sunday, 3 april, 2022 i 1 ramzan, 1443 i rs 15.00 i vol Xii no 275 i 12 pages i islamabad edition
Russia’s invasion of ukRaine must be ‘stopped immediately’: Coas ISLAMABAD
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hief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Saturday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must be “stopped immediately”, terming it a great tragedy. Speaking at the islamabad Security Dialogue, Gen Bajwa expressed Pakistan’s serious concern over the conflict, adding that “despite legitimate security concerns of Russia, its aggression against a smaller country cannot be condoned.” The army chief delivered his opening remarks at the second day of the islamabad Security Dialogue as chief guest. “Pakistan has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. We support immediate dialogue between all sides to find a lasting solution
to the conflict,” he said and added that Pakistan is determined to resolve the regional issues through partnership and cooperation. General Bajwa said regional security and stability is the component of the country’s National Security Policy, adding that “citizen’s security and prosperity is our priority”. The army chief said: “Pakistan does not believe in camp politics and cannot promote its relationship with its partners at the cost of others. We want to expand our ties with China, US, and Russia without damaging it’s national interests where Ukraine, Japan, Gulf States and other partners are equally important for the country’s development and economic prosperity.” he said Pakistan has serious concerns over Ukraine crisis. The unfortunate Russian invasion destroyed half of the Ukraine and killed many people. Both the countries should let the situation under their control to resolve the conflict, he added.
he underlined that the expansion of the Ukraine crisis would not serve any country and Pakistan is demanding ceasefire between Ukraine and Russian. The army chief mentioned that the world is facing challenges of poverty, climate change, cyber intrusion and others, whereas Pakistan is a country located at the cross roads of global economic and political transitions. Commenting on the country’s landmark National Security Policy formulation, the COAS said the first ever National Security Policy placed citizen security at its heart, where achieving this required peace at home and abroad. “Our commitment to defeat terrorism remains unwavering. The country sacrificed 90,000 lives in its war against terrorism and the armed forces with national support achieved unprecedented accomplishments”, General Bajwa said.
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Treasury, Opposition change strategies for vote on no-trust motion ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
Keeping in view the fast political developments taking place, the federal government and the joint opposition on Saturday decided to change their strategies for vote on No-Confidence Motion to be held today. in a complete change of strategy, Prime Minister imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaaf (PTi) lawmakers decided to attend the proceedings of the no-confidence vote during National Assembly session. it has been reported that PTi members will be present during the session and have their vote counted against the no-trust move in the lower house. earlier, PM imran had formally barred the party’s lawmakers from attending the National Assembly ses-
sion on the day of voting on the opposition’s no-confidence motion. OppOsiTiOn TO keep pTi dissenTers away frOm vOTing: The joint opposition has chalked out a strategy for casting votes during the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister imran Khan. Sources revealed that the joint opposition has decided to tentatively ask the PTi dissident members to stay away from casting their votes against their party so that the process of voting would not become controversial in light of the forthcoming Supreme Court judgement on the presidential reference that has sought apex court’s interpretation of Article 63-A of Constitution that might invoke disqualification of the dissident members.
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Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
NEWS
PunjaB to elect new cM today LAHORe
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HE voting in the Punjab Assembly will be held on Sunday to elect new leader of the house following Usman Buzdar’s resignation. Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday presided over the session which was held after four hours delay amid sloganeering from both opposition and treasury benches. The session was subsequently adjourned till Sunday. Nomination papers for the slot of chief minister had been submitted in the office of the assembly secretary. The voting process would be carried out through the
parliamentary mode of open division of the house. Hamza Shehbaz is a candidate for the chief ministership of the joint opposition while Prime Minister Imran Khan had nominated Pervaiz Elahi for the slot. The assembly secretariat had issued standard operating procedures for the assembly business. As per the agenda, the entry of the guests along with the members of the assembly is banned. No member of the assembly is allowed to take cell phone inside the house and the same would be handed over to the security while women members are also not allowed to take their handbags inside the house as they would submit the same to the security.
The members had been directed to bring their CNICs and assembly cards with them on the day of voting. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had offered the position of Punjab chief minister to Pervez Elahi, following his party’s decision to support the ruling coalition in the face of the notrust move against the premier. Former Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar had tendered his resignation to PM Imran after the joint opposition submitted a no-trust motion against Buzdar in the provincial assembly, citing “poor performance”. JKt group announCes support for hamza: While addressing a press conference alongside
Hamza, Punjab MPA Nauman Langrial formally announced Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group’s support for the PML-N scion for the Punjab chief ministry. He said the group — which comprises PTI dissidents — made its decision based on “honesty, sincerity and for the country’s sake”, adding that the group hoped Hamza would serve the province well. Langrial said the group would “fully support” Hamza but also point out any “wrongdoings and also try to stop them”. The JKT group leader lashed out at outgoing chief minister Buzdar, alleging that he had promoted corruption and damaged the PTI. In reply to a question, Langrial said that there was no “deal” behind the Tareen
group’s decision to support Hamza. “We have not discussed any demands or positions [with them]. None of us has demanded any seat,” he said. Hamza, meanwhile, thanked the Tareen group for showing confidence in his leadership as well as that of Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. In the 371-member Punjab Assembly, the PTI has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq.
Even if no-trust motion succeeds, PM Imran will hold office until new leader elected: Rasheed IsLAMABAD ppi
Bilawal urges PM Khan to opt for an ‘honourable exit’ IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Saturday urged the prime minister to opt for an ‘honourable exit’ instead of looking for an ‘NRO or backdoor route’ to save his government. “Either resign or face no-trust motion in National Assembly,” said the PPP Chairman while addressing a presser here. Bilawal said that people will have Sehri [pre-dawn meal] in ‘Naya (new) Pakistan’ and by the time of Iftar they will enter ‘old Pakistan’ as the first day of Ramazan will fall on Sunday (tomorrow). He was referring to possible ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan through the voting on no-confidence motion, which is to be held tomorrow in National Assembly. Addressing the media in Islamabad, Bilawal said devils are being imprisoned in the holy month and the “devil of Bani Gala” [residence of PM Imran] will be confined as well. He also expressed concerns over the PM Imran’s call for countrywide protests against opposition leaders. Earlier today, the embattled premier urged the country’s youth to take to streets to hold ‘peaceful demonstrations’ against “foreign conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government. “Raise your voice and stage protests against this conspiracy not for me but for the future of the country,” he remarked while addressing the youth on Saturday. Bilawal said that there were reports that the “defeated” PM Imran would try to undermine the democratic process, adding that “goons” of PTI were heading to Islamabad ahead of no-trust voting.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday said even if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan gets success, the premier will continue to hold office until a new leader of the lower house is elected. Talking to media persons, he cited Article 94 of the Constitution, which states that: “The President may ask the Prime Minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of Prime Minister.” He said the Constitution does not speak about that how long the process of electing a new prime minister should take after a no-trust vote gets success. The voting on the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan is
scheduled to be held on Sunday. The interior minister claimed that the no-confidence motion against the prime minister is a ‘foreign
conspiracy’. He said the opposition should be charged for treason and for being the part of a foreign conspiracy.
Rasheed suggested three options to counter the no-confidence motion. He said firstly, the establishment should intervene into the matter and call for early elections immediately either after Ramazan or Hajj. Secondly, the PML-N, PPP, and JUI-F, who are the mover of the motion, should be banned and an inquiry should be initiated against them. He said thirdly, the PTI members should resign from all the assemblies. He said the opposition’s noconfidence motion has increased the popularity of Prime Minister Imran Khan amongst the masses. He said those who have sold out their conscience will not be able to face people in their areas. He said he stands by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the corrupt elements will be exposed.
Fawad issues directives for formation of commission to probe global conspiracy against PM Imran’s govt News Desk Shortly after assuming charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Saturday issued directives for setting up an inquiry commission to investigate the “foreign conspiracy” that Prime Minister Imran Khan alleges has been hatched against his government and is powering the opposition’s no-confidence move. The commission would look into various matters, including “changing of the government through an international conspiracy and the no-trust resolution”. The commission would hold thorough investigations into the global conspiracy and compile its report. The federal law minister also issued orders to replace dozens of legal officers
in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, and directed all officers of the Ministry of Law and Justice to perform their duties in an efficient manner. CanCellation of bails of shehbaz, hamza: Meanwhile, Fawad also issued directives to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for the cancellation of bails of Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering case. After receiving the new directives, the FIA initiated its work and filed an application in the court of FIA special judge central in this regard. The court issued notices on the application and summoned Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyers on April 4 for arguments. Fawad also tweeted to “congratulate” the nation after the petition was fixed by the court for
hearing on Monday. Earlier, the court had extended the
interim bails of Shehbaz and Hamza in the case until April 4.
PM Imran says US behind conspiracy to topple PTI govt News Desk Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday held the United States responsible for the ‘foreign conspiracy’ to overthrow his government. “Ok I’m taking the name of US. The conspiracy has been hatched with the help of America to remove me,” PM Imran said while addressing the participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in Islamabad ahead of a crucial noconfidence vote in the National Assembly on Sunday. According to a report, only 140 lawmakers were present in
the meeting. The premier said people are seeing the conspiracy and its characters and alleged that US wants to see its “slaves” in power in Pakistan. Reiterating his resolve to fight till the last ball, PM Imran Khan said he will not leave the ground for the corrupt and will fight in the National Assembly. Noconfidence motion against him will fail, he added. Commenting on the turncoats, he vowed not to shake hands with them in future. He termed the party MNAs standing beside him heroes and said he will not forget those who stood by him in the difficult
times. He also said it is good that the establishment has kept itself neutral in the present political situation. Lauding the landmark victory in the second phase of local body polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PM Khan said that PTI has swept the seats and PML-N and PPP have been overthrown from the scene. “I am observing your gestures and it seems that you are here to give me a farewell like this is our last dinner,” the prime minister said passing a quipping remark. “Don’t worry until the last bowl is bowled, your captain might pull off something unusual.”
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
oPPoSItIon PaRtIeS to hold PoweR Show outSIde PaRlIaMent houSe today IsLAMABAD
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HILST the show of power inside the National Assembly hall today (Sunday) will decide whether or not Prime Minister Imran Khan stays in the coveted office, both Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaaf and the major opposition parties especially the PML (N) and the PPP have also made arrangements to exhibit their public support on the roads of the federal capital. The call to its supporters and
workers to gather in the capital was given by the PTI a few days back, the opposition parties , whose MNAs are already in Islamabad over the last few days, have entrusted the responsibility to their Senators to bring the workers from their respective areas on the day of voting. This has only further heightened the risk of any possible clash between the party workers. The Red Zone has been sealed in order to avoid any untoward incident on the Constitution Avenue or close to the Parliament house. Sources within the opposition parties told this correspondent that they are gathering their workers and
KP sports dept fails to utilise adP funds AzIz BuNeRI The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government allocated more than Rs4 billion in the annual development program (ADP) of the current financial year for the promotion of sports but the department has been hardly able to utilise Rs1.2 billion. The KP government has spent Rs29 million out of Rs1.184 billion allocated for the only international cricket ground, Arbab Niaz Stadium. According to sources, the sports department will not be able to complete the ground despite repeated deadlines. The finance department documents show that the provincial government has included more than a dozen projects for sports promotion in the annual development program for which not a single rupee has been released so far. The government had allocated Rs45 million for grassy ground in Swat but so far no funds has been released for the project. Besides, most of the projects in the ADP of the sports department, including the one thousand sports facility program across the province for which the finance department could not release funds. The sports department has managed to spent Rs25 million out of Rs50 million allocated for indoor sports facility project for families. According to sources the Chief Minister has expressed concerns over the slow pace of work. The Chief Minister is himself looking at the ministry of sports but on one hand the finance department is not releasing funds and on the other hand the officials of the sports department lack capacity to effectively utilise developmental funds.
supporters in the capital to celebrate the ouster of Imran Khan. “If the PTI can call in its workers to put pressure on the opposition parties, we also have the right to come with a counter strategy,” they said warning the government will be responsible in case of any violent incident. Meanwhile, JUI (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman hosted a reception in honor of MNAs supporting the no confidence motion. These also included the dissident MNAs of PTI and members belonging to Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
Sources further told this correspondent that the dissident MNAs of PTI were shifted from a local hotel to Sindh House on Saturday. “These MNAs will be escorted by Sindh police Commandos in simple dress from the Sindh House to the Parliament House”, they said adding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will visit Sindh House in the morning and bring them to the parliament house. They said these precautionary measures have been taken so that nobody could kidnap them ahead of the voting of the no confidence resolution.
Maryam says PM Imran should be booked for ‘sedition’ News Desk Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should be booked for provocation, incitement and sedition, adding that whatever the premier is doing today will only add to the dossier and charge sheet against him. “Those of PTI who resort to violence or create a law and order situation should be arrested and thrown behind bars, IK [Imran Khan] included. IK should be booked for provocation, incitement and sedition. Will be Insha’Allah. None of them should be spared,” she wrote in a tweet. “Whatever IK is doing today will only add to the dossier and charge sheet against him. The list is getting longer and longer. He is inviting woes and miseries for himself and his people. Will have to pay through his nose for every word he says today. Insha’Allah. Phir na kehna bataya nahi!,” she wrote in another tweet. The tweets come after local media, quoting sources, reported that the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership have decided to resort to violence in the federal capital on Sunday, the day crucial voting is going to take place in National Assembly on the opposition’s no-trust motion. Senior journalist Hamid Mir, quoting sources, said that the ruling party has decided to stop the opposition lawmakers from exiting the parliament lodges and entering the lower house of parliament. Whether they enter the assembly or even if they are outside, they will be beaten, Mir said, while
Backed by international venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, former SAPM on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus is set to launch a digital bank, and may be one of the top contenders to get an early digital banking licence from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Profit has learnt. Tania’s new venture, called D-Bank, has also reportedly secured the backing of another storied venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, which would be making its maiden investment in Pakistan in D-Bank. In a recent tweet, Tania disclosed that the Brazil-based Nubank was also backing her fintech venture in the seed round, without disclosing that her new venture is a digital bank. Who is tania aidrus? A tech heavyweight of Pakistani origin, Tania holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University in the US. She served as Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Initiatives Next Billion Users team at Google. Tania’s big break came when she was appointed as the head of Digital Pakistan Initiative (DPI) by the PTI government in 2019. As the chief of Digital Pakistan Initiative, Tania popularised the slogan ‘Roti, Kapra, Makan aur Internet’. In February 2020, she was appointed as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Digital Pakistan, a post she held until July 2020 when she resigned from her position because of dual citizenship. According to an earlier report by Profit, however, Tania did not willingly resign from her position and was asked to leave soon after Jahangir Tareen was ousted from the party
due to the sugar crisis. It was Jahangir Tareen who initially arranged the meeting between Tania and Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019 which materialised into the Prime Minister’s vision for Digital Pakistan. A conflict of interest was alleged by various parties when it emerged Tania was on the board of Digital Pakistan Foundation (DPF). The DPF was created to complement the Digital Pakistan Initiative (DPI) that would come directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, headed by Tania Aidrus. According to a report by ARY, Tania was unable to satisfy the PM on the role and circumstances under which the DPF was created and was therefore removed from her SAPM role. In December 2020, Tania co-founded Rayn Group as a technology advisory and investment company which is the parent company of the digital bank she aspires to launch. D-Bank, co-founded by Tania Aidrus and Khurram Jamali, both of whom worked at Google and later joined the Digital Pakistan Initiative, has among its angel investors and advisors former Google, global payments company Stripe, and cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase officials. the liCenCe and the Central banK: It is pertinent to note that while Tania is a candidate for a digital banking licence, she has also been a regular on the panels organised on digital banks by the State Bank ever since the regulations for digital banks were announced. Surprisingly, however, in none of the panels Tania or the SBP disclose that she was seeking a licence for her digital bank. The inner workings and lobbying that is involved in the tech space in Pakistan are
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Imran will be held accountable for issuing ‘threats’ to opposition: Shehbaz News Desk Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Imran Khan over his allegations that opposition is part of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government through no-confidence motion. Talking to the media in Islamabad, he said PM Imran is not ready to accept his defeat and involved in a “conspiracy” to divide the nation. “Opposition will bury Imran Khan’s undemocratic thinking according to the constitutional means… he will be held responsible for hurling threats [at opposition leaders after voting on no-trust motion],” he remarked. He said PM Imran is taking a path that is against the Constitution and law of the country. “If we want to live like a free nation, we have to break the begging bowl… I have always maintained that if there is no self-reliance then there will be no freedom,” he added. He said that PM Imran is provoking his supporters and “henchmen” against opposition leaders and added that all lawmakers have the right to vote. “I hope that the right to vote will be given as per the decision of the Supreme Court.” The PML-N president also clarified that his remarks that “beggars cannot be choosers” were wrongly linked to the United States. “I have said this many times before… the independence of the nation is meaningless if it is not economically self-sufficient,” he remarked.
ecc approves Rs25bn grant to avoid disruption in oil supply sHAHzAD PARAcHA
quoting ‘informed sources’. Earlier in the day, PM Imran had urged the country’s youth to take to streets to hold ‘peaceful demonstrations’ against “foreign conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government. “Raise your voice and stage protests against this conspiracy not for me but for the future of the country,” he remarked while addressing the youth. “Don’t resort to violence and I urge you to hold peaceful demonstrations and don’t cause any harm to the country,” he asked his young supporters while interacting with them via telephone.
Backed by Kleiner Perkins, former SAPM Tania Aidrus kickstarts digital bank venture TAIMOOR HAssAN
NEWS
no secret, and Ms Aidrus is in a position where she does not need to use underhanded tactics to get a foot in the door at the SBP since she already has a well-established relationship with the central bank from her time on the federal cabinet. At a recent panel moderated by Tania and attended by Governor Reza Baqir, D-Bank investor Kleiner Perkins’ General Partner Mamoon Hamid was also among one of the speakers. The said event, titled ‘The Promise of Digital Banks’, which was streamed online, had 5,000 registered attendees according to the central bank. At the panel which was moderated by Tania, she took the opportunity to ask Omer Ismail, the incoming CEO of NewCo which is a US-based fintech company backed by Walmart, what sort of companies should get the digital banking licence. Omer shot down the question by stating that he’d be overstepping his line if he suggested who should get a licence and that it was totally up to the State Bank of Pakistan. Critics worry that without proper disclosures, the central bank does not appear to be acting as a neutral regulator and appears to be elevating a certain candidate for a digital banking licence. The central bank has to issue five digital bank licences this year and because the SBP is bound to evaluate each application on a competitive basis, the governor’s appearance at a panel with only one of the applicants is being construed as a tacit endorsement for that applicant. So if preferential treatment leads to a digital bank getting a licence ahead of others, it would enable that bank to wrongly get a first-mover’s advantage.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of Cabinet approved Rs25 billion as supplementary grant in favor of the Petroleum Division to address liquidity constraints to PSO for avoiding disruption in LNG and oil supply chain. The meeting of ECC was held under the chair of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin. As per the details, the prevailing commodity market price trend as well as the need for import of LNG, diesel and motor spirit from March to June 2022, the ECC approved Rs25 billion as supplementary grant in favor of Petroleum Division to address liquidity constraints to PSO for avoiding instant disruption in LNG and oil supply chain. In addition the ECC approved Rs828 million as supplementary grant in favor of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for Special Communication Organization.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
04 NEWS ConspiraCies, threats to pakistan from Us, india, israel not seCret: BaloCh RAWALPINDI
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Staff RepoRt
EPUTy Chief of Jamaate-Islami, President of the Political and National Affairs Standing Committee, Liaqat Baloch has said that intimidation, conspiracies and threats to Pakistan from the United States, India and Israel are not secret. Speaking to public gatherings and journalists in Mianwali, Rawalpindi, he said that enemy forces of Pakistan have always been trying to create threats for instability and security. Incompetence of the rulers, cowardice and waving of letters is just to save the seat and inciting the nation. Liaqat Baloch said that Prime Minister Imran Khan must answer the nation on Modi’s fascist decision of August 05, 2019 for the state of Jammu and Kashmir; after the defeat of US and NATO forces in
Afghanistan, and the victory of Afghan people and Taliban, why could a national strategy not be formulated? Why was a controversial and unilateral national security policy was devised, he questioned adding when the Prime Minister is not ready for dialogue with the national leadership and instead of deterring the threat to the country and the nation through devising a protective national security policy, it is dealt with abusive language and a superficial chair-saving strategy. The JI Deputy Chief said that now, the game of fooling people is not going to work. Jamaat-e-Islami is constantly fighting for the protection of cultural, ideological and geographical borders against the United States and anti-Islam and anti-Muslim forces. At the turning point, all the so-called national leaders surrendered to the United States. Responding to a question from
media persons, he said that in the political, democratic and parliamentary constitutional crisis of the country, there is a clear, unequivocal position that the government and the opposition parties are factions of Bhan Mati (unholy alliance) and interest groups. The post-2018 engineered system has failed. Liaqat Baloch said the success or failure of the no-confidence motion will not solve the country’s problems. Imran Khan has lost the majority of the parliamentarians. He has inflicted deep wounds on everyone with his bad language, slander and his incompetence and even if the brigade of his kittenish colleagues beg before the state institutions for taming the dissidents, the system will not run. The only solution to the crisis is electoral reforms and early elections. A sensational act of delaying early elections will open the door to extra-constitutional measures, he added.
Covid-19 stream all-time low as Pakistan records only one death ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Pakistan has reported only one death and 208 infections by coronavirus pandemic during the last 24 hours, showed the figures released by the National Institute of Health Pakistan on Saturday morning. As per the latest NIH data, with the addition of one more death the toll has gone up to 30,360, whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,525,181 after adding the fresh 208 cases.
During the last 24 hours (Friday), 29,176 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 0.71 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 374. During the last 24 hours (Friday), as many as 72 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,485,996. As of Saturday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 8,825. As many as 575,473 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 505,087 in Punjab, 219,081 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
135,083 in Islamabad, 35,475 in Balochistan, 43,274 in Azad Kashmir and 11,708 in Gilgit-Baltistan. As many as 13,557 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 8,097 in Sindh, 6,322 in KP, 1,023 in Islamabad, 792 in Azad Kashmir, 378 in Balochistan and 191 in Gilgit Baltistan. National Institute of Health Pakistan made public the coronavirus latest figures for the first time today after taking control of the operations from National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
Pak-China health cooperation in high gear, says Chinese diplomat LAHORE Staff RepoRt
Chinese Acting Consul General Peng Zhengwu has said China always aims to incentivize social and medial cooperation between China and Pakistan. Chinese Consulate General in Lahore is making all out efforts to ensure health facilities with the passion of brotherhood and affability. The envoy expressed these remarks on the occasion of inaugurating of upgrading of Neonatology Unit and Central Oxygen system at Lady Aitchison Hospital carried out
Rasheed’s plea to ‘establishment’ reflects govt’s defeated psyche: Sherry ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Responding to Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed’s statement in which he requested the country’s ‘establishment’ to intervene in order to ensure that general elections were held in the country immediately, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said on Saturday the statement was a reflective of the government’s defeated psyche and a sense of despair. She also argued that the interior minister could not interpret the constitution on his own. “Once the no-trust motion is passed, Imran Khan will cease to be the country’s prime minister,” she stated categorically. Sherry asked as to on what basis the government would file ‘treason’ cases against the opposition parties’ leaders. “And if that ‘letter’ which PM Imran had waved in front of a crowd during a public gathering in Islamabad forms the basis of these cases, then who will take responsibility for concealing it for 17 days?” she questioned.
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by the Chinese special grant in collaboration with the Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR). In attendance of IIRMR Chairman Muhammad Mehdi, Lady Aitchison Hospital MS Dr. M. Iqbal Shahid and Neonatology Department In-Charge Aliya Batool, “it is my honor to do something for the hospital. I hope the project will be remembered as a gesture of friendship between China and Pakistan,” the Chinese Acting Consul General said. “It is an exchange of love between our people. It is based on mu-
tual trust and respect. Our friendship is time tested and will continue in the future. Under the framework of CPEC, more and more projects will benefit the local society. All this will consolidate our relations of allweather strategic cooperative partnership,” he said. IIRMR Chairman Muhammad Mehdi said that the Chinese Consulate General in Lahore’s role in extending humanitarian assistance and help particularly in the medical and health arena is very laudable. “It will help synergize people-to-people cooperation between China and Pakistan,” he added.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
NEWS
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NO BLOCK POLITICS
Those who brought PTI into power no longer with it: Siraj LAHORE staff report
Emir Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Sirajul Haq has said that those who had brought Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into power are no long with the ruling party. Addressing the meeting of Milli Yakjehti Council at Mansoorah on Saturday, he said the prime minister announcement to gather the PTI workers in Islamabad during voting on no-confidence motion could create dangerous situation and political crisis. The MYC leaders, a conglomerate of different religious and political organization, met to discuss the prevailing situation under the chair of the council president Dr AbualKhair Muhammad Zubair. The meeting expressed concern over the prevailing crisis and political instability and made it clear that the only way forward to stop foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal issues was the nation’s self-reliance and enforcement of the system based on the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. The meeting said the US interference into Pakistan’s affairs was unacceptable to every citizen, asking the nation to stand united to protect the sovereignty of the country. Sirajul Haq said that it was an open secret that Pakistan remained under the influence of the US and west for decades. Every ruler, he added, made submission before the Washington directions. He made it clear that the JI had always opposed the US meddling in Pakistan affairs. He said the PTI government also made surrender before the international lending agencies working on the behest of the US. He said Pakistan’s economy was virtually under the control of the IMF and the ruling party’s ill-conceived polices made it possible. The JI chief said the prime minister be-fooled the nation in the name of Madina state. He said the nation must stand united to challenge the conspiracies against the country. He said the tested faces and parties were not solution to the problems rather it needed able, honest and dedicated leadership. He said the JI was struggling hard to transform Pakistan into Islamic welfare state.
Treasury, Opposition change strategies for vote on no-trust motion
PakISTan chOOSeS TO be a ParTner In Peace: FM QureShI iSLAmABAd
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staff report
OREIGN Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that rather than becoming a part of any bloc or any conflict, Pakistan had consciously chosen to be only a partner for peace and development. “We are positioning Pakistan as an economic hub, a melting pot for positive global interests. Centered on economic security, our focus remains on enhancing connectivity, development partnerships, and peace within our borders and beyond,” the foreign minister was delivering his keynote speech at the second edition of Islamabad Security Dialogue. The foreign minister said Pakistan was a responsible country striving for peace, prosperity and connectivity in the region. In principle, Pakistan was also ready to consider East-West connectivity to help address challenges of poverty and underdevelopment in South Asia. “For that, we obviously need a willing partner that demonstrates good faith, and is committed to creating an enabling environment for meaningful engagement. Unfortunately, we face a toxic mix in India: an extremist ideological regime, which thrives on anti-Muslim hate and hostility with Pakistan, and will do anything to retain its predominantly Hindu electoral support base,” he added. Qureshi said the recent firing of a supersonic missile by India into Pakistan’s territory reflected India’s disregard for aviation safety as well as regional peace and stability. “This incident is consistent with India’s irresponsible conduct. It must be addressed by the international community, including the UN Security Council. Despite provocations, Pakistan continues to act with maximum restraint and responsibility,” he added. The foreign minister said it was evident that durable peace, security and development in the region hinged on a peaceful and just resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute. India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), accompanied by unabated repression of Kashmiris, had seriously undermined the prospects of peace, he added. The foreign minister reiterated that India must halt violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions including the demographic changes in the occupied territory; and implement the UN Security
Council resolutions which guarantee the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. “India must also rethink its policy of fomenting destabilization in Pakistan and embrace a progressive agenda that can benefit the entire region. The onus remains on India to create an enabling environment,” he added. The foreign minister said Pakistan was committed to peaceful co-existence and cooperative multilateralism for win-win outcomes. Pakistan’s outlook and trajectory were fundamentally transformed. “While confident of our security and defence capabilities, our priorities are increased trade, investment, energy security, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Pakistan will continue to support an equitable and inclusive global order, where no one is left behind. We strive for a world of peace, progress and prosperity, in which benefits of development are shared by all,” he added. The foreign minister further said the challenges and security dilemmas faced by Pakistan today were concomitant to global and regional undercurrents. Pakistani leadership’s vision of Naya Pakistan had been focused around economic security and the welfare and well-being of our people. “In order to focus on these priorities, Pakistan desires peace, security and strategic stability. Pakistan wants to move away from the acrimony and toxicity of the past. We want to move ahead, into a new era of peace and prosperity, and bring the dividends of economic growth and development to our people. In line with our emphasis on shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics, we are advocating peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation,” he opined. The foreign minister further observed that Pakistan’s location made it a natural hub for economic confluence for competing states. The foreign ministry was actively pursuing these objectives through various tools of diplomacy such as economic diplomacy, public diplomacy, digital diplomacy and science diplomacy. “We are determined to build partnerships beyond our traditional associations. Outreach to Africa has been intensified and our relationships with ASEAN, EU and others are being qualitatively upgraded,” he added. Qureshi said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the hallmark of Pakistan’s All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China, was contributing to Pakistan’s economic turnaround, in addition to promoting regional connectivity and prosperity.
“We envision Pakistan emerging as the gateway to Western China, Afghanistan and Central Asia. We are endeavouring to reap the peace dividends in Afghanistan in the form of enhanced connectivity and trade,” he added. The recent events in Ukraine reflected a failure of diplomacy, he said, adding Pakistan believed that all efforts must be made for the immediate cessation of hostilities to avoid further loss of life, and to address the humanitarian situation. “The current situation is posing an unprecedented threat to international peace and security, and global economic stability. Prices of energy and food commodities in the international market have skyrocketed. Supply chains have been disrupted to the detriment of developing countries,” he added. Qureshi said Pakistan maintained a principled and non-partisan position on the matter. “We have consistently emphasized the fundamental principles of the UN Charter including nonuse and threat of use of force; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states; and pacific settlement of disputes. We have also reached out and maintained contact with all sides. Pakistan has also sent humanitarian assistant to Ukraine – country with which we have our friendly and cooperative relations,” he further said. He stressed that a diplomatic solution through dialogue and negotiations was indispensable – and must be pursued as a matter of priority. After 40 years, Qureshi said there was no internal war in Afghanistan and one government controlled the entire country. This presented unique opportunity to stabilize Afghanistan and build sustainable peace. The international community can achieve that by engaging with the Afghan authorities; unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial reserves; and reviving reconstruction and sustainable development of Afghanistan, he stressed. The foreign minister said “It is imperative that international assistance to Afghanistan is scaled up, to help address the humanitarian and economic crises faced by the Afghan people and contribute to their socio-economic wellbeing. It is also incumbent on the Afghan authorities to positively respond to the expectations of the international community with regard to inclusivity, human rights including women rights and girl’s education, and the threat of terrorism.” He reiterated that Pakistan would continue its efforts in support of the fraternal Afghan people as part of their commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
cOntinuEd fROm pAgE 01 The joint opposition believes that with the help of its allies, it would achieve the required numbers in the lower house sans dissidents’ votes. Sources said in case the opposition feels that it is short of numbers, only then it would ask the dissidents to cast their votes in favour of no-trust motion. However, another source said that the opposition feared that keeping in view the public anger against the PTI dissenters, some lawmakers may change their mind in the last minute and hence they won’t be allowed to vote to make sure they only vote when and if needed. The sources divulged that though the dissident members would be brought to the Parliament House but they would not take part in the voting. Opposition sources said though the dissidents are willing to vote against prime minister, but the opposition does not want to make the process controversial. Read No-trust motion tabled in NA amid hullabaloo The premier issued the directives as the leader of the parliamentary party of PTI, a day after the no-confidence motion was tabled in the lower house of parliament against him by PML-N president and leader of the opposition in the house, Shehbaz Sharif. The PTI chief also warned all lawmakers that “no member shall violate any instruction or extend any favour, relating to the vote of no confidence, to any other parliamentary party / group whatsoever”. It added that any violation of these directions will be treated as “express defection in terms of Article 63-A”.
Punjab PDWP approves two development schemes LAHORE staff report
The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has approved two development schemes of Higher Education and Roads Sectors with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,621.26 million while five schemes of Roads Sector an amount of Rs. 37,200.671 million have been recommended to Federal for inclusion in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). These schemes were approved in the 72nd meeting of Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) of current fiscal year 2021-22 presided over by Chairman Planning & Development Board Abdullah Khan Sumbal here. The approved development schemes included Provision of 23 Buses and 10 Coasters in 13 Boys & Girls Associate Colleges in District Rahim Yar Khan at the cost of Rs. 490.400 million, Re-Construction / Rehabilitation of road from Kuttia Farm to Rerka Baqir Chowk via Nawan Lok, Chaito and Jajja Mor i/c Links Bhoa Hassan, Dhunni Khurd, Kuttia Farm to Phalia Bherowal Road Via Burj Bakhat, Musa Kalan to Waryaam Kadhar Road, Kot Pindi Wala to
Jang Busal, Dera Shanawar Sultan Kot Pindi Wala and Sadiq Abad to Khairywal Via Mailo Kohna and
Matto Shareef. Length=45.65 Kms, Tehsil Phalia, District Mandi Bahauddin (Revised) at the cost of Rs. 1,130.860 million while Construction of Metalled Road from Kharar Buzdar to Bewata (24-Ft Wide) Length=38.00 Km District DG Khan at the cost of Rs. 2,685.057 million, Widening / Improvement / Rehabilitation / Reconstruction of Khanewal – Kabirwala – Jhang Road upto District Boundary Khanewal including Link to Motorway (M-4) Length=61.57 Km District Khanewal at the cost of Rs. 3,730.221 million, Dualization of Road from Karam Dad Qureshi (N-70) to Layyah Length=103.00 Km District Muzaffargarh & Layyah at the cost of Rs. 23,342.000 million and Dualization of Road from Chandni Chowk to Dera Nawab Chowk to N-5 (Pakki Pull) Via Mehrab Wala Length=52.50 Km District Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs. 7,443.393 million have been cleared and recommended to federal for its inclusion in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). Provincial Secretary P&D Mujahid Sherdil, all Members of the Planning & Development Board, Provincial Secretaries of concerned departments, and other senior representatives of the relevant Provincial Departments also attended the meeting.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must be ‘stopped immediately’: COAS cOntinuEd fROm pAgE 01 “Pakistan has rendered sacrifices of 90,000 innocent lives in war on terror and will continue fighting terrorism till elimination of the last terrorist from its soil”, he added. The COAS also shed light on the worst humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and said: “We are working with Afghan government and other neighbouring countries to prevent it’s soil use for terrorism against any other nation”.
He added that the lack of financial flows and global sanctions are aggravating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. “The western countries in the emergence of Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis should not forget the 40 million people facing the worst humanitarian catastrophe,” he added. Pakistan, he said is providing assistance to Afghanistan to avert the looming humanitarian crisis and the world must incentivise Afghans for their behavioural change. “Pakistan already hosts four million registered
and non-registered refugees and the world must stop Afghanistan becoming the new epicenter of terrorism”, he added. He urged the global community that the world must not disrupt it’s ties with Afghanistan and should not ignore Afghanistan amid Ukraine crisis. Commenting on the external security situation of the country, he said the situation along the line of control (LoC) is peaceful and satisfactory. He further mentioned that the Indian
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cruise missile launched into Pakistan is a major concern as India did not make any communication prior to its launch. “It has raised concerns over Indian ability to handle high end weapons. Pakistan has called for a complete probe into the situation. India must hold investigation of the failed supersonic cruise missile launch and ensure that its weapons are safe,” he demanded. He said Pakistan had played the role of a responsible state among the comity of nations and released the Indian pilot captured
after shooting down his aircraft intruding the Pakistan airpsace in 2019 while honouring the international laws and norms. “Pakistan again played a responsible state’s role on the occasion of the failed supersonic projectile launch into Pakistan that jeopardised many civilian lives”, he said. The army chief concluded that it is time for political leadership of the region to come up beyond their biases and emotional prejudices to resolve the issues including water crisis through dialogue.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022
06 COMMENT
Rethinking Civil Services Reforms
Sheer brinkmanship Need to act responsibly
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Reforming the civil service must start with reforming recruitment
INDING to its dismay that the PM has lost his majority and is going to be ousted after a successful no-confidence move, the PTI government has decided to play foul. Prime Minister Imran Khan was keen to immediately send National Assembly Opposition Leader shehbaz sharif, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari and JUI(F) Amir Fazlur Rehman to jail after declaring them traitors who had conspired to overthrow his government on the behest of the UsA. He also wanted to foil the no-confidence move by collecting crowds outside the National Assembly to physically harm opposition lawmakers and deter them from casting votes on sunday . After putting opposition leaders in jail Khan meditated creating an anti-Us wave and riding it to win the elections. The sycophants who had prepared the scheme were told by the government’s own legal team that opposition leaders’ arrest on the charge of being traitors would be absolutely illegal. A frustrated Interior Minister however continued to call the no-confidence move a "foreign conspiracy," accusing the opposition leaders of being a part of it and demanding that the government charge them for treason. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was given the additional portfolio of Law for the purpose, got a petition presented in the supreme Court asking the apex court to form a commission to investigate the so-called international conspiracy against the PM, meanwhile ordering the postponement of the no-confidence move till the completion of the commission’s task. The supreme Court office has rejected the petition as ineligible. The PTI government must not create a law and order situation on sunday (today) to deter opposition lawmakers from exercising their right to vote on the no- trust move. While the PM has lost the opportunity to resign honourably, hopefully he would not delay calling the National Assembly session to choose a new leader of the House in case of the no-trust move being successful following the precedent he has set in Punjab. Whatever the outcome of today’s proceedings in the National Assembly, there is a need on the part of the government to halt the ongoing demonstrations against the dissident MNAs in KP accompanied by incidents of the burning of American flags and effigies of President Joe Biden. An activity of the sort directed by the PM himself, as claimed by the KP chief minister, is highly irresponsible.
MuhaMMad nauMan hafEEz Khan
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HeN the present government came in, bureaucratic reforms were announced as the top agenda of the government. Prime Minister Imran Khanfrequently pointed out inefficiency in bureaucracy as a major cause of ills in the governance structure of Pakistan. special Advisor for Institutional Reforms and Austerity Measures Dr Ishrat Hussain was given the mammoth task of reforming the civil services. During his three-year tenure, Dr Ishrat worked on several contours of the bureaucracy to bring about a workable idea on leashing this problematic giant. However, before his resignation as special advisor to the PM, Dr Hussain failed to initiate any change in the civil administrative setup. even before that, bureaucratic reforms have been initiated from time to time by previous governments but ended with similar results. The reforms suggested by Dr Ishrat used a top-down approach to reform the top hierarchy of bureaucracy, ignoring the much-needed base of it. This effort is similar to the concept of reverse engineering in which a machine is broken down into pieces to find the fault, instead of making a more
Discrepant foreign policy A collective and sound narrative is required
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Ne can accept the fact that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia was unintentionally ill-timed as the Ukrainian invasion coincided with it and the optics of this unfortunatelydid more damage to Pakistan’s already less than desirable relations with the UsA and the eU. This is however nothing compared to the reckless manner in which the PM has intentionally damaged relations with the UsA out of a selfish and megalomaniacal urge to stay in power, accusing the latter of hatching a conspiracy in Pakistan to remove his government in connivance with the joint opposition. As if the absurdity of the claim was not enough, he has based this notion on a cable from Pakistan’s embassy in the UsA, sharing, as a matter of routine, minutes of a meeting with officials on Capitol Hill. It is quite surreal that the incapability of a PM to dispense his rational diplomatic duties, who is most likely on his way out, is being supplemented by COAs Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who stated at the Islamabad security Dialogue that Pakistan wants to strengthen its ties with the UsA and Russia's invasion of Ukraine must be "stopped immediately". Pakistan’s security establishment’s position and outlook on global politics is significant as it has an effect and influence on foreign policy formation and is consistent with what the government is thinking as well but currently there is an obvious discrepancy in this regard, which is unfortunate. India’s position on Russia has irked the UsA, which creates an opportunity for Pakistan to leverage the Ukrainian conflict to its benefit. Thatthe security establishment perhaps sees this as angle worth pursuing, but the PTI government is proving a primary hurdle in this regard, is ironic. While there is no denying that the UsA misused Pakistan in its ‘War on Terror’, as Mr Khan oft-repeats; it is neither the start nor end of our relationship with them. There will always be disagreements on policy matters that must be resolved through mutual dialogue behind the scenes. Whatever happens during the vote today, there is a pressing need for leadership that works with crucial allies, foreign and domestic, that genuinely comes up with a foreign policy which is consistent and effective rather than used for the political survival of a single individual.
Unite and rule, Prime Minister! Words of wisdom before the vote EnvEr
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s an ardent believer in the dream of a “Naya Pakistan”, nevertheless I write this humble appeal to the Prime Minister as a citizen of Pakistan irrespective of my political inclinations towards any particular party. While we may have differences of opinion with each other, as in any other democratic society, I am confident that all Pakistanis ascribe to the vision of a “Naya Pakistan”, one where we are able to break free from the shackles of poverty and ignorance and march forward in unison to claim our rightful place in the comity of nations as a nation of talented, industrious and enlightened people. Mr. Prime Minister - your ascent to the top leadership role of the country has been nothing short of miraculous and awe-inspiring. It would not be an exaggeration to state how you enjoyed near unanimous support across various cross sections of our society in the aftermath of your 2011 public address at the Minar-e-Pakistan. It appeared to all and sundry as if the foundation stone for a “Naya Pakistan” had been placed there and then, by a leader who could cut across our deep rooted ethnic, linguistic and class divide and finally unite the nation under one single banner. Alas, fast forward to a decade since that historic event, and today the nation is as divided as at any point during the course of our history, if not more than ever. And yet, you have the power to change it all, at what may be the most significant crossroads that you have faced since that momentous evening on 30 October 2011. since then, you have gone from being a rank outsider to leader of the party which bagged the highest number of votes in the last election, all within the space of seven years, which is coincidentally the number of years it took from the passing of the Lahore Resolution in 1940 to the
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of the candidate. efficient machine. In the function of bureaucracy, a major hurdle The issues in the bureaucracy of Pakistan are not in its function but in its formation. Major re- in its performance is understaffing. The overburforms that have been proposed are making of a dened officers are unable to deliver efficient servfour-tier bureaucracy including All Pakistan serv- ices to the public, which is visible in the quality ices, Federal services, Provincial services, and of governance in the country. This understaffing District services, introducing a specialized re- has a technical reason. The FPsC conducts the cruitment process, security of tenure, increasing competitive exam every year on the recommenthe ACR weightage for promotion, and increasing dation of the establishment Division. For recruitment of each candidate through the competitive the compensation packages. The above-mentioned reforms are not new for exam, the establishment Division pays Rs 18,000 the readers. Dr Ishrat himself has been actively to he FPsC. However, after the final recommenproposing these reforms in the previous govern- dation of the allocated candidates, half of the ments as well. However, these reforms have failed qualified candidates are not given any seat, sendto reach the implementation stage due to several ing them home unallocated. Despite the deficiency of officers, the state exchequer is ripped bottlenecks attached to them. The bureaucracy of Pakistan is the reflection off its money. The quota system needs to be revisited as of the Indian Civil services introduced by the British government in united India. since the in- well. In the 1973 Constitution, the provincial ception of Pakistan, recurring political crises and quota for recruitment in civil services was dehurdles in the way of democracy have helped the fined for the next 40 years. This law lapsed in bureaucracy to emerge as a strong pillar in the 2013. Currently, the quota system is being extended through an sRO state machinery, resistive from the PM’s Office. to any reformational every year, half of the adchange made against it. vertised seats go vacant To rethink the civil despite the availability of services, one has to make Finding to its dismay that persons qualified for the strategic changes in the revacant seats. Technically, cruitment procedure and the PM has lost his once the provincial seats functions of the bureauget filled on merit, the cracy. Firstly, the FPsC majority and is going to empty quota seats could be needs to come up with a be ousted after a converted to open merit redesigned syllabus that seats. discourages cramming in successful no-confidence Without bringing stratethe written exam. secmove, the PTI gic changes in the recruitondly, the interview ment process, the weightage in the competigovernment has decided bureaucratic hierarchy cantive exam should be innot be reformed. At the creased. This will allow to play foul. present stage, changing the the Commission to pick entire outlook of the buthose candidates who have reaucracy will harvest unstrong personalities to deal desired results that in turn with public issues. can make its performance After the revision of the Css syllabus in 2016, the rote system has cor- worse. Moreover, the current stronghold of burupted the core of the recruitment process. Now, reaucracy will resist any step taken against it only those candidates can make it to the top leading to more difficulties for the elected govgroups who have bagged good marks in the writ- ernment to handle it. Gradually rethinking the ten stage. Over-weightage to the written marks civil services, bringing reforms at each stage has made the personality of a candidate com- starting from the recruitment process will make it pletely irrelevant. Later in the services, these can- more responsive to the public needs. didates fail to deliver in the field. Thirdly, the General Secretary, Insitute of Policy and Repsychometric assessment should also be given a portion of marks in deciding the final allocation search
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realization of an independent Pakistan.In your first address to the nation, you struck all the right notes, of a single vision uniting us together. It felt as if we were finally at the cusp of a new dawn, and “Naya Pakistan” was within our grasp. so now that we’re here, four years later, not on the cusp of a new dawn, but staring at the prospect of yet another PM failing to complete his tenure, the foremost question that arises is “Why?”. However, the purpose of this article is not to delve into the circumstances leading up to this day, but rather what, in this writer’s humble view, needs changing irrespective of the outcome of events over the next few days. Mr. Prime Minister you cite the Riyasat of Medina as your greatest inspiration, and the actions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as your guiding light along your journey. Isn’t it noteworthy that one of the first actions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) following the conquest of Makkah was the general amnesty afforded to one and all for the sins of their past lives? This was not tantamount to an acceptance of wrongdoing in the society; far from it. Any subsequent wrongdoings were to be subject to full accountability, however for a state being re-built
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almost entirely from scratch, it afforded every citizen the equal opportunity to partake in a united effort towards realization of a higher cause. No wonder some of the Prophet (PBUH)’s most avowed enemies were entrusted with the newly formed Riyasat e Medina’s most responsible positions of authority (Abu sufyan’s case is but one of many in this regard). Lofty examples to be cited and followed no doubt, but for a vision as lofty as yours, surely worth emulating? The essence of this writing, in short, is to emphasize the importance of unity of purpose in our society going forward. At this crucial juncture, the PM must look ahead, invite all those who subscribe to the vision of a “Naya Pakistan” to participate wholeheartedly in the process, lead the reform of our institutions so that any future digressions are dealt with appropriately and without bias or nepotism, and create the sort of collective momentum which is the prerequisite for any transformational change in a society on its path to becoming one nation, driven by a shared vision of the future. Unite and Rule, Mr. Prime Minister, and “Naya Pakistan” will be yours to deliver.
At this crucial juncture, the PM must look ahead, invite all those who subscribe to the vision of a “Naya Pakistan” to participate wholeheartedly in the process, lead the reform of our institutions so that any future digressions are dealt with appropriately and without bias or nepotism, and create the sort of collective momentum which is the prerequisite for any transformational change in a society on its path to becoming one nation, driven by a shared vision of the future.
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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk
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The writer is freelance columnist
Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Sunday, 3 April, 2022
COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Ordinance to regulate social media THe basic objective of any constitution is to guarantee the fundamental rights and welfare of citizens. A state and all its institutions funded by the taxpayers exist to serve and protect the people and all state resources must be invested in the development of human resources and providing them welfare. Priority for welfare must be citizens, whose taxes fund the state, and not the welfare of its paid or elected elite. All state institutions are answerable and accountable to the citizens of a country. Any individual or group involved directly or indirectly in politics, or providing paid services, manufacture of consumer items or in land development and sale of housing colonies to the public must be open to public scrutiny and criticism for any irregularities. sovereignty lies solely in Almighty Allah sWT and after him, it is vested in the collective wisdom of citizens, expressed through their elected representatives in free and fair elections. MALIK TARIQ ALI LAHORE
A sensible approach
Covid-19 and New Trends of Geopolitics How the pandemic changed the world
dr MuhaMMad aKraM zahEEr
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He 20th century saw geopolitics emerging as a phenomenal concept of strategic studies in the realm of international relations. The realism school of thought has adopted various strategies to define geopolitics as an approach to take into account the requirements of balance as emphasized by Kissinger. G.K declared it as a concept that actually stimulates the ideas of nation states/empire, war and diplomacy. Hence the fact is that geopolitics is a method through which states control and compete for their territorial jurisdiction within a set of regional or global frameworks. Theoretically, geopolitics is used psychologically in order to exercise territorial control and competition by the state, generating geographical based images. It means building hype about geopolitical realities by some powerful actors, as is commonly practiced by super or regional powers. Theoretically geopolitics is defined as a postulate where states determine their foreign policies influenced by their location, natural resources and physical environment. In simple words, geopolitics is a combination of geographic configurations with historical experiences. Further,, a number of foreign policy and national security goals are designed by geography which also is considered a vital factor in national power and strategy. This is how national strategic interests are secured by the policy makers and states using the geographic dimension. The foreign policy actions and decisions express national interests of any states where geography and historical development elements play a very vital role. Within states, the current inequality of access and income is exacerbated by the consequences of epidemics. We often hear that the disease did not discriminate. Indeed, it did. For example, if you were rich, it would be easier to implement physical distance. Older people, who are more susceptible to serious cases of COVID19, may be better able to isolate themselves if they have an existing support system and a substantial income. In countries such as the UsA, the mortality rate was significantly higher for some ethnic minority communities. The Indian experience, and the gruesome images of tens of thousands of migrants returning to their villages, showed that those who depended on a daily wage or the informal sector, were less likely to survive. Aid packages were to be sent worldwide through existing welfare and social security sources. They were often inadequate for work and did not reach the workers
in the informal economy or temporary jobs who were most at risk. Of course, this had nothing to do with the generosity or lack of packages. The UsA spent so much on the CARes Act that household savings increased in 2021. Yet there was widespread deprivation, and in some parts of the country, even food banks were overwhelmed. Inequality in access to infectious diseases is showing inequality in access to basic welfare and public services even in ordinary times. In and between countries, the pace of recovery has also been uneven: a gap that will only widen when some of the worst epidemics emerge sooner than others. Dictatorships such as the People's Republic of China and high-solid democracy democracies such as Taiwan and New Zealand quickly overcame the virus and reduced its economic impact. By 2021, the countries that would most effectively implement the vaccine would be quicker to take physical distance measures, and therefore return faster to normal production and income levels. Countries that can enter global capital markets to increase their government debt to spend more on aid will also better manage the epidemic and get out of it sooner. For developing countries, these factors will put their relative position far behind. Managing the public dissatisfaction that will create this inequality should be a major concern for policy makers. The second notable trend is already relevant: the relevance of environmental social Governance (esG) factors to development, investment and finance. states with more efficient governance structures, as already mentioned, will be able to more effectively stabilize revenue and productivity. More comprehensive and widely accessible social systems have also responded well to the epidemic. It's a cold, hard economic reality, and it's accepted by the world's coldest, toughest community, international finance. The flow of esG-related funds competed with epidemic panic to scale new heights in 2020. environmental factors also took centre stage, as the european Union began financing part of its aid package through green bonds. The main goal of the national and international economic conflict during 2021 will be the standard of relief and rehabilitation. Will the funds be spent on relief or investment? Will existing "brown" (carbon-intensive) sectors be strengthened to protect jobs, or will new green sectors be helped to boost growth? Will there be
an attempt to spread this stimulus across borders like in 2008? Will debt restructuring and sovereign forgiveness take into account new economic realities and China's emergence as a major lender? Which brings us to the third trend: geoeconomic competition. The epidemic has given a special impetus to current efforts to isolate, diversify or secure supply chains. The first weeks of the epidemic were troubling, as countries discovered to the extent that they had relied on the People's Republic for vital supplies. Beijing's behaviour, for example, first tried to monopolize personal security equipment to no avail. since then, there has been a disappointing rush towards economic nationalism, as countries and even provinces have had to supply their PPes and vaccines without considering the health of broader targets or even broader trade systems. Unlike the 2008 financial crisis, no effort was made to develop a common approach to trade. In 2021, the People's Republic is expected to intensify its efforts to translate its relative success in controlling the epidemic into a statement about the superiority of its economic system. Countries that are relatively dependent on China's trade, such as Australia, and those that have traditionally remained neutral toward Beijing, such as Germany, may have even more pushback. Much depends on what happens when a Chinese pigeon, Angela Merkel, leaves office in Berlin. If other countries are sensible, they will seek to increase their economic cooperation in an effort to get Beijing to protect the international trade system. It is hoped that this will be a priority for the new administration in Washington DC, without which such efforts could fail. In all three trends, India is a swing state. If it overcomes its internal differences, introduces a new model of well-being, and manages to become a vaccine manufacturer for the emerging world, the first trend, the negative consequences of inequality will be minimized. If the rehabilitation process prioritizes climate-sensitive devices, socially oriented policies, and transparent and market-friendly governance reforms, the second trend will be exacerbated. If this "self-sustaining" industrial policy turns away from its misleading obsession and commits itself to heading a new trading mechanism, the post-epidemic trading system will be stronger and more comprehensive.
If the rehabilitation process prioritizes climate-sensitive devices, socially oriented policies, and transparent and market-friendly governance reforms, the second trend will be exacerbated. If this "self-sustaining" industrial policy turns away from its misleading obsession and commits itself to heading a new trading mechanism, the post-epidemic trading system will be stronger and more comprehensive
The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo.com
THeRe is a ray of hope for the overall national economy to build up after listening to the holistic correct approach of the finance minister to solve the teething national problems piled up owing to bad governance over the years . The minister appears to be clear headed and in a very short time of assuming the office , has correctly identified the grave problems facing the country . He has very capably outlined a workable road map to steer the country out of the woods and from its present state of quagmire and despondency. No doubt , the power sector is in a great mess and its problems are many and have been made highly complicated with each passing day . some of its problems are solvable if there is administrative & a political will . These include massive power thefts , corruption and inefficiency . The government needs to root these out with a stern hand . Then there are technical and policy problems . surplus or excess power is one of these . You have to pay capacity and fixed charges even if you are not utilising it . The government has not taken any measures or announced any policy for the fruitful utilisation of this surplus energy to eliminate the financial continuous burden on the exchequer. All the above items are contributing to the building up of the notorious Circular Debt . One of the ways to maximise the use of surplus power is to give special incentives and tariffs to export oriented industries to boost exports which is the ultimate awnser to lift the national economy . At the same time , foreign investors should be encouraged to put up their industries by offering them subsidised power tariffs , besides other attractive favourable terms and conditions. Another step could be to offer special reduced power tariffs for certain group of cosumers so that idol excess energy is profitably made use of . even export of surplus power to the neighbouring countries should be explored , especially in view of launching of many new power generating projects and import of envisaged hydel power from Central Asia , which will further increase surplus power . EngR RIAz BHuTTA LAHORE
Servants of the nation DURING my service as an upper-division clerk in the commissioner office of Rawalpindi, I saw that an honest and hardworking officer who cares for people would always focus on discharging his/her duties at the best rather than appeasing higher-ups. One such officer that I had the honour to work with was Mr Wajihuddin who was appointed commissioner Rawalpindi at a time when the movement against the martial law of General Ayub Khan was at its peak. The public was protesting, taking out rallies, and staging sit-ins in Rawalpindi and other parts of the country on a daily basis. The commissioner was appointed after two of his predecessors failed to control mobs and reinstate law and order. When he took charge, I was working in the control room responsible for collecting the information from various sources and presenting it to the commissioner. He changed the process and kept close contact with the DIG and deputy commissioners asking for daily progress. He frequently went on visits to various parts of the city to make sure everything was under control. He did not let the police use a heavy-handed approach and advised the administration to refrain from violating the rights of people and would only allow the use of force if the red line was being crossed. The commissioner discharged his duties with full honesty and served the public in a true sense unlike the civil servants of today who are more interested in keeping the higher-ups and politicians happy instead of performing their job. My purpose in recalling his service is meant to inspire today’s civil servants to adopt a similar demeanour and be honest and upright in their service. RAJA SHAFAATuLLAH ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s loans investigation THe honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Imran Khan during his live question/answer session dated 23rd January 2022 with the public on national television mentioned and complained that half of the tax revenue collected by his government has to be spent on interest and repayments of loans taken by the last two governments Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) (years 2013 to 2018) and Pakistan Peoples Party (years 2008 to 2013). That is why, he explained, not much money is left with the government to spend on education, health etc. This reminded me of Prime Minister’s address to the nation dated 12th June 2019 when he vowed to nab the “thieves who plunged the country in debt badly.” He further said: “I am constituting a high-powered enquiry commission with a one-point agenda: how they accumulated so much debt in 10 years”. The enquiry commission, the Prime Minister said will have representatives from the Investigation Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency, Federal Board of Revenue, security and exchange Commission and Inter-services Agency. I would like to request the Prime Minister to share with the nation the findings of the above mentioned high-level commission and actions taken in this matter so far. EJAz AHMAD MAgOOn LOnDOn
Sunday, 3 April, 2022
08 WORLD VIEW
FRancE'S MUSliMS FacE anoThER FivE yEaRS oF hoSTiliTy UndER MacRon AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, GOVERNMENT RHETORIC PORTRAYS MUSLIMS AS A THREAT, AND ISLAM AS A DANGEROUS RELIGION IN NEED OF SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL
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F French President emmanuel Macron’s first term in office is any indication of what his likely second term will mean for Muslims in the country, then they have cause for concern. In 2017, Macron was elected on the promise of an inclusive, open and modern liberal society where multiculturalism - often a dirty word in media and political circles - was valued as an asset. It was a hopeful and generous vision, standing in stark contrast to the pessimistic bigotry of his opponent, National rally leader Marine Le Pen. Unfortunately, these promises never came to fruition; far from it. Under Macron’s leadership, and largely as a direct result of his government’s discourse and policies on Islam and Muslims, France has become significantly more Islamophobic than it was before his election. His project of “a society of vigilance” against the Islamist “hydra”, alongside legislation against “Islamist separatism” and the “Charter of Principles” of French Islam (forced down the throats of the country’s Is-
lamic organisations), are different parts of the same enterprise. Such rhetoric portrays Muslims as a threat, and Islam as an essentially dangerous religion in need of securitisation, mass surveillance and repression. This has led the French public to understand less and to increasingly fear the country’s Muslim population. Under Macron, Islam has come to be seen by most French citizens as an existential threat to their “civilisation”, “traditions” and “values”. IGNORANT DEBATE It is also under Macron that the Great replacement conspiracy theory - dismissed by most as the heinous, racist and crassly ignorant fantasy that it is - came to the forefront of public debate. Such debate has not been limited to presidential candidate eric Zemmour, whose staggering success is itself the direct product of a complacent political and media environment. This mainstreaming of rabid Islamophobia has been consistently and powerfully fuelled by Macron’s discourse, electoral strategies and policies on Islam and Muslims, which have been denounced by major human rights organisations and the United Nations. At the same time, Muslims are fleeing France in ever-greater numbers, facilitating a significant brain drain and damaging France’s soft power. This is a regrettable loss to the nation, which could have used their voices and perspectives in numerous areas of international relations, business and diplomacy.
The Islamic charter marks a particularly egregious offence, representing the authoritarian nationalisation of Islam by an ostensibly secular state. Under Macron, France has moved towards a truly eradicationist approach towards groups or organisations labelled, usually gratuitously, “Islamist” or “radicalised”. In October 2019, Christophe Castaner, Macron’s former interior minister, told a parliamentary committee that signs of religious radicalisation included such things as wearing a beard or observing ramadan in an “ostentatious” manner. By this logic, if something seems a tad too Islamic, it must be “radicalisation”. Such misperceptions ap-
pear to come naturally to France’s deeply Islamophobic elites. The confusion of religious orthopraxy with dangerous extremism often follows from the fraudulent “continuum theory”, under which the former leads to the latter - a notion that has never been proven, and one that scholars and experts have largely discarded. CRIMINALISING DISSENT Today, because of Macron’s successful efforts to move forward with legislation such as the Islamist separatism bill, the state has a whole new legal toolset with which to censor, ban or shut down anything they choose to label “Islamist”, “fundamentalist” or “ex-
tremist”, as demonstrated by recent executive decrees dissolving anti-racist organisations, such as the Collective Against Islamophobia in France. Such policies effectively criminalise mere criticism of state Islamophobia and racism by equating it with incitement to commit terrorism against France. Indeed, Macron’s government has criminalised entire Islamic trends and schools of thought, resolutely moving like no previous postwar administration into the domain of thought and belief control (exclusively of the Muslim variety). Dismantling French laicite itself, the Macron regime is replacing it with a new type of authoritarian, repressive management of Muslims and their religion. These developments are alarming not only for the future of Muslims in France, but for the rule of law in general. Two complementary trends of state Islamophobia can be observed in the Macron era, targeting both public and private life. Seemingly aiming to prevent the constitution of a Muslim civil society critical of the government, the interior ministry has been attacking publishing houses, anti-discrimination groups, Islamic schools, “Islamo-leftist” educational trends, and so on. In the private sphere, surveillance and repression are penetrating deeper and deeper into Muslims’ personal lives, including parental educational choices and child-raising practices. Under Macron, all the logics and processes of what should be called the New French Islamophobia have been perfected, intensified and generalised: the construction of the “Islamist” bogeyman, the authoritarian disciplining of Muslims, the pathologisation of religious norms, the securitisation and neocolonial management of Islam, the denial that Islamophobia even exists, and the systematisation of state surveillance and repression of Islamic institutions. And with Macron and his entourage proudly promising more of the same, that is what Muslims should expect in his likely second term. 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.
The US has its own agenda against Russia THIS SIX-WEEK WAR SURELY HAS LEFT THE WAR INDUSTRY JUBILANT. IN WASHINGTON, BIDEN RECENTLY PROPOSED WHAT WOULD BE THE LARGEST U.S. “DEFENSE” BUDGET IN HISTORY, MORE THAN $813 BILLION Intercept
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ver since vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, there has been an unprecedented cohesion of messaging emanating from the U.S. government, its NATO and other european allies, and large segments of the Western media establishment. As massive quantities of weapons pour into Ukraine, there has been consistent media and political agitation for President Joe Biden and other Western leaders to “do more” or answer for why they are not further escalating the situation, including through the imposition of a no-fly zone. The White House smells Putin’s blood in the waters of his disastrous invasion. The flow of weapons, the sweeping sanctions, and other acts of economic warfare are ultimately aimed not just at defending Ukraine and making the regime pay for the invasion in the immediate present, but also setting in motion its downfall. “For god’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” Biden said during his recent visit to Poland. The White House sought to walk back the line and clarify that it did not constitute a change in policy but was merely an expression of the president’s righteous anger. The kerfuffle over what Biden really meant is less important than the very public actions of the U.S. and its allies. The war in Ukraine is simultaneously a war of aggression being waged by Putin and part of a larger geopolitical battle between the U.S., NATO, and russia. “We are engaged in a conflict here. It’s a proxy war with russia, whether we say so or not,” said Leon Panetta, the former CIA director and defense secretary under Barack Obama. “I think the only way to basically deal with Putin right now is to double down on ourselves, which means to provide as much military aid as
necessary.” Speaking to Bloomberg News on March 17, Panetta laid out the U.S. strategy: “Make no mistake about it: Diplomacy is going nowhere unless we have leverage, unless the Ukrainians have leverage, and the way you get leverage is by, frankly, going in and killing russians. That’s what the Ukrainians have to do. We’ve got to continue the war effort. This is a power game. Putin understands power; he doesn’t really understand diplomacy very much.” It should not be assumed that the strategies and actions being employed by Washington and its allies in their proxy war against Moscow will always be in the best interest of Ukraine or its people. Likewise, Ukraine’s calls for military support and action from the West — however justifiable and sincere they are — may not be in the best interest of the rest of the world, particularly if they increase the likelihood of nuclear war or World War III. The desire to avoid this scenario by advocating for a negotiated solution to the war that addresses russia’s stated concerns or its rationale for the invasion is not a capitulation to Putin and it is not appeasement. It is common sense. While the fate of Ukraine and the lives of its civilian population are evoked in calls for more escalatory action from the West, it is these very people who will suffer and die in large numbers every day the war drags on. Western media coverage is often crafted to portray only one outcome as acceptable: a decisive Ukrainian victory, in which the government of volodymyr Zelenskyy emerges from the horrors of the russian invasion in complete control of all of its territory, including Crimea and the Donbas region. Ukraine, as a free and independent state, should be free to join NATO, and russia has no legitimacy in questioning the implications of such a move. Advocacy for accepting anything short of this outcome is a victory for russia and therefore traitorous to even consider. While this position may feel morally right, particularly when it is bolstered by the ghastly images of human carnage wrought by russian forces and the pleas of Ukraini-
ans for the world to intervene much more directly, embedded within this mindset is a morally dubious principle: Ukrainians should bear the human cost not just of the defense of their nation, but also of the largerscale agendas of the U.S. and other Western governments. In her recent essay for The Atlantic, Anne Applebaum, a prominent russia hawk, argued that now is the time for the U.S. and its allies to embrace a new Cold War. “As long as russia is ruled by Putin, then russia is at war with us too. So are Belarus, North Korea, venezuela, Iran, Nicaragua, Hungary, and potentially many others,” she wrote. “There is no natural liberal world order, and there are no rules without someone to enforce them.” The routine belligerence exhibited by countless politicians, pundits, and media figures about taking the fight to Putin in Ukraine is largely chickenhawkery. “Ukrainian President volodymyr Zelensky is today’s Churchill, and President Biden is today’s FDr,” wrote the notorious war promoter Max Boot in the Washington Post. “A russian defeat,” Boot argued, “is essential to save Ukraine and safeguard the liberal international order. The Ukrainians are willing to fight on despite their heartbreaking losses. We just need to give them the tools to finish the job.” Yet when you listen to the fine details of Ukraine’s own negotiators and leaders, it’s clear that they understand that the war does not end with the swift annihilation of Putin, the downfall of russia, or with a clean and complete Ukrainian retention of its territorial sovereignty. That’s why Zelenskyy’s government has acknowledged that the issue of NATO membership, a formalized neutrality status, and an internationally brokered process on the status of Crimea will all be on the table. There has been much noise about russia’s recent indications that it was drawing down its military actions in parts of Ukraine, particularly around the capital Kyiv. The U.S. and NATO have acknowledged a partial drawdown but asserted that russian forces appear to be repositioning, likely for use in
the east. russia has also said as much itself. Moscow’s position is that “the main goals of the first stage of the operation have generally been accomplished.” There is a peculiar dynamic surrounding the analysis of Putin’s comments on his intentions for Ukraine. He is accused of lying when his remarks undermine the U.S. narrative, but we are told to believe he is absolutely telling the truth when his pugnacious threats bolster the U.S. position. Whether or not Putin intended to seize all of Ukraine and become an imperial occupier, he did seem to believe his invasion could cause the Ukrainian government to collapse and its leaders to flee in fear. That did not happen. Instead, U.S. and NATO-armed Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv have fought the russian troops ferociously and inflicted significant losses against them on the battlefield. At the same time, by opening multiple fronts, Moscow forced Ukraine to defend vital territory, including its capital. This strategy exacted a tremendous human toll on the russian military, but it did take some heat off russian forces in the Donbas territories in the east, which Putin has cited as his territorial priority in the operation. But the question of Putin’s original intent — to take Kyiv or to use that threat as a strategy to spread Ukraine’s defenses thin — is now largely irrelevant except in the rhetorical battlespace focused on russian weakness, incompetence, or failure. The most contentious issue in the negotiations to end the war will likely have little to do with NATO membership. Zelenskyy has already conceded that to end the war Ukraine will have to drop that ambition and adopt a neutral and nonaligned status, though he does want to continue the pursuit of joining the european Union. russia will certainly oppose any attempts for Kyiv to win a backdoor “Article 5” status that could trigger defense of Ukraine by Western powers in cases of future military actions by Moscow. Ukraine has suggested that it would also want China and Turkey to be a part of such a guarantee,
not just adversaries of russia. There are indications that the U.S. doesn’t think the proposal is viable, and Britain’s deputy prime minister bluntly stated, “Ukraine is not a NATO member,” adding, “We’re not going to engage russia in direct military confrontation.” Based on the reports out of the recent negotiations in Turkey, it seems that the most incendiary questions will revolve around the breakaway republics in the Donbas region. Ukraine has effectively said it wants a return to the pre-invasion status quo, which would mean erasing the Putin-recognized declarations of independence from Donetsk and Luhansk. russia, which is currently expanding its control over the Donbas and seizing more territory, is unlikely to agree. This dynamic more than any other could delay or block any meaningful resolution and would be a central focus in a potential summit between Zelenskyy and Putin. Once there is a brokered agreement, the flow of Western weapons into Ukraine and russian military support for the separatists will result in a constant state of war footing for many years to come. A cloud portending more fighting and bloodshed will remain hovering over eastern Ukraine. If U.S. and other NATO troops resume their training exercises in Ukraine, as Biden has indicated they should, this means that there will always be a risk of incidents that could quickly escalate. This six-week war surely has left the war industry jubilant. In Washington, Biden recently proposed what would be the largest U.S. “defense” budget in history, more than $813 billion. Germany and other european countries are publicly committing to buying and selling more weapons and spending more on defense. NATO is raising the prospect of expanding its permanent military presence in europe and Washington is reasserting its political dominance over europe on security matters. But despite the image of global unity of cause being promoted by the U.S. and its NATO allies, several large and powerful nations, including China, India, Indonesia, and NATO member Turkey, are not marching to Washington’s drumbeat — not in the proxy-war business and not in the policy of sanctioning and vilifying russia. The overt war in Ukraine will have to end at the negotiating table. But the proxy war is escalating and will have consequences that extend far beyond the current battlefield.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
NEWS
corporate corner Pakistan navy flotilla visits Abu Dhabi, uAE
CHiNEsE ENvoy CAlls for ENHANCiNG yiwu-KArACHi ECoNomiC tiEs ISLAMABAD staff report
l ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Flotilla comprising Pakistan Navy Ship SHAMSHEER and AZMAT alongwith Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Ship Kolachi visited Abu Dhabi. Upon arrival at port Mina Zayed, PN contingent was received by Defence Attaché of Pakistan at Abu Dhabi along with United Arab Emirates(UAE) naval officials. During stay at port, Mission Commander along with Commanding Officers called-on Chief of UAE Naval Forces, Commander UAE Coast Guards and Director Naval Operations of UAE Naval Forces. During the interaction, matters of mutual interest were discussed and further enhancement of bilateral ties in all spheres was re-affirmed. The Mission Commander conveyed well wishes from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of UAE and UAE Navy. Upon completion of port visit, Pakistan Navy ships conducted bilateral passage exercise with UAE Navy Ship BAYNUNAH & DHAFRA to enhance interoperability between the two navies. The visit provided an opportunity for both brotherly countries to further enhance diplomatic ties and cordial relation. pr
I Bijian, Consul General of China in Karachi, said that there are close economic ties and huge development potential between Chinese city of Yiwu and Karachi. He made these remarks while addressing Yiwu-Karachi Workshop titled “Building the China-Pakistan Trade Corridor by Concerted Efforts of Governments and Business Sectors”, which was held via video link. The event was jointly organised by Yiwu Municipal People’s Government and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and co-hosted by Foreign Affairs Office of Yiwu Municipal People’s Government and Yiwu Bureau of Commerce. The Chinese official hoped for further enhancing mutual trade exchanges, promote trade balance, improve trade quality, and introduce more high-quality Pakistani products to enter China through Yiwu market. Bilateral investment needs to be increased, and
Chinese enterprises are welcome to make the best use of Pakistan’s favourable policies to invest in Pakistan and create more employment opportunities for the younger generation of Pakistan, he stressed and also proposed that the trade representatives of the two sides would deepen policy communication, strengthen exchanges and cooperation and jointly cope with the challenges in post-Covid era. Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai, said Yiwu-Karachi Workshop is a manifestation of the commitment of the two countries, particularly the two cities, to shore up their bilateral trade and investment relations. He was confident that the Karachi-based businesses would enter into mutually beneficial cooperative relations with their Yiwu counterparts to give a further momentum to the bilateral economic relations. He also assured that Pakistan’s Consulate General in Shanghai would give full support and facilitation to these endeavours. Li Bijian, Consul General of China in Karachi,
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Engro Energy Limited in collaboration with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Ministry of Energy, Govt. of Sindh, Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI), and Corporate Pakistan Group held ‘Pakistan
Energy Symposium’ at a local hotel today. The conference brought together relevant stakeholders from public sector policymakers, regulatory bodies, private sector stakeholders and industry experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges for market reforms in Pakistan with a major focus on creating a comprehensive strategy
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Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has been directed to ensure smooth flow of traffic at IJP road, Srinagar (Kashmir) Highway and Islamabad expressway and take strict action against those creating inconvenience for the road users. While reviewing the overall performance report about traffic related issues, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Mazhar Iqbal directed to depute special squads at Islamabad Expressway, IJP road, Srinagar (Kashmir)
for the future of energy industry in the country. Experts at the symposium discussed the regulatory, commercial, and technical aspects of transitioning towards a liberalized and a greener energy market in Pakistan. Addressing the symposium, CEO of Engro Energy, Ahsan Zafar Syed said, “The energy industry is the backbone of any developed economy and Pakistan is now ready to move into a competitive energy ecosystem. Transitioning from a single-buyer market to a multi-buyer system can pave the way for an efficient customer-centric energy market. It will also stimulate private infrastructure investments; lead to economic growth; give consumers access to reliable and economical power; ease pressure on electricity prices and create conditions for fair allocation of risks.”
schedules today, tomorrow ISLAMABAD pr
According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule: On Dated 03rd April from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Gulshanabad, Maj. Masood, BB Shaheed, Ratta, Mongtal, D.M Textile, Industrial, Railway Colony, Gulzar Shaheed Feeders, from 06:00 am to 12:00 Noon. Cap: Muhammad Akram Shaheed, Rohtass Feeders, On Dated 04th April from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eid Gah, Raja Sultan feeders and Surroundings will remain off. IESCO management apologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage. If the work is completed ahead of time, the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time.
Pakistan Cables urban forest picks up 9th FPCCI achievement award 2022
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Pakistan Cables Urban Forest was awarded the 9th FPCCI Achievement Award 2022 at a colorful ceremony held in Karachi. Organized by the Federation
of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries annually, the award was conferred by the Honorable President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi to Mr. Waqas Mahmood, Chief Financial Officer Pakistan Cables Ltd. present on the occasion. Pakistan Cables Urban Forest is home to over
Traffic police directed to ensure smooth traffic flow on main avenues of Islamabad ISLAMABAD
Ye Bangrui, Mayor of Yiwu City, Wang Wei, Deputy Mayor of Yiwu City, Arif Ahmed Khan, Chief Executive of TDAP, Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai, Irfan Iqbal, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and others attended the event online. Ye Bangrui, Mayor of Yiwu City, gave a brief introduction of the social and economic development of Yiwu. He said Pakistan is an important trading partner of Yiwu. In 2021, the trade volume between Yiwu and Pakistan reached nearly 600 million US dollars. The imports from Pakistan to Yiwu have tripled. He also mentioned that Karachi is Pakistan’s economic centre, important port and largest city. Yiwu said he was looking forward to further enhancing exchanges and cooperation with Pakistan, especially with Karachi, to strengthen cooperation in export and import, e-commerce, exhibition and deepening cultural exchanges so as to achieve win-win development and contribute to the development of China-Pakistan economic and trade relations.
Engro Energy hosts the Pakistan Energy Symposium Power suspension
DHA Estate Agents Association gets marketing rights of Nova Group projects
LAHORE: DHA Estate Agents Association got the marketing rights of Nova Group projects across the country. For this purpose, signing ceremony of agreement between DHA Estate Agents Association Lahore and Nova Group was held today. More than five hundred estate agents attended the signing ceremony. The event, held at Raya Golf Club, was also attended by eminent personalities from various walks of life from Lahore including President Lahore Chamber of Commerce Mian Zahid . The DHA Estate Agents Association Lahore is the largest estate agents' organization in Pakistan, which has agreed to carry out Nova Group's Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar projects. Addressing the ceremony, Nova Group Chairman Chaudhry Junaid Afzaal highlighted the introduction of new technologies in the construction industry which would be a major breakthrough for the construction of tall buildings in Pakistan. The “Nova One” in Lahore will be a beacon for such projects in Pakistan. Chaudhry Junaid Afzaal specifically mentioned Dr. Marco Casa Monte, one of the best building designers in the world, and said that he designed the "Nova One" for Lahore in such a way that it would look unique in Lahore's buildings. He said that "Nova One" would soon emerge as a major icon of Lahore city. Speaking on the occasion, Mian Talat, President, DHA Estate Agents Association, Lahore, termed the construction of "Nova One" in Lahore as a new milestone in the business buildings of the city. He said that this project would be a source of attraction and pride not only for Lahore city but also for the business community of Punjab province which would also help them in furthering their business. The Nova Group has described the agreement with the association as an important milestone for the construction industry and a source of pride for the Nova Group. A sumptuous dinner was also arranged for the participants at the end of the ceremony. pr
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Highway and other important boulevards to ensure smooth traffic flow there. He said that complaints about any inconvenience to people can be lodged with ITP Helpline 1915 or 051-9261992-93 which would be addressed promptly. Following the directions of IGP Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younis, the SSP (Traffic) said that ITP is taking steps to ensure safe road environment in the city with maximum convenience to road users. He said that special enforcement squads have been constituted to ensure implementation
on traffic rules and also smooth traffic flow in busy areas. He further directed to ensure traffic discipline in the city and take action against violators without any discrimination. Meanwhile, the spokesman said that 13,980 vehicles have been fined during the current year for hampering smooth flow of traffic and involvement in, over-loading. The police spokesman said that efforts are underway to ensure smooth traffic flow in the city and cooperation of road users in crucial to overcome traffic related problems.
50,000 trees and is the first and largest Miyawaki based Urban Forest on an industrial estate. The 9th FPCCI Achievement Award 2022 is the Company’s third consecutive win for setting benchmark practices and inspiring action in the area of climate change.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
10 FOREIGN NEWS
UKraine conflict day 37: UKraine neitHer confirMs nor denies fUel depot attacK
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fuel depot was ablaze at one of Russia’s main logistics hubs for its Ukraine war effort on Friday. Moscow described it as a crossborder air raid by Ukrainian helicopters, the first of its kind in the weeks-long conflict. Ukraine said it would neither confirm nor deny responsibility for the huge fire at the fuel depot in Belgorod, a Russian city near the border which has served as a logistics hub for Russian troops fighting in nearby eastern Ukraine. Security camera footage of the depot, from a location verified by the Reuters news agency, showed a flash of light from what appears to be a missile fired from low altitude in the sky, followed by an explosion on the ground. The regional governor said two Ukrainian helicopters had been involved in the raid. Meanwhile, Russian forces are being pushed back around Kyiv but fighting is still fierce in some areas near Ukraine’s capital, Ukrainian officials have said. Russia said it would scale down operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, but officials in both regions say fighting has con-
tinued in some areas. Ukrainian helicopters have carried out a strike on a fuel storage facility in Russia’s western town of Belgorod, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border, according to the local governor. Ukraine said it would neither confirm nor deny responsibility for the attack. Ukraine has exchanged 86 servicemen with Russia, senior Kyiv officials said. The UN’s cultural agency UNESCO said it had confirmed that at least 53 Ukrainian historical sites, religious buildings and museums had sustained damage during the conflict. Ukraine is seeking to export the farm goods that many countries depend on via the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, as it continues to face a Russian blockade of its own ports. The governor of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region accused Russia of breaking its promises in terms of allowing humanitarian aid to reach the city of Mariupol, which is encircled by Russian troops. Russia’s foreign minister praised India’s refusal to condemn the military action in Ukraine, saying Moscow and Delhi would find ways to circumvent “illegal” western sanctions and continue to trade. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sacked two senior members of the
Ukraine war pushes eurozone inflation to new record AgeNcies Spiralling energy bills and disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine caused consumer prices in the eurozone to surge by a new record of 7.5 percent, EU statistics agency Eurostat said Friday. Last month’s rise marked a further acceleration in inflation from February, which at 5.9 percent year-on-year was already a eurozone record, it said. The surge has been fuelled by a 44.7-percent hike in energy prices over the year as Europe found itself caught in an oil and gas crunch due to tensions with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde warned Wednesday that a prolonged Ukraine conflict will keep energy prices and the cost of living spiralling, blighting a post-Covid recovery. Similar leaps in inflation have been seen in the United States where the Federal Reserve is committed to a long series of interest hikes to cool the economy and stem the price hikes. But the ECB is reluctant for now to take similar measures, convinced that the rise in the cost of living is linked to the war as well as lingering disruptions to the global supply chains brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. But given inflation’s relentless pace, analysts said Lagarde would soon have no choice but to rethink her policy. “With euro-zone inflation rising even further above the ECB’s forecast, and likely to remain very high for the rest of the year, we think it won’t be long before the Bank starts raising interest rates,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds at Capital Economics.
Hindutva goons attack Muslim man for selling ‘halal’ meat in Karnataka KARNATAKA Agencies
Hindutva goons assaulted a Muslim man in Shivamogga area in the Indian state of Karnataka for selling halal meat. The Muslim man named Tousif, who runs a Chicken stall, was assaulted by the activists of Bajrang Dal a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the state government would look into the “serious objections” raised over halal meat, with Hindutva groups giving a call to boycott it. The Superintendent of Shivamogga told the media that Bajrang Dal activists argued and then attacked a Muslim vendor. He said an FIR was registered at Hosamane Police Station in Bhadravati and seven persons were arrested for attacking the Muslim man. The Hindutva men were campaigning in the Hosamane area against halal meat. They threatened Muslim meat vendor Tousif. In a complaint to the police, Tausif said that the Bagrang Dal men asked him to sell non-halal meat at his chicken shop. They thrashed him and hurled anti-Muslim abuses against him. Chief Minister’s comment on halal meat added fuel to the anti-Muslim hatred in the state. Similar incidents were reported from parts of Karnataka ahead of the Ugadi festival where Hindutva outfits demanded that halal meat be banned, especially around and during the time of Hindu festivals in the state. In Shivamogga district, police registered another case against the same Bajrang Dal men for threatening and abusing a Muslim hotelier in Old Bhadravati for not serving non-halal meat to them. A case has been registered on charges of abusing the hotelier.
Ukrainian national security service, calling them traitors. The European Union and China agreed that the war in Ukraine was threatening global security, the head of the European Council said on Friday, while warning China against helping Russia’s war. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for Russia and Ukraine to act with common sense and maintain dialogue in a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, his office said on Friday. Human Rights Watch has called on
Ukrainian authorities to launch an investigation into possible war crimes following the emergence of video footage that appears to show its soldiers shooting Russian war prisoners in the legs. The EU has proposed a plan to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to access the EU currency given that many banks across Europe refuse their local hryvnia banknotes. Russia has launched its spring draft of young men eligible for national service, vowing conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, where more than 1,000 troops have
been killed. This time, Putin has set a recruitment goal of 134,500 men, according to a Kremlin decree. Roberta Metsola, the head of the European Parliament, said during a visit to Kyiv on Friday that the people of Europe stand with Ukraine and will help rebuild its towns and cities. Ukraine’s reigning football champion club Dynamo Kyiv said on Friday it was planning to play a series of friendlies, including against PSG and Barcelona, to raise money for the country. Russia will not turn off gas supplies to Europe from Friday as payments on deliveries due after April 1 come in the second half of this month and May, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. U.S. President Joe Biden says Putin may be “isolated” and could have placed some of his advisors under “house arrest”. Russia’s refocusing of its military efforts on the Donbas could herald a “more prolonged conflict” as Ukrainian forces put up fierce resistance there, a senior U.S. defense official says. Putin’s ratings have received a boost since the start of the military action in Ukraine, Russia’s independent Levada-Center polling institute says, with more than 80 percent of Russians saying they support his actions.
Yemen’s warring parties agree two-month truce in major breakthrough ADeN Agencies
The warring sides in Yemen’s seven-year conflict have for the first time in years agreed a nationwide truce, which would also allow fuel imports into Houthi-held areas and some flights operating from Sanaa airport, the UN envoy said on Friday. The UN-brokered deal between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi group aligned with Iran is the most significant step yet towards ending a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and pushed millions into hunger. The last coordinated cessation of hostilities nationwide was during peace talks in 2016. UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said the two-month truce would come into effect on Saturday at 7pm local time (1600 GMT) and could be renewed with consent of the parties. Saturday marks the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramazan.
“The aim of this Truce is to give Yemenis a necessary break from violence, relief from the humanitarian suffering and most importantly hope that an end to this conflict is possible,” Grundberg said in a statement, adding he would press for a permanent ceasefire. Yemen’s economy and basic services including health have collapsed, leaving 80% of the population of around 30 million reliant on aid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the truce “must be a first step to ending Yemen’s devastating war”, urging the parties to build on the opportunity to “resume an inclusive and comprehensive Yemeni political process”. The deal stipulates halting offensive military operations, including cross-border attacks, and allowing fuel ships to enter Houthi-held Hodeidah port and commercial flights in and out of the airport in the capital, Sanaa, “to predetermined destinations in the region”.
Grundberg said the parties agreed to discuss opening roads in Taiz, effectively under siege, and other Yemeni regions. Proxy conflict: The UN and US envoys had been trying since last year to engineer a permanent truce needed to revive stalled political negotiations. The Houthis wanted the coalition blockade lifted first, while the alliance sought a simultaneous deal. The conflict is seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Riyadh has struggled to extricate itself and Yemen has been a point of tension with Washington. The Houthis recently intensified missile and drones strikes on the kingdom, including its oil facilities, and the coalition ramped up air strikes. The Yemeni government, which the Houthis ousted from Sanaa in late 2014, said earlier it would facilitate arrangements for release of prisoners, opening Sanaa airport and allowing fuel vessels into Hodeidah.
“We immediately announce the release of the first two fuel ships through Hodeidah port,” said Foreign Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak. Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam welcomed the truce. Another senior official, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said its “credibility would be in implementation”. A copy of the truce deal seen by Reuters, and reported by Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, said 18 fuel vessels would be given access during the truce period and two flights a week would be operated from Sanaa to Jordan and Egypt. The Saudi-led coalition also welcomed on Friday the truce in Yemen saying it supports the UN efforts and arrangements to keep the deal, Saudi state TV reported. The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened in March 2015 against the Houthis, controls Yemen’s seas and air space. US President Joe Biden welcomed the truce but said it must be adhered to and he urged negotiators to “undertake the hard and necessary work” to reach an enduring peace. The parties are also discussing a prisoner swap under which hundreds from both sides would be freed, including 16 Saudis, three Sudanese and a brother of Yemen’s president.
Xi Jinping urges China, EU to bring more stability to a turbulent world MiAN AbRAR Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China and the European Union (EU) should bring more stability to a world plagued by a protracted COVID-19 pandemic, a faltering global recovery and the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Xi made the remarks when meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via video link at the 23rd China-EU Leaders’ Meeting. With two major forces, markets and civilizations, China and the EU should enhance communication on bilateral relations and issues concerning global peace and development, Xi said, calling on the two sides to play a constructive role in adding stabilizing factors to a turbulent world. He said China and the EU share extensive common interests and a solid foundation for cooperation. Only through cooperation and coordination can the two sides resolve problems and rise to challenges, he added. Underscoring the consistency and continuity of China’s EU policy, he urged the EU to form its own perception of China, adopt an independent China policy, and work with China for the steady and sustainable growth of bilateral ties. A China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany pulls out of the Wuhan terminal of China Railway Intermodal in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, March 28, 2020. China and the EU should take the lead in upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the UN Charter, Xi said. The two sides should jointly reject the resurrection of rival-bloc mentality and oppose attempts to start a new Cold War, he added. He called on the two sides to jointly promote common development and economic globalization. China
will unswervingly deepen reform and expand openness, he pledged, adding that China welcomes European companies to invest and do business in the country. He also called on the EU to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. Michel and von der Leyen said China is an important force in the world and that the EU attaches great importance to its relations with China. They said the EU and China enjoy a longstanding relationship of mutual benefit, and that both sides are committed to defending peace and multilateralism. They reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the one-China principle. The EU is willing to deepen cooperation with China in fields such as economy and trade, investment, energy and green development and to jointly address global challenges including COVID-19, climate change and the protection of biodiversity, they said. China is always on the side of peace and makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter, he said. China advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, and adheres to the UN Charter and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, coop-
erative and sustainable security, he added. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via video link, April 1, 2022. He outlined four key points on resolving the crisis under the current circumstances. Efforts should be made to promote peace talks, prevent a larger-scale humanitarian crisis, build lasting peace in Europe and on the Eurasian continent, and prevent the regional conflict from magnifying. China supports the EU’s efforts toward a political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and has been encouraging peace talks in its own way, he said. Xi urged the international community to create favorable conditions and environments for the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and make room for political settlement, rather than “add fuel to the fire” and heighten tensions. The root cause of the crisis is the regional security tensions in Europe that have built up over the years, and a fundamental solution is to accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all relevant parties, he stressed, adding that global and regional security frameworks should no longer be built with a Cold War mentality. China supports Europe, especially the EU, in playing a primary role, and supports Europe, Russia, the United States and NATO in holding dialogue to face up to the tensions that have built up over the years and find solutions, so as to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework in Europe, he said. Xi also warned about the conflict’s potential impacts on the world economic system. Relevant parties “must not let the global economic system be disrupted at will, still less allow attempts to politicize or weaponize the world economy as a tool to serve one’s own agenda,” he said, warning that such attempts will trigger serious crises in global finance, trade, energy, technology, food, industrial and supply chains.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
SPORTS 11
PAkistAn wins first ODi series AgAinst AustrAliA in 20 YeArs LAHORe
P
MiAn AbrAr
AKISTAN defeated Australia by nine wickets in the final ODI of the threematch series, courtesy of Babar Azam and Imam-ulHaq’s stellar batting, as the Men In Green recorded their first ODI series victory against the Aussies in 20 years. After a month of Australia making Pakistan work for every run, wicket and win, here was the exception to the rule. In a rare lacklustre performance, Australia found themselves blown away by a dominant performance as they were crushed by nine wickets to seal a 2-1 series win. It came courtesy of a fiery fast bowling performance, and an unbeaten 190-run partnership between Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq. Pakistan had put Australia in to bat, skittling them out inside 42 overs for 210 before making light work of that target on a featherbed of a surface, with Imam and Babar making an unexperienced Australian bowling attack look particularly toothless. An undefeated 105 by Babar, his second con-
secutive hundred, and an unbeaten 89 from Imam helped Pakistan canter to a nine-wicket win with 73 balls to spare. Australia knew it was coming, and yet there seemed no way to stop it. A sensational – and yet by now, almost predictable – first over from Shaheen Shah Afridi got rid of Travis Head, dealing Australia a blow that left them groggy throughout the innings, and Haris Rauf removed Aaron Finch before Australia were off the mark. Magicians tend not to perform their tricks too often, but repetition doesn’t make Afridi any less inscrutable. It was a full toss that did for Head first up, but with the moving in the air, there was little the batter could do to prevent it crashing into off stump. Finch has struggled this series, and it showed in the way he tried to tackle Rauf, playing listlessly across the line and finding himself trapped plumb in front. Australia were yet to put a run on the board, and the discipline of Pakistan’s pace bowlers meant they couldn’t get off to the brisk start that characterised their first
two innings. Rauf coaxed an edge out of Marnus Labuschagne early, and the normally fluid Ben McDermott got bogged down, managing just 14 in his first 34 balls. Australia looked to be rebuilding with a 53-run stand, but Zahid Mahmood drew a leading edge from Marcus Stoinis as Imam took a sharp catch, before Mohammad Wasim ended McDermott’s innings of attrition. A handy rearguard from Alex Carey and Cameron Green followed, with the bat-
ters capitalising on a drop in intensity from the hosts. The field spread out and easy singles are available, and with the frontline fast bowlers out of the attack, Australia were steadily rebuilding as they pushed towards a competitive total. Carey brought up a 55-ball half century two balls after a glorious six over cover drive off Wasim, and for the first time, Pakistan were on the back foot. BaBar azam punches down the ground pcB: That ended soon after, though, when
a bit of reverse swing did for Green as he heaved wildly across the line. It opened the floodgates, and four wickets fell for 18 runs as Rauf and Afridi returned to chip in. But in an entertaining six-over passage of play, Sean Abbott threw caution to the wind, swinging for the fences just about every delivery, riding his luck and further antagonising an increasingly irate Afridi. He managed the strike expertly; Adam Zampa never even got off the mark through the partnership, and by the time he chipped one to short third off Rauf, he’d scored a 40-ball 49. With the target set at 211, Abbott had given himself and his fellow bowlers something to work with. But two days out from a match that saw 348 prove inadequate, any hope Australia harboured of a series win hinged on early wickets, and several of them. It was in that department where Australia’s absences were really felt tonight. Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Ellis and Abbott simply don’t possess the qualities of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and especially Mitchell Starc to blast out an opposition, not least a top order as settled as
Pakistan’s is right now. Fakhar Zaman fell for a brisk 17, but with the asking rate hovering around four, the match situation was primed for the more sedate and assured Babar and Imam. Babar being put down at short midwicket on 1 felt like a significant moment in the game, but Australia’s sloppiness in the early overs meant it didn’t come as much of a surprise. A couple of boundaries in the ninth over composed the Pakistan captain, and once that partnership established a foothold, any Australian optimism quickly fizzled out. What followed was a cavalcade of class from the two highest runscorers this series. They appeared to rotate the strike and find the boundaries at will against spin and seam alike. Imam skipped down the wicket to smash Zampa to cow corner, before Babar caressed boundaries off Green off the next two balls either side of the wicket as the target and asking rate shrunk by the over. At last, it looked like a contest between a full-strength home side and a depleted touring party stretched particularly thin. Babar was the more proactive partner, and got a 16th ODI hundred before the game was won, as the two old friends performed a little jig midrun to celebrate. Imam, meanwhile, would be denied the chance for a third successive hundred simply because Pakistan ran out of runs to chase, and capped a sensational series by knocking off the winning runs, skipping down the wicket to send Labuschagne down the ground.
Germany, Spain in early World Cup clash DOHA AFP
Former winners Germany and Spain will clash early in the World Cup finals in Qatar after being placed in the same group while the coaches of bitter geopolitical rivals United States and Iran vowed to put animosity aside when their sides meet. The glitzy draw in Doha on Friday also set reigning champions France on a potential collision course with England in the quarter-finals, if they win their relatively kind groups. But the world’s top-ranked team Brazil face a tougher task in the first stage. Four-time winners Germany were in the second category of teams, making them the obvious country to avoid for the top seeds. The match with Spain will revive unhappy memories for the Germans who were thrashed 6-0 in a Nations League match in 2020, but Germany have improved fast since Hansi Flick replaced Joachim Loew as coach. “We have negative memories, but something like that doesn’t happen to us twice,” Germany captain Manuel Neuer said. The European heavyweights were joined by Japan in Group E, which will be completed by the winner of an intercontinental play-off between Costa Rica and New Zealand. Iran and the United States – who severed formal diplomatic relations in 1980 – last met at the 1998 World Cup when the Iranians won a politicallycharged game 2-1. “Football transcends a lot of the political stuff and we are able to remain friends on the pitch,” insisted USA coach Gregg Berhalter. Iran’s Croatian coach Dragan Skocic took a similar view of the hostilities that continue with US efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme.
“I don’t care about this. Of course there is a story, but we are focused on the playing,” he said. England are also in Group B and Gareth Southgate’s side might come up against neighbours Wales or Scotland, although Ukraine could also take the last spot in the European play-offs, to be decided in June, after they were delayed by Russia’s invasion. England’s chances will face the sternest possible test though if they come up against France’s talented squad in the last eight. The French, seeking to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962, will meet familiar foes Denmark and Tunisia in a Group D completed by the winners of an intercontinental play-off – Australia, Peru or the United Arab Emirates. In a break with recent tradition, hosts
Qatar will not feature in the tournament’s opening match on November 21, with that honour going to Senegal’s Group A game with the Netherlands at 1:00pm (1000 GMT). The Qataris, making their debut at a World Cup finals, will face Ecuador in the group’s other game that evening. Louis van Gaal, the veteran Dutch coach who has described the decision to hold the finals in Qatar as “ridiculous”, had predicted his side would be drawn in the same group as the host nation. “It was a gamble, but of course it’s nice when a gamble becomes true,” he said. Brazil, the record five-time winners, will have to be on form from the go when they face Serbia and Switzerland as well as Cameroon in a tough-looking Group G. Two-time champions Argentina
drew Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland in Group C. It might be Lionel Messi’s last chance to win a World Cup as he turns 35 in June. The same goes for Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be approaching 38 when Portugal come up against Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. Croatia, runners-up in 2018, were drawn with Belgium and Morocco in Group F, which is completed by Canada, returning to the World Cup after 36 years. The first World Cup in the Middle East will also be the first played in November and December because of Qatar’s extreme summer heat. Europe’s leading leagues will wrap up on the weekend of November 12-13 before players head to Qatar, leaving little time for national squads to prepare. “Players will be fresher than they normally would be at a World Cup, but the lack of time is a handicap, albeit it is the same for everyone,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique. Southgate is also concerned about preparation time as England play Iran just eight days after the final Premier League games before the pause. “We’re in on day one so it’s quite clear now what our programme looks like for the end of the Premier League season and getting out here as quickly as possible,” he said. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said in a speech at the draw he was “proud and happy that the world will see Qatar as we promised”, vowing an “exceptional World Cup in our Arab world”. The build-up to Qatar 2022 has been dominated by off-field issues surrounding the awarding of the tournament. It is the most controversial World Cup in history, with Qatar dogged ever since it was named host in 2010 by accusations of vote-buying – which were hotly denied.
Younis appointed Afghanistan’s batting coach News Desk The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Saturday announced former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as their batting coach for their upcoming UAE tour, according to a news outlet. Earlier, Umar Gul was announced as Afghanistan’s bowling coach for the same tour as well. Younis and Gul are expected to join the team during the ongoing training and preparatory camp in the UAE as the team gear up for its forthcoming international cricketing assignments. “The UAE camp is a great opportunity for the players to get adequate training in the relevant departments of the game and get fully prepared for future competitions. Younis Khan and Umar Gul have rich experience of international cricket and I am sure they will help our boys overcome the concerns they have got in the batting and bowling departments” ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said in a statement. Afghanistan national cricket team left Kabul for the UAE on March 31 with the aim of gaining UAE residency as well as featuring in a preparatory camp to gear up for the upcoming international events. It is pertinent to mention that the ACB had named former England batter Graham Thorpe as their head coach, who is expected to join the team at the end of April.
Immobile ‘scapegoat’ for Italy’s World Cup flop: Sarri MILAN AFP
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri said Friday that striker Ciro Immobile has become the “scapegoat” for Italy’s failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup finals and claimed Serie A is “30 or 40 years behind” continental rivals. “He is becoming the scapegoat for this situation. If I were him, I know what I’d do,” Sarri said, seeming to suggest the international should quit the national side. Italy’s 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia deprived the four-time world champions of a place in the World Cup fianls in Doha later
this year. “He shouldn’t worry excessively. He must focus on Lazio,” Sarri told a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Serie A match at home against Sassuolo. “I didn’t find him down, I have confidence in him,” the former Chelsea and Juventus coach continued of the 32-year-old who is joint top scorer in Serie A with 21 goals. Immobile and Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne bore the brunt of criticism after the reigning European champions’ defeat in Palermo. Sarri was also alarmed at the level of Italian football after this elimination.
“If you watch the Premier League and the Bundesliga on TV, Serie A seems to be 30 or 40 years behind,” he said. “When I talk about the state of the pitch, I come across as someone who never stops complaining. But sending a team onto a pitch that is not good is like sending a surgeon to operate with a rusty scalpel,” he continued. “We paid for the lack of attention to detail,” he added of the match against Sassuolo whose forward line has two candidates to replace Immobile in the national team – Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori. Lazio are seventh in Serie A, six points ahead of ninth-placed Sassuolo.
Sunday, 3 April, 2022
prayer timingS
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FAJR SUNRISE
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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA
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REsPECt ARMy’s dECIsIon to REMAIn nEutRAl, sAys PM IMRAn KhAn ISLAMABAD
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RIME Minister Imran Khan has said that he respected the country’s top military leadership’s decision of not becoming part of political affairs saying that his government has “excellent ties with army”. “Military told me that they wanted to remain neutral and don’t want to be a part of political matters,” the premier remarked. “I don’t have any differences with military… they decided that they will not get involved in political matters and we respect their decision and stand by them,” he maintained. PM Imran said the military believed that it should not become controversial by getting involved in the country’s political affairs. Prime Minister Imran also urged the country’s youth to take to streets to hold ‘peaceful demonstrations’ against “foreign conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government. “Raise your voice and stage protests against this conspiracy not for me but for the future of the country,” he remarked while addressing the youth on Saturday. “Don’t resort to violence and I urge you to hold peaceful demonstrations and don’t cause any harm to the country,” he asked his young supporters while interacting with them via telephone. Meanwhile, PM Imran and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) lawmakers have decided to attend the proceedings of the no-confidence vote scheduled to be held in tomorrow’s National Assem-
bly session. It has been reported that PTI members will be present during the session and have their vote counted against the no-trust move in the lower house. Earlier, PM Imran had formally barred the party’s lawmakers from attending the National Assembly session on the day of voting on the opposition’s no-confidence motion. The PTI administration had announced that those who want to connect with the premier with queries can dial 051-9210809 earlier in the day. “Pakistan Army is a professional institution and please don’t criticise the military… after army, PTI has united the nation,” the premier said while responding to a live caller during today’s telethon. PM Imran claimed that propaganda
Even if no-trust motion succeeds, PM Imran will hold office until new leader elected: Rasheed ISLAMABAD ppi
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday said even if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan gets success, the premier will continue to hold office until a new leader of the lower house is elected. Talking to media persons, he cited Article 94 of the Constitution, which states that: “The President may ask the Prime Minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of Prime Minister.” He said the Constitution does not speak about that how long the process of electing a new prime minister should take after a no-trust vote gets success. The voting on the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to be held on Sunday.
is being spread to create rifts between military and the public and added that the military has rendered innumerable sacrifices for the country. He also lashed out at Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif over his reported remarks that “beggars cannot be choosers”. “They are slaves who worship money… Shehbaz Sharif is facing corruption charges involving billions of rupees… they can never take independent decisions,” he said, adding that all opposition leaders have joined hands against him to protect their “ill-gotten wealth”. PM Imran also said that cases will be registered against those who are committing treason against the country by becoming part of the “foreign conspiracy” against his government.
“We are consulting with our lawyers on this matter and by tonight we will make a final decision,” he added. Premier Imran said the public was aware of the “foreign plot” and expressed hope that the masses will never allow this “conspiracy” to succeed. “I will defeat them all [opposition] in assembly tomorrow,” he said while referring to vote on no-confidence motion, which is scheduled to be held in National Assembly on Sunday. “Don’t worry we will win tomorrow and the nation will not let them [opposition] to return [to power],” he assured one of the live callers. “I will give you good news tomorrow… those who have joined opposition are now wary of committing treason,” said the premier, maintaining that he will foil opposition’s attempt to oust him through no-trust vote. “I have been receiving messages since last night.” “Those who criticise military like Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam attacked army chief and ISI head… are actually inflicting harm on our country,” he said. “Fortunately we have a strong military which guarantees our country’s defence and we should refrain from doing anything detrimental to our military,” he reiterated. Speaking about the country’s foreign policy, the premier said he was not “antiAmerica or anti-India” and wanted cordial ties with all states. “I will never become part of any policy which is against the public interest come what may… I want cordial ties with all countries but my foreign policy will be people-centric,” he added.
SC registrar returns petition seeking formation of commission to probe international conspiracy The registrar of Supreme Court on Saturday returned a petition seeking investigation of international conspiracy to topple the government by constitution of a high-powered commission. Petitioner Naeem Ul Hassan had filed a petition in Supreme Court, praying that a high powered commission of inquiry should be constituted to hold inquisitorial proceedings with regard to the anti-state activities conducted by the respondent political parties through malafide and abuse of power under the provisions of the Constitution and for committing sedition and treason against the democratically and legally elected government. The respondents named in the petition include the Federation of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Law, National Assembly speaker, Election Commission of Pakistan, Federal Investigation Agency, PTI, PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, and MQM-P. The petitioner had said that PM
Imran had taken various measures to restore normalcy in the affairs of the state but local political parties had been “aiding and assisting extremism in the country”. However, the registrar returned the petition on grounds that the petitioner had not pointed out as to what questions of public interest were involved with reference to fundamental rights. “The ingredients for evoking extra ordinary jurisdictions of this court under Article 184 (3) have not been satisfied.” The registrar also explained that the petitioner had not approached any other appropriate forum to resolve the issue or provided any justification for not doing so. Among the other reasons, the registrar said multiple misconceived prayers were made in the petition. Pointing to a technical fault, the registrar said the notice issued to the respondents was not properly formulated as it did not tell for what reason the petition was being filed and did not have a copy of the petition attached. Staff repOrt
Political maneuvering at peak as Punjab Assembly elects new CM today LAHORE Shahab Omer
Political maneuvering has reached a climax in Punjab as the stage is set for election for the slot of Chief Minister Punjab today between Hamza Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N and Chaudhary Pervez Elahi of the PTI-led coalition government. It is pertinent to mention here that Chaudhary Pervez Elahi was nominated for the slot of CM by the Prime Minister while the opposition alliance has announced its support for Hamza. However, a joint press conference was also held by the leader of Pakistan People’s Party Hassan Murtaza and Hamza Shehbaz here on Saturday in which Murtaza announced that his party would support Hamza. “The PPP will fully support Hamza and the success of Hamza will be our success,” Murtaza said. It is also pertinent to mention here that Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group, a break-away faction of Imran Khan-led PTI, also announced its support for Hamza after successful talks between Tareen and Ishaq Dar in London. Aun Chaudhry who is also the part of JKT group had claimed that 16 members of his group would vote for Hamza. On the other hand, PML-Q has also started showing its cards as PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi reached the assembly with three members belonging to the JKT group of the PTI. These three MPAs included Abdul Hai Satti, Rafaqat Gilani and Ameer Muhammad Khan while Tareen group supporting is supporting Hamza Shehbaz. Meanwhile, Moonis arranged a meeting of the said MPAs with the Pervez Elahi and when Moonis started returning, answering a journalist’s question, he said that he would bring more members to Elahi’s camp. It is also pertinent to mention here that for the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Governor of Punjab had directed to convene a meeting of the Assembly, after which the process of election of a new Leader of the House was started in the Assembly here on Saturday. The Speaker Punjab Assembly has fixed April 3 for the election of the CM and adjourned the sitting of the Assembly till 11.30 am Sunday in which the Chief Minister will be elected. According to the schedule, the candidates themselves or their nominees could submit their nomination papers before 5 pm of April 2, after which scrutiny would take place. As per an official of Punjab Assembly, since Pervez Elahi himself was the candidate of the slot of CM, he will ask the Deputy Speaker to perform his duties to complete the process. Chaudhary will announce the election schedule himself and hand over the responsibility to the Deputy Speaker.
Ramazan moon sighted KARACHI Staff repOrt
The moon of Ramazan 1443 has been sighted in different parts of Pakistan including Karachi and Lahore. Head Ruet Karachi Zonal Committee Hafiz Muhammad Salafi has announced that the moon of Ramazan 1443 has been sighted in different parts of Karachi. Meanwhile, the moon has also been sighted in Lahore. The final announcement will be made by the central RUET which is currently meeting in Peshawar to sight the moon. The Chairman of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad chaired the meeting in Peshawar.
Foolproof security planned for Capital for no-trust ISLAMABAD Staff repOrt
The Islamabad administration has decided to take foolproof security measures in place on the day of voting on the no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan. It has been decided to declare the Red Zone as a highly restricted area as the general public will not be allowed to enter the premises. Only Margala Road will be opened for
entering the Red Zone, whereas, three-layer containers will be installed on other entrance routes. On the voting day, political rallies will not be allowed to enter Islamabad from Rawalpindi. 8,000 security personnel of the Punjab police will be deployed in two shifts. For the Islamabad security, the services of 3,000 officials of Punjab police and 1,000 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers have been sought, whereas, the security duties will also be as-
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
sisted by Rangers. Moreover, Islamabad police also acquired visitors’ data for entering the Parliament Lodges and the National Assembly (NA) speaker will be requested to bar the entry of unauthorised persons. Earlier in the day, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the opposition has proven its majority in the National Assembly and PM Imran Khan has practically become “former PM.”