Issuu

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 I 6 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 105 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

DG-ISI’S appoIntment to be maDe per leGal provISIonS: SayS FawaD ChauDhry

G-ISI appointment to be made as per set procedure. Minister for Information & Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry Tuesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa enjoy ideal relationship and the matter of appointment of Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DGISI) would be resolved amicably. Addressing a press conference following the federal cabinet meeting, the minister said the authority to appoint the DG of the ISI ‘lies with the prime minister’, and that the set procedure would be followed for the purpose. ‘The legal procedure will be followed in the appointment of the new DG-ISI, for which both [Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran] are in agreement,” media outlets quoted the minister as saying. Fawad Chaudhry said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa have ideal civil-military relations and they both never take any steps that could disrespect each other. Chaudhry said PM Imran and the army chief had a long sitting Monday night to discuss the matter and the premier had subsequently taken the cabinet into confidence over the issue. He said Gen Bajwa and the prime minister have close and cordial relations.

And it is also important from a historical perspective that there are ideal relations between Pakistan’s civilian and military leaderships, he added. Referring to rumours circulating about the matter, Chaudhry said that the Prime Minister’s Office will never undermine the respect of Pakistan Army or the army chief. He said the COAS and the army will never take any step that will undermine the respect of Pakistan’s prime minister or the civilian setup. He stressed that both the premier and the military leadership were in close coordination, and the DG ISI appointment would be made after fulfilling all the legal requirements. He said both (PM Imran and Gen Bajwa) are in agreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it. Chaudhry also appreciated the media for not “sensationalising” the matter of the DG ISI’s appointment. OthER dECISIONS: The federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran, discussed the country’s overall political and economic situation. Detailing the decisions taken by the meeting, the information minister told the news conference that the cabinet had given its approval for the formation of the Rehmatul-lil-Aalameen Authority. Referring to criticism of ministers on social media for not attending the funeral

CoronavIruS In

pakIStan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,259,648

LAST UPDATED AT 9:36 AM ON OCTOBER 12, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

689

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,189,742 28,152 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

463,167

436,442

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

176,048 AJK/GB:

33,083 ISLAMABAD:

34,354/10,353

106,201

of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Chaudhry clarified that although Prime Minister Imran had not attended the last rites of the nuclear scientist, more than 15 ministers did attend the funeral. With regards to electoral reforms, the minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was committed to facilitate overseas Pakistanis to vote in the elections. He announced that the cabinet had also agreed to launch an online service for the creation of powers of attorney for overseas Pakistanis. During the meeting, the Establishment Division informed the cabinet that there were 80 vacancies in government departments and of those, appointments on around 40 would be made on the basis of a competitive process, Chaudhry said. He added that the government had made 80 appointments on top positions and all of them were based on merit. The cabinet was also given a presentation on the formation of a new unit for riot/mob control. The new unit would employ modern technology and would be trained to control riots so that Islamabad could be saved from attacks by mobs, according to the minister. Chaudhry also announced that the cabinet had decided to introduce an online visa service for foreigners working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said the visa fee had been waived for Afghans coming to Pakistan and it had been decided that Afghan traders would be included in the category of Pakistan business visa. “We want to encourage legal travel from Afghanistan to Pakistan,” he said, adding that an online facility for issuing visas to Afghans would also be launched. Chaudhry said approval had also been accorded to the formation of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s council of complaints in Islamabad and it was for the first time that women had been included in the council. He said the cabinet had approved almost all decisions taken during the Economic Coordination Committee meeting on October 7. The Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2020, was also approved, he concluded. staff report

Govt to convene sessions of Senate, National Assembly on immediate basis LAHORE staff report

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to convene sessions of the National Assembly and Senate on an immediate basis, as reported on Wednesday. In this regard, PM’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan called on National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser at the Parliament House in Islamabad. Babar Awan also met PM Imran Khan to discuss the NA and Senate sessions. A summary has been forwarded to President Arif Alvi by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. As per the summary, the sessions will be convened on Thursday, October 14, revealed Awan. He went on to reveal that the

NAB seeks cancellation of Maryam’s bail in foreign properties case ISLAMABAD staff report

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) for cancellation of bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) de facto chief Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield House reference. In July 2018, an accountability court ruled that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family laundered money in the 1990s to pay for four luxury apartments in Park Lane, central London, drawing on allegations that resurfaced in the 2016 Panama Papers. Accountability Court judge Mohammad Bashir sentenced Ms Nawaz to seven years’ imprisonment, fined the family £10m and ordered the seizure of the Avenfield properties. She also received an additional one-year sentence for presenting forged documents in court. Mr Sharif, Ms Nawaz and her husband, Muhammad Safdar, had filed appeals in the IHC against their convictions. The court in September that year suspended their sentences and released them on bail. Last week, Ms Nawaz approached the high court to

Senate will meet at 4pm, whereas the National Assembly session will begin at 5pm on the same day. It has been further revealed that the sessions are being summoned to reportedly complete “important legislation pertaining to the national affairs”. On Oct 7, Awan had called on NA Speaker Asad Qaiser for a similar purpose. During the meeting between the two, it was decided that the National Assembly would be held on Oct 22 to consider legislation on various national issues. Additionally, the opposition had also sought a session of the lower house of parliament after President Alvi approved an ordinance that gave an extension to the chief of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till the government appointed his successor.

more inside

Crisis deepens as CM Balochistan, his deputy claim hand on BAP’s top slot STORY ON BACK PAGE

annul the verdict against her, claiming the entire proceedings in the reference were a “classic example of outright violations of law and political engineering hitherto unheard of in the history of Pakistan”. In its petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, the dirty money watchdog Ms Nawaz misused the terms of her bail and requested the court to cancel the bail. A two-judge bench of the high court will take up the petitions Wednesday (tomorrow). The family has long strug-

gled to explain how the Avenfield flats came into their possession. Family members initially told different stories. During the National Accountability Bureau trial, Mr Sharif’s defence claimed that a Qatari investment fund gave the expensive properties to the family to repay a debt owed to Mr Sharif’s father, Mian Muhammad Sharif. Commentators in 2017 mocked a letter from a Qatari prince apparently testifying to that deal as a rabbit pulled out of a hat.

Suspects seek relief after promulgation of NAB ordinance STORY ON BACK PAGE

Sindh plans massive antimeasles drive as 38 kids die STORY ON BACK PAGE

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

ECP summons Azam Swati on Oct 21: report NeWS DeSK The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned Federal Minister for Railways Azam Swati on October 21, a news outlet reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the ECP summoned the minister over his tirade against the election body for opposing the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections. The ECP summoned Swati under the charges of contempt of court ordinance, the report sad, adding that “he will be asked to submit replies under the relevant election acts.” The ECP had previously served notices to Swati and Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry over their remarks on the election body for its objection to the use of EVMs in the next general elections. Swati had accused the election commission of taking bribes from the companies to manufacture EVMs.

Pending dues worth Rs30m released on Punjab ombudsman’s order LAHORe StAff RePoRt

On the direction of Punjab Ombudsman retired Maj Azam Suleman Khan, approval has been granted for the release of Rs31 million as educational stipends, marriage and death grants to industrial workers for the period 2017-21 by the Punjab Workers Welfare Board. 38 applicants, including one Muhammad Ameen Sharif from Gujranwala, submitted applications to Khan’s office contending their educational stipends, marriage and death grant cases were lying pending. Earlier, such cases were usually decided in a period of three months, they added. It was submitted that all the cases of less payment of educational stipends for 2017-18 and all educational stipend cases for 2019-20 were still pending with the office of Director of Labour Welfare, Gujranwala (West) Division despite the fact that required documents have been provided by the applicants according to new rules. During the course of the proceeding, the Labour Directorate’s representative apprised the office of Punjab Ombudsman that more than 200 cases have been approved while 300 plus cases would be accorded sanction in the next meeting. Meanwhile, 80 cases of educational stipends for 2019 valuing Rs13 million have been approved, he said. Alongside, the total value of 78 approved cases of marriage grant for 2019 was Rs10 million. Similarly, the value of approved death grant cases of 11 employees/heirs was Rs6 million, he added. The applicants have thanked the office of the ombudsman for solving their problems.

COntinuOuS uPgRAdAtiOn Of COnvEntiOnAl CAPAbilitiES imPERAtivE tO dEtER AggRESSiOn: COAS RAWALPINDI

APP

HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday said that continuous upgradation of conventional capabilities is imperative to maintain a qualitative edge over adversaries and deter aggression, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The COAS said this during his visit to Gujranwala to witness commissioning of state-of-the-art Chinese origin VT-4 tank into the strike formation. While interacting with officers and troops, the COAS said, “VT-4 tank is another symbol of Pakistan–China strategic cooperation and defence collaboration, and its induction will

boost strike capabilities of our formations.” The army chief emphasised that the fast changing dynamics of warfare demand highest degree of professionalism and rigorous training with due focus on harnessing sophisticated technologies. The COAS witnessed demonstration of VT-4 tank, which is a robust war fighting machine. Based on its advanced armour protection, high manoeuvrability and exceptional firepower, VT-4 can be compared with any modern main battle tank of the world. Equipped with auto transmission system and deep water fording operation capability, it is considered as a potent weapon of strike formations. The COAS also visited Dynamic Integrated Training Simulator of VT-4.

Russia suggests holding UN conference on Afghanistan MOSCOW AnAdolu Agency

A Moscow format meeting is scheduled for Oct 20 that will also discuss the possibility of holding a conference on Afghanistan under the auspices of the UN, the Russian foreign minister said on Tuesday. Addressing a news conference in the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan, Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is currently waiting for a response from the invited parties, including the Taliban. “We hope they realise the importance of this event,” he said. “As for humanitarian assistance, we, together with a number of other countries, want to propose, in particular, during the ‘Moscow format’ meeting, to hold a conference under the auspices of the UN to provide assistance, including humanitarian assistance to this country.” The Moscow format is a negotiation mechanism established in 2017 to address Afghan issues. It includes Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, and other countries. It held several rounds of talks in Moscow in 2017 and 2018. The Taliban captured Kabul on Aug 15, forcing the president and other top officials to leave the country. They have formed an interim government headed by Hasan Akhund. World powers have called on the group to form an inclusive government that is representative of the country’s ethnic diversity. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is hosting a virtual special G20 summit

to discuss Afghanistan. He is expected to hold a press conference after the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for immediate action in Afghanistan. In a tweet, he said: “The economy of Afghanistan is breaking down. Banks are closing and essential services, such as healthcare, have been suspended in many places. I urge the world to take action and inject liquidity into the Afghan economy to avoid collapse.” NATO lefT weApONs iN AfghANisTAN: Earlier in the day, speaking at a meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Lavrov said the US and NATO left a lot of weapons and military equipment in Afghanistan, and it is important to ensure the stockpile is not used for destructive purposes. The minister urged the Taliban to keep their promises regarding the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, and called on the US and NATO to take a more responsible position on the issue of Afghan refugees. “The alliance bypasses its responsibility for the consequences of its 20-year experiments [presence in Afghanistan]. It is proposed that the international community, first of all the neighbours of Afghanistan, address the problems,” Lavrov said. CICA is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation in promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It currently has 27 member states, including Turkey.

Zartaj appreciates performance of law enforcement agencies for country ISLAMABAD APP

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gull on Tuesday appreciated the best performances of law enforcement agencies as they sacrificed precious lives for the country in war against terrorism. Talking to a private news channel, she said that some elements wanted to create communication gape between the government and military relationships but they would not be succeed in their nefarious designs. Prime Minister Imran Khan with consultation of military leadership would resolve all the problems of the country with mutual understanding, she added. The minister also strongly rejected the narrative of PML-N against the civil-military relationship. She observed that Maryum Nawaz was an immature politician and blackmailing the party workers,other political figures and bureaucrats. Zartaj said that Maryum had launched campaign against the national institutions to hide his father corruption, adding Nawaz Sharif was not coming back to the country to face the grafting charges before the courts.

President Alvi urges skill-building of differently-abled persons KARACHI APP

Realizing the less contribution of the Differently-Abled Persons (DAPs) within society, President ArifAlvi Tuesday said that the skills of DAPs should be developed to bring them in the mainstream as they could play a vital role in development of the country. He expressed these views while addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of upgraded complex of Al-Shifa Trust, Special School & Rehabilitation Centre here. He emphasized that there was the need for mainstream schools and skills development programs for differently-abled persons According to the world survey, there was 12 to 14 per cent differently abled persons (DAPs) and some of them were physical disabled but mentally stable, the president said, adding the Sign Language Technology had been developed at such level where it could help them to read, write and speak. Appreciating some organizations like KFC and others for hiring DAPs, Dr. ArifAlvi asserted that the jobs should be created for them as they could play their roles in the organization as they needed the

jobs, not charity. The president said DAPs were usually found to be isolated as families could not take them to markets or other areas due to issue like not availability of wheelchairs and other facilities within premise of buildings or markets. To give an access to these peoples, the availability of wheelchairs was being ensured in every building in Karachi and Islamabad, he added. The president said the society should come forward and extend all kinds of

support to these persons as they were part of the society. He underscored the need for proper care of differently-abled persons and philanthropists to come forward to support them. He stated that theHoly Prophet (PBUH) had stressed philanthropy and social revival. The president said that the government had provided Rs 2000 per month to special persons under the ‘Ehsaas’ program. While applauding the efforts of the ‘Ehsaas’ program during COVID-19, he

said that Pakistan had efficiently coped with the situation and the world had appreciated the steps taken during the pandemic. President Alvi said that the universities had been directed to play their role in providing physical access to differentlyabled persons in schools, colleges and universities. Higher Education Commission (HEC) had issued directives to the universities not to charge the fees from special persons to

encourage their education, he added. The president appreciated the efforts taken by Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for running the schools for special children, asking the people especially from Karachi to donate for such work which could help the special children to live better life by playing their role within the society. While addressing the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pakistan International Airline (PIA), Air Marshall Arshad Malik urged the society to come forward in fund raising to support the special cause. He further informed that Al-Shifa was the flagship set up of PIA commenced as a Social Welfare agency in 1967 in collaboration with Civil Aviation and converted into Al-Shifa Trust in 1981. Emphasizing the need for acceptance of differently-abled persons in the society, he termed it a great gift for DAPs. PIA was fulfilling corporate social responsibilities besides its corporate role, he added. A beautiful Tableau was presented by special children of Al-Shifa Trust at the end of the ceremony that was highly applauded by President ArifAlvi and Begum Samina Alvi. The ceremony was attended by foreign diplomats, MPAs and dignitaries.

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

PeNtAgON'S fOrMer SOftwAre chief SAyS chiNA hAS wON ArtificiAL iNteLLigeNce BAttLe AgAiNSt US LoNDoN

AgeNcies

HINA has won the artificial intelligence battle with the United States and is heading towards global dominance because of its technological advances, the Pentagon’s former software chief stated. China, the world’s second largest economy, is likely to dominate many of the key emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and

genetics within a decade or so, according to Western intelligence assessments. Nicolas Chaillan, the Pentagon’s first chief software officer who resigned in protest against the slow pace of technological transformation in the U.S. military, said the failure to respond was putting the United States at risk. “We have no competing fighting chance against China in 15 to 20 years. Right now, it’s already a done deal; it is already over in my opinion,” he told the newspaper. “Whether it takes a war or not is kind of

Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former finance minister Miftah Ismail have refused to take relief under the Amended National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance 2021 in the LNG reference on Tuesday. At the outset of the hearing at an accountability court in Islamabad, Abbasi, who is also the senior vicepresident of PML-N, appeared before

the court and was allowed to leave after marking his attendance. During the hearing, the co-accused in the reference requested the dismissal of the reference under the Amended NAB ordinance. Barrister Zafarullah, who was representing a co-accused in the reference, maintained that the Amendment NAB Ordinance has been promulgated, therefore, he will file a petition seeking acquittal on his client’s behalf. He contended that the non-

News Desk

As per a report issued on Tuesday by the Universal Postal Union, the global organization of postal services, Pakistan Post has jumped up to five places in the world rankings from 67 to 62. The global organization of postal services “the Universal Postal Union (UPU)” has released its 2021 rankings of 168 countries bearing postal services. Pakistan Post has improved international ranking by 32 places during the last three years moving from 94th to 62nd slot. However, in 2018, Pakistan Post was at 92nd position. The UPU Report examined the state of postal development around the world in 2021, building on the Integrated Index for Postal Development (2IPD) which currently ranks 168 countries across four dimensions: reliability, reach, relevance and resilience. The report exploits the information

embedded in the 2IPD’s reliability pillar, which measures the delivery times of mail items, to quantify the operational disruptions caused by the Covid-19

pleaded before the court for the removal of his name from the reference. At this, the NAB prosecutor argued that the exemption of cabinet affairs under the NAB Ordinance are applicable from October 6. The court issued notice to NAB seeking a detailed reply and adjourned the hearing till October 26.

pandemic. The main finding was that the logistical bottlenecks experienced in 2020 have severely affected the

reliability of postal operations, with average domestic delivery times increasing by 13% in 2020 with respect to 2019, before returning to pre-crisis levels in 2021. The results of the report also suggested that, even if disruptions in global supply chains were eventually absorbed, gaps in postal development were likely to remain a considerable challenge for the sector in the coming years. It may be mentioned here that during this period, Pakistan Post has also increased its revenue by Rs5 billion and successfully reduced its annual deficit in a record development. With the completion of Pakistan Post’s digital franchises and digitization, not only the standard of service to the public rather its global ranking would be further improved. Pakistan Post is eyeing the top 5 in the world till next year and this task will be accomplished with hard work, director-general Pakistan Post said.

World Markets fret over soaring inflation, energy crunch LoNDoN AFP/APP

World stock markets wavered Tuesday as investors fretted over a brewing energy crisis, soaring inflation, signs of a slowdown in the global economy and an end to central bank financial support. At the close of trade, stock prices were all lower in London, Frankfurt and Paris after Asian markets had already ended the session in the red. And on the other side of the Atlantic, Wall Street was treading water ahead of the publication of new inflation data later this week. "Clearly, there's plenty of uncertainty in the markets that's been a drag on sentiment over the last couple of months but equally, investors are not conceding defeat easily," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam. The expert said that a lack of alternatives meant that investors would continue to place their money in equity markets. Nevertheless, that was "hardly a healthy reason", he cautioned. "But as we've learned over the last decade or so, no matter how hard it can be to justify the apparently inflated levels in stock markets at times, or how long

anecdotal.” China was set to dominate the future of the world, controlling everything from media narratives to geopolitics, he said. Chaillan blamed sluggish innovation, the reluctance of U.S. companies such as Google to work with the state on AI and extensive ethical debates over the technology. Google was not immediately available for comment outside business hours. Chinese companies, Chaillan said, were obliged to work with their government and were making “massive investment” in AI without regard to ethics. He said U.S. cyber defences in some government departments were at “kindergarten level”. Chaillan announced his resignation at the beginning of September, saying military officials were repeatedly put in charge of cyber initiatives for which they lacked experience. A spokesperson for the Department of the Air Force said Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, had discussed with Chaillan his recommendations for the department’s future software development following his resignation and thanked him for his contributions, the FT said.

GUJRANwALA public officeholders have also been excluded from the amended ordinance after which the case will be dealt with by the tax tribunal if it includes an issue related to the tax. Meanwhile, a private airline’s Chief Executive Officer Chaudhry Aslam, under the status of a “private person”,

Pakistan Post steps up five ranks in world ranking ISLAMABAD

PML-N’s Khurram Dastgir alleges firing on his house, a conspiracy against Opposition

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail refuse relief under NAB ordinance 2021 in LNG case NewS DeSk

NEWS

and severe the list of downside risks become, we never seem to be far away from a record high." The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that the ongoing hit from the Covid-19 pandemic and the failure to distribute vaccines worldwide is worsening the economic divide and darkening prospects for developing nations. Global economic growth this year and next is expected to continue as the recovery solidifies broadly, but the overall figures mask large downgrades and ongoing struggles for some countries, the IMF said. All eyes are now on the release this week of inflation data in the United States and China, where expectations are for high readings that will add pressure on central banks to tighten monetary policy. The Federal Reserve has already signalled it will begin winding down its vast bond-buying programme by the end of the year as it looks to prevent prices from running out of control and the economy from overheating. While the move has been widely expected for some time, consistently high inflation is increasing the likelihood that interest rates will rise as early as next year. The Bank of England appears close to lifting

borrowing costs sooner rather than later, while New Zealand and South Korea have already done so. The pressure to act comes as energy prices hit multi-year or record highs and demand picks up ahead of the northern hemisphere winter, while supplies are limited as a result of pandemic lockdowns. The issue is hitting countries around the world and increasing worries of a worldwide fuel squeeze, with US oil prices hitting a seven-year peak and Chinese coal prices also hitting a new record. "The energy crisis is showing no signs of abating, which means considerable cost pressures on companies, and consumers facing the prospect of having less money in their pocket," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. China's ongoing crackdown on the private sector and the debt woes of the country's property giant Evergrande also dampened investor sentiment in Asia. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai, Manila and Wellington all finished in negative territory. Investors are also awaiting the beginning of the corporate earnings season, which gets under way this week with US banks.

News Desk

On Sunday night, a few unidentified suspects opened fire on the side gate of senior PML-N leader Khurram Dastgir’s house, he revealed in a presser on Tuesday. The PML-N leader alleged that the firing on his house was a conspiracy to “harass the Opposition”. The PML-N lawmaker further revealed that when the incident took place, his family and children were present inside the house. He went on to lament that no action was taken over the firing, despite the administration being informing about it. He further revealed that despite numerous requests, case was not registered. However, he added that it was registered later, only after media reports about the firing incident surfaced. He called the firing incident a “failure of [the] Punjab government to enforce law and order” in the province. “You could not find the kidnappers of the presiding officers in the Daska by-polls. At least find those who opened fire on my house,” Dastgir stated. He concluded by stating that this incident is another way to crush the Opposition.

Suspects seek relief after promulgation of NAB ordinance NewS DeSk The accused in cases filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are now seeking relief following the promulgation of National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021. Several people named in NAB cases approached accountability courts in Islamabad, seeking termination of fraud and other cases. They were of the view that all cases against them should be disposed off as NAB’s jurisdiction has ended. However, the accountability court issued a notice to NAB, seeking a detailed reply from the bureau. Last week, President Arif Alvi had promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, under which the NAB law will not extend to matters pertaining to federal, provincial and local taxation, and decisions pertaining to the Council of Common Interests, (CCI), National Economic Council (NEC), National Finance Commission (NFC), Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP).

04 NEWS 13th October 2021_Layout 1 10/13/2021 12:50 AM Page 1

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

PunjAb InForMATIon CoMMISSIon SuMMonS PCbL For non-ProvISIon oF InForMATIon To CITIzen LAHORE

Shahab omeR

HE chief commissioner of Punjab Information Commission (PIC), Mehboob Qadir Shah has issued summons to the chairman of the Punjab Cooperatives Board for Liquidation (PCBL) for not providing the information regarding the land records to the citizen, Pakistan Today learnt. According to the details, a citizen, Mohammad Arif Bara had requested the PCBL in a written application to provide him the record of all such lands which were situated in Mouza Thokar Niaz Beg and owned by PCBL. However, despite passing the 14 days, the board did not provide any information or record to the citizen. Bara later lodged a complaint with the PIC alleging that the PCBL refused to provide him with the data, on which Chief Commissioner not

only summoned the board chairman but also sought an explanation that why the data was not provided to the citizen. The sources in PCBL informed this scribe that many of the board’s lands were occupied by either illegal housing societies or the general public. “Not only that, but in the past many of the board’s lands have been sold illegally. The housing scheme created by the Eden Group under the name Eden Cottages also sold many of land which was owned by the PCBL and obviously this assignment was done with the connivance of the board officials,” they claimed. On the other hand, the sources in PIC informed that despite numerous awareness campaigns by the commission, most of the departments in Punjab do not implement the Right to Information Act 2013. Sources informed that despite the clear orders of the Chief Commissioner, the Punjab Revenue Authority, Punjab Food Author-

ity, Punjab Board of Revenue, AntiCorruption Establishment, Communication and Works Department and most of the departments still try not to disseminate information to the common man. “Instead of providing information, these departments either start stating the provisions of their act or provide data that is difficult for the common man to understand. This is not the case with all departments. For example, when a citizen asked Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar for details of visits and expenses of his helicop-

Top court remands TLP chief detention matter back to LHC ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

A day after the Punjab government challenged in the Supreme Court a Lahore High Court (LHC) order directing it to release the chief of the proscribed Tehreeke-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, the top court Tuesday referred the matter back to a two-member special bench of the lower court to decide after hearing arguments from both sides. Saad Rizvi, son of the late firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, was arrested in April on charges of inciting his followers and party activists to take the law into their own hands after, according to him, the government had reneged on its promise to expel the French ambassador over the publication of blasphemous caricatures. His detention was scheduled to end on July 10 in light of a decision of the review board of the Supreme Court. However, the office of the deputy commissioner issued a fresh notification extending the detention for another three months under Section 11EEE (powers to arrest and detain suspected

persons) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. During the proceedings on Tuesday, the government’s counsel argued before a two-judge bench — comprising Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan and Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi — that 12 people, includ-

ing three police officers, lost their lives during the violent protests in April. He recalled the LHC review board had not extended Rizvi’s detention. At this, Justice Ahsan asked whether a gazette notification of detention had been issued ac-

ters, he handed over the detailed data to the commission without any hesitation. If the Chief Minister has no hesitation in giving public office data, then why don’t other departments implement this law?” they lamented. However, the Chief Commissioner speaking to Pakistan Today said that the purpose of enacting the Right to Information Act 2013 was to fix the system which had been re-

cording to the anti-terrorism provisions to which he was informed that it had been. The counsel for Rizvi, Burhan Moazzam Malik, argued “the government does not have the authority to extend detention after 90 days.” “Saad Rizvi has been in jail for six months without any reason,” he said. The bench subsequently remanded the matter to the high court for a two-judge special bench to decide after hearing the case. CASE HISTORY: On August 2, Rizvi, through his uncle, filed another petition with the high court, claiming the government extended his detention with “mala fide intention”. He said it implicated him in 14 criminal cases following his detention. Through the petition, Rizvi’s uncle asked the court to declare the extension of the detention period illegal and order his release. Two weeks later, on August 17, the court sought replies from the authorities on the request. Subsequently, on October 1, the court declared as illegal the detention of Rizvi. Following the court order, the Lahore deputy commissioner, Umer Sher Chattha, also issued orders for his release. The Punjab government argued in its October 11 petition that legal requirements were not met in the LHC’s direction, paving the way for Rizvi’s release. Additionally, it said there were reports by intelligence agencies that Rizvi’s continued detention was necessary to prevent workers of the proscribed organisation to create a law and order situation.

World must fulfil needs of common Afghans, says Amb Qazi ANKARA ageNcIeS

The international community must put the needs of Afghan people “first” and provide what lack the common people of the war-torn country where a humanitarian disaster is looming, Pakistan’s ambassador in Turkey said. “Ordinary Afghans and Pakistanis will always face the greatest risks from instability inside Afghanistan, (but) mass migration flows and terrorism threaten the entire world,” said Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi. Referring to the exit of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, Qazi said the international community also left Afghanistan to its fate in the 1990s. “Following tried and tested policy of the 1990s will not get us there (peace). It is therefore in every country’s interest to prevent history from repeating itself,” said Qazi, addressing a seminar titled Afghanistan and The World at Crossroads, which was hosted by the Institute of Strategic Thinking, an Ankara-based think tank. Thus, Qazi said, “the international community must put the Afghan people first. We have to take care that in denying Afghanistan access to its foreign reserves or international financial institutions, we do not end up adding to the miseries of the longsuffering Afghan people.” Afghanistan saw an unprecedented end to foreign occupation after the US-led foreign forces left the country in August, ending the 20-year-old war which saw the Taliban regaining power which has since then established rule over the country. However, the Taliban administration is yet to be formally recognized by any country. Qazi said Afghanistan’s central bank merely has $100200 million. “Their access to $9 billion of their assets has been frozen,” he said. ‘TuRKEY’S ROLE vERY IMpORTAnT’: Urging reciprocal engagement with the Taliban, Qazi said over half of Afghanistan’s 38 million people “are in need of humanitarian assistance.” “One in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. Nearly half of all children under the

age of 5 are predicted to be acutely malnourished in the next 12 months,” he said. In order to ensure a durable peace, the Pakistani ambassador argued that “the international community must determine the means through which development assistance can be provided while ensuring that its concerns about the situation in the country are addressed.” He warned “wait-and-see approach” by any country would be “tantamount to abandonment.” Qazi said expectations of Pakistan, “which has been the longest host of the largest number of refugees”, from the Taliban government align with those of Western governments. “Pakistan wants a state that is inclusive, respects the rights of all Afghans, and ensures that the Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against any country,” he said. The ambassador added that Pakistan has led diplomatic initiatives with Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours and other countries in the region to discuss the way for-

CMYK

ward. “Western diplomacy needs to be better connected with regional initiatives to forge a common agenda for engagement and decide on the multilateral and bilateral avenues available to channel assistance,” said Qazi, urging a “coordinated global approach” to reduce “risks of international divisions over how best to engage the Taliban.” Pointing to Turkey, the Pakistani ambassador called Ankara’s role in Afghanistan “very, very important.” “Turkey’s role has three layers: Ankara has old, historic relations with Afghanistan. It can help assist Afghans to deal with the current humanitarian crisis; help them understand expectations of the international community and can act as an interlocutor between the international community and the Taliban,” Qazi explained, adding Turkey enjoys “greater credibility and acceptability among Afghans.” He said Turkey is in a better position to “provide much needed technical assistance in managing the airport and running traffic system.”

stricting public access to information from the public offices for the last twenty years. “In the PCBL case, the commission finds that PCBL violated the statutory obligation of responding to citizen with stipulated period in a matter of public importance. There is no doubt that public offices have gradually failed to respond citizens during past 20 years and in this background RTI Act 2013 was promulgated to ensure the responsiveness of public offices which ensure good governance and which remained in practice during early decades after independence. I have summoned the concerned Public Information Officer (PIO) through the Chaiman PCBL Lahore with direction to ensure his presence before the commission on Oct 26 along with certified copies of requisite information and also asked for a written explanation as to why citizen was not responded to his RTI application, compelling him to approach the commission,” Shah said.

Former PSM chairman passes away

KARACHI: Former chairman of Pakistan Steels Mills and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Usman Farooqui passed away in Karachi early Tuesday morning. His daughter, Sharmila Farooqui, tweeted: “Together forever Papa [… ] your heart will beat with mine.” In 1996, The Washington Post accused Farooqui, who headed the now-defunct steel producer in the second tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party from 1993 to 1996, of having “forged his educational certificates and purchased fake business and doctoral degrees from an unaccredited college in the United States”. “In the first eight months of Farooqi’s stewardship of Pakistan Steel, he made below-market deals that cost the state-run company about $140 million, according to two reports by its top executives,” the paper claimed. “In January, for instance, the steel company lost $6 million by selling one of its prime products at more than one-third below the prevailing price. In May, the firm purchased five precision instruments from a Karachi supplier for more than $700,000 when the going rate was about $4,000.” In 2001, the Farooqui family entered a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau and surrendered more than Rs265 million — amount which the dirty money watchdog said was acquired through corruption — in favour of the state. Former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over Farooqui’s demise. INP

Damaged undersea internet cable repaired: PTA ISLAMABAD: The telecommunication regulator said a fault in submarine communications cable near Fujairah city of the United Arab Emirates that slowed internet services in Pakistan has been fixed. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said work was underway to completely restore the service and added that it may slow, or even down, access to the internet in some parts of the country. “A submarine cable fault was reported yesterday near Fujairah, UAE due to which some users may have faced degradation in services. The faulty cable segment has been repaired and work is underway to make the services fully functional,” read a tweet it posted on its account. Staff RePoRt

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

NAB seeks cancellation of Maryam’s bail in foreign properties case cONTINUED frOm pAgE 01 Mr Sharif and members of his family have denied any wrongdoing, and supporters claim the charges against them are politically motivated. In her petition submitted last week, Ms Nawaz also referred to the speech made by a former IHC judge, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, on July 21 that year, claiming the spy agencies were influencing high-profile judicial proceedings. “The ISI is fully involved in trying to manipulate the judicial proceedings,” Mr Siddiqui had said in a speech to lawyers, adding the agency had told the court not to release Mr Sharif and his daughter until after the elections. “The ISI officials had approached the chief justice asking him to make sure Nawaz and his daughter should not be bailed before the elections,” read the petition, quoting an excerpt from the speech. Mr Siddiqui was dismissed in October 2018 following a dismissal recommendation by a panel of judges headed by the chief justice, which called his remarks “conduct unbecoming of a judge of a high court”.

UK’s ‘policy approach of fatalism’ early in pandemic termed ‘major error’ LONDON ReuteRs

The delay to England’s first coronavirus lockdown was a serious error based on groupthink that went unchallenged, lawmakers said in a report published on Tuesday, adding that failures in testing positive cases and tracing their contacts exacerbated the crisis. Parliament’s health and science committees have jointly published a 150-page report on lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic after hours of testimony from more than 50 witnesses, include government policy, health and science advisers. Deficiencies in the Covid-19 response in Britain have been laid out in a series of Reuters special reports, including about delays in the decision to lock down, shortcomings in the test and trace system and errors that lead to the spread of the pandemic in care homes. The lawmaker report highlighted concerns about all three, adding there was a “policy approach of fatalism” that sought to manage but not suppress Covid-19 infections in the early stages of the pandemic, which it described as a “serious error”. “Our test and trace programme took too long to become effective. The Government took seriously scientific advice but there should have been more challenge from all to the early UK consensus that delayed a more comprehensive lockdown,” lawmakers Jeremy Hunt and Greg Clark, who led the committees behind the report, said. Britain has reported 137,763 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test result, the eighth highest coronavirus death toll in the world.

IHC ACCeptS lASt petItIoN oF Dr ABDUl QADeer KHAN poStHUMoUSly

HE Islamabad High Court has accepted the last petition filed by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan posthumously, who breathed his last on October 10. According to sources, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear science held a meeting with a lawyer, Waqas Malik, just two days before his death. He wanted to challenge the flawed MDCAT 2021 system in court. Bringing forward various objections, he said that the MDCAT had destroyed the lives of thousands of students. He also expressed his disappointment at the government’s treatment of young doctors across the country. It is pertinent to note that Dr AQ Khan signed the petition, two days before his death which stated that the results of the MDCAT 2021 should be declared null and void.

After the death of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, his lawyer pursued the case and filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court which was allowed for a formal hearing. The petition seeks to annul PMC’s Conduct of Examination Regulation 2021. Waqas Malik has become a co-petitioner to avoid legal complications. The case has been adjourned for three weeks. It merits mention that medical students across the country have been protesting against the entry tests held for medical and dental colleges. Recently, the PMC announced that around 65% of candidates failed to pass the exams this year. The court in this regard has served notices on all respondents and told the ministry of interior to produce the record of FIR registered against medical students. News Desk

IHC probes from health, interior ministries on petition challenging MDCAT results, seeks response The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Ministry of National Health Services, the Ministry of Interior, the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) and others on Tuesday, pertaining to a petition challenging the results of the recentlyheld Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Tests (MDCAT). The petition was filed in accordance with the last will of late scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. However, Supreme Court advocate Mohammad Waqas Malik as co-petitioner pursued the case on Monday, and requested the high court to nullify the results of the MDCAT. It cited the Ministry of National Health Services, the federation through the Ministry of Interior, the PMC, the Ministry of Law and other departments as respondents. The petitioners pleaded that the PMC Conduct of Examination Regulations 2021 may be set aside for being contrary to the fundamental rights and the respondents be directed to not expose young students to “violent policies”. The court also sought a record of cases registered against medical students from the interior ministry and asked authorities to inform the court about the process of conducting the National Licencing Examination (NLE).

Pakistan urges new int'l arms control order that addresses security concerns of all states UNITED NATIONS APP

Noting that the global arms control order is in a state of "virtual demise", Pakistan Tuesday called for a new order to counter the growing challenges stemming from deep divisions in approaches, perspectives and priorities. "This breakdown (in the order) is evident in several ways: arms races, weaponization and integration across nuclear, outer space, cyber, conventional and AI (Artificial Intelligence) "domains are in full swing," Ambassadors Khalil Hashmi told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security matters. Consequently, he said political and military tensions, strategic asymmetries and nuclear dangers are growing. "Many of these troubling trends are manifest in South Asia where the largest State, driven by its pursuit of regional hegemony and aided by generous supplies of conventional and non-conventional weaponry, continues to operationalize dangerous doctrines," Ambassador Hashmi, who is Pakistan permanent representative to UN offices in Geneva, said in an obvious reference to India's arms build up. Also, he said a "worrying trends" was the fact that global military expenditures and international trade in conventional arms have reached unprecedented levels. Despite clear gains after the end of cold war and strong normative support by the General Assembly, he said, there was clear regression in conventional arms control at the regional and sub-regional levels. "South Asia bears witness to deliberate stalling of Pakistan’s long-standing proposals for conventional balance in forces and armaments," Ambassador

Hashmi added. Despite the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, he said huge conventional arms continue to be transferred in volatile regions, fueling conflicts and entailing huge human costs. "The increasing interplay of advanced conventional weapons and technologies with strategic capabilities is eroding strategic stability in South Asia," the Pakistani envoy told the committee. Nuclear disarmament obligations, he said, remained largely unfulfilled. Despite assertions of fissile material production moratoria and a misguided zeal for FMCT (Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty) some nuclear weapon states are modernizing and increasing their nuclear arsenals. An effective global nuclear arms control regime requires compliance with existing legal obligations by nuclear weapon states; commencement of negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention, an international instrument on negative security assurances and pursuit of a fissile material treaty that clearly stipulates stockpiles in its scope. The Pakistani envoy also called for the preservation of the sanctity of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). On outer space, he voiced concern over threats posed by anti-satellite capabilities to regional and global stability as well as to the long-term sustainability as also the potential integration of Anti Ballistic Missile systems. Also, he added, the development and potential deployment of autonomous weapons carries serious ramifications for international humanitarian law as well as regional and international peace and security.

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Advocate Malik contended that a centralized order cannot be issued after the 18th Amendment and urged the court to set aside the PMC Conduct of Examination Regulations 2021. He added that baton-charging of young doctors was tarnishing the country’s image globally. “Introducing a new system for conducting exams without giving students appropriate time is not right,” he said, adding that they were entitled to higher education on merit. Earlier, soon after the results were declared, confusion had prevailed among the 200,000 candidates who appeared in the MDCAT. PMC later announced on social media that the result cards that had been emailed should be ignored as they had a number of mistakes. As per the results, there was a difference of around 30 to 40 marks in the total. When the result cards were shared by the candidates on social media, the commission responded by saying that they should ignore the results. Later, it was announced that around 125,000 candidates — 65 per cent overall — had failed to get passing marks [137/210]. The hearing for the petition has been adjourned for three weeks. News Desk

Following Kamila Shamsie, another author rejects working with an Israel publication

In 2019, British-Pakistani writer Kamila Shamsie took a stand against Israel by stating that she was a supporter of the BDS or Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement for which she was stripped of a literary prize. Following Shamsie, Sally Rooney, the author of Normal People, has also took and stand against Israel, and refused to work with Israeli publications. Rooney declined to have translations of her latest work published in Hebrew. The Irish writer turned down an Israeli publisher for the publication of her latest novel. In response to Rooney’s news, Shamsie tweeted that this decision was not an indictment of the Hebrew language, but was about a boycott of the Israeli state. It is pertinent to note that earlier, Kamila Shamsie’s books were published in Israel, but ever since the IsraelPalestine conflict surfaced, she declined to work with Israeli publishers in future. News Desk

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Wednesday, 13 October, 2021

06 COMMENT

Absolutely not

Taliban and the world Words are no substitute for actions

itH winter approaching, a drought-ravaged afghanistan faces famine. What is more, the country suffers from the financial crunch exacerbated by the freezing of $9 billion of afghan central bank reserves by the Usa. as hunger forces people to sell their household goods to buy food, there is a possibility of chaos in the country unless the world engages in talks with the taliban. an interagency Us delegation held talks with senior taliban representatives in Qatar on tuesday. Earlier a top British envoy had visited kabul and met afghan government leaders. On both occasions the talban were asked to fulfill the promises regarding allowing women to work and girls to get education. italy is now hosting a G20 afghan summit for focusing on the humanitarian crisis. While Qatar has been specially invited, Pakistan has been ignored. the taliban leaders want the world to engage with them but want unspecified time to fulfill the promises. What stops the taliban from fulfilling the promises regarding women is not religion but the primitive afghan culture more than anything else. Under Mullah Umar the taliban provided religious sanction to backwardness by putting an official stamp on all sorts of restrictions on women. taliban leaders who later traveled to various Muslim countries where women were not confined to their homes failed to learn the lesson. in saudi arabia and the UaE, girls have been going to schools and colleges for decades. Restrictions like disallowing women to go out of the home without a male guardian and not driving a car, have been removed. in iran, turkey and Pakistan, women play their role as parliamentarians, civil and military officers and entrepreneurs. the taliban need urgently to educate their rank and file if they want international assistance. the taliban have yet to fulfill their promise not to allow the several terrorist networks to continue their activities. in about the two months’ time of the taliban rule, the is-k has launched two deadly attacks on kabul airport and inside a kunduz shia mosque, besides several smaller gory acts. the ttP has been continuously shedding blood in Pakistan Unless the taliban prove that they can control the terrorists, fears about the country fracturing into civil war will remain.

Implications and reprisal

muhammaD ali alvi

akistan and the Usa have a long history of engagement, but history is witness that the Usa has always abandoned Pakistan after it no longer needed Pakistan’s help. Quaid-i-azam Muhammad ali Jinnah desired ties with all states based on equality. Despite the vision of the founding father, Liaquat ali khan’s first visit to the Usa instead of Moscow pushed Pakistan into the Us block. However, after preferring the Usa over the UssR, Pakistan left no stone unturned in helping the Usa in the time of need. it became a member of sEatO in 1954 and CEntO in 1955 to further enhance the ties. Both states signed a Mutual Defence agreement and a Bilateral Defence Cooperation agreement in 1954 and 1959, respectively to further boost ties. a major threat to the national security of Pakistan emerged from india and Pakistan considered the Usa as an important ally against indian aggression. But unfortunately, this ally did not show up when Pakistan needed its help at the time of indian aggression in the 1965 and 1971 wars. Let alone helping Pakistan at the time of need, the Usa imposed economic and military sanctions on Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan, by providing its Badaber air base to the Usa, irked the UssR which threatened Pakistan with grave consequences after the U-2 incident. Pakistan had to pay for this help to the Usa as the UssR vetoed multiple resolutions in the United nations asking for its intervention in kashmir and helped india in the 1971 War.

Balochistan crisis CM Alyani on his way out?

t seems the months-long Balochistan political crisis is nearing its end as a group of disgruntled Balochistan awami Party (BaP) lawmakers with their allies have submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Jam kamal alyani, which may very well seal the deal for his ouster. alyani faces a rebellion after failing to pacify 14 parliamentarians from within his own party, which was formed out of a coalition of independents after the 2018 general elections, putting the Pti in power in the province. the BaP is therefore an important ally that not only has a place in the Federal Cabinet, but it also has the senate Chairmanship in sadiq sanjrani. although senate Chairman senate sanjrani has tried his best to quell the uprising, flying into Balochistan last week to convince his party’s MPas to retain Jam kamal, it has not helped. Given how Balochistan faces a variety of issues ranging from lawlessness, terrorism, poverty and lack of basic infrastructure, that the CM of such a difficult province to govern is running from pillar to post to save his job, he is unlikely to be actively looking for solutions to the people’s problems. While the challenge to his post is only a few months in the making, Mr alyani’s incapacity to deliver in the province through resolute leadership and a clear strategy in mind on how to turn around Balochistan, has been there since he took office. it was perhaps only a matter of time before the cracks within the Balochistan government began to appear, considering how fragile the alliances built to produce the requisite numbers are. One lesson to be learned here is that it is near impossible for a relative political novice to simply be thrown into the deep end and be expected to learn the ropes on the job. While not immediate, the backlash is bound to follow and it usually comes from more experienced aspirants for the post, or members of the same party to whom the choice of leader was simply unacceptable to begin with, but could not openly air their opinions and grievances until an appropriate opportunity presented itself. Evidently, that time has arrived for the Balochistan government and could not have come at a worse time for the Pti government as a whole.

Tunisia is particularly interesting because it is where the ‘Arab Spring’ started

Washington Watch

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Dr James J Zogby

HEn tunisian President kais saied dismissed the country’s prime minister and closed its Parliament, he said he was doing so to “restore social peace...and save the state.” He was addressing a series of crises that had been plaguing what many viewed as the one ‘arab spring’ success story. tunisia had less than 7 percent of its public vaccinated against covid-19, the economy was in shambles, there was widespread government corruption, and major cities were being rocked by mass protests. a few weeks later, from mid-august through early september, Zogby Research services (ZRs) conducted a survey of 1,551 tunisian adults to examine their attitudes about satisfaction with their lives and optimism for the future, their most important priorities for their country and approval of the government’s handling of those concerns, the current crisis of governance, and the way forward. What we found was that tunisians are dissatisfied with their current situation (more say they are worse off now than they were five years ago) and pessimistic that their lives will get better in the next five years. Maybe the most telling expression of this deep dissatisfaction is the fact that 71 percent of tunisians say that life was better before the 2010 revolution. tunisians clearly blame the government of Prime Minister Hisham Mechichi and speaker of the Par-

Arif Nizami (Late)

M. A. Niazi

The writer is freelance columnist

Tunisia’s Bumpy Road

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

similarly, the Usa also backed away after the end of the Cold War. it considered Pakistan an important ally in its war against the UssR, but when the UssR disintegrated it went away leaving Pakistan with a large influx of refugees, drugs, weapons and Mujahideen. this kalashnikov culture tore apart Pakistan’s social and political fabric. the Usa then imposed Pressler amendment sanctions on Pakistan which further aggravated the problems of Pakistan. the Us ambassador nicholas Platt even threatened Pakistan with putting it on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in india. after the 9/11 incident, a shift in the Us stance was observed as it needed Pakistan’s assistance in the War on terror. it started to provide economic and military assistance to Pakistan and considered Pakistan as a major non-natO ally. However, after years of cooperation and support, what Pakistan got at the end was a plethora of allegations and accusations from the Usa. the Usa, instead of acknowledging Pakistan’s role, termed Pakistan as a state harbouring terrorism. it accused Pakistan of deceiving the Usa and providing safe havens to terrorists. Here, it is pertinent to mention that Pakistan got this reward from the Usa at the cost of more than 83,000 lives and a loss of more than $150 billion to its economy. On the contrary, the Usa has always had good relations with india. it hailed india’s neutral status and provided economic and military assistance in the 1950s. after the nuclear tests in 1974, the Usa, instead of imposing sanctions on india, considered it a ‘fait accompli’. the Usa created a loophole to exempt india from symington and Glenn amendment sanctions in 1977-1978 and only targeted Pakistan. and, since 2000 the Usa considers india as a balancing force against China. it signed a nuclear Defence agreement with india in 2008 and started a civil nuclear corporation but at the same time, Pakistan was denied a similar opportunity. Other than that, the Usa and india have three major agreements for military and strategic cooperation and intelligence sharing, including the Basic Exchange and Cooperation agreement (BECa), the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of agreement (LEMOa) and the Communications Compatibility and security agreement (COMCasa). the Usa also supports indian entrance into the nsG group but denies an equal opportunity to Pakistan. this shows that the Usa has even better relations with india because its interest matters to it the most. Pakistan has protested many times but in vain. However, Pakistan could not maintain good relations with the UssR because of the Usa. this has helped india, be it the 1971 war or the kashmir issue.

Russia considers kashmir as an internal matter of india. therefore, it considered the abrogation of articles 370 and 35a as an indian internal matter. the Usa left afghanistan after two decades. and, to keep an eye on the post-drawdown scenario it looked for airbases in Pakistan. the Prime Minister of Pakistan categorically rejected the Us demand, saying it was against the national interests of Pakistan. Pakistan’s decision to not allow the Usa to use its air base was a step in the right direction and would have positive implications. Moving behind the shadows of Cold War relations, Pakistan and Russia are slowly but surely coming closer. Both states have huge bilateral cooperation potential. Pakistan, by not giving its airbases to the Usa, made a strong statement for future cooperation with Russia. Enhanced bilateral ties will also help Pakistan in explaining the exact situation of kashmir to Russia. similarly, Pakistan’s all-weather ally China will see this decision as a step forward towards more strategic relations. it will also give stability to the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor because the Us presence in Pakistan would not have a good impact on it. not only for Russia and China, it is also a message for other regional powers that Pakistan wants peaceful and equal ties with other states without any external influence. However, the Usa’s displeasure with the decision has been felt from its actions. Firstly, it unfairly placed Pakistan on the Child soldiers Prevention act (CsPa) list. the act accounts for the placement of foreign governments, which are involved in the recruitment of child soldiers in a list and enforcement of restrictions on them. and, now 22 senators from the Republican party have moved a bill titled ‘afghanistan Counterterrorism Oversight, and accountability act’, in the Us senate. the proposed bill seeks to impose sanctions on the taliban and any foreign government involved in supporting them. the bill however singles out Pakistan by name in requiring a report assessing its alleged role and support for the taliban in the last 20 years, and in the taliban’s offensive in Panjshir Valley. Earlier in september, Us secretary of state antony Blinken had announced that “We are going to be looking at in the days and weeks ahead, the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years, but also the role that we would want to see it playing in the coming years.” Us Deputy secretary of state Wendy sherman visited Pakistan on October 7. Her visit and the preceding actions prior to her visit can be weighed up as retributive measures to Pakistan’s “absolutely not” and aim at pressurizing Pakistan to comply with the future Us demands. albeit, the proposed legislation is a result of the internal and external criticism faced by the Usa for its chaotic exit from afghanistan, but by singling out Pakistan the Us has further derailed the already dwindling relations.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

liament Rachid Ghannouchi for this state of affairs and give the government extremely low scores for its handling of what respondents say are the three top issues facing the country: controlling the pandemic (a performance rating of 22 percent positive), the economy (only 13 percent positive rating), and ending corruption (22 percent positive rating). Opinion is divided down the middle on President kais saied’s actions of dismissing the Prime Minister and shuttering Parliament, and whether there is concern for tunisian democracy. When asked to recommend the way forward, an overwhelming majority of tunisians say that they want the constitution and the election law amended and early elections. they do not want to restore the system as it was. and they lean toward a presidential system instead of a parliamentary system. ZRs has been polling in tunisia since 2011 and a look back at findings shows how opinion has changed during the past decade. Back in 2011, shortly after the revolution 54 percent of tunisians said they were confident that the country was on the right track; the remaining 46 percent said they weren’t sure because it was too early to tell. By 2013, when we asked tunisians to look back and tell us how hopeful they had been in 2011, 83 percent said they had been hopeful. But in that same 2013 poll, only 39 percent said they were still hopeful, with 55 percent saying they were disappointed. Opinion had soured with only 27 percent saying the country was on the right track (with 64 percent saying it was on the wrong track). this decline in satisfaction was due to the fact that the Ennahda party that was leading the government at that time was seen as having been ineffective in addressing all of the major issues facing the country, with around two-thirds of respondents giving the government poor scores in dealing with the economy, protecting personal and civil rights, fighting extremism, and stopping corruption. as a result, only 28 percent said they had confidence in Ennahda. it is important to note that tunisians have little confidence in all of the country’s political parties and the Parlia-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

ment. Unlike the situation in Egypt, where the objection to the Muslim Brotherhood-led government of Mohamed Morsi was based on concern with its ideologically-driven agenda, tunisian frustration with Ennahda in 2013 and now appears to be driven by its failure to govern competently and deliver on the promises of the revolution. after several governments rose and fell over the next five years, by 2018 only 20 percent of tunisians said the country was on the right track and only 21 percent said they were better off than they had been five years earlier. and only 25 percent had any confidence in the Parliament as an institution. in 2019, in the midst of presidential and parliamentary elections, we witnessed an upward movement in tunisians’ optimism. For the first time since 2011, more than 50 percent of tunisians said they were optimistic about the future. But that optimism collapsed by 2021 owing largely to the government’s failure to address the pandemic, the economy, and corruption. What comes through quite clearly from our past decade of polling in tunisia is that precisely because there is a vibrant democratic culture in the country, public opinion can be quite volatile. tunisians are deeply dissatisfied with the failure of the Mechichi government, and its inability to address what overwhelming majorities say are the most pressing issues facing the country. While it appears that tunisians are not of one mind on how to move forward toward securing their future, there appears to be strong consensus in the public’s desire to have both the election law and the Constitution amended and then to hold early elections. While the public appears to have more confidence in the President than they do in the speaker or the Prime Minister, President saied should recognize that he doesn’t have much time to deliver both on structural change and meeting the basic unmet needs of a deeply divided and restless polity. The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Wednesday, 13 October, 2021

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

Domestic violence an endemic social and public health problem. according to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse. an estimated 50000 women are killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled. Women have reported attacks ranging from physical to psychological and sexual abuse from intimate partners. Pakistan as the third most dangerous country in the world for women, after afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. the majority of victims of violence have no legal recourse. MuhaMMad NaEEM Karachi

Prevalence of mouth cancer

Falling back on ideological moorings The national aspirations must be fulfilled

malik muhammaD ashraf

HE coming into being of Pakistan on the basis of islamic ideology was probably an unprecedented event of the 20th century. the Father of the nation in a broadcast talk on Pakistan to the people of the Usa on 26 February 1948 had said “the constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent assembly. i do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but i am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of islam. today, they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. it has taught equality of men, justice and fair play to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions and are fully alive to our responsibilities and obligations as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan. in any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state— to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims— Hindus, Christian and Parsis— but they are all Pakistanis. they will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan···” since Pakistan was created in the name of islam, it logically followed that the state of Pakistan had to be structured and run as a democratic entity in conformity with essential principles of islam; a religion whose edifice rested on justice and equality. But it is regrettable to note that Pakistan today is neither a democracy in the true sense nor its system of governance is based on justice and equality. this detour from the vision of the Quaid and the basic principles of islam undoubtedly is responsible for the mess that the country finds itself in at the moment. in the backdrop of the foregoing reality, it was indeed encouraging to listen to Prime Min-

ister imran khan saying, ”i have decided that Pakistan will have to change course, go back to principles.” What he meant was that the country will have to be run in consonance with the principles of islam. He also announced the establishment of Rehmat-lil-alameen authority while inaugurating a 10-day celebration porgramme on October 10 with respect to the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and explained that the authority was being set up with the objective of making people of the country, particularly the children and the world aware of islam and the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). impliedly referring to the evil effects of the onslaught of Western culture facilitated and promoted by the development of media-related technologies, he was right on money to observe that since it was not possible to stop the deluge, there were alternatives available in the form of promoting islamic teachings to mitigate the impact of those influences. nobody in his right mind can take issue with what he said. For imparting that knowledge to the children, the best way is to change the curriculum for the schools and harmonize it with the teaching of islam and the examples from the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). the plan also includes teaching other religions at school which upholds the right of the minorities as enshrined in the Constitution and guaranteed in an islamic polity. the role assigned to the proposed authority to monitor the curriculum being taught at schools, organize research in the universities and keep an eye on any blasphemous content shared on the media, is a step in the right direction. so is the step to give international dimension to the authority by having an advisory board on it all over the world charged with the responsibility to make global contacts. the establishment of this advisory board can contribute to deal with the phenomenon of islamophobia and contribute towards inter-faith harmony. the Prime Minister also spoke about rampant corruption by successive rulers benefitting

from the inbuilt avenues of corruption in the system of governance and the prevalent injustice in the society, particularly lack of equality before law which presently was tilted to serve the interest of the elite. He also dwelt at length on other social evils afflicting the society and rightly concluded that the solution to cope with all those issues was following the footsteps of the prophet and the principles of islam. His emphasis on reverting to the ideological moorings of Pakistan is beyond reproach. no nation can make progress and earn a respectable place in the comity of nations without remaining wedded to the basic objectives and national aspirations envisaged by its founding fathers and architects of the formation of the state. For a country which owes it creation to a religion like islam, it is even more imperative to stick to the teachings of the religion to build a society and state premised on justice and equality. Conceptually it is hard to differ with what the Prime Minister has said and envisaged to undertake. But transforming a corruption-riddled society and reforming the system of governance require national unity and a broad political consensus on the envisaged measures. it is even more arduous and cumbersome when there are beneficiaries of the corrupt system on both sides of the aisle who are likely to resist any change that undermines their vested interests. While one cannot doubt the honesty and passion of the Prime Minister, he needs to be reminded that it was not the task of a lone ranger. in a democratic set-up it is simply not possible to do it without the cooperation and consensus of the leaders of the opposition parties, no matter how corrupt they may be or are regarded by him. nevertheless he deserves the credit for standing up, calling the spade a spade and expressing determination to go back to the drawing board.

While one cannot doubt the honesty and passion of the Prime Minister, he needs to be reminded that it was not the task of a lone ranger. In a democratic set-up it is simply not possible to do it without the cooperation and consensus of the leaders of the opposition parties, no matter how corrupt they may be or are regarded by him. Nevertheless he deserves the credit for standing up, calling the spade a spade and expressing determination to go back to the drawing board

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

MOUtH cancer is one of the very biggest diseases in Pakistan. Oral cancer is a pernicious disease which occures on the lips, gums, tongue and moth cancer mostly affects those people who are drugs users. Excessively use of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and snuff among others. Mouth cancer affected many people in Pakistan and among them also can cause death sometimes. Most cases of mouth cancer occurs in able adult12,5090 cases affect people younger then 50 overal can around 60% of people with mouth cancer will live at least five years affect their diagnosis and many will live much longer without the cancer returning. Mouth cancer is very dangerous cancer, it is affecting to inside. Lip and oral cancer is the second most proralent. diagnosed and leading cases of cancer death in Pakistan with an estimated 5 year prevalence of 30,6417 cases 12761 newly diagnosed cases and 7266 deaths in 2012. the one case came in Pakistan now 2020, he was an affected and died due to mouth cancer at age of 56 year. it is my humble request to the government, she should take out the treatment of mouth cancer. Saba baraN KarKi

Common evils as we all a aware that rape cases are increasing like the population of the world. acorrding to the research millions of rape cases are happening in this world per year. Pakistan is among those countries where rape has become a big issue. For some years even the small kids are being targeted to rape. the rapists have become so cruel that they not only sexually abuse the girls or women but also kill them. in most of the cases the subjected girl or women is found dead. Recently in the motorway case the women was in search of help and the men who had to help her, sexually assaulted her and killed her. such cases are not taken seriously by the government. the silence of government is a proof that not only our society but the parliament and assemblies are also Male-dominant. i don’t understand why do we call ourselves muslims? Why do we call ourselves the most powerful islamic nation? We have never done anything a muslim has to do. We should not claim to be muslims but we should prove that. JaMShEr KhurShid TurbaT

We are not ATMs as schools have started reopening categorically, they are demanding all six months of pandemic period fees at once.at the time when inflation is on its peak from 3.8 to 7.2 in the term of ongoing government, giving as much money at one time looks a milestone for a poor.We send our children to private schools to ensure that they get better education, but educational institutions do not even take pity on us.Moreover, the school bus runs on its will.it takes the same amount for the ones who are nearby to schools and as well to the ones who are far in distance.We are being looted but the authorities are in deep slumber.We do not know how to survive in this country.i have found your newspaper a source to highlight the issues of ours. haMMal NaEEM bugh

Bollywood in Peshawar Pakistan is going to save the ruined Bollywood in Peshawar. the houses belong to the famous actors of india Raj kapoor and Dilip kumar Who migrated Pakistan to india in the year before Pakistan was created from British india in 1947. according to officials in Peshawar the dilapidated homes are to be bought, restored and turned into museums. Raj kapoor and Dilip kumar were born and raised in Peshawar’s oldest and most famous road, Qissa khwani - or street of storytellers later they moved to Mumbai where they became leading actors of their generation. kapoor died in 1988. kumar, who is 97, lives in Mumbai with his wife, Bollywood actress saira Banu. JaNShair aMEEr PEShawar

Witch doctors and crooks YEstERDaY, my friend told me a strange incident . He told me that his mother went to a lady for black magic removal. the friend further tell me that his mother went to that lady and ask lady to remove black magic on her . the lady firstly asked information about my friend’s mother and then tell a little common things about her . after this the lady demanded 5k for the removal of magic and also gave a list of grocery and also told her that he further take 30k for this process. the lady used the name of our beloved imam Hussain . the lady gave a list of grocery which includes fruits , meat , chicken, wheat , rice , biscuits etc which are not essential for the removal of magic. that lady was a fraud . and think it was totally wrong. through this letter i want to draw the attention of our society to beware of this and please don’t waste your money in frauds like this . haruM Karachi

08 WORLD VIEW 13th October 21_Layout 1 10/12/2021 9:54 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

PANdorA PAPErS: WIll ANythINg coME of thIS lAtESt fINANcIAl EArthqUAkE? AT BEST, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE PARTIAL, WEAK AND INSUFFICIENT REFORMS - BECAUSE THOSE IN A POSITION TO FIX THE SYSTEM ARE THE SAME ONES BENEFITING FROM IT MIDDle eaSt eye

ALAIN GAboN

HIS week, historic revelations about the global elite and their financial dealings sent shockwaves around the world. The Pandora Papers, a mammoth investigation coordinated by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), brought together more than 600 journalists and dozens of major news outlets from 117 countries and territories, including the Washington Post, the Guardian, the BBC, Italy’s L’Espresso, Spain’s El Pais, and France’s Le Monde. Thanks to a giant leak of nearly 12 million confidential documents, the Pandora Papers - a continuation and expansion of the Paradise Papers and Panama Papers - further expose how hundreds of world leaders, their families, billionaires, and celebrities hide

their immense wealth and escape taxation through a sophisticated and dense network of offshore tax havens and shell companies. To continue to live “la vida loca” of the rich and powerful, this hyper-caste of famous and not-so-famous people use the same networks and methods that enable crime, money laundering, and corruption around the globe, with devastating consequences for hundreds of millions of people. Unsurprisingly, Middle Eastern leaders featured prominently in the Pandora Papers, including Jordan’s King abdullah II and Lebanon’s political elites, who were indulging in massive spending sprees while their own people suffered - in the case of Lebanon, to the point of starvation. Most of what is revealed is actually legal, through exploiting loopholes in the global financial system. Hardly a new development. But such behaviour further fuels that shadowy economy and its myriad agents and companies, dramatically expanding its global reach. The Pandora/Paradise/Panama Papers also help to debunk some myths and cliches

associated with money laundering, wealth hiding, and tax evasion. We often fantasise that such activities occur mostly in small, distant places, especially ones with “exotic” names - Belize, the Cayman and Virgin Islands, Cyprus - or that we are talking about a “parallel” and illegal economy. none of that is accurate. While the firms that specialise in the creation of shell companies for their wealthy clients are overwhelmingly located in such tax havens, as the ICIJ searchable database shows, they are not distinct from the rest of the global economy, but are rather an integral and inextricable part of it, deeply connected with the world’s major banks, law firms, and companies big and small. This economic activity is thus not parallel but exists in every corner of the world - possibly even in your own bank down the street. What is described in the Pandora Papers makes a mockery of all the principles and rules that are supposed to define the mainstream economy: transparency, fairness, accountability, social responsibility, business

New Israeli tech that can ‘see through walls’ CAMERO-TECH’S LATEST INVENTION IS XAVER™ LR40 (XLR40), A PORTABLE SYSTEM THAT CAN DETECT LIVE OBJECTS HIDDEN BEHIND WALLS FROM OVER 50 METERS (ROUGHLY 164 FEET) AWAY MeDIa lINe

MAYA MARGIT

new Israeli technology that can “see through walls” at longrange is slated to be unveiled for the first time at a military expo in Paris next week. Camero-Tech, part of the SK Group, is an Israeli firm that specializes in pulsebased UWB (ultra-wideband) “throughwall-imaging” solutions. Its latest invention is Xaver™ Lr40 (XLr40), a portable system that can detect live objects hidden behind walls from over 50 meters (roughly 164 feet) away. The XLr40, which the company says is lightweight, can accurately pinpoint the presence and number of objects moving behind walls in real-time. “The uniqueness of the XLr40 is the fact that we can now do it from a much longer range than before, [longer] than any other existing system in the world,” Ilan abramovich, VP of business development, sales and marketing at CameroTech, told The Media Line. The technology is particularly helpful in standoff situations or covert operations where a tactical team needs to remain at a safe distance from a target. It is also relevant for search-and-rescue operations. Camero-Tech will be presenting its new system at Milipol in Paris, a biennial homeland security and safety expo that will be taking place October 19-22. The XLr40 is part of a family of new portable imaging systems recently commercialized by Camero-Tech. another system being sold – the XLr80 – is larger and even more powerful than the XLr40

and can detect living objects from over 100 meters (328 feet) away. “all of our radars are based on radio signals in the ultra-wideband range,” abramovich said. “This means that we are sending continuous pulses and each one is in a wide band of frequencies. In this sense, we can actually penetrate through multiple material walls.” The goal is to provide ground forces in hostile environments with an operational advantage. In fact, the system is so sensitive that it can even detect the minutest of movements, such as breathing. Like other UWB imaging systems, the only material the technology cannot see through is solid metal. “It’s known that any radio signal cannot go through solid metal; this is a physical phenomenon known as a Faraday cage,” he explained. “On the other hand, if you have reinforced concrete where you have rebar, metal net or mesh – we can even penetrate through the small holes in between the metal wires.” More than 1,000 exhibitors from 55 countries will be participating in Milipol, including Israeli defense firms Elbit Systems and rafael. The event generally draws over 30,000 attendees from around the world. “We are proud to introduce the XLr40 system for the first time, which joins our family of long-range systems,” amir Beeri, CEO of Camero, said in a statement that was shared with The Media Line. “There are many potential uses for XLr systems: they can, for instance, be placed inside a designated vehicle that can quickly move from place to place; hidden behind a camouflage net during covert missions; or placed in apartments or rooftops near a target location.”

ethics, and so on. It renders futile and unattainable the fundamental goal of one day forging a fair global economy that will truly serve humanity, and not just a happy, wealthy few; the infamous one percent lambasted in the Occupy Wall Street protests. Indeed, the Pandora Papers show how absolute power (or the feeling of it) corrupts absolutely. They also paint a rather depressing picture of “human nature”, at least among the powerful. This brings to mind what the great historical French moralists, in the vein of Saint-Simon, described in their own observations of the rich and powerful: individuals thoroughly degraded and corrupted by privilege, greed, cold indifference towards their own people, vanity, arrogance, boundless egotism, megalomania, and hypocrisy. Such descriptions hold true among the modern-day global elite. PASSIVE COMPLICITY: If these powerful figures have been able to evade taxes and indulge themselves for so long, it is because

they have enjoyed impunity. They were protected - even encouraged and emboldened by the global economy, its generous loopholes, and the passive complicity of all our governments to this day. Though one might say that the number of financial criminals and wrongdoers is actually quite small, the consequences of their behaviour are immense, affecting hundreds of millions of people in extremely negative ways, when one considers what could have been done with those trillions hidden from public view. Just a fraction of that enormous wealth would be enough to offer free education to the poorest half of humanity, and education is the single most powerful and effective tool for lifting people out of poverty. It remains to be seen what will come of this financial earthquake. Despite some encouraging signs and developments here and there, probably too little. at best, we are likely to see partial, weak, and insufficient measures when it comes to tougher tax laws or enforcement for the simple reason that those in a position to truly reform the system are the same ones who have created it, benefit from it, or know that they or their friends and associates will one day reap the rewards. Dr Alain Gabon is Associate Professor of French Studies and chair of the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, USA.

Should US butt out of Middle East? Slate

FRED KAPLAN

ran and Saudi arabia—the bitterest rivals in the Middle East, which have supported and armed opposite sides in several of the region’s proxy wars— have held four rounds of diplomatic talks in recent months, and officials say the talks are on “a good path” and have gone a “good distance” toward calming tensions. One lesson of this development: In certain parts of the world, america’s disengagement from political and military clashes may be a positive force for peace and stability. This runs contrary to the conventional wisdom, which holds that a U.S. presence is necessary to keep unstable regions together and that a U.S. withdrawal would leave a “power vacuum,” which will only heighten tensions and lead to war. It is unclear where the Iran-Saudi talks are going. They are still in an “exploratory phase,” their officials say. But raad alkadiri, a managing director of the Eurasia Group, an international risk-assessment firm, finds it significant that the talks—the possibility of which would have been dismissed as extremely unlikely just a few months ago—are continuing. and while they seem focused primarily on the war in Yemen, a drain to both sides’ resources, these sorts of talks, which may start out narrowly focused, often trigger a “process of confidence-building and a shattering of the freeze” in the two countries’ relations. alkadiri agrees that much of the emergence of the talks is related to the scalingback of america’s role in the Middle East. Members of the Saudi royal family could once count on Washington to bail them out of any crisis, back them up in any mess they created or fell into. But as U.S. dependence on oil ended, and as attention pivoted to the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, this reflexive support for riyadh’s side in any clash has diminished considerably. The Saudis may have first felt the cooling of their once-special relationship in September 2019, when then-President Donald Trump—who seemed to be an enthusiastic supporter—blamed Iran for two drone strikes against oil facilities inside Saudi arabia, but then took no action in response.

More recently, the Saudis have been “very shaken” by the sudden and total U.S. withdrawal from afghanistan, says Bruce riedel, a former CIa analyst and now senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy. “The images of americans abandoning afghanistan are scary for the Gulf arabs” as well, riedel told me. The upside to all this is that these countries—Qatar, Oman, the United arab Emirates, and Bahrain, as well as Saudi arabia—will have to reassess the regional landscape and take more responsibility for their own security. and that may be for the good. Says alkadiri, “The U.S. has a habit of seeing itself as indispensable to regional stability around the world, when in fact its intervention can be very destabilizing, because it becomes part of the local equation rather than sitting above it.” President Barack Obama seemed aware of this inclination and took steps to correct it in his first term. He tried to rise above the sectarian quarrels between the Middle East’s Shiite and Sunni powers, dealing with each individually from the standpoint of U.S. security interests, which weren’t affected in the least by ancient religious disputes. However, when Obama negotiated the Iran nuclear deal, he cozied up to the Saudis to assure them that the accord did not mean he was abandoning the Sunnis (Saudi arabia and the Gulf arabs) in favor of the Shiites (Iran and its militias). To prove the point, he turned up the already-flowing spigot on arms sales to the Saudis and turned an eye when they used the weapons against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen—a move that escalated that war. Obama was not the first american president who tried to escape the region’s bloody feuds only to be “pulled back in” like Michael Corleone. But Obama did send a signal—though partial and misunderstood at the time—that U.S. complicity could not be counted on forever. and President Joe Biden has boosted that signal to a flashing neon sign. Some critics condemn the trend, lamenting the decline of U.S. influence in the region and the possibility that others—russia or China—will step in to take our place. One response to this concern might be: “Fine. Let them get bogged down in this quagmire of sand for the next 40 years.” Would it really harm U.S. security interests? Would it deprive us of the region’s oil if at some point in the future we needed it? (Would cash payment in U.S. dollars be rejected?) But the Iran-Saudi talks show us a potentially brighter side of this picture. It could be

that america’s unqualified assurances of unabashed support kept the Saudis in an infantilized state. Their realization of a new situation—that they can’t count on an outside power rescuing them from the next calamity—might turn them into a more responsible regional power. The key word, of course, is might. The talks might not lead to such peaceful pastures. Or some convergence of crises—the reemergence of ISIS, a terrorist attack, Iranian success at developing an a-bomb, a new conflict involving Israel—might once again pull the americans back in, and the old way of world politics with it. It is also worth noting that, even if the Iran-Saudi talks amount to something broad and meaningful, american disengagement is not a universal recipe for peace and stability. It is very much in U.S. interests to stay aligned with certain allies, notably in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. In some of these potential hot spots, the conventional wisdom—that a U.S. withdrawal would leave a vacuum that bad actors would try to fill—has wisdom. However, even among its most longstanding allies, america doesn’t hold the sway it once did. Earlier this year, the Biden administration tried to coax the Europeans into sharply curtailing economic relations with China. Several of those allies, notably Germany and France, resisted, having formed solid relations with Chinese companies and not desiring a new cold war with Beijing. Secretary of State antony Blinken had to back off, assuring the allies that Biden wouldn’t force them into an “us or them” dilemma. america’s victory in the Cold War paradoxically weakened its leverage in the aftermath. Countries once fell in line with Washington’s demands, fearful that failing to do so might strengthen the Soviet bear. Once the bear collapsed, and the Cold War ended with it, these same countries could follow the U.S., align with someone else, or go their own way, as their interests saw fit. Certain U.S. officials, who expected an expansion of unlimited power and influence in the wake of their victory over the USSr, were startled to witness the opposite—and still haven’t quite adapted to the new world. america can no longer be the world’s policeman; this nearly all analysts accept, even those of a somewhat hawkish bent. But our politicians still tend to act as if we can be— and are. The fact is, as may turn out to be the case in the world’s most sweat-soaked hot spot, it’s sometimes best to back off.

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

corporate corner Mazaar-e-Quaid lights up in pink for breast cancer awareness

OIL nEARs tHREE-yEAR HIGH On EnERGy CRUnCH FEARs LONDON

KARACHI: Karachi’s iconic building, the Jinnah Mausoleum (Mazaar-e-Quaid) was illuminated in pink on October 8, 2021. On this occasion, Dr. Muhammed Aasim Yusuf, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres, addressed a press-conference at the Pink Illumination Ceremony. He said that every year, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust organises an extensive campaign to educate the public about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. In the past few years, SKMT has expanded its awareness activities and this includes illuminating landmark buildings in pink, which is the colour associated with breast cancer awareness worldwide. The illuminated buildings aim to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Commenting on the disease incidence, Dr Yusuf said, “Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women worldwide and Pakistan has one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in Asia. In SouthCentral Asia, Pakistan has the second highest incidence rate. Over the years, breast cancer continues to be the highest reported malignancy at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres in Lahore and in Peshawar.” He went on to say, “SKMT has been raising awareness on the subject of breast cancer for the past two decades. According to an estimate, the ten-year survival rate for all types of breast cancer has improved by an encouraging figure of 25 to 30 % over this period. While this improvement shows a better understanding of the disease, earlier detection and improvement in treatment of breast cancer, we need to sustain our awareness efforts to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. To address this problem, we are raising awareness through a number of platforms and expanding our treatment services. Pr

Getz Pharma congratulates and welcomes the winning Pakistan athletes’ delegation!

Agencies

Il rose towards $84 a barrel on Tuesday, within sight of a three-year high, supported by a rebound in global demand that is contributing to energy shortages in big economies such as China. With demand growing as economies recover from pandemic lows, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers, collectively known as OPEC+, are sticking to plans to restore

output gradually rather than boost supply quickly. “OPEC+ will push ahead with its cautious approach to supply in the year-end period. Set against this backdrop, oil bears will remain in hibernation mode,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. Brent crude was up $0.02 at $83.67 a barrel by 1215 GMT. On Monday, it reached $84.60, the highest since October 2018. US oil gained $0.29, or 0.4%, to $80.81, having hit its highest since late 2014 on Monday at $82.18. Jeffrey Halley, analyst at brokerage

Oanda, said the lack of significant change in prices on Tuesday could be because the market looks overbought based on short-term technical indicators such as the relative strength index. “It would not surprise me in the least if we saw a sharp sell-off of $5 to $8 a barrel at some stage this week,” he said. The price of Brent has surged by more than 60% this year. As well as OPEC+ supply restraint, the rally has been spurred by record European gas prices, which have encouraged a switch to oil for power generation. European gas at the Dutch TTF hub stood on Tuesday at a crude oil

equivalent of about $169 a barrel, based on the relative value of the same amount of energy from each source, according to Reuters’ calculations based on Eikon data. Power prices have surged to record highs in recent weeks, driven by widespread energy shortages in Asia, Europe and the United States. The energy crisis affecting China is expected to last through to the end of the year. With prices rising, OPEC+ has come under pressure from consumer nations. A US official on Monday said the White House stands by its calls for oil-producing countries to “do more”.

Israel says it will keep Golan as Assad’s fortunes, US views shift JERUSALEM: Agencies

Israel will keep the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in a 1967 war, even if international views on Damascus change, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Monday. In 2019, then US President Donald Trump broke with other world powers by recognizing Israel as soverign on the Golan Heights, which it annexed in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally. Bennett’s remarks came as the current US administration hedges on the Golan’s legal status and some US-allied Arab states ease their shunning of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over his handling of a decade-old civil war. Addressing a conference about the Golan’s future, Bennett said the internal Syrian strife had “persuaded many in the world that perhaps it is preferable that this beautiful

and strategic territory be in the State of Israel’s hands. “But even in a situation in which – as could happen – the world changes tack on Syria, or in relation to Assad, this has no bearing on the Golan Heights,” he told the forum hosted by the conservative Makor Rishon newspaper. “The Golan Heights is Israeli, full stop.” In his speech, Bennett pledged to double the size of the Israeli population on the Golan, which at around 20,000 is currently about equal to that of a Druze Arab community that often professes loyalty to Syria. An official source in Syria’s foreign ministry condemned Bennett’s settlement comments. “Such aggressive statements and policies will not change the eternal truth that the Golan was and will remain Arab and Syrian, and that it is returning to the motherland sooner or later,”

the source said. The extension of Assad’s two-decade-old presidency in a May election did little to break his pariah status in the West, but fellow Arab leaders are coming to terms with the fact he retains a solid grip on power. Geopolitical considerations contributing to their recalculation include calls by Assad backer Russia for Syria’s reintegration, Washington’s more hands-off regional approach and Arab hopes of countering Iranian and Turkish clout in Damascus. While not changing the policy, President Joe Biden’s administration has been circumspect on the Golan issue. Asked in a February interview if Washington would continue to deem the area part of Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken signalled openness to an eventual policy review on a territory most countries consider to be under occupation.

EFU Life selects Rehability UK as the first partner for Virtual Health Care KARACHI: Getz Pharma Pvt. Ltd. paid tribute to the winning Pakistani delegation who participated in the 12th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship 2021 held from October 1-7, 2021 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The team of bodybuilders and athletes achieved many successes and won several top medals in their respective categories. A team of ten participants comprised the Pakistani delegation in this annual event and secured one Gold and three Silvers for their exemplary participation. Getz Pharma has been supporting the teams practice and preparation for this international championship. The company supported the team through sponsorship as well by providing them with tracksuits, which they wore throughout the international event. The team returned home on October 10, 2021 in Karachi. To honor their participation and award winning performance Getz Pharma held an award distribution ceremony at their head office in Korangi. Mr. Khalid Shafiq, Director Consumer Health, Getz Pharma, handed them medals for their achievements and congratulated them for bringing such joy and pride to the country in the field of bodybuilding. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Shafiq congratulated the team members and praised them for their contribution in promoting Pakistan in the international bodybuilding fraternity. He wished them more success in the future and asked the audience to encourage their wins and performance as it is a matter of national pride when athletes and sportsmen win laurels for the nation through their sheer talent and hard work. He reiterated Getz Pharma’s goals to promote sports in the country and said he looked forward to continuing their support. The team was given a round of Getz Pharma’s WHO approved facility and given presentations about their new manufacturing plant, which recently was certified as a LEED* Platinum plant- becoming the first pharmaceutical plant in South Asia to achieve this elite certification as a green facility. Pr

From Lahore, Pakistan: EFU Life & Hello Doctor From London, UK: Rehability UK Team EFU Life Assurance Ltd and Rehability UK Group have partnered to provide virtual health services solutions in Pakistan. The services will be provided by Hello Doctor, a subsidiary of Rehability UK Group. Virtual health care has emerged as a new platform, globally and in Pakistan, that improves access by removing traditional barriers to healthcare such as distance, mobility, and time constraints. For certain conditions, virtual care is as effective as in-person visits with potential for cost savings, real benefits to provider efficiency, and better management for chronic conditions. COVID-19 has also played a significant role in spurring the demand of these virtual services. Insurers worldwide are increasingly utilizing Telehealth, offering it as a value addition in the customer journey. EFU Life provides life, health and family takaful solutions to millions of customers in segments ranging from micro/mass market to HNW clients. The company is aiming to create a panel of local & international telehealth service providers to deliver the best-in-class medical services to its customers according to their respective segment, needs and demands. Hello Doctor has been added to this panel as the first virtual health care provider of EFU Life. With this collaboration, EFU Life and Hello Doctor see an opportunity to expand the goal of financial inclusion, providing access to virtual healthcare, and leverage on technology to deliver new, differentiated healthcare solutions - across the continuum of care. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Mohammed Ali Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director of EFU Life expressed that, “I am excited about our partnership with Rehability UK Group and Hello Doctor as it will allow EFU Life to offer value added touchpoints in our customers’ journey. The mass market segment provides tremendous opportunities for inclusive insurance and increasing insurance penetration in Pakistan. Our partnership will also contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through delivering focused life insurance solutions coupled with tele health services at a mass level.” Pr

PM’s Advisor for Commerce and Investment visits Careem headquarters to discuss potential of technology

KARACHI: Advisor for Commerce and Investment to the Prime Minister Imran Khan, Abdul Razak Dawood, visited Careem’s headquarters, Dubai in his visit to the Expo 2020. The Advisor met senior leadership of Careem including: Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and Cofounder of Careem, Colin Judd, Senior Director Corporate Affairs and Fatima Akhtar, Director Government Relations Pakistan. The meeting consisted of having an in-depth discussion on how Pakistan has evolved as an investment hub over the last few years. The team at Careem also enlightened the Advisor with their journey of creating a safe, trusted and reliable mobility ecosystem in Pakistan and the Middle East. They also shunned light on how Careem has played a significant role in fostering and nurturing the tech startups in Pakistan as well as positioned itself as the fastest growing brand in the region by enhancing its value proposition by adding new verticals and becoming a Super App. Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor for Commerce and Investment to the Prime Minister stated: “Careem is a great example of how Pakistan is a country ripe with potential in so many different sectors, technology being one of them. It is great to see the impact they have created in Pakistan over years. Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and Co-founder, Careem also expressed his gratification by saying: “I am absolutely delighted that the Advisor to Prime Minister has come to our office today and assured us of the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to facilitate technology investment and create jobs in this sector. I believe that at the heart of all this growth is the recognition that technology is a force for good and can be integral in simplifying the lives of people across the globe.” In the past, Careem also invited various notable personalities from both federal and provincial governments to its headquarters to discuss potential opportunities as well as enlightening them on Careem’s journey and Initiatives. The list includes: Zulfikar Bukhari, Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and Taimur Khan Jhagra, Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Finance. Transforming into a Super App; Careem offers multiple opportunities as it expands its services from mobility of people (ride-hailing) to adding mobility of things as well as mobility of money including food, daily essential deliveries, peer to peer credit transfer and mobile top-ups. Pr

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

EU annOUnCES OvEr $1B aId PaCKagE FOr aFghanISTan

AFP

HE EU on Tuesday pledged a one-billion-euro ($1.2-billion) aid package for Afghanistan, “to avert a major humanitarian and socio-economic collapse,” the bloc’s chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The money adds 250 million euros to a 300-million-euro sum the EU previously announced for urgent humanitarian needs, with the remainder going to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries taking in Afghans fleeing Taliban rule, a statement said.

Von der Leyen made the pledge at a virtual G20 summit hosted by Italy dedicated to discussing the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan. Her statement stressed that the EU funds are “direct support” for Afghans and would be channelled to international organisations working on the ground, not to the Taliban’s interim government which Brussels does not recognise. EU development aid — different from humanitarian aid — remains frozen. “We must do all we can to avert a major humanitarian and socioeconomic collapse in

Afghanistan. We need to do it fast,” von der Leyen said, observing that winter was approaching. “We have been clear about our conditions for any engagement with the Afghan authorities, including on the respect of human rights. So far, the reports speak for themselves. But the Afghan people should not pay the price of the Taliban’s actions,” she said. EU countries are wary at the prospect of a surge of Afghan asylum-seekers trying to enter the bloc, as happened in 2015 with Syrians fleeing their war. Brussels’ calculation is that donating money to help stabilise Tal-

iban-ruled Afghanistan and help out countries between it and Europe could stem any flow. Von der Leyen has said EU countries — especially those that participated in the NATO mission that hastily decamped in August as the Taliban swept to power — have a “moral duty” to help Afghans. The one-billion-euro aid package announced will boost spending in health in Afghanistan. In the neighbouring countries it will go to help with migration management and promote cooperation in fighting terrorism, crime and migrant smuggling.

Humanitarian crisis in focus as Italy hosts G20 Afghan summit BOP join hands with TCF - SadqahJariyah Initiative PR The Bank of Punjab (BOP) join hands with The Citizens Foundations (TCF)in the field of education. The MoU was signed by Mr. Zafar Masud (President and CEO – BOP) & Syed Asaad Ayub Ahmad (President and CEO – TCF) Through this partnership BOP aims to contribute to TCF’s mission to provide quality education to less privileged children through their 1,687 schools educating 275,000 children across Pakistan. Under the “SadqahJariyah” initiative, BOP will provide donation collection services to TCF, thus garnering more support for TCF’s mission to provide quality education. Several physical and digital channels will be set-up to facilitate donations, including support from Non-resident Pakistani donors using the RDA platform. Funds collected will be utilized in programs themed around education for girl child & differently-able persons and adult female literacy. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Zafar Masud (President and CEO – BOP) said, “Social responsibility is the cornerstone of BOP’s vision of giving back to the society by educating the segment which will have long term impact on promoting much-needed inclusiveness. By signing this MoU, we are laying the foundation for a long-term partnership between BOP & TCF. We hope to raise funds from overseas Pakistanis through RDA and our own employees to begin-with, and then expand this product through other collection channels. In addition to facilitating fund collection, BOP will also contribute financially by matching customer & staff donations which is a very unique offering in the local market. BOP has always been on the forefront of social betterment and offering new ideas which perfectly aligns this partnership with our motto ‘Har Fard Ka Khayal’.

Cyclone Kompasu strikes Philippines, kills 9

AgENcIES Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will host a special summit of the Group of 20 major economies on Tuesday to discuss Afghanistan, as worries grow about a looming humanitarian disaster following the Taliban’s return to power. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on Aug 15, the country — already struggling with drought and severe poverty after decades of war — has seen its economy all but collapse, raising the spectre of an exodus of refugees. The video conference, which is due to start at 1pm (1100 GMT), will focus on aid needs, concerns over security and ways of guaranteeing safe passage abroad for thousands of Western-allied Afghans still in the country. “Providing humanitarian support is urgent for the most vulnerable groups, especially women and children, with winter arriving,” said an official with knowledge of the G20 agenda.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is due to join the summit, underlining the central role given to the United Nations in tackling the crisis — in part because many countries don’t want to establish direct relations with the Taliban. Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20, has worked hard to set up the meeting in the face of highly divergent views within the disparate group on how to deal with Afghanistan after the chaotic US withdrawal from Kabul. “The main problem is that Western countries want to put their finger on the way the Taliban run the country, how they treat women for example, while China and Russia on the other hand have a non-interference foreign policy,” said a diplomatic source close to the matter. China has publicly demanded that economic sanctions on Afghanistan be lifted and that billions of dollars in Afghan international assets be unfrozen and handed back to Kabul. It was not clear if this would

even be discussed on Tuesday. While US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Europe’s G20 leaders were expected to take part in the meeting, Chinese media reported that President Xi Jinping would not participate. It was also not clear if Russian President Vladimir Putin would dial in. Afghanistan’s neighbours Pakistan and Iran have not been invited to the virtual call, but Qatar, which has played a key role as an interlocutor between the Taliban and the West, will join the discussions, a diplomatic source said. The virtual summit comes just days after senior US and Taliban officials met in Qatar for their first face-to-face meeting since the hardline group retook power. Tuesday’s meeting comes less than three weeks before the formal G20 leaders summit in Rome on Oct 30-31, which is due to focus on climate change, the global economic recovery, tackling malnutrition and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flanked by nuclear missile, N Korea leader says US, South Korea threaten peace SEOUL ReuteRs

Standing beside North Korea’s largest missiles, leader Kim Jong Un said his country’s weapons development is necessary in the face of hostile policies from the United States and a military buildup in South Korea, state media said on Tuesday. Pyongyang was only increasing its military in selfdefence and not to start a war, Kim said in a speech at the Defence Development Exhibition on Monday, according to a report by state news agency KCNA. Kim made the remarks standing next to a variety of weapons, including the country’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), photos in the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed. Among them was the Hwasong-16, North Korea’s largest ICBM, unveiled at a military parade in October 2020, but not yet test fired. “We are not discussing war with anyone, but rather to prevent war itself and to literally increase war deter-

rence for the protection of national sovereignty,” he said, adding that North Korea’s main enemy is “war itself”. The two Koreas have been in an accelerating arms race, with both sides testing increasingly advanced short-range ballistic missiles and other hardware. South Korea recently test-fired its first submarinelaunched ballistic missile, plans to build major new weapons include aircraft carriers and has bought American-made F-35 stealth fighters. North Korea has pushed ahead with its missile programme, and analysts say it has begun a major expansion of its main nuclear reactor, used to produce fuel for nuclear bombs. The United States has said it is willing to hold diplomatic talks at any time with North Korea. Pyongyang has said it is not interested as long as Washington maintains policies such as sanctions and military activities in South Korea. The United States’ assertions that it holds no hostile feelings toward North Korea are hard to believe in the face of its continued “wrong judgments and actions,” Kim said, without elaborating. South

Korea’s national security advisor, Suh Hoon, is expected to meet with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington on Tuesday to discuss North Korea. When he arrived in Washington on Monday, Suh told reporters he planned to discuss President Moon Jaein’s proposal for a formal declaration ending the 19501953 Korean War — which ended in an armistice, not a formal peace treaty — and for a possible easing of sanctions on North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported. Last week, the two Koreas restored their hotlines that the North severed months ago, with Pyongyang urging Seoul to step up efforts to improve relations after criticising what it called double standards over weapons development. South Korea’s “unrestricted and dangerous” efforts to strengthen its military is “destroying the military balance in the Korean peninsula and increasing military instability and danger,” Kim said in his speech on Monday. “Under the absurd pretext of suppressing our threats, South Korea has openly expressed its desire to gain an edge over us in military power on various occasions,” he added.

MANILA ReuteRs

Nine people have been killed in the Philippines and 11 were missing on Tuesday due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rain from tropical cyclone Kompasu, the national disaster agency said. Kompasu, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour, had absorbed remnants of an earlier cyclone before making landfall in the Philippines on Monday evening. Nearly 1,600 people were evacuated. The disaster agency said it was verifying information from its regional units that reported four people killed in landslides in northern Benguet province and five killed in flash floods in Palawan, an island province in the country’s southwest. Authorities were conducting search and rescue operations for 11 people missing mostly after landslides. The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands is hit by about 20 storms or typhoons annually, bringing heavy rains that trigger deadly landslides. President Rodrigo Duterte was monitoring the government’s disaster response, his spokesperson, Harry Roque said on Tuesday. Rescue personnel were at the scene, while power and water restoration and road clearing was ongoing, he added. Kompasu, the 13th tropical storm to enter the Philippines, is expected to leave its territory on Tuesday, the state weather agency said.

Afghanistan minister wants good relations, needs more time on girls’ education DOHA ReuteRs

Afghanistan’s foreign minister appealed to the world for good relations but avoided making firm commitments on girls’ education despite international demands to allow all Afghan children to go back to school. Almost two months after the former Western-backed government collapsed and insurgent forces swept into Kabul, the new Taliban administration has pushed to build relations with other countries to help stave off a catastrophic economic crisis. “The international community need to start cooperating with us,” acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at an event organised by the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. “With this, we will be able to stop insecurity and at the same time with this, we will be able to engage positively with the world.” But the Taliban have so far refused to give ground on allowing girls to return to high school, one of the key demands of the international community after a deci-

sion last month that schools above the sixth grade would only reopen for boys. Muttaqi said the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate government was moving carefully but had only been in power for a few weeks and could not be expected to complete reforms the international community had not been able to implement in 20 years. “They had a lot of financial resources and they had a strong international backing and support but at the same time you are asking us to do all the reforms in two months?” he said. The new administration has come under sustained criticism for its approach to girls’ education, considered one of the limited number of unambiguously positive gains from the West’s two decades of involvement in Afghanistan. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Taliban had broken promises on guaranteeing rights for women and girls and there was no way

the economy could be fixed if women were barred from work. Muttaqi repeated calls for the United States to lift a block on more than $9 billion of Afghan central bank reserves held outside the country but said the government had revenues of its own from taxes, customs tariffs and agriculture if the funds remain frozen. He said Taliban forces had full control of the country and were able to control the threat from Islamic State militants who have claimed a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks, including last week’s bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in the northern city of Kunduz. “The Daesh issue has been controlled by the Islamic Emirate very well so far,” he said using a derogatory term for the radical Sunni group but adding that international pressure on the government was helping Islamic State’s morale. “Instead of pressure, the world should cooperate with us.”

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

Top Seed pliSkova, deFeNdiNg champioN aNdreeScu BloWN aWay aT iNdiaN WellS LONDON

ReuteRs

IG servers Karolina Pliskova, Bianca Andreescu and Reilly Opelka saw their most potent weapon neutralised by strong desert winds on Monday as they all crashed out of Indian Wells. The biggest upset of the day came when tournament lucky loser Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked 115 in the world, defeated top seed Pliskova 6-3 7-5 in a match where service holds were rare as wind gusts reached 40 miles per hour. Pliskova, who reached the Wimbledon

final in July, issued 12 double faults to five aces and was broken eight times by the Brazilian in their third-round meeting. Haddad Maia will next face Anett Kontaveit after the Estonian beat defending champion Bianca Andreescu 7-6(5) 6-3 to extend her win streak to eight matches. Kontaveit, who already has two hard court titles to her name this season, won the last five games of the match to see off the tournament’s 2019 champion from Canada, who also captured the US Open crown that year. Towering American Reilly Opelka’s thunderous serve lacked its usual bite as he fell 6-3 6-4 to Grigor Dimitrov.

Former Test cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz suffers from bone disease, faces difficulty in walking

The win spelled vengeance for Dimitrov, who lost to Opelka in straight sets at the Canadian Open in August. Dimitrov will next face either topseeded Daniil Medvedev or 27th-seeded Filip Krajinovic, who play later on Monday. In other third-round action, Diego Schwartzman sent Briton Dan Evans packing 5-7 6-4 6-0 and 10th seed Angelique Kerber held on to defeat Daria Kasatkina 62 1-6 6-4 Evans, who reached the fourth round of the US Open last month, fought back from 5-2 down to win the first set and maintained the momentum to break the Argentine 11th seed’s serve in the opening game of the sec-

News Desk

Former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz is suffering from a bone disease due to which he is having difficulty in walking from past few months. In a short video shared on social media platform Twitter, the London-based cricketer-turned-politician can be seen going through difficulty walking down the street, using a walker. In 2019, the former Test bowler was admitted to a hospital in London due to a heart problem. Inventor of the reverse swing that left many a batsmen clueless back in the day, Nawaz played 55 Tests for Pakistan and took 177 wickets. He also played 45 one-day internationals and picked 63 wickets besides taking 1,005 first-class wickets. Nawaz is best known for his nine for 86 against Australia at Melbourne in 1979 that included a spell of seven wickets for just one run off 33 balls. Following his retirement from the game, Nawaz became a commentator and later joined politics. Currently, Nawaz is residing in Tooting, London with his family.

The ICC on Tuesday announced the schedule for the warm-up matches, which will take place between participant teams. It has been revealed that a total of 16 fixtures will be played from October 12-20. Each team will play two warm-up matches, with these fixtures being played over the course of the next two days, starting with the clash between Papua New Guinea and Ireland in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan will kick off their warm-up fixtures on October 18 against West Indies, and conclude on October 20 against South Africa. It merits mention that all of the matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will take place behind closed doors, no spectators will be allowed attendance. Date Time Match City Oct 18 2pm Pakistan vs West Indies Dubai Oct 20 6pm Pakistan vs South Africa Abu Dhabi

Beaten Wilder has no plans to retire, says trainer

Afghanistan’s junior female football team and their immediate families are set to relocate to Britain from Pakistan after recently escaping their homeland, the UK government has said. “We are working to finalize visas to the Afghanistan women’s football team and look forward to welcoming them to the UK shortly,” a government spokesperson said. The team of around 35 young footballers, mostly teenagers, and their families — totalling around 130 people — just missed the hurried British airlift from Kabul in August, according to a UK-based charity helping them. The squad were able to flee in small groups to Pakistan “with the assistance of some very brave people on the ground in Afghanistan,” said Jonathan Kendrick, chairman of the ROKiT conglomerate, whose foundation is providing assistance. “From a humanitarian perspective, there was simply no option,” he said in a statement, noting they were “in a hugely dangerous, life-threatening, position should they not find a way to leave Afghanistan.” Pakistan granted the players temporary 30-day visas and they were transported to Lahore from where they applied to relocate to Britain. “These young players, with whom we are in regular contact via video calls, are absolutely thrilled and relieved to have been given the opportunities that will come available to them in their new lives in the UK,” said Siu-Anne Marie Gill of the ROKiT Foundation. She added it will “continue to support them as they settle into their new home in the coming weeks, to include helping to arrange further education, where possible.”

ReuteRs

Deontay Wilder has no plans to retire, the American boxer’s trainer Malik Scott said, after he was knocked out by Briton Tyson Fury in their WBC heavyweight world championship fight on Saturday. Fury (31-0-1) weathered the early storm to outbox Wilder and landed the decisive blow in the 11th round to close out their trilogy and remain the undefeated lineal champion. “Deontay has set his family financially secure so he doesn’t have to fight to make a living,” Scott told iFL TV. “But retiring is not in his plans at all and not something we’ve discussed.” Scott said Wilder (42-2-1) deserved to have more high-level fights and be involved in main events. “Deontay was great on Saturday, but Fury was even greater — it was a great night of boxing for the heavyweight division,” he added. “You have to give Fury credit for having a good chin and getting up. Fury is a legend, one of the best in the heavyweight division in any era, and it’s the same about Deontay.”

Meanwhile, US Open champion Daniil Medvedev defeated Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 76 (7/1). The 25-year-old Russian delivered a dynamic performance in a second-set tiebreaker to pull away from the Serb and increase his match record to 50-10 this season. “It was a really tough match,” Medvedev said. “The first set I got lucky in a few moments. The second set I started well, but he raised his level. “I am happy I managed to fight on every point and get it to a tiebreak. I was super solid in the tiebreak and really put the pressure on.”

ICC announces Pakistan’s schedule for warm up matches for T20 World Cup

News Desk

wAsHINGTON

ond. But Schwartzman roared back to convert four of six break points in the second set to level the match. Evans never regained his footing as Schwartzman dropped just two first-serve points in the third set. Kerber came out on top in a see-saw contest where she dropped the second set after winning just 11 of 28 first-serve points. The German fended off a double break point to close out the match. American John Isner, seeded 20th, withdrew prior to his third-round match scheduled for Tuesday against Jannik Sinner to return home for the birth of his third child.

Afghanistan girls’ football team to relocate to UK from Pakistan LONDON AFP

Gill said she hoped many of the players would undergo trials with several professional women’s football teams in Britain that “have already expressed great interest in meeting them.” Britain has airlifted more than 15,000 people — both UK nationals and Afghan allies — from the war-torn country since

the Taliban recaptured it in August. London has also committed to welcome up to 20,000 people over the coming years, including around 5,000 in the first year, as part of its Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme (ACRS). “The government is committed to doing all it can to support those most in

need, including vulnerable women and girls, and those at risk who have had to flee Afghanistan,” the government spokesperson added. The interior ministry declined to detail the type of visas the female players would be getting and whether it was part of ACRS.

Wednesday, 13 October, 2021

PrAyer Timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:43

11:57

3:17

6:04

5:49

7:11

CrIsIs deepens as CM BaloChIstan, hIs deputy ClaIM hand on Bap’s top slot a controversy hit the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Tuesday as the party’s General Secretary named party’s Vice President Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi as acting president of the party while Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani claimed he had never resigned as party president. In a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, BAP Central Secretary General Manzoor Ahmed Khan Kakar wrote that the party has held a meeting under the chairmanship of Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi and approved appointment of Buledi as BAP’s acting president. However, Jam Kamal later announced that he has decided to retract his decision to resign from the party leadership and that he had not resigned formally.

Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Jam Kamal said that he does not want to step down from the post of the chief minister either. He was accompanied by members of the Awami National Party (ANP), the Hazara Democratic Party, the Jamhoori Wattan Party, and supporting assembly members of the BAP. “I am ready to face all types of political crises and will continue to serve the post for the entirety of my fiveyear tenure,” the CM said, adding that the number game regarding the no-confi-

Iranian parliamentary delegation, interior minister discuss mutual interest matters ISLAMABAD APP

Iranian parliamentary delegation headed by Dr Ahmad Amirabadi Firhani Tuesday called on Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and discussed matters related to mutual interest and cooperation. The delegation members included members of Iranian parliament and major businessmen including Ismail Hussain Zeehi, Dr Malik Fazli, Dr Muzafar, Dr Mohsin Pirhadi , Dr Ali Muzaffar and Mohtarma Ilham Azad. During the meeting prevailing regional situation was also discussed besides discussion on controlling terrorism and illegal human movements at borders. Both sides agreed to continue joint efforts between two countries for long-lasting peace and stable government in Afghanistan. Both sides stressed the need to enhance coordination between members’ parliaments and relevant ministries of two countries. Pakistan and Iran unanimously agreed to establish a special committee on effective implementation of agreements on exchange of prisoners. Sheik Rashid thanked the delegation for stance of Iranian government and its people on Kashmir and Palestine. He said both countries were engaged in historical, traditional and religious bonds. He urged to make joint efforts by both countries for long-lasting peace in Afghanistan. He added durable peace in Afghanistan was a prerequisite for stability in the region and the international world. He assured that travelling and immigration facilities would be further improved for those Zaereen travelling to Iran. Head of Iranian delegation Dr Ahmad Amirabadi Firhani said mutual relationship would further enhance with the exchange of parliamentary delegations between two countries. He stressed the need to enhance the level of trade activities between the two countries from existing level. He said unity in Muslim Ummah was the only way to face conspiracies of enemies of Islam. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in recent earthquake in Harnai, Balochistan. He also condoled the death of renowned scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and appreciated his rememberable services. Sheikh Rashid extended invitation to his Iranian counterpart through the head of the delegation to visit Pakistan. He expressed the hope that this visit will help expanding relations between the two countries.

dence motion will come to the fore soon. “Except for one member of the PTI, all the members [of the assembly], as well as the allies, are with us,” he said. “I have asked the party’s chief organiser Jan Mohammad Jamali to hold a meeting with all the members of Parliament as we are ready for talks with them.” It should be recalled that Aylani, on October 1, had posted a tweet that he was stepping down after completing a ‘good three-year term’, as he asked BAP officeholders to organise a meeting and announce BAP party elec-

tions at the earliest. Meanwhile, Buledi, who is also a member of the provincial assembly, wrote on Twitter: “Alhamdulillah honoured to be nominated as acting president of BAP after resignation of party president Jam Kamal Khan.” “I will serve the party with consultation of all senior leaders [and] workers,” he added. It is pertinent to mention that Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who was also the president of BAP, had tendered his resignation from the slot of president on October 1. On Monday, the disgruntled members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) — including lawmakers from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and allied parties — had submitted a no-confidence motion against

Alyani. The disgruntled members, in the motion submitted to the assembly secretariat, said during the three years of Alyani’s term as the chief minister, there has been unemployment, unrest, and frustration in the province. The motion, signed by 14 members, claimed that the provincial cabinet members had informed the chief minister about the issues of Balochistan but he did not pay heed to them. “Due to Jam Kamal’s lukewarm attitude, there has been gas, water, electricity, and economic crisis in [Balochistan],” the motion said. Further, the disgruntled members had sought the removal of Alyani as the chief minister and called for the election of a new provincial chief, who had the majority’s support. news desk

Pakistan a test case for FATF’s fairness: minister ISLAMABAD AnAdolu Agency

Pakistan is a test case for the fairness of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as the country has met almost all the requirements to exit the grey list, the minister for law and justice said. Farogh Naseem said the international watchdog needs to apply laws to all countries without any prejudice. In an exclusive interview with the Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of an event in Istanbul, Naseem proposed the establishment of a joint legal forum between Pakistan and Turkey besides intern exchange programs and the sharing of experiences between lawyer communities of the two countries. He said Pakistan and Turkey lawyers are “capable of fighting their own cases at all forums.” In a conversation with a group of Turkish lawyers hosted by the second Bar Association of Istanbul in his honour, Naseem said former judges and lawyers of the two countries could come together and the two countries could together fight cases of a commercial nature in the international arena. Referring to illegal immigration to Turkey, he said officials from Pakistan and Turkey were “working on a daily basis to cease this problem.” Naseem also discussed what he called the “transformation taking place in Pakistan” with regard to the delivery of justice after new laws were brought in by his ministry. His ministry has proposed around 650 amendments to the Pakistan National Assembly to make the dispensation of justice “fast and durable.” DONE ‘EVERYTHING’ TO EXIT FATF LIST: Naseem said Pakistan has done “everything” to get off FATF’s grey list. “Out of I think 27 points, we have reached the 26th score,” he told Anadolu Agency.

“Even the FATF people are good people. I’m not being critical against them […] But as long as these [FATF] standards are universally applied, and not applied to only Pakistan, and as long as there is no international politics, then we welcome FATF.” “Let it be applied to everyone,” he said, questioning why Pakistan was still on the list. “There should be no international politics, but FATF is being used to arm-twist. Then what can we say?” The Paris-based FATF, founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7, an organisation of the world’s seven largest advanced countries, monitors countries’ money flow and penalizes those whose financial systems are abused for money laundering and terrorism activities. Pakistan has been on the grey list since June 2018 for alleged deficiencies in its counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes. However, FATF has acknowledged that Pakistan has made “progress.” “I think we have met all objectives. At the (FATF) October session, Pakistan is going to give a very good roundup of whatever it has done,” Naseem said. “I’m very hopeful,” he said when asked whether Pakistan will exit the list. He said the Pakistani case was “actually a test of FATF’s fairness.” “And I’d like to believe it’s a fair system. These international standards should be applied everywhere to every country.” Naseem said Pakistan was “grateful to Turkish brothers” for their support at the FATF besides China. ‘TRANSFORMATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM’: Touching on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s struggle for a country where the dispensation of justice is “fast and durable,” Naseem said with Khan’s government in power for three

years, “this transformation has already started.” “We have made a new law, the inheritance law, and it takes 15 days for the succession certificate or the letter of administration to be issued,” the minister said. He said earlier that it would “take four to seven years for a court to decide” about the letter of administration or a succession certificate. Letter of Administration or succession certificate is an official document that grants an individual permission to access and manage the property after someone dies. “Then we made an attempt with the Civil Procedure Court. As you know that in India and Pakistan, it takes about 20 to 30 years before any civil dispute is settled. The problem is not just in Pakistan but in many other countries. So what we did is that we made amendments, and those amendments ensure that a civil case would be tried within one year. It is working in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Punjab, there is a little problem,” he added. The minister said Pakistan is also working on women’s empowerment laws, calling it “a very big step.” He said women, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, can file a case with regard to property rights with female ombudsmen, who are “available all over Pakistan.” “Those women ombudsmen would decide their cases in between three to six months. So again, a great expedition [of case disposal] is available as far as that is concerned.” Naseem said many amendments have been brought to “revamp the criminal justice system of Pakistan.” “We have proposed about 650 amendments, and I think it’ll take a few months before they are passed by the National Assembly and the Senate,” he said.

sindh plans massive anti-measles drive as 38 kids die KARACHI TlTP

The government of Sindh on Tuesday said it has decided to launch the world’s biggest anti-measles vaccination drive in the province during which 19 million children will be immunised against the deadly disease. The decision comes after 38 children recently succumbed to measles in the province. In a joint press conference in Karachi on Tuesday, Sindh Project Director of Immunisation Irshad Memon said that 2,489 children in Sindh have been affected by measles this year, of which 38 have died. Memon was accompanied by Sindh Health Director-General Dr Jumman Khan, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC)’s Dr Ahmed Ali, and health experts at the press conference. “117 cases of Rubella have been reported in Sindh this year therefore a campaign for immunisation against Rubella and measles is being launched in Karachi and the rest of the province starting November 15,” said Memon. He said that it will be “the world’s biggest” anti-measles vaccination drive for which a target of inoculating 19 million children has been set. The drive will continue till November 27. Memon said that over 15,200 teams have been set up to achieve the target while eight million children will also be given a dose of anti-polio drops during the drive. He informed the media that a partnership has been formed with Sindh Education Department for vaccinating 60 percent of the target fixed, under which letters have been sent to the parents by the administration of various schools. He further stated that the MR vaccine will be included in the government’s immunisation programme from January 2022 onwards. Earlier, the Sindh government had decided to take assistance from law-enforcement agencies for the vaccination campaign to eradicate measles.

With temperatures dropping, Afghanistan crisis is worsening: UNHCR warns UNITED NATIONS APP

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening and funding for emergency aid is urgently needed to help 20 million people there, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said Tuesday. A month since the UN-led $606 million appeal for solidarity for the people of Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency said that only 35 per cent of the funds it needed to fund operations for the next two months

had been received. The development follows a call from UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday to the international community to inject cash into Afghanistan’s crumbling economy to prevent its collapse, for which “not only they but all the world will pay a heavy price”. The Secretary-General’s comments came ahead of Tuesday’s G-20 (rich countries) meeting of leading industrialized nations, whose leaders were due to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban ousted the Government on 15 August.

Speaking from Kabul, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said that the agency was trying to establish a logistics hub just outside Afghanistan’s border to distribute aid to the country’s many hundreds of thousands of internally displaced. Baloch explained that Afghanistan’s economy was at “a breaking point”, and that this collapse had to be avoided at all costs, particularly as temperatures were now plunging at night with the approach of winter. “So, resources are really needed to reach more and more Afghans, I mean, when you

talk about half of the population relying on humanitarian assistance; 20 million, that number is rising day by day,” he said. “We need those resources as immediately as possible.” The UNHCR spokesperson said that the agency planned to conduct three airlifts to scale up supplies to Afghanistan in the coming period. “Consignments will be airlifted to Termez, Uzbekistan, and subsequently trucked through the Hairatan border point into Mazar-i-Sharif. The airlifts will deliver urgently needed humanitarian relief items. The

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

first flight is expected to arrive mid-October.” At the beginning of 2021, 18 million people in Afghanistan needed humanitarian assistance, half of the country’s population. UN aid officials insist that “the window to assist is narrow”, as only five per cent of households have enough to eat every day, and more than half of all children under-five are expected to become acutely malnourished in the next year. Severe drought and disruptions to farming have increased the risk of food insecurity as the winter approaches, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.