

Pakistan’s 10-month (July-April) trade gap widened 64.8 per cent to a massive $39.26 billion, indicating that pressure is mounting on the country’s external balances with each passing day, as per data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Outflow from the economy (deficit) is much higher than what overseas Pakistanis are sending back to their families each year in the form of remittances. Consequently, this deficit would put pressure on Pakistan’s balance of payment position in the months to come, resulting in further depreciation of

the rupee that may stoke inflation, forcing the central bank to further tighten its monetary policy. During the first ten months of the ongoing fiscal year 2021-22, imports surged to a whopping $65.5 billion, while exports clocked in at $26.23 billion, the PBS reported. In the same period of the last fiscal, imports stood at $44.73 billion and exports at $20.91 billion. This translates into a 25.46 per cent growth in exports and a 46.4 per cent increase in imports. Monitoring report

Minister expressed interest in to expand Huawei’s footprint in Pakistan. app

Govt should renegotiate bailout package with IMF: Ishaq Dar Senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar believes that the government should renegotiate the bailout package provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Pakistan. Dar, while speaking on Geo News programme “Naya Pakistan”, said that in his opinion Pakistan should re-negotiate with the IMF. During the show the former finance minister said that the global lender was asking Pakistan to increase the price of petroleum products, adding that the “complete burden” of the price hike should not fall on the people. Dar said that the PTI government had agreed to the IMF’s package on “very strict conditions”. “We have to run the country and not ruin it by taking dictations,” said the former finance minister. He added that the PML-N government would give a subsidy on wheat that would decrease its price within two days, adding that the KP government should also reduce the price. “The country’s situation is like this because due to the last government’s incompetence,” said Dar. He added that the PTI government did not work on increasing the revenue of the country. “PTI government knew it was going that’s why they decreased the price of petroleum,” said Dar. He also slammed the last government for the freefloating of the dollar, which he believed had ruined the country. “Reducing monetary policy by 1% would have save billions of rupees for Pakistan,” said the former finance minister leader. He added that the PML-N government from 2013-18 had managed the cash flow. news desk

Telecom sector urges govt to reduce tax iSlamabaD ghulaM abbas

Showing its concerns about the government’s move of burdening customers, the telecom industry has claimed that the imposition of advance income tax (AIT) was hitting the affordability of mobile ownership and internet usage, especially for the low-income groups. Through a letter sent to the Ministry of Information Technology and others concerned, the telecom sector has urged the government to rationalize AIT (withholding tax) by reducing the AIT on telecom services from existing 15% to 8% in the upcoming budget. It may be mentioned here that through the Finance (supplementary) Act, 2022, the AIT rate has been increased from 10% to 15% taking the overall tax on over 193 million telecom users to almost 35%. As per the letter, the overall 34.5 percent

tax on telecom users including 15 percent AIT and 19.5 percent GST, Pakistan is among the highest-taxed telecom markets in the world, while it ranks second highest in telecom taxation in South Asia. The exorbitant taxation on telecom services is detrimental to the digitalisation drive for the economy. Understanding the importance of affordability of mobile ownership and internet in a forward thinking move geared to push for development in digitisation of all aspects of the economy including education, health, commerce etc. Earlier AIT was reduced from 12.5% to 10% for FY 2021 with a commitment to 8% onwards via Finance Act 2021, however the move was taken back merely 6 months later, without due consideration to its long-term ramifications. AIT on telephone and internet services has been a contentious tax revenue measure as it hampers the affordability of mobile ownership and internet services which is

critical for the entire population, as well as economic growth of Pakistan. It equally and unjustifiably applies to more than 70% population of Pakistan living below poverty line, which is essentially exempt from income tax. This economic segment of population is neither return filers, with option to adjust/recoup the said AIT. Therefore, the telecom industry believes, implementation of such tax collection measures to the entire telecom subscriber base only disproportionately adds to the cost of mobile ownership. Moreover, Pakistan has the widest gender gap in mobile ownership (34%) and mobile internet use (43%) as compared to its regional peers. Sector-specific taxes increase cost of mobile services which lays a strong impact on the poorest consumers especially women, lessening their ability to become mobile broadband subscribers. It is pertinent to note that such exorbi-

tant taxation is also cutting into the profitability of the industry, and hampering business case for network expansions, service improvements and eventually further foreign direct investment. The industry has also proposed to grad-

ually abolish AIT on telecom services as it adversely affects the subscriber base falling below the taxable limit, and efforts should be focused on more direct taxation measures aimed at income, rather than expenditure on an essential service.

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 foreIgn newS

‘Burqa is BEsT’: TaliBan announcE woMEn MusT covEr facEs in puBlic KABUL

ReuteRs

HE Taliban on Saturday ruled Afghan women must cover their faces, according to a decree from the group’s supreme leader, an escalation of growing restrictions on women in public that is drawing a backlash from the international community and many Afghans. A spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice read the decree from the group’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada at a press conference in Kabul, saying that a woman’s father or closest male relative would be visited and eventually imprisoned or fired from government jobs if she

did not cover her face outside the home. They added the ideal face covering was the all-encompassing blue burqa, which became a global symbol of the Taliban’s previous regime from 1996 until 2001. Most women in Afghanistan wear a headscarf for religious reasons, but many in urban areas such as Kabul do not cover their faces. The group has faced intense pushback, led by Western governments but joined by some religious scholars and Islamic countries for their growing limits on women’s rights. A surprise U-turn in March in which the group shuttered girls’ high schools on the morning they were due to open drew the ire of the international community and

Elon Musk's $44bn Twitter buyout challenged in shareholder lawsuit REUTERS Elon Musk and Twitter Inc were sued on Friday by a Florida pension fund seeking to stop Musk from completing his $44 billion takeover of the social media company before 2025. In a proposed class action filed in Delaware Chancery Court, the Orlando Police Pension Fund said Delaware law forbade a quick merger because Musk had agreements with other big Twitter shareholders, including his financial adviser Morgan Stanley and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, to support the buyout. The fund said those agreements made Musk, who owns 9.6 per cent of Twitter, the effective "owner" of more than 15pc of the company's shares. It said that required delaying the merger by three years unless two-thirds of shares not "owned" by him granted approval. Morgan Stanley owns about 8.8pc of Twitter shares and Dorsey owns 2.4pc. Musk hopes to complete his $54.20 per share Twitter takeover this year, in one of the world's largest leveraged buyouts. He also runs electric car company Tesla Inc, leads The Boring Co and SpaceX, and is the world's richest person according to Forbes magazine. Twitter and its board, including Dorsey and Chief Executive Parag Agrawal, were also named as defendants. Twitter declined to comment. Lawyers for Musk and the Florida fund did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit also seeks to declare that Twitter directors breached their fiduciary duties, and recoup legal fees and costs. It did not make clear how shareholders believed they might be harmed if the merger closed on schedule. On Thursday, Musk said he had raised around $7bn, including from sovereign wealth funds and friends in Silicon Valley, to help fund a takeover. Musk had no financing lined up when he announced plans to buy Twitter last month. Some of the new investors appear to share interests with Musk, a self-described free speech absolutist who could change how the San Francisco-based company moderates content. Florida's state pension fund also invests in Twitter, and Governor Ron DeSantis said this week it could make a $15 million to $20m profit if Musk completed his buyout. In afternoon trading, Twitter shares were down 60 cents at $49.76. The case is Orlando Police Pension Fund v Twitter Inc et al, Delaware Chancery Court, No. 2022-0396.

prompted the United States to cancel planned meetings on easing the country’s financial crisis. Washington and other nations have cut development aid and enforced strict sanctions on the banking system, since the Taliban took over in August, pushing the country towards economic ruin. The Taliban has said it has changed since it last ruled when it banned girls’ education or women leaving the house without a male relative and women were required to wear cover their faces. However, in recent months, the administration has increased its restrictions on women including rules limiting their travel without a male chaperone and banning men and women from visiting parks at the same time.

US probes five child deaths, 109 cases linked to mystery liver disease

WASHINGTON AFP

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 109 childhood cases of a mysterious form of hepatitis, including five reported deaths, the agency said. It is part of an unexplained global phenomenon involving hundreds of cases, with Indonesia this week also reporting three deaths. Britain on Friday announced its case count had increased to 163, the majority aged under five, with no deaths. “Investigators both here… and around the globe are working hard to determine the cause,” said Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases for

the CDC. Health authorities think the cases might be linked to a wave of type of virus called adenovirus, but are trying to confirm the theory. 90 percent of the US cases have involved hospitalisation, with 14 percent requiring liver transplants. The median age of the cases is two-years-old, and the majority fully recovered. The CDC issued a health alert in late April notifying doctors and public health authorities to be on the lookout for similar cases, and began examining records extending back to October 1, 2021. A study released last week focusing on nine cases in Alabama ruled out other common exposures, including hepatitis viruses A, B, and C, which are normally

the cause of the disease. The CDC does not think the cases are linked to Covid vaccination because the “vast majority” of cases are too young to be eligible, said Butler. Jaundice and vomiting are the most common symptoms experienced by the children affected. seaRch foR answeRs: More than half the cases tested positive for adenovirus 41 — a virus that is normally associated with gastroenteritis, but not hepatitis in otherwise healthy children. “Because of the link to adenovirus, I would call that top of the list of viruses of interest,” said Butler. “But we don’t know if it is adenovirus itself that is causing the cases, or is there an immune reaction to this particular

strain of adenovirus.” Environmental factors are also being examined. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a technical report Friday that found that 70 percent of households where data was available had dogs, and said “the significance of this finding is being explored.” Other working hypotheses include co-infection with another pathogen such as Covid, or whether a prior case of Covid had made children more susceptible. Adenovirus cases might also be rebounding after Covid lockdowns stopped the spread for a few years, or lack of exposure to pathogens during lockdowns might have made children’s immune systems more susceptible. The adenovirus might have also evolved into a newer, more dangerous strain. Adenoviruses are commonly spread by close personal contact, respiratory droplets and surfaces. There are more than 50 types of adenoviruses, which most commonly cause the cold, but also several other diseases. CDC recommends preventive action such as hand-washing, avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said in a statement: “It’s important that parents know the likelihood of their child developing hepatitis is extremely low. “However, we continue to remind everyone to be alert to the signs of hepatitis — particularly jaundice, look for a yellow tinge in the whites of the eyes — and contact your doctor if you are concerned.”

Warhol Monroe portrait set to smash records at New York sales NEW YORK AFP

An Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe worth an estimated $200 million headlines this month’s spring sales in New York that collectors say are among the most anticipated ever. Christie’s expects Warhol’s 1964 “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” to become the priciest 20th century artwork when the auction house puts it under the hammer on Monday. Not to be outdone, competitor Sotheby’s is offering $1 billion of modern and contemporary art including the second helping of the famed Macklowe Collection, during its marquee week in May. “The excitement is certainly unprecedented,” Joan Robledo-Palop, a collector and CEO of Zeit Contemporary Art in New York City, told AFP, about the buzz surrounding this season’s auctions. The 40 inch (100 centimetres) by 40 inch silk-screen Warhol is part of a series of portraits the pop artist made of Monroe

following her death from a drug overdose in August 1962. They became known as the “Shot” series after a visitor to Warhol’s “Factory” studio in Manhattan fired a gun at them, piercing the portraits which were later repaired. Alex Rotter, head of 20th and 21st century art at Christie’s, has called the portrait “the most significant 20th century painting to come to auction in a generation.” The current most expensive 20th century auctioned work is Picasso’s “Women of Algiers,” which fetched $179.4 million in 2015. The auction record for a Warhol is the $104.5 million paid for “Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)” in 2013. Other highlights offered by Christie’s include Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict” (1982), expected to go for more than $30 million, and “Untitled (Shades of Red)” by Mark Rothko, tipped to fetch up to $80 million. The auction house is also offering three Claude Monet oil on canvases that are pre-

dicted to sell for upwards of $30 million each. Rothko, Picasso, RichteR: “Every couple of decades you have a sale where the quality is so high that you don’t see all of this at once normally. This season really grew into one of those unique moments,” Rotter told AFP. After selling the first batch of works from the Macklowe Collection — the most expensive to hit the market at $600 million — last fall, Sotheby’s will auction the remaining 30 items when its sales open on May 16. Highlights include Gerhard Richter’s 1975 “Seascape,” estimated at up to $35 million, and Rothko’s “Untitled” from 1960 that has a high-end pre-sale estimate of $50 million. Sotheby’s said its modern evening auction of 19th and 20th century works, including by Pablo Picasso and Philip Guston, is its “most valuable” in the category in 15 years. Picasso’s “Femme nue couchée” is ap-

pearing at auction for the first time, and Sotheby’s expects it to fetch more than $60 million. Other highlights include a Monet view of Venice tipped to fetch $50 million. Brooke Lampley, head of sales for

global fine art at Sotheby’s, said she expects records to be broken across categories. “The art market is very strong. That’s why we see such an amazing array of works on offer this season,” she told AFP.

Sunday, 8 May, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

AlcArAz dowNs NAdAl To book dJokovic clAsh MADRID

AFP

ARLOS Alcaraz overcame an injury scare on his way to a milestone victory over Rafael Nadal on Friday to set up a blockbuster semi-final against Novak Djokovic in Madrid. Alcaraz entered the contest with a 0-2 record against Nadal, but the 35-year-old arrived in Madrid with little to no preparation on clay after six weeks nursing a rib injury. In an eventful quarter-final at the Caja Magica, the 19-year-old Alcaraz beat 21-time Grand Slam champion Nadal 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 for his 26th victory of the season. "It means a lot to me, all the hard work that I put in every day paid off today to beat Rafa, beat the best player in history on clay, it means a lot to me," said Alcaraz,

who is the first teenager to beat Nadal on a clay court. "It affected me a lot the fall in the second set but when I lost the second, I went to the bathroom and I believed I was able to get back, I

was able to do my best, try everything on court, fight until the last ball and I think it was the key." The first three games went against serve and lasted over 20 minutes before Alcaraz finally held

for a 3-1 advantage. Nadal mustered just one more game in that set. In the third game of the second set, Alcaraz took a tumble trying to retrieve a ball and had a medical timeout at 1-2 to get his ankle taped. Replays showed Alcaraz had badly rolled his ankle. Nadal broke upon resumption before play was interrupted again for attention to someone in the crowd. After a long pause, Nadal held and ran away with the set with Alcaraz visibly restricted in his movement. Alcaraz moved better at the start of the decider after his toilet break, leaping to a 3-1 lead. He completed the win in two hours and 28 minutes and set up a clash with Djokovic. "I will text (David) Nalbandian to see how he did it. I will fight and let's see what happens tomorrow," joked Alcaraz, referring to Miomir Kecmanovic's coach David Nalban-

dian, who beat Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer on his way to the Madrid title in 2007. Djokovic reached his seventh Madrid semi-final, easing past Pole Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-4 to record a 30th career victory in the Spanish capital. The world number one will face Alcaraz for the first time and heaped praise on the young Spaniard, having spent some time with him practising earlier this week. "I love to watch him play, as a lot of other players on the tour. He's fantastic for our sport, no doubt. I think it's great that we have a young player who is doing so well and giving a new fresh breath to the tennis world," said Djokovic. "Seeing that and knowing that he's a very nice guy, very humble with good values, is a perfect combination." Hurkacz saved two match points

on his own serve at 5-3 in the second set, forcing Djokovic to serve out for an 81-minute success. Djokovic has not competed much in 2022 as his vaccination status that has prevented him from playing in Australia or entering the United States. His win on Friday was just his seventh of the year. He'll be trying to make a second final of the season, having placed runner-up in Belgrade last month. Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas squeezed past familiar foe Andrey Rublev 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to record a tour-leading 27th matchwin of the season. The 2019 Madrid runner-up edged ahead 5-4 in his head-to-head against Rublev and now awaits defending champion Alexander Zverev or Canadian eighth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals.

Diamond League meets in China moved, cancelled due to COVID-19 ReuteRs A Diamond League athletics meet to be held this year in China has been moved to Poland and another cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, organisers said, after the high-profile Asian Games in Hangzhou were postponed. The meets in Shanghai on July 30 and Shenzhen on Aug. 6 were changed because of "travel restrictions and strict quarantine requirements currently in place for entry into China", the organisers said in a statement on Friday. The Shenzhen event will be moved to Chorzow, Poland, it said, while there will be no replacement for the Shanghai meeting.

On Friday, the World University Games, slated for next month in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, were also postponed, while the Asian Youth Games in Shantou were cancelled, with Tashkent to host the next edition in 2025. "The Diamond League season calendar has been restructured to ensure fair and transparent competition as two meetings in China are now unable to go ahead as scheduled," organisers said in a statement. "The Diamond League looks forward to hosting events in China again from 2023 onwards." The new season kicks off in Doha on May 13 and concludes in Zurich on Sept. 7 and 8.

Chelsea says Todd Boehly-led group to buy club in $5.2bn deal LONDON AFP

Chelsea FC said a group led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly would acquire the London club after agreeing to terms in a deal worth £4.25 billion ($5.2 billion). “The sale is expected to complete in late May subject to all necessary regulatory approvals,” the football club said in a statement late Friday. “More details will be provided at that time,” it added. Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich put the Premier League club on the market in March, just days before he was sanctioned by the British government following the invasion of Ukraine. After a lengthy bidding process involving several groups, Boehly and his fellow investors were picked by Raine Group, the New York bank overseeing the Blues’ sale. Boehly’s group of investors includes fellow Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, Swiss billionaire Hansjoerg Wyss and US investment firm Clearlake Capital. “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss, to acquire the Club,” the Chelsea statement said. “Of the total investment being made, £2.5bn will be applied to purchase the shares in the Club and such proceeds will be deposited into a frozen UK bank account with the intention to donate 100 percent to charitable causes as confirmed by Roman Abramovich,” it said. “UK government approval will be required for the proceeds to be transferred from the frozen UK bank ac-

count.” In addition, the new owners would commit £1.75 billion in further investment for the benefit of the club, Chelsea said. Proceeds to victims of Ukraine war: Chelsea were forced to operate under a special licence from the government after Abramovich was sanctioned by Britain and the European Union for his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abramovich cannot profit from Chelsea’s sale, but had already vowed to

write off the club’s £1.5 billion debt and that all proceeds from the sale would go to victims of the war in Ukraine. There had been fears over the future of the club if a sale was not finalised before the licence runs out on May 31. Under the terms of the licence, Chelsea were unable to offer new contracts to existing players or sign players from other clubs. The sale of the European champions brings the curtain down on 19 years of nearly unbroken success under the 55year-old Abramovich, who has overseen

Abbas, Amir star in English county clash LONDON AFP

Pakistan quicks Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Amir dominated the second day of an English County Championship match between Hampshire and Gloucestershire on Friday. Abbas produced superb line and length bowling, taking six wickets for 45 runs as hosts Hampshire reduced Gloucestershire to 124 for nine on the second day of four at Southampton. However, Ajeet Singh Dale and Jared Warner then added 55 for the last wicket to reduce the deficit to 163. Then Amir, bowling for Gloucestershire, carried on where his compatriot had left off in a superb spell of three for 11 as Hampshire slumped to 28 for four in their second innings at stumps in this First Division clash. The south coast side, however, still had a lead of 191 runs.

five Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs. After initially embarking on a long winning run following Abramovich’s decision to sell the club, Chelsea have struggled to find their best form recently. They suffered a painful Champions League quarter-final defeat at Real Madrid after nearly pulling off an epic comeback from a 3-1 first-leg deficit. Chelsea’s place in the Premier League’s top four is also far from guaranteed.

Napoli extend lead over Juventus with 1-0 win at Torino ReuteRs Napoli opened a four-point lead over Juventus in the race for third place in Serie A after Fabian Ruiz's second-half goal helped them win 1-0 at Torino on Saturday. With two matches left, Napoli are third on 73 points, ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, whose chances of winning the title ended after Friday's 2-1 shock defeat at relegation-threatened Genoa. Torino are tenth on 47 points. After a dispiriting first half in which Napoli struggled to finish off their chances, central midfielder Ruiz found the breakthrough, firing in a low effort in the 73rd minute. Ruiz took advantage of Tommaso Pobega's blunder and got past two defenders before finding the net as Luciano Spalletti's side recovered from Lorenzo Insigne missing a penalty on the hour mark. Torino's best chance to score came in the first half when striker Andrea Belotti attempted a backflicked header, but Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina dived at full stretch to make a brilliant save.

Sunday, 8 May, 2022

prayer timings

newS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:52

12:06

3:48

5:23

6:49

8:20

Won’t AlloW IslAMAbAD MArCh tIll AssureD It Won’t be vIolent, sAnAullAh tells PtI LAHORe

staff report

ESPONDING to Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed who said the long march on Islamabad might turn violent, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan said on Saturday that he would not allow the protest if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) did not assure the government that it’d remain peaceful. Speaking to the media after appearing in a court here in connection with the hearing of a narcotics case against him, Khan told Ahmed “in clear and categorical terms” that he “did not know” the former. “You will fail to create anarchy in the country. Mind it. This is my last warning to you,” Sanaullah said, and added, “Imran Khan, I am telling you. Even you will not be spared if you do not refrain from threatening us.” The minister said that since this was the election year, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had already begun a mass contact campaign. He was of the view that Usman Buzdar was the Punjab chief minister

only in name, and in fact, it was Farah Khan, friend of former prime minister Imran Khan’s spouse who called the shots in the province. He accused Farah of minting billions through the transfers and postings of civil servants. “PTI chairman Imran and his party leaders are presently running ‘Save Gogi campaign’,” Sanaullah said, and alleged that the former prime minister had introduced the amnesty scheme only to

save Farah. He claimed that Farah transferred Rs1 billion abroad. “The PTI government booked its opponents in false and fabricated cases. If the last government had proofs that I was involved in the murder of some people, I should have been booked in cases of that particular offence rather than cases of drugs, with which I have nothing to do,” he added. In his conversation, the minister

criticised the former prime minister for “inciting” and “misleading” the public against the government. The PTI chairman, in his address at the party’s Mianwali rally on Friday, had told his workers that neither containers placed on the route could stop them from their march on Islamabad nor could the interior minister. He had also accused Khan of committing 18 murders. Responding to the speech, the minister warned Imran that if he didn’t mend his ways, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) too would instruct its workers to “catch and beat them up”. “This is your misconception that you will be able to cause anarchy or chaos in the country. Nothing will happen,” he told Imran. “They [the supporters] will become human beings after a few thrashings.” Earlier, the court of Special Judge Anti-Narcotics issued a notice to the ANF and later adjourned the hearing of the case of possession of 15 kilogrammes of heroin against Khan until May 21. Khan, on the occasion, also filed an application for permanent exemption from appearance in the case.

Pakistan sends first batch of assistance to flood-hit Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD staff report

The first batch of food assistance announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the flood-affected people of Afghanistan reached the neighbouring nation on Saturday, his office said. The aid was delivered through a special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft. “At the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan today dispatched first C-130 to Afghanistan containing relief assistance in tents, food items and medicines for the people affected by recent flash floods,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to

Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan tweeted. These items included 100 tents, two tonnes of wheat, one tonne of rice and 450 kilogrammes of sugar, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release. Sharif said that Pakistan would extend all possible support to the flood-hit Afghanistan. Ambassador Khan said another plane carrying more relief goods was likely to be sent to Afghanistan in the coming days. Sharif had announced the assistance for the neighbouring nation on Thursday. The second tranche of relief support will be sent on May 9, the PMO announced. Heavy rain and

flooding has killed 29 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged crops in Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis. The Taliban government, struggling to cope with the disaster that has affected more than a third of its provinces, will approach international relief organisations for help, officials said. “Due to flooding and storms in 12 provinces, 22 people have died and 40 injured,” said Hassibullah Shekhani, head of communications and information at Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority. The rain and flooding was particularly severe in the western provinces of Badghis and Faryab and the northern province of Baghlan. Afghanistan has been suffering from drought in recent years, made worse by climate change, with low crop yields raising fears of serious food shortages. The weather has exacerbated problems of poverty caused by decades of war and then a drop in foreign aid and the freezing of assets abroad after the Taliban took over, and US-led forces withdrew, in August. Shekhani said 500 houses were destroyed, 2,000 damaged, 300 head of livestock killed and some 3,000 acres of crops damaged. He said the International Committee of the Red Cross was helping and officials would approach other international organisations for help. The international community is grappling with how to help the country of some 40 million people without benefiting the Taliban.

Ashtar Ausaf appointed attorney general ISLAMABAD staff report

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Ashtar Ausaf Ali as attorney general of Pakistan, his office said. A brief official announcement was issued on Saturday after Sharif gave his approval to the appointment. Ausaf will replace Khalid Jawed Khan who resigned in April following the change of government. He has previously served in the role between 2016 and 2018 and before that, as law adviser to deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Ausaf had also served as the advocate general of Punjab. The Lahore-based lawyer came to prominence in 1993 when he represented the Sharif’s government before the Supreme Court after it was toppled through the dissolution of assemblies by then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Ausaf supported the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of an independent judiciary and he was detained in Lahore when then-president Pervez Musharraf proclaimed the state of emergency on November 3, 2007. The appointment to the office of the attorney general is made under Article 100 of the Constitution.

WAPDA Chairman Muzammil resigns newS DeSk Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain resigned from his post on Saturday. Muzammil mentioned some personal reasons in his resignation and forwarded it to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Due to personal and family compulsions, I could not continue the job,” he wrote. Muzammil was first appointed to the post for five years by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on August 24, 2016. Later, he was given extension for another five years by the PTI government in 2021. Talking to a news outlet, Muzammil said he has resigning from his post due to “some personal reasons”, adding that he will talk in “detail” after the acceptance of his resignation. “I have sent my resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” he said, adding that during his tenure, he worked on several important projects related to water resources and made WAPDA self-reliant. Last month, PM Shehbaz, during his visit to the site of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, had directed the WAPDA chief to ensure the completion of the project by 2026, ahead of its timeline of 2029. Speaking after a briefing over the construction of the dam, the PM had said: “Nothing in this world is impossible. Therefore, efforts to complete the project by 2026 instead of 2029 should be made.”

Sirbaz becomes first Pakistani to summit 10 of world’s 14 highest peaks newS DeSk Sirbaz Khan has become the first Pakistani climber to climb 10 of the world’s highest 14 peaks — each at a height of more than 8,000 metres — after scaling the 8,586-metre-high Kanchenjunga mountain in Nepal. “Sirbaz stood atop the world’s thirdhighest peak at 7am on Saturday with other members of the team, led by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa (Mingma G) of Imagine Nepal,” Karar Haidar, the secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said in a statement. Sirbaz thanked the nation for supporting him and requested them to pray for his

safe return. Among 8000ers, Kanchenjunga, which forms part of the Himalayas range, is said to be the most difficult mountain to climb to the top from the final camp and takes the longest time as well due it its steep gorges and bitterly cold climate. Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of late legendary mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara and a climber himself, tweeted: “Congratulations kako Sirbaz khan for conquering the world’s 3rd highest mountain Kanchenjunga.” Sirbaz, 32, hails from the Aliabad area of Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan and began his climbing career in 2016.

In 2019, he became the first Pakistani to summit Mount Lhotse, the world’s fourthhighest mountain at 8,516m in Nepal, without the use of supplementary oxygen. Moreover, he summited the 8,125metre-high Nanga Parbat in 2017, 8,611metre-high K-2 in 2018 and Broad Peak, which has a height of 8,163 metres, in 2019. Earlier this year, he climbed the 8,091metre-high Anapurna mountain, 8,848metre-high Everest and 8,035-metre-high Gasherbrum II. Sirbaz is aiming to become the first Pakistani to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks.

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