Sunday, 27 December, 2020
NEWS
Opposition echoing Indian propaganda against army: PM Imran continued from page 01 “The purpose of this [Indian propaganda] was to present Pakistan in a negative light in front of the world and to portray that there is chaos so that no one invests in the country,” the premier said. “The Pakistan Army was also targeted […] India wants the army to be portrayed as a rogue army and as terrorists.” Khan stated that it was also discovered that the fake websites unearthed in the investigation were also promoting the PDM. “This is the first time that Pakistan’s opposition has targeted the Pakistan Army in this way. There is no prior example of this.” Khan also rubbished the claims of receiving the support of the establishment to come into power. “If the election was rigged, did you go to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the Supreme Court? Did you take this up in Parliament? Did you say at any forum that the election was rigged?” The premier continued and said that democracy holds its leaders accountable. “The people should ask [PPP Chairman] Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and [PML-N Vice President] Maryam Nawaz that what their qualifications are to head their political parties. If someone asks them what their job experience is they will say that their fathers are the most corrupt men in the country. This is their qualification. They have not worked for an hour in their life and are here to run a country." “The previous rulers, who looted the wealth of the country, want to build pressure for securing a national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) on their cases. Giving them NRO by any government will be tantamount to sedition against the country,” the PM added. Changing gears, the premier said that the government will ensure universal health coverage in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under the Health Card Scheme by the end of next year. “Every family in Punjab and KP will have health cards, enabling them to get free medical treatment up to one million rupees in any hospital of the country. The government plans to build a health system that will ensure basic health facilities across the country. The private sector is being encouraged and facilitated to establish hospitals.” Underlining the importance of education for overall development of the country, the premier said that the government that plans for the next generations focuses on education. “The country will grow fast, if its youth is equipped with education and technological skills.” The PM further said his government is working to reduce the debt burden of the country. “A major milestone has been achieved. The country's current account has been in surplus for the last five months for the first time in 17 years. Similarly, the fiscal deficit is also being controlled.” The visit: The visit came at a crucial time for the party and the premier who is under an increasing burden to deliver on his electoral promise of a strengthened economy independent of foreign assistance and loans even as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on global financial markets. Earlier this week, Khan, at a ceremony held to review the performance of various ministries and divisions, said the government was left with no excuse for not delivering on its promises. “This is time for performance and delivery,” he had said. At the ceremony, the prime minister spoke candidly about the pitfalls, the challenges as well as the hardships his government had inherited and reiterated his resolve to overcome all the obstacles in the way of good governance and public service.
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IndIan farMers agree tO Meet gOvernMent Over cOntentIOus farM laws neW deLhi
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AGENCIES
EADERS of Indian farmers’ unions have agreed to meet ministers on Tuesday, possibly paving the way for a seventh round of talks with the government which has so far failed to mollify growers who say three new agricultural laws threaten their livelihoods. Worried over farmers’ roundthe-clock sit-ins on the outskirts of New Delhi, the government of Prime Minister Narendra had on Thursday invited protest leaders to further talks. Farmers’ unions still insist they want the laws repealed, a coalition of unions called Samyukta Kisan Morcha said on Saturday in a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The government says the laws, which came into force in September, will unshackle farmers from having
to sell their produce only at regulated wholesale markets. It argues farmers will gain if large traders, retailers and food processors can buy directly from producers, bypassing antiquated wholesale markets. But tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on national highways demanding the government withdraw the laws that they fear will eventually dismantle regulated markets and stop the government buying rice and wheat at guaranteed prices. Farmers’ leaders would also in Tuesday’s meeting oppose plans to impose stiff penalties for the burning of crop stubble, a major source of air pollution, according to the farmers’ letter seen by Reuters. Modi has dismissed the farmers’ protests as motivated by his political opponents, while the main opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the prime minister of introducing the laws to help a few business people.
UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic before election Bangui AGENCIES
Three United Nations peacekeepers were killed in Central African Republic, the UN mission there said on Saturday, as the government and its allies tried to fend off a rebel offensive ahead of Sunday’s (today) presidential and legislative elections. The Burundian peacekeepers were killed on Friday by unidentified assailants in Dekoa, about 200 km (125 miles) north of the capital Bangui, according to the UN mission, known as MINUSCA. Two more were injured, it said. Peacekeepers were also attacked
by unknown assailants in Bakouma in the southwest of the country, MINUSCA added. Central African Republic, which is rich in diamonds, timber and gold, has experienced five coups and numerous rebellions since independence from France in 1960. It has been gripped by insecurity since former President Francois Bozize was ousted by a rebellion in 2013. President Faustin-Archange Touadera is seeking a second term governing the country of five million on Sunday (today). On Saturday, the constitutional court denied opposition requests to delay the elections, ensuring they will go ahead as planned.
The court rejected Bozize’s presidential candidacy earlier this month, saying he did not satisfy the “good morality” requirement because of an arrest warrant and UN sanctions against him for allegedly ordering assassinations, torture and other crimes when he was president. The United Nations also accuses him of collaborating with a coalition of militias to prevent the elections from going ahead. Bozize has denied ordering or committing crimes when he was president while his party, the main opposition, has denied the UN allegation, saying they have no links to militia or rebels.
India detains 75 in occupied Kashmir after local election continued from page 01 India and Pakistan have claimed all of the Kashmir region since the partition of Britishruled India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu-majority India in 1947. Two of the three wars they have fought have been over the Himalayan region The detentions undermine the verdict of the people, said Imran Nabi Dar, spokesman for the National Conference, a regional party and a key member of the alliance. The alliance’s victory shows that Kashmiris have not accepted Modi’s decision to end occupied Kashmir’s special status, said Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister and head of the National Conference. After their release from lengthy detention, Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party, announced the alliance in October to seek a peaceful restoration of occupied Kashmir’s autonomy.
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto: A global leader
By Bashir riaz On the eve of December 27, 2007, the sky, the ground and the hearts of the people of Pakistan bled as the country’s beloved former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was brutally assassinated. She was a part of our family and our homes, and her loss felt personal to every single citizen, regardless of their political affiliations. Different European countries and American institutions acknowledge Shaheed BB’s contributions towards democracy, rule of law and human rights, and pay tributes to her even after her assassination. I still remember that during a visit to
Denmark in June, 1984, two renowned newspapers wrote detailed articles on Shaheed BB and gave her titles akin to “Princess of the East” and “Iron Lady”. Such is the nature of a leader, who is respected nationally and internationally. Shaheed BB represented the federation and was the face of unity among the provinces. Not just within Pakistan but also on international forums, she favoured dialogue and believed in conflict resolution through discussions rather than violence. She used to say that we should build bridges and stay positive. There is no doubt that the former prime minister represented the bright side and a positive image of the country. She highlighted the Kashmir issue on various international forums. In a conference held in Morocco by the OIC, the former prime minister spoke about Kashmir and helped the All Parties Huriyat Conference to become a member organisation. She had a clear stance on the Kashmir conflict. She believed that the people of Kashmir should have the right to decide their future. In line with the UN resolution on the subject, she suggested a “soft border” between Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian-occupied Kashmir to give relief to the Kashmiris. This was to allow the two sides to mingle together, discuss their problems, and eventu-
ally reach a consensus on the Kashmir issue. Similarly, she raised her voice on the issue of Palestine and stopped purchases from stores owned by supporters of oppressors of the Palestinians. Shaheed BB loved her country and never stopped propagating a positive image of the country abroad. During her exile, she continued her struggle for democracy in Pakistan. She delivered lectures in the UK and the USA, where she met their national leaders and told them about the situation of struggle for democracy in Pakistan. These meetings were not publicized because she believed success lies in discretion. She visited Delhi in 2003, where the then Indian Prime Minister Wajpai consulted her about visiting Pakistan. When I mentioned this in an article, she advised against commenting on a private discussion as it was against diplomatic protocols. Her meetings played a significant role in building a narrative outside Pakistan that during those precarious circumstances when Pakistan was fighting terrorism, it was imperative that the people of Pakistan were onboard. The only way to achieve that was through supporting democracy in the country. As part of these efforts, Shaheed BB had to return to Pakistan, a country where her party had support across the nation.
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In 2005, the US assistant secretary visited Dubai for a conference and expressed her wish to meet Shaheed BB. She was later invited to a dinner by Shaheed BB, where they held interesting conversation. She practically told her that the then President Gen Pervez Musharraf is going to rule the country for the next ten years and you would have reached the age of sixty by then. Therefore, you should consider leaving politics and become a chairperson of human rights commission. Benazir responded: “I have not struggled for so many years only to become some representative of the United Nations. I will return to Pakistan, which is my first and last priority. I will stand by my people who suffered in jails and persevered through a lot of challenges. I will never abandon my people”. Upon hearing this categorical response, the subject was changed and not brought up again. Shaheed BB was well aware of the potential threat to her life at that time. General Musharraf had refused to provide an adequate security detail to Benazir and was adamant that she should not return to Pakistan. Such measures, or lack thereof, did not deter Shaheed BB from returning to her homeland. She knew PPP had to fight and win elections to be able to bring a real democratic change in the country. In 2002, the election results were such
that the government could not be formed by a single party and it had to be a coalition with the PPPP. In those circumstances, some representatives elected on PPPP’s tickets joined Pervez Musharraf, which was a great set-back for the party. In 2008, Shaheed BB realized that her presence in the country amongst her people was vital to avoid a repetition of 2002. In this way, she chose to protect her party’s ideology and vision and returned to Pakistan where forces, threatened by her democratic ideals, extinguished her life. But just like they were unable to extinguish the love of former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto from the hearts of the people, similarly, they only cemented further her love in her death. All the expectations are now linked with the torchbearers of her legacy, that is currently being carried forward by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Bhutto family has never chosen a path that was simply easy or that was in their personal interest. This is such a family in the history of Pakistan that has made immense personal sacrifices for the sake of the country. As a result, they continue to rule the hearts of the common people. The writer is the former press secretary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and advisor to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
