Issuu

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020 I 10 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 119 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Another PeshAwAr trAgedy

At leAst 8 killed, 110 injured in AttAck on seminAry in PeshAwAr PESHAWAR

STAFF REPORT

bomb blast at a religious seminary in Peshawar on Tuesday morning martyred at least eight people, including children, and wounded more than 110, police and hospital officials said. The blast occurred at the Speen Jamaat mosque, which also serves as a religious school for the local community in the Dir Colony area, at 8:30 am. According to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Mohammad Asim, four of those martyred in the attack were students between the ages of 20 to 25. The LRH spokesperson said that the injured were being provided with immediate medical attention and the hospital’s director was present at the emergency ward. Tariq Burki, the director of the LRH, said that four of those martyred were children. Furthermore, the injured have also been taken to Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Naseerullah Khan Babar Hospital. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, while visiting the site of the blast, spoke to reporters and said that the focus was on providing the injured the best possible treatment. “[Students] were reading the Quran here, that is when the explosion occurred,” Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Ali Khan told reporters near the scene. “The initial investigation shows […] that five to six kilogrammes [11-13 pounds] of explosive material was used [and] that someone came here and left a bag of explosives.” “The explosives were planted in a plastic bag,” another police officer told Reuters who declined to be identified as

he is not authorised to speak to media. The police and rescue teams have reached the crime scene and launched the rescue operation. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Mansoor Aman an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blast. Prime Minister Imran Khan “strongly condemned” the blast, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. He expressed sadness over the

lives lost in the explosion and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured. Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz said that those who attack students gaining knowledge have no connection with humanity. “We will defeat the objectives of those attacking the stability of the country,” he added. PML-N supreme leader and deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the blast, saying that those who targeted the seminary “could not

be Muslims”. He said that the incident reminded him of the 2014 Army Public School massacre in which 132 students and 17 school staff lost their lives and called for those responsible to be caught and punished. In another tweet from his personal account, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif called upon the government to "look at tears running on the bloody faces of injured children and immedi-

Pakistan observes Black Day to denounce Indian occupation of Kashmir ISLAMABAD TLTP

Pakistanis and Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and the world over observed Black Day on Tuesday to convey to the world that India has occupied their motherland illegally and against their aspirations. President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination. Indian Army had invaded the state of Jammu and Kashmir on this day in 1947, in an attempt to subjugate the Kashmiri people. Since then, despite unabated Indian atrocities, New Delhi is unable to break the will of the brave people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), who are struggling for their right to selfdetermination. On August 5 last year, India took further illegal and unilateral steps to change the internationally recognised disputed status of the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and alter its demographic structure. According to media reports, protest marches, rallies and seminars were held in Srinagar and other parts of the occupied territory to condemn the Indian invasion as well as revocation of the special status of Kashmir

by the Modi-led fascist regime. The day was marked by complete shutdown in the territory, a call for which was given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Hurriyat forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Democratic Freedom Party and other profreedom organisations. Protest rallies and demonstrations were held in all districts and tehsil headquarters of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to mark the black day. In the State capital Muzaffarabad, a big protest demonstration was held at Central Press Club under the auspices of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell. All the three radio stations of AJK aired special programmes regarding the black day. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, while addressing an event in Muzaffarabad, called upon residents to avoid ideological differences in order to defeat Indian designs to create differences among Kashmiris. “The enemy wants to weaken us by creating ideological friction in our ranks," he said. PRESIDENT, PM URGE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KASHMIR DISPUTE: In his message on the occasion of black day, President Alvi paid tribute to the sacrifices of Kashmiri people. He said that the Kashmiri people have proved that India cannot suppress

their voice. PM Imran, in his video message on the occasion, said that Kashmiris should be given the right to self-determination as was promised to them by the international community. He expressed firm commitment to continue to raise the lingering dispute at the international level until the Kashmiris get right to self-determination. Alluding to the illegal and unilateral steps taken by Indian government last year in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, PM Imran said that the occupied valley has been turned into a prison. A military siege has been imposed and the rights of the Kashmiri people have been usurped. He said that India is perpetrating state terrorism not only in the IOK but also Pakistan which will be exposed before the world. The premier said that Pakistan desires peace as it can only lead to prosperity. “We are ready but India first of all will have to lift the military siege and they will have to give the right of self-determination to Kashmiri people,” he said. In his message on the occasion of black day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the brave people of occupied Kashmir stand firm and steadfast

in their quest for the right to selfdetermination. The foreign minister called for urgent lifting of the military siege and media blackout in the occupied territory. He said that India should stop human rights violations and release Kashmiri leaders and youth. The foreign minister urged the international community to pressurize India to reverse its illegal course in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and restore the Kashmiris’ fundamental human rights. National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri have urged the United Nations (UN) to strictly implement the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Kashmir and take strict notice of ongoing Indian atrocities in the occupied territory. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris for their just cause of right to self-determination.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Indian amendments allow non-residents to buy land in Kashmir STORY ON PAGE 02

ately compensate for their pain". Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz termed it a "heart-rending" incident. "The damage inflicted [on] students is extremely saddening. There is no compensation for the mothers who have lost their children," she said. “We will defeat the objectives of those attacking the stability of the country,” said Information Minister Shibli Faraz while strongly condemning the blast. “Our fight against terrorists and their extremist ideologies has to be won decisively — we have no option,” tweeted Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, adding that this was a “cowardly act by terrorists”. MNA Mohsin Dawar condemned the blast, saying “We have been warning against the regrouping of terrorists in our areas. All terrorist networks need to be dismantled fully.” The United Nations (UN) also condemned the “horrific” attack at the seminary in Peshawar. “We condemned this horrific attack on an educational institution,” the secretary-general’s spokesperson said at a news briefing at UN Headquarters in New York. “The secretary-general expresses his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” the spokesman said. “The United Nations remains committed to support the people and government of Pakistan,” he added. “Education is the fundamental right of every girl and boy, everywhere. Schools must never be targeted. They must remain safe learning environments at all times to protect the growth and healthy development of children, adolescents and young people,” said UNICEF’s Pakistan Representative Aida Girma in a statement.

more inside

Senate, NA adopt resolutions against publication of blasphemous caricatures STORY ON PAGE 02

Blasphemy intolerable, unacceptable, says federal cabinet STORY ON PAGE 02

Muslim world’s fallout with France deepens amid protests, boycott calls STORY ON PAGE 02

US warns of threat posed by China, signs military pact with India STORY ON BACK PAGE

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

NEWS

MuSlIM world’S fAllout wIth frANce deePeNS AMId ProteStS, boycott cAllS ANKARA

AGENCIES

he fallout between France and the Muslim world continues on Tuesday amid dozens of protests across the Muslim countries. Muslims call for a boycott of French goods, a move supported by President Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who often clashes with Macron. There have also been several street protests across the Muslim world. Some world leaders have criticised Macron’s treatment of Islam, while many in Europe stand by him. Saudi Arabia Tuesday condemned blasphemous caricatures of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and any attempts to “link Islam with terrorism”. However, the kingdom did not echo calls by other Muslim-majority countries for action against blasphemous images being displayed in France.

A foreign ministry statement also said Saudi Arabia “condemns every terrorist act, whoever committed it”, in an apparent reference to the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty near Paris this month. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters marched through Dhaka, the Bangladesh capital, calling for a boycott of French products and burning an effigy of Macron after he defended the blasphemous caricatures. Police estimated that more than 40,000 people took part in the march, which was halted before it could get close to the French embassy. Hundreds of officers used a barbed-wire barricade to stop the protesters, who dispersed peacefully. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the French charge d’affaires over Macron’s comments regarding Islam and Muslims. A ministry official told the diplomat Iran strongly rejected any insult and disrespect to Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon

Him) and the pure values of Islam by any person regardless of their position. Meanwhile, France has warned its citizens living or travelling in several Muslim-majority countries to take extra security precautions because of a surge of anger over the blasphemous caricatures. French officials have said they will continue to support the right to show the caricatures after an 18-year-old student of Chechen origin killed Samuel Paty, a teacher who showed blasphemous caricatures to his pupils as part of a civics lesson. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lodged a criminal complaint against Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders over an insulting tweet. “Fascism is not in our book, it’s in your book. Social justice is in our book,” Erdogan said on Sunday at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the eastern Malatya province, calling Wilders a “fascist”. His remarks came after Party for Free-

dom leader Wilders, known for his antiIslam stance, shared on Twitter an insulting cartoon of the Turkish president which was denounced by several Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. A rift has widened after two events – the first was Emmanuel Macron’s speech on October 2 in which the French president said Islam was a religion in “crisis” across the world, as he sought support for a new bill to strengthen secularism laws. The second event, the killing of teacher Samuel Paty, has led to further upset. While Muslims condemned the gruesome daylight beheading, the response from French officials had been perceived as linking Islam with “terrorism”. There are also fears of collective punishment. Further, because Paty was killed after showing students blasphemous caricatures, officials, including Macron, have been defiant in saying these images would continue to be allowed as a matter of freedom of expression.

Blasphemy intolerable, unacceptable, says federal cabinet ISLAMABAD APP

The federal cabinet, while strongly condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and hurting the sentiments of Muslims, on Tuesday said that disrespect for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is intolerable and unacceptable for any Muslim. The cabinet, which met here with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair, also condemned in the strongest terms the remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron that hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. During the meeting, it was reiterated that every available forum would be used for effective representation of the sentiments of Muslims regarding the blasphemous caricatures. In that regard, the reservations of Pakistani nation as well as Muslim Ummah would be conveyed to the world through the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Ministry of National Food Security briefed the cabinet in detail about the procurement and availability of wheat. It was told that the availability of 1.5 million metric tonnes of wheat would be ensured by January 31, 2021. The Ministry of Commerce briefed the cabinet about the schedule of wheat import and told that all consignments would arrive on time. The Ministry of Industries and Production apprised the cabinet about the import and availability of sugar. It was told that 266,939 metric tonnes of sugar was available in the country at present. The cabinet was further informed that the private sector had already imported 99,639 metric tons sugar while another 52,951 metric tonnes would be available in the month of November. It was told that the required 300,000 metric tonnes of sugar would be available by November 30, 2020. The prime minister directed to formulate an organised and coordinated mechanism for timely assessment of the requirements of wheat and sugar in the country, including the needs of all provinces.

He said that in order to overcome the shortages, hurdlers in the way of imports should be eliminated. He particularly stressed on ensuring the import of quality wheat. The prime minister directed the ministries to fill all vacant posts of chief executive officers (CEOs) and managing directors within three months, and submit reports in the next cabinet meeting entailing reasons for not filling the vacancies. The Establishment Division presented a detailed briefing over the vacant posts in various ministries, divisions and allied departments. It was apprised that a total of 129 posts of CEOs and managing directors had been lying vacant in the federal government institutions whereas 33 seats among them had been vacant since merger of different departments. The relevant authorities from the Ministry of Law and Justice gave a briefing to the cabinet about reforms in the Pakistan Penal Code and other laws. The cabinet directed for presenting of the reforms’ documents before the cabinet committee on legal reforms and submission of the same before the cabinet for approval within three months. The cabinet also gave its approval for the proposed amendments in the International Civil Aviation Convention which were presented by the Ministry of Aviation. It also approved four inspection companies to pre-examine batch of imported wheat by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan. The cabinet accorded its approval over exporting animals to the Gulf countries. It also approved requests for mutual legal cooperation made by Peru, Hungry and Colombia to the Government of Pakistan. It referred the issuance of policy matter under the Telecommunication Act, 1996, to its legal reforms committee and it would take a decision after receiving recommendations from the committee. The Ministry of Railways apprised the meeting that a comprehensive plan had been chalked out making the Pakistan Railways profitable and an autonomous body. The reorganisation steps were in line with direction of the Supreme Court (SC). The ministries of Finance and Law,

and the Establishment Division had also supported the plan. The prime minister observed that the plan would help realise the ML-1 project on time, and directed for completion of restoration and reorganisation process in the stipulated period. The cabinet ratified decisions of its Committee on Energy which were taken by the latter during its meeting on October 15 this year. It also approved inclusion of the minister for industries and production in the Cabinet Committee on Energy. The cabinet also partially ratified decision of the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) decisions taken in its meeting on October 19, 2020. The prime minister directed the Ministry of National Food Security to formulate a comprehensive package for farmers. The cabinet approved extension in additional charge of director general of Civil Aviation Authority to the secretary aviation till December 31, 2020. It, however, directed for seeking candidates from the private sector through advertisement after making necessary amendments in the relevant laws under the direction of apex court. It further said that the process should be completed within two weeks. The minister for planning gave a detailed briefing over the economic indicators. It was informed that in the current fiscal year, during July to August, the current account balance had increased to 1.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which was a positive economic development. Compared with the last year, the export volume increased by 27 per cent whereas the rupee had been strengthened. During the period from July to August, Rs 1,004 billion tax had been collected which exceeded the set target. After payment of debt, the foreign exchange reserves had witnessed record increase which was a big success of the government. The Large Scale Manufacturing registered an increase of 3.7 per cent when compared with the last year. The cabinet also approved constitution of National Medical and Dental Academic Board under the Pakistan Medical Commission Act, 2020.

Senate, NA adopt resolutions against publication of blasphemous caricatures ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the recent publication of the blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in France. The resolution, moved by Leader of the House Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem, said that such condemnable acts supported by the French government further accentuate discord, alienation, and divide between the followers of different faiths. It reaffirmed that the love for Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is beyond any doubt and it is part of our faith and no Muslim can tolerate such horrendous acts. The House strongly urged the parliaments and the international community to come up with a framework and needs to stop the recurrence of such acts in the future to ensure peaceful co-existence as well as social and interfaith harmony. Speaking in the Senate, Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri said the resolution reflects the sentiments of Muslims. He said that the French president demonstrated irresponsible and criminal behavior. NA ADOPTS RESOLUTION: Meanwhile, the National Assembly (NA) also passed a resolution condemning the republication of the caricatures. The resolution was tabled by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The Lower House, while condemning the caricatures, denounced French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on the cartoons. The resolution maintained that such malicious attacks on the sanctity of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and all other messengers of Allah are a means to hate speech. The House proposed March 15 to be officially declared as the “International Day against Islamophobia”.

Pakistan not to recognise Israel: Munir Akram ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) Munir Akram on Tuesday said that Pakistan is not a weak state to recognise Israel as a nation. Certain countries have normalized relations with Israel but Pakistan is not a weak state to follow their footsteps, he said in a statement issued here on Tuesday. Munir Akram said that Pakistan has to review its policy and interests while deciding on a matter and a nuclear-armed state could not be forced to change its policy. Countries that have accepted Israel could result in weakening their stance on occupied Kashmir, he said adding that they could not withdraw from supporting the just right of self-determination by Palestinians. “Pakistan has always supported the principle of the right of self-determination globally since its establishment,” he said. On August 18, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will never recognize Israel until the independence of Palestine. In an interview with a local news channel, PM Imran had said, “Our stance is very clear from day one. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said Pakistan can never accept Israel until the people of Palestine get rights and state.” He had maintained, “Recognising Israel is equivalent to giving up the country’s stance on occupied Kashmir and this we cannot do.”

Indian amendments allow non-residents to buy land in Kashmir NEWS DESK By amending several laws, the Indian government has now allowed non-residents to buy land in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), which means that any Indian citizen can purchase immovable property in the territory. This change was brought about by the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Third Order, 2020, which removed the phrase “permanent resident of the state” from Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act.

“With immediate effect, the Acts mentioned in the Schedule to this Order shall, until repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority, have an effect, subject to the adaptations and modifications directed by the said Schedule, or if it is so directed, shall stand repealed,” read the order. Indian Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said that under the new order, land which belongs to farmers cannot be sold or transferred to a non-agriculturalist, however, there is a loophole in which the land can be sold, transferred or gifted with the Indian government’s

approval. Political parties in Kashmir have called the notification “unacceptable”, and said it will hit the small landowning farmers in the union territory. Former Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Twitter, “Unacceptable amendments to the land ownership laws of J&K. Even the tokenism of domicile has been done away with when purchasing non-agricultural land & transfer of agricultural land has been made easier. J&K is now up for sale & the poorer small land holding

owners will suffer.” Similarly, Minister of States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Afridi condemned the move, and called it a “draconian law” which was another move by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to continue “occupying all rights of Kashmiris”. Before today’s notification, only “permanent residents” of Indian occupied Kashmir could buy property in the region. The decision comes as Kashmiris observe October 27 as ‘Black Day’, when Indian forces took over the valley 73 years ago in 1947.

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

NEWS buzdar, Sarwar participate in Kashmir solidarity rally LAHORE APP

The Punjab government conducted a ceremony at 90-The Mall on Tuesday to observe Black Day — which is being held annually to mark the Indian annexation of Jammu and Kashmir on this day in 1947. Participating in the rally, organised by the Punjab Kashmir Committee, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir and lodged a protest against the atrocities being committed by the Indian government by wearing black armbands. The anthems of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were aired and the participants chanted slogans of “long live Pakistan” and “Kashmir will become Pakistan'” while holding flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. They also led a walk and condemned blasphemous caricatures in France as well as the Peshawar blast. Addressing the gathering, Buzdar said that the purpose of celebrating Black Day is to sensitise the international community about the Indian occupation of Jammu & Kashmir. More than a year has passed to the inhumane lockdown in occupied Kashmir but the perversity of wicked Modi is intact, he lamented.

Judicial remand of Shahbaz, hamza extended LAHORE APP

An accountability court in Lahore on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of National Assembly (NA) Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in a money laundering and assets beyond means case. During the hearing, accountability judge Jawadul Hassan also directed jail authorities to provide the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president with a bed inside his cell. Sharif, Hamza and other accused appeared in court as it resumed hearing. During the hearing, Jail Superintendent Ejaz Asghar informed the judge that Hamza has been provided personal help apart from other facilities. He said they had Sharif medically examined at Jinnah Hospital and he will soon be taken to a hospital for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. Defense Advocate Amjad Pervaiz filed an application on behalf of Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz seeking exemption from appearance in court on medical grounds.

No directives issued for closure of varsities: hec ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has clarified that it has not issued any directives to shut down university campuses. "Attention Students!! HEC has not issued direction for closure of universities," it said on Twitter. "The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued policy guidelines for all the universities to cope with the Covid-19 crisis," the statement added. The HEC

PM'S AIde oN heAlth cAllS for StrIct reStrIctIoNS to tAcKle SecoNd wAve

NEWS DESK

S coronavirus cases continue to increase, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has warned that strict restrictions will be needed to get through the second wave of the novel virus. Addressing a press conference, Dr Sultan said that “no government wishes to impose” restrictions on its people, but in order to combat that threat posed by the disease, certain steps need to be taken. He urged “local administra-

tions to implement coronavirus SOPs [standard operating procedures]” and asked governments to fine those who were not abiding by the guidelines. Furthermore, he said that there should be a reduction in business timings to curb the spread of the virus, similar to the manner in which the government had tackled the issue in the first wave. He also mentioned the fact that the government was considering setting up a hotline for people to call in and report cases of SOP violations. Dr Sultan added that these restrictions would only be placed on

cities with high positivity ratios. “Our focus — tightening coronavirus restrictions — will be more on the cities and areas where the positivity ratio of the virus is high,” he said. The positivity ratio across the country had surged to 2.5 per cent, and the number of cases being reported daily has gone up to 750. “Further details will be disclosed after deliberations with all provinces,” Dr Sultan added. Pakistan has recorded 329,375 coronavirus cases, 6,745 deaths, and 311,440 recoveries from the pandemic, according to official statistics.

SC rejects petition to place Shehbaz's name on ECL NEWS DESK The Supreme Court dismissed on Tuesday the appeal of the National Accountability Bureau to place on Exit Control List the name of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz President Shehbaz Sharif. A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, presided over the hearing of the petition against the Lahore High Court’s decision to remove Sharif’s name from the no-fly list in the assets beyond means case. NAB Prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana said Sharif committed corruption due to suspicious transactions. “NAB is also empowered under anti-money laundering law. Many accused escape at the inquiry level. Six are absconding in the reference,” he further said. Bharwana added the PML-N president’s name was removed from the ECL on the orders of the

LHC, but now much progress has been made in the case. To this, Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that the travel ban on Shehbaz Sharif was unnecessary at the time of the high court’s orders. “The court [SC] has interpreted anti-money laundering laws,” the judge said referring to Justice Qazi Faiz Isa’s case. “Suspicious transactions do no come under corruption. NAB did not even bother to read the verdict of Justice Isa’s case.” “It is known that the accountability court has jurisdiction, but NAB included Shehbaz Sharif’s name in the ECL during the inquiry,” the top court remarked. “Did Shehbaz Sharif escape after his name was removed from the ECL? Shehbaz Sharif is not a person whom no one knows and would flee.” Dismissing the appeal, the apex court said that the NAB prosecutor could not identify the culprit in the high court’s decision.

PM approves establishment of 120 new accountability courts ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

In order to accelerate the ongoing accountability process and clear the backlog of cases, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday formally approved to set up 120 new accountability courts in the country, said the Ministry of Law and Justice. According to a spokesperson of the Law Ministry, the prime minister directed to take measures for the establishment of 120 new accountability courts during the federal cabinet meeting. He said that the new accountability courts will be established in phases, adding that owing to financial issues, the ministry would set up only 30

court immediately. The prime minister directed the Establishment and Finance Divisions to extend full support to implement the decision of establishment of additional accountability courts e.g. creation of posts, HR related issues, provisions of finances, etc. Moreover, Parliamentary Secretary on Law and Justice Barrister Maleeka Bokhari gave a briefing regarding creation of special courts to prosecute-gender based violence. The premier directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to separately move a comprehensive proposal to bring amendments to the existing laws and establish the Special Gender Based Violence (GBV) Courts across the country, after due consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Pakistan observes Black Day to denounce Indian occupation of Kashmir CONtINuED fROM PAgE 01 In a message on Kashmir Black Day on Tuesday, he said that the Pakistani nation stands by their Kashmiri brethren in their struggle against the Indian occupation. The minister said that the entire Kashmir valley has been turned into a prison by India for over a year as the people are faced with travel, communication, political and democratic restrictions and blockades. He said that India has been committing tyrannies and barbarism in occupied Kashmir, which has unveiled the real face of India, which claims to be the largest democracy of the world. PAKISTAN SUMMONS INDIAN DIPLOMAT: The Indian Chargé d' Affaires was summoned to Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday to register Pakistan’s strong protest on occasion of the Black Day in condemnation of the continued human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, it was demanded that the Indian government must give Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions which call for a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. It was further demanded that India rescind its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, imme-

diately lift its military siege in IOK, and reverse its illegal measures to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory. The Indian side was also called upon to cease extrajudicial killings of Kashmiri youth in fake encounters and so-called cordon-and-search operations and release the illegally detained Kashmiri youth and political leadership. It was underscored that to enable an accurate assessment of the humanitarian situation in the region, India needs to immediately remove all restrictions on the media, Internet and mobile communications in IOK and allow independent observers, human rights organizations and international media unhindered access to the occupied territory. Pakistan reiterated its position that India’s illegal steps cannot alter the disputed status of the occupied territory nor can these prejudice the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UNSC resolutions for which Pakistan extends the fullest support. SENATE EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH KASHMIRIS: The upper house of the parliament passed a resolution to express full solidarity with the popular indigenous uprising of the heroic people of IOK, terming October 27 as a Black Day in the history of the Kashmiri people.

Islamabad put on high alert after Peshawar blast ISLAMABAD APP

Islamabad Police on Tuesday announced a security high alert in the capital after a bomb blast in a seminary in Peshawar killed at least 8 people and wounded more than 110. According to a statement, the Islamabad police chief directed for stepping up checking at the entry and exit points of the city. “Security has been stepped up at the Red Zone and government and other buildings in the city,” the statement said. The police chief directed the deputy inspector general (DIG) (operations) and other officers to personally inspect the security measures. The IGP also directed the officers to visit religious places and inspect the level of security.

hec, Sindh agree on designing unified accreditation system KARACHI: The Sindh government and Higher Education Commission (HEC) have agreed on designing a unified accreditation system in order to support students and the future of universities in accordance with the market changes and demands. The chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Dr Tariq Banuri, along with HEC member Dr Fateh Muhammad Mari called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to discuss plans to increase the standard of higher education. According to a spokesperson to the chief minister, Shah urged bringing more improvements in increasing the standard of higher education by the HEC. He said that the Sindh government was ready to work together with the commission in this regard, adding that the plans for assessing and improving the institutional quality of education should be designed in accordance with the constitutional provisions. STAFF REPORT

court extends judicial remand of suspect in motorway gang-rape case LAHORE APP

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday gave another opportunity for the identification parade of Abid Malhi, one of the two prime suspects in the motorway gang-rape incident, while extending his judicial remand till November 2. Accountability judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta conducted the case proceedings. However, the jail authorities did not produce Malhi before the court on expiry of his remand term. The authorities submitted that an identification parade could not be held during the judicial remand period and sought more time. The police stated that the victim had been summoned again for the parade. Subsequently, the court approved the request and extended the judicial remand of Malhi till November 2.

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

NEWS

Govt allows exports to Afghanistan via Kharlachi border ISLAMABAD: Kharlachi border has been added to the list of borders for exports of goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The Ministry of Commerce issued SRO 1103(I)/2020 the other day to make an amendment into Export Policy Order 2020. After the amendment the export to Afghanistan and through Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics shall be allowed through export land routes i.e. Torkhan, Chaman and Ghulam Khan and Qamar Uddin Karez, Kharlachi. TLTP

SBP mAKeS RemittiNG out DiveStmeNt By foReiGN SHAReHoLDeRS eASieR KARACHI

ARIBA SHAHID

HE State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a new mechanism to enable companies in Pakistan to conveniently remit out disinvestment proceeds to their foreign shareholders. The initiative has been undertaken to make Pakistan more attractive for investments by boosting investors’ confidence and improving the ease of doing business. As per sources, the SBP had been engaging with stakeholders over the last few months in commitment to understanding the issues faced and to improve the SBPs regulatory framework. What is the new mechanism? Under the new mechanism, the bank designated by the company has been delegated the authority to remit the entire disinvestment proceeds to non-resident shareholders, upon submission of required documents, by following a convenient mechanism without referring the case to SBP. The number of re-

quired documents would be in accordance with the size of the transaction. For disinvestment proceeds not exceeding the market value/break-up value: the required documents would include a copy of Share Purchase Agreement, broker’s memo in case of quoted shares/break-up value certificate of a QCR rated practising chartered accountant in case of unlisted shares, latest audited financials of the company, signed M-Form, and an undertaking from the buyer that in case the transaction is between related parties, the same has been concluded at an arms-length basis. For disinvestment proceeds exceeding the market value/break-up value: the additional required documents would include a detailed valuation/ transaction due diligence by the buyer showing basis, methodology, and key valuation metrics used for valuation. In case the total remittance of disinvestment proceeds exceeds 50 million US dollars (or equivalent in other currencies) during a span of six months, the applicant shall also submit an independent review

CCP thanks govt, AGP for help as LHC upholds Competition Act 2010 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

In a major constitutional development, a threemember bench of Lahore High Court has upheld the Competition Act 2010 as being "constitutionally valid" and has dismissed challenges assailing the legislative competence of the federation to enact a law on competition. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) acknowledged the support extended by the federal government and the office of the Attorney General of Pakistan in resolving the decade-long issue of pending court cases. According to CCP, "All three judges of LHC found that the parliament has the legislative competence to enact a law on competition. In minority, Justice Ayesha Malik held that the parliament’s legislative competence -and therefore CCP's jurisdiction to regulate competition -- extends to all inter-provincial as well as intra-provincial matters. "Two judges in majority, however, held that while the parliament’s legislative competence extends to interprovincial trade and commerce, if CCP wants to take cognizance of a matter, it shall have to establish that the activity in question has an effect on trade and commerce beyond the boundaries of a province." Focusing on the parliament’s intention, the bench also upheld section 62 of the Act which validated and granted continuity to all actions, orders, proceedings etc. of the CCP since the date of the promulgation of Competition Ordinance 2007. This means that all actions, proceedings, orders of the commission issued under and since the 2007 Ordinance, and all subsequent ordinances as well as the Competition Act, 2010, stand validated. The petitioners had also assailed the exercise of certain regulatory powers of CCP as judicial powers.

NBP’s 3Q profit surges 110pc to Rs11bn NEWS DESK National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Tuesday declared an after-tax profit of Rs11 billion for the quarter ended 30 September 2020, a growth of 110pc over the same period last year. According to details, the sharp increase in profitability may be attributed to significant rise in security gains. The bank's gain on securities increased to Rs3.59 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, as compared with Rs250 million in the same quarter of the last year.

of the buyer’s valuation, from QCR rated practising chartered accountant that shall be assessed by the designated bank without needing to send to the SBP. How is this different from the old mechanism? Previously, the designated bank required prior approval of the SBP for remittance of disinvestment proceeds above market value for listed securities and above breakup value for unlisted securities. This requirement presented numerous constraints for investors. What impact does this change have? According to the SBP, the initiative will increase the investors’ confidence and would facilitate the local companies, in particular, the start-ups to attract more foreign investment for their businesses. Further, Tundra Fonder Founder and Chief Investment Officer Mattias Martinsson tweeted, “Might sound like a small detail, but for those with experience of dealing with “the old system”, this is a potentially huge step towards simplifying FDI-transactions. Implementation will be key.”

Dawood urges exporters to maintain presence in global market amid lockdowns NEWS DESK Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has urged Pakistani exporters to remain vigilant to maintain their presence in the global market. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Dawood said, “Covid-19 is an unprecedented crisis in recent human history with far-reaching implications to the global economy. Recent figures by the World Bank are showing that the pandemic has caused GDP contraction around the world, projecting that the major economies of the West, i.e. Japan, South Korea, etc. will post negative growth in GDP.” The advisor said that as the world is returning to lockdowns amid the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, the demand for Pakistan’s exports may also be affected. “I appeal to the exporters to be vigilant and aggressive so that they may be able to sustain their presence in the global markets,” he said. It is pertinent to mention that 773 more people tested Covid-19 positive after the tests of 27,133 over the last 24 hours.

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

Facebook’s top IndIa lobbyIst ankhI das quIts aFter content row NEW dELHi

agencieS

ACEBOOK Inc’s top India lobbyist Ankhi Das has quit, months after a newspaper report suggested the way the social media network regulated political content in its biggest market by users favoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party. The company said in a statement on Tuesday that Das, who was Facebook’s public policy head for India, South & Central Asia, had decided to step down to pursue her interest in public service. Facebook and Das drew criticism from leftleaning opposition lawmakers after The Wall Street Journal newspaper in August reported that she had opposed applying hate-speech restrictions to some Hindu nationalist individuals and groups, fearing damage to Facebook’s business prospects. After the article, Facebook India head Ajit Mohan defended Das and the company’s policies in an internal community post seen by Reuters. The matter also prompted Facebook employees to question whether proper content regulation policies were being followed in India, leaving the company battling a public relations and political crisis. Das was considered among India’s most influential corporate lobbying executives and had been central to Facebook’s rise in India since joining the company in 2011. Facebook’s statement said Das was one of its “earliest employees in India, and played an instru-

mental role in the growth of the company”. “She has been the most influential public policy professional among multinationals in India,” said Prasanto Roy, a New Delhi-based technology policy analyst who advises global tech companies. “She steered Facebook’s direction in India. This (exit) is a big deal.”

India is a critical market for Facebook, where it has more than 300 million users. Das’s departure comes as Facebook, along with other technology companies, is preparing for stringent new regulations India is drafting on data storage and privacy, which industry executives say could potentially hit foreign companies.

NEWS

Wedding halls violate Covid-19 SOPs, one-dish rule LAHORE Shahab Omer

In the provincial capital, blatant violations of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and one-dish menu rules have started in marriage halls and actions will be taken against the violators, the district administration told Pakistan Today. Rizwan Asim, manager of a wedding hall in Gulshan-e-Ravi Moon Market, said that the size of most halls was small, making it very difficult to implement Covid19 SOPs. “Most of the people who organise wedding ceremonies here belong from middle class or lowermiddle class. These people have no special interest in coronavirus or its SOPs but focus on their event. By the way, we have appointed staff at the entrances of the wedding halls, who also urge the guests to wear masks and to take care of the social distance, but these guests cannot be forced,” Asim said. Tabbasum Malik, owner of a wedding hall near Mughalpura, said that hosts should be liable for violating SOPs as well. “Where the owners of the wedding halls follow the rules and regulations, the hosts and guests

are violating all the rules and regulations. It is common for us to shake hands and hug at wedding ceremonies and people do not stop even though it is forbidden. In our society, when more than 50 people gather at a wedding ceremony, it is impossible to implement the condition of social distancing,” Malik said, adding that many hall owners feared another closure of wedding halls. Naveed Hussain, manager of a wedding hall in Garden Town, lamented that the entire responsibility for the violations falls on the owners, and not the hosts or guests. “There are a number of wedding halls in Garden Town and the one-dish requirement is taken care of here but since the people coming for the celebrations belong to the upper-middle-class or upper class […] they insist that more than one dish be served in the food for their guests. Some wedding hall owners say no, but some owners secretly violate the one-dish rule. However, the insistence behind this violation lies with the host,” Hussain added. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Riaz said that the district administration was taking action against the violators of the SOPs and one-dish rule.

Urdu Poetry: Old and New By SyEd AfSAR SAjid 1. ‘Aabshar’ (A Waterfall) Author: Faiz Jhinjhanvi Publisher: Misal Publishers, Aminpur Bazaar, Faisalabad Pages: 240 – Price: Rs. 400/2. Title: ‘AsmaN Koi Aur’ (Some New Horizons) Author: Anwar Jamal Publisher: Sukhan Sirai Publications, Multan Pages: 128 – Price: Rs. 300/-

Faiz Jhinjhanvi (1908-81) was a poet of a classical temperament. After Partition, he migrated from Delhi to settle down in Lyallpur (latterly Faisalabad) where he lived until the end of his life. Initially he served the Lyallpur Cotton Mills as a Welfare Officer for a short stint whereafter he adopted business as an occupatiion besides philanthropy and social work. ‘Aabshar’ is a collection of his ‘manzoomat’, ‘qita’at’ and ‘ghazaliat’, first published in 1944. The second edition of the book appeared in 1961 followed by the third edition, the present one, brought out by his sons posthumously, in 2017. Anwar Jamal (b. 1948) lives in Multan. A committed educationist, he is also a poet, critic and painter. With some thirteen books of poetry and prose to his credit, he is widely

reputed for his talent and calibre as a poet. Unlike Faiz Jhinjhanvi, Anwar Jamal’s skill and style as a versifier is a mix of both romanticism and modernism. ‘AsmaN Koi Aur’ is his latest verse publication which embodies a couple of hymns, a lyrical mystic ode titled ‘Kaga Nama’ (Cf. ‘Admi Nama’), ghazal (35), a few disparate lines of verse, and some patriotic poems. ‘Aabshar’ The author dedicated the first edition (1944) of this book to Lala Shankar Lal, an industrialist of Delhi and a fervent patron of the literary art, and its second edition (1961) to Sheikh Aziz Ahmad, proprietor of Colony Flour Mills in the then Lyallpur, a vocal enthusiast of

the literary and fine arts. And lastly, the author’s sons dedicated the current edition (2017) to their illustrious father. The preface to the first edition of the collection was written by a renowned writer, litterateur and compere Khawaja Muhammad Shafi Dehlavi. It contains a lucid but scholarly appraisal of Faiz Jhinjhanvi’s poetics in the context of the spirit of the age. He praises the poet’s style and diction albeit the latter’s abstruseness which he justifies by claiming that it is meant for the learned as well as the ones who are duly initiated in the art of versification. One could conveniently stretch the argument advanced by famed literary writer and editor, John Collings

Squire (1884-1958), in his appreciation of the poem titled ‘The Testament of Beauty’ by Robert Bridges (1844-1930), to the poetics of Faiz Jhinjhanvi: ‘The old poet has done triumphantly what none of the juniors have managed to do ----- he has, assisted by courage, a natural sincerity, a belief in the function of poetry, contrived to bring within the borders of a poem, and avoiding flatness, all his feelings, knowledge, speculations, interests, hopes and fears.’ The ‘nazm’ part of the book portrays persons, places and perceptions of how the poet viewed, experienced and suffered life. His tone is emphatic though accent subdued. The diction of the poems is purely classical inasmuch as the vocabulary and usage of the language are concerned. The revolutionary in the poet speaks out in his poem ‘Bhagawat’ seemingly composed in the colonial scenario of the pre-Partition era. Nostalgia, lament of the lost splendour of Muslim reign in India, a sense of lingering uncertainty in the wake of the changing politico-economic situation at home and abroad are the staple themes of these poems. Likewise, the ‘ghazal’ portion of the book reflects the poet’s existential griefs being voiced in a mellow tone signifying his acute sensitivity to the vacuity of human longings. The verse here abounds

in similes, symbols, metaphors and conceits characteristic of classical poetry. Nature is also a favourite theme in his verse. The poet’s quasi-pantheistic apperception of the phenomena of Nature is attributable to his mystical approbation of values pervading the animate and inanimate worlds both. All said, the book deserves a thoughtful read for its meaningful themes, neat artistic form and accomplished style. ‘AsmaaN Koi Aur’ Anwar Jamal is now a frontliner in the domain of Urdu verse. He has attained this position by virtue of his expansive but sustained literary exercises spanning the past four decades or so. The instant collection is his twelfth publication (lately he has published his 13th book also which is a prose work titled ‘Takhleeq say tanqeed tak’) in a row, the earlier ones include poetry, criticism, pen sketches, and miscellaneous literary and academic material that bespeak his versatility if one would add painting as another dimension of his artistic propensity. Incidentally this scribe has witnessed the vertical evolution of Anwar Jamal’s creativity ever since the publication of his first work, ‘Laulak Lama’ (a collection of spiritual verse), in the early 1980s. In the intervening period, his literary style, mood and inquisitiveness have

undergone a substantial transformation corresponding to the existential exigencies periodically erupting on the transcultural literary horizon. A closer examination of his verse in the present volume would reveal that he does indeed bring his living interests into his poetry. But methinks, as the colloquy goes, he does not need to withdraw into a dream world either, because he looks like a romantic of love and action on the waking plane. In fact his poetic dilemma turns out to be the universal dilemma of the artist regardless of his ethnic, racial, religious, cultural or geographical moorings. His yearnings sound like cries in the wilderness as it were of a heartless human habitat, euphemistically the world itself, ‘where but to think is to be full of sorrows’. One hopes that this collection will be avidly read by Anwar Jamal’s readers. They will surely notice a change in his tone and tenor; he seems to have attained greater felicity in voicing his creative upsurge, the element of self-contemplation having the better of him in the process. The poet’s diction, choice of symbols and the naivete of his romantic stance would seem to strike a vicarious chord of harmony in the discreet reader as these are expressed with new decisiveness, permeated with reflection.

FCCU research centre renamed to honour Dr Saeed Shafqat On 27th October 2020, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University Lahore) held a ceremony to honor Dr. Saeed Shafqat for his meritorious services to FCCU. The FCC Public Policy Research & Resource Centre has now been named ‘Dr. Saeed Shafqat Research Centre for Public Policy and Governance’. Dr. Saeed Shafqat is an eminent social scientist of international repute. He joined FCCU in 2007 as a Professor and founding Director of the Centre for Public Policy and Governance (CPPG). Besides designing and developing postgraduate academic programs in Public Policy, he launched the publication of Research and News Quarterly. In 2018 he was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his services as a distinguished Social Scientist in the field of education, research and teaching. In 2019 he was awarded the Chevalier des Palmes Académiques for his contributions to the advancement of culture and education. Dr. Shafqat is member BOG, National School of

CMYK

Public Policy and a regular guest speaker at the National Defence University and National Management College. He has been Quaid-e-Azam Distinguished Professor and Chair (March 2001 – May 2005), Pakistan Center at the School of international Affairs and Public Policy (SIPA), Columbia University and continued to be Adjunct Professor at SIPA until 2010. For Spring 2012, he was Visiting Professor South Asian Studies, at the College of Wooster, Ohio. He has been Chief Instructor Civil Services Academy of Pakistan, Lahore (1988 – 2001) and was Executive Director, National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) 2005 - 2007. CPPG has three academic programs: MPhil, Executive Masters and PhD in Public Policy. While, pursuing academic programs, the Centre has also concentrated on securing projects and enhancing its Think Tank functions. Since 2009, it has won and successfully completed 12 projects, no less than one a year. Besides conducting actionable research

on issues confronting policy makers in Pakistan; since 2013, the CPPG China Cell has been exploring research on China- Pakistan relations. At the FCCU, The CPPG has the distinction of being a program, which is also a Publisher, publishing peer reviewed Monographs, Discussion Papers, Policy Briefs and Positions Papers regularly. Since 2018, the CPPG is also part of Global Think Tank network. This is an initiative and global out reach program stemming from the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the Lauder Institute for Management and International Studies, University of Pennsylvania. Post COVID-19, the CPPG is planning on collaborative online teaching and research with our international partners. At this point we are working on three initiatives; one pertains to online teaching and other on collaborative research with institutes such as the University of Buffalo, New York, Observers Research Foundation (ORF) India and George Mason University, USA. Pr

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

06 COMMENT

Myths of bovine-excreta benefits

Kashmir Black Day Whither ‘Kashmir hour?’

RIMe MINISTeR Imran Khan no doubt sincerely wants to resolve the Kashmir issue. he is also keen to bring peace to South Asia by normalising PakIndia relations. even before coming to power he had visited India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But in matters of statecraft sincerity or honesty take a back seat. What is required is a deep understanding of international issues and bilateral disputes, combined with competence to resolve them. Mr Khan had perhaps never read Mr Modi’s election manifesto that prominently displayed the promise to end occupied Kashmir’s special status and integrate it into India. Or perhaps Mr Khan considered that election manifestos were just for getting votes and not meant to be implemented. he believed that since hindu nationalist PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee could sit with Mr Nawaz Sharif to resolve Pak-India disputes, Mr Modi too was likely to meet him to settle the Kashmir issue. The specious thinking led him to publicly wish for Mr Modi’s victory. Again Mr Khan concluded that since Pakistan was providing crucial help to US President Donald Trump who desperately wanted to bring back US soldiers from Afghanistan, he would force Mr Modi to accept him as a mediator on Kashmir. he failed to realise that when push came to shove the US President was bound to prefer a strategic partner over a transactional ally. A simplistic Mr Khan had hoped that by chauffeuring around the Gulf princes he would make them change their policies on India where they had strong business interests. Only when they failed to support Pakistan on Kashmir did Mr Khan realize that business interests are more important than religious affiliations or personal ties. The PTI government has no Kashmir policy. It only reacts to Indian moves. Mr Khan is so fully engrossed in sending political rivals to jail that he has little time for any other issue. he makes announcements about Kashmir on the spur of the moment and then forgets about them. On 29 August last year, Mr Khan directed all Pakistanis to stand for 30 minutes every Friday for Kashmir. Did anybody from the government follow up the call during the last 40odd Fridays? Despite warnings from the NCOC the PM has addressed large gatherings in Islamabad. Couldn’t he call one on the Kashmir Black Day?

Cures even cancer, resists radiation Amjed jAAved

he fanatical hindu believes in magical or talismanic properties of cow dung and urine. The believers are spread over a wide spectrum. They cover all walks of life including academia and judiciary. Of late, even actor Akshay Kumar has begun to drink cow urine to cure his cancer. Judge Mahesh Chandra of Rajasthan high Court pronounced a 193-page judgment extolling the benefits of bovine excreta. his judgment is a mélange of scriptures and law. It glistens with asinine hijinks like `cow is a surgeon’, `a complete pharmacy’. The judge revealed when Lord Krishna came to earth he brought down a cow with him to Vrindavan. And he knew that a cow could suffice for doctors and surgeons because cow milk is medicinal in nature and cures all kinds of ailments (except insanity). earlier the Rajasthan education minister had proudly proclaimed (defying knowledge of mammals) “cow is the only animal that inhales as well as exhales oxygen’. A scientist, Kesari Gumet, supervising a research laboratory, claimed, ‘God resides in cow dung.’ It is a common belief that cow dung is radiationproof. By corollary, if a bunker is made of cow dung, it would be safe from the radiation of even an atom bomb. To corroborate this belief, Rajkot-based Shrijee Gaushala has developed a “chip”, named Gausatva Kavach. Describing cow dung as “anti-radiation”, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria unveiled the “chip” made of cow dung. he claimed that it reduces radiation from mobile handsets significantly. Speaking at the launch of a nationwide campaign, ‘Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan’, which is aimed at promoting cow dung products, he said, “See, this is a radiation chip. You can keep it in your mobile. We have seen that if you keep this chip in your mobile, it reduces radiation significantly. If you want to avoid disease, then this

is going to be used. You must have heard a few days crowded during the holy month of Ramadhan or on ago that the actor Akshay Kumar… he has eaten cow Fridays. India’s National Crime Records Bureau had dung. You can eat it. It’s a medicine. But we have for- compiled data on Muslims killed by cow vigilantes. gotten our science.’ Kathiria was referring to the But they had to omit it under government’s orders. India’s department of technology floated a circular actor’s recent remarks that he drinks cow urine every to scientists in government and private institutions day for Ayurvedic reasons’. Kathiria also said, `More than 500 gaushalas are about the ayurvedic value of cow dung and urine. It manufacturing such anti-radiation chips. They are claimed that ingredients of bovine excreta were being widely prescribed in mediavailable for Rs 50-100 each. cines and commercial prodOne person is exporting such ucts. The institute called chips to the USA, where it is upon scientists to explore the sold at about $10 each.’ possibility of using the While launching KamdIndia’s department of aforementioned ingredients henu Deepawali Abhiyan, technology floated a for treatment of a wide range Kathiria unveiled other cow of health disorders (cancer, dung-based products like to scientists in circular asthma, arthritis, diabetes, earthen lamps, candles, inblood pressure and kidney cense, paperweights, idols of government and private diseases). The instituted ofgods and goddesses. he said institutions about the fered to fund research proRKA aims to reach 11 crore posals, pinpointing families to light 33 crore ayurvedic value of cow dung cow-dung-and urine ingredidiyas made of cow dung this and urine. It claimed that ents for use in medicines, Diwali . toothpastes and shampoos. The hindus venerate a of bovine ingredients A group of 110 scientists cow more than a human protested the invitation for being. The hindu-monk excreta were being widely research proposals. The scichief minister of Uttar prescribed in medicines and entists said, `The call for Pradesh has directed that proposals document issued cow –related offences be commercial products. by the department of science prosecuted under the Naand technology (DST), was tional Security Act. he “flawed” and “will severely wants to covert Ayodhya undermine the credibility of into a Vatican, a Mecca. he refused to recognise the half-hindu Rajput blood in the Indian scientific establishment as it “presumes the the Moghul emperors after Akbar (he dubbed the efficacies” of various cow products. The list defies Moghuls invaders). he ordered the Moghal Museum common sense as many of the ailments (on the list) in Agra to be renamed after Maratha king Chhatrapati were not known to the authors of the ancient texts’. Shivaji. he rejected the proposal to build both a But will such voices of reason be heard with the BJP mosque and a temple at Ayodhya side by side. he re- and its hindutva ideology in power? fused to even attend the inauguration of a mosque Amjed Jaaved is a freelance journalist, has away from Ayodhya in exchange for the demolished served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and Babri Mosque. A Muslim can be lynched, set afire, or shot dead holds degrees in economics, business administration, law. He can be reached at just for eating beef, wearing a mosque-goer’s cap, or and offering prayer on the road when a mosque gets over- amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

Cyber Crime Wing FIA turning into mafia

PTI and the IMF Resumption of programme unlikely if conditions unmet

joying his service. The most strange case is that of an officer who was recruited as Principal Investigator, a post meant for technical investigation. This ofThis shows how the Cybercrime Wing officers ficer was so crafty that he first changed the have turned themselves into Cyber bullies for their nomenclature of his post to Assistant Director. Then personal gains. In the recent past, when an honest he put his career on a fast track and within no time FIA officer, Sajjad Mustafa Bajwa, while posted in he grabbed the post of Additional Director in BPS Cybercrime circle Lahore, countered the illegal ac- 19. he was eyeing the post of Director in BPS 20 but tions of such black sheep then they all made an al- thanks to the leg-pulling culture of the FIA, this matliance against him. When he wrote to the high-ups ter was reported to the high-ups. Till date no legal regarding the wrongdoings of such personnel, in- action has been taken against him. stead of taking any disciplinary action, the FIA The officers of CCW are involved in illegally headquarters transferred providing the logs of differMr Bajwa. This was a turnent Facebook accounts of ing point as this mafia befemales, call data records came so powerful that no and NADRA records of difUnless and until there is a officer could dare to quesferent people in lieu of huge tion their illegal activities. strong accountability, and a payments. It is pertinent to From the very beginmention that social media system of checks and ning the Cyber Crime Wing platforms and other famous turned into a liability for websites provide informabalances within the ranks of tion only if request is made FIA. Most of the recruitment was done from those the Cyber Crime wing, there through an official email already working in the account. The irony is that is little hope of any PISCeS project of the FIA. all the regular, adhoc and The rest ad been recomcontract employees of improvement. It is essential mended by various big CCW have been granted ofto discourage the trends of guns. People with dubious ficial email addresses with qualifications were inno countercheck upon the self-projection and personal users. There is no centralducted without observing the rules. From the very beaggrandizement amongst the ized monitoring system to ginning, those with better check whether the data is officers and officials of the skills were either expelled being requested for official or forced to leave. howor personal purposes. The Cyber Crime Wing. There ever, those with dubious incumbent DG FIA Wajid should be zero tolerance for Zia is a very upright and qualifications were extended important portfolios. honest person. Similarly the using the name and One Forensic expert Additional DG CCW Mr (Now renamed as DD Ihsan Sadiq is known for resources of CCW for Forensic) presented a degree his honesty and professionpersonal gains. from such a campus of Al alism. Recently the inducKhair University which had tion of Mr Jaffer Khan as been declared illegal by the Director Cyber Crime Ishigher education Commislamabad is really a wise desion. The first batch of CCW was regularized by the cision. But unless and until there is a strong famous Khursheed Shah Committee which had a accountability, and a system of checks and balances mandate of only considering those cases below BPS within the ranks of the Cyber Crime wing, there is 17. But interestingly this Committee illegally regu- little hope of any improvement. It is essential to dislarized the services of CCW officers in BPS 17 and courage the trends of self-projection and personal BPS 18. Till date no legal explanation has been ex- aggrandizement amongst the officers and officials tended to elaborate this anomaly. of the Cyber Crime Wing. There should be zero tolThe second batch was recruited in 2013. But one erance for using the name and resources of CCW for Deputy Director Forensic hailing from Mardan was personal gains. Most importantly the professional illegally regularized with the first batch of CCW. All and experienced officers of other wings of the FIA the batchmates of this Deputy Director are still striv- should be posted in CCW to improve its performing for regularization of their service. ance. If timely steps are not taken then the future One Deputy Director hailing from Lahore was seems bleaker for CCW. caught red handed while changing the cell phone confiscated as case property with another one. DeThe writer can be reached at spite such a criminal act, the gentleman is still en- pmpk55@hotmail.com

Cybercrime needs experts, but the FIA is not doing the needful

RIOR to the 2018 general election, Prime Minister Imran Khan had vowed to ‘die before approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’ if he came to power. Less than a year after his win, the PTI secured Pakistan’s 13th IMF bailout to the tune of $6 billion over three-years, $1 billion of which was released immediately to provide crucial support to fast depleting foreign exchange reserves. Desperate for dollars and lacking any meaningful leverage, the programme that was negotiated and signed was the toughest ever, with conditions that would force the government to make politically unpopular decisions. With the government unable to meet demands such as raising taxes and electricity tariffs that would drive up inflation further, the programme was suspended by the IMF in February. For the IMF to release a much needed $450 million third tranche, the PTI government is being told to increase electricity prices by Rs 1.48 per unit and take the sales tax up to a standard 17 percent on all items except medicines and food. PM Khan has reportedly refused to accept these preconditions, which is understandable. Despite his insistence that the economy is on an upward trajectory, a statement he has based on cherry-picked macroeconomic indicators such as temporary remittance upticks and a current account surplus, ground realities are much different. Pakistan currently has the lowest growth rate among all South Asian Nations at 0.5 percent and one of the highest inflation rates at over 10 percent. Better GDP growth may be a long term prospect but the PTI’s inability to reduce food prices, the primary reason for rising inflation, is a result of pure incompetence. Pakistan has to repay $4.4 billion on account of foreign commercial loans during the current fiscal year; a reality that is bound to exert pressure on foreign exchange reserves that will start drying up unless there is some injection. With the IMF unwilling to budge and the federal government thinking about the political damage of another price and tax hike, there is little room to manoeuvre. None of the ‘reforms’ to ‘turn around’ the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) have been undertaken in over two years to meet tax collection targets. Despite tall claims of cracking down on the ‘wheat and sugar mafias’, prices of both commodities continue to rise as supply remains grossly mismanaged. Mr Khan has only himself and his economic team to blame for the precarious mess he finds himself in.

SYed FAWAd ALI SHAH

ITh the advent of modern technology, the face of traditional crime has drastically changed. Now criminals adopt digital means to commit different crimes. This has ushered into an era of cybercrimes in the society. Now law enforcement agencies are facing culprits who use cyberspace to successfully commit an offences. In Pakistan the Federal Investigation Agency has been assigned the task of countering cybercrimes. it has created a special wing called CCW (Cyber Crime Wing) to deal with such offences. Initially the CCW did play a very positive role in nabbing such culprits but with the passage of time the typical police culture crept into its ranks. The officers and officials posted in the CCW start turning into a mafia of their own kind. They started becoming corrupt and inefficient. The lust for power and misuse of authority has become the hallmark of this Wing. They become so obsessed with their self-projection that some of them have been known to use social media to show off their tiny selves. having no regard for government rules and regulations, they openly use their official position over social media for their personal gains. Many of them have even opened YouTube channels, and accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter showing their official positions. One glaring example is that of an Assistant Director namely Asif Iqbal Choudhry. The social media is filled with the personal stuff of this officer which is meant for his self-projection. AD Asif Iqbal has established a YouTube channel with the title “Muhammad Asif Iqbal Cyber Crime wing FIA”. Similarly he is using to the name of FIA in all his other social media platforms and videos. Without any legal permission this FIA officer is openly using his Official position for his personal gains. When Additional Director General FIA Ihsan Sadiq took notice of his illegal activities and placed him under suspension, then this Assistant Director resorted to cheap tactics. he labelled his routine suspension as something to do with a tweet from Iman Mazari, the daughter of Federal Minister for human Rights Dr Shirin Mazari. Through his cronies he started the hashtag “Justice for Asif Iqbal” and “Reinstate Asif Iqbal”. But in order to pressurize DG FIA Wajid Zia and ADG Ihsan Sadiq his cronies started the hashtag” Sack Shirin Mazari”. he started giving the impression as if he was the only honest officer of FIA who had been sacked for taking u a feud with the daughter of a minister.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

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Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

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

No girls school in Kalag I want to highlight the public issue that Kalag which is the area of Kech but unfortunately it lacks girls school where females suffer a lot to achieve education. Secondly, there is a just one boys school where mostly conservative parents do not permit their females to get education even they come out of their houses to go to boys school to read then it is so shameful to assume that they are extremely tortured and killed even in the name of honor. So, it is my humble request to the government and concerned authorities to do an announcement of a girls school in Kalag since they are real architect of a nation. Khadija MuhaMMad ali TurbaT

Robberies amuck ROBBeRY has become a trend which is making the society suffer from mental illnes and that may ruins the mind and may pause from doing anything. Since it is a biological war in which residence of Turbat and nearby are extremely worried. It had stop people from moving forward and they are not safe at their own home. So, I humbly request to the government to stop robberies as soon as possible. azad SharEEf TurbaT KEch

Rising curse of Islamophobia The French President was asking for trouble

mALIk muHAmmAd ASHrAF

ReNCh President Macron’s statement that he would not prevent the publishing of insulting caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUh) has rightly sparked outrage in the Muslim World. early this month he also described Islam as a ‘religion in crisis.’ France recently has launched an extensive witch-hunt against the Muslim community following Macron calling Islam a problematic religion that needed to be contained. he also announced stricter oversight on schooling and better control over foreign funding of mosques. The statement of the French President was made in the wake of the beheading of a teacher by a local Muslim who was angered by the use of blasphemous cartoons. What the French President said and the steps that are being taken to marginalize the Muslim community there as a state policy, is indeed a regrettable development having the potential of not only harming societal harmony within France but destroying the inter-faith harmony so direly needed to ensure peaceful existence among nations and people of different faiths. The reaction in the Muslim world and the decision by some Arab countries and their trade bodies to boycott French goods as well as severing trade ties with France are strong indicators in this regard. equating Islam with terrorism on the basis of individual acts of some renegades is the most preposterous proposition and totally unacceptable. What that Muslim youth did was absolutely condemnable and nobody in the Muslim World would endorse it. Prime Minister Imran Khan was right on money in condemning Macron’s statement and saying “It is unfortunate that he has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence, be it Muslims, White Supremacists or Nazi ideologists. Sadly, President Macron has chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims, including his own citizens, through encouraging the display of blasphemous cartoons targeting Islam and our Prophet (PBUh). hallmark of a leader is he unites human beings, as Mandela did, rather than dividing them. This is a time when Pres Macron could have put healing touch and denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarization and marginalization that inevitably leads to radicalization “

The Senate and the National Assembly also of Islamophobia has also gripped India under the passed unanimous resolutions strongly con- BJP regime inspired by the supremacist ideology demning the latest attempt of illegal and Islam- of hindutva. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ophobic acts of republication of blasphemous also adopted Islamophobia as a state policy and sketches of the holy Prophet (SAW) in France has recklessly indulged in genocide of Muslims under the garb of freedom of expression. As re- within India and Indian Occupied Kashmir bevealed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood sides denying even fundamental human rights to Qureshi, Pakistan is also contemplating to move them, which poses grave threat to peace and sea resolution in the forthcoming meeting of the curity of the region. The global community and the United NaOIC foreign ministers proposing observance of 15 March as International Day against Islamo- tions must realize the gravity of the situation and phobia. he also urged the United Nations to take take practical steps to check the phenomenon of notice and called for action against the hate- Islamophobia in its tracks. I think the OIC must adopt a proactive approach in this regard. Perbased narrative against Islam. The hate syndrome against Islam and Mus- haps the UN on its part can organize a dialogue lims in the european countries is unfortunately a between religious leaders of different faiths to reaction to acts of terrorism by militants and ter- set in motion the process for inter-faith harmony and also observing an rorists, and the inability international day of the europeans to unagainst Islamophobia. derstand that religion The biggest propohad nothing to do with We are living in a global nent of inter-faith harthe acts of a few renemony is Pope Francis, gades and radicalized village and events in any who is on record as havindividuals. Terrorism has no religion as is evpart of it have direct bearing ing repeatedly said, “It is not right to identify ident from the acts of and consequences for the Islam with violence as terrorism in different religions have a small european countries carentire global community. The all fundamentalist groups, ried out by white indias such faith is not the viduals. To tag the spill-over of the hate only cause of terrorism. phenomenon of terrorsyndrome to different parts Social injustice and idolism with the religion of atry of money are the Islam and encouraging of the world does not augur prime causes of terrorblasphemous remarks and publication of inwell for peace and tranquility ism. If I speak of Islamic violence, I have to speak sulting caricatures of the and the global community of Catholic violence. prophet is not justifiable Not all Muslims are vifor any reason. It asmust make collective efforts olent.” A supporting versumes greater intensity dict has also come when it is adopted as a to eliminate the rising curse recently from the eurostate policy. pean Court of human The rising tide of Isof Islamophobia and the Rights saying that inlamophobia in europe xenophobic steaks that mar sulting Islam’s prophet has also coincided with is not covered by freethe rise of extreme societal harmony dom of expression. Deright-wing parties in faming the Prophet some countries. They (PBUh) goes beyond not only sponsor and the permissible limits of support attacks on the members of the Muslim community but are also an objective debate and could stir up prejudice and putting pressure on their respective governments put at risk religious peace.” I think the political leaders in the leaders of to adopt anti-Muslim laws. The mainstream media, social media and internet have been used the european countries also have to act in a reto spread misinformation and to generate hysteria. sponsible manner rising above their political obRecent incidents of desecration of holy Quran in jectives. As rightly said by Prime Minister Imran Norway and Sweden are the detestable manifes- Khan, President Macron should have put a healtations of the created hysteria. The massacre of ing touch instead of creating further polarization 50 Muslims in New Zealand by a white Aus- which consequently leads to radicalization. A tralian citizen was the ugliest manifestation of Is- true leader would always strive for promoting harmony among different sections of the society lamophobia. In some countries economic marginalization and religious groups. We are living in a global village and events of the Muslims is also being encouraged and practiced. Consequently some groups and lob- in any part of it have direct bearing and consebies in those countries have even started bring- quences for the entire global community. The ing Islam into disrepute and publish spill-over of the hate syndrome to different parts blasphemous material and caricatures of the of the world does not augur well for peace and holy Prophet (PBUh) with the approving nod tranquility and the global community must make of their governments. France and Norway are collective efforts to eliminate the rising curse of the countries where this has been happening Islamophobia and the xenophobic steaks that under the garb of freedom of expression. It is the mar societal harmony. most outrageous act carried out with an explicit Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. purpose to hurt the feelings of one and half billion Muslims around the world. Sadly the curse He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com

Front foot against France The Federal Cabinet, while taking strong exception of the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and hurting the sentiments of Muslims, on Tuesday said disrespect for the holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) was intolerable and unacceptable for any Muslim. The cabinet, which met here with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair, also condemned in the strongest terms the remarks of French President emmanuel Macron that hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. During the meeting, it was reiterated that every available forum would be used for effective representation of the sentiments of Muslims regarding the blasphemous caricatures. In that regard, the reservations of Pakistani nation as well as Muslim Ummah would be conveyed to the world through the platform of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Ministry of National Food Security briefed the cabinet in detail about the procurement and availability of wheat. It was told that the availability of 1.5 million metric tons of wheat would be ensured by January 31, 2021. The Ministry of Commerce briefed the cabinet about the schedule of wheat import and told that all consignments would arrive on time. The Ministry of Industries and Production apprised the cabinet about the import and availability of sugar. It was told that 266,939 metric tons of sugar was available in the country at present. The cabinet was further informed that the private sector had already imported 99,639 metric tons sugar while another 52,951 metric tons would be available in the month of November. It was told that the required 300,000 metric tons of sugar would be available by November 30, 2020. The prime minister directed to formulate an organized and coordinated mechanism for timely assessment of the requirements of wheat and sugar in the country, including the needs of all provinces. he said in order to overcome the shortages, hurdlers in the way of imports should be eliminated. he particularly stressed on ensuring the import of quality wheat. ShahEra Shahid iSlaMabad

Political Showdown ONCe again the political show is on in Pakistan. On the one hand, there is PDM—an alliance of all political parties— flexing it’s muscles to give tough time to the government. And on the other, there is incumbent government being totally adamant to talk to the opposition and hold dialogues with it for any middle of the course. As the barbs are being flown between opposition and the government, either our institutions or their heads are being targeted and their esteemed image tarnished for earning political mileage on both sides, while our enemies giggle at our comical, political circus. Who gives NRO to whom is still a conundrum for a common man who is more concerned and worried about how to make both ends meet. Because of opposition’s confrontation and the unyeilding demeanor of the government which has failed to deliver what it had pledged during 2018 elections, the poor people continue suffering economically to a larger extent. The government should rethink it’s course of actions against the opposition before the situation spirals out of control and focus on delivering what it had promised with people. riaz ahMad SooMro ShiKarpur

Highly condemnable MAULANA Mufti Mehmood and Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani were among the makers and signatories among others of the 1973 Constitution which continues to survive with the blessings of Almighty Allah despite number of attacks on it. But their sons Maunla Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Ovais Noorani are out their to indulge in anti-state hostile activities to destabilize Pakistan. Opposition undoubtedly has the democratic right to criticize the government but nobody including the opposition parties and their leaders are allowed to indulge any sort of antistate hostile activities thus strengthening the hands of anti-Pakistan foreign elements to continue harming and destabilizing Pakistan one way or the other. What is all the more condemnable, deplorable and regrettable is the bitter fact that when Ovais Noorani was raising anti-state slogans in the stage of the opposition public meeting in Quetta the other, neither Maulana Fazlur Rehman nor anyone else sitting on the staged stopped or snubbed him. They all should themselves be ashamed if at all they are sensible, reasonable and patriotic lot and extend apologies to the people of the country at large. It is a matter of record that the federal and provincial governments had provided all facilities and security to the opposition leaders for the public meeting. This was the most absolute misuse and abuse of the democratic right of the opposition to criticize the government, free expression and association to say the least, please. M z rifaT lahorE

08 WORLD VIEW

Why Trump is headed fOr defeaT IT'S TOO LATE FOR TRUMP TO LEARN FROM ERDOGAN & MODI, HIS FELLOW ELECTED DEMAGOGUES WHO CONTINUE TO WIN ELECTIONS DESPITE PRESIDING OVER MULTIPLE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DISASTERS

BlooMBerg PaNkaJ MisHra

OUR years after his shock victory, U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be running on empty. Opinion polls predict a win for former Vice President Joe Biden. In some Democratic circles, the word “landslide” is being jubilantly whispered. It seems that Trump is finally being judged on his performance, especially his calamitous response to the coronavirus pandemic. his Republican colleagues have begun to recoil from him. The president himself, already complaining about rigged elections, seems to be expecting defeat. And it is too late for him to learn from two of his fellow elected autocrats and demagogues — Turkish President Recep Tayyip erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — who continue to win elections despite presiding over multiple political and economic disasters. Two self-proclaimed outsiders to the political system, erdogan and Modi also rose to political power on the back of anger and disaffection with the establishments in their respective countries. Railing against the corruption and nepotism of local

elites, they endeared themselves to numerous left-behinds. Like Trump, they connected with the lived experience of millions of people — the feeling of being scorned as well as excluded by establishment politicians and the mainstream media. The biggest asset all three leaders had was this acute sense of reality. It allowed them to renew visions of national greatness, asserting that these could be realized once the old elites had been effectively sidelined. Unlike Trump, however, Modi and erdogan have diversified their means of self-perpetuation. For one, they have been far more successful than the U.S. president in forging new realities for their audiences through conspiracy theories and fake news, which has helped them avoid crushing judgment on their performances. They not only mastered digital technology and social media, they’ve managed to control the legacy media through a regime of intimidation that has silenced and marginalized critics. Though successful in packing the Supreme Court, and assured of stalwart support from Fox News, Trump could not begin to imitate Modi and erdogan’s long march through national institutions, from the education system and television channels to the military. even Republicans rallied relatively late around Trump. Modi and erdogan have long had dedicated ideological cadres

working for them. One sign of their success is that Modi even managed to benefit electorally from demonetization — his shock withdrawal from circulation of nearly all currency notes, which broke the back of the Indian economy long before the pandemic. having effectively created a whole new world of feeling and thinking, Modi convinced enough Indians that he had done the right thing in his pursuit of rich and corrupt elites. Though guilty of a botched lockdown in the early days of the pandemic, Modi’s hindu nationalist regime more recently dodged responsibility by blaming the virus on the handiwork of “corona-jihadists.” To the victims of his blunders, Modi invokes the hindu value of sacrifice, arguing that pain and privation are the price individuals pay for national greatness. erdogan’s persona as a faithful Muslim similarly helps many devout Turks identify with him. Trump confronts defeat partly because he can neither draw upon a spiritual and ethical tradition (as distinct from QAnon), nor appeal any longer to enlightened selfinterest. he loudly denounces China and rails against “cultural Marxists.” But menacing images of the internal and external enemy, indispensable to any demagogue, don’t seem to have become electorally consequential outside Trump’s base of white voters without college degrees.

Moreover, this base has shrunk in four years, part of a long-term demographic decline, and Trump has conspicuously failed to reach out to an expanding and politically significant demographic: minorities and college-educated white voters. In that sense, Modi and erdogan appear to have mastered the art of the deal better than Trump, continuously shoring up their power with canny coalitions. Though an avowed Islamist, erdogan is now allied with the secular and ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MhP). Modi has successfully expanded, often with the help of small regional parties and secular politicians, his influence in states where he previously had little presence. Modi and erdogan also continue to benefit from a fragmented opposition. Trump, on the other hand, has struggled against serious political and legal challenges right from the beginning of his term. With his manifold bungles, he has united a unique and formidable opposition against him, spanning several ethnic/racial groups and socio-economic classes, as well as ideologies ranging from the Green New Deal to the Lincoln Project. The malign energies of the far right that Trump unleashed won’t fade quickly. But Nov. 3 is likely to expose the extraordinarily narrow and rickety platform on which this very stable genius perched for four years.

Can journalism be saved? No country for old spooks BY 2018, GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK WERE SUCKING UP 58 PERCENT OF ALL DIGITAL ADVERTISING REVENUES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND 77 PERCENT IN LOCAL MARKETS, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Washington Monthly

Paul Glastris

he economic collapse of journalism in America is hard to exaggerate. Between 2004 and the end of 2019, about 2,100 newspapers—one in four—closed, according to a University of North Carolina study. While several hundred digital-only news sites sprung up during that period, they were far too few and small to fill the growing void. And that was before the pandemic decimated news outlets even further. The vibrancy of cable news networks and a few national publications—some, such as The Washington Post and The Atlantic, owned by billionaires—masks the broader catastrophe. The damage ranges from the shutting-down of quality national magazines like Governing and Pacific Standard to large layoffs at online outlets like BuzzFeed and VICe. But the greatest shrinkage is happening at the local level, among large metropolitan dailies, neighborhood and small-town weeklies, and outlets that have long covered Black, hispanic, and other minority and ethnic communities. As of last year, twothirds of counties in America lacked a local daily newspaper. half had only one newspaper, often just a weekly. And more than 200—mostly poor, rural counties—had none at all. Those news outlets that remain are often what are referred to as ghost papers, with few staff and little local reporting. (Local TV news has declined far less, but tends to cover stories that newspapers originate, and with less depth.) It is equally hard to exaggerate how destructive this decline has been to the fabric and functioning of American democracy. One study found that in communities where newspapers close and there are no reporters keeping an eye on the decisions of local officials, municipal government wages, deficits, and borrowing costs rise. Local news outlets tend to be far more trusted by readers on both sides of the political aisle than national publications. When they disappear, citizens turn to national news sources, often partisan ones, or rely on social media for information. The result is more party-line voting and small-town residents mobilizing against mythical antifa infiltrations. Indeed, as

this magazine has reported, the rise of authoritarian politics in America correlates to an alarming degree with the waning of local news. The decline of the journalism business is not being driven by a lack of interest in the news, which is robust, but by the collapse of the advertising-based model that has traditionally paid for news gathering. The problem began two decades ago, when papers started losing classified ads to digital sites like Craigslist and eBay. To compete, print outlets built extensive web operations to tap the growing digital advertising market—only to see that market cornered by two monopolistic tech platforms. By 2018, Google and Facebook were sucking up 58 percent of all digital advertising revenues at the national level, and 77 percent in local markets, according to The Wall Street Journal. While the problem of journalism’s economic decline, and its eroding effects on democracy, has been well documented, surprisingly little work has been done to sleuth out practical solutions—especially by journalists, who, one would think, would have a strong professional incentive to do so. (half of all newspaper jobs have disappeared since 2008, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, about the same rate of decline as in textile manufacturing.) Journalists, however, are understandably hesitant to consider fixes that might involve the use of government resources or power when it’s their job to hold the government accountable. The Washington Monthly is not so reluctant. In this issue, we identify and describe several ways government can be used to reinvigorate the economics of journalism without jeopardizing editorial independence—just as the Founding Fathers did when they created a postal system that subsidized the spread of newspapers in the first century of U.S. history. Steven Waldman makes the case that today, every American should receive a refundable tax credit for a local news subscription, membership, or donation to build a new era of what he calls “civic news.” Phillip Longman argues that journalism’s advertising-based business model can be revived using a combination of tougher privacy and anti-discrimination laws and a return to traditional standards of antitrust enforcement. These policy changes would not only recharge traditional news enterprises, they would also supercharge and protect the kinds of innovative new models we profile in this package. Anne Kim shows how journalists of color are diversifying media by forming their own outlets. Matt Connolly reports on promising early experiments with cooperatively owned business models for digital news media. And Grace Gedye investigates efforts by firms like Spotify to corner the podcasting market, one of the few product lines that bring in growing advertising dollars for independent media outlets. Any hope of reinforcing our wobbly democracy will require a free and energetic press. But for that to happen, all of us, including members of the fourth estate, will need to get over our reluctance to consider carefully using the power of democratic government to solve the press’s plight. Paul Glastris is the editor in chief of the Washington Monthly. he was an editor at the magazine from 1986 to 1988.

MoscoW tiMes

Mark Galeotti

N Oct. 22, one of the most powerful men most people haven’t heard of was forced to retire: General Sergei Smirnov, first deputy director of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The decision on who replaces him will probably set the tone for the service’s evolution in the remaining years of the Putin era, and the offhand way this veteran was dismissed may say something even about the Navalny case. Technically, Smirnov was 70 as of 10 days before, and thus had reached the age limit for service. Technically, any such retirement is marked by a dismissal decree from the president. (People often get excited and start talking about ‘purges’ when another such batch of dismissals appears.) however, it is possible for a well-regarded silovik to stay relevant longer. Indeed, Putin often seems to cling on to trusted underlings longer than they might like: evgeny Murov, former head of the Federal Protection Service (FSO) spent five years petitioning to retire before Putin agreed. It would have been possible to transfer Smirnov to the Security Council secretariat or other space in the Presidential Administration, and by some accounts, Smirnov himself had been petitioning for such a transfer. While it is still possible he will find some sinecure, at present this is a noteworthily blunt dismissal of a man who had become a pivotal figure within Russian security politics, and whose replacement will say much about their future direction. FIRST AMONG EQUALS: Sergei Mikhailovich Smirnov was a consummate security officer. Born in Chita in 1950, his family moved to Leningrad when he was a child. he later attended school alongside Boris Gryzlov and Nikolai Patrushev, respectively former interior minister and FSB director (and in Patrushev’s case, current Security Council secretary). In 1975, he joined the KGB and the early part of his career was spent in the Leningrad region KGB and then FSB. As such, while not a personal friend of Vladimir Putin’s, he was definitely one of his Leningrad security clique. When Putin was made director of the FSB in 1998, Patrushev became his deputy and Smirnov moved to Moscow. he quickly acquired one of the key positions within the agency: head of the Internal Security Directorate (UVB), the watchdogs’ watchdog. In 2000, he became a deputy director of the FSB, then after a brief stint as head of the St Petersburg FSB directorate, in 2003 he returned to Moscow as first deputy director. he had never really relinquished control over the UVB, but his remit now included a range of powerful directorates: Military Counterintelligence (UVKR), the economic Security Service (SeB) and the Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order (SZKSiBT). To put it very bluntly, SeB granted him massive opportunities for enrichment, SZKSiBT — as essentially the main weapon against any opposition to the Kremlin — gave him political muscle, and his grip on the UVB provided him with personal security. It is perhaps no wonder that he was considered the de facto second in command of the FSB, and would deputize for Director Alexander Bortnikov when he was out of the office. GROWING PRESSURE: That Smirnov would likely leave the FSB this year was anticipated, not just because of his age but his health. he had reportedly had a stroke, and was spending more time in FSB sanatoria and less in the Lubyanka. Predictable behind-the-scenes tussles had begun to replace him, or

at least cherry-pick from his portfolio. (UVKR, in fairness, is neither especially prestigious not lucrative.) Scandals and power struggles went together. SeB in particular was becoming more and more notorious, with a series of arrests of high-ranking officers on charges of corruption, money laundering, and extortion. Last year, Colonel Kirill Cherkalin of its Department K (responsible for the financial sector) was arrested and found to be in possession of 12 billion rubles ($157 million), suggesting he was in effect acting as an informal bank and clearing house for criminal proceeds. Cherkalin had long been one of Smirnov’s particular henchmen, which had allowed him to ignore the arrival of a new department head, Lt. General Ivan Tkachev. It is no coincidence that Smirnov was in hospital when Cherkalin was arrested. Smirnov came close to being dismissed then, not least as Bortnikov was trying to clean house within both the SeB and UVB, embarrassed by the extent to which they were also home to cliques of officers virtually on the payroll of powerful figures such as Igor Sechin. THE SUCCESSION: his survival then was to a large extent down to the lack of an obvious and above all uncontroversial successor. The front-runners such as SeB chief Colonel General Sergei Korolev, his deputy Lt. General Sergei Alpatov and Tkachev himself, all had detractors as powerful as allies. A war of gossip and leaks engulfed them all. Korolev was, his enemies claimed, cosy with the Tambovskaya crime group, and also linked to the powerful Rotenberg brothers. Alpatov’s track record of anti-corruption investigations — within the FSB, Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee — had won him public plaudits but a lot of private enemies. Tkachev was closely tied to Sechin, and especially since the Ulyukaev affair this is enough to rule him out for many. This matters especially given that Bortnikov himself hits the magic 70 threshold in November 2021, and so this appointment will inevitably also have a bearing on his succession. According to some accounts, a decision has been made and Putin actually plans to appoint someone from the FSO, both to break the deadlock and also in the hope that this helps re-establish greater control over an agency whose loyalty to the Kremlin seems increasingly secondary to its self-interest. There is even a suggestion that Bortnikov might directly be replaced by former FSO deputy chief Viktor Zolotov, currently head of the National Guard. This would be a controversial and worrying move to say the least — not least, within an FSB that looks down on him as a thuggish enforcer — and is probably unlikely. Nonetheless, that this is even being discussed, along with Zolotov’s appointment to head the new Rosgvardiya and the abortive attempt to make FSO bodyguard Alexei Dyumin head of the GRU (military intelligence), does demonstrate Putin’s continued reliance on his personal security guards as a cadre of trusted proxies. As the president himself seems more and more insulated from the day-to-day management of the country, and perhaps uncomfortable with the degree to which the wilfulness and greed of his elite is no longer a guarantee of their loyalty, he has to look more to his bodyguards, aides and bag-carriers for a new cadre of loyalists. Of course, they all live on a knifeedge, expected to take risks for the boss but, unlike his personal friends, disposable if they fail. Prof. Mark Galeotti is a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and an Honorary Professor at the UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies.

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

BUSINESS 09

CPEC invESToR CHina THREE GoRGES To LiST SuBSidiaRy on PSX

corporate corner

LAHORE

LAHORE: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) organized a Pink Walk to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle in lowering risk of breast cancer. The chief guest of the occasion was the First Lady of Pakistan Mrs Samina Alvi and the event was attended by the management of SKMCH&RC and senior consultants. PreSS releASe

LAHORE: NUR International University (NIU) Lahore organized Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness online seminar. The online seminar was arranged in collaboration with Higher Education Commission & Pink Ribbon Pakistan. The seminar was titled as ‘United against Breast Cancer’. PreSS releASe

Traders demand immediate reopening of Hafeez Centre LAHORE

TAIMOOr HASSAN

HINA Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited (CSAIL) is planning to list its subsidiary, renewable energy company Three Gorges First (TGF) Wind Farm Private (Pvt) Limited (Ltd), on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) by the second quarter of 2021, informed sources told Profit. This would be the first listing by a Chinese company on the PSX. Sources say that the listing of TGF, which is also a major investor in CPEC projects, would have been carried out in the second quarter of 2020, but owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent turmoil, the plans were moved forward. Now the company is poised to complete the listing by the second quarter of 2021. CSAIL is an investment holding company formed by state-owned China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) -- the largest Chinese clean energy group and the world’s largest hydropower group in terms of owned and equity-based installed capacity worldwide -- and CTG’s subsidiary China Three Gorges International Corporation (CTGI). CSAIL had been formed to invest in clean energy projects in the South Asian region with a current focus on Pakistan. The mandate of CSAIL includes but is not limited to acquisition, development, construction, owning and operating renewable energy projects. The shareholders of CSAIL include International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group and Silk Road Fund (SRF) – a Chinese sovereign wealth fund. The company [CSAIL] has six standalone energy projects in Pakistan, four under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and two independent

Trade organisations on Tuesday demanded the reopening of Hafeez Centre, a major business hub of the provincial capital that has been sealed by the district administration owing to the recent fire incident. The plaza has now been closed for the past 10 days. Khalid Shafiq, a trader at the plaza, informed that Hafeez Centre had a daily turnover of Rs150 to Rs200 million. "We are extremely worried about the damage caused by the fire, as our businesses have come to a standstill. In these trying times, was closure of the market the only solution?" Shafiq asked, lamenting that instead of giving relief to traders, the administration close to close their businesses. Hafiz Zaheer Madani, a shopkeeper who buys and sells mobile accessories and repairs mobile phones, said he had been unemployed for the last 10 days. "Although the plaza was inspected thoroughly by the government, they did not inform when the NOC would be issued for the resumption of businesses." Meanwhile, officials of Khidmat Group, an organisation of traders, demanded the immediate reopening of Hafeez Centre as traders could not rely on the "government's speed" of sorting out issues. They were of the view that the closure of the entire plaza was unnecessary since 80pc of the building - basement and first floor - remained safe during the fire. The plaza should be surveyed by experts and an NOC be issued at the earliest, they demanded. On the other hand, the Punjab government has decided to take stern actions against those who do not install fire hydrants inside and outside highrise buildings. Sources in the Punjab Home Department informed that during the sixth meeting of the Punjab Emergency Council (PEC), it was decided that fire hydrants would have to be installed inside and outside newly constructed commercial buildings across the province, including Lahore. It was further decided that the government would not approve any building plan that lacks the installation of fire hydrants.

[non-CPEC]. The CPEC projects of the company include two large hydropower projects, the 1,100MW Kohala Hydropower Project and the 720MW Karot Hydropower Project, both located on Jhelum River, and two wind power projects that include 100MW Three Gorges Second and Third Wind Power Projects. The non-CPEC projects of CSAIL include the aforementioned Three Gorges First Wind Farm and 640MW Mahl Hydropower Project, also located on Jhelum River. The company is also in the process of constructing a solar hybrid power project. The 49.50MW TGF, worth an estimated $120 million, is 75pc debt and 25pc equity financed. It is the first wind project developed by CSAIL and is located near Jhimpir village in Thatta district of Sindh. The project began commercial operations on November 25, 2014, and started supplying the electricity to the national grid of Pakistan. Profit has learnt that through the listing in Pakistan, CSAIL wants to do capacity building of its management team for the larger listing of CSAIL on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that had been announced last year. But more importantly, sources disclosed that the main objective of making TGF public is that the Chi-

ECC urged to approve Rs190m TSG for survey of coastal areas ISLAMABAD

SHAHAB OMer

WITH THE LISTING, THE CHINESE WANT TO IMPRESS UPON THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE READY TO SHARE BENEFITS OF THEIR PROJECTS WITH PEOPLE OF COUNTRIES THEY ARE INVESTING IN

SHAHZAD PArACHA

The Ministry of Maritimes Affairs has requested the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to approve a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs190 million for the survey of coastal areas. Earlier in July 2020, the prime minister had directed the maritime affairs ministry to submit a summary to the ECC for approval of TSG for the survey of coastal areas. In addition, the PM had also constituted an Antismuggling Steering Committee (ASSC), under the co-convenorship of the interior and maritime affairs ministers. Meanwhile, PM Imran had approved in-principle a proposal of the Pakistan Army to assist the Ministry of Maritime Affairs in survey of coastal areas. He had directed the officials concerned to

work out the details, in consultation with respective stakeholders, and send separate summaries to the PM's Office to determine the cost of coastal area survey. It may be noted that the Finance Division had already allocated an amount of Rs1,157 million to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for the financial year 2020-21 -- this does not include the cost of 'hydrographic survey' amounting to Rs190.47 million. The budgetary amount had been distributed among all units of this ministry as per their approved budget ceiling. Accordingly, the Finance Division was requested to allocate the requisite funds over and above the budget estimate 2020-21, as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs had no extra funds to finance the survey of the coastal areas. Subsequently, the Finance Division informed that the re-

quest for allocation of additional funds was being considered "but the same cannot be processed at this belated stage since the budgetary process for allocation of funds has already been completed and approved by the National Assembly". Considering the strategic significance being accorded to the survey of coastal areas as a vital component of the anti-smuggling directives, a summary was moved on 18th Sept, requesting the PM to direct the Finance Division release Rs190.47 million in favour of Maritime Affairs Division for its onward transmission to the Ministry of Defence. Sources said that a special ECC meeting would be held on Wednesday (tomorrow) under the chairmanship of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Hafeez Shaikh to consider this summary apart from four other items.

Rupee gains as dollar falls to Rs160.9 ISLAMABAD: The exchange rate of Pakistani Rupee strengthened by 14 paisas against US Dollar in the interbank market on Tuesday, ending at Rs160.91 compared with the previous closing at 161.05. Meanwhile, according to Forex Association of Pakistan, the buying and selling rates of dollar in the open market were recorded at Rs160.3 and Rs161, respectively. In interbank trading, the price of euro depreciated by 57 paisas and closed at Rs189.87 against the previous closing at Rs190.44. The value of Japanese Yen remained unchanged at Rs1.53, whereas a decrease of 29 paisas was witnessed in the exchange rate of British Pound, which was traded at Rs209.25 as compared to yesterday’s closing at Rs209.54. APP

nese government wants to dispel the impression that they overload countries with debt only. The listing will convey a message that the country [China] is willing to share benefits of the projects with the people of the countries it is investing in. Therefore, the listing is not going to be an IPO to raise funds from the public, but an offer-for-sale (OFS) to make the general public [if Pakistan] shareholders in the project and earn stable returns. Three Gorges First Wind Farm project is operating and ongoing, giving returns. The agreement of the project is for 25 years and debt servicing and other components of the project are being recovered in the form of the tariff agreed with the Government of Pakistan. The debt payoff period is 10 years and the project will remain in operation for another 15 years, giving stable returns. Experts believe that the listing is going to be significant for Pakistan as it will open avenues for similar listings in the future. “It is an infrastructure play and that speaks volume,” said KASB Securities Managing Director Arsalan Asif Soomro. “Secondly, if the precedent is set and the market reacts positively, that would be very handy for the government. We might be able to see a lot of government infrastructure projects of similar nature being listed eventually on the exchange,” he added. “This listing will increase the breadth and options of the stock market,” Soomro told this scribe. “The listing is going to be a positive development for Pakistan and will strengthen investor confidence. More such listings can be expected if this one goes well and that would augur well for the stock market and eventually the country,” said Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Assistant Vice President of Research Adnan Sami Sheikh.

FFBL posts Rs3.3bn profit for July-Sept quarter LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI

The Board of Directors of Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Limited (FFBL) met on Tuesday to review the company’s performance and announce its financial results for the quarter ended September 30. According to details, the fertiliser manufacturer recorded a net profit after tax of Rs3.3 billion for July-Sept 2020 (earnings per share: Rs3.54), as opposed to a loss of Rs1.2 billion in Apr-June 2020 (loss per share: Rs1.24). On a cumulative basis, the company recorded a net loss after tax (NLAT) of Rs901 million for JanSept 2020 (LPS: Rs0.97) as against NLAT of Rs2.4 billion (LPS: Rs2.59) in the same period last year. Ailia Naeem, a senior research analyst at AKD Securities Limited, said that the company’s 3Q earnings beat AKD’s expectation thanks to higher than expected “other income” of Rs2.5 billion (EPS impact: Rs2.28), which was due to dividend income from power subsidiaries during the quarter. Barring the impact of other income, core earnings also posted a turnaround in 3Q, clocking in at Rs1.22 per share against the core loss of Rs2.49/2.37 per share in 2QCY20/3QCY19, she added. Naeem maintained that the turnaround in core earnings came on the back of (i) 14/65pc YoY/QoQ increase in topline, courtesy 22pc/115pc YoY/QoQ uptick in DAP offtake, (ii) 5.4/3.0 ppt YoY/QoQ increase in GMs to 15.7pc, courtesy DAP price hike and GIDC elimination and (iii) 43/33pc YoY/QoQ decline in finance cost, amid a decline in interest rates. During Jan-Sept 2020, a 2.4pc YoY higher “other expenses” overshadowed improvement in core business dynamics, dragging down the cumulative earnings for the period. “We currently have a buy call on the scrip with a TP of Rs30.0/share, implying an upside of 26pc at last close,” she said. FFBL has recently announced the right issue of Rs5 billion amidst GIDC payment of Rs22 billion over the next two years, where the sell-off of wind power subsidiary could also provide support to FFBL’s liquidity situation.

MARKET DAILY

Bears make a comeback as KSE-100 loses 468 points KARACHI STAFF rePOrT

Bears dominated the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, with the indices shedding gains accumulated in the previous session amid buying activity. Global equity markets also showed a negative trend, whereas crude oil prices moved north from the previous close; WTI crude price appreciating 1.27pc to $39.02 while Brent crude price rising 1.13pc to $41.27. "PSX opened on a positive note but following the announcement of PSO's financial

results, the market discounted the earnings' growth and investors resorted to profit booking, which brought down the index down significantly," said a report issued by AHL Ltd. "Besides the deteriorating law and order situation and rise in Covid cases, investors took cue from overnight decline in international stock and commodity markets, which saw an average attrition of 2.5pc." The benchmark KSE-100 Index remained in the red for almost the entire session, registering its intraday low at 41,327.72 after losing 522.75 points. It settled lower by 468.64 points at 41,381.83.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index plunged 1,000.45 points to end at 66,394.17, while the KSE All Share Index dropped 326.05 points, closing at 29,113.46. The overall market volumes fell from 487.12 million shares in the previous session to 481.02 million shares (-1pc). Average traded value, however, declined by 14pc, from $133 million to $114.5 million. Unity Foods Ltd (UNITY +4.75pc), Power Cement Ltd (POWER -0.87pc) and Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Ltd (FFBL +4.30pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 77.19 million, 33.04 million and 31.34 million shares, respectively.

CMYK

Sectors that dragged the benchmark index lower included banking (-138.79 points), cement (-90.28 points) and oil & gas exploration (-62.75 points). Among the companies, Habib Bank Ltd (HBL -60.28 points), Bank AL Habib Ltd (BAHL -46.29 points) and Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd (PSO 33.29 points) dented the index the most. Shedding 2.04pc from its cumulative market capitalization, the cement sector ended as the session’s top loser, with DG Khan Cement Company Ltd (DGKC -2.35pc), Bestway Cement Company Ltd (BWCL -2.54pc) and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF

-3.03pc) posting significant losses. On the financial side, Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd (PSO -3.27pc) announced earnings per share of Rs10.96 for the first quarter of FY21 (Rs7.52 last year); Mughal Iron and Steel Industries Ltd (MUGHAL 3.80pc) declared an EPS of Rs1.40 for 1QFY21 (Rs1.05 last year); Sazgar Engineering Works Ltd (SAZEW -1.68pc) recorded an EPS of Rs0.61 for 1QFY21 (Rs0.28 last year); whereas Pakistan Suzuki Motors Company Ltd (PSMC -0.63pc) published an loss per share of Rs1.66 for 3QFY20 (Rs14.11 last year).

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS TRUmP, BiDen vie foR voTeS in BaTTleGRoUnD PennSylvania aS eleCTion neaRS MARTINSBURG

agencies

ITH eight days to go until the US election, President Donald Trump addressed boisterous rallies in Pennsylvania on Monday, while Democrat Joe Biden made a low-key appearance in the state considered crucial to the chances of victory for both men. “We win Pennsylvania, we win the whole ballgame,” Trump told a rally in Martinsburg, his third and final event of the day, as he predicted a win in the state despite trailing Biden in most opinion polls. Biden made a small-scale appearance in the city of Chester, near Philadelphia, meeting with about a dozen campaign volunteers and speaking with reporters. Biden said he was “not overconfident about anything” and “with the grace of God” he would win Pennsylvania, the state where he was born. “I think we’re going to win Michigan, I think we’re going to win Wisconsin. I think we’re going to win Minnesota. I think we have a fighting chance in Ohio. I think we have a fighting chance in North Carolina. We have a fighting chance in Georgia,” Biden added, referring to other election battleground states. Biden also stepped up his criticism of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 225,000 people in the United States, saying: “The bottom line is, Donald Trump is the worst possible president, the worst possible person to lead us through this pandemic.” Surging coronavirus cases in many parts of the country have dominated the campaign, along with news of a COVID-19 outbreak within Vice President Mike Pence’s staff. Pence, who campaigned in Minnesota, tested negative for the coronavirus on Monday, his office said, after multiple senior aides tested positive over the weekend.

In a case over Wisconsin’s election procedures, the US Supreme Court on Monday rejected on a 5-3 vote an effort by Democrats to allow officials in the state to count mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day, Nov 3, that arrive up to six days later. The action by the high court’s conservative majority keeps in place a state policy that mail-in ballots must be in the hands of Wisconsin election officials by the close of polls. Returning to the White House from Pennsylvania, Trump tweeted: “Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA. Must have final total on November 3rd.” He provided no evidence for his assertion. Experts say, however, it may take days or even weeks to process the huge number of mail-in ballots, spurred by voters seeking to avoid crowded polling stations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 42.7 million Americans have already voted by mail, part of the more than 63.6 million who have cast ballots ahead of the election, a record-breaking pace that could lead to the highest US voter turnout by percentage in more than a century. HEAVILY COURTED: Despite Biden’s solid lead in national opinion polls, the contest appears tighter in the most critical battleground states that could decide the outcome. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from Oct. 20 to 26 gave Biden a narrow advantage over Trump in Pennsylvania. A state where a majority of voters can swing toward either major party, Pennsylvania has been heavily courted with frequent visits by both candidates. Trump went from Allentown to Lititz and then finally to Martinsburg, all towns outside the large suburban hubs where the race may be decided. Trump also planned multiple stops in Michigan and Wisconsin this week, as well as visits to Arizona, Nebraska and Nevada. Trump told reporters he expected to win

Pennsylvania by a larger margin than the 0.72% victory he achieved in defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. Addressing supporters, Trump touched on what he called “an existential” issue for Pennsylvania, Biden’s comment during last week’s presidential debate that if elected he would “transition” the United States away from oil and natural gas. “He wants to go with windmills that are made in Germany and China,” Trump said, adding: “Biden’s plan is an economic death sentence for Pennsylvania’s energy sector.” In Chester, Biden defended his stance, saying: “I’m not shutting down oilfields. I’m not eliminating fracking. I’m investing in clean energy.” Biden previously said the country should eventually replace oil with solar, wind and other forms of non-polluting power, adding that his plan for a more climatefriendly economy would create high-paying jobs and boost US businesses. PANDEMIC POLITICS: Record numbers of new US Covid-19 cases in recent days have offered Biden’s campaign a chance to remind voters of how Trump and his allies have played down the advice of public health experts to wear masks and observe social-distancing guidelines to battle the pandemic. Trump again asserted that his administration was “doing a great job” against the pandemic and that the United States was “absolutely rounding the corner.” He accused Biden of wanting to return to widespread lockdowns that he said would harm the economy. Trump also won cheers from supporters when he touted his nomination of conservative appellate judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “to defend our God-given freedoms.” The Republican-led Senate confirmed Barrett to the lifetime job on Monday by 5248, with all Democrats opposed. She was sworn in at an evening ceremony at the White House, meeting Trump’s goal of having her in place before the election.

Thai protesters shun parliament, ask Germany to probe king BANGKOK: Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand have expanded their protests internationally, marching to the German Embassy to appeal to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to investigate whether Thailand’s king has exercised political power during his extended stays in Bavaria. The protesters acted while criticizing their own Parliament, which began a special two-day session earlier Monday to address political tensions resulting from the near-daily pro-democracy protests demanding the prime minister’s resignation, constitutional changes and reforms to the monarchy. They believe the king wields an inordinate amount of power in what is nominally a democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The scrutiny and public criticism of the monarchy displayed by some of the protesters is unprecedented in a country where the royal institution has been considered sacrosanct. It has also led royalists to stage counter-rallies and to denounce the protesters for raising the issue, increasing the risk of confrontation. The protesters, estimated by an Associated Press journalist to number between 5,000 and 10,000, defied police warnings that they constituted an illegal assembly and marched to the embassy in an effort to bring attention to the time King Maha Vajiralongkorn spends in Germany. The king in recent weeks has been in Thailand with a busy schedule of ceremonial events. A statement from the protest group said they presented a letter to embassy officials asking that Germany investigate whether the king “has conducted Thai politics using his royal prerogative from German soil or not.” It said such action could be considered a violation of Germany’s territorial sovereignty, and suggested that its government consider the protesters’ request with the aim of bringing the king back to Thailand to restore the country “to the path of the truthful constitutional monarchy.” In addition to asking whether the king is carrying out his official royal duties in Germany, the letter provocatively echoed points on which the protesters have previously criticized the king. Germany is seen as receptive to their entreaties. The German government already brought up the issue in early October, when Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, responding to a question in Parliament, expressed concern over any political activities the king might be conducting in the country. agencies

US State Department approves $2.4 billion more in potential arms sales to Taiwan: Pentagon WASHINGTON: The US State Department has approved the potential sale of 100 Boeing-made Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems to Taiwan in a deal that has a potential value of up to $2.37 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday. The move comes days after the State Department approved the potential sale of three other weapons systems to Taiwan, including sensors, missiles and artillery that could have a total value of $1.8 billion, prompting a sanctions threat from China. China will impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense, Raytheon and other US companies it says are involved in Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Monday. “We deplore Beijing’s efforts to retaliate against [the] US and foreign companies for their sales that support Taiwan’s legitimate self-defense requirements,” US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Monday’s formal notifications to Congress by the State Department covered the proposed sale of up to 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS), which includes 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Surface Launched Missiles to serve as coastal defense cruise missiles. Taiwan said the arms sales showed the island’s defense was of “great importance” to the US government. “Facing China’s military expansion and provocation, Taiwan will continue to enhance the modernization of defense capacity and speed up asymmetric warfare capabilities,” it said in a statement. The State Department sent notifications to Capitol Hill last week for the first tranche of arms sales including truck-based rocket launchers made by Lockheed, Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles and related equipment made by Boeing Co, and external sensor pods for F-16 jets. agencies

Philippines seeks G2G deal for coronavirus vaccine with China or Russia: Duterte MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would pursue a direct government-to-government (G2G) deal for a coronavirus vaccine with either China or Russia, warning that ‘corrupt’ private suppliers could try to swindle his country. “Let me tell everybody that we will not beg, we will pay,” Duterte said in a televised address on Monday night, adding that while Manila is not seeking charity it also aims to sign a direct government-to-government deal without intermediaries. The president did not indicate the status of vaccine negotiations with Beijing or Moscow, saying he merely mentioned the two countries as possible sources out of a “sense of urgency,” and that “all options” were still on the table. Duterte stressed the need to obtain an inoculation directly from a friendly foreign state, rather than a private business, warning that such transactions could only bring “trouble” and that a government deal would mean “no corruption.” agencies

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

SoUTh AfricA plAn firST crickeT ToUr of pAkiSTAn in 12 yeArS

AGENCIES

RICKET South Africa (CSA) announced on Tuesday it will send a security assessment delegation to Pakistan this weekend with a view to playing in the country in early 2021. If the tour goes ahead it will be South Africa’s first visit to Pakistan since 2007/08. Two subsequent “away” tours were staged in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns following a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. No details of the planned fixtures were revealed but according to the International Cricket Council’s future tours programme,

South Africa are due to play in two world Test championship matches as well as

Solsjkaer adamant Van de Beek has ‘big part’ to play at Man Utd AGENCIES Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Donny van de Beek will play a “big, big part this year” despite a restricted role since his pre-season arrival at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined from Dutch giants Ajax for an initial 39 million euro (£34.1 million) fee, has started more matches for the Netherlands than United since his transfer, making just five appearances off the bench as well as two starts in the League Cup. But Solsjkaer, himself a former United striker, said Tuesday that Van de Beek would become more involved as the season went on. “When players come into a new league, a new team, it’s always going to be a time of (transition),” Solskjaer said Tuesday during his pre-match press conference ahead of a Champions League group game at home to Germany’s RB Leipzig. “When Donny has played, he’s played really well.” United have failed to win any of their opening three home Premier League matches this season but a 4-1 victory at Newcastle followed by an impressive 2-1 away win against Paris Saint-Germain in a European opener eased the pressure on Norwegian boss Solskjaer. A goalless draw against Chelsea last weekend meant United, now in a lowly 15th place in English football’s top flight, had still to win a home league match this season. Solskjaer reckoned talk about Van de Beek’s relative lack of game time was just another chance for pundits to criticise United. “At the moment, I realise the topic is Donny van de Beek and it’s nice for some players or commentators to have a little go,” he said. “I know that you (the media)’re short for time when you’re on telly (television) and you have to put your points across very quickly, but you have to know that you don’t have to start the first three games to be a very important player in the squad.”

three Twenty20 internationals in January and February. Tuesday’s announcement confirmed South Africa will host Sri Lanka in two world Test championship matches over the local summer holiday period. The first Test will be in Centurion from December 26 to 30 and the second Test will be in Johannesburg from January 3 to 7. After the CSA’s entire board resigned on Monday, acting chief executive Kugandrie Govender said the matches against Sri Lanka, like those for the upcoming whiteball series against England, would be played without spectators because of Covid-19 restrictions. On their previous visit to South Africa in 2018-19, Sri Lanka gained an upset 2-0

series win — the first by an Asian team in a Test series in South Africa. CSA also announced Australia would visit South Africa for three world Test championship matches in March and April 2021, to be followed by Pakistan, who will play three one-day internationals and three T20 internationals. Dates for these tours will be announced later. It was previously announced South Africa will host England in three T20 and three one-day internationals in Cape Town and Paarl between November 27 and December 9. The South African men’s team has not been in action since a one-day tour of India was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

‘Wait and see’: Ronaldo doubt for Messi Champions League showdown AGENCIES Cristiano Ronaldo remains uncertain to take on Lionel Messi’s Barcelona on Wednesday as he recovers from coronavirus, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said on the eve of the match in Turin. Ronaldo tested positive for Covid19 two weeks ago while playing with Portugal, and has been in self-isolation since returning to Italy. “Ronaldo had a test like everyone else, this evening (Tuesday) we will have the definitive result,” Pirlo told a press conference in Turin before the Champions League Group G game. “For now it’s all on the high seas, when the final result comes everything will be clearer.” According to UEFA rules the 35year-old Ronaldo will need to test negative late on Tuesday, 24 hours before being allowed to feature. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning we will count the number of players available,” continued Pirlo. “Depending on the result, we’ll see what we do. It’s not easy to play an en-

tire game after 15 days of inactivity.” Ronaldo, who has no symptoms, has missed three games including his side’s 2-0 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev last week. The clash would be the first between Ronaldo and Messi since the Portugal forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018. “For 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have done great things,” said former Italy and Juventus midfielder Pirlo. “For the first time, I’ll be taking on Messi as a coach, I’ll treat him with the enormous respect that he deserves.” ‘NOT A DECISIVE GAME’: Messi, 33, has featured in four victorious campaigns for Barcelona, while Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, four with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United. Messi has six Ballon d’Or titles with Ronaldo claiming five. However Ronaldo has 130 Champions league goals to Messi’s 116. “It’s clear that any team would miss a player like Cristiano,” said Brazil defender Danilo at the pre-match press conference.

“But we have faith in every player on the team. We have people who want to do well and help us have a great match.” Messi has won 16 of their 35 encounters to Ronaldo’s 10, with the remaining nine ending in draws. The pair have only met five times in Champions League games, most recently in the semi-final in 2011. Pirlo has defensive worries with captain Giorgio Chiellini, and Matthijs De Ligt out but fellow centreback Leonardo Bonucci’s thigh strain will be evaluated on Wednesday morning. “These are the matches that everyone would like to play. We have this opportunity and we can’t wait to test ourselves against Barcelona,” said Pirlo. “It’s not a decisive game, but we still want to see what our value is.” Argentina forward Paulo Dybala remains “a bit tired” after playing for 90 minutes in his first match in over three months last Sunday against Verona. “It’s normal after the first game as a starter. He’ll have time to recover and play tomorrow night.”

Pakistan, Zimbabwe squads get all clear after Covid-19 tests RAWALPINDI AGENCIES

All 107 Covid-19 tests conducted on Zimbabwe and Pakistan players, support staff and match officials have returned negative ahead of the limited-overs series starting later this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board said

Tuesday. The tests were conducted Monday as part of the board’s Covid-19 protocols for the bilateral series. All players, officials and staff have moved into a hub in a five-star hotel in Islamabad, the PCB said, and “are now allowed to interact with each other and move freely within the bio-secure bub-

ble.” Both teams will start training Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which will host the three ODIs and three T20 internationals. The series begins with a one-dayer on Friday. Lahore was originally scheduled to host the T20 series but those matches were shifted because of expected smog next month.

SPORTS 11

Tokyo 2020 organisers weigh virus control centre for Games TOKYO AGENCIES

Tokyo 2020 organisers and Japanese officials said Tuesday they may set up an infectious disease control centre at next year’s pandemicpostponed Games, as they debate how to hold the event safely. The tentatively named Organising Committee Infectious Disease Control Centre would coordinate the mammoth task of testing and tracing infections and organising isolation and treatment of anyone with the virus. “During the Games, it would have the function of coordinating and driving anti-infection measures in cooperation with local health and hygiene centres and a general infirmary at the athletes’ village,” Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto told reporters. He spoke after a meeting of a taskforce grouping Tokyo 2020 organisers, city officials and government representatives. The taskforce has been charged with developing guidelines for safely holding the massive international event next year, potentially with the pandemic continuing to rage around the world. Tuesday’s meeting focused on health and hygiene measures for athletes, support staff, spectators and media. The group proposed a health centre dedicated to testing and treating virus cases, including a fever clinic and testing hub, staffed by medical experts and separate from city clinics and hospitals. The 2020 Games were delayed as Covid-19 spread globally, and are now set to open on July 23, 2021. With many countries experiencing worsening waves of infection, there have been doubts about whether the Games can be staged — but organisers and Olympic officials insist it can be done safely. Documents released after Tuesday’s meeting showed organisers are also considering a range of additional measures on the health front, including setting aside accommodation for athletes with asymptomatic infections, and designating external hospitals for treatment of serious cases. Many questions remain unanswered, including how to handle asymptomatic cases, and whether those in close contact with infected people will be barred from training and events. The taskforce proposed a series of conduct guidelines, including a ban on highfives and handshakes, with the possibility of rules to govern athletes’ behaviour during “on and off-duty hours”. The taskforce has already discussed a range of other measures including limiting movement of athletes and designating transport routes to limit their contact and exposure. Quarantine periods for athletes could also be waived if certain guidelines are observed. No final decision on which measures will be implemented is expected until the first part of 2021. Organisers have said however that a vaccine will not be a requirement for holding the Games, and that a further postponement is not on the table.

Motor racing: Hamilton’s future comes more into focus after record win AGENCIES Mercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff jokingly suggested he would have to sell the factory to keep Lewis Hamilton after the Briton’s record 92nd career win in Portugal on Sunday. Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year, by which time the 35-year-old is likely to have won a record-equalling seventh championship and rank as the most successful driver in the history of the sport. He and Wolff have yet to sit down and hammer out the details of a new deal in a season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic but time is pushing on. “It’s huge. We have to sell plenty of inventory. Sell a leaseback of the buildings and just come up with the money,” said Wolff when asked about the contract implications of the victory. The reality is less drastic, with both sides keen to stay together and set more records in a sport they have dominated since the start of the V6 turbo hybrid era

in 2014. If Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record 91 wins once seemed an impossible target, Hamilton now looks likely to go well beyond 100 with an eighth title also no longer in the realms of fantasy. “In 10 or 20 years we’re going to look back and really acknowledge what a special driver he was,” said Wolff. Mercedes, meanwhile, are on the brink of becoming the first team to win seven successive constructors’ titles. Hamilton, who has been with Mercedes since 2013, already earns a reported 40 million pounds ($52 million) a year but the pandemic has changed the financial landscape for even the biggest companies. The champion knows no other team can give him what he wants, and no other team will feel like family in the way Mercedes does. “I don’t think I’m at my peak. I’m in a good area for sure but I still want to continue to race. I don’t know how much longer that will be,” the 35-year-old told

Sky Sports television. “This is a period of time where I’ve got to slowly work out what the future holds. “All I can say is I plan to be here next year.” Hamilton’s contract talks have always been something of a saga and this time he has also wanted to be sure of where Wolff’s future lies. The Austrian, a shareholder in the team, said he and Daimler boss Ola Kaellenius had agreed “to continue with each other”. “Where we stand today is that everybody has the will to continue,” Wolff told reporters by video conference. “With Lewis and I it is simply that we are living like hermits and I think our team is particularly disciplined ...I was in Monaco last week but we decided not to meet because the worst that could happen is me dragging corona into our meetings. “It simply wasn’t the time to sit down and meet. I hope we can finish the next couple of races on a high and then concentrate on the contract.”

CMYK

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

PrAyEr TImINGS

NEWS

us warns of threat Posed by China, signs military PaCt with india FO SAYS INDIAN ACTIONS WILL HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN SOUTH ASIA NEW DELHI

the free world,” Pompeo told reporters after the talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. “Our leaders, and our citizens, see with increasing clarity that the Chinese Communist Party is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency, nor to freedom of navigation, the foundation of a free and open, prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Pompeo said. The new defence pact — the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation — was a “significant milestone” that would foster cooperation between the militaries of both countries, Esper told the news conference. The US planned to sell more fighter planes and drones to India, Esper added. The pact will give India access to a range of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data that is considered vital for targeting of missiles and armed drones. It would also allow the United States to

AGENCIES

HE United States and India signed a pact to share sensitive satellite and map data on Tuesday as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of the threat posed by an increasingly assertive China. Pompeo, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday along with Defence Secretary Mark Esper, said after talks with their Indian counterparts that the two countries had to work together to confront the threat China posed to security and freedom. The annual US-India strategic dialogue comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, with Indian troops confronting Chinese forces on their disputed Himalayan border. “Big things are happening as our democracies align to better protect the citizens of our two countries and indeed, of

iranian oil minister terms sanctions a reaction to us policy failure TEHRAN: Iranian Oil Minister said that imposition of sanctions is a passive reaction to the failure of Washington’s policy of reducing (Iran’s) crude oil exports to zero, local media reported. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh made the remarks on Tuesday in a reaction to a hostile move taken by the United States in imposition of sanctions against him and organizations relevant to the Iranian oil industry and added, “Imposition of sanctions on me and my colleagues is a passive reaction to the failure of Washington’s policy of reducing (Iran’s) crude oil exports to zero.” “The era of unilateralism is over in the world. Iran’s oil industry will not be hamstrung,” he tweeted. Last night, the US Department of Treasury added several Iranian individuals and entities to its sanctions list whose names are as follows, Iranian Minister of Oil Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Masoud Karbasian, CEO of National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) Alireza Sadeghabadi, CEO of National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Behzad Mohammadi and CEO of NIKOO Company Ali Akbar Pour-Ebrahim. AGENCIES

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

329,375

provide advanced navigational aids and avionics on US-supplied aircraft to India, an Indian defence source said. India’s acquisition of weapons threatens regional peace Following news of the military pact’s signing, Pakistan warned that the “provision of advanced military hardware, technologies and knowledge to India” can threaten regional stability and peace. In response to a question pertaining to the Beca agreement, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Pakistan had “taken note” of the signing. “India’s massive acquisition of armaments and expansion of its nuclear forces, including introduction of new destabilising weapon systems, are developments with serious repercussions for peace and stability in South Asia,” he said in a statement. He added that recent missile tests conducted by India are a “manifestation of dangerous Indian conventional and nuclear military build-up”. ‘HARPING ON’: US President Donald Trump has made being tough on China a key part of his campaign to secure a second term in next week’s presidential election and Pompeo has been trying to bolster allies to counter China’s growing influence

in the region. China dismissed Pompeo’s accusations. “We urge Pompeo to abandon his Cold War mentality, zero-sum mindset, and stop harping on the ‘China threat’,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing in Beijing earlier on Tuesday. India has its own problems with China. On June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops on their high-altitude border, hardening the mood in India against China and driving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to seek closer military ties with the US. Jaishankar did not refer directly to China in his comments at the news conference but hailed “national security convergences” with the United States and their determination to tackle security and counter-terrorism issues and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This month, India invited Australia to join naval drills it holds each year with the US and Japan, brushing off Chinese concerns that the exercises destabilise the region. Pompeo and Esper met Modi earlier on Tuesday for talks that included regional stability, a US government spokesman said.

Child malnutrition reaches new highs in Yemen: UN NEW YORK AGENCIES

Parts of Yemen are seeing their highest levels of acute malnutrition in children, heightening warnings that the country is approaching a dire food security crisis, the United Nations said in a report. Drivers of malnutrition in Yemen worsened in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic, economic decline, floods, escalating conflict and significant underfunding of this year’s aid response have compounded an already bleak hunger situation after nearly six years

of war. “We’ve been warning since July that Yemen is on the brink of a catastrophic food security crisis. If the war doesn’t end now, we are nearing an irreversible situation and risk losing an entire generation of Yemen’s young children,” said Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen. According to a UN Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) malnutrition analysis of south Yemen, acute malnutrition cases in children aged below five have increased about 10 percent in 2020 to more than half a million. Cases of children with severe

acute malnutrition rose 15.5 percent, and at least a quarter-million pregnant or breastfeeding women also need malnutrition treatment. About 1.4 million children below five live in south Yemen, which is under the control of the internationally recognised government. The IPC data for north Yemen, which is controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters, is not yet available. Famine has never been officially declared in Yemen. The UN says the country is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80 percent of the population reliant on humanitarian aid.

Rising infections may delay oil recovery: OPEC chief VIENNA TLTP

OPEC’s secretary general said an oil market recovery may take longer than hoped as coronavirus inflections rise around the world, and OPEC and its allies would “stay the course” in balancing the market. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia made a record oil output cut in April as the pandemic hit demand. They are scheduled to increase output in January as part of a gradual easing of supply curbs. OPEC’s Mohammad Barkindo, asked at the virtual India Energy Forum by CERAWeek if the second wave of the virus required any changes to OPEC+ strategy, said

hopes earlier this year of a demand rebound had been disappointed. “We were hopeful the second half of 2020 would begin to see a recovery,” Barkindo said. “Unfortunately, both the economic growth and demand recovery remain anaemic at the moment due largely to the virus.” “We remain cautiously optimistic that the recovery will continue. It may take longer, maybe at lower levels, but we are determined to stay the course,” Barkindo added. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking last Thursday, did not rule out extending the oil cuts for longer if market conditions warranted. Barkindo said producers did not expect a renewed oil-price collapse as seen in the second quarter, when oil hit historic lows with U.S. crude briefly trading in negative territory.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:54

11:46

3:39

6:16

5:17

6:39

taliban attaCk near base in khost kills 3, injures 30 KABUL: At least three people were killed on Tuesday when Taliban launched a coordinated attack against a police base in eastern Khost province, Afghan officials said. Habib Shah Ansari, provincial health director in Khost said that so far three bodies and around 30 wounded, both military and civilian, were brought to hospital. The attack in Khost comes as the Afghan government continues to fight Taliban militants even as peace talks in Qatar between the two sides take place for the first time. Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Aran said that earlier Tuesday morning a vehicle full of explosives detonated near a base belonging to a police special force. He added that so far at least four attackers were killed and Afghan forces are fighting two others who are still resisting with forces. Aran said that a gunbattle is underway between the attackers and the Afghan forces, which may increase casualties. The violence comes amid an uptick of attacks. Afghanistan claimed Sunday it killed a top AlQaeda propagandist on an FBI most-wanted list during an operation in the country’s east, showing the militant group’s continued presence there as US forces work to withdraw from America’s longest-running war amid continued bloodshed. The reported death of Husam Abd Al-Rauf, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhsin Al-Masri, follows weeks of violence, including a suicide bombing by the Daesh group Saturday at an education centre near Kabul that killed 24 people. AGENCIES

twitter adds misinformation warning for us users ahead of election CALIFORNIA: Twitter has started pinning a warning about misinformation at the top of all of its US users’ timelines, ahead of the US presidential election on November 3. The notices relate to the topics of mail-in voting and the possibility that the 2020 election results could be delayed. “You might encounter misleading information about voting by mail,” reads one prompt, with another that says, “Election results might be delayed”. The links direct users to “a Twitter Moments [page] that provides more context and compiles the latest credible information on the topic from election experts, journalists and other authoritative news sources”, Twitter said in press release. “#Election2020 is unlike any other in US history. With so many more people voting by mail and potentially delayed results, starting today, we’ll show you prompts in your Home timeline and Search to help you stay informed on these critical topics,” the social media platform said, announcing the new feature. “Election experts confirm that voting by mail is safe and secure, even with an increase in mail-in ballots,” the full voting by mail notice reads. “Even so, you might encounter unconfirmed claims that voting by mail leads to election fraud, ahead of the 2020 US elections.” The delayed results message says: “With the increase in voting by mail, there might be a delay in the announcement of election results. This means you could encounter unconfirmed claims that a candidate has won their race.” The prompts will be available in 42 languages and will be visible to all Twitter users with an account based in the US. AGENCIES

LAST UPDATED AT 7:18 AM ON OCTOBER 27, 2020

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

773

DEATHS:

311,440 6,745 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

144,114

103,082

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

39,119

15,839

3,849 / 4,191 19,181

Coronavirus immunity fades over months: study LONDON AGENCIES

Immunity to Covid-19 may only last for a matter of months, raising the prospect of a potential vaccine having to be administered more than once a year. A large-scale study carried out by Imperial College London, involving 365,000 people, showed antibody levels dropped by a quarter in three months. Researchers said the results could point to a decline in the immunity of the population, leading to a heightened risk of reinfection. They stressed that those who have had a confirmed Covid-19 infection should take precautions to protect themselves from contracting it again. “Our study shows that over time there is a reduction in the proportion of people testing positive for antibodies,” said Professor Paul Elliott, director of the

programme at Imperial College London, which carried out the study. “Testing positive for antibodies does not mean you are immune to Covid-19. It remains unclear what level of immunity antibodies provide, or for how long this immunity lasts.” The findings build on previous research, which has also found evidence of waning antibodies. One recent study from researchers at the University of Montreal showed antibody levels in the blood “drop rapidly” after infection. The Imperial College study involved finger-prick blood tests to check for evidence of past infection in more than 365,000 people. The tests are randomly and routinely sent to adult volunteers to be carried out at home. There were 17,576 positive results recorded in three rounds of testing during the study. Antibody prevalence dropped from 6 per cent, to 4.8 per cent and then

4.4 per cent during the three-month period. The decline in antibodies was seen in all areas of the country and across all age groups, except healthcare workers. Researchers said that may suggest they received repeated or higher initial exposure to the virus, mounting a stronger immune response. Studies have shown asymptomatic infections of Covid-19 tend to produce low, and in some cases, even undetectable antibodies, while those who suffer more symptoms mount a stronger immune response. Among age groups, the smallest drop was seen in the youngest age group, age 18 to 24, while the largest decline was seen in the oldest age group, 75 and above, who have weaker immune systems. It is not known how often they occur as experts have said they are likely to be an underestimate, as it requires virus lineages to be sequenced

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

each time, which is not routinely done. Of the four reinfections cases studied by researchers, symptoms were worse in two patients, suggesting no clear pattern. Experts have said if SARS-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19, follows the same pattern as other coronaviruses, reinfections will become common. Research has shown it is possible to catch a cold caused by the same strain months later as immunity fades quickly. In one study from Kenya in 2018, almost 30 per cent of those who caught one variant of a coronavirus experienced a second reinfection. Around 10 per cent caught it a third time and one person was infected four times. A number of reinfections occurred only three months after the first bout, and in multiple cases the viral load actually increased, “revealing ineffective protective immune responses after initial exposure”.