Thursday, 12 November, 2020 I 25 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 133 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
NCOC Calls fOr baN ON large gatheriNgs, mOre restriCtiONs iN virus hOtspOts
photo: zubair mehfooz
ISLAMABAD
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Staff rEport
he national Command and Operation Centre (nCOC) on wednesday called for a ban on large public gatherings and enhancing restrictions in high-risk areas as a second wave of the coronavirus sweeps through the country. “nCOC has once again recommended to ban all large public gatherings,” minister for planning Asad Umar said. “rapid increase in positivity requires urgent steps to save lives and livelihoods. Since mid-October, when nCC [national Coordination Committee] first considered the nCOC recommendation to ban large public gatherings, daily cases have nearly
tripled,” he warned. At least 25 people died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours and 1,708 tested positive, the highest single-day spike since july, the forum said. the positivity ratio currently stands at 5.34 per cent, according to official numbers. A meeting of the federal cabinet on tuesday decided that the ruling pakistan tehreeke-insaf would not organise any more public meetings due to the worrying increase in the spread of the novel coronavirus. Asad Umar said the government would be held responsible if the pandemic spiraled out of control, observing that it was incumbent on the government to lead by example. meanwhile, the nCOC also recommended early and extended winter vacations
for students following a surge in virus positivity ratio at educational institutions. According to the statement, the forum was told that the positivity ratio was rising at educational institutions and there was a need to check its trend. the forum decided that on november 16, education minister Shafqat mahmood will chair a special meeting at the nCOC to assess and review the positivity rate in educational institutions. provincial education ministers will also be taken on board, the statement said. it added that the recommendations decided upon would be shared with the provinces for decision-making and enforcement. “the forum, taking into account a rising positivity ratio, has suggested early and extended winter vacations […] to ensure safety and health of students,” the statement added. last week, a meeting of provincial education ministers, chaired by mahmood, decided against any closure of schools and colleges amidst the ongoing second wave of the virus, saying the positivity rate in educational institutions was within acceptable limits. According to a press release issued by the ministry of education, the forum unanimously ruled out the closure of educational institutions under the present situation. “it was agreed that the targeted closure of institutions where the infection rate increases would be carried out with the help of local administration,” it said, adding strict compliance should be ensured with education-related standard operating procedures to curb the spread of the pandemic. the forum also opposed winter vacations, with the participants recommending that any region that required such a break limit it to a few days so students could cover all their coursework. the academic year for 2020 has already been reduced to around 11 weeks due to the closures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, read the statement, adding that in this scenario there was no need for long vacations.
Faraz points out PDM disharmony after inquiry report of ‘Karachi incident’ Once more pointing out the division and lack of unified direction in the pakistan democratic movement (pdm), information minister Shibli Faraz said that contradicting stances taken by the opposition leaders regarding the Karachi incident inquiry report showcases the lack of future of the anti-government alliance. Faraz on twitter noted the lack of singular ideology in the pdm based on the difference in the reactions of pakistan people’s party (ppp) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and pakistan muslim leaguenawaz (pml-n) supreme leader nawaz Sharif. regarding the inquiry into the arrest of pml-n leader Captain (r) Safdar Awan, Bilawal on november 10 welcomed the “good news”, while nawaz called it a “cover-up” and “rejected” it. Bilawal, while campaigning in gilgit Baltistan
(gB), said that he “had demanded that the chief of army staff should order an inquiry and take action”, adding that this step will “elevate the stature of institutions”. the former premier, however, felt that this was merely a ploy that involved “scapegoating juniors and shielding the real culprits”. this is not the first time the information minister has expressed the opinion that the pdm is doomed to fail. earlier this week, he had said that a movement which needs a new charter every passing day has no future. in a statement on monday, Shibli Faraz had said that the pdm has shown itself as directionless, adding that they are moving ahead blindly. he said that they will not succeed by trying to fool the people in lust for power by making a new charter. he added that the pdm will need a third charter now. NEWS DESK
Pakistan-Iran agree to enhance bilateral ties
more inside
US embassy issues apology after coming under fire for retweeting partisan post
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COAS BAjwA SAyS enhAnCed BilAterAl COOperAtiOn will hAve pOSitive impACt On regiOnAl peACe, StABility
STORY ON PAGE 02
pakistan strongly committed to timely completion of CpeC projects: pm STORY ON PAGE 02
Air quality drops, Covid-19 cases rise in Lahore, Abbottabad STORY ON PAGE 02
to each his own: Bilawal says pdm not barred from taking names during rallies STORY ON PAGE 03
ISLAMABAD Staff rEport
pakistan and iran on wednesday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields as iranian Foreign minister dr javad Zarif held separate meetings with prime minister imran Khan, his pakistani counterpart Shah mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) general Qamar javed Bajwa during his twoday official visit to pakistan. the premier emphasised the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation between pakistan and iran with special focus on bilateral trade and economic relations.
welcoming the iranian dignitary, the prime minister said that as pakistan and iran enjoyed close and cordial relations, the two countries must further strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit. he extended condolences over the loss of precious lives in iran due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sharing pakistan’s experience, pm imran said that the “smart lockdown” strategy and other measures taken by his government had led to significant containment of the pandemic in pakistan. he also underscored the need to work closely for promoting peace, security and development in the region.
highlighting pakistan’s efforts towards facilitating peace and stability in Afghanistan, the prime minister said that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. he reaffirmed pakistan’s support for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and hoped that the historic opportunity would be seized by all the Afghan parties to secure a political settlement. the prime minister added that peace in Afghanistan would be beneficial for the entire region as it would create new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation as well as regional connectivity. Zarif conveyed personal greet-
ings and commitment of president hassan rouhani to work closely with pm imran for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. he also reaffirmed iran’s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause. earlier, the visiting dignitary called on COAS Bajwa and Fm Qureshi. during the separate meetings, the two countries agreed to make joint efforts for peace and stability in the region, including Afghanistan, radio pakistan reported. Zarif, radio pakistan said, also appreciated the country’s positive role for regional stability, especially during islamabad-brokered United States-taliban peace dialogue.
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Thursday, 12 November, 2020
NEWS
US EMbaSSy iSSUES aPology aftEr CoMing UndEr firE for rEtwEEting PartiSan PoSt LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
HE United States embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday apologised after coming under fire for retweeting a post critical of Prime Minister Imran Khan shared by Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal. “The US embassy Islamabad Twitter account was accessed last night without authorisation. The US embassy does not endorse the posting or retweeting of political messages. We apologise for any confusion that may have resulted from the unauthorised post,” the embassy said.
CCi agrees on launch of rs350bn project to tackle malnutrition ISLAMABAD APP
The Council of Common Interests (CCI), while taking serious note of the critical issue of malnutrition and stunted growth among the children, on Wednesday unanimously agreed upon launching a development project titled ‘Tackling Malnutrition Induced Stunting in Pakistan’. The project would come to a total cost of approximately Rs350 billion and span the duration of five years. Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the 43rd meeting of CCI, which was attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. It was agreed that 50 per cent of the cost would be provided by the federal government and equal distribution to be made by the provincial governments for five years, a press release issued by the PM Office’s media wing said. The project would target 30 per cent of the country’s total population, including 15 million women of reproductive age and 3.9 million children under the age of two years through nutrition interventions. It was agreed that the federal government would provide nutrition supplementary commodities, improve the capacity of new and existing healthcare workers, as research and development, while the provinces would contribute towards implementation through the involvement of existing Lady Health Workers, Community Health Workers, and undertake targeted population identification, programme management, institutional arrangement, evaluation and data sharing. The CCI considered the request of KP government for one-time permission to swap the arrangement of one exploration block with another prospective block within the province. It allowed the one-time approval for the swap with the condition that commitments accruing out of the previous award of the block should be completed and the Petroleum Division should incorporate a time limit for such swap so that future requests were catered for.
Iqbal on Tuesday shared on Twitter a screengrab of an article by The Washington Post titled “Trump’s defeat is a blow for the world’s demagogues and dictators”. “We have one in Pakistan too. He will be shown the way out soon,” he wrote in his tweet, in an apparent reference to the prime minister. Subsequently, the US embassy
said. “Monroe doctrine also died centuries ago! US embassy must observe norms of diplomacy — so if fake then clarify through a tweet; if not then apology tweet needed,” she added. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail urged the Foreign Office (FO) to take action against the embassy. “This is utterly absurd, how can the US embassy retweet something containing derogatory remarks against our premier? This is against diplomatic protocols. An apology is needed with immediate clarification if fake or hacked,” he said. Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid said strategic accounts are “very sensitive digital assets” and any mistake “should be rectified publicly”.
retweeted the original post, sparking an outrage. Officials and ministers were quick to call upon the embassy to respect diplomatic norms and issue an apology. “US embassy still working in Trumpian mode in support of convicted absconder and intervening brazenly in our internal politics,” Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari
Air quality drops, Covid-19 cases rise in Lahore, Abbottabad NEWS DESK Both Lahore and Abbottabad saw a drop in the air quality, which potentially correlates with the rising number of cases of Covid-19, which is a respiratory disease. According to the COMSATS’ Environmental Studies department head, Dr Qaisar Mehmood, pollution levels in Abbottabad increased to “very unhealthy” level. Particulate matter measurements in the city increased to 3.4G per cubic metre, and it is believed that the nearby construction of the Karakoram Highway is part of the reason. Dr Qaisar said that the construction has led to increased traffic, which raised
the pollution levels, which in turn aggravated the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index of Lahore was reported as high as 750 in the poorer parts of the city. Good or healthy air has an index of 50, while anything above 300 is considered hazardous. IQair, a Switzerland-based air quality information platform, has declared Lahore the fourth most polluted city in the world, overtaken only by Beijing, New Delhi and Mumbai. “The air quality level was hazardous today,” said Sajid Bashir, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department. He added that the situation had improved later in the day as the federal gov-
ernment had taken steps to keep smoke emitting vehicles off the roads, as well as shutting down brick kilns. It is pertinent to mention that the former city of gardens experienced a significant improvement in air quality in March when the lockdown had shut down most car-based travel and reduced industrial activities in the city. Last month, strict restrictions had been imposed by the Punjab government to counter the worsening air quality in the region. These restrictions included a ban on activities which could increase the smog in the air, including the burning of any type of crop residue, vehicles emitting
visible smoke and pollutants falling into inadmissible limits, all industries working without emission control system and contributing to a deterioration in the Air Quality Index, all stone crushers operating without wet scrubbers burning of all types of solid waste, tires, rubber, and plastics, sale and use of all types of substandard fuels, all types of encroachments which cause hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic on public roads including footpaths, any kind of parking which may cause hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic, all types of activities without proper safeguard which contribute in generating fugitive dust, and more.
Sharif family have Rs7.3bn of assets beyond known sources: Akbar NEWS DESK Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Wednesday said that the Sharif family acquired assets worth Rs6.122 billion during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tenure, and these assets now stand at Rs7.3 billion. Sharing details of the evidence collected against Shehbaz Sharif in the ongoing corruption and assets beyond means case, Akbar said that the family is being charged for “acquired and accumulated assets worth Rs6122 million, the present value of which stands at Rs7.3 billion, beyond known source”. “They concealed the origin of Rs6.1 billion, created bogus transactions of fictitious foreign remit-
tances, declared fake loans, and established benami companies,” he added. Two months prior, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had revealed that Shehbaz’s assets had increased rapidly in 30 years, from Rs2 million to Rs7 billion, and that the Sharif brother was unable to justify the source of income. Since then, the anti-graft body investigated Shehbaz, and presented a detailed report, which revealed that a chain of 16 people assisting Shehbaz’s alleged money laundering scheme. “We have very strong evidence against them. But whenever they are questioned about their wrongdoing, they only come up with deflective responses instead of giving specific answers,” Akbar said, adding that Shehbaz’s businesses were not developed on legal loans,
but on laundered capital. “The documents show that more than 70 people sent TTs [telegraphic transfers] to Shahbaz Sharif through his front companies. Upon investigation, all people who sent the money turned out to be of mediocre financial status, while many of them were not even living in the countries where the transfers were made,” the accountability minister explained. These TTs were used by Shehbaz to explain the expenditure of his bulletproof car, mills, and factories. “In the document, we have compiled every detail of the way Shahbaz Sharif and his family created a chain of associates to facilitate their money-laundering activities,” Akbar said, urging people to read it themselves so they could see where the taxpayers’ money was going.
Govt empowers foreign ministry for UNSC and FAFT obligations ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI
The government has decided to delegate the federal cabinet’s powers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to comply with international obligations and the Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases has been asked to grant necessary approval in this regard, Pakistan Today has learnt. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought CCLC’s approval over the above proposed to comply with international obligations under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions as well as certain Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on short notice. The Ministry of Law and Justice has already vetted a draft notification for the delegation of powers to the MoFA for issuing the Statutory Regulatory Orders under the UNSC Act 1948 with effect from July 30, 2020. The MoFA has seen and authorized the submission of the summary to the CCLC. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has been on the FATF’s grey list since June 2018. The grey list comprises countries
being monitored by the watchdog. The FATF, while reviewing Pakistan’s progress on the 27-point action plan for addressing anti-money laundering and terror financing, had found that Pakistan has successfully complied with 21 out of 27 points and decided to keep the country on its 'grey list' until February 2021. The FATF had strongly urged Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2021, adding that Pakistan needed to work on four areas to address its strategic deficiencies. Earlier, the government – amid mounting global pressure to rein in terror groups – had promulgated a law to streamline the procedure for the implementation of the United Nations (UN) sanctions against individuals and organisations. The new law was expected to help the Pakistan government fulfil its obligations towards the UNSC by expediting the seizure of properties of banned groups and individuals. Furthermore, the government had taken action against the proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, in the past and any future action against them will be taken in the light of the National Action Plan (NAP).
Pakistan strongly committed to timely completion of CPEC projects: PM ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Imran Khan, while terming the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a transformational project, on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to timely completion of CPEC projects. While talking to newlyappointed Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong, who called on him, the premier underlined the importance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), relocation of industry, and enhanced productivity in the agriculture sector. He congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and extended the best wishes for a fruitful term. The prime minister affirmed the time-tested PakistanChina all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. During the meeting, mutual support on issues of core national interest for Pakistan and China was reaffirmed. Ambassador Rong thanked the prime minister for receiving him and assured that China would fully support speedy completion of CPEC projects, as well as industrialisation in Pakistan, and would deepen cooperation with Pakistan in the agriculture sector.
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
NEWS
to EaCh hiS own: bilawal SayS PdM not barrEd froM taKing naMES dUring ralliES ISLAMABAD
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AYS after his interview to BBC Urdu hinted at cracks in the ranks of the opposition alliance, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday said during the preparatory meeting for the Gujranwala rally, it was stressed the participants would “stand against the establishment” and “no one was stopped from taking names” either. In his interview last week, Bilawal had distanced himself from the speech of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif delivered at the September 20 public gathering — the first of many held under the umbrella of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the multi-party anti-government alliance — wherein he accused Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa of “orchestrating” his ouster and “bringing Imran Khan into power”. When asked, the PPP chief had said he was “shocked” to hear Sharif’s address, claiming the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) supreme leader did not inform the alliance partners of his decision to name the top military and intelligence officials during the precursory multiparty conference. During an interview with Dawn News
PPP, PML-N WORKERS CLASH IN GB ELECTIONEERING GILGIT INP/TLTP
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President, Maryam Nawaz held one on one meeting in the hotel where both the leaders are staying in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in connection with their parties’ election campaigns. Both the leaders also held meetings with their delegations. The PPP delegation included Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PPP GB chapter President Advocate Amjad Hussain whereas the PML-N delegation consisted of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Pervez Rasheed, Maryam Aurangzeb and television on Wednesday, Bilawal, while responding to a question on whether there were disagreements within the opposition concerning its narrative after Sharif’s speech, said: “While the all-parties confer-
4 Coal MinErS diE aftEr falling froM 400ft in ElEvator aCCidEnt JAMSHORO TLTP
At least four labourers died after falling from a height of 400 feet in a coal mine in Jamshoro on Wednesday. According to details, the incident took place when the miners walked into an elevator to excavate coal but unfortunately, it suddenly fell from a height of 400 feet. A labour leader said that the elevator fell when its ropes broke in Lakhra coal mine. After being informed, rescue officials rushed to the scene and retrieved the bodies after four hours of hectic efforts. In March, at least seven labourers had lost their lives and three others sustained injuries following a blast inside the coal mine in Quetta’s Degari area in Balochistan. Rescue officials had said the deceased and wounded labourers were shifted to hospital. Sources had said the labourers were called at the duty despite the workers had been sent on leaves. According to Pakistan Central Miners Labour Federation, an average of 200 deaths annually occurred in Pakistan due to coal mine explosions.
FO issues statement in support of Nagorno-Karabagh resolution NEWS DESK Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement of support on Tuesday regarding the end of the Nagorno-Karabagh military conflict between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia through a deal which was signed today. “We welcome the recent announcement of cessation of hostilities by the relevant parties,” reads the press release. “The trilateral agreement facilitated by the Russian Federation offers a renewed opportunity for establishing peace in the South Caucasus region.” It added that it had consistently called for an end to the conflict while keeping international law and United Nations Security Council Resolutions in mind. Furthermore, the FO statement expressed the hope that this development would lead to “stability and prosperity in the region and will pave way for the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands.” Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he has signed an agreement with leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan to end the war. He added that
he would address the nation “in upcoming days”. Pashinyan first announced the signing on social media in the early hours of Tuesday and the Kremlin and Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev later confirmed the news. “The signed trilateral statement will become a (crucial) point in the settlement of the conflict,” Aliyev said in a televised online meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin said that Russian peacekeepers would be deployed along the frontline in Nagorno-Karabakh and the corridor between the region and Armenia. Arayik Harutyunyan, the leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, said on Facebook that he gave agreement “to end the war as soon as possible”. The declaration has followed six weeks of heavy fighting and advancement by Azerbaijan’s forces. Baku said on Monday it had seized dozens of more settlements in NagornoKarabakh, a day after proclaiming victory in the battle for the enclave’s strategically positioned second-largest city. “The decision is made basing on the deep analyses of the combat situation and in discussion with best experts of the field,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.
PdM granted permission for nov 22 Peshawar rally PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has granted permission to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a rally in Peshawar on November 22. The PDM provincial spokesperson, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that the district administration of Peshawar has allowed opposition parties to hold a public gathering on November 22
lution issued by the forum. But he added individual parties were allowed to have their own narratives and action plans. “This is a part of politics, it is their right and everything is in front of you,” he said. Following the PPP chairman’s interview, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz had said Bilawal’s remarks were proof of the fact the PDM was not united in its stance. “Bilawal has voiced his distrust of Nawaz. This proves that the alliance of opposition parties is based on vested interests,” he had said. However, Bilawal dispelled the notion the PML-N’s narrative was not acceptable to other members of the PDM. “The PDM has one stance which is that the interference of establishment in politics has to end. This problem should be solved,” he said. “As far as I know, the PPP emphasised that our stance against the establishment is a part of the [alliance]. We are standing on that. Somebody may well have given the suggestion that we should not open new fronts but whatever the PDM’s united decision will be, we will all stand by it.” Bilawal said that even though the PPP, PML-N, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and other parties part of the PDM may “do their politics separately [but] when it comes to democracy and the constitutional role of institutions, they were all on the same page”. He said an unsuccessful attempt was
bilawal, MaryaM MEEt in ConnECtion with ElECtion CaMPaignS
STAFF REPORT
at Dilzak chowk. The rally will begin at 11:00 am. He said that the deputy commissioner has assured of making all security arrangements for the opposition parties rally to be organised on November 22 (Sunday) in Peshawar. The PDM, an alliance of major opposition parties, is protesting against the federal government and so far held three gatherings in Gujranwala, Karachi and Quetta. TLTP
Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman. Meanwhile, a clash reportedly broke out between workers of PPP and PML-N during the election campaign rally in Gilgit district on Wednesday. According to details, former GB chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, who is also president of the PML-N GB chapter has accused PPP of opening fire at PML-N workers in Jaglot town of Gilgit district. He levelled these allegations during his address to a public rally in Gilgit district which was also attended by PML-N Vice President Maryam. The PML-N Jaglot Youth Wing President, Imran Amir, has accused PPP of opening fire at his car. The PML-N leader said that he will register an FIR against PPP workers. ence did not decide on naming anyone, it also did not stop anyone from taking names.” He said that all opposition parties had agreed on a joint narrative which was also made public in the form of a joint reso-
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being made to divide and shroud the PDM in controversy, vowing that such attempts would fail and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would have to “leave in February”. “Those who are distributing certificates of treason should know that the public has rejected this card. Imran Khan’s stance is hollow. “They’re telling the people that those who stand with the PPP and PML-N are traitors. But the people know that Imran Khan is the one who gave NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to Kulbhushan Jadhav. He is also the one who prayed for [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s win and bartered Kashmir,” he added. Talking about the possibility of a national dialogue and whether the judiciary and army should be part of that dialogue, Bilawal said: “Dialogue is done with legitimate stakeholders. Parliament is the forum where a national dialogue can take place. The speaker is selected and works on dictation, who will accept his leadership?” he questioned. “I believe the solution to this is democracy. It should be through a democratic process. Ultimately we will have to form a truth and reconciliation commission which will solve this issue. This is part of the charter of democracy and our manifesto.” Responding to a question on the usage of Article 6, the imposition of treason charges and court judgments based on the “doctrine of necessity”, Bilawal recommended a constitutional amendment to do away with the doctrine. “We are against this [doctrine of necessity] and will always be against it. If the courts do not [change it], we should address it through introducing a constitutional amendment.”
Court indicts Shahbaz in money laundering case LAHORE STAFF REPORT
An accountability court in Lahore on Wednesday indicted National Assembly (NA) opposition leader and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif in a Rs8 billion money laundering case against him and his family. However, the suspects including Sharif’s son and Punjab Assembly opposition leader Hamza Shahbaz pleaded not guilty. The court ordered the National Accountability Bureau to produce its evidence in the next hearing. The two were brought to the court in armoured vehicles amid tight security. A large number of PML-N workers were present on the occasion to greet the incarcerated PML-N members.
THE CASE: The anti-graft agency had filed the case before an accountability court in August. A total of 20 people had been nominated in the reference, including four approvers — Yasir Mushtaq, Muhammad Mushtaq, Shahid Rafiq and Aftab Mahmood. The main suspects are Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shahbaz, his sons Hamza and Suleman Shahbaz (absconder), daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali. Other suspects are alleged bemanidars and business partners of the family including Nisar Ahmad, Qasim Qayum, Rashid Karamat, Masroor Anwar, Fazal Dad Abbasi and Shoaib Qamar. The reference mainly accused Sharif of being beneficiary of assets held in the name of his family members and benamidars, who had no sources to acquire such assets.
Petition against Safdar's bail filed in Karachi court KARACHI STAFF REPORT
A petition against the bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (r) Safdar Awan in a case pertaining to slogan-mongering inside the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi was filed on Wednesday at a district and sessions court in the metropolis. According to details, the plaintiff stated Safdar was granted bail against the facts of the case. The petition has been fixed for hearing on November 18. Safdar was arrested last month for slogan-mongering inside the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — a crime which is punishable by “imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or a fine, or both”. The PML-N leader had arrived in Karachi a day before his arrest as part of the party’s caravan to participate in the second public gathering of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the 11-party anti-government alliance of major opposition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). His arrest had come hours after police booked him, his wife Maryam Nawaz, and some 200 others for violating the sanctity of the mausoleum. The complainant, Waqas Khan, alleged that the PML-N leaders, along with 200 of their followers, reached Jinnah’s grave where Safdar jumped over the grill surrounding it. He said that he had tried to stop him from doing so but Safdar “got out of control” and started threatening him and his fellows that he would kill them. He added that Safdar later damaged government property before leaving the site with his followers.
It said the family members and benamidars of the Sharif family received fake foreign remittances of billions in their personal bank accounts. In addition to these remittances, the bureau said, billions of rupees were laundered by way of foreign pay orders, which were deposited in personal bank accounts of Hamza and Suleman. The reference further said the family of Sharif failed to justify the sources of funds used for acquisition of assets. It said the suspects committed offences of corruption and corrupt practices as envisaged under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and money laundering as delineated in Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010. It asked the trial court to try the suspects and punish them under the law.
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Thursday, 12 November, 2020
NEWS
AslAm RAisAni Richest lAwmAkeR in BAlochistAn with Rs21Bn Assets: ecP ISLAMABAD
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TLTP
HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disclosed details of assets and liabilities of members of the Balochistan and Punjab Assemblies. According to figures released by the election authority for Balochsitan Assembly, former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani owns assets worth Rs21 billion, including agricul-
BUZDAR OWNS RS84M ASSETS; PTI’S MPA SAJIDA POOREST LAWMAKER HAVING RS217 IN BANK ACCOUNT tural land worth Rs19 million, and a residential plot Rs1.796 billion and vehicles worth Rs3.750 billion. He also has Rs513.8 million bank deposits and cattle worth Rs230 million. He owns Rs1.735 billion worth of properties in Malta. MPA Jan Muhammad Jamali owns 40
acres of agricultural land, 60 tola gold, and cars worth Rs2.5 million. He has over Rs740 million in cash with bank deposits of Rs426,000. Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) parliamentary leader in the provincial legislature, owns 14,011
acres of agricultural land, a residential plot in Dera Murad Jamali worth Rs3 million, two houses in Quetta worth Rs20 million and Rs36 million worth of a house in Islamabad. He also has Rs36 million worth of two apartments and villas worth Rs42 million in Dubai. The MPA disclosed 640 tolas of gold, four vehicles and Rs28.8 million in cash as inherited assets. He also has 6.3 million Dirham and Rs1.2 million in cash besides owning Rs8.5 worth of furniture. Rind also owns Rs25 million worth of agriculture
commodities and Rs2 million worth of arms and ammunition. In Punjab, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar owns assets worth over Rs84 million. He possesses two luxury cars, four tractors, and 20 tolas of gold. He does not have any business in Pakistan or abroad. Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sharif owns assets worth Rs400million. PTI MPA Sajida Yousuf is the poorest lawmaker of the Punjab Assembly with only Rs217 in her bank account. Furthermore, she has never travelled abroad nor has a car or gold. Aleem Khan owns assets worth over Rs1.5 billion and he has a debt of Rs74 million. Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi owns assets worth Rs220 million. Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat has assets worth Rs29.3 million, according to the ECP. PTI lawmaker Ejaz Khan owns assets of only Rs274,000 with no car and gold.
Punjab reports five more dengue fever cases LAHORE TLTP
Provincial health authorities on Wednesday reported five more cases of dengue fever in Punjab during the last 24 hours. “Four dengue fever patients were reported in Lahore and one in Sargodha,” according to a spokesperson of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab. The tally of confirmed dengue fever cases in Punjab has now reached 190 this year since January 2020, the spokesperson said. He further stated that no death has been reported in the ongoing year due to the dengue virus, adding that most of the dengue patients have recovered. Earlier, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid said that the provincial government was taking all-out measures to cope with the menace of dengue fever. “The ratio of dengue cases has substantially reduced due to the efforts made by the district authorities and other concerned departments,” she said.
LOWER DIR: Citizens buying warm clothes from a flea market as mercury drops in different parts of the country. INP
Over 50,000 pandemic-hit Afghan refugee families get UN cash assistance NEWS DESK The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has provided emergency cash assistance to over 50,000 Afghan refugee families impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan, the agency said on Tuesday. The UNHCR is targeting 70,000 of the most vulnerable refugee families, out of which 50,000 have been provided financial assistance in collaboration with the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions of Pakistan, and Pakistan Post which is disbursing the emergency cash as-
sistance under Ehsaas programme. Under the Ehsaas cash assistance programme, vulnerable families receive a one-off cash grant of Rs12,000 to shore them against the coronavirus-related economic downturn. On Tuesday, UNHCR’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Indrika Ratwatte – who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan – participated in the distribution of cash assistance to refugees at a post office in Islamabad. “He also interacted with Afghan refugee elders. The UNHCR Representative in Pak-
istan, Ms. Noriko Yoshida, and senior officials from the Post Office were also present on the occasion,” UNHCR said in a statement. Ratwatte appreciated the achievement of the goal of reaching 50,000 families: “I hope that efforts will continue to be made to reach the remaining vulnerable families affected by the pandemic,” he said. Pakistan hosts over 1.4 million Afghan refugees, and during the pandemic “thousands of refugees, including daily wage earners, were left without a source of income,” the UN agency said.
PN chief reviews operational preparedness KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi visited the command centre and forward posts in the Creeks area on Wednesday to review the operational preparedness and combat readiness of troops. On his arrival at Brigade Headquarters Sujawal, the Naval Chief was received by Commander Karachi Coast Vice Admiral Zahid Ilyas. Comprehensive briefings regarding the ongoing operational activities, plans and deployment of assets and troops during the exercise were presented to Admiral Niazi. Admiral Abbasi expressed satisfaction over the operational readiness and measures undertaken to ensure the defence of highly complex terrain of creeks area. He reaffirmed the resolve that any misadventure by the enemy shall be thwarted with an iron fist. While interacting with the deployed troops, the Naval Chief commended the officers and men for their high morale, commitment and spirit of sacrifice to safeguard the maritime boundaries of Pakistan.
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
Govt forMs body to conduct forensIc audIt of dry wells ISLamaBaD
a
STAFF REPORT
MID fast depletion of existing hydrocarbon deposits and increased energy demand, the Petroleum Division has constituted a team to conduct a forensic audit of the dry/shut-in wells drilled in different parts of the country by exploration & production (E&P) companies. According to sources, a four-member core committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Dr Naseem Ahmed (ex-ED/MD OGDCL) to formulate a forensic team to analyze dry/shut-in wells in detail and submit its report within a month. The country’s existing gas production is around 3.7 billion cubic feet per day (BCFD) against the demand of 6bcfd, while the available gas reserves are depleting at the ratio of 9.5pc per year. The committee would be assisted by 15 co-opted members including three from Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), two from Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), two from Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), and four each from Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL).
The committee chairman has also been asked to formulate forensic field monitoring teams, comprising representatives of
E&P companies, GSP, HDIP and officers of the Petroleum Division’s policy wing. As per the terms of reference (TORs),
the field teams would visit shut-in wells throughout the country and evaluate their status on technical lines. The teams would conduct a forensic audit of the wells and check the feasibility of wells that could be reviewed and put on production. It would review the timelines provided by the E&P companies and suggest schedule compression for production from the feasible wells. The team would also ensure execution of work plans for revivals of the already identified shut-in wells for which the E&P companies have committed schedules and work plans, besides recommending penalty as per law, if it found any failure of non-compliance or non-implementation of the committed work plays by the E&P companies. The team would have the mandate to monitor the wells already in production for purposes such as quality control, assessment of the production facilities, technical losses/theft assessments and review of daily production data and drilling data.” “This team will report the status of shut-in wells and report directly to the Secretary Petroleum Division within a month period. It will also do any additional assignment given by the competent authority.”
gojek launches digital out-of-home advertising solution goscreen SINgaporE BABAR KHAN JAVED
Capturing more value from the mobile real estate on its extensive fleet of two-wheel vehicles in the Southeast Asia region, Gojek has launched a programmatic out-of-home (OOH) advertising solution called GoScreen through Promogo. Based on data from GroupM, advertising spending in Indonesia is expected to grow by 5.8pc this year. Acquired in 2018, Promogo is Gojek’s response to GrabAds and is the enterprise advertising solution for the super app. For the driver-partners part of the Gojek mobility fleet, GoScreen represents an additional opportunity to receive additional income pegged to the distance covered in their respective vehicles. GoScreen will be available for large advertisers, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Greater Jakarta area and is meant to democratize not only access to brand awareness touchpoints. The service is priced at IDR 10 million to reach a quarter million potential unique viewers. “The key pain points that brands face with out-ofhome advertising today include the inability to target their campaigns and measure performance,” said Antoine de Carbonnel, chief commercial officer at Gojek. “GoScreen addresses this through location and time-based campaigns as well as precise measurement technology that provides brands with an efficient return on investment.” Offering advertisers the ability to monitor actual im-
The courier and moTorcycle ridehailing services Turned super app company has launched a digiTal programmaTic ouT-ofhome adverTising soluTion pressions in real-time through an online dashboard, GoScreen was awarded the Open Measurement SDK certification by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Tech Lab. Gojek hopes that the new solution will help advertisers gain unique insights that will help them re-target relevant consumers. “With Gojek's commitment to enable inclusive growth, GoScreen makes out-of-home advertising accessible to small local businesses and supplements the income of participating driver-partners, paving the way for improved livelihoods,” said de Carbonnel. “At the same time, it is providing a promising new source of revenue for the wider Gojek business, ensuring that our entire ecosystem thrives together.” Speaking to Profit, de Carbonnel said that as of Q3 2020, the number of brands using Promogo’s non-digital out-of-home solutions has grown by 40pc over the past two years, with over 100,000 driver-partners participating and
30 billion impressions generated in the same time period. “One of GoScreen’s key features is the availability of data on impressions, which is calculated through object recognition and beacon-based technology,” said de Carbonnel. “Our tech enables brands to monitor actual impressions in real-time through an online dashboard, allowing them to effectively measure their campaign performance and optimize their return on investment.” In the course of developing GoScreen, Gojek held a two-month-long pilot with hundreds of drivers in Greater Jakarta, according to de Carbonnel. He said that Disney+, Samsung, Aqua, and Sosro, were among the advertisers participating in the pilot phase among others, adding that in just two thousand hours of advertising, GoScreen had over four million impressions and reached over 850,000 people. Speaking to Profit, Bykea CEO Muneeb Maayr said that the solution was currently not feasible for Pakistan given that its costs incurred by city permissions are upwards of five thousand rupees per day for a maximum of three to four zones in a city. A representative from Careem told Profit that the super app is exploring placing static ads inside its vehicles as an additional revenue sharing medium for its captains and itself, adding the solution would not likely be programmatic with digital screens given the realities of rampant theft that would occur. The revenue outcomes as a function of the costs of operating at the sophistication of GoScreen would not be commercially feasible according to both Bykea and Careem.
pfizer ceo sold $5.6m in stock the day he announced promising vaccine news Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla sold $5.56 million worth of company shares on Monday, the day the drugmaker said its Covid-19 vaccine was 90pc effective based on interim trial results, a regulatory filing showed. Bourla authorized the sale of the shares on Aug 19, provided the stock was at least at a certain price, as part of a predetermined plan, the company said. Bourla sold 132,508 shares at $41.94 per share, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing
late Tuesday. “The sale of these shares is part of Dr. Bourla’s personal financial planning and a pre-established (10b5-1) plan, which allows, under SEC rules, major shareholders and insiders of exchange-listed corporations to trade a predetermined number of shares at a predetermined time,” Pfizer said. Pfizer said on Monday its experimental Covid-19 vaccine was more than 90pc effective based on initial trial results, sending its shares higher along with the
broader markets. The company’s shares rose as much as 15pc to trade at session high of $41.99 on Monday, before closing up 7.7pc. They were trading at 38.75 on Wednesday. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE have said no serious safety concerns were found so far and expect to seek US emergency use authorization this month, raising the chance of a regulatory decision as soon as December. AGENCIES
NEWS
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Pakistan-Iran agree to enhance bilateral ties coNtINuED from pagE 01 Speaking to General Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Zarif pledged to keep working for better relations between the “two brotherly countries”. The army chief further said that enhanced bilateral cooperation will have positive impact on regional peace and stability. “Friendly relations and neighborliness of the two countries, border and defense affairs, as well as peace and security in the region were discussed during the meeting,” the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said about Zarif’s meeting with the army chief. Seperately, Zarif met Qureshi and discussed “issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, promotion of bilateral cooperation in multilateral fields, and the [coronavirus] epidemic situation.” “The two foreign ministers also discussed issues related to better border management, promotion of bilateral ties and better facilities for visitors,” the Foreign Office (FO) said, adding they agreed to make joint efforts for peace and stability in the region, including peace in Afghanistan. “The two foreign ministers, while expressing concern over the growing trend of Islamophobia in some European countries, made it clear that abusive behavior under the guise of freedom of expression is not tolerable,” the foreign office said. Zarif’s visit to Pakistan forms part of regular highlevel exchanges between the two countries, the FO said. This is his fourth visit to Pakistan since 2018. Iranian media had reported on Tuesday that Zarif would lead a high-ranking political and economic delegation to discuss various issues, including effective management of a 900-kilometer shared border with Pakistan. Last year, Iran and Pakistan said they would form a joint quick reaction force to combat militant activity on their shared border. Pakistan began fencing its border with Iran in May 2019. In May this year, General Bajwa spoke to his Iran counterpart, Major General Mohammed Bagheri, through telephone and discussed border fencing, improvement of border terminals, enhancing security and recent attacks on Pakistan troops near the border, among other issues, according to a statement from the ISPR.
PKM seeks crackdown on unauthorised sugarcane purchasing centres Pakistan Kissan Movement Secretary General Hanif Gujjar, while reaching Bahawalpur on Tuesday after completing his visit to Rahim Yar Khan, said in Rahim Yar Khan he witnessed lot of middlemen busy in purchasing sugarcane from farmers through unauthorized purchasing centres at Rs170Rs180 per 40kg. However, he appreciated action taken by the Punjab cane commissioner by directing the Rahim Yar Khan deputy commissioner to seal all those purchase centres who were busy in this sugarcane mafia business. He said that similar situation was witnessed in Bahawalpur as middlemen were busy in purchasing cane at Rs170/40 kg through their unauthorized purchase centres and transporting that cane to sugar mills in Sindh. “The Bahawalpur deputy commissioner should seal the purchasing centres and arrest the middlemen so that this illegal practice could be brought to halt.” He also appealed the Punjab cane commissioner and chief minister to take strict actions against these middlemen while police should be ordered to arrest such people involved in this illegal practice. NEWS DESK
Amazon accuses India's Future of insider trading as it seeks to block Reliance deal NEW DELHI AGENCIES
Amazon.com Inc has asked India's market regulator to investigate Future Retail Ltd FRTL.NS for insider trading, a letter seen by Reuters showed, as it seeks to prevent its business partner from becoming part of rival Reliance's empire. The US giant has been pressing the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to review Reliance’s August deal to buy retail, logistics and other assets from Future Group for $3.4 billion including debt. Amazon argues it had a 2019 agreement with Future which prevented the Indian
group's retail assets from being sold to certain parties including Reliance Industries Ltd, which is led by Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani. The Nov 8 letter to SEBI alleges Future Retail disclosed to Reliance price sensitive details of an injunction granted by a Singapore arbitrator to block the deal. After the Reuters story was published, a spokesman for Future said the company had communicated with Reliance on the arbitration order for a “legitimate purpose” as required by SEBI regulations. It added that Amazon had provided no evidence to back up its allegations of insider trading. Reliance and SEBI did not respond to
Reuters requests for comment. Amazon declined to comment on the letter’s contents. The spat is being closely watched as a key test of whether Indian firms, courts and regulators will respect arbitration decisions made in accordance with overseas arbitration rules, and adds to headaches for Amazon in India which is also dealing with antitrust challenges. The injunction was granted on Sunday Oct. 25 and was reported by media with Amazon issuing a short statement saying it welcomed the decision. Reliance later that evening said in a stock exchange filing that it had been informed of the arbitration order and would
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enforce its rights to complete the deal with Future without delay. It is this Oct. 25 filing which Amazon argues in its 20-page letter that indicates Ambani’s group was privy to “price sensitive” details of the injunction. Ambani’s group “was not a party to the arbitration proceedings ... and could have received details related thereto only from FRL (Future Retail) or its Promoters,” said the letter. Future Retail, which has argued that Amazon’s agreement last year was only with a separate Future Group unit, issued a statement to the stock exchange on the morning of Oct. 26 saying it was examining the arbi-
tration order and that it believed the order would have to be tested by Indian law. Future Group, which operates supermarkets and high-end food stores and has more than 1,500 outlets across India, has argued it entered into the deal to sell retail assets to Reliance because its business was severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and it was critical to protect all its stakeholders. It remains to be seen whether Indian courts and regulators will side with Amazon or Future Retail. Future Retail has asked a New Delhi court for an order to restrain Amazon from approaching Indian regulators to block its deal with Reliance. Hearings on the case began on Tuesday.
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
06 COMMENT
The Founding Party of Pakistan
Who is minding CPEC? A cavalier attitude to a most vital project
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N August last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that his government was forming a ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority’ (CPECA) to ensure timely completion of the Corridor’s projects. Two months later the Authority was created through a Presidential Ordinance. In November retired Lt Gen Asim saleem Bajwa was appointed chairman of the CPECA) for a period of four years. Last month, when General Bajwa stepped down as sAPM on Information and Broadcasting, he made it clear that he would continue to work as chairman of CPECA. Reassuring statements throughout this year from Mr Khan down to the KP CM had led one to believe that as far as the CPEC was concerned, everything was proceeding according to schedule. In July Mr Khan said the Corridor would be completed at all costs. In september, addressing a ceremony to inaugurate Rashakai Economic Zone, he maintained that the project had now entered the industrialization phase. The same month, speaking to departing Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Mr Khan assured him that CPEC would play a key role in regional economic growth and prosperity. Earlier this year, the KP CM had told media that the Rashaki industrial zone, which is a CPEC project, would provide jobs to 250, 000 people. The Ordinance that led to the establishment of the CPEC Authority lapsed six months back but the government didn’t bother to bring a law before Parliament immediately, which reflects on its commitment to the project. Finally on Wednesday, when a bill was sent to the related National Assembly standing Committee for discussion prior to its presentation before the whole House, members questioned the legal status and functioning of the CPEC Authority after the expiry of its ordinance to which the government had no satisfactory answer. When asked who was chairing the CPEC Authority, the answer was “no one.” There was no convincing answer to the question about the law under which the incumbent was working. The Planning and Development secretary, representing the government, assured the committee of briefing it in the next meeting on the issues raised. Compared to the fast completion of the CPEC projects under the previous government, these move at a snail’s pace under a defunct CPEC Authority, showing either lack of enthusiasm or lack of capacity, or both.
The tool of dictators
Dr FariD a Malik
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s the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has claimed to be the founding party of Pakistan, as a Muslim League child I decided to counter that false claim. The All India Muslim League (AIML), the real founding party of Pakistan, was formed in 1906 at Decca. When the movement picked up the headquarters of the party was moved to Lucknow. First it was led by Dr Muhammad Iqbal, who envisioned the creation of an Islamic Republic in the Indian subcontinent, and was given the title of ‘Mufakar-e-Pakistan’ (He who conceived the idea of Pakistan ). some scholars argue that it was sir syed Ahmed Khan who brought the Muslims into the mainstream of the Indian political and administrative system. His Aligarh University produced the change managers who then played a pivotal role in the creation of the new state and then ran it with honesty and ability. When Iqbal’s health started to fail, he traveled to London to convince the most outstanding lawyer of his time, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to fight the case for Pakistan’s freedom. Jinnah was upright, able and honest. selflessly he led the freedom struggle. After the partition of India on August 14, 1947, AIML, the party of Iqbal and Jinnah ceased to exist. Jinnah took oath as the first Governor General (GG ) of the republic. He then inducted a six-member cabinet under Liaquat Ali Khan to run the country. Being a
Karachi incident report Action welcome, but report has significant gaps
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The opposition is playing a dangerous game SajjaD Shaukat
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NTENsE anger has been shown by the government, led by the ruling party PTI, various political parties and the public in the aftermath of the remarks of the former speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz sadiq who allegedly said on October 28, this year that the government had pleaded with parliamentary leaders in a meeting to let Indian pilot Abhinandan be freed. The Chief Of Army staff also attended the meeting. sadiq allegedly added: “Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi said to us, ‘For God’s sake, let him go back now…We did not agree with the decision… the decision was taken out of the fear of an imminent attack… The government[also] passed an ordinance to facilitate Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav”. Next day, in response to Ayaz sadiq’s remarks, without naming any politician, IsPR Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that such comments were “disappointing” and “misleading… any attempt to link the release of Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with anything other than Pakistan’s mature response as a responsible state. A statement… yesterday… tried to distort the history associated with national security… following the attack on Indian troops in occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama area, India showed aggression against Pakistan on February 26, 2019, in which not only did it face defeat but was humiliated around the world… Not only did we give an appropriate reply, but also shot down two enemy war planes… Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured… country’s entire civil and military leadership was united in the decision”. Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi dismissed sadiq’s statement, saying that “the government had taken all parliamentary leaders into confidence… the captured Indian pilot was not mentioned in that meeting… Highly irresponsible statements are being issued for political gains.” Qureshi also condemned the opposition for creating controversy on Kulbhushan Yadav. Afterwards, sadiq changed his clear-cut statement with the clarification issued. But his statement went viral on social media and was picked up by Indian television channels which exploited them to ma-
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brainchildren of the third dictator Zia-ul-Haq, and were formed to steal the mandate of Bhutto’s People’s Party. It is the only party that has been able to achieve absolute or two-thirds majority, not once but twice, mostly by manipulating the electoral system by use of their appointed loyalists in the ranks of the allpowerful patwaris and police. Almost all civilian institutions have been hounded by the likes of the Gullu Butts of the party. PML-Nawaz and its leadership have nothing in common with the AIML led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Allama Iqbal personally convinced Jinnah to take over the leadership of the Muslim League while Mian Nawaz sharif had to polish the shoes of Generals to land in the corridors of power. Nothing was earned through honest hard work, instead it was a power grab which has continued till today. Once I had the opportunity to discuss the selection credentials of Mian sahib with Lt Gen (retd) Ghulam Jilani Khan, who discovered his latent potential as he was a very ordinary student at Government College Lahore. The only positive quality he could think of was the ability to reach consensus, or in other words ‘muk muka’. The Quaid never compromised on principles. He never faked illness to gain personal favours, instead he put up a brave face despite suffering from a serious life-threatening ailment. Till today no one has been able to know the latest platelets count of Mian sahib after he landed in London. My father Nazir Ahmed Malik, the soldier of the independence movement and Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gold Medalist, at the top of his do and do not’s has penned in his own words, “No compromises do not fear confrontation.” Muk Muka was unknown to the founding fathers of Pakistan. Muslim League perished with the death of Baba-e-Qaum. His sister tried to resist but was opposed by these so called fake Leaguers who were a product of the establishment at various junctures. A reference should be filed in the supreme Court of Pakistan against the anti-state statements and activities of the former establishment child PML(N), after which no party should be allowed to exploit the name of the founding party of Pakistan, the one and only All-India Muslim League, which was founded in 1906 at Dacca. At least there should be some respect for Jinnah’s party. Why are the trademark and copyright laws not being invoked to protect the legacy of Baba-e-Qaum? Dr Farid A Malik is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.
Targeting key institutions for political gains
HAT an Army court of enquiry has completed the investigation into the alleged kidnapping of the IGP sindh to register an FIR against ousted PM Mian Nawaz sharif’s son-in-law on October 18, and has not tried to cover up the actions of those responsible, leading to the removal of the officers who ‘acted overzealously’ from their posts, and ordered to hold themselves at the disposal of GHQ, is welcome. That should mean that the next step after a court of inquiry, a court martial, is very much on the cards. However, there are certain issues that need to be addressed. The first is the level of permission, or even of knowledge, of the ‘overzealous action’. Or are people supposed to assume that members of a disciplined force, handling a matter so obviously sensitive, would act without permission, or without at least informing a superior authority of their actions? Then there is the issue of ‘public outrage’, in response to which the Rangers and the IsI did what they did. The report seems to be trying to minimize the culpability of the officers concerned by saying that they merely reacted to public pressure, but the question arises why these organisations would be approached at all, and why they would feel the need to respond. More mindboggling still is the fact that the public response was virtually absent, which indicates that the action was an initiative rather than a response. The most significant question is whether assessing the public response should not be left to elected officials, which seem to have been left out of the loop. The report has evoked differing responses. PML(N) supremo Mian Nawaz sharif has dismissed it as a coverup. PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari sees it as enhancing the prestige of state institutions. The ruling PTI, which had initially denied that anything had happened, praised the military for its self-accountability, thus washing its hands of any responsibility for either the incident or the inquiry into it. While there has been no unambiguous signal that the military will stay out of politics, it clearly seems that the military sees the incident as one causing ‘misunderstanding between state institutions,’ and not primarily as one violating the constitutional arrangement.
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
constitutionalist, the father of the nation desired to introduce a new constitution for what remained of AIML as the other faction stayed back in India. When his genuine efforts to create a constitutional party were thwarted, Jinnah resigned and walked out of the Executive Committee, severing all ties with the League. Chaudhry Khalique uz Zaman was elected President in place of the Baba-e-Qaum. some of the founding fathers remained in the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) as it was then called, while others who were cornered or sidetracked left. Hussain shaheed suharwardy, the former Chief Minister of United Bengal and a brilliant lawyer, formed the Awami League which then became the founding party of Bangladesh. After the death of Jinnah in september 1948, the old colonial establishment that the new country inherited started to flex its ‘imperial muscles’. It started with the murder of Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister (PM). Khawaja Nazimuddin, the GG, was pushed to step down to replace the PM while Baboo Ghulam Muhammad managed to become the GG. The tussle continued between the political and colonial forces till Ayub Khan imposed the first Martial Law on 27 October 1958, a bad day for both Pakistan and Kashmir. For political legitimacy he then formed the first King’s Party called Pakistan Muslim League (Convention) with headquarters on Davis Road Lahore. The building is currently occupied by another King’s Party by the name of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) which emerged from Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) after Musharraf’s Martial Law in 1999. Around 120 legislators left King Zia’s Party to join the new outfit. I remember Ghulam Haider Wyne, the first post-IJI ( Islami Jhamoori Ittehad ) Chief Minister of Punjab who replaced Mian Muhammad Nawaz sharif who was awarded the Premiership for his loyal services to the King, used to reside in Muslim League House. As an old AIML fellow worker, he used to visit my father on his bicycle. Wyne sahib in many ways resembled the current CM, obedient and loyal to the boss. Most PML(N) stalwarts or their parents in some cases remained in the establishment camp and actively supported Ayub Khan against Fatima Jinnah in the 1965 Presidential elections which was stolen by the King’s Party. Had they an iota of respect for the Baba-eQaum and his party they would not have dared to even raise their voice at the Mazar-e-Quaid. Hounding, not founding, parties like the PML(N) were all approved at Gate No. 4 of GHQ, but were launched at the Muslim League House on Davis Road Lahore. PML (Pagaro) and then PML(N) were the
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lign Pakistan and its armed forces. sadiq’s anti-state remarks cannot be seen in isolation, as these are part of the PDM which wants to bring down the present government. In this connection, addressing a PDM rally in Gujranwala on October 16 via a video link from London, ex-Prime Minister Nawaz sharif accused COAs Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and IsI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed of rigging elections and toppling his government to install Imran Khan in his place. It is mentionable that Nawaz sharif has been declared a proclaimed offender by the court, following his refusal to return to Pakistan to serve out his sentence. His brother shehbaz sharif and nephew Hamza shehbaz are in NAB (National Accountability Bureau) custody in connection with corruption references, while his political heir apparent, Maryam Nawaz, is out on bail and her London-based brothers have been declared proclaimed offenders. It is notable that, speaking at the PDM rally in Quetta on October 25, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) leader Maulana shah Owais said: “We want Balochistan as an independent state”. Instead of denouncing his anti-Pakistan statement, opposition leaders including Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that today Balochistan looks like an underdeveloped area of the country. Besides top officials of the government, on various occasions, Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that “Nawaz sharif is a jackal who ran away to London with its tail between its legs… sharif, who has been handed a seven-year jail term on corruption charges… is trying to sow discord in the military, the judiciary and the government in an attempt to escape accountability… the jackal used inappropriate language against the incumbent army and IsI chiefs… sharif as a protégé of army generals is now trying to re-establish himself as a champion of democracy… the opposition [PDM] is attempting to blackmail me so I can forgive them for their alleged corruption… Their interest is against Pakistan’s interest… These people are speaking the language of Narendra Modi… it was disappointing what Ayaz sadiq was saying about Abhinandan.” Meanwhile, the PML(N) suffered massive setbacks with some of its leaders, including many MNAs and MPAs, decided to quit the party, while others condemned the speeches of Nawaz sharif and Ayaz sadiq, while appreciating the sacrifices of the
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armed forces in fight against terrorism and for security of the country. It is noteworthy that regarding Indian surgical strike of February, last year, Islamabad had also released a video which exposed New Delhi’s false statements that Indian Air Force fighters killed 350 militants. Indian high civil and military leaders failed to provide any evidence in this respect. The PTI government also released the Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as a gesture of peace. And, during the opening ceremony of the PML(N)’s sher Jawan Movement on November 1, this year, defending the irrelevant stand of her party’s leaders, Maryam Nawaz stated that the “army should not let itself be dragged into politics… to be more careful”. Notably, during the former Prime Minister Nawaz sharif’s regime, WAPDA was going to be bankrupted, and he had invited the Army to manage its affairs. By collecting the electricity bills even from the influential persons, the Army’s personnel had saved WAPDA from bankruptcy. While the Pakistani armed forces have been the redeeming saviours of nation under all circumstances and have always reached out to all citizens of Pakistan during catastrophic periods— floods, earthquakes, the coronavirus pandemic, locusts attacks and so on. At this critical juncture, Pakistan is facing multifaceted crises and challenges, while the Covid-19 epidemic has affected the country in the wake of country’s fragile economy. Moreover, Pakistan’s security forces have been coping with a different war, where the enemy is also different, who employs subversive activities of various kinds which include both internal and external challenges. And General Bajwa has repeatedly stated that Pakistan is facing the challenge of hybrid war. But, it is our misfortune that PDM leaders have launched a movement not only to topple the current regime, but have, also been distorting the image of the Army and IsI by ignoring their sacrifices in maintaining the integrity of the country. Besides, in response to the PTI’s Tiger Force, the formation of the PML(N)’s sher Jawan Movement shows that the opposition wants to create anarchy in the country, as clashes could occur between these two forces. Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
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Thursday, 12 November, 2020
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Renewable energy is the answer
Character triumphs over Trump The good guy won this time
SirajuDDin aziz
“S
OME people are so fond of illluck that they run half-way to meet it” (wit and opinion of Douglas Jerrold). From 2016 till last week, Donald Trump sprinted with great enthusiasm to meet his inevitable Waterloo. It is in the nature of things that light will dawn upon darkness; the goodness of man will overtake evil and arrogance will yield to humility. Donald Trump’s stay at the White House was characterized by the xenophobic behavior of tweeting at 3:00 am in the morning on critical issues like the covid-19 pandemic, defence, security and foreign policy. In fact, he made fun of covid-19, by refusing to recognize it as deadly. He also never felt shy in calling international leaders names. It was like he would wake up from a horrible nightmare and record it by punching the keys on his Twitter account. He ridiculed everybody, without exception, including the poor young journalist of possibly Chinese origin by remarking to her, “lower your voice”. It albeit was good to see, she stood her ground, as a responsible Us citizen. Donald Trump beguiled the American nation in 2016, by making white supremacy his policy cornerstone, which was in absolute contrast to over 200 years of peaceful coexistence of all, regardless of creed, colour or religion. He destroyed the fabric of the thought of unity amidst diversity. In doing so, he must have turned Abe Lincoln’s body several times over in his grave. The man who stood for the rights of black / colored people more than a century ago was mocked by the disdainful and arrogant response to the coldblooded murder of George Floyd. “I can’t breathe……. I can’t…”, will ring in the ears of the American nation for the longest time. such wounds take very long to heal. If Lincoln stood for unity, Trump pursued relentlessly the destructive division of the otherwise unified people of Us society. Lincoln in a letter to the combative editor of the New-York Tribune spelt out his mission as the President. He wrote, My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the union, and is not to either save or destroy slavery. If I could save the union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by
freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could whisker! From Trump’s behaviour, it seems he save it by freeing some and leaving others alone has been trained in the nursery of Pakistani I would also do that”. Clarity of purpose; equal- politicians…… accept result if you win; allege rigging if you lose. We hear ‘Vote ko Izzat do’, ity for man. In April 1963, while serving a sentence in only when defeated; otherwise upon winning the Birmingham City Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King, cloaked slogan is, “Awam ko bay-izzat karo”. Leadership based on negativity doesn’t last. Jr, wrote to a fellow clergyman, “Moreover, I am cognisant of the interrelatedness of all commu- Donald Trump joins the infamous club of Jimmy nities and states …. Injustice anywhere is a Carter and George Bush (sr) as the third of the threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an recent trio, who couldn’t manage a second term inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single to their Presidency. Trustworthiness is the most garment of destiny. Whatever affects one di- critical element of leadership; and Donald rectly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we Trump lost it when he set upon to divide the afford to live with the narrow, provincial ‘’out- American society. Joe Biden has a task ahead. He already has side agitator‘ idea. Anyone who lives inside the United states can ever be considered an outsider begun well by stating he is president of UsA and anywhere within its bounds”. Little did King not the Democratic Party (Will PDM learn know then, that a certain Mr Trump, would something from this!), Biden will, by his endearsteamroller these ideas, by subscribing to white ingly charismatic smile, charm the nation back supremacy. Donald Trump in just four years to unity and behavior of tolerance. He embraces diversity as against white supremacy. I see his jolted the American legacy of lofty ideals. first hundred days as a Joe Biden used no healing endeavour. scathing comments of a In my view, the demeaning nature durmost heartening part ing his campaign. He Biden’s presidency will about this presidential was gentle, graceful election has been that with pleasing dereflect the words of Lao-Tzu, by and large, most meanour. It is so imporspoke tant for leadership to be “Those who are good I treat Americans through the ballot, in a beacon of good beas good, those who are not showing indignation, haviour and of even disposition. Even Congood I also trust as good, in repungance to and rejection of the bad befucius talked of the doing so I gain in goodness. haviour of politicians. need of “Gentleman” (Our politicians get for the field of politics, Those who are of good faith away by challenging social services and even the gender status leadership. I have faith in them. Those Biden never did who are lacking in good faith of opponents!). Joe Biden goes allow personal tragedies of losing a I also have faith in. In doing down in history already as one who received the young wife and little so I gain in good faith”. highest ever votes, that daughter in a car acciexceeded 74 million…. dent or having to bring Leaders, ought to know, and still counting. suchis 46-year-old, son , cess is the outcome of who succumbed to cantrust begets trust, truth the battle between concer, in his work ethic. It begets truth and honesty fidence and conceit. is believed that he spent However, no atall his savings, includbegets honesty tempt should be made ing selling his own to discredit Donald house, to pay for the Trump from the fact he health care of his was all verbal foam of beloved son. Alexander Pope, the poet composed these lines for Joseph threat, but he attacked no country or killed innoAddison, who held political office, “statesman, cent civilians under the garb of fighting terroryet friend to truth; of soul sincere. In action ism or of Us interests. A bloated balloon, he faithful, and in honor clear; who broke no prom- was, or rater is, with an unstoppable supply of ise, served no private end, who gained no title, helium that made him soar beyond his skills, and who lost no friend”. Pope would have al- abilities and talents. It is my unflinching belief that Biden’s prestered no word for Joe Biden. Biden, is not a novice, as Trump was, when idency will reflect the words of Lao-Tzu, “Those he entered the Oval Office. He is a trained and who are good I treat as good, those who are not well groomed politician of over 50 years of ex- good I also trust as good, in doing so I gain in perience on Capitol Hill, including being Vice- goodness. Those who are of good faith I have President to Barack Obama. His understanding faith in them. Those who are lacking in good is clean and clear how the “establishment” faith I also have faith in. In doing so I gain in good faith”. Leaders, ought to know, trust begets works in Washington, DC. Till the writing of this piece, Trump has not trust, truth begets truth and honesty begets honconceded defeat. A very bad loser, just the way esty. Joe Biden has a task, not totally arduous, he was an arrogant winner in 2016. His delay in since the principles of American society have doing so has the potential to split the American not been irreparable dented / damaged, to clean nation. He remains in violation of the basic prin- up the stables and usher a united UsA and a ciples of grace and dignity, which the Founding peaceful Global Village. Fathers had enshrined in the Constitution. He The writer is a freelance columnist should take a cue from Al Gore, who lost by a
AT the moment, we have predominantly costly fossil fueled power generation in the energy mix , as a result of which electricity production cost and tariffs are higher, unaffordable and contribute to green house gasses at the same time . The international prices of solar power , in particular , have dropped down dramatically and we need to seize this opportunity by expanding the power system through installation of solar Powerplants (PV operated) as fast as possible harnessing the abundant sunshine in the country and by phasing out and retiring the costly and environment unfriendly fossils powered powerplants. The World Bank (WB) has advised the government to go for solar & wind power to bring down the power prices and at the same time control the environment . It has promised to fund such projects and also to use its influence on other financial institutions to assist in this regard. Our government needs to seize this good offer of the Bank and work on the solar & wind projects jealously for ultimate good of the public and the country by achieving at least 30 percent share of solar power by 2030 in the energy mix. Other countries in the region like India and Bangladesh are ahead of us in this regard. Worldwide , all the countries are striving hard to maximise the production of renewable energy from solar and wind . Our future lies in going solar , in particular , so that it becomes the largest source of electrical power for the economic well being of the country . Engr riaz Bhutta LahorE
Man is architect of his own fate IT is an undeniable fact that Man is the architect of his own destiny. Of all the creation in the universe, Man is superior and endowed with the reason and intellect. He has made the best use of his intellectuality in every aspect of life. Man has conquered nature greatly. He has proved his mettle on conquering the moon by being able to put his feet on it. Many diseases that were considered fatal in the past are now curable owing to man’s efforts. This shows the writ of man lies in his own hands. The great saying of shakespeare is “ Fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves.” It shows the man masters his own fate. It is he who makes or unmakes. Those who give up at every eve of life never see the face of success. They were merely to blame , it was destined and not written in their fortune. Man is not a playful tool in the hands of fate but he is the nucleus of the world who architect his own fate. SEjaL Makahni Dharki
Massive earthquakes in Turkey RECENTLY, on 30 October 2020 at 2:51 time an earthquake of 6.6 magnitude occurred in the Aegean sea sefehisar District latest records indicate that 2/354 aftershocks followed the earthquake with 46 of them being over magnitude of 4.It is annoying that this jeopardous earthquake brought abundant destruction in Turkey. specially, Izmir city was most affected 13 buildings were totally destroyed while over 3,000 buildings were heavily damaged. It hurts to mention that a total 114 people lost their precious lives and 1,035 people have been injured as a result of this murderous earthquake. Furthermore, still 36 people are under treatment. We took action to start the necessary work in the region with all over relevant institutions and ministers, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen. similarly health minister Fahrettin Koca said,”we stand by the people of Izmir with all over support”. Briefly, the ferocious earthquake buttoned up numerous demolishing in Turkey with it’s shattering outcomes. Shahnoor aMEEr hoShaB turBat
The second wave THE second wave of Covid-19 has arrived in the country Pakistan, because of the careless attitude of the people. Now it is tough to fight against the deadly virus, Covid-19. The people are ignoring sOPs since they have forgotten that Covid-19 has not gone away, but it has still been seen rampaging through the country. Now the time has come to not ignore sOPs, and rather we should follow them everywhere, especially in public places we must be more careful. so the government should ensure strict rules of sOPs by the public. Now it is our own responsibility to follow the sOPs for saving ourselves. iMran Sattar turBat
Don’t forget NOVEL Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infectious disease that is caused by a severe Acute Respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sARs-CoV-2), provisionally called the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). COVID-19 is a newly identified pathogen and thus termed as a novel coronavirus disease. COVID-19 causes severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (sARs) and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11th March 2020. COVID-19 was first reported on 31st December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and was initially referred to as pneumonia of unknown etiology. SaMiuLLah QoMi turBat
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
How voTe by mail defeaTed Trump AND IT ALL STARTED AT THE WASHINGTON MONTHLY
Washington Monthly
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Paul Glastris
ONALD Trump is contesting an election he lost by leveling baseless charges at an electoral mechanism that he long suspected would be his undoing: mail-in voting. It’s possible that he can upend the will of the people, especially given the craven willingness of GOP officials to aid and abet him. Because that would require thwarting the vote in several states already
in Joe Biden’s column, Trump’s subterfuge is a long shot. As we wait and see, I can’t help feeling a sense of personal satisfaction that mail-in ballots are the source of Trump’s fear and loathing. Let me tell you why. When I joined the Washington Monthly as an intern in 1984, one of my bosses was a young editor named Phil Keisling. In 1991, Keisling was elected secretary of state of Oregon, where he set up the nation’s first universal statewide vote by mail program. Despite the reform’s evident success in boosting turnout and Keisling’s vigorous proselytizing, few other states followed suit, largely because there was no political constituency for the idea. Republicans reflexively opposed any change that would broaden voting. Democrats weren’t convinced that this reform would give them a partisan advantage. Instead, they devoted all their energies to voter registration, early voting, and other traditional tactics. Consequently, the national press virtually ignored the subject.
The one exception was the Washington Monthly. Beginning in 2012, at my request, Keisling wrote a series of deeply researched stories making the case for the benefits—especially for mobilizing low-propensity voters—of universal vote by mail, or as we called it, “vote at home.” Those stories got some attention but were met with skepticism by a number of electoral reform experts. So the Washington Monthly commissioned studies by an independent researcher on the turnout effects of vote by mail in states that had implemented it—studies that got coverage in The Washington Post and The New York Times and were widely discussed in political circles. Keisling and I also helped found a nonprofit, the National Vote at home Institute, to provide full-time research and bipartisan advocacy for the idea. The NVAhI has since become the most trusted source on all things vote by mail. Slowly, our work began to bend the curve of elite opinion. Vote at home won endorsements from Common Cause, the Center for American Progress, the AFL-CIO,
and even the DNC. A campaign in Arizona to encourage mail-in balloting contributed to the razor-thin electoral victories of Katie hobbs for secretary of state in 2018 and Kirsten Sinema for the U.S. Senate in 2019. By 2020, Utah (a red state) and hawaii (a blue state) had joined Oregon, Washington, and Colorado in instituting universal vote by mail, as had 15 counties in California. Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Michigan had implemented no-excuse absentee balloting measures, a key first step toward universal vote at home, which is when a mail ballot is sent automatically to every registered voter. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly, in a matter of weeks, a consensus developed that vote by mail was the best and perhaps only way to save the 2020 elections, given the health risks of voting in person. That consensus would not have formed so rapidly without the spadework we did. But it also freaked out Donald Trump, who famously tweeted in May that vote by mail would “LeAD TO The eND OF OUR GReAT RePUBLICAN PARTY.” his fear became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Republican voters, who once used mail-in balloting disproportionately, aban-
doned the practice. Democratic voters, meanwhile, embraced it. This led Republicans to engage in various sabotage efforts, which my colleague eric Cortellessa has been tirelessly uncovering for months. These include banning swing states from processing mail-in ballots prior to election day (in order to engineer the very counting delays Trump has warned are a sign of fraud) and, in Pennsylvania, outright refusals by some GOP elections officials to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by November 3 but arrive after that date despite a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that they do so. how this developing constitutional crisis will play out is anyone’s guess. It was certainly beyond my wildest imagination that vote by mail would be at the center of such a crisis when we first started to promote the policy eight years ago. But rest assured, my colleagues and I will be covering events as they unfold as carefully and relentlessly as we can. Paul Glastris is the editor in chief of the Washington Monthly. He was an editor at the magazine from 1986 to 1988.
Why distancing and hand-washing won't stop the spread of Covid in schools
CIA-owned encryption company jeopardised Swiss neutrality
BETTER VENTILATION AND UNIVERSAL MASK-WEARING ARE KEY TO KEEPING THE VIRUS AT BAY, SO CHILDREN’S EDUCATION CAN CONTINUE
THE REPORT GOES ON TO SUGGEST THAT THE SWISS SPY AGENCY, THE STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, ENTERED A FORMAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CIA THAT INCLUDED ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES' COMMUNICATIONS
guardian
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JenniFer dowd
INCe the start of the pandemic in england, discussions about Covid-19 in children and schools have been fraught. While many parents rejoiced that schools would remain open in england through its second national lockdown, some worried this would limit the effectiveness of new restrictions, while nearly half of teachers reported feeling concerned for their own safety. Although respiratory viruses typically hit children hard, Covid-19 has had surprisingly mild effects in kids, and fewer detected cases in children also suggest that they could be less susceptible to infection than adults. Yet the actual data about Covid-19 in children is murky. In early household contact-tracing studies, younger children were less likely to be infected by family members or to be the first or “index” case. But this may have been because children infected with Covid tend to have mild or even no symptoms. One way around this conundrum is to take a random sample of a community, testing individuals whether they have symptoms or not. A nationally representative survey in Spain found only slightly lower prevalence of the virus that causes Covid-19 in children under 10 compared to older children and young adults. And according to recent data from the ONS infection study, which randomly samples the population each week, infection rates in england were highest in older teens and young adults, while the rate of infection among younger children was no different to that of adults. Moreover, the amount of virus found in children with Covid19 is not consistently lower than in adults, although children may shed the virus for less time because of having a milder form of disease. The bottom line is that children of all ages can and do contract the virus and can infect others. The susceptibility and infectiousness of younger children may be slightly lower than older age groups, but this apparent protection fades for teens and young adults, who contract and transmit the virus at high rates. As schools have reopened around the world, clusters of cases have been detected, but it’s often difficult to identify whether transmission is occurring in school, at home, or in the community. Outbreaks are more common in secondary compared to primary schools, and one analysis of school re-openings in england in June found that most cases were between staff, rather than between students. But recent ONS data show that Covid-19 positivity rates in schoolteachers were no higher than in other professions. So while it seems that transmission in schools reflects levels of community transmission rather than accelerating it, the jury is still out. What we do know is that the costs of school closures are immense. Many students lost out on education during england’s first lockdown, with disadvantaged children suffering the most. Keeping schools open and safe should be one of society’s chief priorities during this pandemic. Although england has prioritised keeping schools open during its second wave, the government risks sabotaging these efforts unless it also embraces the current consensus on how to minimise transmission in schools. Children are not immune to transmission, and schools are largely indoor environments where students and staff spend many hours a day talking and interacting in close proximity – exactly the conditions in which the virus can
spread. To defeat Covid, we need to use all the tools in our public-health toolkit. While any single tactic may have weaknesses, these layers of defence become strong when stacked together. early in the pandemic, a focus on handwashing and disinfecting surfaces dominated the prevention narrative. This “hygiene theatre” may soothe our anxieties, but it can ultimately detract from more important modes of transmission on which we should be focusing. For example, we’ve learned that surface transmission plays less of a role in the spread of the virus compared to droplets and aerosols. And viral loads are highest just prior to the onset of symptoms – meaning that asymptomatic transmission is Covid’s superpower. Because of this, talking may be a more significant route of infection than sneezing or coughing. Not only do people normally refrain from coughing on others, particularly if they have other Covid symptoms, but when a person talks or breathes, the virus hitches a ride on the small particles they emit. Larger droplets produced when coughing or sneezing usually fall to the ground within a 1- or 2-metre distance, whereas smaller aerosols float over larger distances and can accumulate in indoor spaces, much like smoke. This reduces the benefit of a “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach. Recent simulations published by el País, based on the work of aerosol scientist Dr Jose-Luis Jiménez, showed how transmission occurs in different scenarios, including at school. In these simulations, people sat 2 metres away from one another, but all of the other preventive measures, including ventilating the room, shortening encounters, reducing the number of participants and wearing face masks, were needed to prevent transmission. While there are some caveats about the precision of these estimates, their conclusions are clear: distance alone can’t protect you indoors. Although schools have already implemented some important precautions, other tools are still under-utilised. Measures such as better ventilation and universal masking are crucial. Opening windows even a few centimetres can increase the air exchange that dilutes virus-laden aerosols, while portable air cleaners with hepa filters can capture airborne viral particles. And getting students outside as much as possible, including using tents or other structures, can also help mitigate indoor risks. In england, the government’s current guidance on face masks in schools recommends only that they be worn by secondary school students in corridors and communal spaces. This overlooks the risk of aerosol transmission taking place over longer periods of time in classrooms. Face masks can help to physically block aerosols, and young school children in other countries have embraced them, often with fewer complaints than those heard from many adults. Younger children could be given periodic mask breaks outdoors, and here, again, the perfect need not be the enemy of the good: less than 100% masking would still make a substantial impact on reducing transmission. It’s clear that physical distancing and handwashing alone aren’t enough to protect students and staff from indoor transmission of the virus. To get the most out of the lockdown while maintaining children’s health and education, we should help schools to embrace important prevention measures, so they aren’t fighting the virus with one arm tied behind their back. Jennifer Dowd is a professor of demography and population health at the University of Oxford.
Washington Post
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GreG Miller and Peter F Mueller
he CIA and German intelligence jeopardised Switzerland's historic reputation for neutrality by using a Swiss company as a platform for a global espionage operation for decades, according to a report by members of the Swiss Parliament. Investigators concluded that Swiss authorities were aware of, and at times complicit in, an elaborate espionage operation in which the CIA covertly owned and controlled a Swiss company, Crypto AG, that secretly sold rigged encryption systems to foreign governments. The report marks the culmination of a Swiss investigation launched after the history of the Crypto operation was revealed earlier this year by The Washington Post in collaboration with German public television ZDF and Swiss broadcaster SRF. The Crypto operation exploited "Switzerland's image abroad as a neutral state", according to the report, which also said that Swiss authorities had effectively allowed the CIA and its German counterpart, the BND, to carry out "intelligence operations to the detriment of other states by hiding behind a Swiss company". The probe marks the first public accounting by a foreign government of an espionage operation so successful and extensive that a classified CIA history referred to it as "the intelligence coup of the century". The CIA did not respond to a request for comment, and the BND previously declined to comment. Based in Zug, Switzerland, Crypto was one of the world's leading suppliers of encryption machines used by foreign governments to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. But the company, since the 1970s, was secretly owned by the CIA and the BND, and had clandestinely collaborated with the National Security Agency, the US codebreaking service, beginning in the 1950s. The CIA's ownership of the company was shielded from public view through complex financial transactions orchestrated by a law firm in Liechtenstein. Under NSA and CIA control, Crypto sold rigged systems to more than 100 governments, including Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican. By exploiting hidden vulnerabilities in the machines' algorithms, US and German spies read the diplomatic cables and other communications of adversaries as well as some allies. The operation was known internally by code names including "Thesaurus" and "Rubicon". A detailed CIA history obtained by The Washington Post depicted the program as a triumph of 20thcentury espionage, marvelling that "foreign governments were paying good money to the US and [what was then] West Germany for the privilege of having their most secret communications read by at least two (and possibly as many as five or six) foreign countries". That line alluded to the sharing of intelligence gleaned from Crypto devices with allies including the United Kingdom. The CIA history indicates that Swiss authorities
were generally aware of, but not directly involved in, the operation. The Swiss report confirms aspects of that classified account but goes further in describing alleged Swiss complicity. Citing Swiss intelligence documents, the report indicates that the Swiss intelligence service was aware by 1993 that Crypto "belonged to foreign intelligence services and exported 'vulnerable' devices." The report goes on to suggest that the Swiss spy agency, the Strategic Intelligence Service, entered a formal arrangement with the CIA that included access to other countries' communications. The SIS was able "to guarantee reliable access to this knowledge with the agreement of American intelligence services," according to a translation of the Swiss report. The document does not provide more substantial detail on this arrangement. Swiss intelligence officials did not comment on the report. The disclosures provide the latest glimpse into an espionage operation that has been the focus of intrigue and speculation almost since the company's founding in the 1950s by a Swedish inventor, Boris hagelin, who had made a fortune selling portable encryption machines to U.S. forces in World War II. The findings make clear that Swiss authorities had suspicions about Crypto as early as the 1970s, when employees at the Zug-based company began coming forward with concerns about its activities. Only top Crypto executives were ever told about the company's true ownership, according to CIA records. But employees in the engineering and research departments repeatedly identified vulnerabilities in the products' designs that they were mysteriously prevented from fixing. Swiss authorities mounted several investigations of Crypto beginning in the 1970s that raised suspicions about Western intelligence involvement but could never confirm a CIA connection. Those suspicions became more acute in 1992, when a Crypto salesman, hans Buehler, was arrested during a business trip to Iran and interrogated about the company's products. he was held captive for nine months before Crypto secretly paid $1 million for his release. The operation faced one of its gravest threats of exposure when Buehler returned and began speaking with news outlets about his ordeal and his Iranian interrogators' questions. The Swiss report implies that the country's intelligence service entered into a more formal, if passive, arrangement with the CIA in this time frame. The report indicates that Swiss officials did not violate Swiss law by allowing the CIA-Crypto operation to continue, but concludes that doing so risked significant political and reputational damage to the country. The operation continued until 2018 when the CIA effectively shut down the program and sold Crypto's headquarters building in Zug, as well as other assets. Crypto's international business was purchased by a Swedish entrepreneur, Andreas Linde, who said in an email exchange with The Post earlier this year that he was not aware of the CIA's ownership when he purchased the assets. export controls imposed by Swiss authorities in the aftermath of public disclosures about Crypto earlier this year have threatened the company's survival.
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
buSiNeSS 09
corporate corner Silkbank, British Airways accord brings benefits to credit card customers KARACHI: Silkbank Limited, a dominant player with substantial market share in the credit cards industry, has announced an alliance with one of the world’s favorite airlines – British Airways. This partnership will provide Silkbank credit card customers an opportunity to avail up to 10pc discount on British Airways using Silkbank credit cards. Naveed Mushtaq, Business Head – Credit Cards at Silkbank, said, “In line with our commitment to providing top notch services to our Credit Card customers, we have collaborated with British Airways. We are sure this alliance will be widely appreciated and our customers will avail the benefits through British Airways.” PRESS RELEASE
Cicero & Bernay expands into Pakistan, Afghanistan with Bashir Mraish Consultancy LAHORE: Tapping into the potential markets of Pakistan and Afghanistan and further strengthening its strong hold in the Asian continent, Cicero & Bernay Public Relations (C&B), a leading, independent UAE-based PR firm, has furthered its global reach by foraying into the two countries with Bashir Mraish Consultancy (BMC). Tariq Al-Sharabi, Managing Director of Cicero & Bernay, commented, “Asia is an important market for our stakeholders and a presence in Pakistan and Afghanistan has further opened that space for us. As part of our ongoing plans of exploring new markets and expanding our footprint across the world by offering PR and digital solutions to our clients, this new expansion will facilitate in setting even higher standards and wider offerings for us.” PRESS RELEASE
KARACHI: KFC Pakistan recently renewed its exclusive cold beverage partnership with Pepsico Pakistan for the next five years. KFC Pakistan CEO Raza Pirbhai, PepsiCo Pakistan & Afghanistan CEO Furqan Ahmed Syed and PepsiCo Africa, Middle East & South Asia CEO Eugene Willemsen were also present on the occasion. PRESS RELEASE
OGRA finAllY dEtERMinES RlnG PRiCES fOR AuG-nOv 2020 ISLAMABAD
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AHMAD AHMADANI
HE Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has finally determined weighted average sale prices of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) for the months of August, September, October and November 2020. As per details issued by the company on Wednesday, the new RLNG prices for November are $7.6584 per Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) for SNGPL consumers and $7.3968 per MMBTU for the consumers of SSGC. Similarly, RLNG prices for October are $7.4149 per MMBTU for SNGPL consumers and $7.1608 per MMBTU for SSGC consumers. For September, OGRA has determined RLNG price at $6.9301 per MMBTU for SNGPL consumers and $6.6780 per MMBTU for SSGC con-
sumers, while for the month of August, it determined $6.3794 per MMBTU for SNGPL consumers and $6.1291 per MMBTU for SSGC consumers. The price of RLNG stood at $6.67 per MMBTU for SSGC and $6.47 per MMBTU for SNGPL during the month of July 2020. In absolute terms, the RLNG price has been increased by $1.27 per MMBTU for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and $1.2677 per MMBTU for Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) -- if count the hike in RLNG price determined by OGRA for the month of August, September, October and November, 2020. According to OGRA, average cost of supply has been taken on a provisional basis as per the Determination of Estimated Revenue Requirement (DERR) for financial year 2020-21, while weighted average sale price has been worked out in light of the advice
Banking sector assets expand 7.8pc in 1H2020: SBP ISLAMABAD TLTP
The State Bank of Pakistan has said that despite elevated economic stress driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, the assets of the banking sector witnessed a decent expansion of 7.8pc during the first half of the calendar year 2020 (H1CY20). The central bank on Wednesday issued the Mid-Year Performance Review (MPR) of the banking sector for the year 2020, which comprehensively covers the performance and soundness of the banking sector for the period January to June 2020 (H1CY20). The MPR attributed the growth to the robust increase in investments, funded by a surge in deposits, adding that advances, on the contrary, observed mild downtick owing to the economic slackness caused by the disruption in the business activities after the outbreak. It highlighted that the policy measures rolled out by SBP facilitated the banking sector in conserving the capital, enhancing the lending capacity and increasing the loss absorption ability. As a result, despite some increase in credit risk, the banking sector
demonstrated improved profitability and enhanced resilience. The non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio increased from 8.6pc as of end December 2019 to 9.7pc as of end June 2020. However, net NPLs to loans ratio, which is a better measure of credit risk, increased only marginally from 1.7pc to 1.9pc. The earnings marked a visible improvement as profitability jumped by 52pc on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, it said, adding this improvement resulted from higher interest income, deceleration in interest expenses and rise in non-interest income. With better profitability, the soundness of the banking sector further strengthened as Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) increased to 18.7pc in June 2020 from 17pc in December 2019. The review also included the results of the 6th wave of SBP’s Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) conducted in July-August, 2020, which represents the views of the market participants. The survey results indicated that—at present and for the next six months—the respondents consider global risks and domestic macroeconomic risks to be important.
Electric buses to ply on Lahore roads KARACHI: UBL Corporate & Investment Banking Group Head Farooq A Khan and SNGPL Managing Director Amer Tufail pictured along with senior executives of both organizations during the signing ceremony of an agreement to appoint UBL as the sole partner for GIDC payments collection. PRESS RELEASE
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has accorded approval to ply electric buses on Lahore roads to curb the menace of air pollution. Chairing a meeting on Wednesday, the CM issued instructions for expediting electric bus operations in Lahore. He announced that 'green electric buses' would run on six routes in the city, covering 106km. Besides, he stressed the need to make operational ‘vehicles inspection certification system’ to curb smog. "The Lahore Transport Company will be transformed into Punjab Transport Company with transport inspectors, sub-inspectors and sergeants to be recruited for the organization," he added. He said electric buses would also be introduced in other cities of the province under public-private partnership. The CM directed the authorities to ensure cleanliness at Orange Line Metro train stations and warned that he won't compromise on this issue. He said he would pay surprise visits to these stations to review cleanliness measures. TLTP
MARKET DAILY
Stocks end flat after volatile session KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Investors of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a jittery session on Wednesday, with the indices swaying both ways in search of a clear direction before closing marginally in green. Global equity markets, on the other hand, showed a positive trend, whereas crude oil prices also moved north from the previous close; WTI crude price rising 3.75pc to $42.91, while Brent crude price increasing 3.55pc to $45.16. "The market started on a positive note mainly on the back of exploration & production sector, which accumulated hefty gains due to surge in international crude prices. However, market fears over developing political
wrangling between the government and opposition kept the index in check," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read. "Cement sector saw selling pressure amid expectation of a decline in monthly despatches (based on the first week of November), whereas fertilizer, oil & gas marketing and banking sectors remained subdued due to somber investor sentiment." The benchmark KSE-100 Index followed a volatile trajectory on Wednesday, recording its intraday high at 41,330.49 (+177.44 points) and low at 40,900.03 (-253.02 points). It ended higher by 44.27 points at 41,197.32. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gained 168.56 points to close at 66,104.49, while the KSE All Share Index settled flat (+2.70 points) at 28,864.16.
The overall market volumes contracted from 355.98 million shares in the previous session to 244.23 million shares (-31pc). Average traded value also declined by 43pc, from $95.5 million to $54.6 million. BankIslami Pakistan Ltd (BIPL +8.78pc), TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +2.59pc) and K-Electric Ltd (KEL -3.25pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 31.52 million, 25.04 million and 16.32 million shares, respectively. Sectors that kept the benchmark index in green included oil & gas exploration (+145.40 points), banking (+37.03 points) and technology & communication (+24.76 points). Among the companies, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC +64.54 points), Pak Petroleum Ltd (PPL +41.4 points) and
CMYK
Habib Bank Ltd (HBL +39.75 points) remained the top contributors. Adding 3.05pc to its cumulative market capitalization, the oil & gas exploration sector ended as the session's top performer, with Mari Petroleum Company Ltd (MARI +1.57pc), OGDC (+3.84pc), Pakistan Oilfields Ltd (POL +2.35pc) and PPL (+2.77pc) posting decent gains. Meanwhile, in a notification to the exchange, TPL Properties Ltd (TPLP -0.21pc) informed that it has purchased a land through its wholly-owned subsidiary measuring 10,002 square yards. The company plans to use this property to develop a technology park in Sindh. The timeline for the completion of the project is anticipated to be two years, which includes planning and designing phase.
of the Ministry of Energy. "Furthermore, the above-mentioned prices have been computed on the basis of data provided by M/s Pakistan State Oil (PSO), and M/s Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and the parties (SNGPL, SSGCL, PSO and PLL) shall scrutinize the same on the basis of evidences before making payments as per their mutual agreements." It is pertinent to mention that the new prices of RLNG include charges of LNG terminals, transmission losses, port charges, and margins of the importers – Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL). The new weighted average sale prices of RLNG have been computed based on the 11 cargoes imported during the month of November 2020, including six cargoes by PSO and five by PLL. The same number of LNG cargos (11) was imported in October, September and August to meet the gas demands of SNGPL and SSGC consumers.
Car sales rise 25pc YoY in October ISLAMABAD: Car sales in Pakistan rose 25 per cent to 11,997 units in October 2020, as against the sale of 9,566 units in October 2019, according to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturing Association (PAMA) on Wednesday. Cumulatively, the sale of cars increased 8pc YoY to 43,865 units during the first four months (July-Oct) of the current fiscal year (2020-21), as against 40,583 units in same period of last year. As per the data, the sale of Honda cars (Civic and City) increased sharply by 80pc, from 1,032 units in October 2019 to 1,858 units. The sale of Toyota Corolla, however, registered a decrease of 33pc, from 1,982 units to 1,314 units in Oct 2020. During the month under review, the sale of Suzuki Swift increased 19pc to 180 units (151 units in Oct 2019), while that of Suzuki Wagon-R surged 70pc to 1,198 units (530 units in Oct last year). On the other hand, the sale of Suzuki Alto plummeted to 2,893 units in Oct 2020 from 4,048 units last year, showing a decline of 48.5pc. The sale of Suzuki Cultus also declined by 30pc to 816 units in Oct 2020 from 1,179 units in Oct last year. The newly launched Toyota Yaris witnessed a sale of 3,058 units in Oct 2020 as compared to the sale of 2,421 units in September 2020, showing an increase of 26.3pc on a monthly basis. Meanwhile, the sale of motorcycles and three-wheelers jumped from 156,872 units in Oct 2019 to 175,294 units in Oct 2020, showing a rise of 11.7pc. APP
Govt urged to expedite work on CASA-1000 power project PESHAWAR: The business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has urged the government to expedite work on the strategically important Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) power project so as to fulfill the country's growing energy requirements and to ensure availability of electricity to industries on subsidized rates. The demand was made by a delegation of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), led by its President Sherbaz Bilour, during its meeting with Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Ismatullo Nasredin on Wednesday. Bilour underscored the importance of CASA-1000 project, which according to him "will not only help address increasing energy needs, but will also ensure availability of electricity at the lowest rates". Earlier, SCCI senior officials Engr Manzoor Elahi and Faiz Muhammad Faizi had briefed the meeting about the hurdles impeding bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan and gave concrete proposals to address them amicably. The Tajikistan diplomat agreed with SCCI’s proposals and reiterated the need for joint efforts by both the countries to further improve bilateral trade and economic relations. The envoy informed that his country and Kyrgyzstan have already completed work on CASA-1000 project. He urged that the Pakistani government to also expedite work on this important natural project to make the joint initiative a success. AZIZ BUNERI
SECP mulls regulating digital, virtual assets ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday published an outline of digital assets to seek proposals for regulating the market as it enters “the new era of digital finance”. In its position paper, the SECP acknowledges the critical need to formulate regulatory measures for the virtual industry. According to the regulatory watchdog, a virtual asset is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded, or transferred, and can be used for payment or investment purposes. It said that even though the full-scale misuse of virtual currencies, provided the reluctance to regulate it, is unknown; however, its market value has been reported to exceed €7 billion worldwide. After comparing the proposed framework for crypto assets in other countries, SECP is of the view that regulating this regime of digital finance will hike capacity in financial markets while allowing more liquidity flow in secondary markets of the country. The SECP noted in its position paper that regulators worldwide, while realizing the potential of digital assets and the uncertainty around them, need to start assessing the risk associated with digital assets as well. It said whatever innovation it can bring to the financial sector can only be assessed if regulatory frameworks to protect investors and make larger financial inclusion a possibility are in place. STAFF REPORT
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
THOUsands Of armEnIans dEmand prImE mInIsTEr qUIT OvEr cEasEfIrE YEREVAN/BAKU
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AGENCIES
HOUSANDS of Armenian demonstrators, chanting “Nikol is a traitor”, demanded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign on Wednesday over a ceasefire that secured territorial advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh after six weeks of fighting. The ceasefire, announced on Tuesday, ended the worst fighting in the region in decades, and has been celebrated as a victory in Azerbaijan. Pashinyan has called it a disaster but said he had no choice but to sign it to stave off a defeat. Several thousand people defied a martial law ban on street rallies to protest in the capital Yerevan, a day after protesters stormed and ransacked some government buildings.
Wednesday’s protesters, some wearing protective masks, gathered despite the arrest of a prominent opposition leader and several others at the start of the rally, and regardless of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit Armenia hard. The ceasefire halted military action in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians. Under the agreement, 2,000 Russian peacekeeping troops are being deployed to the region. Since the early 1990s, ethnic Armenians had military control over all of Nagorno-Karabakh and substantial swaths of Azeri territory surrounding it. They have now lost much of the enclave itself as well as the surrounding territory. Pashinyan said he concluded the peace deal under pressure from his army. Nagorno-Karabakh’s leader said there had
been a risk of Azerbaijan taking control of the whole enclave following the fall of its second biggest city, Shushi, known by Azeris as Shusha. “This is a big failure and disaster,” Pashinyan said on Tuesday. He said he was taking personal responsibility for the setbacks, but he rejected calls to step down. He did not immediately respond to Wednesday’s protests. OPPOSITION LEADER ARRESTED: Seventeen political parties called Wednesday’s protest to step up demands for Pashinyan to quit. Among those arrested were Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party, according to a Facebook post by Hripsime Arakelian, a member of his party. Prosperous Armenia is the second biggest faction in parliament. The Russian peacekeepers - who are due to stay in the region for five years -
started leaving Russia on Tuesday and are now controlling the Lachin corridor, a mountain pass linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian army said. For Russia, which has a defence pact with Armenia and a military base there, securing the ceasefire deal sent a signal that it is still the main arbiter in the energy-producing South Caucasus, which it sees as its own backyard. Turkey also flexed its muscles during the conflict, providing diplomatic support and arms supplies for Azerbaijan. It was not involved in mediating the ceasefire deal and has not contributed any peacekeepers. Though Azerbaijan has hailed the ceasefire agreement as a victory, some Azeris are frustrated that Azeri forces stopped fighting before regaining control of all of NagornoKarabakh. Other Azeris are wary about the arrival of peacekeepers from Russia, which dominated the region in Soviet times.
Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers to resign as Beijing moves to quash opposition HONG KONG AGENCIES
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday they would resign in protest against the dismissal of four of their colleagues from the city assembly after Beijing gave local authorities new powers to further curb dissent. The Chinese parliament earlier adopted a resolution allowing the city’s executive to expel lawmakers deemed to be advocating Hong Kong independence, colluding with foreign forces or threatening national security, without having to go through the courts. Shortly afterwards, the local government announced the disqualification of four assembly members who had previously been barred from running for re-election as authorities deemed their pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong was not sincere. The moves will raise further concern in the West about the level of Hong Kong’s autonomy, promised under a “one country, two systems” formula when Britain ended its colonial rule and handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Britain’s foreign minister Dominic Raab said the expulsion of the four lawmakers constituted an assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms as set out in the UK-China Joint Declaration. “This campaign to harass, stifle and disqualify democratic opposition tarnishes China’s international reputation and undermines Hong Kong’s long-term stability,” Raab said in a statement. At a news conference in Hong Kong which started with all opposition lawmakers holding hands, Democratic Party chairman Wuu Chi-Wai said: “We can no longer tell the world that we still have ‘one country, two systems, this declares its official death.” ‘CORE VALUES’: Opposition members of the city assembly, all part of the moderate old guard of democrats, say they have tried to make a stand against what many people in Hong Kong see as Beijing’s whittling away of
freedoms and institutional checks and balances, despite a promise of a high degree of autonomy. “My mission as a legislator to fight for democracy and freedom cannot continue but I would certainly go along if Hong Kong people continue to fight for the core values of Hong Kong,” one of the disqualified lawmakers, Kwok Ka-Ki, told reporters. China denies curbing rights and freedoms in the global financial hub, but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis. The city government said in a statement the four legislators - Kwok, Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok and Kenneth Leung - were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security. Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed leader, Carrie Lam, later told a briefing she welcomed diverse opinion in the 70seat legislature but the law had to be applied.
“We could not allow members of a Legislative Council who have been judged in accordance with the law that they could not fulfil the requirement and the prerequisite for serving on the Legislative Council to continue to operate,” she said. Shortly after the disqualifications, China’s representative office in the city said Hong Kong had to be ruled by loyalists. “The political rule that Hong Kong must be governed by patriots shall be firmly guarded,” the Liaison Office said. DAMNED EITHER WAY: Analysts say mass resignations remove democracy activists’ access to a forum where they could question policymakers and make them more accountable to public opinion. But staying could have been perceived by their supporters as legitimising Beijing’s move and led to discord. “Both staying and leaving have their own difficulties,” said Ma Ngok, associate professor of government and public administration at Chinese University of Hong Kong.
CHINA URGES US TO STOP INCREASING TIES WITH TAIWAN BEIJING/TAIPEI: China urged the United States on Wednesday to stop boosting ties with Taiwan, after Washington and Taipei announced they would hold economic talks this month that Taiwan’s government described as a “major milestone” in relations. China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory with no right to formal ties with other countries, and has watched with growing alarm stepped up U.S. support for the island, including new arms sales and visits to Taipei by senior U.S. officials. Taiwan will send a small delegation to Washington, led by Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chy, its government said, for Nov. 20’s inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue. U.S. Undersecretary of State Keith Krach, who angered China with a visit to Taipei in September, will lead the U.S. side. Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said they opposed any official exchanges between Washington and Taipei. China urges the United States to “stop any kind of official exchanges or contacts with Taiwan and stop elevating substantive relations”, he added. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry hailed the talks. “This dialogue is a major milestone in Taiwan-U.S. economic relations. It demonstrates that Taiwan and the United States will develop closer and broader cooperation under their global economic strategic partnership,” it said in a statement. Krach was the most senior State Department official to visit Taiwan in four decades after being named to head a new bilateral economic dialogue with the island. Taiwan has long sought a free trade agreement with the United States. AGENCIES
In blow to WHO, EU seeks powers to declare health emergencies BRUSSELS AGENCIES
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed rules which would give the EU the power to declare a health emergency and stress test national plans to tackle pandemics, in a potential blow to the World Health Organization. The move follows an often uncoordinated reaction by the 27 EU governments to the Covid-19 pandemic, which at the beginning of the crisis led to competition on vital medical gear and export bans on medicines. It also comes after the WHO was criticised for having declared the pandemic, which first emerged in China at the end of last year, too late. The U.N. agency has repeatedly denied the accusation. Under the proposals, the EU would be able to declare an EU-level public health emergency, which would in turn trigger more coordination among EU states. Currently, the EU relies on the WHO to declare such an emergency. “The new rules will enable the activation of EU emergency response mechanisms (..) without making it contingent upon the WHO’s own declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” an EU document says, adding that such a move would be coordinated with the WHO. If adopted, the overhaul would partly take away a major power from the WHO, as EU states call for reform of the organisation to address shortfalls in emergencies. “We relied too much on the WHO for the COVID-19 pandemic,” Peter Liese, a top EU lawmaker from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, said. “Under pressure from China, the WHO declared the health emergency too late. It is therefore very important to have the possibility to act at European level in future similar situations.” The WHO, which the Trump administration has labelled a puppet of China, was not immediately available to comment. COORDINATION ON VACCINES: Under the commission’s proposals, the EU would help governments prepare pandemic plans and would audit and stress test them, an EU document says. EU states have traditionally been reluctant to give more powers to Brussels on the matter. During the pandemic, they have applied different national measures on a series of issues, including testing policies for Covid-19 cases, quarantine rules and travel restrictions. But they have shown good coordination on procuring vaccines. If approved by EU governments and EU lawmakers, the commission said the proposals would be immediately applicable and could strengthen EU powers to tackle the current pandemic, in which most European countries are seeing a surge in cases. Brussels wants to strengthen the EU public health agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, whose non-binding advice, such as on the length of quarantine after contact with an infected person, has often been ignored. It also wants more power for the EU Medicines Agency to prevent risks of shortages of medicines and medical devices. Brussels also said it would unveil by the end of next year plans for a new health authority modelled after the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which has played a vital role in procuring experimental dugs and vaccines.
Democrats clinch US House control, but majority likely to shrink WASHINGTON AGENCIES
Democrats clinched two more years of controlling the House on Tuesday but with a potentially razor-thin majority, a bittersweet finale to last week’s elections that has left them divided and with a scant margin for error for advancing their agenda. The party has now nailed down at least 218 seats, according to The Associated Press, and could win a few others when more votes are counted. While that assures command of the 435-member chamber, blindsided Democrats were all but certain to see their current 232-seat majority shrink after an unforeseen surge of Republican voters transformed expected gains of perhaps 15 seats into losses potentially approaching that amount. “We have the gavel, we have the gavel,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who seems all but certain to continue in that role. While she bemoaned Democrats’ losses in districts where GOP votes proved “almost insurmountable,” she told reporters last week, “We’ve lost some battles but we’ve won the war.” By retaining the House, Democrats will control the chamber for four consecutive years for only the second time since 1995,
when Republicans ended 40 years of Democratic dominance. Yet though Joe Biden won the presidential election, there was a strong chance Republicans would keep Senate control. That would force Democrats to scale back their dreams of sweeping health care, infrastructure and other initiatives, instead needing compromises with the GOP. As the bad news sunk in, Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., who led House Democrats’ campaign committee, announced Monday she wouldn’t seek another term leading that organization. Democrats said privately she would have lost had she again sought the post, for which the party’s lawmakers vote. Republicans have been heartened by the House results, which many believe position them for a strong run for the majority in the 2022 elections. They also bolstered their distressingly low number of women representatives from 13 to at least 26, a record for the GOP, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, and were adding new ethnic minority lawmakers as well. “The Republican coalition is bigger, more diverse, more energetic than ever before,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, RCalif., said the day after the election.
Democrats went into Election Day with a 232-197 House advantage, plus an independent and five open seats. With some races remaining undecided, it was possible that in the new Congress that convenes in January they’ll have the smallest majority since Republicans had just 221 seats two decades ago. Democrats secured the majority after The Associated Press declared three winners late Tuesday: incumbents Kim Schrier in Washington, Tom O’Halleran in Arizona and Jimmy Gomez in California. A tight majority could cause headaches for Pelosi, empowering any determined group of lawmakers to pressure her on what bills should be considered or look like. But sometimes, a slender margin can help unify a party because its members know they must stick together to achieve anything. Democratic moderates and progressives clash periodically, and while the moderates are more numerous, the progressives’ ranks include influential social media stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Underscoring that tension, House Democrats vented during a three-hour conference call last week in which both factions blamed the other for rhetoric and policies they said proved costly in the campaign.
“We should be honest that this was not a good outcome,” Rep. Tom Malinowski, DN.J., a moderate freshman, said in an interview. He said terms like “defunding the police” hurt Democrats by making it sound like they oppose law enforcement, and said they shouldn’t speak “as if we were talking to woke progressives in neighborhoods where 90% of the votes are for Democrats.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a progressive leader, said in an interview that Democrats need to discuss “how we talk about some of these issues that are critical to different parts of our base.” But with moderates complaining that the GOP hurt Democrats by repeatedly accusing them of pushing socialism, Jayapal said such accusations “will be used against us no matter what we say.” Democrats believed they’d pick up seats, especially in suburbs, because of a decisive fundraising edge, President Donald Trump’s unpopularity and exasperation over the pandemic. Many Republicans and independent polls supported that expectation. But with some races still uncalled, Democrats haven’t defeated a single GOP incumbent and failed to capture open GOP-held seats in Texas, Missouri and Indiana they thought they’d win.
Instead, they’ve lost at least seven incumbents: six freshmen from states including Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina plus 30-year veteran Rep. Collin Peterson from rural Minnesota. And while they successfully defended most of their 29 districts that Trump carried in his 2016 victory, they saw stronger than expected performances by GOP candidates all around the country. “With President Trump on the ballot, it just drove enormous turnout that was almost impossible to surmount,” said Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a reelected freshman. “ The country has become more polarized and divided,” said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. “If you’re running in alien territory, you’re always at risk of failure.” So far, Democrats’ only pickups were three open seats from which Republicans retired. Two were in North Carolina, where court-ordered remapping made the districts strongly Democratic, and one was outside Atlanta. Going into the election, Democrats envisioned strengthening their moderate wing, since most districts they seemed likely to capture were closely divided between GOP and Democratic voters. But they ended up suffering losses in those same type of districts, meaning it was mostly moderates who lost.
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
SPORTS 11
Misbah announces pakistan sQuad For new Zealand tour
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AGENCIES
EAD Coach Misbahul Haq on Wednesday announced the 35-player squad for Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Misbah said that the upcoming series is “crucial” for the team as it will help Pakistan improve its T20I rankings and gain valuable points in the ICC World Test Championship. “Against this background and taking into consideration recent player performances, we have selected the best available players,” said Misbah. The head coach stated that the tour schedule has been designed in such a way that the players “play tough intra-squad matches”. “While the national side will be involved in one format, Shaheens will be in action in the other format. This means all the players will be busy and playing competitive cricket,” he said. The former captain added that the “Covid-19 times” have provided a “unique opportunity” to the best performers of the domestic circuit to represent the national and Shaheens squads against [high] quality opposition, like New Zealand. He added that the tour will provide “valuable experience and exposure” to the players to improve their skills and strengthen their “claims for international call-ups”. “I want to congratulate uncapped Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Imran Butt, and Rohail Nazir who have impressed the selectors with their form, technique, temperament and ability to secure places in the 35-player pool,” said Misbah. He also clarified that the four players have been “selected specifically” for Shaheens as part of PCB’s
strategy to build the team’s “bench strength”. This is the last time that Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq has announced the squad as a chief selector. The former captain had resigned from the post last month. ASAD SHAFIQ, MOHAMMAD AMIR, SHOAIB MALIK DROPPED: The head coach-cum-chief selector also spoke about the omissions of Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, and Mohammad Amir. Misbah explained that Asad Shafiq has been dropped due to “lack of form” as he had only scored 510 runs in his last 15 innings. “Asad is an experienced batsman and I am sure he will utilise this time to work harder on his game in the domestic first-class matches so that he, like Sarfaraz Ahmed, can reclaim his form and be back in
Following are the players shortlisted For the tour Openers Abid Ali, Abdullah shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, shan Masood, and Zeeshan Malik. MIddle-Order bAtsMen babar Azam, Azhar Ali, danish Aziz, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Haris sohail, Hussain talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran butt, Khushdil shah, and Mohammad Hafeez. WIcKetKeepers Mohammad rizwan, rohail nazir, and sarfaraz Ahmed. spInners Imad Wasim, shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Yasir shah, and Zafar Gohar.
Premier League to scrap pay-perview scheme: Richard Masters LONDON AGencIes
The Premier League will scrap its controversial pay-perview scheme imminently, chief executive Richard Masters confirmed on Tuesday to a government committee. Fans, who are currently prevented from attending stadiums because of the Covid-19 pandemic, have been asked to pay out 14.95 pounds ($19.80) to watch games not already selected for broadcast by Premier League rights holders Sky Sports and BT Sport.
contention for the upcoming Tests against South Africa and Zimbabwe,” said Misbah. On Malik and Amir, Misbah said that they have been excluded as the PCB has decided to “invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players who are likely to be available to Pakistan for all formats”. RIZWAN APPOINTED BABAR’S DEPUTY: PCB announced that it has appointed Mohammad Rizwan as the vice-captain for the Test team. A day earlier, PCB had confirmed that Babar Azam will take over the Test captaincy from Azhar Ali. He was already named as the white ball captain of the cricket team. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir and Haider Ali have been appointed as captain and vice-captain of
It provoked a backlash from fans who already have to pay subscriptions for sports channels, and Masters said the Premier League would be changing direction. “We needed to come up with a different commercial solution,” Masters told MPs. “We took the decision to move to pay-per-view, now we’re reviewing that decision. “We have listened to feedback and we will be changing direction and moving away from it and taking another step that will see us through lockdown, the Christmas period and into January, but I cannot say what it is.” The Football Supporters’ Association had urged the
FAst bOWlers Amad butt, Faheem Ashraf, Haris rauf, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa, naseem shah, shaheen shah Afridi, sohail Khan, and Wahab riaz. scHedUle pAKIstAn v neW ZeAlAnd: dec 18 — First t20I, eden park, Auckland dec 20 — second t20I, seddon park, Hamilton dec 22 — third t20I, Mclean park, napier dec 26-30 — First test, bay Oval, Mount Maunganui January 3-7 — second test, Hagley Oval, christchurch
the Pakistan Shaheens, respectively. SQUAD TO DEPART ON NOV 23: The PCB said that the players, along with 20-member players support personnel, will depart for Lincoln on November 23 where they will spend the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. During the series, players not involved in international matches against New Zealand will be available for selection for the Shaheens’ matches against New Zealand A. The PCB said that that Test players not involved in the T20Is against New Zealand will be available for selection for Shaheens. Read more: PCB asks Misbah, Azhar to be careful about code of conduct in future “Likewise, when the national side is involved in the ICC World Test Championship matches against New Zealand, national men’s team players not part of those matches will be available for selection for the Shaheens, who are expected to be involved in 20-over games against New Zealand A during those days,” said the PCB. The PCB also said that the chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq before finalising the squad had consulted the six cricket association head coaches, Shaheens head coach Ijaz Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq, head of international player development.
Premier League to reconsider the pricing and some fans opted to donate to a charity as part of a protest against the scheme. Masters also said he does not expect the reintroduction of five substitutes for the “foreseeable future”. Clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes to five per match in the 2019-20 campaign when the league restarted in June, after a three-month hiatus due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The teams reverted to three substitutes this season but Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola have both said the decision is partly responsible for a spate of muscle injuries across the top flight. “We have had two votes on it at club level and both have been relatively supportive of three subs,” Masters said. “That has created some frustration, alongside discussions of fixture scheduling, which is related to the pandemic. “There is a real issue and I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future.”
How much have Red Bull, Racing Point and Ferrari closed the gap to Mercedes in 2020? AGENCIES Now that Mercedes have sealed their record seventh constructors’ championship, we can examine the fruits of their rivals’ efforts to catch up. Mark Hughes looks at whether the likes of Red Bull, Racing Point and Ferrari have been able to cut their pace deficit to the Silver Arrows in 2020, with technical illustrations from Giorgio Piola. Despite the late start, compressed calendar and curtailed budgets of this pandemic-afflicted season, F1 car development has continued apace. It’s also been an unusual season in that one team – Mercedes – have set pole position for every race so far. We can thus compare the performance of all the other teams through the season relative to Mercedes, albeit without knowing exactly how much performance Mercedes themselves have added with their various upgrades. Here we use a series of graphs to compare the performances of three key teams and how they correlate to development programmes. Mercedes have admitted that since their Spa upgrade they have made only very minor developments on their W11, as they can afford to switch more resource to their 2021 car. The Spa upgrade comprised new bargeboards, which appeared to prioritise better efficiency rather than downforce, and a new floor, which included extra vanes ahead of the rear tyre. The shoulder vanes around the radiator inlets were re-shaped and the ‘bull horn’ flow conditioners atop the nose were re-profiled. Although Mercedes remained fastest at Spa, interestingly their advantage over the field narrowed. But this was not, the team insisted, because the upgrade didn’t work; simply that the circuit characteristics were always going to be less advantageous to their design, as their downforce advantage was less rewarded here than at prior tracks. The Spa gap would have been closer, they believe, had the upgrades not been made. This is borne out by a look at the graph below, which shows (in percentage to pole position) the average of the field relative to Mercedes. The straight line running parallel to the Mercedes trace is everyone’s combined average over the whole season to date. The yellow line running above and below it is the whole field’s combined performance relative to Mercedes at each individual race. It can be seen from this that Spa was just a blip and,
Marquez will not return to Motogp in 2020, switches focus to 2021 Marc Marquez will not return for the rest of the 2020 MotoGP season and will instead continue with his rehabilitation to target a comeback next year, Honda has confirmed. Honda cleared up speculation around six-times MotoGP champion Marquez returning for the final two races of the season by announcing Stefan Bradl will continue to be his replacement in both the Valencia Grand Prix and the Portuguese Grand Prix. Marquez suffered a broken right arm during the first race of the reshaped 2020 MotoGP season at Jerez in July and after undergoing surgery, he attempted to return the following week at the Andalusian GP but withdrew after practice. Marquez then had to undergo a second surgery in early August to replace the plate in his arm which had broken. In late August, Honda announced Marquez would be “out of action for two to three months”, which suggested that the rider could reappear in the final stretch of the championship. But this possibility hasn’t been reached amid his ongoing recovery and with Honda opting not to take risks as Marquez continues his rehabilitation, he will switch his focus to the 2021 season. “As his recovery continues, Marc Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team confirm he will not participate in the remainder of the 2020 MotoGP season and aims to return to racing in 2021,” a statement from Honda said. “Working through his recovery programme and tracking the progress of his arm, Marc Marquez in conjunction with Honda, his team and multiple expert doctors, has elected to officially delay his return to action until 2021.” AGencIes
Quartararo wants to use 2019 yamaha in next Motogp season
in the next few races, the field fell back from Mercedes once more. But the effect of Mercedes switching off their development has begun to tell in the last few races, as the field has caught up. Mercedes’ increased dominance over the field compared to last season has been a disappointing outcome of 2020 but their closest rival Red Bull-Honda have at least made continuous strides in developing their car closer. This can be seen in the graph below where the purple line charts Red Bull’s race-by-race average pace deficit to Mercedes, with the blue line referencing Red Bull’s average deficit for the season to date. The races where the team’s deficit was smaller than their seasonal average are mainly in the second half of the season. Red Bull’s recent developments around their rear suspension appear to have been particularly fruitful. Racing Point’s performance pattern (as seen in the
CMYK
graph below) is interesting. With hardly any development at all on the car between Silverstone and Monza, the car enjoyed its best performance as the team honed and understood what is a totally new concept. The major upgrade (barge board shape and accompanying changes) that went onto the car in Mugello appeared to set it back initially but to pay dividends thereafter (Imola apart). Ferrari’s recent series of upgrades of bargeboards, diffuser and floor appear to have contributed towards an improved performance, as seen in this graph below. With F1’s major rule change having been delayed until 2022, the teams will all be carrying over large parts of their current cars for next year. It remains to be seen if the likes of Red Bull can get even closer to Mercedes before the end of this season, or even get on terms with them in 2021.
Fabio Quartararo wants to see if it will be possible for him to race the 2019 Yamaha MotoGP bike in 2021 after a tough year on the 2020 M1. Quartararo has won three grands prix in 2020, but has scored just one other top five from the 12 races run so far, with his inconsistent form losing him the championship lead he held for much of the year to Joan Mir at Aragon (having also briefly lost it after the San Marino Grand Prix to Andrea Dovizioso). This is in stark contrast to his form in his rookie campaign in 2019, in which he scored seven podiums across the campaign. With his title hopes all but over following a crash in the European GP, which cast him 37 points adrift of Suzuki’s Mir, Quartararo admits “a lot” has to change at Yamaha for 2021. Due to Covid-19 cost-saving measures, Yamaha won’t be able to develop a new engine for 2021. Quartararo is “worried” about this, but hopes to be able to use his 2019 machine if the rules allow. “I’m worried but I’m hoping to see if we can use last year’s bike, if that’s possible or if we have to keep exactly the same one as this year,” Quartararo said when asked about the engine freeze. AGencIes
Thursday, 12 November, 2020
PrAyEr TImINGS
NEWS
FAJR SUNRISE 5:10 6:36
ZUHR 11:52
ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 3:29 5:07 6:33
Russia says its sputnik V CoVid-19 VaCCine is 92pC effeCtiVe MOSCOW
R
AGENCIES
USSIA’S Sputnik V vaccine is 92 per cent effective at protecting people from Covid-19 according to interim trial results, the country’s sovereign wealth fund said on Wednesday, as Moscow rushes to keep pace with Western drugmakers in the race for a shot. Russia’s results are only the second from a late-stage human trial, following on swiftly from data released on Monday by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech, which said their shot was also more than 90% effective. While experts said the Russian data was encouraging and reinforced the idea the pandemic could be halted by vaccines, they warned that the results were only based on a small number of trial volunteers who had contracted Covid-19. The analysis was conducted after 20 participants developed the virus and examined how many had received the vaccine versus placebo. That is significantly lower than the 94 infections in the trial of the vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. “I assume there was political pressure after the press release from Pfizer and BioNTech earlier in the week to now draw level with their own data,” said Bodo Plachter, deputy director of the Institute of Virology at the Mainz University. “What is missing for now is an analysis of statistical significance.” To confirm the efficacy rate of its vaccine, Pfizer said it would continue its trial until there were 164 Covid-19 cases. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has been backing Sputnik V’s development, said the
Modi’s coalition cites virus fight in winning first poll since pandemic started LUCKNOW AGENCIES
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition retained power in Bihar state, results showed on Wednesday, in what was a referendum on Modi’s handling of Covid-19 and which may boost his chances in three more state elections next year. Modi’s coalition won a fourth straight term in Bihar, the third-most populous state and one of the poorest in India, the country which has recorded more than 8.5 million Covid-19 cases, the world’s second-highest tally after the United States. The alliance led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 125 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly, Election Commission data showed after counting started on Tuesday. The counting process took much longer than usual because more electronic voting machines were deployed to avoid crowding in polling centres as per health rules. “This result not only reflects the faith of the poor, labourers, farmers and youth in the successful fight of the Modi government against corona but is also a lesson for those who mislead the country,” the BJP’s second-most powerful leader, interior minister Amit Shah, said on Twitter. Modi, who had announced a slew of projects for Bihar days before its three-phase voting started last month, said the win showed the state’s only “aspiration” was economic development. About 1.5 million lowly paid workers from Bihar were forced to head back home from cities such a New Delhi and Mumbai, many on foot carrying luggage and children on their shoulders, after the factories or other places they worked in shuttered following Modi’s sudden announcement of a national lockdown in late March. Their images and videos had made national and international headlines. Many are now starting to regain work as the economy has been almost fully reopened. Bihar’s unemployment rate has averaged 22.6% since April, compared with 13% for the country as a whole, data from private think-tank Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy shows. The state sends the fourth-highest number of lawmakers to the lower and upper houses of parliament, and whoever rules it generally goes on to do well in electing those leaders too. After Bihar, the BJP is expected to do well in state elections in Assam and West Bengal next year, though it has yet to form a strong base in the southern state of Tamil Nadu that also votes in 2021.
Russian trial would continue for six months. Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Institute which developed the vaccine, said the interim results demonstrated that Sputnik V was effective and mass vaccinations would be rolled out in Russia in the coming weeks. European stocks and U.S. stock futures extended their gains slightly after Russia’s announcement though the reaction was far more muted than after Pfizer’s results. China’s Sinopharm, which is running large-scale late-stage clinical trials for two Covid-19 vaccine candidates, said on Wednesday that its data was better than expected, though it did not give further details. ‘NOT A COMPETITION’: Successful vaccines are seen as crucial to restoring daily life around the world by helping end the pandemic that has killed more than 1.26 million people, shuttered businesses and put millions out of work. However, experts said knowledge about the Russian trial’s design was sparse, making it hard to interpret the data. Scientists have raised concerns about the speed at which Moscow has worked, giving the regulatory go-ahead for the shot and launching mass vaccinations before full trials to test its safety and efficacy had been completed. “This is not a competition. We need all trials to be carried out to the highest possible standards and it is particularly important that the pre-set criteria for unblinding the trial data are adhered to avoid cherry picking the data,” said Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh. “Anything less than this risks a public loss of trust in all vaccines, which would be a disaster.” The results are based on data from the first 16,000
trial participants to receive both shots of the two-dose vaccine. “We are showing, based on the data, that we have a very effective vaccine,” said RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev, adding that it was the sort of news that the vaccine’s developers would talk about one day with their grandchildren. The so-called Phase III trial of the shot is taking place in 29 clinics across Moscow and will involve 40,000 volunteers in total, with a quarter receiving a placebo shot. The chances of contracting Covid-19 were 92 per cent lower among people vaccinated with Sputnik V than those who received the placebo, the RDIF said. That’s well above the 50 per cent effectiveness threshold for Covid-19 vaccines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The RDIF said data from the study would be published in a leading medical journal following a peer review. The results of the early-stage Russian trials were peer reviewed and published in September in The Lancet medical journal. Experts said that as with the Pfizer results, it was not yet clear how long immunity would last after taking the Russian vaccine, nor how efficient it would be for different age groups. “We certainly need longer-term observations to draw valid conclusions about efficacy and side effects. The same goes for Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s numbers,” said Plachter in Mainz. SPUTNIK V: The Russian drug is named Sputnik V after the Soviet-era satellite that triggered the space race, a nod to the project’s geopolitical importance for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia registered the vaccine for public use in August, the first country to do so, ahead of the start of the large-scale trial in September. So far, it has inoculated 10,000 members of the pub-
lic considered at high risk of contracting Covid-19 such as doctors and teachers, outside of the trial. The vaccine is designed to trigger a response from two shots administered 21 days apart, each based on different viral vectors that normally cause the common cold: human adenoviruses Ad5 and Ad26. The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology and is designed to trigger an immune response without using pathogens, such as actual virus particles. Russia is also testing a different vaccine, produced by the Vector Institute in Siberia, and is on the cusp of registering a third, Putin said on Tuesday, adding that all of the country’s vaccines were effective. RDIF said as of Nov. 11 no serious side effects had been reported during the Sputnik V Phase III trial. Some volunteers had short-term minor adverse events such as pain at the injection site, flu-like syndrome including fever, weakness, fatigue, and headache, it said. In late October, the vaccination of new volunteers was temporarily paused due to high demand and a shortage of doses. Russia’s deputy prime minister said on Wednesday that the Vector Institute vaccine was expected to post-registration trials on Nov. 15. Russia reported 19,851 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours and a record high of 432 deaths. At 1,836,960, its overall case tally is the fifth largest in the world, behind the United States, India, Brazil and France.
Bahrain’s long-serving prime minister dies at age 84 MANAMA AGENCIES
Bahrain’s Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, one of the world’s longest-serving prime ministers who led his island nation’s government for decades and survived the 2011 Arab Spring protests that demanded his ouster over corruption allegations, died on Wednesday. He was 84. Bahrain’s state-run news agency announced his death, saying he had been receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, without elaborating. The Mayo Clinic did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prince Khalifa’s power and wealth could be seen everywhere in this small nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia, home to the United States Navy’s 5th Fleet. His official portrait hung for decades on walls alongside the country’s ruler. He had his own private island where he met foreign dignitaries, complete with a marina and a park that had peacocks and gazelle roam its grounds. The prince represented an older style of Gulf leadership, one that granted patronage and favours for support of the Sunni Al Khalifa family. That style would be challenged in the 2011 protests by the island’s Shia majority and others, who demonstrated against him over long-running corruption allegations surrounding his rule. Though less powerful and frailer in recent years, his machinations still drew attention in the kingdom as a new generation now jostles for power. “Khalifa bin Salman represented the old guard in more ways than just age and seniority,” said Kristin Smith Diwan, a senior resident scholar at the Washington-based
Arab Gulf States Institute. “He represented an old social understanding rooted in royal privilege and expressed through personal patronage.” Prince Khalifa was born into the Al Khalifa dynasty that for more than two centuries has ruled Bahrain, an island in the Persian Gulf whose name in Arabic means the “two seas.” The son of Bahrain’s former ruler, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa who ruled from 1942 to 1961, the prince learned governance at his father’s side as the island remained a British protectorate. Prince Khalifa’s brother, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, took power in 1961 and served as monarch when Bahrain gained its independence from Britain in 1971. Under an informal arrangement, Sheikh Isa handled the
island’s diplomacy and ceremonial duties while Prince Khalifa ran the government and economy. The years that followed saw Bahrain develop rapidly as it sought to move beyond its dependence on dwindling oil reserves. Manama at that time served as what Dubai in the United Arab Emirates ultimately became, a regional financial, service and tourism hub. The opening of the King Fahd Causeway in 1986 gave the island nation its first land link with its rich and powerful neighbor, Saudi Arabia, and offered an escape for Westerners in the kingdom who wanted to enjoy Bahrain’s alcoholsoaked nightclubs and beaches. But Prince Khalifa increasingly saw his name entangled in corruption allegations, such as a major foreign corruption practices case against aluminum producer Alcoa over using a London-based middleman to facilitate bribes for Bahraini officials. Alcoa agreed to pay $384 million in fines to the US government to settle the case in 2014. The US Embassy in Manama similarly had its own suspicions about Prince Khalifa, writing in cables that the prince had “off-the-books access to income from the stateowned enterprises” such as the Bahrain Petroleum Co. and Aluminum Bahrain, the country’s aluminum producer. “I believe that Shaikh Khalifa is not wholly a negative influence,” wrote former US Ambassador Ronald E Neumann in 2004 in a cable released by WikiLeaks. “While certainly corrupt he has built much of modern Bahrain.” Those corruption allegations fueled discontent, particularly among Bahrain’s Shia majority who still today complain of discrimination by the government.
Biden plans move into White House as Trump clings to hope WASHINGTON AGENCIES
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will further lay the groundwork for his new administration on Wednesday as President Donald Trump pursues a flurry of longshot lawsuits challenging the election results in an effort to cling to power. Trump has declined to concede, instead lodging unsupported charges of election fraud that have gained little traction. Judges so far have tossed out lawsuits in Michigan and Georgia brought by Trump’s campaign, and legal experts say the litigation has little chance of changing the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. Nearly 80% of Americans, including half of Republicans, say Biden is the rightful winner, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday. Trump’s refusal to accept defeat, even as world leaders congratulate Biden and look to their future relations, caps a tumultuous four years in office with the United States deeply polarized, ravaged by the coronavirus and torn by racial division. But Trump’s supporters, who as of the latest count gave him more than 72 million votes compared to Biden’s 77 million, have delighted in his combative style and shattering of norms. Trump has eschewed a public concession or the pledge of cooperation typically offered by outgoing presidents. “It’s an embarrassment, quite frankly,” Biden told reporters on Tuesday. “How can I say this tactfully? I think it will not help the president’s legacy.”
Trump’s fellow Republicans have largely stuck with him, saying he has a right to contest the result. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said Tuesday he would pay up to $1 million from his campaign account to people who come forward with evidence of voter fraud. But privately, some say Trump must soon produce significant evidence or exit the stage. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, a state that Trump won handily last week, said in a statement on Tuesday that Biden is leading in enough states to win election “and President Donald Trump’s campaign must produce evidence to support allegations of election fraud.” Portman added that he hoped states and courts would move “expeditiously” to resolve the matter. Trump suffered another possible setback on Tuesday when Democrats on the House of Representatives Oversight Committee said a postal worker who claimed he witnessed ballot tampering in Pennsylvania had recanted his allegations, according to the Postal Service’s internal watchdog. PREPARING TO GOVERN: Biden plans to meet with advisors on Wednesday who are helping him prepare to take office on January 20, 2021. He has tapped finance, trade and banking regulation experts for his transition team that range from core Democrats to progressive activists, reflecting ongoing debate within the party about how to address climate change, wealth inequality and other issues. Biden is also tapping people who crafted tougher environmental rules while serving under President Barack Obama.
Biden secured the presidency on Saturday after television networks concluded he had won Pennsylvania and Nevada, giving him 279 Electoral College votes, more than the 270 needed to take the White House. The outcome is still undecided in several states with Trump holding a lead in North Carolina and Biden ahead in Georgia and Arizona. Recounts are expected in several states, though they are unlikely to change the outcome. Nationwide, Biden is leading Trump by 3.2 percentage points or nearly 5 million votes as final tabulations trickle in. In order to remain in office, Trump would need to win all three undecided states plus overturn the results in one or more states already in Biden’s column. On Wednesday, Trump will place a memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery to mark Veterans Day. It will be his first public appearance, other than two golf outings, since an angry White House news conference last Thursday. The Trump administration is not cooperating with Biden’s team, which has been unable to move into federal government office space or tap funds to hire staff. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday predicted a “second Trump administration,” in comments at odds with congratulatory phone calls from the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Ireland to Biden. Trump installed loyalists in top positions at the Pentagon, one day after firing Defense Secretary Mark Esper, which could potentially make it easier to use U.S. troops to respond to domestic protests.
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