Epaper – October 31 ISB 2021

CMYK

31 October, 2021 I 24 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 122 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

TLP workers remain in wazirabad as negoTiaTions conTinue

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ORKERS belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) continued their sit-in in Wazirabad on Saturday waiting for instructions from their leaders regarding the next line of action.

The TLP workers had reached Wazirabad from Gujranwala on Friday and spent the night at the Zafar Ali Khan Bypass which led to the suspension of internet services, traffic and business activities in the city.

According to a report published in Dawn, the next TLP-police encounter was expected at two security points that had been established at Chenab and Jhelum rivers, which is also the only route by which the TLP march can reach Islamabad.

On Friday, the government had deployed hundreds of Rangers and police personnel equipped with armored vehicles and riot gear at the Chenab toll plaza to counter the marchers.

The Punjab Rangers have also put up a red line about 500 metres from the Chenab toll plaza and have put up a notice nearby warning the protesters of adverse consequences incase they breach the line.

The TLP sit-in also caused the suspension of two trains between Karachi and Rawalpindi — Tezgam Express and Pakistan Express on Saturday for both inbound and outbound services. Several other trains also remained suspended during the day.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan consulted a delegation of religious schol-

coronavirus in

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ars, including Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, to discuss the standoff between the government and TLP .

According to the religious affairs minister, a 12-member committee had been formed for negotiations with the TLP to end the banned organisations march towards Islamabad.

“The committee members are in touch with the government and had been in contact with the TLP leadership as well,” he said, adding that they were expecting “positive” results from the talks.

On Friday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had informed that negotiations were underway between the government and the detained TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi adding that the prime minister will address the nation and explain the narrative of the government regarding the situation.

The interior minister said that four policemen had been martyred in clashes with TLP workers, while more than 80 had been injured..

SECuRIty SItuAtION IN ISlAMABAd: Meanwhile, security was increased in Islamabad on Friday and senior officials of the capital police considered reinstating all suspended officials to ensure maximum manpower ahead of the proscribed group’s march.

The leaves of all police officials were also cancelled, Dawn reported.

The police are working on different strategies to stop the TLP rally from reaching the capital, the officers said, adding that they were considering establishing defence lines in Rawat, Kak Bridge and Gulberg Green, respectively.

Separate police teams are tracing the TLP’s local leaders, active workers and activists, but all disappeared, they said, adding that all their possible hiding places were raided but no one was found. news desk

Jamali elected Balochistan Assembly speaker The Balochistan provincial assembly elected Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali as its assembly speaker on Saturday.

Jamali, who is also the chief organiser of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) was elected unopposed as no nomination papers were filed for any other candidate, the provincial assembly’s secretary said.

The assembly speakers post had become vacant earlier this week following the resignation of the previous speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo who was being considered for the post of the provinces chief minister.

Bizenjo was sworn in as the Balochistan chief minister on Friday.

According to the Balochistan Assembly secretary Tahir Shah, nomination papers for the vacant post could have been submitted from 8:30am to 12pm on Saturday. During that time frame, five nomination papers were submitted all of which nominated Jamali.

Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali was

PM rejects proposal for increase in prices of petroleum products

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,272,345

born on May 23, 1955 and belongs to a Balochi political family. His father Noor Mohammad Jamali was a tribal leader as well as a politician.

Jamali obtained a bachelor’s degree from Balochistan University and started his politics with the local body elections in 1983. In 1988, he became a member of the provincial assembly on the ticket of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad.

In 1990, he yet again became a member of the Balochistan Assembly as an independent candidate and became a provincial minister in 1993.

Jamali won the 1997 elections on a PML-N ticket. He also served as the chief minister of Balochistan from June 15, 1998, to October 12, 1999.

He participated in the 2013 elections on PML-N’s ticket and was successful. From June 2013 to 2015, he was the speaker of the Balochistan Assembly. He also served twice as deputy chairman of the Senate. Jamali joined the BAP in 2018. news desk

more inside

NCOC to lift Covid19 restrictions from cities with at least 60pc vaccination rate STORY ON PAGE 02

Army officials visit families of policemen martyred in TLP clashes

LAST UPDATED AT 8:37 AM ON OCTOBER 30, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

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658

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,220,941 28,439 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

469,475 440,003 KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

177,889

33,244

34,470/10,390

106,874

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided not to increase the prices of petroleum products for the next fortnight keeping in view the public interest.

The prime minister rejected a proposal of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and finance ministry for increasing the prices of petroleum products in view of the public relief.

The OGRA had recommended to increase the petrol price by Rs11.53 per litre, high speed diesel by Rs8.49, kerosene oil by Rs6.29 and light

diesel oil by Rs5.72 per litre due to the soaring prices of petroleum products in the international market.

The prime minister, however, rejected the proposed increase and the burden to this effect will be borne by the government.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the government is giving priority to extending relief to the masses instead of shifting the burden of rising international prices.

It should be noted that the prices of petroleum products

are fixed by the government for 15 days.

Earlier on October 15, Prime Minister Khan had approved a Rs10.49 per litre increase in petrol price. Petrol now costs Rs137.79 per litre.

The high-speed diesel price was jacked up by Rs12.44 per litre to Rs134.48. The price of kerosene oil was fixed at Rs110.26 after an increase of Rs10.95 per litre.

Light diesel oil costs Rs8.84 more and is priced at Rs108.35 per litre. news desk

PM felicitates FBR over Rs1.84tr collection in four months STORY ON PAGE 02

Muslim scholars union calls for forming legal front to defend Muslim minorities STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

NCOC tO lIft COvId-19 restrICtIONs frOM CItIes wIth at least 60PC vaCCINatION rate

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News Desk

HE National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday announced that it will roll back all COVID-19 related restrictions from cities with at least 60 per cent vaccinated population. The decision was made in a meeting of the NCOC chaired by the

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar.

According to the NCOC, cities where at least 60 per cent of the population has been vaccinated include Islamabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Gilgit and Mirpur.

Similarly, in Rawalpindi, Skardu, Hunza, Peshawar, Jhelum and some other cities 40 to 60 per

cent of the population has been vaccinated against Covid-19.

In cities where the vaccination rate is higher than 60 per cent all virus-related curbs have been abolished including restrictions on marriage ceremonies, social gatherings, businesses, indoor dining and sports activities. Moreover, in such cities all public transport will be allowed to function with

an occupancy level of 100 per cent.

However, in the rest of the cites, prevailing Covid-19 restrictions on marriage ceremonies, gatherings and sports activities will remain in force, at least till November 15. Public transport will be allowed to function with a maximum occupancy level of 80 per cent in these cities. The NCOC will review its decision again on November 12.

PM felicitates FBR over Rs1.84tr collection in four months News Desk

Maryam schooled for posting two-year-old ‘Indian-sponsored video’ News Desk Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday faced criticism on social media after she shared a two-year-old video of a 50-over World Cup encounter between Pakistan and Afghanistan held in England. The video depicts a plane flying over the Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England with a banner reading ‘Justice for Balochistan’.

The campaign which ran two years back was launched

by India to malign Pakistan at the international stage.

The PMLN leader shared the video on Saturday with the caption ‘Justice for Balochistan pls [please]’, a day after Pakistan beat Afghanistan in a T20 World Cup match in Dubai, which got people questioning whether Maryam Nawaz thought that the incident happened on Friday.

The PMLN leader later deleted the tweet after facing backlash from her Twitter followers and other social media users. In another similar incident, on Friday, Maryam Nawaz confused the former medium pace bowler Muhammad Asif with Asif Ali who hit four sixes in the second last over of the match against Afghanistan on Friday to seal the victory for Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving tax collection of Rs1,840 billion during the first four months of current fiscal year 2021-22.

In a tweet on Saturday, the prime minister said that Rs1,840 billion revenue collection is 37 percent higher than the corresponding period of the last financial year.

He pointed out that tax collection in October surpassed its monthly target because of a robust economic performance. The prime minister said that contrary to propaganda, income tax collection also grew by 32 percent.

The FBR has collected a net of Rs1,840 billion during July-October against the assigned target of Rs1,608 billion, showing that it exceeded its target by Rs232 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year. The

FBR was able to materialise good performance but it is largely achieved through duty and taxes collected at the import stage.

The FBR has achieved almost 55 percent revenue collection through the import stage, so if imports are curbed under the IMF programme, the revenue collection would also be impacted negatively in the remaining period of the current fiscal year.

“We are expecting that the FBR’s collection will go up by a few billion rupees more when the figures will be finalised,” an FBR official said.

The FBR had made a net revenue collection of Rs1,395 billion during the first quarter of the current financial year against the set target of Rs1,211 billion, exceeding by Rs186 billion. The net collection for the month of September 2021 stood at Rs535 billion, representing an increase of 31.2 percent over Rs408 billion collected in September 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that after collecting over Rs4.7 trillion and exceeding its assigned revenue targets set for the tax year 2020-21, the FBR has successfully maintained the

momentum in the first four months of the current fiscal year 2021-22. The FBR wants to achieve the annual target of Rs5,829 billion during the current fiscal year.

Court extends interim bails of Shehbaz, Hamza in money laundering case News Desk Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz appeared before a Lahore’s banking court in money laundering case on Saturday.

During the proceedings, the court extended the interim bails of the PML-N leaders till November 20.

Shehbaz termed money laundering allegations as baseless and said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has failed to prove corruption of even a single penny against him and his son in a year.

NBP suffers cyber attack

He added that the Daily Mail’s lawyer had confessed to not having enough evidence during the proceedings in a British court. The NAB prosecutor, however, said that the London verdict has nothing to do with this case. Earlier on November 11 last year, Shehbaz and his son Hamza were indicted in the money laundering reference by the accountability court.

All the accused in the case had pleaded not guilty. Shehbaz, while rejecting the allegations of the antigraft watchdog, had said that he is being politically victimised.

Coronavirus infects 658, kills 10 in a day: NCOC News Desk IsLAMABAD Shahzad Paracha

The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) suffered a cyber attack on Saturday. The attack impacted some of the bank’s facilities, including its mobile application, but the customer and financial data remained safe from the breach. The teams are, however, working to restore the services. The hackers targeted a section of the computer system at the NBP and caused disruption, which may result in payment delays for thousands of public sector employees. The management of NBP suggested its staff members to take extra care in ERM and IBFT payment processing. The NBP management, in an online session, said that the bank’s server and apps are not working due to hacking attempts. The management of NBP confirmed the cyber attack, claiming that the hackers could not gain access to the NBP’s main servers.

Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in a tweet, also confirmed that the “NBP has reported a cyber security-related incident, which is being investigated. However, the NBP has not observed any data breach or financial loss and no other bank has reported any such incident. The SBP is monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system.”

Pakistan has reported 658 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

The Covid-19 positivity ratio was recorded at 1.44 percent.

The number of positive cases has surged to 1,272,345 while the nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,439.

Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 12,915 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,563 in Sindh, 5,740 in KP, 939 in Islamabad, 740 in Azad Kashmir, 356 in Balochistan, and 186 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Furthermore, 469,475 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 440,003 in Punjab, 177,889 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 106,874 in Islamabad, 34,470 in Azad Kashmir, 33,244 in Balochistan, and 10,390 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Pakistan has so far conducted 20,750,978 coronavirus tests and 45,690 in the last 24 hours.

Around 1,220,941 patients have recovered in the country whereas 1,364 patients are in critical condition.

So far, 70,139,040 people have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine, including 415,562 in last

24 hours. Around 40,016,932 citizens have been fully vaccinated while 373,474 received their second dose in last 24 hours.

The number of total administered doses has reached to 103,514,198 with 754,680 in the last 24 hours.

Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

Sindh CM inaugurateS ‘Manora Waterfront BeaCh’ in KaraChi

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NEWS DESK

INDH Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday inaugurated ‘Manora Waterfront Beach’ in Karachi in a bid to increase the number of recreational facilities in the metropolis, according to a news outlet.

According to Express Tribune, the project was completed with Rs650 million.

The newly-developed beach is one of the most beautiful recreational places the government has developed to provide a safe, secure, and clean family recreational place for the people of this city, said the chief minister while speaking to media at the inauguration ceremony.

“We are also planning to develop a jetty at Seaview to start a ferry service from Clifton area to Manora beach,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by

Body formed for Nasla Tower demolition KARACHI TLTP

Karachi commissioner has constituted an eight-member committee to finalise the companies to raze the 15storey Nasla Tower. The committee will evaluate and select the tenders submitted by different companies regarding the demolition of the Nasla Tower through controlled blasting.

According to a notification issued by the Karachi Commissioner Office on Friday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued an order on October 25 regarding the demolition of Nasla Tower measuring 1,121 square yards on plot 193-A at the Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS) on Shareae Faisal.

To comply with the apex court’s order, the statement said the Commissioner Office had already published an advertisement for the expression of interest in leading daily newspapers. The expressions of interest would be assessed and evaluated technically as per the protocol and the committee constituted for the evaluation would review them in one day. The deputy commissioner of the District East is the chairman of the committee. Its other seven members include the Sindh Building Control Authority director general, NED University Head of Civil Engineering Department Abdul Jabbar Sangi, Frontier Works Organisation Commanding Officer Lt Col Hasnian M Rashid, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation general works and technical director, East SSP, KMC anti-encroachment senior director and nongovernmental organisation Shehri’s Amber Alibhai.

The terms of reference of the committee, according

to the notification, include evaluation of bids received under the expression of interest for the demolition of Nasla Tower, recommendation of the most suitable firm for such demolition and related advice.

On Thursday, the District East deputy commissioner had announced that the district administration had taken over the control of Nasla Tower. However, some residents had still not vacated the building by then.

Meanwhile, the residents of the tower demanded of the apex court to ensure that they were compensated for their losses. The Nasla Tower management committee’s Muhammad Ali said they were ready to vacate the building but nothing had been decided regarding the mechanism of compensation for them.

He maintained that the building would be completely vacated by Sunday. Another resident, Shaheen, said they were still present inside the building and packing up. In June, the Supreme Court had ordered the tower’s demolition over its illegal construction on the service road, telling the builders to refund the registered buyers of the residential and commercial units within three months.

District East Deputy Commissioner Asif Jan Siddiqi said the administration had taken control of Nasla Tower after the deadline to vacate the illegally-constructed building had expired. The management of the building said that residents of over 20 flats had shifted to other places till last night, however, some of the residents could not find places to rent and eight flat owners who lived abroad could not be contacted. The management urged the authorities to provide more time so that those living abroad could shift their belongings in their flats elsewhere.

FIA arrests senior officials in petrol crisis case LAHORE TLTP

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday arrested officials of the petroleum ministry over their alleged involvement in the petrol crisis.

The FIA registered separate cases against two oil marketing companies (OMCs), Askar Oil Services and Fossils Energy Pvt Ltd, and arrested five officials; following inquiries in the petroleum crisis of June 2020.

According to the FIA officials, Fossil Energy Pvt Ltd CEO Nadeem Butt, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Member Gas Amir Naseem, Ogra Member Oil Abdullah Malik and DG Oil of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Shafiullah Afridi and Assistant Director Oil Imran Abro have been arrested so far. The arrests were made after the FIA conducted inquiries in the petroleum crisis on the directives of the Federal Cabinet.

According to the FIA, the Ogra officials were allegedly involved in the issuance of illegal petroleum marketing licences, while the officials of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Division were allegedly involved in the issuance of illegal petroleum import quota.

The FIA also said the petroleum marketing companies had set up a network of more illegal petrol pumps across the country than the Ogra’s approved petrol pumps with the alleged connivance of the authority. The officials are accused of colluding with the illegal petroleum marketing licences, illegal petroleum import quotas and buying and selling of illegal petroleum imports, causing loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer and money laundering of billions of rupees, it said.

The federal cabinet vide a letter dated April 23, 2021 had asked the FIA to probe into the matter of petroleum crisis by ascertaining the facts and circumstances, which resulted in the crisis in the country during June 2020.

According to the FIA, since July 4, 2005 after acquiring licence from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Askar Oil Services Pvt Ltd has been granted eight extensions to-date by the Ogra irrespective of the fact that the mandatory storage requirement of 9,100 tonnes of MS Petrol and 12,100 tonnes of HSD was never developed by Askar Oil Services.

“Even after the promulgation of the Pakistan Oil (Refining, Blending, Transportation, Storage and Marketing) Rules 2016, 7th and 8th extension was also granted by the Ogra to the Askar Oil marketing company on January 3, 2017 and on January 5, 2018, respectively, in violation of Rule 35 (2) and (3), which makes it mandatory for the regulatory authority to validate the steps undertaken by the OMC towards the development of 20-day storage facility.”

Still, the accused OMC has failed to deliver its commitment submitted in 2005. In criminal complicity between the Askar OMC and Ogra, all the graft sales by the accused OMCs originated from illegal extensions granted by Uzma Adil Khan (chairperson), Noorul Haq (member finance), Amir Naseem (member gas) and Dr Abdullah Malik (member oil) and their predecessors.

According to the FIA, as per the record provided by the accused OMC, it has 390 retail outlets, which itself conflicts with the figures submitted by the Department of Explosives, numbering its operational retail outlets at 1,019. “This mere fact is criminal concealment on the part of the accused OMC.

NEWS

provincial ministers including Nasir Hussain Shah, Syed Sardar Shah, Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab and others.

“The project is a part of an overall development scheme for Karachi… this will provide recreational facilities to the residents,” the CM said.

The main objective of developing such facilities and places is to attract visitors which will “eventually improve the development of this area” and generate revenues, he said, adding that the main attraction Karachi is its beaches and coastline which distinct the port city from the rest of the country.

He said that due to the dearth of entertainment avenues, especially for middle and lower middle class families, people only rush to Sea view, Hawkes Bay and other underdeveloped beaches.

“Since those destinations are just beaches and not developed thus they got stale, there is a dire need of some new developments

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to provide an area for public refreshment,” he said.

The chief minister said that it would be the first developed beach in Karachi and added the proposed design has all the needs required for a family entertainment in a secure environment.

The chief minister said that two years back he had visited Manora and was given a detailed briefing about the need for the area development. “Despite Covid and other issues we developed the area,” he said.

The CM said that Manora has a rich history. “It is said that the fleet of Alexander the Great had anchored at Manora and then during the Talpur era a port was developed to protect the city.”

After completion of the project, he said, it would be handed over to Manora Cantonment and hoped that the area would remain open to public.

He also announced developing Allama Iqbal Park in the city’s Gulberg area.

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Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

Lahore to host third PaCes ComPetition from november 1

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HE third International Physical Agility and Combat Efficiency System (PACES) competition will be held in Lahore under the supervision of Pakistan Army from November 1 to 7.

Contingents from six countries comprising 107 military personnel including Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take part in the mega event whereas Myanmar, Indonesia and Egypt will be participating as observers.

Nine teams from Pakistan Army comprising 121 players will also participate in the event.

Four international teams have already arrived in Lahore including Jordan, Palestine, Sri Lanka and UAE while remaining two teams from Uzbekistan and Iraq are likely to reach by October 3.

The opening ceremony for the competition will be held on November 1 at Fortress Stadium and closing ceremony will be organized at Ayub Stadium on November 7.

Earlier 1st and 2nd International PACES competitions were organised in 2016 and 2018 in Lahore.

Calligraphy exhibition held at Lahore’s Alhamra Art Gallery NEws DEsk A calligraphy exhibition of calligraphy paintings by Farzana Waqas was held at the Alhamra Art Gallery in Lahore on Saturday. The three day event that began on October 28th was attended by Governor Punjab Muhammad Sarwar and his wife as chief guests. “I do Arabic calligraphy. Arabic calligraphy has a rich history relating spirituality to this art form. It includes a lot of traditions and sentiments associated with Islam as calligraphy was the most visual representation of Islam,” said Farzana Waqas while talking to Pakistan Today. “Doing calligraphy is my worship and enjoyment. In a very short span of time I made about 60 paintings. My aim to exhibit them in the month Rabi-ul-Awal is to glorify religious blessings through painting. I wish to learn more and keep learning.”

Pakistan urges developed countries to help refugee hosting countries NEw YORk TLTP

Pakistan has urged the developed countries to financially help the developing countries, which are hosting large numbers of refugees, and also offer the option of resettlement in the third countries.

Highlighting that Pakistan is hosting over 3.5 million Afghan refugees, a Pakistani delegate has urged the developed countries to financially help the developing countries caring for a large number of refugees, and also offer the option of resettlement in the third countries.

“International community needs to provide adequate, predictable, regular and sustainable financial support in line with the principle of responsibility sharing for the Afghan refugees in the neighbouring coun-

tries,” Saima Saleem, a counsellor in Pakistan Mission, said in a UN panel.

Saleem was participating in an interactive dialogue with Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural matters Pakistan, she said, was committed to the principle of voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees, “in safety and dignity”, but that must be backed by time-bound return and repatriation plans. In this regard, she said Pakistan was concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, especially as winter approaches, and called for immediate steps to rectify the situation.

Under the circumstances, the freezing of the Afghan government’s overseas assets is entirely unjustified,” the Pakistani delegate said, adding that intensifying suffering of the

Afghan people could trigger massive outflow of refugees, revive internal displacement within Afghanistan and threat of terrorism from there.

“Bilateral and international sanctions are impacting the work of the humanitarian organizations and have disabled banking and financial sectors.” she added.

Earlier briefing the committee, Grandi, the UNHCR, rallied governments to draw inspiration from the world’s 82 million forcibly displaced people who refuse to give up on their quest to build a better life. In making that call, he invoked the seventieth anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, celebrated this year, and appealed for renewed international solidarity.

“We must never forget that nobody wants to live with the anxiety of exile,'' he said, describing UNHCR’s focus on solutions.

Book launch ceremony of Brigadier Sajid’s book on Waziristan, Datta Khel held in Lahore LAHORE Shahab Omer

A book launch ceremony for the launch of Brigadier Sajid Muzaffar Chaudhry’s book titled ‘Waziristan: Datta Khel Unravelling the History of a Frontier Outpost 1897-2018’ was held at the Defence Service Officers Mess (DeSOM) in Lahore on Saturday.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Garrison Officers Commander (GOC) II Division Major General Raza Aizad attended the ceremony as Chief Guest.

Others in attendance included, University of Peshawar Director Area Study Center (Russia, China and Central Asia) Professor Sabir Ahmad Khan, University of Peshawar Vice Chancellor Professor Azmat Hayat Khan and Government Islamia College Civil Lines Lahore Principal Dr Akhtar Sandu.

The book was dedicated to the officers and men of the Pakistan Army, the Paramilitary Forces, and Pakistani citizens.

Introducing the book Professor Sabir Ahmad Khan said that the book was based on empirical data since the author had himself served as a soldier and administrator in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Waziristan.

“This laborious effort gives valuable insights of the fascinating history of the land and people of North Waziristan while also elaborating on the contemporary developments of the era of war on terror specifically in Datta Khel. It elaborates on the struggle, hardships and the loss of human lives faced by the Pakistan Army during its struggle to root out terrorism and establish writ of the state in the area,” he said.

“You must know that all along the NorthWest Frontier of India there is spread a force of some thirty thousand foot and horse. They move up and down, and down and up from one desolate little post to another they are

CMYK

ready to take the field at ten minutes’ notice; they are always half in and half out of a difficulty somewhere along the monotonous line: their lives are as hard as their own muscles, and the papers never say anything about them.

So wrote Kipling more than a century ago about the British Indian North West Frontier, capturing its everlasting romance. At British India’s partition in August 1947, this frontier became the North Western Frontier of the newly independent Pakistan. The mystique associated with this area continued for a long time till the era of Talibanization in 2001 and the subsequent war on terror. I have a long association with the erstwhile Tribal Districts including Waziristan as a soldier and administrator and my deep insight as well as love with the land and its people is amply reflected in the book. I wrote this book while serving in Datta Khel, North Waziristan and it is a valuable addition to the scarce literature on the area in contemporary times,” said Brigadier Sajid Muzaffar Chaudhry while talking to Pakistan Today.

Brigadier Sajid Muzaffar Chaudhry is a graduate of Command and Staff College Quetta and National Defence University, Islamabad. He holds an M-Phil degree in nuclear and strategic studies from national defence university, a master’s degree in strategic studies and a master’s degree in art and science of warfare.

He is proficient in many languages including Punjabi, Urdu, English and Persian.

Coming from a distinguished military family, the author joined the Pakistan Army in 1990 and has seen active military service spanning over 28 years.

Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | iSlamabad

ImPlEmENtINg dIgItAl modE of PAymENt ImPRActIcAl, PtBA tEllS fBR KARACHI

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HE Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has demanded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the implementation of digital mode of payment for corporate entities as the system is not practical to be used at present for many business entities.

The digital mode of payment has been made mandatory from November 01, 2021. The FBR has already made necessary amendments to relevant tax laws to implement the digital payment system.

The PTBA in its letter to FBR chairman Dr Muhammad Ashfaq stated that the new provision of law was promulgated through Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, where a new sub-section (la) was inserted in Section 21 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

“The condition for allowable expen-

diture through digital mean is a contradiction with the other modes of payment through banking channels, which is historically remained in practice and accepted under the provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and this provision of law is incorporated without taking the stakeholders into confidence and it is not practically possible for many business houses,” the PTBA said.

The apex tax bar pointed out that it is impossible to make payment to the goods carriage/transport sector by digital means, which will create complete unrest in the goods carriage and transport sector.

It said presently, port terminal charges, wharfage charges, charges for clearance of delivery orders are paid in advance through crossed cheques or pay orders. It will not be out of place to mention here that the port terminal operators and shipping lines are unaware and are not ready for implementation of the ‘digital mode of payment.’

It said it is routine business practice that advances against delivery of goods, the buyer submits its payment by way of post-dated cheques, which normally accepted by the other party and inherently a secured way of making payment. We are afraid that this law of ‘digital mode of payment’ is surely going to hamper the business activities, as it does not cater to the situation and solution of such transactions.

The PBTA said that similar issues are likely to arise and are to be faced by the companies for making payments to the growers of various agricultural crops such as fruits, sugarcane, rice, cotton, wheat, etc.

It said the various banks have fixed their own limitation on the quantity of making digital / online payments in a day and have also fixed the threshold of the amount and they do not allow it to exceed the threshold limit fixed by them. In our view, this also needs a proper campaign without which the implementation of the

law is not possible.

The PBTA said that digital mode of payment is also impractical and is likely to affect the business transaction in the cases where petty cash payments, in aggregate, exceed millions of rupees, which cannot be made digitally. It will not be out of place to mention that online transactions are still considered as unsecured mode, due to various types of online frauds and hacking of software.

The PTBA said that in the presence of conventional banking transactions, the move is likely to create lots of troubles for the corporate sector. “It is therefore, suggested that the mandatory condition of digital mode of payment for companies should be allowed along with other conventional modes of payment for at least one year and time limit for updation of business bank accounts under Section 114 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 may be extended till June 30, 2022 for the smooth running of businesses.

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corporate corner PtA conducts survey to measure quality of services ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has carried out an independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey in 18 Cities and 8 Motorways/Highways/inter City Roads of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan in order to measure the performance and quality of Cellular Mobile Operators’ (CMOs) services being provided to their customers.

During the survey, the licensed KPIs of voice, network coverage, SMS and mobile broadband/data were checked using state of the art automated QoS Monitoring & Benchmarking Tool. The drive test teams selected survey routes in such a manner to cover main roads, service roads and majority of sectors/colonies in surveyed areas. Based upon the compliance level of each KPI against threshold defined in the respective licenses and QoS Regulations, CMOs have been ranked between 1st to 4th position in each category i.e. mobile network coverage, voice and SMS services in surveyed cities and motorways/highways. Similarly, in Mobile Broadband Speed segment, the ranking is with respect to the highest data download speed. The survey results revealed that CMOs are compliant with respect to broadband services to a great extent while SMS and voice KPIs have been found below the licensed threshold in some areas. Eventually, necessary instructions have been issued to the operators for taking corrective measures so as to ensure improvement in the service quality up to the licensed standards. The survey results have been placed at PTA’s website (https://pta.gov.pk/en/consumer-support/qossurvey/qos-survey) for information of the subscribers. The service quality monitoring activity is being carried out by PTA field teams with the ultimate aim to pursue the operators for provision of better mobile services and to promote a healthy competition among the operators. Pr

Special powers of NEPRA chairman restored

MULTAN: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers hold protest against inflation. PPI

G20 leaders endorse global minimum corporate tax deal for 2023 start ROME reuters

Leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies (G20) will endorse an OECD deal on a global minimum corporate tax of 15%, draft conclusions of the two-day G20 summit showed on Saturday, with a view to have the rules in force in 2023.

"We call on the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting to swiftly develop the model rules and multilateral instruments as agreed in the Detailed Implementation Plan, with a view to ensure that the new rules will come into effect at global level in 2023," the draft conclusions, seen by Reuters, said. The conclusions are to be formally

adopted on Sunday. In October, 136 countries reached a deal on a minimum tax on global corporations, including internet giants like Google (GOOGL.O) , Amazon (AMZN.O), Facebook (FB.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) or Apple (AAPL.O) to make it harder for them to avoid taxation by establishing offices in low-tax jurisdictions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

said the endorsement of the minimum tax would help U.S. businesses and workers, even though the deal also means that many U.S.-based companies, like the Internet giants, will be paying more tax than now.

"This deal will remake the global economy into a more prosperous place for American business and workers," Yellen said in a statement.

China will not be the first to recognise Taliban government, scholar says China will not take the lead in recognising Afghanistan's Taliban government and will only do so in a concerted move with Pakistan, Russia and Iran, an expert familiar with China's foreign policy considerations told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August and set up an interim government in September with old guard Islamists in top posts.

No country has formally recognised the Taliban government though China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, met members of the interim government in Qatar this week.

"Things will be different when the four countries of China, Pakistan, Russia and Iran arrive at a consensus on this. We will not be the first," said Hu Shisheng, a South Asian expert at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICR), the official think-tank of China's national security apparatus.

Speaking at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a secu-

rity forum organised by an official think-tank of the military to promote China's views on security, Hu gave a rare insight into China’s calculations on Afghanistan.

He anticipated that the United States would, after withdrawing from Afghanistan, want to strengthen military cooperation with India, and that could make India more "adventurous" and prone to risk-taking when dealing with China.

China and India have been uneasy neighbours for decades. Their troops clashed on a disputed section of their Himalayan border in June last year and remain locked in a standoff. "New skirmishes cannot be totally ruled out," Hu said.

Hu also said there were international expectations that the Taliban would stop the spread of militancy and prevent a slide back into chaos, which would have an impact on China and its regional "belt and road" development plans.

CMYK

He also raised concern that the United States could direct resources to creating "disturbances" for China in areas such as the South China Sea, Taiwan and the Korean peninsula.

"The United States invested $2 trillion in Afghanistan over the past 20 years. Even if it only diverts $50 billion ... China's going to feel a lot of pressure."

After pulling out of Afghanistan, the United States is in talks with countries in the region, including India, to set up bases for counter-terrorism operations.

This also worries China.

"The US says the bases are for fighting Afghan terrorists, but it could have other motives related to China and Russia," Du Nongyi, vice chairman of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, a think-tank with links to Chinese military, told Reuters.

"Central Asia is Russia's backyard. We can't let the United States have a foothold." reuters

ISLAMABAD: Special powers of the Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Tauseef H Farooqi has been restored and NEPRA on Friday issued a fresh notification to this effect. As per details, NEPRA, after passing four days, has now withdrawn a previous notification under which special powers which were earlier delegated to the Chairman NEPRA were withdrawn from him. However, now the majority members of the NEPRA has once again delegated ‘special powers’ to the NEPRA chairman till further orders.

According to NEPRA notification, with immediate effect, the majority of the Authority members are pleased to recall the notification No. MON01/2021/4/41 dated October 25, 2021 and NEPRA departments including Registrar and Coordination & Implementation, Administration and Human Resource, Finance and Legal will now report to Chairman NEPRA. Earlier, NEPRA Human Resource Department, on 25th October, 2021, had issued a notification regarding withdrawal of the powers with immediate effect which were previously delegated to the NEPRA chairman almost seven years ago. NEPRA’s Human Resource Department, in a notification dated 25th October, 2021, said that “With immediate effect, the majority of the Authority Members are pleased to withdraw the powers delegated to the Chairman under Section 12 of the NEPRA Act, 1997 previously being delegated vide Authority Administrative Meetings (AM-96-14) and (AM 10-17) held on December 12, 2014 and February 10, 2017 respectively”.

According to notification, NEPRA’s departments including Registrar and Coordination & Implementation, Administration and Human Resource, Finance and Legal shall now report to Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for an initial period of three months, which may be extended if needed. During this time, the guidelines for the future course of action on the matter of delegation shall be issued in accordance with Section 48 of the Act (NEPRA Act, 1997), said NEPRA notification signed by Wasim Anwar Bhinder, Additional Director General (Admin & HR). NEPRA Authority consists of Tauseef H. Farooqi, NEPRA chairman, Engineer Maqsood Anwar Khan, Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, Member Sindh, and Rehmatullah Baloch, Member Balochistan. Pr

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06 COMMENT

How many alliances are needed to deal with China?

CPJ Impunity Index shows dangers Pakistan’s presence shows press freedom claims far-fetched

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HE Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) contains an Impunity Index, which has a select membership of only 12, the number of countries where five or more journalists have been killed for their work, without the killers being punished. The Index excludes those journalists killed in the course of dangerous assignments, such as covering protests which turned violent. It is a matter of concern that Pakistan is on the Index at all, and its presence belies the claims of the Prime Minister that the media is as free as anywhere. If the media was that free, mediamen would not end up being killed. It is no satisfaction that Pakistan is ranked ninth among the 12, considering that the other countries include Somalia, which doesn’t really have a government, Mexico, which faces a major cocaine cartel problem, or Afghanistan, which was a war zone, and where journalists have been getting short shrift at the hands of the new Taliban regime.

In the last 10 years, 81 percent of murders have not had anyone held to account, meaning that there is an even lower chance of bringing anyone to trial or obtaining a conviction.

Part of the fault may indeed lie with the justice system, where investigations are botched and trials seemingly last forever. However, at least some of the blame must be shared by the government, which has done its part in reinforcing a negative image of the press, among other things, portraying them as purveyors of ‘fake news’ who have to be reined in.

It does seem as if journalists must take care of each other. organizations like the CPNE, APNS and the PFUJ must pursue cases more actively than at present, because to wait for the justice system to correct itself and become selfactivating is to abandon journalists to be killed. while journalists in the metropolis might be partially protected by their visibility, those practicing the profession in the districts are often vulnerable, and need the national organisations to protect them. Pakistani journalists are facing beatings and kidnappings, but to be killed because someone powerful wants to avoid exposure that way, is not tolerable.

The government should not view this as something it can use to burnish its image by going after journalists’ killers, but as a wake-up call to reform the justice system.

The military-industrial complex wins again hafizur Talukdar

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ECENTly, the US President announced a new military alliance, AUKUS, with the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom for the purpose of "peace and security" in the Indo-Pacific region. However, after much anticipation, the Indo-Pacific military alliance, the Quad, has seen the light of day this year. The announcement of the new military alliance came just before the Quad meeting at the white House on September 24.

"The member states will co-operate in mutual interest and the United States will provide Australia with a nuclear submarine for security," the statement said. The international media is calling the alliance 'Stop China' without any cover. China says the military alliance is opposed to the 1968 NPT or the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty. France has reacted sharply to AUKUS. It has already withdrawn its ambassadors from the USA and Australia, after the latter cancelled its agreement with France to buy submarines.The formation of AUKUS and its response have raised a number of questions. why is a new Indo-Pacific military alliance needed in the presence of the Quad? The USA has also announced a new quad,of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. It called on South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, to join the Indo-Pacific Strategy or IPS. The purpose of opening this alliance of the USA is really to stop China. The US market is still dominated by Chinese products. why does the white House plan to militarily stop the economic power China that is advancing with trillions of dollars of investment and thousands of projects across Europe, Asia and Africa?

During the Quad meeting, security, technology and production, and supply chain creation was talked about. There was supposed to be a combination of

Pakistan cricket’s astounding comeback

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F a month ago someone had predicted that Pakistan would win all three of their most difficult T20 world Cup group stage matches, including the crucial contest against India, they would have been laughed off and advised to seek mental help. Despite an entirely new setup from management to coaches and the squad coming in just weeks before the start of the tournament, a performance of this magnitude, three straight wins, was truly unimaginable.

There is no denying the fact that on and off the field this cricketing unit has emerged as a breath of fresh air; confident, composed, calculated and above all playing as a team rather than selfishly focusing on their individual performances to the detriment of the team as a whole. Apart from putting on display his effortless batting prowess, Babar Azam has also solidified his position as a technically sound captain with immense situational awareness who above all has the respect, trust and backing of the entire team, enabling him to comfortably lead from the front. In the past, Pakistan’s locker rooms have been generally toxic environments, with groupings within the team as a result of constant intrigue and politics, a culture that would inadvertently make its way onto the field and more often than not, cause embarrassing losses.

Clearly none of that crippling toxicity is present anymore, evident from the fashion in which each player has so far carried himself through the tournament so far.

Pakistan has not been known to be a good fielding side, a deficiency that has caused many defeats in the past. Apart from a couple of misfields, there has not been a single dropped catch so far and every single player on the field has been contributing towards saving crucial runs. This is a compliment rarely paid to any Pakistani cricket team. Pakistan has all but qualified to the semifinals, and if players like Asif Ali, who was written off as a hitter and has now firmly established himself as a dependable finisher, hitting four sixes in a single over match-winning knock against Afghanistan, continue to play the way he has, Pakistan has every chance of bringing home the world Cup. A truly remarkable and cohesive side has emerged out of nowhere and teams from around the world have taken notice. This is the beginning of something special, en route to evolving into a formidable and consistent world class cricketing team.

Dowry remains a burden on society

MuhaMMad ali alvi

D

owry is a practice of giving valuable gifts, jewellery, cash and other essential items to a bride. It is hard to find the exact origin of the malpractice but it can be safely said that it has existed in Ddifferent civilizations in some form at different ages. Historians find evidence of its being an already existing practice in the Code of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon. It existed in ancient Greece, Egypt, China, Europe and India However, its purpose and meaning varied from place to place. For example, dowry was considered as a way of saving a bride from ill-treatment by the groom's family. Similarly, in ancient India, it was a common practice parents to give something from their property as compensation because women would not inherit their property.

A society can be based on religious values or norms or its own set of civilized values and traditions.

And dowry is a curse in both types of society. Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and its values, norms and culture must be based on Islamic values.

But unfortunately, our society is badly entangled in the menace of dowry. However, according to the Islamic point of view, there is no concept of dowry.

The institution of marriage has immense importance and a lot of emphasis is laid on simple and inexpensive marriage. All expenses borne by the groom which is termed as Mehr and the venue of the marriage happens to be a mosque. The best example we can quote from the exemplary life of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is the marriage of Hazrat Ali (rA) and Hazrat Fatima (r.A) where Hazrat Ali (rA) bore all expenses by selling his armour. our society inherited the system of dowry from India at the time of Independence. Currently, it has

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is freelance columnist

Depriving women of their rights

A truly unique and newfound desire to win matches is heartening to witness

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

India's manufacturing capacity, Australian technology, Japanese money and the US market. But only the military relationship of the Quad is visible. In contrast, China has boosted its economy. In the first six months of 2021, Sino-Indian trade relations grew by 67 percent. The two countries have traded $57.48 billion in the last six months. Although relations between the two countries are not good, China has become India's top trading partner with a trade volume of $85.5 billion in 2020 and $77.7 billion in 2019.

Australia was a key partner of China until it blamed China for the coronavirus, with trade between the two countries reaching $240 billion in 2019. The United States was the first and China the sixth largest foreign investor in Australia, with $1.1 trillion in foreign investment in 2010-2020. After 2007, China's investment in Australia declined in 2020 alone, according to a research report by the University of Sydney. of the $2.5 trillion 6f China's exports in 2020, about 500 billion went to the USA, 20 percent to Europe, and Japan is still China's third largest trading partner. on the other hand, the USA imports the most from China and China is also the third largest export market to the USA. China is now monopolizing the demand for infrastructure development in Third world countries after the food crisis is over. China invested $100 billion in the Asian Infrastructure Bank, creating an alternative to the ADB for smaller Asian countries. The Chinese Development Bank has so far invested $110 billion in 400 projects in 37 countries around the world. Under China's BrI project, China wants to reach 40 percent of the world's GDP and 60 percent of its population. Even the $4-8 trillion budget announced for BrI is equivalent to the GDP of 60 countries. China has also occupied the markets of its hostile countries. It wants to make an impact by investing. In the last 20 years, the Usa has engaged in geopolitics and arms trade by declaring a war on Terror. Now the USA is expanding its arms trade and geopolitics under the "Stop China" policy. The structure of the Quad and AUKUS has

made it very clear. The USA has called the war on terror a "war on terror." In the name of the Arab Spring, it benefited by exporting democracy to the Arab region. Their focus is now on the Indo-Pacific region and it arms China-phobia. US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia in 2017 and signed an arms deal worth $110 billion, after which the Saudi alliance imposed a blockade on Qatar.

Geopolitical complexities make the USA a market for its own weapons. As a result, Australia has to buy submarines from the main investor, the USA. In early 2020, Trump visited India and signed a multimillion-dollar arms deal with India. The USA wants to gradually shift India's military from russia to the USA. In the days to come, India will become the largest arms market, with the sources the Sino-Indian conflict and the India-Pakistan conflict.

However, to counter China, India needs to invest, send its products to the world market, develop human resources, improve technology and communications.

China cannot be stopped by buying or selling weapons or forming military alliances. China's goal is to get its products into the hands of every person in the world.

It has no interest or ability in military competition with the USA. The USA has 800 military bases in 80 countries, for which the Pentagon spends $150 billion a year. China, on the other hand, has just one foreign military base in Djibouti. In the 20 years since 9/11, the USA has spent $6.4 trillion on the war on Terror. The USA spent a total of $778 billion on defence in 2020, China spent $252 billion and India's military expenditure was $72.9 billion. As a result, China lags far behind the USA militarily and India lags far behind China. China wants to be an economic power. The USA is building a military alliance to counter that economic power. Because the USA needs to sell arms to keep its economy afloat, and to sell arms it must put up an enemy in front of his allies, the USA has found China as that enemy. The USA will thrive in the arms trade in an alliance game against China.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

taken the form of a menace. This dowry culture is deeply rooted in our society and it has turned into a social evil that is against the dignity of a woman. It is such an agony that a woman is forced to bring with herself all necessary items required for a standard living. Instead of doing any good, it has turned out to be a source of oppression and depression for women.

The continuous malpractice paved the way for systematic torture and oppression of women at the hands of the groom and his family. Now, women are assaulted, abused, killed and subjected to violence because of dowry. And there is no limit to this aggression.

Dowry is a material thing but now its value is more than a human being’s.

A woman faces rejection if her family is unable to provide a dowry and comply with the demands of the groom's family. Her worth depends on the amount of benefit she brings to the groom and his family.

However, in Islam, a woman is given immense respect and honour. It protects the dignity of a woman and saves her from all issues (socio-cultural and psychological) that emerge after rejection based on dowry.

Moreover, this malign practice has deprived women of their rights. For example, when a girl is born, her parents, instead of celebrating her birth, feel sorrow and start thinking about arranging her dowry. This is the first denial of her right and from here the journey of deprivation of rights begins.

The first major impact is on her education. And, this results in no or very limited education for a woman. Here, it is important to mention that depriving a woman of quality education means depriving the state of an intellectual being and upcoming generations of an educated mother. The violation of rights does not end here as the job left for her is to deal with the home affairs and take care of her inlaws, when married.

Similarly, she is deprived of the right to inheritance. A right that is given to her by the Almighty, is thus taken away from her in a systematic way. The amount spent on her dowry is cited as the reason for

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

omitting her from getting a share in the property.

And, with the absence of proper education and economic liberty, she is left with no option but to rely on others. what else could she do in the absence of her rights, but to live a life in subjugation with no control over her decisions?

Furthermore, the concept of dowry has not only made a woman susceptible to violence and deprived her of her rights but also played a role in glorifying her as a material entity. This glorification has resulted in the image of a woman as a material and emotionless entity whose worth depends on what she brings with herself instead of being a human being who needs love, affection and kindness. This has impacted the overall concept of marriage which was supposed to be a simple affair according to the Islamic point of view.

Now a line is drawn between the bride and groom's family with the former being powerless and the later being powerful. Agha Shorish Kashmiri in his book Us Bazaar Main narrates this bitter truth metaphorically. According to him the arrogant attitude of the groom, his parents and relatives and the pomp and show in the house of the bride is mostly similar to a victorious expedition of a king or as if he is invading some foreign land, instead of being a civilized, cultured and humanistic one. Imagine the status of a woman who is starting a new life under these circumstances. And, the fear of taunts she has to live with because of insufficient dowry.

Here, the question arises that in an atmosphere of continuous depression, pressure, humility and domestic violence how can a healthy generation be brought up?

Although several laws have been made to discourage its practice, the problem persists because it is deeply embedded in society. It has not only shaken the foundations of our society but it is also disgraceful for our country internationally. A holistic approach supported with collective efforts of all sections of society should be adopted at the national level to root out this curse.

Although several laws have been made to discourage its practice, the problem persists because it is deeply embedded in society. It has not only shaken the foundations of our society but it is also disgraceful for our country internationally. A holistic approach supported with collective efforts of all sections of society should be adopted at the national level to root out this curse

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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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

Government's failures THE PMl-N has accused Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar and his team of failing to control the alarming situation of dengue fever. The cases of dengue fever has created lots of panics in the province, yet the government fails to adopt bold initiatives to control it. The latest report shows that there are 6,189 continuous confirmed dengue cases reported in Punjab as 402 cases of dengue were confirmed due the last 24 hours in Punjab and among this total tally 319 cases were recorded in lahore just in this year. It is the first time ever I remember that cases of dengue are actively increasing including the death one. The current situation of dengue fever has made Punjab a hot spot for the virus. There is no denying that it is all because of government's weakness despite the alarming situation government is reluctant to adopt initiatives.

The government of Punjab should create take the dengue fever seriously and CM as well his team should must great initiative to work on the eradication of dengue fever.

AbduL RAhmAn ShAhbeeR TuRbAT

The deepening tentacles of religiosity There is no time to talk. It is time to cull the threat

Candid Corner raoof hasan “This religiosity is not the standard by which true men of God are measured. In all the rituals that Islam has, deeply embedded in those rituals are principles of truth. And, sometimes, we get lost in the religiosity. We get lost in the symbol, but we miss the substance of the truth that is buried in the ritual.”

–Louis Farrakhan

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HE purported TlP march on the capital is the latest manifestation of the malady of religiosity that runs deep in the society. An even more worrisome factor is that nothing by way of serious introspection or initiating effective measures for long-term elimination of this threat have been formalised so far. There is an urgent need for evaluating various dynamics which have brought things to this violent path.

Nothing in the conduct of these hooligans will promote their stated cause. on the contrary, their actions fall within the domain of committing arson and inflicting torture, even death upon innocent people who are engaged in performing their duties, or who accidentally happen to be present in the vicinity of the agitation. They are damaging public as well as private properties and ransacking everything that falls in their path.

Their demands are ludicrous and their tactics brutal and condemnable.

This is not the first time the TlP and others of the ilk have taken this course. They have blocked the twin cities six times in the past. Unfortunately, each time, they were allowed to get away with impunity for their grave criminal transgressions. That reflected a weakness on the part of the state which these militants repeatedly exploited in their assaults on Islamabad. If this approach does not change, it would not be the last time they come with their regressive battalions to hold the federal capital hostage. while there are serious internal ramifications not limited to encouraging other criminal bands to indulge in unwarranted agitation, it is the external consequences which can create serious problems for the country whose impact will be a factor in the state’s interactions with the world in the future. It is to this end that there is a dire need for clarity and resolve to eliminate this scourge from becoming a potent threat for the security of the country and for its continued engagement with the comity of nations.

In its 35th meeting in Islamabad, the National Security Committee (NSC) stressed that “no group or entity will be allowed to cause public disruption, or use violence to exert pressure on the government”. Taking serious note of the unprovoked violent attacks by TlP members, the NSC resolved “not to tolerate any further

breach of law by the proscribed group”.

NSC members were unanimous that the “TlP was deliberately employing violence against public property, state officials and ordinary citizens to create instability in the country and that this shall not be tolerated. All organs of the state stood ready to act as per the law to protect the life and property of citizens.”

Most importantly, NSC members decried TlP’s misuse of religion and the issue of Namoos-e-risalat for political gains which was misleading the common man and creating internal discord within the society. “The TlP’s violence had ended up furthering the agenda of sectarian elements and external enemies of the state”. It was also stated that the “TlP had adopted the ploy of violent street agitation on numerous occasions since 2017 and made unrealistic demands each time solely as a tool to gain political strength. In the process, TlP’s actions have caused public disorder, serious economic losses to the country besides boosting the morale of other terrorist outfits seeking to challenge the state’s writ”.

This is as serious a charge sheet as one can be. It also limits the options the government is left with in eliminating this veritable threat to state security. when the TlP had indulged in public violence last time, the state had proscribed it with intention to having it delisted by the ECP as a political party. An organisation with such persistently violent track record does not deserve to be talked to. This militant organisation is a potent threat and must be handled with the full might and writ of the state.

This course of action flows from the resolve expressed by the NSC in its meeting and must be followed through to its logical conclusion.

This is also an occasion for deliberating the role generally played by the religious organisations in Pakistan’s politics and the manner they have tried to inject violence in this stream. Most of these parties were opposed to the creation of Pakistan, but later tried to make profit by using their religiously exploitative methods and tools. In the process, they injected the germs of religiosity across the societal fabric and used the seminaries to indoctrinate impressionable minds to promote their sordid cause. The National Action Plan (NAP) had resolved to regulate these seminaries and stop the practice of creating regressive minds with no faculty to think beyond the myopic and sickening agendas of these religious parties. I believe that there is still a lot of work left to be done in this regard which is the principal source of creating extremism in the society and must be tackled without any loss of time.

Soft-pedalling is not the option that the state has under the existing circumstances as the germs of radicalism are spreading at a rapid pace which can create existential problems in the fu-

ture. It would only be construed as a manifestation of weakness. I strongly believe that the time for a serious re-evaluation of the entire religiosity factor has actually come. A serious debate on the issue should be initiated and input sought from various stakeholders regarding formulating a mechanism to cure the malady. The course of granting space to these militant outfits in the past was criminally compromised. It has divided the society among indoctrinated groups which are on a conflict course with one another as also with the state.

In a recent piece, lt Gen (r) Tariq Khan has made an impassioned plea for not negotiating with these militant organisations. recalling the operation against the TTP, he says: “I know how difficult it was to motivate men to undertake that conflict and save Pakistan then. I can say this with authority and qualification that now there is no narrative foreseeable that can be proffered to this army if we go into such a conflict again”. when everything is compromised, even forgotten, “who should the soldiers and officers fight for and what should they fight for, preserve what integrity, honour and freedom?” These are grave queries, indeed, which deserve consideration in all their ramifications.

This comes from a person with hands-on experience of leading a war against militants who had laid siege t6 large tracts of Pakistani territory and were threatening its very existence. These words need to be taken seriously.

By negotiating with the TlP repeatedly, we have given strength and legitimacy to this militant organisation. This process must be discontinued forthwith not just for the TlP, but all other similar militant organisations even if they may be apparently supportive of the government. These are hydras which can take their fangs out without a warning. This threat must be culled. Now is not the time to negotiate. Now is the time to incapacitate them fully by resorting to all means the state may have at its disposal. we should not feed the people who will come round to bite the state.

The NSC also resolved “not to allow the TlP challenge the writ of the state in any way...and not offer any leniency for any crimes committed by its operatives”. The state has a legitimate basis to proceed further from here in incapacitating this threat urgently and then moving on to fully regulating seminaries which indoctrinate militancy and violence. Administering aspirins will not do any longer. The sources of this malaise will have to be tackled and eliminated.

The deepening tentacles of religiosity must be uprooted. Nothing less will do.

By negotiating with the TLP repeatedly, we have given strength and legitimacy to this militant organisation. This process must be discontinued forthwith not just for the TLP, but all other similar militant organisations even if they may be apparently supportive of the government. These are hydras which can take their fangs out without a warning.

This threat must be culled.

Now is not the time to negotiate. Now is the time to incapacitate them fully by resorting to all means the state may have at its disposal.

We should not feed the people who will come round to bite the state

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

Twitter: @RaoofHasan

People are cutting forests day by day DEForESTATIoN is one of the major challenges of the 21st century which is creating a lot of miserable sorts of conditions like destroying wildlife and ecosystem. Since it had one of the biggest barriers to the sustainable development of the country, more than 2 lac trees have been cut in Sindh. It has caused more pollution. People are cutting forests day by day. Forests are cleared to meet the demands of the increased human population. with modern technology, forests are being cleared at a much faster rate than they can be replaced. According to the experts, forests must cover almost 25% area of a country. Unfortunately forests cover only 5.2o% of Pakistan land. It is my humble request to the government take firm action to prevent the cutting of trees.

SAbA bARAn TuRbAT

Increasing corruption CorrUPTIoN is increasing day by day in our country. It affects both the national economy as well as people’s regular life. I am a regular reader of your daily writing. This letter today is to express my concern regarding corruption in our country.

According to transparency international report 2020, Pakistan's rank is 124 out of 180. It’s a surprise for me because those nations where corruption is so high can’t grow economically as well as morally. Corruption also hits your social values and norms. Here in Pakistan, two bodies are present to control the corruption NAB and the anti-corruption unit.

Police, judiciary, district account office, land and revenue department are some examples of the most corrupt institutes currently in public sector. Although two main bodies are present, NAB and Anti-Corruption unit, corruption is increasing day by day in our country. when I investigated and checked facts and figures, how is it possible that we are going towards becoming one of the most corrupt countries every year. The first reason is that political parties cannot undertake reform through legislation against corruption because of their personal benefits. The second one is political appointments in NAB and anti-corruption units. The third one is our judicial and prosecution system; prosecution is not well trained especially in white-collar crime. So conviction rate is low as compared to other countries. It is high time for our government and opposition to participate in legislation against corruption before it is too late. Because when your norms and values are destroyed, you as a nation are destroyed. m nAeem LAhORe

Afghanistan victory AFTEr the outstanding victories against India and New Zealand, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in their third match on Friday. This letter is to applaud the laudable efforts of Asif Ali, the player of the match, who scored 25 runs in only 7 balls and the whole team for the hat-trick victory. The praiseworthy efforts of the captain, Babar Azam, cannot be ignored who scored 51 runs in 47 and made it easy for the team to win. The green team is lucky to have Fakhar Zaman who scored 30 runs in a courageous run chase of 148.

The green team has defeated the most competitive teams in the group. However, the boys in green must be confident now and should focus on winning the highest prize. we wholeheartedly wish the green team the best of luck for the upcoming matches.

YASiR KhALiL, TuRbAT

Foreign loans PAKISTAN is becoming increasingly dependent on foreign loans to manage its economy and the PTI has surpassed all previous records of this practice. with the latest Saudi bailout of $1.4 billon in cash and deferred oil payments, the country has again given leverage to the Saudis to use Pakistan for its geopolitical agenda. It seems unlikely that IMF’s EFF will be resumed as Pakistan is unwilling to implement its demands that would certainly hike up energy prices further thus causing more inflation, which his already at its highest in history YOuniS bAig LAhORe

Sunday, 31 October, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Time for every indian To defend islam HINDUTVA POLITICS HAS CONJURED UP NEW CLAIMS TO TARGET THE MOST SENSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE MUSLIM PSYCHE. IT WANTS TO PROVOKE A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE

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Hilal aHMEd

HE aggressive Hindutva campaign to interrupt a peaceful assembly of Muslim worshippers performing namaz, especially in gurugram, upsets me deeply. it goes against the two crucial principles i always cherish: my spiritual faith in almighty Allah and my belief in the gandhian ideal of ‘sarvdharmsambhav‘.

As a practicing Muslim, my namaz has always been a reflection of my commitment to spirituality. My colleagues, friends, teachers, and students have always been encouraging. no one has ever found it anti-Hindu or anti-india. Even unknown people, mostly Hindus, pay respect to my namaz. This was so heartening that i was able to offer namaz in moving trains, on busy streets, in the corridors of hospitals, and even inside the functional Hindu temples.

As a researcher, i have made equally reassuring discoveries. The CSDS-nES survey 2019 and the recent Pew study on

religion in india confirm that an overwhelming majority of Hindus still respect islam as an indian religion. in fact, it is strongly asserted that a Hindu cannot be recognised as a ‘good Hindu’ if they do not respect other religions of india, including islam.So, what has changed? what has prompted Hindu communalism to problematisenamaz as an anti-Hindu phenomenon? it is important to note that the namaz (Salat in Arabic) is one of the five pillars of islam (the other four are Shahad, Saum/roza, Zakat, and Hajj). Yet, it has become the most important performative religious activity.

The rise of TablighiJamaat in india as the most powerful Sunni religious reform movement in recent years also contributed significantly to this process. There is a strong belief among Sunni Muslim communities that namaz is the only criterion to evaluate a person’s moral-religious character as a Muslim.

This renewed emphasis on namaz actually has led to two crucial developments.

First, the number of Muslim namazis (worshippers) has increased in an unprecedented manner. The mosque space becomes insufficient to accommodate this ever-increasing number, especially in big cities and towns. As a result, a new trajectory of mosque-building has begun. These

new mosques are beginning to function as new symbols of islamic religiosity.

Second, rural-urban labour migration also played a significant role in the public demonstration of namaz-centric religiosity. Muslim labourers, artisans, skilled and semi-skilled workers, who are employed in various factories and firms located in the industrial zones do not have proper mosques. The working-class Muslim population eventually offer namaz on open spaces and roads, especially on Fridays.

This visible Muslim presence has been a symbol of indian secularism for a long time. it corresponds to the gandhian imagination of sarvdharmasambhav as well as the nehruvian conception of ‘unity in diversity’.

NAMAZIS AS NEW UNTOUCHABLES: Hindutva politics, however, always find it difficult to have a convincing position on the practice of namaz. That was the reason the act of namaz was not used more directly to underline Hindu victimhood. The standard Hindutva argument that “all indians are Hindus though our patterns of worship differ” is always evoked to legitimise this Hindutva unease.

The attitude of Hindus towards namaz was another crucial reason behind Hindutva’s strategic silence on this issue. it was difficult for a Hindutva group to demonise Muslims only because they were

offering namaz. For a common Hindu, namaz is not different from any other Hindu religious practice. it is envisaged as a spiritual manifestation of belief in dharma.

The public manifestations of namazcentric Muslim religiosity — green minarets of recently rebuilt mosques sharing the city sky with flyovers and metro tracks, Muslim congregations on busy roads, and the loud sound of Azan — however, was a different phenomenon. it offered three new possibilities to Hindutva politics to focus entirely on namaz in the post-ram temple context. First, it became easier for them to justify the old Hindutva claim that Muslims’ adherence to Allah does not permit them to embrace nationworship. Hence, they have to prove their loyalty. Congregational namaz on roads are actually treated as convincing evidence in this regard.

Second, the act of namaz has been reconceptualised as an antithesis of Hindu religious practices, as if performing namaz in a Hindu place of worship is not permissible. This is exactly what Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal argue in Uttarakhand.

They went on to submit a memorandum to the Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister demanding “a probe into allegations that some Muslim labourers offered namaz at

BriTain’s secreT inTelligence war againsT The ira A SUPERGRASS IN BRITISH PARLANCE IS AN INFORMANT, A POLITE FORM OF WHAT THE LOCALS WOULD CALL A “TOUT,” A MEMBER OF AN ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION WHO TURNS OVER EVIDENCE TO THE POLICE

sMall Wars Journal

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JaMEs stEJskal

HE security situation in today’s northern ireland is rather placid in comparison with the troubles of the 1970s and 1980s. That said, hot-button issues like BrEXiT have reignited fears of unrest and violence. The threat to peace remains high.

Enter Aaron Edwards’ new book, which takes a detailed look at the importance of intelligence in the United Kingdom’s war against the irA. Edwards is a senior lecturer with the royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, author of UVF: Behind the Mask and co-author of Mad Mitch’s Tribal Law: Aden and the End of Empire. The author brings a wealth of academic expertise to the subject and with this book he lays bare the treachery, subterfuge, and danger of undercover work in northern ireland alongside the contributions it made to the peace process.

Agents of influence presents Edward’s controversial contention that secret intelligence contributed much to bringing about the good Friday Agreement of 1998. it is a difficult view to take and is contrary to the beliefs of several scholars who have written that both sides were open to negotiations all along.

Thomas Leahy for one suggests the irA was not forced into peace by British intelligence.

Edwards takes another view. He believes secret intelligence acted as a lever to subtly push the republican leadership towards peace.

He details how intelligence operations supported the UK’s overall political strategy through the use of “agents of influence.” The intelligence war did not get off to a good start, however. As Edwards details, with the resumption of violence in 1969, the UK’s varied security services including Mi5, Army intelligence, and the royal Ulster Constabulary’s Special Branch waged a largely uncoordinated and competing effort against the irA (as well as the Loyalist UVF) that was handicapped by

jealousies and infighting. This only subsided when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sternly instructed them to work together, although Edwards thinks some competition remained until the 1990s.

Edwards begins the book by outlining the creation of the Tasking Coordinating group (TCg) and the appointment of retired SiS Director Maurice oldfield as Security Coordinator in Belfast as a critical component to a new intelligence-led strategy. He does a very good job of explaining the convoluted world of the UK’s inter-intelligence agency politics and the success the new strategy had on tactical operations against the irA, while also showing the republican response and the increased threat it posed both in the north and in Britain and against British Forces stationed in Europe in the 1980s.

The book’s major contribution is its description of the human aspects of intelligence operations, essentially the agent handling involved with the UK’s supergrass strategy. A supergrass in British parlance is an informant, a polite form of what the locals would call a “tout,” a member of an illegal organization who turns over evidence to the police. while the use of informants is often controversial and sometimes problematic, there was another aspect to the program that Edwards says worked well.

That was the use of well-placed volunteers who had become disenchanted with the movement to influence the irA’s leadership in ways that would maneuver them towards peace. He does this through excellent use of declassified documents and interviews with the former agents and their handlers who played roles in the process. one of the most interesting agents was willie Carlin, aka Agent 3007. Carlin became an informant after the murder of a census taker, a young single mother. Carlin would eventually get close to irA Chief of Staff Martin Mcguinness, whom Carlin allegedly persuaded to adopt a political strategy that moved him away from military action. other agents appear in varying measure, and their work often led to tactical successes on the ground such as the thwarted irA attack on the Lough-

gall Police Station.

There were failures as well and Edwards details several, including the killing of three known, but unarmed irA operatives in gibraltar by the UK Special Air Service. whether justified or not, such mistakes cost the UK in the eyes of Europe and gave the irA propaganda victories.

This reader would have liked to have seen descriptions of any deception operations that may or may have not been used against the irA, but probably those details are probably still locked up by the official Secrets Act. Details on the less successful intelligence operations of the early 1970s would have been useful, especially those of general Sir Frank Kitson’s disastrous Military reconnaissance Force, an experiment that tried to use tactics first pioneered by Kitson in Kenya but which were ill-suited for northern ireland.

As to the question of their effectiveness, like Edwards, i believe that agents of influence made valuable contributions to, if not resolving the conflict, at least bringing it to the peace tablet. if, as some say, the war was at an impasse and both sides were open to negotiations, undercover operatives working behind the scenes were still important to strengthen the hand of irA leaders who saw that a political resolution was preferable to continued conflict.

This book highlights a difficult and contentious period of UK history. with great detail and accuracy, Edwards has given us an important account with deep insights into how a coordinated intelligence program was key to containing the irA. one wonders if UK policy-makers have continued such operations to forestall future violence. if not, they should.

James Stejskal is a former US Army Special Forces soldier and senior CiA case officer.

He is the author of Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine operations of the US Army’s Elite, 1956-1990 and Masters of Mayhem: Lawrence of Arabia and the British Military Mission to the Hejaz.

Agents of Influence: Britain’s Secret Intelligence War Against the IRA by Aaron Edwards, Newbridge, Merrion Press, 2021, 294 pp. ISBN: 9781785373411, $21.95

BadrinathDham on Eid-ul-Adha”. in this case, the old Brahminical purity argument that the entry of untouchables would pollute Hindu temples is reconfigured to exclude Muslims.

The third possibility is entirely classdriven. namaz on roads was shown to be a serious traffic concern as it disturbed the normal pace of hectic urban life. This was a persuasive claim that had the potential to influence the educated urban middle classes.

THE SECULAR INDIAN ELITE: The rigid secularism of the indian elite has always been a source of their anti-poor/anticaste stereotypes. A person who believes that reservation undermines merit, indian needs military rule, and population growth is the only social problem of the country, will obviously get attracted to this Hindutva argument.

These three new claims — the oneness of Allah as an anti-thesis of nationalism, namaz as an impure, anti-Hindu act, and namaz as a crisis in urban spaces — help Hindutva politics touch upon the most sensitive aspect of the Muslim psyche. The purpose is to provoke Muslims to react as a collective, simply to legitimise Hindu victimhood. no one knows how Muslim communities would respond to this new, unsettling campaign against namaz. Personally, i do not wish to take refuge in the typical legalsecular argument that offering namaz is my fundamental right as a citizen. instead, i would like to reiterate my commitment in what i understand as the ‘Hindu ethos’. i am confident that my Hindu friends will definitely defend their faith in islam as an indian religion.

Hilal Ahmed is a scholar of political Islam and associate professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

Biden’s envoy for religious freedom AS A MUSLIM GROWING UP IN DALLAS, RASHAD HUSSAIN LEARNED HOW THE FREEDOM TO WORSHIP CAN BE A FORCE FOR WORLD PEACE Christian sCienCe Monitor

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Editorial Board

rowing up in Dallas as a devout Muslim decades ago, rashad Hussain noticed only a few mosques in his Texas city. now there are dozens, an affirmation, he says, of the American freedom to worship. on Tuesday, a Senate panel welcomed him as the president’s nominee to be ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. if approved by the full Senate as expected, he would be the first Muslim to hold the position, marking a strong break from past bigotry against islam in the United States.

Major Christian and Jewish leaders endorsed the nomination, noting Mr. Hussain’s work under two previous presidents in seeking religious harmony in troubled countries and finding ways to prevent young Muslims from joining terrorist groups. As he said in his testimony, “in an era of vigorous partisan debates, Americans continue to be largely of one mind regarding the importance of defending international religious freedom.”

His appointment would affirm a recent finding by the institute for Economics and Peace. in a global survey, the think tank found that religious plurality in countries can have a pacifying effect, countering the notion that religion is a driver of violence and the main cause of conflicts.

The post of envoy for religious freedom, created by Congress in 1998, reflects both a basic right in the U.S. and the country’s long and hard struggle to protect it. “our own experience, our own example, is what compels us to advocate for the rights of the marginalized, vulnerable, and underrepresented peoples the world over,” said Mr. Hussain.

His past work includes working with Middle East religious leaders on a 2016 document, known as the Marrakesh Declaration, that laid out islamic principles for protecting the rights of minority religious groups. As someone who memorized the Quran and earned a Yale law degree, he relies on positive ways to end religious discrimination.

During the obama administration, for example, he sought to create constructive paths for young Muslims to express their faith rather than being tempted to join the islamic State group. He worked in Muslim countries to offer alternatives to media that dehumanized non-Muslims.His main diplomatic tactic is to convene people of different faiths for heartfelt dialogues, pushing them to rely on each religion’s concept of love. As the late Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of Britain, wrote, “To insist that being loved entails that others be unloved is to fail to understand love itself.”

Many people of minority religions, from Muslims in China to Christians in Vietnam, share a common experience of persecution. “i am committed to fighting, day in and day out, for their rights,” he told the senators. it is a right he knows well from the days when he freely worshipped as a Muslim in Dallas.

Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

corporate corner Khushhali Microfinance bank supports education in punjab

islamabad: Khushhali Microfinance Bank recently organized two ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) activities in the Rahim Yar Khan region, where it donated a Reverse-Osmosis Plant and a Water cooler, while distributing hundreds of school-bags and stationary, among the deserving students of Government Shamla Langh School, in UC Mianwali Sheikhan Kacha Babla and the Government Public School, Basti Drighra, Kot Faqeera. The broader idea behind this initiative is to empower the millions of children in Pakistan, who are unable to pursue education, primarily because of financial-constraints. KMBL is thus inspiring these students to get educated and turn their dreams into reality. An R.O. Plant was also installed at the Shamla Langh School, while a Water Filter with Cooler has been provided to the Basti Drighra School, to provide safe drinking water for the students, teachers and staff. Pr

ici pakistan limited announces financial results Karachi: Following the meeting of the Board of Directors, ICI Pakistan Limited announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. ICI Pakistan Limited’s results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2021-22 continued to maintain an upward trajectory. On a consolidated basis (including the results of the Company’s subsidiaries: ICI Pakistan PowerGen Limited, NutriCo Morinaga (Private) Limited and NutriCo Pakistan (Private) Limited), Net Turnover for the quarter under review at Rs21,468 million, is 48% higher than the same period last year (SPLY). On a consolidated basis, Operating Profit at Rs3, 062 million, is higher by 110% in comparison to the SPLY. Improved performances were delivered by all the company’s businesses, with the Polyester, Pharmaceuticals and Animal Health businesses being the major contributors.

During the quarter under review, thecCompany completed the acquisition of an additional 11pc shareholding in NutriCo Pakistan (Private) Limited taking its total shareholding to 51pc and making NutriCo Pakistan (Private) Limited a subsidiary company. The consolidated Profit after Tax (PAT) for the quarter under review at Rs3,735 million is 322% higher than the SPLY whereas Earnings per share (EPS) attributable to the owners of the holding company at Rs39.00 is 266% higher than the SPLY. The improved performance was achieved on account of enhanced efficiencies delivered by the businesses, recovering consumer demand, consolidation of results of NutriCo Pakistan (Private) Limited, and a one-off net positive impact of Rs1,847 million resulting from the remeasurement of previously held equity interest of NutriCo Pakistan (Private) Limited. Pr

MinisteR questions establishMent of schools on industRial plots

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UNJAB Minister for Industries and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal has questioned the Quaid-e-Azam Industrial State Board management how educational institutions were set up on industrial plots.

The provincial minister held an open court at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, on Saturday and listened to the problems of industrialists.

He expressed displeasure over the permission of establishing educational institutions in the estate and questioned the management of how schools were set up on industrial plots in the industrial area. The provincial minister directed to investigate the matter and determine those responsible.

He also directed to improve the sanitation system in the estate and to ensure dengue spray. He said that benches should be installed in the park for the convenience of the workers. The minister directed CEO PIEDMC to meet all the complainants on Monday and Tuesday and solve their problems.

He further said that it is the responsibility of PIEDMC and QIE Board to provide facilities to the industrialists.

The problems of the industrialists must be resolved within the stipulated time, he directed.

President Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate Arif Qasim, Tariq Siraj Jaffery

and other board members were also present in the open court. The industrialists thanked the provincial minister for holding an open court in Kot Lakhpat Industrial Area.

A day earlier, while talking to a delegation of industrialists from Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Mian

Bitcoin reaches $61,448 as crypto market cap hits $2.76tr

ISLAMABAD TLTP

The cryptocurrency market remained positive for the third consecutive day on Saturday, with the market capitalisation gaining 1.4 percent to reach $2.76 trillion as of 1235 hours GMT. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, gained 0.73 percent to reach $61,448. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest cryptocurrency has reached 1.158 trillion.

Similarly, ether (ETH) price inched 0.06 percent up to reach $4,324. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of

ETH has reached $507.5 billion.

Similarly, XRP price gained 2.74 percent to reach $1.09. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $109 billion after this increase.

On the other hand, cardano (ADA) price inched down by 0.55 percent to reach $1.99. Its market capitalisation has reached $64.5 billion with this decrease.

However, dogecoin (DOGE) gained 0.57 percent to reach $0.284. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of doge has reached $37.4 billion.

According to experts, despite this week’s solid performance, DOGE bulls seem to have taken a breather, as the price enters an up-

side consolidative mode after Thursday’s massive surge to fourmonth tops of $0.3556. In doing so, DOGE price surpassed the mid-August highs of $0.3552, from where the preceding downtrend had kicked in.

They said that the DOGE price is trying hard to defend the critical 200-Daily Moving Average (DMA) at $0.2861, as it extends the corrective pullback from two-month highs on Saturday.

However, DOGE price continues to waver within Friday’s trading range, as the bulls bid time before a convincing extension of the renewed upswing.

If the bulls fight back control, then DOGE price could swing back towards the multi-month highs above $0.3550. The next upside barrier for DOGE bulls is placed at a pattern target measured at $0.4432.

On the downside, DOGE price could meet initial demand at the channel resistance now support at $0.2649 should the correction pick up steam and knock down the 200-DMA on a daily closing basis. Further south, $0.2490 will limit additional losses in Dogecoin. At that level, the 21-DMA meets the 100-DMA.

WTI, Brent remain above $83 ISLAMABAD TLTP

Oil prices slipped up to 1.09 percent on week-on-week (WoW) basis while they increased up to 11 percent on monthon-month (MoM) basis, with both global benchmarks trading above $83 following a prolonged rally in prices.

According to details, Brent, the international benchmark for two-thirds of the world's oil, shed 1.09 percent during the week to reach $83.72 from $84.64 a barrel. It is Brent’s first week in the negative after seven straight weeks of wins. Brent, however, still rose 7.5 percent on the month and is up around 61 percent on the year.

Similarly, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) reached $83.57 from $83.76, down by 0.23 percent during the week. For the month, WTI is still up 11 percent while rising 72 percent on the year.

During the week, the price for Opec Basket decreased to $82.41 from

09

$83.42 with 1.19 percent decrease, Arab Light price increased 0.65 percent from $82.48 to $82.94 a barrel, while the price of Russian Sokol went slightly up by 0.06 percent to reach $85.30 from $85.25.

According to experts, a relatively weaker US dollar and rapidly dwindling crude inventories helped maintain

oil futures to the highest level in seven years. They said that crude prices could still face a deeper correction after such a prolonged and substantial rally over the last couple of months.

The said that oil price fundamentals are solid, with oil trading at multi-year highs amid a global squeeze in supply, as economies rapidly accelerate growth.

Oil prices weighed down by the prospect of Iranian barrels returning to the markets after talks with Tehran are set to resume next month. An agreement with Iran is unlikely to materialise soon, however, the long-term outlook for Iranian supply is brighter than before.

Natural gas prices, which are linked to crude, have also doubled so far this year. Henry Hub prices were however down 3.93 percent at $5.555 per million British thermal units. The price of natural gas in Europe dropped below $850 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first time since the end of September.

Global shortages of natural gas are leading to an increased demand for crude and are placing more pressure on strained oil supplies, the Paris-based International Energy Agency said in October. This, in turn, is helping to feed rising inflation and slow the world's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The agency expects demand to rise by 500,000 barrels per day due to the current crisis in the energy markets.

Aslam Iqbal said that it is the policy of the government to increase employment opportunities by speeding up the process of industrialisation. He assured industrialists to resolve all their genuine problems. "It is my responsibility to solve the problems of the industrialists," he further said, adding legitimate issues will be resolved on the spot by holding open court in Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate Board.

He said that action will be taken against those who create problems for the industrialists. He said that the government wants to speed up the process of industrialisation and no obstacle will be tolerated in this regard.

He said the government has made special economic zones the first priority of investors. He said that an effective strategy has been formulated to provide employment and economic opportunities to the skilled youth. The minister said that promoting quality technical education and equipping the youth with modern knowledge will change the economic condition of the country. NEWS DESK

Gold price settles at Rs98,700 per 10gm Gold price went down around one percent in the international market in the last session after the US inflationary figures for September remained below expectation. Gold in the international market was available at $1,785.10 per ounce after shedding $15 to close the session of the week. The US annual core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index came in at 3.6 percent in September against the market expectation of 3.7 percent. The index has been at 3.6 percent since June. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan increased to Rs98,700 on Saturday with an increase of Rs900. Gold in the local market was available at Rs97,800 per 10 grams on Friday last. The change in gold price in the local market was due to the relatively higher closing price of gold in the international market at a time when the local market was closed. According to experts, gold lost its traction after fluctuating around $1,800 earlier in the day and declined below the $1,780 mark, pressured by rising US Treasury bond yields and renewed US dollar strength. The benchmark 10-year US T-bond yield is currently up more than 2 percent on the day. From a technical perspective, gold has been up-trending steadily, in ranges of $20.00 average. The 100 and the 200-day moving averages (DMAs) are above the spot price. Gold is testing the 50-day moving average at $1,780, which, if broken to the downside, confirmed by a daily close underneath it, could take price towards the September 29 low at $1,721. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator, is at 51, above the 50-midline, which could refrain sellers from opening new bets unless it breaks below 50. NEWS DESK

lucky cement limited awarded Map’s corporate excellence award Karachi: Lucky Cement Limited (psx: LUCK) won the Management Association of Pakistan’s Corporate Excellence Award in the Cement Sector category. Noman Hasan, Executive Director of Lucky Cement Limited received the award at the 36th MAP Annual Corporate Excellence Award Ceremony held at a local hotel yesterday. The Corporate Excellence Awards was instituted by MAP in 1982 with the sole aim to recognize and honor companies showing outstanding performance and demonstrating progress and enlightened management practices. Lucky Cement Limited Executive Director Noman Hasan remarked, “We are pleased to accept this recognition and would like to thank all our internal and external stakeholders for their confidence and continuous support throughout the years.” Lucky Cement received the award based on having the best corporate practices and governance in the cement sector. The primary criteria for this award emanates from best Corporate and Management practices reflected

by Leadership, Corporate Governance, Customer and Market Focus, HR, Strategic Planning and Communication, Social Responsibility, Risk Management, IT Infrastructure, Service Delivery and Security. Pr

Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

10 fOreIgn newS

HinDU mob triES to intErrUPt mUSLimS offEring PrAyErS in inDiA neW DelHi

A

Agencies

T least 30 people were arrested on Friday in Gurgaon for disrupting Muslim prayer gatherings, in the latest sign of growing communal tensions in India, local media re-

ported.

Many of those detained on Friday held up placards that read “Gurgaon administration, wake up from your sleep”, according to

Indian news outlet NDTV. Images circulating on on social media showed a group of people demanding that Muslim prayers be stopped, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” (hail Lord Ram), a rallying cry for far-right Hindu nationalists.

Hindu groups have been pressuring authorities for weeks in the northern city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi to stop Muslims from offering Friday prayers in open spaces.

On Friday police deployed several hun-

State Department, Pentagon are concealing Afghanistan data, says US watchdog

dred extra officers and arrested at least 30 people as crowds of locals and Hindu groups chanted slogans, the TV report stated.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of persecuting minorities, including India’s 200-millionstrong Muslim population, to shore up its votes.

Haryana state, of which Gurgaon is the capital, is ruled by the BJP. Such incidents have been reported in the past as well.

Afghan journalist survives attack by gunmen: Taliban official KABUl

Agencies A US government watchdog on Friday accused the US State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan’s former government and military and the chaotic US troop pullout. “The full picture of what happened in August — and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome — will only be revealed if the information that the departments of defence and state have already restricted from public release is made available,” said John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR). A US State Department spokesperson said the department had requested “some reports be temporarily removed to redact identifying information from public records and protect the identities of Afghans and Afghan partner organisations” due to security concerns about the evacuation effort. “The identifying information are the only details intended to be shielded,” the spokesperson said, adding that SIGAR has the authority to restore the reports. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Addressing reporters, Sopko said that after the Taliban seized Kabul, the US State Department asked him to temporarily suspend online access to certain reports he issued to ensure the safety of US-affiliated Afghans. The department “was never able to describe any specific threats to individuals that were supposedly contained in our reports”, said Sopko, who added he “reluctantly” barred access to the documents. The US State Department, he continued, recently sought redactions of some 2,400 items remaining on SIGAR’s website. Some requests were “bizarre,” such as excising former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s name from reports, Sopko said.

After a review, his agency found only four items meriting redaction, and left the remainder accessible.

Envoy expelled, imports banned as Saudi-Lebanon diplomatic crisis worsens BeiRUT Agencies

Saudi Arabia ordered the Lebanese ambassador to the kingdom to leave within 48 hours on Friday and banned all Lebanese imports in response to critical comments made by a Lebanese minister about the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. The diplomatic rupture throws Lebanon’s cabinet into further crisis as it tries to rally Arab support for its ailing economy. Saudi Arabia also recalled its ambassador to Lebanon for consultations, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

Riyadh’s decision comes days after an interview with Information Minister George Kordahi was aired by an online show affiliated with Qatar’s al Jazeera network.

Agencies

Gunmen on a motorcycle brandished small arms and fired on a broadcast journalist in his car in the Afghan capital of Kabul late on Friday night, lightly wounding him.

Ali Reza Sharifi, a journalist for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, survived the attack, Taliban deputy spokesman Bilal Karimi told The Associated Press. “We are investigating to find the perpetrator,” he said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The assault comes just days after an Afghan media watchdog reported more than 30 instances of violence and threats

of violence against Afghan journalists over the last two months, with nearly 90 per cent committed by the Taliban.

Sharifi told the AP he was driving home when two men riding a motorcycle opened fire on his car. “A bullet fired from the left just touched my lip,” he said, adding that “shredded window pieces hit my left eye”.

Pictures of Sharifi’s car shared on social media show at least two bullet holes on one of the car’s windows.

“They started firing from the front and I escaped to the back seat,” he said.

Since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in late August, three journalists have been killed in Afghanistan.

‘I was raped by CIA medics’: Guantanamo detainee sentenced after detailing brutal torture WAsHingTOn Agencies

A man convicted of terrorism charges — who was held at the held US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — told a sentencing jury how he was raped, beaten, and waterboarded by CIA interrogators in the first-ever public account of torture by someone detained in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

Majid Khan was sentenced to 26 years in prison by a jury on Friday afternoon after he pleaded guilty to helping in Al-Qaeda plots in 2002, according to a spokesman for military commissions at Guantanamo.

Based on an earlier plea deal, he could be freed as early as next year, after spending 19 years in US custody.

The sentence came after his excruciating account on Thursday of being submitted to three years of CIA abuse — testimony never before allowed in the military commissions.

Khan was allowed to tell his story as a part of his plea deal, agreeing not to divulge classified information.

He told the court of being held for days partially suspended by chains, without food or clothing, in dark cells while loud music blasted and guards doused him with ice water.

In CIA dark sites in unidentified countries, he said, he was placed hooded in a bathtub filled with ice water and had his head held underwater.

‘Cooperation didn’t end torture’: From the first days of his capture in Karachi on March 5, 2003, Khan, a Pakistani national, said he had admitted to interrogators that he had worked with Al-Qaeda and provided them with information on the group.

“Whenever I was being tortured, I told them what I thought they wanted to hear. I lied just to make the abuse stop,” he said in the 39-page statement that was posted online afterward by his lawyers.

But, he said, “the more I cooperated and told them, the more I was tortured.”

The torture went on for over three years.

He was chained to chairs or floors for days on end. Interrogators threatened to harm his family in the United States and to rape his sister.

His glasses, without which he said he was effectively blind, were broken early on and he didn’t get a new pair for almost three years.

Days of sleep deprivation left him in a daze. “I remember hallucinating, seeing a cow, and a giant lizard. I lost my grip on reality,” he said.

The worst part of his ordeal, he said, were repeated enemas and anal forcefeedings that left him permanently injured.

At one point, he said, a green garden hose was forced into his rectum, ostensibly to rehydrate him.

“I was raped by the CIA medics,” he said. impressionable youth: Khan, who moved to the United States at the age of 16 when he attended high school in Baltimore, said his decision to help Al-Qaeda was poor judgment.

He was recruited to help Al-Qaeda by family members in Pakistan while he was there in 2002 to find a bride.

In his 2012 plea deal, he admitted to the court that he joined a plot to assassinate the Pakistani president.

He also admitted he had couriered $50,000 to Indonesian al-Qaeda allies that were used to fund a hotel bombing.

He said he has tried to take responsibility for his actions.

“I’m not the young, impressionable,

vulnerable kid I was 20 years ago,” he told the court Thursday. “I reject alQaeda, I reject terrorism.”

He added that he bore no ill will toward his captors.

“To those who tortured me, I forgive you — all of you,” he told the court. ‘devastating atroCities’: His testimony on torture is supported by the US Senate’s own investigation of the CIA’s use of torture following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“Majid’s powerful words […] reveal devastating atrocities committed by our own government in the name of national security,” said Katya Jestin, one of his attorneys. “The CIA program was a failure and contrary to our democratic principles and the rule of law,” she said.

Sunday, 31 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

ThosE CAlling shAmi A TrAiTor ArE ‘spinElEss pEoplE’, sAys VirAT

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NEws DEsk

NDIA’S cricket team skipper Virat Kohli has slammed people abusing Mohammed Shami, the only Muslim cricketer in India’s T20 World Cup squad, after Shami received a flood of social media hate following Pakistan’s win against India on October 24th. Virat said that those abusing Shami over his religion are a “bunch of spineless people”.

Shami, the 31-year-old medium fast bowler became the target of hate from his fellow countrymen after India lost to Pakistan by 10 wickets in a one sided match played in Dubai. The Indian skipper had earlier acknowledged that his side had been outplayed by Pakistan.

Cummins hails ‘form team’ England, shrugs off Ashes impact DUBAi

“There is a good reason why we are playing on the field and not some bunch of spineless people on social media that have no courage to speak to any individual in person,” said Virat while addressing a press conference.

“To me this is the lowest level of the human form, attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing human beings can do,” he said, adding that he never thought of discriminating on basis of religion.

“That is a very sacred thing. Our brotherhood and friendship can’t be shaken…and these things can’t infiltrate. I give credit to people who understand us”.

“People take out their frustrations because they have no understanding of the fact that Mohammed Shami has won India a number of matches. If people can overlook that and his passion for the country. Honestly, I don’t

SPORTS 11

want to waste even one minute of my life on them. We stand by him fully, back him 200 per cent,” he said as India prepare to take on New Zealand in their second encounter in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. Shami had received thousands of messages on his Instagram account accusing him of being a “traitor” and asking for his removal from the Indian cricket team.

However, he also received support from some of his fans and other international cricketers.

Earlier, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan had taken to Twitter to support Shami. “The kind of pressure, struggles [and] sacrifices a player has to go through for his country [and] his people is immeasurable,” he wrote adding that Shami is one of the best bowlers in the world.

ICC orders probe into crowd disorder during Pak-Afghan T20 clash

Agencies

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins hailed England as the “form team” in white-ball cricket but shrugged off the potential impact on the forthcoming Ashes of Saturday’s T20 World Cup clash. Eoin Morgan’s England are the 50over World Cup champions and chasing a second T20 global title after their 2010 triumph. Both teams go into Saturday’s clash in Dubai with two wins in two games and the semi-finals enticingly within reach. Adding extra spice is the approaching Ashes series which starts in December. “It’s always huge. We play England a lot. I think the style of play is quite similar. We like to take the game on,” said Cummins on Friday. “They’ve been probably just about the form team the last few years in white ball cricket. We know it’s such a big game in the context of making the semi-finals.” Australia are the current holders of the Ashes. However, few in the T20 teams are regular Test players. For example, Morgan and Australia skipper Aaron Finch will not be involved while England fast bowler Tymal Mills only plays the T20 format. “The majority of the side are mainly white ball players. Different format. I wouldn’t read into it too much,” added Cummins who does excel in both formats. In the 2019 Ashes in England, he was his team’s leading wicket-taker with 28. Cummins said Australia will continue playing four specialist pacers at the Twenty20 World Cup with their allrounders shouldering the fifth bowler’s role. Allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis conceded a combined 51 runs from their four wicketless overs in Thursday’s seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka. Asked if Australia were tempted to revert to their five-bowler theory, Cummins said ruled out dumping the strategy which worked in the opener against South Africa when Maxwell claimed 24-1 in four overs. “I think the flexibility that structure gives us is just huge,” Cummins said. Against Sri Lanka, Maxwell bled 16 runs in his only over, bowled during the powerplay, before being taken off the attack but Cummins said Australia, and quick Mitchell Starc, still benefited from it. “Maxi bowling one in the first six (overs) means Starcy can have an extra over through the middle. We saw he took a couple wickets in the middle overs, that’s because we were able to have someone like Maxi ball early,” Cummins added. “Stoinis still hasn’t bowled a lot but we know how much of an impact he can be with the ball, let alone having the option to now have that extra batter. “I think we’re really well suited. We were covering a lot of areas with that fifth bowler.

We’ve got Maxwell, Stoinis, [Mitchell] Marsh all who can contribute those four overs.” Meanwhile, England backed-up their credentials with a six-wicket win against defending champions West Indies and an eight-wicket defeat of Bangladesh. “It’s probably going to be one of our most difficult games,” Morgan said of Saturday’s game. “Australia are a very strong side — they’ve won two from two, much like us — and have started well. “Our level of performance and intensity has been very good and the challenge is to continue that for our next three games in pursuit of getting to that next stage.” Morgan admitted that fast bowlers Mark Wood (ankle) and Tom Curran (knee) are both still likely to sit out the match. “They’re progressing really well,” Morgan said. “Where we were before the first game, they’ve come on a long way.”

DUBAi news Desk

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to undertake a thorough investigation into the crowd unrest caused by “thousands of ticketless fans” during the T20 World Cup clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the ICC, more than 16,000 tickets had been issued for the match between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, thousands of ticketless fans travelled to the venue and attempted to forcefully enter into the stadium.

The ICC also apologised to the fans who could not enter into the stadium despite having valid tickets and advised them to contact the ticket provider.

“The ICC, BCCI and ECB apologise to any fans with valid tickets who were unable to enter the stadium tonight and request they contact the ticket provider,” read the statement.

The ICC also praised the law enforcers and said that the Dubai Police and other security staff successfully ensured the safety of everyone inside the stadium and said that it will work closely with authorities to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.

Greg Norman named CEO of Saudi group launching 10-event series on Asian Tour.

Here’s what we know and don’t know AgENCiEs Greg Norman is aboard. That much we know. The World Golf Hall of Famer was officially named CEO of LIV Golf Investments, the upstart entity behind a new 10-event series on the Asian Tour that will debut in 2022 and feature tournaments in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Golf Saudi is indeed involved in the new “partnership” between LIV Golf and the Asian Tour, but questions abound regarding what we’ll see next year and the group’s long-term vision.

“This is only the beginning,” Norman said in a statement.

Here’s what we know and what we still don’t after Friday’s announcement.

Where does this idea come from?

The idea for a global golf tour that could rival the PGA Tour has been kicked around for decades. Back when he was World No. 1 in the 1990s, Norman himself pushed a “World Golf Tour” that would feature smaller fields and lucrative purses. The PGA Tour and then-commissioner Tim Finchem successfully fended off the challenge, in part by adopting the World Golf Championship series that began in 1999.

Norman’s initial idea and this revamped one seek to address a unique aspect of the PGA Tour’s compensation structure that has long peeved many of the game’s biggest stars: that they are not compensated fairly for the eyeballs they bring to the sport. As currently constructed, if Tiger Woods and an unknown player finish tied for eighth, they receive the same paycheck despite Woods bringing vastly more attention to the event. And if a player has an off-year on course, his bottom line will suffer as there he has no guaranteed contract. Contrast that with other sports, where the majority of a star player’s contract is assured the moment he signs it.

Where does the money come from?

This latest push to challenge the PGA Tour first came to light in early 2020, when news broke of a startup league that sought to lure big-name stars with guaranteed contracts for anyone willing to take a leap of faith. The new tour would be funded by Golf Saudi, a division of the Public Investment Fund that has sought to alter public perception of

the nation through sport. This is different than the Premier Golf League that is based in London and has also sought to attract top-level talent away from the PGA Tour.

The PIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia with total estimated assets of at least $500 billion, has funded a number of sporting events over the last halfdecade or so, including marquee wrestling matches and tennis tournaments. It also recently bought Newcastle United Football Club in the English Premier League. Golf Saudi has put on the Saudi International since 2019, an event on the European Tour that has drawn some of the game’s biggest stars—Dustin Johnson is a two-time champion, and Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau have both played in it—with massive appearance fees. Golf Saudi is also behind the building of multiple golf courses in Saudi Arabia, including one to be designed by Jack Nicklaus.

What is it called?

As of now, there is no name for a rival tour because there is no rival tour. Friday’s announcement merely established a new circuit within the larger Asian Tour umbrella, although the wording of the release suggested a more ambitious vision for the future.

Who will play in these events?

This is the key question. Any golf tour—especially one seeking to unseat an entity that has sat atop the professional golf pyramid for a half-century—is hugely reliant on star power, and the PGA Tour has shown a complete unwillingness to play ball with its challengers.

Barca president says club has other options besides Xavi BARCELONA Agencies

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Friday he has received glowing reports about Xavi Hernandez’s credentials as coach and admitted he would like to have him as Barca coach during his presidency. But Laporta refused to confirm Xavi will succeed Ronald Koeman, who was sacked on Wednesday night, and maintained Barca have “other options”. Laporta’s enthusiastic assessment of Barca’s legendary former midfielder will be taken as a strong indication that he is the preferred replacement for Koeman. After a glittering career at Camp Nou, Xavi left in 2015 to play for Al Sadd in Qatar before becoming coach of the team two years ago. “I said it when he went to Qatar, that Xavi would end up being the coach of Barca, in fact I would like him to be coach of Barca during my presidency — what I don’t know is when,” said Laporta in a press conference on Friday. “It is true the reports we have about him are very good. I have not followed Al Sadd, but we have talked about Bara games on the phone. We have watched games together almost. Let me say no more. For all the talk of Xavi there are also other options. Barca have other options.” Koeman was let go on Wednesday following a 1-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano that left Barcelona in ninth place in La Liga.

That followed painful losses to Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Bayern Munich this season. Barca promoted reserve team coach Sergi Barjuan the next day to act as caretaker coach. Laporta said Barjuan will be in charge for Saturday’s home game against Alaves and possibly next week’s Champions League match at Dynamo Kiev. He admitted he should have dismissed Koeman sooner.

“Looking at the situation as of today, it probably would have been the best decision [to terminate Koeman’s contract before],” Laporta said. “Now it is easy to say that but that are circumstances that led us to wait. We thought that Koeman needed more time.

I take full responsibility but the situation got to a point that was unsustainable.”

Sunday, 31 October, 2021

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Army officiAls visit fAmilies of policemen mArtyred in tlp clAshes lahore nA-133 by-poll: ecp rejects Jamshed cheema’s nomination papers

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ENIOR officials of Pakistan Army visited the families of police officials and personnel’s martyred in clashes with the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Saturday.

The martyred police officials included Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Akbar, Police Constable (PC) Ghulam Rasool of Kasur, PC Muhammad Ayub of Narang Mandi and PC Khalid Javed of Pasrur.

The army officers visited the homes of the martyred policemen to offer Fateha and pay homage for their sacrifices. The army officials also offered finan-

cial assistance on behalf of the Pakistan Army to the bereaved families. The officers also visited injured police officials and inquired about their well being.

The four police officers were killed and hundreds wounded when armed activists from the banned TLP clashed with security forces at an antiblasphemy demonstration near the eastern city of Lahore, officials said.

The clashes broke out on Wednesday at a rally of the banned far-right party on a highway in Sheikhupura, just outside Lahore, as the group prepared to march on the capital Islamabad, a spokesman for the Punjab police said.

The TLP is protesting against the detention of its leader Saad Rizvi, arrested in April when the group was outlawed by authorities, and is demanding the expulsion of France’s ambassador for the publication of a series of caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad by a French satirical magazine.

Rao Sardar Ali Khan, inspector general of the Punjab police, said four officers were killed and at least 263 wounded.

Earlier, on Friday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had said that four policemen had been martyred in clashes with TLP workers, while more than 80 had been injured, eight of them critically. news desk

Aryan reaches home after walking out of jail Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, was released from the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai on Saturday.

Shahrukh’s bodyguard Ravi Singh had reached the jail to pick up Aryan, who was immediately directed into the car and taken to his home.

Meanwhile, fans were seen celebrating outside Shahrukh’s residence with “welcome home Aryan Khan” posters, bursting crackers and playing dhol.

Earlier on Thursday, an Indian court had granted bail to Aryan Khan, more than three weeks after he was arrested in a drugs case that had dominated news headlines and polarised social media in the cinema-obsessed nation.

“The court has granted bail just now and hopefully all the three petitioners will come out of jail tomorrow or on Saturday,” Aryan’s lawyer Mukul Rohatgi had told the reporters outside the court.

Aryan Khan, 23, the Bollywood actor’s eldest son, was one of several people arrested on October 2 after a raid on a cruise ship sailing off Mumbai’s coastline.

The Narcotic Control Bureau had alleged that Aryan is a regular user and supplier of drugs.

Aryan, through lawyers, had denied the charges, contending that no drugs

were found on him during the raid.

Nawab Malik, a minister in the state cabinet of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is capital, had alleged that the charges on Aryan and others are

trumped up, and demanded that the officer in charge of the investigation be changed.

The officer, Sameer Wankhede, had denied the allegations. news desk

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Food Security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema for the NA-133 by-poll to be held in Lahore over anomalies found in his nomination. The ECP also rejected Musarrat Cheema’s papers, who is Jamshed Cheema’s wife and his covering candidate, for similar reasons.

According to the ECP, the proposers for the two were not residents of the constituency which is a mandatory requirement under election laws. Earlier, PMLN’s Advocate Naseer Bhutta and others had raised objections to Jamshed and Musarrat Cheemas nominations. In response the couple had requested the ECP to adjourn scrutiny of their papers until Saturday. A total of 24 nomination papers were filed with 17 accepted and seven rejected by the ECP. news desk

microsoft becomes world's most valuable company Apple Inc lost its crown as the world's most valuable public company to Microsoft Corp on Friday, as the iPhone maker's shares fell about 2 percent. Apple took a $6 billion hit to its sales during the fiscal fourth quarter due to persistent global supply chain problems, leading to a miss on Wall Street expectations. Top boss Tim Cook said the impact will be even worse in the current holiday sales quarter. "Compared to less hardware focused FAANG peers, Apple is also a lot more exposed to supply chain disruption," said Sophie Lund-Yates, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Apple's shares dropped 1.8 percent to end the session at $149.80, giving the company a market capitalization of $2.48 trillion. By contrast, shares of Windows software maker Microsoft rose 2.2 percent to a record high of $331.62, ending the session with a market capitalization of $2.49 trillion. Apple, which has repurchased $421.7 billion worth of shares over the years, had announced a massive $90 billion share buyback in April. As a result, the outstanding stock pool keeps shrinking, and the company ended its fiscal fourth quarter with 16.4 billion shares. Microsoft's stock has surged 49 percent this year, with pandemic-induced demand for its cloud-based services driving sales. Shares of Apple have climbed 13 percent so far this year. Apple's stock market value overtook Microsoft's in 2010 as the iPhone made it the world's premier consumer technology company. The companies have taken turns as Wall Street's most valuable business in recent years, with Apple holding the title since mid-2020. Analysts say Apple has managed the supply chain issue well, but with Cook warning of more pressure, the door is open to a hit to its performance as the holiday season kicks in. In contrast, Microsoft on Tuesday forecast a strong end to the calendar year. But it also warned that supply-chain woes will continue to dog key units, such as those producing its Surface laptops and Xbox gaming consoles. ReuteRs

Muslim scholars union calls for forming legal front to defend Muslim minorities DOHA AnAdolu Agency

The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) on Saturday called for the formation of a global legal front to defend the rights of Muslim minorities around the world.

In a Twitter post, IUMS Secretary-General Ali al-Qaradaghi questioned the impassivity of the Indian police as Hindu militants target Muslims in the country.

"Hindu militants are burning 12 mosques in a week, a new wave of violence against Muslims in India, why is the police silent?" the scholar tweeted.

He said there is a need for "the formation of a global legal front to defend the rights of Muslim minorities around the world."

On Friday, Indian media quoted local officials as saying that the authorities arrested dozens of people, most of whom belong to extremist right-wing groups after they obstructed Muslims from performing their weekly Friday prayers.

Media reports said that police bolstered their presence on Friday in the northern city of Gurgaon and arrested at least 30 people as crowds of local residents and Hindu groups chanted anti-Muslim slogans.

For weeks, Hindu groups have been pressuring the Indian authorities to prevent

Muslims from performing the Friday prayers in open spaces. The groups have also been committing acts of violence against Muslims and mosques in the country.

Violence against Muslims and other minority communities has become increasingly frequent in India since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

Members of opposition accused the BJP of persecuting minorities, including Muslims whose population in India numbers around 200 million.

The government repeatedly rejects the accusation that it has a Hindu agenda and insists that Indians of all faiths have equal rights.

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