EpaperLHR_2020-08-15

Saturday, 15 August, 2020 I 24 Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 46 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

new deal signed with iPPs to Cut Cost of Power generation: PM g

Imran says he wIll soon announce a package that wIll help tackle Issues of lIne losses & theft, anD focus on ImprovIng the DIstrIbutIon system

ISLAMABAD

P

AhmAd AhmAdAni

rIme minister Imran khan said on friday that the government has signed a new agreement with the independent power producers (Ipps) under which the cost of electricity generation would be brought down and circular debt would be reduced.

“I congratulate the nation because we are fixing the damaging structure we inherited in our power sector,” he said in a series of tweets. the prime minister promised that he would soon introduce a package that would focus on improving the distribution system by tackling line losses and theft.

“Quaid-e-azam wanted an Islamic welfare state and we are embarked on a journey towards that goal,” the pm remarked. he also mentioned an upturn in the country’s economy after two years of struggle, highlighting that the current account and fiscal deficits were down. listing the policies that the government consider as a success, the prime minister

said that the construction industry was taking off due to the special incentives offered by the government. “the stock market, exports, revenue collection as well as cement and car sales were up,” the pm claimed. he also congratulated the nation on successfully tackling coronavirus, highlighting the government’s efforts for the protection of the poor through cash support and smart lockdowns. however, the pm warned that the challenges were still there as the virus had not been eliminated completely. he urged the people to follow the standard operating procedures (sops) to further curb the spread.

DETAILS OF AGREEMENT: meanwhile, sources confirmed this scribe that the government and Ipps on thursday had finally reached an understanding on reduction in the rate of return on equity and late payment surcharge (lps), and sharing of savings on account of plant efficiencies. a memorandum of understanding (mou) containing 13 points has been signed between the two parties.

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

287,300

LAST UPDATED AT 10:12 AM ON AUGUST 14, 2020 DAY'S DEATH TOLL: NEW CASES:

14

626

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

265,215 6,153

125,289

94,993

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

35,021

12,062

2,167/2,426 15,342

“the Ipps which were set up under the 2002 power policy have now agreed to alter their existing contractual agreements and to ink new power purchase agreements,” an insider said. once nepra, federal cabinet and Ipps’ board of Directors approve this mou, the documents and procedures of these understandings would be completed preferably within 30 days, after which the same will be submitted to nepra and central power purchasing agency (cppa) to be followed by legal documentation to reflect the amendments needed in the relevant agreements. sources said this mou is valid for six months and it will stand terminated on the signing of the detailed agreement. according to the mou, the two parties have, in the larger national interest, voluntarily agreed to provide concessions considering the fact that a significant period has been passed since its commercial operation Date (coD). It was agreed that all projects will convert their contracts to take-and-pay basis and until then, the existing take-or-pay will continue. the return on equity (roe) including return on equity During construction (roeDc) for local investor will be changed to 17pc per annum in rupee terms without dollar indexation, while for foreign investors registered with the state bank of pakistan, roe will be 12pc per annum on nepra approved equity at coD. similarly, any saving in fuel for oil-fired projects would be shared on a sliding scale starting from 70:30 in favour of the power purchaser for the first 0.5pc efficiency improvement while any future savings in o&m of oil-fired projects will be shared 50:50 after accounting for any reserve for major overhauling which would be by power purchaser or nepra as mutually agreed and the power purchaser will not share in any efficiency losses.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Imran strikes a note of optimism in Independence Day address to nation ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

prime minister Imran khan on friday said that the past two years were difficult for the government as “we did not have foreign exchange and could not pay our debts”, but things were now “improving”.

In a televised address to the nation on Independence Day, the premier said, “we have avoided a huge crisis because we did not default [on payments]. but I know it has not been easy for the people, I understand the difficulties they faced and still are facing.” however, the economy has improved, the premier said, adding that the stock market trends indicate the confidence of investors and business community in the economy. he attributed the improvement in the economy to the boom in the construction sector which led to jobs and wealth creation.

“Despite the pandemic, our tax collection in June exceeded our targets,” he said, adding that exports have gone up, despite the coronavirus crisis that has wreaked havoc on global economy. he also congratulated the nation for coming together and “fighting against the coronavirus” and said, “hardly any other nation

Nation celebrates Independence Day with zeal, fervour ISLAMABAD TLTP

pakistan celebrated Independence Day on friday with traditional zeal and fervour, renewing a pledge to work with the spirit of the pakistan movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state. special prayers were offered for the security and progress of pakistan and the well-being of the people. the national flag was hoisted at all important public and private buildings. the main feature of the celebrations was the national flag hoisting ceremonies at president house, Islamabad, and provincial, divisional, and district headquarters throughout the country. public and private buildings, as well as streets, bazaars, and markets, were profusely illuminated and decorated with national flags, portraits of founding fathers, and posters.

In lahore, a special ceremony was held in connection with Independence Day at hazoori bagh where punjab chief minister usman buzdar hoisted the national flag. the day dawned with a 21-gun salute in the provincial metropolis followed by a graceful change of

was able to successfully balance” between economy and the virus. he pointed out that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had reduced and economy had started an upward journey as well. “this does not mean we have won this battle,” he cautioned and urged people to continue taking precautions, the most important and basic of which is to wear a mask while leaving the house. the prime minister also told the nation that the government had reached an agreement with independent power producers which would lead to a reduction in the cost of electricity production, thus reducing tariffs. he said that pakistan’s industries could not compete with other nations of the subcontinent like India and bangladesh as the cost of production in the two countries was low due to cheap electricity. pakistan, meanwhile, is facing a huge circular debt because the tariffs were less than the cost of generating electricity, which was high. he also announced that a reform package will also be introduced in the coming days in order to improve the distribution network in the country by reducing line losses and curbing power theft.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, Turkey denounce UAE-Israel deal STORY ON BACK PAGE

guard ceremony at mazar-eIqbal. a smartly turned out contingent of pakistan army assumed the guard duties at the mazar-e-Iqbal.

In karachi, the main event of a change of guard ceremony took place at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-azam mohammad ali Jinnah. a smartly turned out contingent includes 64 cadets of pakistan navy who assume the honorary guard duties. sindh governor Imran Ismail, sindh chief minister syed murad ali shah, cabinet members, and other high ranking officials attended the ceremony. the celebrations ended in the provincial capital with 21 gun-salutes while special prayers

were offered at mosques for the country’s safety, prosperity, and development.

In khyber pakhtunkhwa (kp), the main function in connection with 73rd Independence Day was held at police lines, peshawar. chief minister mahmood khan hoisted the national flag at the ceremony. collective prayers were made for the development and prosperity of the country and the liberation of Indian occupied kashmir (Iok). flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at divisional and district administration offices across the province. earlier in the morning, twenty-one gun salutes were fired in peshawar to mark Independence Day.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

president pays tribute to nation for surmounting challenges STORY ON PAGE 03

Pakistan confers Nishan-e-Pakistan on Syed Ali Gilani STORY ON PAGE 03

afghanistan govt begins to release taliban prisoners ahead of peace talks STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

NEWS

China to supply potential CoRonaviRus vaCCine to pakistan: RepoRt

C

NEWS DESK

HINA will supply a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by a unit of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) to Pakistan as part of a trial agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

State-owned Sinopharm is set to work with the University of Karachi on vaccine trials, according to the WSJ report, which said Pakistan will receive enough doses early in distribution to vaccinate about one-fifth of its population.

The initial doses will be used to vaccinate the most vulnerable among the Pakistani population including the elderly, healthcare workers and people with medical conditions associated with serious cases of Covid-19, the report added.

Earlier in April, Sinopharm had invited the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its inactivated vaccine for Covid-19 in Pakistan.

In a letter sent to NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Aamer Ikram, the general manager of China Sinopharm International Corp., Li Can, had expressed the hope that “a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of [the] first few countries for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine”.

Dr Ikram had then told a local news outlet that although clearances were needed for the purpose, the collaboration could be “a great thing for Pakistan”.

Meanwhile, researchers have said that Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine candidate appeared to be safe and triggered antibody-based immune responses in early

and mid-stage trials.

The candidate has already moved into a late-stage trial, one of a handful of candidates being tested on several thousand people to see if they are effective enough to win regulatory approval.

Sinopharm is testing the potential vaccine in the United Arab Emirates in a Phase 3 trial expected to recruit 15,000 people, as China has too few new cases to be a useful trial site.

The shot did not cause any serious side effects, according to a paper published on Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by scientists who are part of Sinopharm and other China-based disease control authorities and research institutes.

The results were based on data from 320 healthy adults in Phase 1 and 2 trials.

The candidate triggered robust anti-

body responses in inoculated people, but it remained unknown if that was sufficient to prevent Covid-19 infection, researchers developing the vaccine said in the paper.

Sinopharm’s chairman told state media last month that a potential vaccine could be ready by the end of this year with Phase 3 testing expected to be completed in about three months.

The novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 750,000 people globally, has prompted a race to develop a vaccine.

More than 150 candidate vaccines are being developed and tested around the world.

Russia became the first country to grant regulatory approval to a vaccine after less than two months of human testing, and a shot developed by Chinese firm CanSino Biologics has been cleared for use in the military.

Active coronavirus cases drop below 16,000 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

As many as 626 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the past 24 hours across the country, taking the number of confirmed cases to 287,300.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 14 people died due to coronavirus-related complications during this period, pushing the death toll from the disease in the country to 6,153.

The number of active coronavirus cases has dropped to 15,932 as 265,215 patients have recovered so far.

As many as 15,932 more samples were tested over the previous 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted across the country thus far to more than 2.2 million. A total of 1,333 Covid-19 patients are under treatment in various hospitals across the country, 144 of whom are struggling for their lives on ventila-

tors.

So far, 125,289 cases have been detected in Sindh, 94,993 in Punjab, 35,021 in K h y b e r Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 12,062 in Balochistan, 15,342 in Islamabad, 2,167 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and 2,426 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

FBR unearths Rs134.45m tax evasion; industrialist held ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Faisalabad, unearthed Rs134.453 million sales tax evasion and arrested an industrialist on Friday. According to details, the directorate arrested Syed Muhammad Azhar, owner of M/s Fazal Awais Textiles, Faisalabad for his alleged involvement in tax fraud by way of issuing fake and flying invoices to a non-existing unit M/s Arrow International. The directorate unearthed a big sales tax evasion scam of issuing and adjusting fake and flying invoices involving tax fraud of millions of rupees. Accordingly, tax fraud proceedings against the sales tax fraudsters have been initiated and the First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against M/s Arrow International, its buyers, suppliers and other beneficiaries under section 37A of the Sales Tax Act, 1990. The investigation revealed that M/s Arrow International is a non-existent and dummy unit, which had been registered by the fraudsters for the purpose of issuance/adjusting fake/flying invoices and to facilitate buyers and suppliers to avoid payment of due sales tax, including further tax. Moreover, 65 registered persons also declared fictitious purchases to avoid the payment of due tax. These 65 registered persons have evaded further tax amounting to Rs134.453 million. Given the facts, tax fraud case under section 37A read with section 2(37) of the Sales Tax Act 1990 has been registered against the firm M/s Arrow International, its buyers and suppliers and other beneficiaries involved in defrauding national exchequer from tax revenue of Rs134.453 million. Earlier, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman had issued directions to all the FBR field offices to expedite operation against tax evasion and play an active role to stop the menace of fake and flying invoices. The FBR Headquarters had further explained that all the people who are found involved in fake and flying invoices and causing tax evasion would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The organisation had said that it would also take prompt action against its own employee if the employee was found involved in any crime.

Ravi Riverfront city to overcome Lahore's urbanisation challenges LAHORE APP

Like other cosmopolitan cities of the world, the amorphous Lahore was faced with debilitating challenges of governance, inequality, technology, resources, transportation, and environment for which the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development (RRFUD) project was seen as a solution since 1947.

The previous governments had put the project off on one pretext or the other as they lacked will, vision and honest intent to address the ills of a sprawling metropolis but the mercurial leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) decided to save the city from the demon of overpopulation, poverty, and ecological disequilibrium through the development of a planned new city of the RRF. Great feats need leaders and visionaries to be accomplished and the RRFUD project, after remaining in doldrums for years, was in search of a leader when Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to save this city from existential challenges and give it a new life by embracing the needs of change besides making it an economic giant.

Engineer Imran Zafar of the NESPAK, who has worked closely on the project, said that the RRFUD project will rub shoulders with the cities like Dubai, adding that it has been planned on the Dubai model and it will take some time in its fruition. He said that the only difficulty was to initiate the gigantic project as the previous government had shelved it but PM Imran has taken the decision to build a future city in Pakistan.

About the housing capacity in the new city, Engineer Imran Zafar said that so huge is the project of the new city that the whole population of the city can be accommodated in the Ravi Riverfront city. “12 new cities including residential city, medical city, downtown, commercial hub, urban farms and miscellaneous use city will be developed in the first phase with innovation city spanning over

1,370 acres in the second phase while, the third phase, knowledge city, sports city and eco-city on a land area of 14,000 acres will be completed,” he remarked, adding that a total land area of 103,271 acres will be acquired from public and government control for the development of RRFUD. Zafar further added that the Ravi Riverfront will be developed in three phases and, in the initial phase, a lake covering 46 kilometers area, six wastewater treatment plants, three barrages, and an urban forest would be developed during the first three years. The town planning expert, to a question, said that the provision of water for drinking and irrigation is the top-most priority for which wastewater and surface water treatment plants will be installed.

Responding to a question, he said that the development of the lake will purge the Ravi from domestic and industrial waste and provide 271 billion liters of water, adding that the wastewater treatment plants would help treat 2.4 billion liter water daily and this water will irrigate 75,000 acres of land. He said that the new cities will add to the grandeur of the historic Lahore and set it apart from other mega-cities of the world.

About the advantages of RRFUD, he said that the development of a new city will definitely decrease the burden on Lahore and would improve civic amenities, adding that the present city, which is centuries old, had sprawled into a messy housing facility over the passage of time.

To a query, the business community leader said the proposed location for the Ravi Riverfront project is very attractive, adding that a properly planned city would cater to the needs of people for the next 50-60 years.

“Islamabad is one of the only cities which is properly planned and it is hoped that the RRF City would provide same living standards”, he added. About the economic activity, Mian Zahid Jawaid said that at least 80-100 industry is linked with the real estate and construction in-

dustry, adding that the RRFUD project was sure to generate huge economic activity in the country with unlimited employment opportunities besides new investment avenues for the local and foreign investors. Provincial Minister Industries, Commerce and Investment Mian Aslam Iqbal, talking to APP on Thursday, said the RRFDU project is foreseen as a game-changer from the economic, social, urban development and environmental aspects in the millennia-old historic city of Lahore. “RRFUD project has been envisaged to overcome inequality, environmental threats like floods, besides generating resources like water, food, and energy, and ensuring good-governance while it will ease down pressure on the existing city,” he said.

To a query, he said that it is historic that PM Imran has inaugurated the RRFUD project in the epoch-making month of August when Pakistan came into being, adding that premier has stood true to his manifesto of making a new Pakistan from the decaying edifice of a corruption-ridden political system.

The minister Investments said that the project will generate enormous financial activity through the creation of new jobs, housing facilities, a clean environment, and futuristic facilities. He further said the project was a step towards partial fulfillment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election manifesto. Punjab industries and commerce minister, about the economic opportunities, said that the RRFUD project will usher in an era of economic boon through immense business activity worth billions of rupees, adding that the project is also expected to create millions of new jobs, improve water resources, enhance living standards and provide a cleaner greener environment for the generations to come.

About the ambitious urban development projects, Mian Aslam Iqbal said the RRFUD project is close to the heart of PM Imran who has a clear vision about a new Lahore which rubs shoulders with the modern cities of the world. To a

query, he said the new city model, under the RFUD project, has been envisaged keeping in view the problems like shortage of clean drinking water, insufficient housing facilities, environmental hazards, ill-planned business areas, and lack of sporting of facilities.

Elaborating the importance of ‘Surface Water Treatment Plants’, he said the plant will decrease dependency of the Lahorites on the groundwater by 50 percent as 2.4 billion liters of safe drinking water will be produced from the canal water after treatment. On the finances, he said the RRFUD project will be completed with an estimated cost of 2000 billion rupees with financing to be met through Public-Private Partnerships, Joint ventures and Private Finance Initiative (PFI), multilateral loan, budgetary grants, and developer financing. To a query, he said water is the basic needs of the human population and industry and the city has been planned to meet the water needs of Lahore till 2045, adding that the river Ravi will be channelized for 46 kilometers with 3280 ft in width and a wall height of 33 feet. He said three barrages will be built to attain the water level for the riverfront.

About the environment-friendly city, he said PM Imran feels the pulse of changing times and has launched the Billion Tree Project to make Pakistan rich in green areas and protect it from future environmental hazards. “The old city does not meet the international standards of green areas in the urban developments, adding that six million saplings will be planted to turn it not a remarkably cleaner and greener city. He further said the rich green cover will be the hallmark of the RRFUD project.

Provincial Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal said RRFUD will provide a viable solution to the urbanisation challenges of the 21st century, besides it will generate enormous economic activity to benefit every stratum of life as per the economic vision of the premier.

NEWS

03

pResident pays tRiBute to nation FoR suRmounting Challenges ISLAMABAD

p

STAFF REPORT

RESIDENT Dr Arif Alvi has said the nation has surmounted several challenges since its independence, taking the country to a brighter future.

He was addressing the main flag hoisting ceremony of Independence Day at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday. The president said that the country has reached the tipping point where improvements are being witnessed in various areas.

Highlighting the nation’s past achievements, he said that “we have overcome the menaces of terrorism and extremism”. He added that while other countries avoid hosting refugees, Pakistan generously hosted 3.5 million Afghan refugees for decades, and 2.7 million of them are still living in Pakistan.

ALVI SAYS WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES AVOID HOSTING REFUGEES, PAKISTAN GENEROUSLY HOSTED 3.5M AFGHAN REFUGEES FOR DECADES Referring to the good news the nation received during the last two years, the president said that an effective campaign was launched against corruption, which reflected the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said that Pakistan has largely controlled the coronavirus pandemic as a result of its effective smart lockdown strategy. He said that unlike some other countries, Prime Minister Imran Khan did not resort to complete lockdown, realising that it will badly impact daily wagers.

He said that several countries wanted to

pakistan confers nishan-e-pakistan on syed ali gilani ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civil award, upon Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani in recognition of his tedious struggle spanning over decades for the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people. On his behalf, the award was received by a Hurriyat leader from President Dr Arif Alvi at an investiture ceremony on Friday. STAFF REPORT

pakistan to confer civil award on ali Baba founder Jack ma ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will confer civil awards on four Chinese nationals, including philanthropist and founder of e-commerce giant Ali Baba Jack Ma, for their services towards the country. The President House on Friday announced the names of 184 Pakistani and foreign nationals who would be conferred civil awards for showing excellence and courage in their respective fields. Jack Ma had donated face masks, test kits, protective gear and forehead thermometers to Pakistan earlier this year to support the country’s fight against the coronavirus. According to a handout issued by the cabinet secretariat, the president granted Nishan-i-Imtiaz to seven persons; Hilal-i-Imtiaz to two persons; Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam to four; Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam to one; Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam to six; Sitara-i-Pakistan to two; Sitara-i-Shuja’at to 24; Sitara-i-Imtiaz to 27; President’s Award For Pride Of Performance to 44; Sitara-i-Khidmat to one; Tamghai-Pakistan to one; Tamgha-i-Shuja’at to 23; Tamgha-iImtiaz to 46 and Tamgha-i-Quaid-i-Azam to one person. Noted artist Saqiquen Naqvi, Ahmed Faraz, Zahoorul Haq, Muhammad Jameel Khan, Dr Jameel Jalbi, folk singer Abida Parveen and Zahoorul Haq will be awarded Nishan-i-Imtiaz. Religious scholar and preacher Maulana Tariq Jameel will be awarded the President’s Award of Price of Performance. TLTP

aerial firing incidents on occasion of independence day injure 18 in karachi KARACHI: The aerial firing across the city in connection with the 73rd Independence Day injured as many as 18 people. The people of the city poured to roads for Independence Day celebration while state of jubiliation gripped the city on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. On the other hand, the incidents of aerial firing were also reported throughout the city and 18 people sustained injuries. The injured were brought to several hospitals of the city while the aerial firing incidents were reported in Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, New Karachi, North Karachi, FB area, Korangi, Lyari and many others. INP

replicate Pakistan’s policies vis a vis coronavirus pandemic. He paid tribute to the premier for his vision and lauded role of the religious scholars and the media, as well as the services of doctors and paramedics, for combating Covid-19.

The president said that under the Ehsaas Programme, cash assistance was distributed among 16.9 million needy people during the difficult days of Coronavirus. He said that health facilities proved more than sufficient during the pandemic. He added that education was also imparted to students at their

homes during the pandemic.

President Alvi said that the government is also preparing a uniform curriculum, which will further strengthen national unity and upgrade education standard. He said that Pakistan’s economy has also shown positive signs despite Covid-19 negative impacts, and Moody’s has recognised it.

Expressing solidarity with Kashmiris who have been facing the worst human rights violations at the hands of Indian occupation forces particularly after August 5 last year, the president reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to the Kashmiris in their cause.

He said that Pakistan will not leave Kashmiris alone. He added that Kashmir issue has been debated at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for four times during the last one year, which is a big success of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

President Alvi said that Pakistan has also

Imran Farooq case: Pakistan asks UK to extradite Altaf Hussain, Anwar, Iftikhar LONDON INP

The Pakistani government has asked its British counterpart to extradite Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and founder Altaf Hussain, as well as Muhammad Anwar and Iftikhar Hussain, to face charges in related to the Imran Farooq murder case.

The formal request to the UK, the details of which were reported by a local news outlet, came nearly two months after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad handed life imprisonment to Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali Syed, and Moazzam Ali — the three men accused in the Imran Farooq murder case.

Dr Farooq was killed almost 10 years ago on September 16, 2010, outside his home in Edgware in north Lon-

don.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had remarked that the prosecution succeeded in proving the case against the three.

This was the first-ever case in which the Scotland Yard handed over almost the entire evidence to Pakistan for prosecution via a one-off mutual legal assistance (MLA) agreement, with members of its counter-terror unit present in Pakistan throughout the trial.

Over a dozen witnesses from London had appeared before the trial judge via video link. Pakistan has now asked the British government to hand over Hussain, his cousin, Iftikhar, and Anwar for prosecution in the country — which is Pakistan — in the same case. While handing life sentence to the three accused, the court had declared the London-based MQM leaders as “wanted” in the case.

BRT attracts influx of passengers on Independence Day PESHAWAR APP

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s flagship Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Friday attracted a large number of passengers, including women, youth, children, and students, on the the country’s 73rd Independence Day. BRT, which was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, received an overwhelming response from the citizens of Peshawar on the second day of its formal opening, and all its 220 hybrid air-conditioned buses remained jam-packed.

A great crowd of passengers was seen in BRT stations where people went to obtain ZU cards.

“BRT is a modern, safe, affordable, and comfortable mode of traveling that sparked widespread jubilations among residents of Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP), especially of Peshawar. BRT is a gift of PTI government for people of this historic city who faced great traffic congestion problems in the past,” said Sajid Khan, an official of government department waiting outside of Hasthnagri BRT station in a long queue to secure a ZU ticket.

He said that hundreds of thousands of government employees, students, patients, women, laborers, and daily wagers have started traveling in BRT, and the response of people was amazing.

BRT takes less than 45 minutes to reach the last station i.e Hayatabad from starting point Chamkani against about three hours taken by private Mazda

buses and wagons on the said route.

Shahbaz Khan, an employee of a public sector corporation, was highly overjoyed after seeing the inauguration of BRT and termed it a gift of PTI government for people of Peshawar on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. He said that the fare of BRT was in the budget of a common man as people started enjoying quality traveling facility after a long time by paying only Rs10 for five kilometers distance and Rs50 for the whole Chamkani-Hayatabad Route against Rs70 charged by private Mazda buses and Wagons for the whole route.

He said that BRT was the longawaited demand of people of Peshawar that was fulfilled by PM Imran on Thursday. The special seats for disabled and women in BRT’s buses were its unique feature that was benefiting persons with disabilities, students, and patients immensely.

“I have traveled in BRT this morning with a great level of comfort and enjoyed free Wi-Fi service on the whole route,” said Shahbaz Khan. He urged the BRT administration to discourage the overloading of passengers in air-conditioned buses for the comfort of seated passengers. Bahadar Khan, former nazim, has also expressed happiness over the opening of BRT and termed its landmark project that would bring revolution in the transport sector in KP. He said that hybrid buses would help control environmental pollution and enhance connectivity besides improving the punctuality of employees and students immensely.

released its political map, reflecting true aspirations of its people as well as Kashmiris.

He said that the new map shows Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir issue.

On Afghan issue, the president said that the peace agreement between Afghanistan and the United States will lead to peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan is the second largest beneficiary of peace in Afghanistan.

The president said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not merely a project between Pakistan and China, but it will contribute to promoting transit trade in Central Asia and also help in establishing peace.

Earlier, the president hoisted national flag at the ceremony. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, federal ministers, special assistants, parliamentarians, three services chiefs and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

Pakistan is not economically independent: Shehbaz Sharif LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan is not economically independent. The PML-N leader addressed a ceremony in connection with Pakistan’s Independence Day which and said that the nations with weak economies are not independent. Pakistan’s biggest success was becoming an atomic power but the country is scrounging today despite that, he said that while adding that this practice should be stopped. Today, no one can dare to look towards Pakistan with evil eye because of the nuclear power, he said. “Salaries were not increased this year due to the pressure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Inflation has soared owing to coronavirus and loadshedding – which had been ended completely in 2018 – has started again due to the incompetent government.

04

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

NEWS

WfP appreciates ehsaas nashonuma initiative BARA: World Food Program (WFP) Pakistan Deputy Country Director Arnold Spensan has appreciated the “Ehsaas Nashonuma” initiative of the government, saying it would help tackle stunting and improve the nutrition of the poorest children in Pakistan. Talking to the media at Dogar Hospital in Bara area of Khyber district, she said that WFP is extending full support in implementation of Ehsaas Nashonuma programme in nine backward districts of the country where approximately 350,000 females will be benefited. Under Ehsaas Nashonuma programme, 31 centers will open in 9 districts while 33 Nashonuma Markaz are being set-up at Tehsil level where all health facilities would be provided under one roof. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched the country's first-ever Ehsaas Nashonuma programme, aimed at preventing stunting in children. Ehsaas Nashonuma is the first anti-stunting programme in the country’s history. TLTP

Punjab governor layS foundation of 'Wall of Corona HeroeS' LAHORE STAFF REORT

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Friday laid the foundation of “Wall of Corona Heroes” at Governor House, Lahore, to pay tribute to the frontline heroes against coronavirus whose pictures and names will be displayed on it.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Provincial Minister of Minority Affairs Ijaz Alam, Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib, Gohar Ejaz of APTMA, Board of Revenue Senior Member Babar Hayat Tarrar, Principal Secretary to Punjab Governor Dr Rashid Mansoor, Mia Talat, Kanwal Habib, Mia Saeed Dery Vala, Political Secretary Kashif Iqbal, Mian Anas Aslam, Raja Asad Iqbal, and Rao Amir among others attended the ceremony.

Talking to media after the foundation stone laying ceremony, Sarwar said, "We have been able to successfully control coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan due to the mutual efforts of provincial and federal governments and cooperation of the public."

He said that people from the health department have also played a pivotal role in containing the spread of coronavirus because they have offered their services on the frontline.

The governor said that the aim of building the wall of corona heroes is to pay tribute to the frontline soldiers against coronavirus.

"This wall will be completed in almost 2 months. It will have pictures and names of all those people from various fields that have made contributions in curbing the spread of coronavirus in the country," he said.

He also said that not a single penny will be spent from the provincial or federal government treasury. It will be built with the help of donations by affluent people.

Sarwar paid tribute to frontline fighters from the health department, security forces, and other fields who have given their services in the fight against coronavirus. He added that our utmost respect goes out to those heroes who laid their lives whilst fighting coronavirus on the frontline. He further said that those who risked their lives but continued working despite a pandemic are our real heroes.

Responding to a question, the governor said that those who would come to see the wall will enter from Al-Hamra Gate and a cafeteria will be established for them. He said that during the coronavirus crisis, the government provided ration to over 1.5 million families, provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare staff under Punjab Development Network, and spent over 60 million rupees with support of generous

Sindh’s largest national flag hoisted in Sukkur SUKKUR TLTP

The largest national flag in Sindh was hoisted at a ceremony, which was attended by Karachi Corps Commander Lt General Humayun Aziz, to celebrate the Independence Day of Pakistan. The ceremony was also attended by senior civil and army officers. A large number of the people from minorities also attended the flag hoisting ceremony. Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Aziz, while addressing the ceremony, said that the country gained independence after sacrificing hundreds of thousands of lives. “We will protect the country with hand in hand,” he said. Sukkur Mayor Arslan Shaikh, while addressing the gathering, lauded the assistance extended by the military to the civil administration during the coronavirus pandemic and flood emergency. He also praised Pakistan’s armed forces over their role in the fight against terrorism. The Sukkur mayor also paid tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan. The ceremony was special with regard to the enthusiasm of the participating people, which were continuously chanting slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during the ceremony.

donors, including contribution to prime minister's relief fund.

Chohan said that history will always remember the incredible service of the governor during the coronavirus crisis with the help of affluent people who have made generous donations. He said that the federal, as well as provincial governments, are utilising all resources to provide relief to the public.

He added that building the wall is a historic step and the corona heroes will always be remembered by generations to come. Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Saqib said that history is a witness that all Pakistanis have faced every hardship with unity. "Pakistanis have faced coronavirus with the same national spirit. We are grateful to Allah Almighty who gave us the courage and strength to stand by the poor sections of society during this time of crisis," he said.

Gohar Ejaz of APTMA said that there is no greater service than the service of humanity. He said that we started a relief campaign with Punjab governor immediately after the coronavirus outbreak. "We will not let anyone die of hunger and poverty," he said, adding that they stood by the deserving and underprivileged during the corona crisis and provided them with ration and other forms of relief. He further said that the Punjab governor played an exemplary role to provide relief to the public during the coronavirus crisis.

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

NEWS

VRG loses PatIeNce wIth ReD-taPe to Release 'oPeRatIoNal ReaDINess' aDs oN INDePeNDeNce Day

t

BuSineSS deSK

HE Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) clarified on Friday that it has not yet issued any commencement certificate to VRG Remittance Gateway Pvt Ltd (VRG) for commercial operations of Asaan Mobile Account (AMA) scheme in Pakistan.

Earlier, Virtual Remittance Gateway Pvt Ltd (VRG), through advertisements in the press, had claimed that it is "commercially operational for AMA scheme with Jazz and SCO", a statement issued by the PTA noted. "For AJK & GB, VRG has even not been awarded any Third Party Service Provider (TPSP) licence," PTA stated. "Hence, the general public is advised not to undertake any commercial activity till all the licence conditions for the commercial launch of AMA scheme have been met by VRG as per TPSP licence."

VRG RESPONDS TO PTA's 'CLARIFICATION': Meanwhile, in response to PTA's clarification, VRG maintained that it had received TPSP licence from PTA on 16th January 2018 and the same from SBP on 17th April 2017. "We applied for SBP commencement certificate on 3rd March 2020, and received SBP Final Authorization/Commencement Certificate on 9th April 2020 after SBP's stress testing # 1: 19th December 2019, Stress Testing # 2: 26th December 2019, Stress Testing # 3: 3rd March 2020 and Stress Testing # 4: 10th March 2020."

The company claimed that PTA had conducted its inspection for commencement certificate from 1st January 2020 till 8th January 2020, and compiled its report on 10th January 2020.

On this basis, VRG was expecting PTA to either issue a commencement certificate or ask for yet another inspection (s) if there was any requirement for additional inspection. "Since then, we have been repeatedly requesting PTA for issuance of the commencement certificate, requesting the authority for a meeting and the latest formal communication in this regard was sent

New deal signed with IPPs to cut cost of power generation: PM continued on page 01 Likewise, for gas projects, fuel and O&M will be taken as one consolidated line and any net savings will be shared 60:40 by the government and IPP for gas projects after accounting for any reserves for major overhaul. However, power purchasers will not share fuel, O&M and major overhaul losses. In order to ensure that the actual efficiency is matching the efficiency reported in the financial statements, the power purchaser will appoint a reputable international independent consultant to perform a one-time detailed heat arte test for all IPPs. For all future invoices, Delayed Payment Rate (DPR) under the PPA will be reduced to KIBOR+ 2pc for the first days after the due days and thereafter at KIBOR+ 4.5pc as per the PPA. Moreover, NEPRA would take a decision if a company has made any excess profits and it (NEPRA) will hear and decide this matter and it will also provide a mechanism for recoveries where applicable. Also, both the power purchaser and government will devise a mechanism for repayment of the outstanding receivables with agreement on payment of receivables within the agreed time period which will be reflected in the final agreement to be signed.

to PTA on 4th Aug 2020, and the last request for meeting with DG licencing was made on 10th Aug 2020." According to VRG, PTA did not give any formal reply for any additional requirements till date.

"We appreciate PTA's support and its patronization in helping us launch AMA scheme and we understand the fact that PTA is yet to issue us the final commencement certificate.

We are helping the poor and unbanked masses in Pakistan and supporting the government and the PM's mission of financial inclusion of the poor people of Pakistan," the VRG statement read. VRG said it has signed commercial agreements with SCO and JAZZ and are close to signing similar agreements with ZONG, Telenor and Ufone. These commercial agreements are in addition to the company’s agreements with the commercial banks.

"We are ready and prepared to launch commercial services in Pakistan as soon as the PTA issues us the commencement certificate in Pakistan. As PTA has not yet issued us the commencement certificate, we have neither launched commercial services nor have charged the business partners (CMOs and the banks) or customers for AMA Scheme."

'IN GOOD FAITH': As far as the advertisement is concerned, VRG stated, it was issued only to create awareness among the masses on the occasion of 'Independence Day'. "As this day will not come until the next year, we thought, in all good faith, that it is appropriate to take people of Pakistan on board on our preparedness and 'readiness to launch' the commercial services soon and to give them the gift of AMA scheme, but this gift will not be given until PTA allows us to give them, for which they have been waiting for since many years.

"As PTA’s press release mentions AJK & GB, we haven’t mentioned AJK &GB in our advertisement; we just highlighted our status of integration with SCO, which is a fact and does not amount to any violation as we are not launching any AMA

Nation celebrates Independence Day with zeal, fervour continued on page 01 In Quetta, the main flag hoisting ceremony was held at the lawn of the Balochistan Assembly where Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan hoisted the national flag. The day was dawn with twentyone gun salutes in the provincial capital while special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of the country.

The flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at Governor House Quetta, Balochistan High Court, and Radio Pakistan Quetta Station.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the main flag hoisting ceremony of the Independence Day was held at the President House in Muzaffarabad. President Sardar Masood Khan hoisted the national flag.

Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, cabinet and legislative assembly members, notables of the city, and other high-ranking civil and military officials attended the ceremony.

National anthems of both Pakistan and AJK were played while a smart contingent of police presented salute.

Earlier, the day dawned with 21 gun salutes in the state capital Muzaffarabad.

In Gilgit-Baltistan

(GB), the main flag hoisting ceremony was held in the historic Chinar Garden in Gilgit. Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal Khan hoisted the national flag and laid a wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada.

A smartly turned out contingent of GB police presented guard of honor at Yadgar. CM on the occasion unveiled a new political map of Pakistan in Chinar Garden. Soon after the ceremony, the Azadi rally was brought out from City Park which passed through the main road culminating at Public Chowk in Jutial, Gilgit.

In IOK, the people celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day as a thanksgiving day with great enthusiasm, devotion, and respect. Call for observance of the Thanksgiving Day was given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and supported by various Hurriyat leaders and organisations. The APHC in a statement in Srinagar maintained that Pakistan has always supported the Kashmiris’ just struggle for securing their right to selfdetermination.

It is worth mentioning here that in IOK, Kashmiris will mark India’s Independence Day on Saturday as Black Day.

Saba, Bilal, other booked for video shoot in Wazir Khan Mosque LAHORE: Lahore police on Friday registered a case against actress Saba Qamar, singer Bilal Saeed and others for violating the sanctity of Wazir Khan Mosque by shooting a music video there, after a local court ordered police to proceed in accordance with the law.

Earlier, Additional District and Sessions Judge Attiqur Rehman presided over a hearing Thursday of a petition filed by Advocate Sardar Farhat Manzoor Khan against the duo, as well as the team behind the music video, for trampling upon the sanctity of the mosque. TLTP

CMYK

scheme in AJK & GB without PTA’s express permission/licence," VRG clarified. "In the advertisement, we have not in any manner mentioned that we have launched commercial services (in Pakistan or in AJK & GB or Pakistan) without PTA's commencement certificate. We have intentionally avoided the words 'launch' and 'commencement of operations' and only talked about readiness and being commercially operational."

VRG noted that since the company started the pilot phase on PTA's direction, the people of Pakistan have opened 108,280 AMA accounts and completed much more than 3.2 million transactions, all free of cost. "VRG is bearing all these costs for all these activities to help poor people and satisfy PTA’s requirements under the law and the license conditions. VRG has not charged any of its business partners for these transactions."

The company, however, assured that it would not launch the commercial operations till the time PTA formally issues the commencement certificate.

A REMINDER TO PTA?: According to people familiar with the matter, although the PTA is right in its claim that it had not issued any commencement certificate for commercial operations of AMA scheme in Pakistan, the advertisement by VRG could be a "rude reminder" to the authority to expedite the issuance of these certificates.

As per sources, the PTA has been delaying the issuance of certificates apparently to facilitate a telcos-backed company (DBL), which at the moment is far behind VRG in terms of operational readiness.

The PTA has been sitting on the issue for too long now, and the more they delay the issuance of certificates, the more people are going to doubt their intentions, they added.

It may be noted that DBL, after receiving a TPSP licence from the SBP, would also be launching a VRG-like pilot programme at some point, which, if successful, will lead to its commercial launch.

05

Imran strikes a note of optimism in Independence Day address to nation continued on page 01 The premier said that Pakistan was “a glorious dream” of an Islamic welfare state where law was supreme and everyone had equal rights regardless of their race, caste or religious beliefs.

Hard work and determination was needed to realise this dream, the premier said, adding that the government was now working towards achieving the vision of the forefathers.

He also expressed solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and pledged that Pakistan would continue to extend diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right to selfdetermination. The prime minister assured the IOK residents that Pakistan will continue to raise the Kashmir issue on all forums and will also pray for the residents of the occupied territory. In a series of tweets posted earlier, the prime minister had felicitated the nation while discussing the same matters.

a

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

06 COMMENT

Has the Arab World given up on Palestine?

The good and bad about the BRT Peshawar Lack of transparency would raise suspicions

T

hAT the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has finally become operational should be good news for commuters in Peshawar. With an eye on several projects of the sort executed on time by the PML(N), Prime Minister Imran Khan called the Peshawar BRT ‘the best such scheme in the country.’ The BRT’s air conditioned coaches are fitted with Wi-Fi and charging facilities for cell phones users. The new transport system would reportedly facilitate patients and students as a number of major hospitals and colleges are situated near the bus stops. The buses will avowedly take 45 minutes, taking passengers from one end of the city to the other.

The BRT project was to be the PTI’s showcase enterprise. The time it has taken, with six months going to three years, and the increase of cost from Rs49 billion to Rs 66.43 billion, gave birth to perturbing questions, some raised in the Peshawar high Court. It is also being asked whether the PTI will be able to maintain the required level of service and transportation quality in what is being billed as the only third-generation transport project in the country.

Several delays in the timeframe for the buses to hit the ground and the large rise in the costs do not create confidence in the KP government’s ability.

With an estimated 300,000-plus commuters using the BRT daily, the stage-wise price of the tickets will either require an additional staff of ticket checkers or the installation of automatic barriers at the terminals. With power outages being all too common in Peshawar, the automatic barriers would be difficult to maintain. The appointment of ticket-checking staff could open the doors for corruption. Instead of being a profitable service as envisioned by the Prime Minister, the BRT could become a financial burden for the province.

An ANP leader has demanded an enquiry into the charges of lack of transparency in the project. The ground that probes by NAB and FIA ordered by Peshawar high Court would hinder the progress of the project being valid no more after the completion of the project; it looks reasonable that the PTI should agree to the probe to clear the matter. A refusal would strengthen the perception that there is something fishy in the matter.

SaJJad ali yildrim

T

IMe is the best healer; history is the best teacher, for those who learn from it. But what about us Muslims? Did we learn from history? The answer is heart-breaking and very unfortunate: No. historically it has been seen that whenever Muslims got united under one Caliphate, whether the Rashidun or the Ottomans, they were victorious and strong, keeping in mind that the divine sovereignty always belongs to Allah. The concept of Ummah is now just a ritual and seasonal concept usually applied during the hajj, Umrah and Ramadan.

The so-called protectors of Islam, themselves are becoming the major threat to Islam. Saudi Arabia considers itself the leader of Islamic world due to the holiest sites, Makkah and Madinah being there. But when it comes to support the persecuted Muslims around the globe no Muslim state comes up.

Palestine is the equally holiest and sacred place for Muslims just like the aforementioned places are.

Not only for Muslims but also for the Jews and Christians. Muslims took Jerusalem from the Byzantines in 636-637, lost it to the First Crusade and finally reconquered it in the Battle of hattin 1187 under the command of Salahuddin Ayyubi. The Ottoman empire took control of Jerusalem under Sultan Selim I in 1517, and retained it until 1919. The dissolution of the Ottoman empire in 1923 resulted in a massive blow for all the Muslims and the land of Palestine was divided between the Britain and France.

The Arab nationalism and young Turks movement proved to be the last nail in the coffin. More powerhungry but powerless Arab nationalists like Abdul Aziz ibn Saud and hussain bin Ali played a crucial role in betrayal, resulting the end of Caliphate. Colonel Thomas edward Lawrence, known better as Lawrence of Arabia, was the mastermind behind the Arab revolt.

Britain and France had their own intentions and plans for Palestine by bringing in 750,000 Jews. After the 1948 Arab-Israel war, Israel emerged as a sovereign state into the map of the world and in the region as the “Dagger in the heart of Middle east” in 1948.

The Arab League supported state of Palestine until 1979. After the Iranian revolution of 1979 a new power race started in the region between Saudi Arabia and Iran. There are 22 members in the Arab

Women journalists under threat The ruling party is part of the toxic culture that allows this

A

STATeMent by women journalists from various media, so far signed by 16, has appealed to the government seeking protection from those who are making vicious attacks on them on social media. There are a number of disturbing things about this, the first being that the women journalists complain that they are being attacked by members of the ruling PTI. This gives the Prime Minister a double responsibility to bring this to an end; firstly as the head of government who is supposed to ensure that all citizens are protected by the government; and secondly as the head of the party whose members are engaged in the attacks. his responsibility is redoubled by the reason for the attacks: the coverage of the government’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic. It should be noted that the women journalists first complained about this last month, and thus the government has had more than enough time to stop this attack.

Women are more vulnerable in our society to such attacks, because of a toxic culture condoning them. The FIA’s Cybercrime Wing should have been activated by now, though it is a separate issue that that Wing has not been examined to root out anyone there who might be guilty of perpetuating that wink-wink, nudge-nudge kind of tolerance that means the investigating officer tries to fudge the investigation in ways that benefits the accused.

Women journalists have at least as hard a time as their male counterparts, and on top suffer the social pressures of a lack of acceptance. But this misuse of social media has only arisen under the present government. It gives rise to the suspicion that the ruling party itself is pervaded by the general misogyny which is so common in our society, and which prevents women from taking their rightful place in public life. The government must counter this impression by taking strict action, and ensuring that this particular piece of villainy cannot be laid at its door.

The Effectiveness of Anti-Hoarding Legislation Sikander a. Shah and Uzair J. kayani

T

he COVID-19 pandemic, like all natural disasters, has engendered a period of unpredictability that has negatively impacted consumers worldwide. It has provided an opportunity for merchants of essential commodities to profit off the calamity. While buyers are driven by the desire to stock up on vital supplies, sellers are tempted to increase prices to maximize their gains. This, in turn, means that resources are allocated to the highest paying individuals.

States have attempted to curb opportunistic behavior by promulgating anti-hoarding and anti-price-gouging legislation. In response to reports of health supplies and essential food items being hoarded amidst the outbreak, Pakistan has passed statutes such as the COVID-19 (Prevention of hoarding) Ordinance 2020 and comparable provincial laws to ensure that no artificial scarcity leading to excessive prices is created.

Pakistan already had laws in place seeking to prevent profiteering through hoarding and price gouging.

These laws, however, have proven unsuccessful in preventing anti-competitive practices and ensuring consumer protection during the pandemic. It is essential, therefore, to analyze why the existing legal regime failed to deter producers and sellers from such behaviour.

From an economic perspective, rational sellers will choose to engage in unethical business practices only if the rewards of their actions outweigh the associated costs. This choice is influenced by four major factors: a) the possible financial gains from the violation; b) the likelihood of being apprehended; c) the intensity of punishment rendered; and d) exposure to other losses such as a loss of goodwill and brand repute amongst customers. here, the costs incurred as a result of being caught should also be taken into account such as the forfeiture of income owing to incarceration, the cost of hiring a quality legal defense, and so on. This implies that, so far, the utility of rewards for those involved in hoarding in Pakistan has remained higher than the utility of costs.

In this regard, it is significant to distinguish between large-scale producers and small-scale sellers. The former can benefit greatly by creating artificial scarcity on a mas-

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

prevent crime. Legal regulation, therefore, must be followed by efficacious enforcement. To determine what sive scale, while the profits earned by the latter from impact an article of legislation is likely to have, legisstockpiling would remain limited. It follows that hoarding lators must evaluate it in light of its deterrent effect. The giants would only be deterred if the likely sanctions, just resources and finances devoted towards law enforcelike their profit margins, are much greater than those faced ment agencies must be increased to efficaciously by individual shopkeepers. even though, the recently counter an increase in the rate of anti-competitive pracpassed anti-hoarding ordinances envisage a distinction in tices. Failing to do so will further stretch the already the quantum of fines imposed, based on the value of the burdened enforcement resources, creating hurdles in the articles seized, the term of imprisonment remains the pursuit of further complaints and necessitating the allotment of additional resame— a maximum of sources down the line three years— for big and regardless. Citizens must small dealers alike. We be incentivized to assist have already witnessed, To determine what impact an article Deputy Commissioners with the earlier Price Conand authorized officials by trol and Prevention of Profof legislation is likely to have, reporting suspected ofiteering and hoarding Act legislators must evaluate it in light of fences of hoarding. The 1977, that the prescription whistleblower clauses enof imprisonment of up to its deterrent effect. The resources shrined in the recent antithree years for those conhoarding regulations victed failed to engender and finances devoted towards law should be highlighted for the impact it was meant to. enforcement agencies must be community awareness, It would, thus, have been wiser for the new laws to increased to efficaciously counter an and protection should be offered to individuals introduce a stricter punishincrease in the rate of antiseeking to inform on such ment regime. practices. A deterrent efThe deterrent effect competitive practices. Failing to do fect must be created to of such legislation, how"tighten the noose" around ever, is not a stand-alone so will further stretch the already hoarders seeking to inflate result of the law. It is deburdened enforcement resources, prices of essential items, pendent on external facby raising the costs assotors as well, such as the creating hurdles in the pursuit of ciated with such practices strength of the enforcing further complaints and necessitating to outweigh their benefits. agencies. Thus, such vioauthors are policy lations can be effectually the allotment of additional resources The consultants at the Centre prevented only if the infor Chinese Legal Studies tensity of punishment is down the line regardless (CCLS), Shaikh Ahmad coupled with a certainty hassan School of Law of punishment. Those (SAhSOL), LUMS. This with political clout, for inresearch was conducted stance, are more likely to get away with practices of hoarding. Additionally, in by the CCLS and was supported by the hanns Seidel times of disaster, the businesses’ requirement to main- Foundation (hSF) Pakistan. The opinions expressed in tain steady supply, owing to the increased demand of this article are those of the authors and do not reflect essential goods, makes it harder to conduct thorough the official position of LUMS or hSF. and effective checks. Jurists, meanwhile, have conSikander A. Shah and Uzair J. Kayani is a freetended that the certainty of getting caught, rather than increasing the maximum sentence, is more likely to lance columnist

The whole community must be involved

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

the American Jewish organization in New York, slammed Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas for rejecting the peace offers, and summed up his view League from Algeria at the northern-western end in 5 words “shut up and stop complaining”. ofAfrica to Somalia on the horn, and in the Arabian The major reason behind the attitude of the Arab Peninsula. Arabs used Palestine for their own interest. states is that most of the states are dictatorial monarSaudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAe and egypt have now chies. The public opinion is completely different, as good ties with Israel (the latter two establishing diploaccording to a poll conducted in early 2019, 97 permatic relations) which is a major shift in the geopolcent of the Arab population perceives Israel as a itics of the Middle east. This cause is used cynically threat, 87 percent opposed their states recognizing Isby the Arab world to divert attention from their govrael through diplomacy. What Israel is doing in Palesernment’s internal repression. tine is a clear violation of Article 11 of UNGAR 194, Arabs only support Palestine verbally and they the ICC, the Geneva Convention Protocol-I and the have failed to support them materially and could not Statue of Rome. Ahead of these it is against the hueven get them border rights in Gaza with Israel. Jormanitarian law. According to UNGAR 3246 every dan has imposed huge taxes on Palestinian refugees group or state has a right of self-determination, either and citizens. Lebanon, Libya and egypt discrimithrough peaceful means or resistance. In 2000, the nated against Palestinians. King hussain of Jordan Tahrir Square demonstrabacked off from the West tions, Muhammad MarBank in 1988. Palestinizouki’s attempt to break ans can’t become even the illegal siege of Gaza, permanent residents of and the sabotaging of the Israel has made 440 colonies for any Arab country except gas pipeline from egypt Jordan, which is a clear to Israel by the egyptian over 5000 illegal settlers, 565 violation of Article 7 of people, clearly depict the the Convention on Rights checking points, 300 flying points, people’s will. of the Child. In 2007, got the last 80 percent water resources and 133 hugeJews about 31,000 Palestiniblow from Sultan ans were left homeless military bases. They are colonizing Abdul hamid II of the when the Lebanese Ottoman empire. after armed forces destroyed the Palestinian land just like they that Muslims got scatNahar Al Barad camp tered and are facing the during the siege of 150 did to Jordanian and Egyptian consequences till now in days at Yarmouk camp.

Yemen, Syria, Libya, areas and Muslims are still not In 2012, nobody supIran and all over the ported Palestinians in aware of it world. Once they ruled Syria, which once was the world but now they the huge supporter of are being ruled by others.

Palestinian people. In Israel has made 440 2018, to UNRWA for colonies for over 5000 ilPalestinian refugees, the USA gave $367 million to legal settlers, 565 checking points, 300 flying points, Palestine while egypt only Gave $20,000. The USA 80 percent water resources and 133 military bases. gave $3.8 billion in aid to Israel in 2019 and a total They are colonizing the Palestinian land just like they of $38 billion in a decade. Saudi Arabia, UAe, did to Jordanian and egyptian areas and Muslims are Bahrain, Iran, Syria and Lebanon are more concerned still not aware of it. We lost our faith, we lost our with sectarian and ideological divisions. caliphate by supporting traitors and infidels, and we President Trump moved the US embassy to Israel deserve it because we are hypocrites. Only hope is from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem but there was no reaction now Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. We Muslims, particby the Arab world. egypt and Israel are becoming ularly the Arabs and their allies gave up Palestine to closer. Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Israel and that is the bottom line. who has become the most notorious Saudi royal being accused in the Yemen war as well as joutnalist Sajjad Ali Yildrim is a freelance columnist Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination, in his meeting with

The UAE didn’t just wake up one fine morning

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 15 August, 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

Independence day

Justice stands still deviant children, by any code of law or religion.

In fact, gauging the special conditions, judges such cases the accused are mostly found to be reserve the right to transfer juveniles for trial to juveniles.” he ruled that juvenility is no license the adult courts under a ‘judicial waiver’. Anifor commission of crimes of this scale. It is a mal rights groups must step up in this regard, very welcome and balanced precedent set by the and adequate legislation and law enforcement must be sought now that juvenile bestiality is Peshawar high Court.

Bestiality and rape by juveniles in Pakistan rampant in Pakistan.

Moreover, measures to alleviate criminal tensurely raise eyebrows but invoke no surprise. every now and then, cases of raping chickens, dencies among minors must also be devised. This dogs, sheep and donkeys to the point of death, requires a multi-dimensional shift mostly in our and of fellow minors of younger age, surface in rural and sub-urban culture. For starters, ulema the news but are quickly forgotten. Predictably, must be mobilized for imparting decent sex edumost of such offences are committed in far-flung cation among the minors, given the considerable rural areas, going largely unreported. Yet again, influence that clergy wields in rural communities as well as the fact this proves beyond a that the only school shadow of doubt most of our children that rape isn’t due to go to is a local provocation on vicmosque. Something tim’s part; rape is a In Pakistan, 80 percent of the should also be done culture. the slums of In his renowned children live in rural areas and the about rural haaris and and oft-quoted Differential Associaschool drop-out rate is the second quarters of the suburban industrial tion Theory, edwin highest in the world, according to labour, where whole Sutherland, father of American criminolUNICEF statistics. With 49 percent families are crowded into a single room, ogy, explicitly states of the total population under the offering the man and that “crime is a wife no luxury of learned behaviour” age of 18 and 24 percent living maintaining intimate which is a by-prodrelations in privacy. uct of interactions below the poverty line, these In Pakistan, 80 with pro-crime valchildren need to be reintegrated percent of the chilues and criminal sub-cultures. Simiinto schools and vocational training dren live in rural areas and the school larly, Gresham centres. Social ecologists believe drop-out rate is the Sykes and David second highest in the Matza in their Neuthat wherever there is poverty world, according to tralization Theory UNICeF statistics. state that the “subconcentration and children have With 49 percent of terranean value ‘nothing-to-lose’, they are more the total population structure” of sociunder the age of 18 ety, meaning that likely to commit crimes for and 24 percent living actions that are confulfilment of natural desires, since below the poverty demned publicly but these children admired privately, the benefit outweighs the risk. The line, need to be reinteplays a role in fosgrated into schools tering juvenile media also needs to play its role; and vocational traindelinquency. mass sensualization and ing centres. Social In a society ecologists believe where rape is commodification of sex shouldn’t that wherever there weaponized, the be the only way to sell goods, is poverty concentraboisterous display and children of masculinity is marketing personnel can definitely tion have ‘nothing-toakin to wielding a trophy, shame hardo better. Lastly, the criminal justice lose’, they are more likely to commit bors the effigy of system and law enforcement crimes for fulfilment victim and certainty of natural desires, of punishment is agencies need to be more since the benefit outclose to null, what receptive; in the end, it is not the weighs the risk. The else can be exalso needs to pected? The kitten severity of punishment, rather, the media play its role; mass rapists of today sensualization and would be the beasts certainty of punishment and swift commodification of of tomorrow. disposal of justice that matters. sex shouldn’t be the Whereas cases only way to sell like that of Rani and goods, marketing Iqbal should have personnel can defibeen investigated expediently and having failed to give them jus- nitely do better. Lastly, the criminal justice system tice once, compensation should have been of- and law enforcement agencies need to be more fered whole-heartedly; cases of juvenile sexual receptive; in the end, it is not the severity of punoffences should be dealt with extreme caution. ishment, rather, the certainty of punishment and We cannot supersede the rights of one child just swift disposal of justice that matters. because the perpetrator is a juvenile as well.

The writer is a doctor and a prize-winning Similarly, the rights of animals cannot be encroached upon merely to protect the rights of our author.

An urgent problem goes unaddressed dr noor-Ul-hUda

W

heN Manto wrote Khol do and when Ahmed Raahi wrote Tirinjan, describing the plight of women in the post-partition orgy of violence, they must have hoped that their bleeding words mark the end of sexual violence. Little did they know that in our land of the pure, children of animals would not be spared, let alone the daughters of eve.

Last month, news from Lahore of a 15-yearold boy and his friends gangraping a kitten to death hit the media, to popular dismay and shock.

The teenagers raped the young feline for a whole week, so much so that the lining between her genitals and anal canal were completely eroded until the two orifices merged into a single, fistulated external opening. The kitten suffered unimaginable pain, hemorrhage and internal trauma to the point where she could not sleep, stand or sit up, ultimately succumbing to death.

In a parallel thought-bubble, two completely unrelated cases come to mind. One of Rani Tanveer, the child-bride who was falsely accused of murdering her husband at the age of 13, serving 19 long years in jail. After her release, she filed a petition in the court for compensation from the state for miscarriage of justice. The court, in an iconic move of magnanimous generosity that would make hatim Al-Tai blush in his grave, granted her an ‘apology’, stating that, “this court feels helpless in compensating her”. Destitute and penniless, Rani quotes that she was better off in the jail, where she had the privilege of a meal three times a day.

The other case is that of Iqbal hussein. having been arrested for alleged homicide at the age of 17, Iqbal was brutally tortured, sentenced to death, and served 22-years in prison awaiting response to his mercy appeal to the President, until he was finally released in a landmark judgement by the Lahore high Court.

What’s common among all these cases?

Miles and a generation apart, the accused were minors at the time of commission of crime. To put things into perspective, Pakistan is a signatory of th United Nations Convention on Rights of Child (UNCRC 1989), Riyadh Guidelines and Beijing Rules. Following international standards, Pakistan adopted the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) 2018. At home and worldwide, the justice system for children under 18 years of age is reformatory and rehabilitative instead of punitive, marking a fundamental shift from the adult criminal justice system.

It is fascinating how Pakistan always manages to be on extremes of the spectrum when it comes to administering criminal justice. On one hand, we have cases like Rani and Iqbal who were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and death, respectively. On the other hand, cases of juvenile delinquency and juvenile-onjuvenile violence of sexual nature are surging unprecedently. Criminals are most likely to plead ‘juvenile’ in order to avail bail and protections conferred upon them under JJSA 2018, no matter how heinous the crime might be. In the recent rape case of a minor by a teenager, Peshawar high Court judge Justice Qaiser Khan quoted, “Of late, such (unnatural sexual) offenses have attained alarming proportions and in

We achieved Pakistan with the consistent efforts of Mr. Jinnah, who organized and mobilized a divided nation. The religious and the nationalist parties formed an alliance to sabotage his efforts, but his perseverance and hard work led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. Since then we have been celebrating Independence Day claiming to be one strong nation. however, the reality has always been far from this claim. While we were one united nation until the father of the nation lived, we were anything but united after his death, which was too soon after the new country was born. Soon after the demise of Mr. Jinnah, selfish, power-hungry, and those with lust for money started strengthening their grip on power in Pakistan. This led to alienating people and the unity among a diverse nation started eroding fast. The marginalization and self-serving behaviors of our ruling elite first led to the dismemberment of east Pakistan. We still did not learn anything and continued with our selfish attitudes. While the ruling elite and those close to them for selfish motives prospered like anything, the common man has not seen any improvement in their living conditions. Many other countries that got freedom after us become economically strong; our downward journey never stopped. While we pay homage to the Quaid very year with a change of guard at his mausoleum, we have forgotten his vision completely. Today, we sing the songs of freedom for the 74th time, we still have a long way to go in providing basic amenities to our citizens and ensuring freedom to speak, practice, move, and live in peace for everyone in this country. I wish and pray that we start working for the vision of the father of the nation and stand as one in creating a strong and prosperous Pakistan, Amin. Pakistan Zindabad!

RAJA ShAFAATULLAh ISLAmAbAd

Ignoring the facts

NOWADAYS, most businesses are competing to execute the technological system to improve the growth of transactions. however, most of them aren’t aware, some of them haven’t the knowledge to implement the computers; excel or other software to manage the accounts and other activities. Companies who have the higher market share and unlimited capacities of growth like Walmart, P&G, Sapphire, and Unilever are the most common examples and more than half the population uses their products. Amazon, Daraz, and other online services offering the best qualities of products and satisfies the customer needs. even some of the online channels opened the small areas to read the books, just to maintain the good environment.

Considering the whole structure, developing all these things are expensive for a common person for those who run the kiriyana shops, small shops of clothes in streets, small hospitals in cities, and small shops who work as wholesaler or retailer. even they don’t build computers in their shops. More than half are growing in terms of profit, investments and involvement in contracts. Just because of less awareness they don’t know how to run the excel programs or other system of computers to save time. And every graduate is interested in finding a better place like CeO, manager and so on. And they choose foreign countries or cities other than domestic one to do the better job. No doubt, everyone is studying to improve their lifestyle. however, we are unable to see the real facts. Day by day, the ratio of unemployment is going to increase, which increases the chances of robbery, illegal activities, inequality and poverty. Directly or indirectly it may leave an impact on all factors.

Moreover, Many people don't have a job and are searching on many websites. More then half the person's personality isn’t match with suitable requirements, hence they discourage and sit in their own homes. It is better to start their own business but for every business experience is the necessity. hence for getting the experience there is the need for a job. hence, freshers or others don’t find the jobs they can start their career with in their own cities, they have the opportunity to implement the study work in practical life. Instead of relying and sitting in homes it is better to find work in small shops even small hospitals where we go or cross regularly haven’t built computer systems. Not because of money but lack of proper knowledge. Slowly and gradually, It isn’t just reduces the unemployment level but also hence, freshers or others don’t find the jobs they can start their career with in their own cities, they have the opportunity to implement the study work in practical life. Instead of relying and sitting in homes it is better to find work in small shops even small hospitals where we go or cross regularly haven’t built computer systems. Not because of money but lack of proper knowledge. Slowly and gradually, It isn’t just reduces the unemployment level but also encourages the growth of the city which leads toward the growth of the whole country.

RAgnI LUnd dAhARKI

Jinnah remembered

“IF the Muslim League had 100 Gandhis and 200 Azads and Congress had only one Jinnah, then India would not have been divided!" These words were stated by Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, a prominent figure of undivided India and Sister of Nehru.

That statement had made the fact clear that how much Jinnah was important for the Muslims of the Subcontinent. he fought the case of Muslims and won it. Jinnah was probably the first leader who told the world that a country can be founded without waging war.

As a young politician he took some time to grasp the importance of two nation theory but later on he became a firm believer of it. Being a man of his own principles Jinnah always believed that one day Pakistan would be a reality and his commitment, firm determination and visionary slant led the muslims to glory. he was so attached to his vision that he urged his doctor not to disclose the secret of his ailment otherwise it would be almost impossible for the Muslims of the Subcontinent to acquire a separate homeland for themselves and coming generations.

KAmRAn KhAmISo

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

There is a hisToric change Taking place in The Middle easT THE NORMALISATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE UAE WILL HELP DONALD TRUMP AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU POLITICALLY – BUT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPENING

indEpEndEnt

p

PatriCk CoCkbUrN

RESIDENT Donald Trump is cock-a-hoop over the United Arab Emirates becoming the first Arab Gulf state to normalise its relations with Israel. He needs all the good news he can get in the months before the US presidential election.

“HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu claimed a triumph in establishing full diplomatic relations with an Arab state that had once been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians. The UAE, for its part, said it had averted Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, while the Palestinians denounced yet one more betrayal by their fellow Arabs.

Much of this is overblown. Trump and Netanyahu will exaggerate their achievement to strengthen their domestic political status. The UAE had long ago established

security and commercial links with Israel and Netanyahu’s annexation of the West Bank had been postponed previously. Pious talk by the US and its western allies in preTrump days about fostering a non-existent peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, at the heart of which was an imaginary “two-state solution,” was always a device for ignoring the Palestinians while pretending that something was going on.

Yet there is a real historic change going on in the Middle East and north Africa, though it has nothing to do with the relationship between Israel and the Arabs. It is a transformation that has been speeded up by the coronavirus cataclysm and will radically change the politics of the Middle East.

The era characterised by the power of the oil states is ending. When the price of oil soared in the aftermath of the 1973 war, countries from Iran to Algeria, mostly though not exclusively Arab, enjoyed an extraordinary accretion of wealth. Their elites could buy everything from Leonardo da Vinci paintings to Park Lane hotels. Their rulers had the money to keep less wellfunded governments in power or to put them out of business by funding their opponent.

It is this historic period that is now terminating and the change is likely to be permanent. Saudi Arabia and UAE still have big financial reserves, though these are not inexhaustible. Elsewhere the money is running

out. The determining factor is that between 2012 and 2020 the oil revenues of the Arab producers fell from $1 trillion to $300bn, down by over two-thirds. Too much oil was being produced and too little was consumed pre-coronavirus and, on top of this, there is a shift away from fossil fuels. Cuts in output

by Opec might go some way to raising the oil price, but it will not be enough to preserve a crumbling status quo.

Ironically, a petrostate like the UAE just is flexing its political muscles by normalising relations with Israel just as the economic world of which it was part is breaking up.

Nor is the UAE alone: the oil states have always had a problem turning money into political power. Saudi Arabia, UAE and their arch rival Qatar took a more aggressive role during the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain in 2011.

Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, the de facto rulers of Saudi Arabia and UAE, became even more interventionist in 2015 and were overjoyed the following year when Trump, over-impressed by their riches and apparent influence, entered the White House.

The successes of the alliance of Trump and the Gulf monarchies have been skimpy.

Their prime target Iran is battered but surviving. Saudi Arabia and UAE began a quick war in Yemen five years ago which is still going on. Bashar al-Assad remains in power

in Damascus and Libya is engulfed in an endless civil war of extreme ferocity.

The super-rich oil producers are feeling the draft, but states like Iraq are close to capsizing because they can no longer pay the bills. Last October, hundreds of thousands of young Iraqis took to the streets to protest against lack of jobs, corruption and the failure of the government to provide water and electricity. Ferocious repression killed at least 600 protesters and injured 20,000, but they kept coming back to the streets.

Similar protest swept through Lebanon as its economy imploded. It is not only oil producers that are suffering, but countries like Lebanon and Egypt which looked to the petrostates for business and jobs.

Lebanon used to be kept going by remittances. More than 2.5 million Egyptians work in the oil states. If there are not enough Egyptian doctors to treat Covid-19 patients at home, it is because they are earning better money in the oil states.

Strains were already showing before the pandemic. The whole system looked increasingly rickety. Oil states at the height of their prosperity had operated similarly, regardless of whether they were monarchies or republics. The ruling elite, be it Saudi, Iraqi, Libyan or Algerian, exploited governments that were what one expert described as ‘looting machines’ whereby those with political power turned this into easy money.

UAE-Israel deal could herald a new dawn

The draconian power of ‘contempt of court’ CountEr CurrEnts PeoPle's UNioN For Civil liberties

The People’s Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) is dismayed and disappointed over a Full Bench decision of the Indian Supreme Court holding Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, guilty of criminal contempt of court for a set of tweets which the court felt “undermines the dignity and authority of the institution of the Supreme Court of India and the Chief Justice of India and directly affronts the majesty of law”. PUCL feels that the finding of the SC is not only unfortunate but will also have the contrary effect of lending substance to the view that just like how other democratic institutions in India are criminalizing dissenters, the SC too is unwilling to acknowledge serious issues about the way the judicial system is functioning and is acting in a manner which would silence democratic voices using the draconian power of `contempt of court’.

We would like to point out that Prashant Bhushan is not the first person to raise serious and critical questions about the administration of justice in the highest court of the land. Over two years back, on 12th January, 2018, in an unprecedented press conference, four then sitting SC judges – Justices J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph – went public about their disagreement with the then Chief Justice of India, over functioning of the judicial institution both in its administrative as also judicial sphere of functioning. In particular, the issues raised by the four senior judges are central to the independence of the judiciary: manner of deciding the roster and composition and strength of Benches, integrity of judicial process, institutional integrity, transparency in appointment of judges, etc. They had clearly and openly indicated that these vital principles have not just been flouted but ethically compromised. The judges pointed out, “There have been instances where case having far-reaching consequences for the Nation and the institution had been assigned by the Chief Justices of this court selectively to the benches “of their preference” without any rational basis for such assignment. This must be guarded against at all costs”. (emphasis ours) While the language and content of the tweets may not be agreeable or palatable, the fact remains that Prashant Bhushan was only articulating a widespread view amongst many sections of the public, raising questions about the response of the apex court. This is spelt out in a Statement issued by prominent citizens, including former judges Madan Lokur (SC), AP Shah (former CJ, Delhi HC) amongst others, who pointed out: “In the past few years, serious questions have been raised about the reluctance of the Supreme Court to play its constitutionally mandated role as a check on governmental excesses and violations of fundamental rights of people by the state. These ques-

A TIME HAS COME FOR THE NATION TO SERIOUSLY DISCUSS THE REPEAL OF THE CONTEMPT LAWS tions have been raised by all sections of society – media, academics, civil society organisations, members of the legal fraternity and even by sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court itself. Most recently, the S u p r e m e Court’s reluctance to intervene in a timely manner to avert the migrant crisis during the lockdown came under intense public scrutiny. Concerns have also been raised regarding the decision of the court to not restart physical hearings, even in a limited manner, despite passage of five months since the onset of the COVID pandemic” An issue of equally grave concern which agitates many citizens is the widespread abuse of draconian laws like anti-sedition law, UAPA and other laws, by the Central Government to suppress and silence dissenting voices. Eminent personalities from all fields have raised concerns about the trampling of fundamental rights and stifling of democratic norms, and have pointed to the prevalence of a `silent, undeclared emergency’. It is an inescapable reality that many sections of civil society are raising questions as to whether the constitutional courts – both the SC and the HCs – are playing their constitutionally mandated roles and safeguarding liberties of citizens against a vicious and vengeful State. The question as to whether the constitutional courts are abdicating their constitutional responsibilities is a matter of public debate and discussion.

The correctness of Prashant Bhushan’s views about the role of former CJI’s may be debated, but the fact remains that many sections of society feel that the structures of democracy are being dismantled and destroyed before our very eyes and the

They were not alone. They could cream off great fortunes without provoking a revolt by the rest of society because they ran vast patronage machines. Ordinary Saudis, Libyans, Emiratis, Kuwaitis, Iraqis were guaranteed jobs as their small cut of the oil revenue cake.

It is this fifty-year-old system that is now faltering. As populations rise and young people flood into the labour market, more and more money is required to keep society running as before, but such resources are no longer there. This change has revolutionary implications as the unspoken social contract between rulers and ruled breaks down. Nothing much can be done to preserve it because the oil industry blights all other forms of economic activity. Little is produced locally and then only with massive state subsidies.

The rulers of oil states tend to be in a state of denial about the lack of alternatives to oil. Soon after taking over as de facto ruler in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promoted “Vision 2030” that was supposedly intended to wean Saudi Arabia off oil. Nobody with any experience of the country took this seriously, though Western consultants were happy to fan such fantasies so profitable to themselves.

The world understands all too well, the impact of the pandemic on health. It is beginning to foresee the economic devastation that follows. But it has yet to take on board the political turmoil inevitably caused by pandemic-hit economies, though Lebanon has given a foretaste of this. Beset by wars and dysfunctional social and economic systems, the Middle East is too fragile to cope with the coming earthquake.

constitutionally mandated institutions are failing to play their independent, monitoring role. In such a situation the SC to which people still look up to with respect and hope, is increasingly being seen by people to be supportive of the state and unresponsive to democratic and constitutional concerns.

In our view the conviction of Prashant Bhushan – well respected for doggedly fighting against corruption in high places, indefatigable fighter for constitutional values and the ordinary citizen – for criminal contempt of court for the tweets will only reinforce the view amongst many sections of society that the SC will not allow any public questioning or criticism of its functioning and is not averse to using contempt laws to silence voices seeking transparency and accountability of the judiciary.

Ironically, it is this view which will be more damaging of the image of the SC rather than the import of the tweets of Prashant Bhushan.

A time has come for the nation to seriously discuss the repeal of the contempt laws. Especially when in the country of origin, England itself, has repealed their laws relating to contempt through the Crime and Courts Act, 2013. Until the law is repealed in India, it bears relevance to keep in mind the need for the greatest restraint in the use of this extraordinary power as was pointed out in a 1946 Scottish case of Milburn, Re, (1946 SC 301 at 315-16), in which the then Lord President held: “The greatest restraint and discretion should be used by the court in dealing with contempt of court, lest a process, the purpose of which is to prevent interference with the administration of justice should degenerate into an oppressive or vindictive use of the court’s power” Mr. Ravi Kiran Jain is National President, PUCL and Dr. V. Suresh is National General Secretary, PUCL.

ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS MAY ALSO BE A STARTING POINT FOR THE RESTORATION OF PALESTINIAN DIGNITY Editorial NatioNal

Two months ago, Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to Washington, laid out for Israelis a vision for a more peaceful Middle East.

“Greater security. Direct links. Expanded markets.

Growing acceptance,” he wrote in an opinion piece for a daily newspaper in Tel Aviv. “This is what normal could be.”

It is a very different path from the one Israel had been heading down since its March election, in which the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to mount an illegal annexation of occupied Palestinian territory.

Annexation, as Mr Al Otaiba pointed out, would be the opposite of normal; it would be a provocation for large sections of the Arab world that yearn for a more stable and prosperous future.

Israel’s response to these aspirations “would be an unmistakable signal of whether it sees it the same way”.

Israel made its decision.

In a landmark agreement between the UAE, Israel and the US, the Netanyahu government agreed to halt its annexation plans in exchange for the establishment of bilateral ties with the Emirates.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, confirmed that “the UAE and Israel also agreed to co-operation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship”.

Provided the Israeli government upholds the agreement, the end result will be the establishment of a multitude of ties, including diplomatic outposts, trade and co-operation in technology

sectors. The two nations will also work together in addressing food security and climate change – areas that will have far-reaching consequences for quality of life throughout the region.

The deal is an historic moment in decades of diplomatic efforts to preserve the contours of a future Palestinian state through a negotiated, two-state solution. It is also a moment of which the Emirates, which has long sought to ensure the dignity of Palestinians, can be exceptionally proud. The spectre of annexation, which remains illegal under international law, was not only an affront to that dignity in the present moment; it was a negation of all that a Palestinian state could be.

The suffering Palestinians have endured over the past seven decades is immeasurable, but equally limitless is the potential that Palestinians have to build for themselves a country that could be the envy of the Middle East. A deal that seeks to protect their resources and territorial integrity is a crucial starting point from which that future can begin.

“Fundamentally, our initiative is not to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said of the announcement.

"This is left to the Palestinian and Israelis – rather it is to contribute to defusing a time bomb that was threatening the two-state solution”.

With good faith from the Israeli side, it could also be a starting point for a new chapter in history. The Middle East is a region with too many fractures in too many places. With this agreement, one of its deepest may soon begin to heal.

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

BUSINESS 09 CORPORATE CORNER NTDC celebrates Independence Day across country LAHORE: The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) celebrated 73rd independence day of Pakistan at NTDC offices and grid stations across the country. A graceful ceremony was held at 220kV grid station New Kot Lakhpat Grid Station to celebrate the Independence Day with national zeal and valour. NTDC Managing Director Engr Dr Khawaja Riffat Hassan, chief guest of the ceremony, hoisted the national flag, which was followed by the national anthem. Addressing the ceremony, NTDC MD Engr Dr Khawaja Riffat Hassan expressed the importance of freedom as well as responsibilities to safeguard it. He urged the NTDC officers and staff to serve the organization with integrity, honesty and dedication to regain national development of the country. PREss RElEAsE

LAHORE: Cancer survivors Ghadeer and Tahir along with Shaukhat Khanum Memorial Hospital & Research Centre CEO Dr Assim Yousaf hoisted the national flag at the SKMH&RC to mark the 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan. PREss RElEAsE

Telenor Pakistan shortlists three creative agencies TWO AFFILIATES OF PUBLICIS HAVE MADE THE SHORTLIST AND ARE UP AGAINST A WPP CREATIVE AGENCY WHICH IS THE INCUMBENT SINGAPORE BABAR KHAN JAVED

As it stands, Telenor Pakistan has shortlisted Adcom Leo Burnett and IAL Saatchi & Saatchi as potential creative agencies to take over its communication design, interactive design, and concepts. Ogilvy Pakistan is the incumbent and first won the business in 2017 after it had been under Adcom Leo Burnett for nearly a decade. Ogilvy has been serving Telenor for three years to date and was named the most effective agency network in the Asia Pacific region according to the 2020 Effie Index from Effie Worldwide. WPP, the parent company of Ogilvy, was named the most effective worldwide marketer for the fourth year in a row. In Pakistan, Ogilvy won 12 awards at the Effie Pakistan awards, for its work across Nestle, Shan Foods, Bank Alfalah, Telenor Pakistan, and Coca-Cola Pakistan, to name a few. It was also named agency of the year while Telenor Pakistan was named marketer of the year. In comparison, IAL Saatchi & Saatchi won two awards for its work across National Foods and Dawlance Pakistan. Adcom Leo Burnett won six awards for its work across Foodpanda Pakistan, P&G, and Reckitt Benckiser. The agency that wins the creative remit will work with brand & media teams at Telenor Pakistan along with Brainchild Communications Pakistan (BCP), the media agency of record. A subsidiary of Z2C Limited, BCP is better known for being the media agency that helped PTI win the 2018 elections. According to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Z2C Limited is the media agency for Telenor Microfinance Bank while BCP is the media agency for Telenor Pakistan. The mobile data and digital services provider reportedly took a hit on the back of the C19 outbreak, with an 11pc decrease in subscriptions and traffic revenues for the second quarter of 2020. As reported by Profit, the company’s quarterly revenues stood at Rs24.2 billion, as compared to Rs26.2 billion during the same period last year.

SBP'S exPorT faCIlITaTIoN SChemeS eNTaIl SuBSTaNTIal fINaNCIal CoST: WB ISLAMABAD

a

WORLD BANK STUDY SUGGESTS SBP REASSESS THE REFINANCING RATES IT OFFERS TO COMMERCIAL BANKS WITH A VIEW TO MAKING EXPORT FINANCING SCHEMES MORE COST-EFFECTIVE

GHUlAM ABBAs

LTHOUGH the financing schemes of the State Bank of Pakistan have delivered net benefits either in terms of higher tax revenues or foreign exchange, these programmes entail high financial cost to the central bank, according to a new study of the World Bank.

The report finds that 'Export Finance Scheme (EFS) and Long-Term Finance Facility (LTFF) for Plant and Machinery' offered by the State Bank of Pakistan entail a substantial financial cost to the apex bank.

The WB study evaluated the impact of the two export finance support schemes on firm-level export performance in Pakistan.

Based on the cost-benefit analysis, the study pointed out the emergence of some policy implications and suggested that the SBP should reassess the refinancing rates it offers to commercial banks with a view to make these schemes more cost-effective.

The study noted that Pakistan of-

fered a very interesting laboratory to investigate the effect of subsidized credit for exporters. While its exports have grown faster than the world’s exports over the last 30 years, Pakistan has experienced a notable deceleration after the 2008 financial crisis and has lagged relative to its peers in South Asia.

Lending at negative real interest rates is costly and distorts the allocation of credit at the aggregate level, and secondly, the schemes could be more impactful if opened to all firms in all sectors of the economy.

In particular, it is likely that new firms, or firms that are diversifying into new markets or products, may benefit more from access to export finance. Prioritizing new export ventures when allocating the funds is likely more efficient than continuing to lend to es-

tablished exports, the study suggested.

The EFS and the LTFF are export finance support programmes offered by the State Bank with the objective of providing access to finance liquidity needs in the short term and investment in machinery and equipment in the long run for exporters in Pakistan.

These schemes are large and well established in Pakistan. EFS, which started to operate in 1973, provided loans worth $3.8 billion per annum between 2015 and 2017, or 17.4pc of Pakistan’s total exports. LTFF is more recent and smaller in size than EFS, its loans outstanding are equivalent to 1.3pc of the country’s exports over the same period.

Using a matching estimator to control for the non-random selection of firms into the export finance support

Netflix beats YouTube in US streaming preferences: Nielsen

schemes, the study finds that both EFS and LTFF generate a positive and substantial impact on the value of exports of firms participating in the schemes.

EFS led to a 7 percentage point increase in the growth rate of exports among treated firms, while LTFF generated an increase in the same performance indicator of between 8.7 and 11.2 percentage points.

However, the study did not find evidence that either EFS or LTFF affected the growth rate in the number of products exported or the number of foreign markets reached by firms participating in the schemes.

The availability of export finance is crucial for the export sector to thrive and grow. Due to a longer production process and lag between production and delivery of goods and services, firms involved in international trade are particularly dependent on export finance for their working capital needs.

In addition, with export markets being relatively more sophisticated and competitive than domestic ones, keeping up with global demand requires constant investments in technology upgrading.

KP yet to receive net hydel profit from centre

SINGAPORE

PESHAWAR

BABAR KHAN JAVED

AZIZ BUNERI

Netflix accounted for 34pc of the total streaming time in Q2 2020 for the US audiences, outpacing Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. The Q2 2020 Total Audience Report from Nielsen estimates that in Q2 2020, video streaming made up 25pc of total TV usage in the US, up 6pc from the end of 2019. Accounting for 34pc of users’ total streaming time, up 3pc from Q4 2019, Netflix’s share is nearly double that of YouTube and thrice as large as Hulu, at 20pc and 11pc respectively.

Considering that Disney+ was launched in Q4 2019, the estimation from Nielsen that it took up 4pc of the total streaming time in Q2 2020 is impressive. It’s likely that the SVOD service will see a larger distribution share in Q3 2020 as movies postponed from theatrical release may feature on the platform such as Mulan and Black Widow.

Driving nearly 26pc of all streaming minutes, Nielsen reports that consumers aged 55 and over represent a diverse age group in the user base. This is up from 19pc in Q2 2019, with viewers aged 35 to 54 making up 3pc of the audience in that period.

Compared to Q2 2020, the number is up to 27pc, while the 18 to 24-year-old segment remains consistent at 18pc.

The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) and the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) have yet to reach an agreement on the sale of electricity for the Machai Hydro Project, owing to which the province was not being able to earn revenue despite spending billions on the project's construction. According to sources, there was a question mark on the seriousness of both the central and provincial governments regarding this important issue, particularly at a time when KP was going through a financial crisis. The issue was still lingering despite the fact the centre and KP were ruled by the same political party, they added. As per PESCO officials, the 2.6MW Machai Hydro Project has been connected to the Mardan grid station, but no decision has yet been taken on electricity prices to be paid to the KP government. The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) has also not been able to resolve the issue despite several letters and meetings between them and the PESCO officials, they added. Meanwhile, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has requested PESO to file a petition with the authority to fight its case regarding the electricity price for the project. According to an estimate, 10.3 millions units of electricity have so far been transferred to the national grid, for which the centre has to pay Rs73 million to the KP government. PEDO sources said that there were several important projects in KP that have been completed by the provincial government at a cost of billions of rupees, but due to unresolved issues, the centre was yet to provide net hydel profits to KP. Owing to non-disbursement of funds, other development projects in the province have also been delayed, they added.

“One of the most intriguing developments with regard to streaming over the past year has been how viewers of all ages have embraced the platform,” the report says. “It may have taken them longer to embrace the technology, but now that they have, there is no indication they are going to give up streaming in the future.”

Nielsen said that the immediate restrictions on external activities brought upon by socially distancing have accelerated the collective appetite to stream video content among people of all ages. The global measurement and data analytics company said that the amount of time people are

spending in front of the TV screen viewing streaming content continues to grow.

“Not only are total streaming minutes steadily increasing, but the number of services people are willing to budget for and subscribe to continues to grow as well,” says the report. “Only 2pc of adults are reducing their number of paid subscription services, while 25pc have added service in the past three months. With the number of new streaming entities coming to market and the demand for both original and legacy content growing by the day, it will be interesting to see how the streaming market evolves in the coming months.”

Kubient goes public on Nasdaq SINGAPORE BABAR KHAN JAVED

With an initial public offering (IPO) at $5 per unit, Kubient expects gross proceeds of $12.5 million after floating 2.5 million units on Nasdaq Capital Market this week. According to the press release, each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock, under the symbols KBNT and KBNTW respectively.

Peter Bordes, the CEO of Kubient, told Profit that competes in the digital advertising fraud prevention space, operating as a demand-side platform (DSP) and supplyside platform (SSP) as well. Bordes describes the business as the Amazon Web Services cloud-based infrastructure that is missing in the industry. “[We are] the mortar between the bricks of all those siloed such as DSPs SSPs PMPs DMPs & multiple ad fraud “awareness”

THE DIGITAL ADVERTISING CLOUD-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTION PROVIDER ANNOUNCED ITS IPO THIS WEEK AND WILL BE JOINING THE NASDAQ TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY AS A PUBLIC COMPANY vendors,” he said. “We are transforming digital - the supply path between buyer and seller has become cluttered with too many hops. Buyers know who they want to reach and are tired of the broken volume-based black-box model of buying sites and placements vs reach an audience of one at scale.

Compounded with ad fraud.”

Bordes said that KAI fraud prevention

by Kubient stops fraud before brands bid on the inventory and can be used at the enterprise level. Marketers can also use KAI lite to enables a huge part of the markets to have coverage that can’t afford the incumbent

platforms. He said that, on average, companies use three platforms to triangulate fraud.

“By the time the current ad fraud “awareness” platforms show the fraud, the budget has been spent and it’s hard to claw it back due to the budget being distributed downstream,” said Bordes. “So they are padding their budgets on average by 20pc.

Which now impacts the supply side. So we become the full-stack infrastructure for partners such as news, Choice hotels. We replaced three vendors and now power ad and data infrastructure for 3000 hotel portals display & video, plus digital out of home

CMYK

into all the TV sets.”

It’s uncommon, in the advertising technology (adtech) space, for a business to operate simultaneously as a DSP, SSP, and ad fraud prevention software. The adtech space is mired in controversy, with ad fraud researcher Dr Augustine Fou often insinuating that the marketplace is rife with fake fraud detection companies. “[They] sell excel spreadsheets to gullible marketers and agencies who pay for fraud detection but never ask if the detection works, is correct, or how it was measured,” he said. “Then again, some marketers/agencies just need to say they have invalid traffic detection.”

Kubient, for its part, refers to its solution as a modular flexible marketplace, capable of plugging into all the other silos as well to create the much-needed efficiency that allows buyers to spend effectively & supply to the right price at the value of their audiences.

“We enable supply and demand partners to plugin and make efficient markets the same way the financial markets operate,” Bordes said. “With clean transparent and direct connections. We are focused on the data-driven connecting of audiences. So we are agnostic to channel or format.”

According to the June 2020 Ad Fraud Index by Kubient, the technology company observed a higher percentage of device fraud which consists of fraudsters leveraging a device as the primary means to perpetuate the fraud. The 2020 State of Mobile Ad Fraud in APAC study by AppsFlyer also confirms this, adding that Android devices are significantly more prone to suffer from fraud attempts. Reports by FraudScore and Apptica further instil this point, adding that higher mobile device accessibility and a consumption culture are key factors in making mobile ad fraud a global crisis costing advertisers $1.6 billion annually.

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Trump, BideN Trade BarBs oN coroNavirus respoNse WASHINGTON

u

AGENCIES

NITeD States President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Joe Biden for calling on governors to mandate that all Americans wear masks for the next three months, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of politicising an issue Trump himself has used for political gain in recent months.

Trump claimed Biden has been wrong about the coronavirus pandemic at every turn, “ignoring the scientific evidence and putting left-wing politics before facts and evidence”. Trump went on to falsely say that Biden was advocating for the president to use executive power to institute a nationwide mask mandate and that Biden was in favour of “locking all Americans in their basements for months on end.”

“To Joe, I would say stop playing politics with the virus,” Trump said at the White House press briefing.

Biden did not call for an executive order, but did at an earlier campaign event call for the institution of “a mask mandate nationwide, start-

ing immediately.” Biden clarified, however, that it should be left up to the governors to make mask-wearing mandatory. He said nothing about keeping Americans indoors but has argued that economic reopenings in states have been rushed and without proper guidance from the federal government to keep Americans safe.

Trump spent the early months of the pandemic refusing to wear a mask during public appearances, ridiculing reporters who wore them, and retweeting messages making fun of Biden for wearing a mask and implying that he looks weak. Trump first wore a mask in public about a month ago, during a visit to a military hospital, and has since expressed support for them at times.

On Thursday, he said it’s patriotic for Americans to wear masks, but added, “maybe they’re great, and maybe they’re just good.

Maybe they’re not so good.”

Biden, at his earlier event, said all Americans should wear masks, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from the coronavirus over the next three months. The Democratic presidential candidate also responded to those who push back against such mandates.

“This is America. Be a patriot. Protect your fellow citizens. Step up, do the right thing.”

The back-and-forth marked a new line of attack from Trump, who is trailing Biden significantly in most nationwide and swing-state surveys. Biden has made what he says is Trump’s mishandling of the pandemic — which has now caused the deaths of 166,000 Americans — a centrepiece of his attacks on the president.

While the president has charged that if Biden were elected he would cause everything from a stock market crash to a surge of crime in the suburbs, he has largely avoided taking Biden on when it comes to the pandemic, choosing instead to deflect blame for the deaths and economic damage. On Wednesday, when the US reported 1,499 new coronavirus deaths, the highest number in a single day since May, Trump pushed for schools and businesses to continue opening and called for college football to go on despite several leading leagues deciding to cancel this year’s season.

On Thursday, he again dismissed critics who say he was too slow to react to the pandemic in the US, saying on Fox Business Network that “nobody blames me.”

Landslide kills 5 in Nepal; over 30 missing

KATHMANDU TLTP

At least five people died and over 30 went missing in a landslide at Jugal Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchowk district in central Nepal on Friday, a local government official and police said. "Five people have been taken out dead from the landslide while 33 people are still missing," Pratap Lama, chairperson of ward-2 at Jugal Rural Municipality, said on Friday.

Police said the village, where the incident happened, lies in a remote area of the district where there is no road connection, with a walking distance of more than four hours from the nearby police office. "The incident happened in the early morning on Friday as the falling hill damaged 37 houses in the village over 100 houses.

It is the dry landslide as there was no rainfall in the area," said Lama. "After the incident, five injured persons have been airlifted to nearby heath centre and capital Kathmandu," Superintendent of Police Prajwol Maharjan, chief of District Police Office, Sindhupalchhowk, said on Friday. Police said that their personnel and Nepal Army personnel were currently engaged in rescue efforts along with local people. The police said they were also preparing to take the necessary equipment to the village to remove the landslide and find the missing people. Sidhupalchowk, sharing a border with China and serves as an important trade route between two countries, appears to be geologically vulnerable to landslides since the deadly earthquake in April 2015. "Sindhupalchowk sees several landslides every year. Geology is very vulnerable to the landslides," said Maharjan.

US seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela: report WASHINGTON TLTP

The United States seized the cargo of four tankers for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela as it steps up its campaign of maximum pressure against the two heavily sanctioned allies, news reports said.

A senior American official told local media that no military force was used in the seizures and the ships were not physically confiscated. Rather, US officials threatened ship owners, insurers and captains with sanctions to force them to hand over their cargo, which now becomes US property.

Prosecutors alleged the four ships were transporting to Venezuela 1.1 million barrels of gasoline. But the tankers never arrived at the South American country and then went missing. Two of the ships later reappeared near Cape Verde, a second US official said.

Both officials agreed to discuss the

sensitive diplomatic and judicial offensive only if granted anonymity.

Iran's ambassador to Venezuela said reports that Iranian tankers had been seized are "yet another lie and psychological warfare" by the United States.

"The ships are not Iranian, and neither the owner nor its flag has anything to do with Iran," Hojat Soltani said on Twitter in Spanish.

"This is another lie and act of psychological warfare perpetrated by the US propaganda machine," Soltani said. "The terrorist #Trump cannot compensate for his humiliation and defeat by Iran using false propaganda."

It is not clear where the vessels - the Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna - or their cargoes currently are, but the ship captains weeks ago turned off their tracking devices to hide their locations, said Russ Dallen, a Miami-based partner at brokerage Caracas Capital Markets, who follows ship movements.

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

MohaMMad Rizwan lifts Pakistan on tRuncated day against england

a

AGENCIES

N astute half-century by Pakistan No. 7 Mohammad Rizwan threw light on an otherwise dreary second day of the second Test against England. Rizwan's unbeaten knock of 60 pushed his side towards something that might be approaching a par score given the challenging conditions at a damp and overcast Ageas Bowl.

After a laudable performance behind the stumps in the opening Test of this series at Old Trafford, wicketkeeper-batsman Rizwan resumed unbeaten on 4 having come in with his side 120 for 5 shortly before rain and bad light stopped play on Thursday evening.

He and Babar Azam added 29 runs in the hour of play to lunch after more bad weather had delayed the start by 90 minutes. In that time, Azam saw off four overs from James Anderson in which Anderson conceded only four runs but ended his spell not looking like taking a wicket.

By the first break, Pakistan were 155 for 5 and Azam was five runs shy of his half century. Stuart Broad struck in the third over back, however, with a lovely ball on fourth-stump which drew a nick and sent Azam on his way, caught behind, for 47.

Rizwan survived a chance on 14 when he top-edged a pull off Broad that found the tip of a diving Jos Buttler's glove, although it would have been a sensational catch had he managed to gather it in.

Having struggled to make inroads, England's bowlers came back with an apparent plan to bowl fuller

after lunch and it paid dividends for Anderson, who pitched the ball up and had Yasir Shah caught behind slashing at his outswinger.

That gave Anderson his third scalp after his two the previous day and, with Pakistan 171 for 7, it really was down to Rizwan - who by that stage was yet to reach 20 himself - to produce an innings of note.

Shaheen Shah Afridi survived after edging Sam Curran to first slip, with Joe Root seemingly uncertain

whether the ball had carried. Although the soft signal from the on-field umpires was out, replays suggested the ball had indeed touched the ground, prompting third umpire Richard Illingworth to give Afridi a reprieve.

Afridi ended up being run out by a brilliant direct hit from Dom Sibley after taking off for a single when there was no run to be had. With Rizwan sending his partner back, Sibley swooped on the ball from third slip and threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end as Afridi

RB Leipzig beat Atletico Madrid to play their first ever UCL Semi Final SPORTS DESK RB Leipzig beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 to book their position into their first Champions League semifinals on Thursday against Paris-Saint Germain.

21-year-old American youngster Tyler Adam’s late winner in the 88th minute made the difference after Joao Felix’s penalty had previously cancelled Dani Olmo’s opener for RB Leipzig.

RB Leipzig officially formed just 11 years ago after Red Bull's billionaire founder took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt and the team has been climbing the footballing ladder

ever since. "Great emotions for the club and our team. As a manager you have to look forward," RB Leipzig's 33-yearold coach Julian Nagelsmann told BT Sport after the match.

"We have to prepare for the next game. There's not a lot of time to celebrate but maybe we will have a beer in the hotel then we focus on PSG. The club (RB Leipzig) develops very fast since. We reached the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League three times. We're still in the Champions League. The progress is faster than usual," he added.

Nagelsmann set a record for being

the youngest manager to manage his team into playing a Champions League semi-final. Atletico were clear favorites for the game as RB Leipzig’s star striker Timo Werner, who scored 34 goals in 2019-20, was missing as he moved to Chelsea. But, under the circumstances, an unlikely hero sprang up.

Tyler Adam became the first American to score in a champions league quarter-final as his shot took a wicked deflection off Stefan Savic. "We're not fazed by these moments," Adams said afterward. "We keep on setting expectation, and then pass it. We're only going to get better.”

Liverpool’s Alexandar Arnold crowned ‘Young Player of the Season 2019-20’ SPORTS DESK Liverpool defender Trent AlexanderArnold has seen off competition from Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Chelsea's Christian Pulisic to win the Premier League's TAG Heuer Young Player of the Season award. AlexanderArnold, 21, was the only English player on the shortlist and becomes the first player to win the inaugural award. The full-back was instrumental in helping Liverpool lift their first league title in 30 years and contributed 13 assists and four goals in the league. The England international also beat United's Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood, Chelsea's Mason Mount, Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and Sheffield United's Dean Henderson to the prize.

The Premier League saw a rise in the number of young English players

SpoRTS 11

tried in vain to get back. Playing his eighth Test, Rizwan responded to his task by batting intelligently with the tailenders while adding runs where he could, including a glorious shot off Chris Woakes over square leg that looked like going all the way before it dropped inside the rope. He took another two boundaries in three balls from Curran, one of them a bold little hoick over the slips. Rizwan managed the strike well, bringing up his half-century with a dash for two after pressing Broad into the off side with Mohammad Abbas stretching to make his ground on the return. The partnership added 39 in ten overs, as England struggled in their attempts to separate Rizwan and No. 10 Abbas.

Abbas faced 19 balls for his 2 but was eventually out to the first ball he faced after bad light had prompted tea to be taken early, plumb lbw to give Broad his third.

That was five overs after England had taken the second new ball and Broad sent down just five deliveries more before the players left the field again for bad light and stumps were called more than an hour and half later.

Rizwan, with a second Test fifty under his belt following his highest score of 95 against Australia last November, will resume with more work to do, especially in the face of England's bowlers looking to wrap the Pakistan innings up. He may also still have work to do to silence a small band of critics, who have treated him harshly since he replaced former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as first-choice wicketkeeper. But, with the greater goal of trying to help his side in their quest to level the series in mind, he cannot possibly be faulted.

Serena beats Venus in their 31st career match LEXINGTON AGENCIES

The 23-time major tennis champion Serena Williams came from behind to book her place into the quarter finals of the Top Seed Open after defeating Venus Williams in their 31st career match. Former world number one, playing in only her first event since February, came from a set down to beat her sister 3-6 6-3 6-4. Serena also trailed 4-2 in the deciding set but claimed four straight games to win a high-quality match in Kentucky.

Serena has now won 19 of their total clashes, while Venus’s wins lie at 12.

"I honestly don't know how I was able to pull it out at the end," Serena said, adding that “I have been losing a lot of those tight sets so I said to myself that I really needed to win, just for my game and my confidence."

Top seed Serena broke seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus, 40, in the first game of the match but faded to lose the first set 6-3 in 41 minutes, before taking the second by the same score in 50 minutes.

Serena, 38, broke first in the final set but Venus fought back and looked to be on course for victory at 4-2 up.

However, Serena, who also had to come from behind against Bernarda Pera in her opening match, hit some crucial winners to reach the last eight of her first tournament in six months.

She will face either fellow American Shelby Rogers or Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez in the quarter-finals of the behind-closed-doors event. In Thursday's first last-16 tie, Switzerland's Jil Teichmann beat Ukrainian fifth seed Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-2.

"I didn't come here to win for the first time in my career, I just came here to get some matches and see what happens," added Serena, who is preparing to play in this year's US Open, which starts on 31 August.

Her chances of winning a 24th Grand Slam singles title in New York have been boosted by several top-20 players withdrawing from the event. Defending champion Bianca Andreescu, who beat Serena in last year's final, became the latest to pull out of the tournament in New York on Thursday.

Arsenal sign Willian from Chelsea on Free Transfer SPORTS DESK

last season with more than a third who started eligible for selection for the national team.

A total of 62 homegrown players made their debuts last season -- 21 more

than the 2019-20 campaign.

Alexander-Arnold is also up for the Premier League Player of the Season alongside teammates Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane.

Arsenal have signed Brazil midfielder Willian on a three-year deal after the 32-year-old's contract with Chelsea expired. The Blues had offered a new contract to the player but were unwilling to match what the Gunners were willing to pay him.

"I believe he's a player that can really make a difference for us," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

"We had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions."

Willian made 339 appearances for Chelsea after signing from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala for £30m in 2013.

He won five major honours with the Blues, including two Premier League titles and the Eu-

ropa League, and was voted the club's players' player of the year twice. "He is a player that gives us a lot of versatility - he can play in three or four different positions," added Arteta. "He has the experience of everything in the football world but still has the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs,” he said adding that "I have been really impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how much he wanted to come." Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last season, while Chelsea were fourth and secured a Champions League spot.

However, the Gunners did beat their London rivals in the FA Cup final - a game Willian missed through injury - to make sure of a place in the Europa League.

Steven Smith: The nuts and bolts of a one-of-a-kind batsman SPORTS DESK Steven Smith's unorthodox technique has confounded viewers worldwide, but its effectiveness is undoubted: he averages 62.84 after 73 Tests, and he's well on his way to becoming an all-time great. So how does he do it? Speaking to the Cricketer, the Australia batsman explained how he arrived at his current technique and why it works for him.

HITTING THE BALL WHERE THERE ARE NO FIELDERS: "I remember Trent Woodhill, who I worked with for a few years when I was like 16 and I think I had a hit with him, I reckon when I was 20-21 as well. I remember

him saying to me… he was throwing me balls and I hit a ball [on] off stump straight down the ground. He's like why don't you just hit that through the leg side, and I was like, I don't know, that's kind of textbook, almost, to hit a ball on off stump kind of straight down the ground; why do I hit it to the leg side? I remember him saying something like, why don't you just hit it where the fielder isn't, essentially, you know you've got both options: you can hit the ball straight or you can hit it to where the fielder isn't, and that's batting, isn't it? You're trying to hit the gaps and batting is about scoring runs so why play a ball that's on middle stump to mid-on and hit it straight to

mid-on, why don't you whip it through midwicket for four? So it was finding the sort of balance."

FROM BAT-DOWN TO BAT-UP: "At that stage I was also working a lot on my defence. That was really important to me, knowing where my off stump was, leaving the ball. I used to have a bit of a different set-up. I used to tap my bat just before the bowler bowled the ball and at that stage I think my head was kind of dropping, so my eyes weren't level, my balance wasn't quite right. So I started to just hold the bat up. Everything just sort of felt a lot better. I had my eyes level and everything felt a lot more stable at the crease."

CMYK

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: "I was batting on middle stump at that stage like I'd done pretty much for my whole career. It wasn't until I got another opportunity playing for Australia, I played the whole Ashes over in England [in 2013] where I just batted on middle stump and played the way I had been playing, and then we came back home for the Ashes series here [in 2013-14] and played the same way the first two Tests. And then got to the WACA and I remember Stokesy [Ben Stokes] and Broady [Stuart Broad] in particular were bowling a fair bit back of a length and quite short at me, and I just wasn't getting myself in a good position.

Saturday, 15 August, 2020

NEWS

pakIstaN, palestINe, IraN, tUrkey deNoUNce Uae-Israel deal ISLAMABAD/WEST BANK/ TEHRAN/ANKARA

p

STAFF REPORT/AGENCIES

AKISTAN, Palestinian leadership, Hamas, Tehran and Ankara have blasted the Israel-UAE agreement to establish diplomatic ties.

The Foreign Office (FO), in the statement said, “We have noted the joint statement announcing agreement of UAE and Israel to have full normalisation of relations. This is a development with far-reaching implications.”

“Pakistan has an abiding commitment to the full realisation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination. Peace and stability in the Middle East region is also Pakistan’s key priority,” read the statement.

ISLAMABAD SAYS DEAL TO HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS; ABBAS TERMS IT BETRAYAL OF JERUSALEM, AL-AQSA AND THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE; HAMAS SAYS AGREEMENT SERVES ZIONIST NARRATIVE; TEHRAN DUBS PACT AS STRATEGIC STUPIDITY & DAGGER IN BACK OF MUSLIMS; ANKARA SAYS HISTORY WON’T FORGIVE THIS HYPOCRISY Reiterating Pakistan’s long-standing stance on the issue for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, the FO said, “Pakistan has consistently supported a twostate solution in accordance with the relevant UN [United Nations] and OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation] resolutions as well as international law.”

“Pakistan’s approach will be guided by

JordaN Urges Israel to eNgage IN dIrect, serIoUs peace talks AMMAN AGENCIES Jordan has urged Israel to engage in direct and serious peace talks after a peace deal was announced between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel. The remarks were made by Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who said Israel has to choose either the just peace that ends the occupation and resorts to the two-state solution or continuing the conflict that is exacerbated by Israel’s violations to the legitimate Palestinian rights.

Safadi said in a statement that the deal would be associated with Israel’s actions in the post-agreement period. The minister said that if Israel deals with the agreement as a means to end the occupation and meet the Palestinians’ rights to freedom and a viable and independent state along the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the region will move ahead towards realising peace. Otherwise, Israel will deepen the conflicts that will jeopardise the entire region’s security. The minister said that Israel’s decision to freeze the annexation of Palestinian lands mentioned in the agreement with the UAE has to be followed by stopping its illegitimate procedures. He said that the freezing decision must be immediately followed by embarking on direct, serious, and effective negotiations to realise peace according to the two-state solution, the international law, and the Arab peace initiative. The just and comprehensive peace constitutes an Arab strategic option and importance for the regional and international peace and security, he said, which will never be attained as long as the occupation exists and Israel persists on its policies that kill the two-state solution and blow the pillars of the peace process. He also reiterated that the region is on a crossroad currently, either a peace that ends the occupation and meets all the legitimate rights of Palestinians, or a conflict. He said that Jordan supports any real efforts that can contribute to realising just and comprehensive peace. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994.

our evaluation of how Palestinians’ rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional peace, security and stability are preserved,” the statement concluded.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the accord. “The Palestinian leadership rejects and denounces the UAE, Israeli and US trilateral, surprising announcement,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a senior adviser to Abbas.

Abu Rudeineh, reading from a statement outside Abbas’s headquarters in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said the deal was a “betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause.”

Hanan Ashrawi, an outspoken member of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s (PLO) executive committee who has served in various leadership positions in Palestine, said the UAE’s announcement is the equivalent of being “sold out” by “friends”.

Hamas rejected the US-brokered deal establishing formal ties between Israel and the UAE in exchange for Israel dropping its plans to annex land in the occupied West Bank, saying it did not serve the cause of the Palestinians.

“This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause, it rather serves the Zionist narrative. This agreement encourages the occupation [by Israel] to continue its denial of the rights of our Palestinian people, and even to continue its crimes against our people,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

“What is required is to support the legitimate struggle of our people against the occupation and not to establish agreements with this occupier, and any annexation we will face by a Palestinian confrontation that is supported by the Arabs and internationally, and not by signing normalisation agreements with them [Israel].”

Terhan termed the Israel-UAE agreement as a “dangerous” step, and warned that it would only bolster the Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the deal as a “dangerous step” and “strategic stupidity” by both sides.

The ministry stated that “the oppressed people of Palestine and all free nations of the world will never normalise relations with the occupier and the criminal government of Israel.” The UAE and other countries that will support the deal must “accept responsibility for all of the consequences of this action,” the ministry warned.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a scolding statement that the UAE has betrayed Palestinians in pursuit of selfish interests when it decided to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. Ankara said the Palestinian people were right in strongly rejecting the deal announced by the UAE, Israel and the US, under which the Emirati side would normalize its relationship with Israel.

Through its selfish machinations Abu Dhabi has undermined the Middle East peace talks and betrayed the Palestinians, the statement said.

“The history and conscience of the nations in the region will not forget and will never forgive this hypocritical act by the UAE, which betrayed the Palestinian cause for the sake of their narrow interests and is now trying to present it as a selfless step,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The trilateral declaration, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, proclaims the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, making the Emirates the first Gulf state to do so. A number of deals on bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed by the two nations soon.

It also states that Israel would “suspend”

UN chief hails pact to suspend West Bank annexation NEW YORK AGENCIES UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), under which Israel will suspend its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, said his spokesman.

The joint statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan suspends Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank, something the secretary-general has consistently called for, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. “The secretary-general welcomes this agreement, hoping it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law, and bilateral agreements,” it said. Annexation would effectively close the door for a renewal of negotiations and destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian state and the two-state solution, it noted. Peace in the Middle East is more important than ever as the region confronts the grave threats of Covid-19 and radicalisation.

The secretary-general will continue to work with all sides to open further possibilities for dialogue, peace, and stability said the statement.

the proposed annexation of part of occupied Palestinian territories, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed that part, saying there was “no change” in his government’s plans.

By signing a deal with Israel, the UAE became the first Gulf State and the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to agree on establishing formal diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv. The deal was praised by Israel and the US. President Donald Trump hailed it as a “huge breakthrough” for both countries.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, confirmed that he had only agreed to delay the annexation of the West Bank, which still remains “on the table.” He said that his government would “never give up our rights to our land.”

Afghanistan govt begins to release Taliban prisoners ahead of peace talks KABUL AGENCIES

Prospects of peace in Afghanistan after 19 long years of war brightened on Friday when Kabul started releasing 400 Taliban prisoners who were described by President Ashraf Ghani as a “danger to the world” on Friday.

The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners. A group of 80 prisoners was released on Thursday, said National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal, tweeting that it would “speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire”.

The peace talks will be held in Doha,

Qatar. The release of the 400 militants was approved at the weekend by a gathering of thousands of prominent Afghans called by Ghani after the authorities initially refused to free the militants.

The prisoners include some 44 insurgents of particular concern to the United States and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks, according to an official list seen by AFP. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier this week he had lobbied for a former Afghan army soldier, who went rogue and killed three Australian colleagues, to stay in jail.

Ghani warned on Thursday that the hardened criminals were “likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world”.

“Until this issue, there was a consensus on the desirability of peace but not on the cost of it,” Ghani said in a video conference or-

ganised by a US think tank. “We have now paid the major instalment on cost and that means peace will have consequences,” he added, noting that the release of “hardened criminals” and drug dealers was “likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world”. A prisoner swap formed part of a deal signed by the Taliban and the United States in February, which saw Washington agree to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in return for a pledge from the insurgents to hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

The Afghan government was excluded from that deal.

The February deal had stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 militants in return for 1,000 Afghan government prisoners held by the insurgents. While Kabul released the bulk of Taliban prisoners as agreed in the deal, it had baulked at freeing the final 400.

Israel-UAE deal: A timeline of the failed peace initiatives in the Middle East JERUSALEM AGENCIES

The Trump-brokered deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday is followed by decades of failed peace initiatives that were aimed to bring about harmony between Israel, Palestine, and Arab countries.

Most Arab nations, including the UAE, have not recognised Israel or had formal diplomatic or economic relations with it because of what they regard as Israel’s thwarting of Palestinians’ aspirations for a state of their own. Here are the main initiatives undertaken by the parties themselves and international mediators since the 1967 Middle East War, when Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Sinai peninsula and the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights: 1967 – UN Security Council Resolution 242 After the Six-Day War, UN Security Council Resolution 242 calls for the “withdrawal of Israeli

armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict” in return for all states in the area to respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

The resolution is the foundation for many peace initiatives but its imprecise phrasing – is the reference to all territories or just some? – has complicated efforts for decades.

1978 – Camp David agreement Israel’s Menachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat agree on a framework for regional peace that calls for an Israeli withdrawal in stages from Egypt’s Sinai and a transitional Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza.

1979 – Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty The first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country sets out plans for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Sinai within three years. In 1981, Sadat was assassinated by revolutionaries at a military parade in Cairo.

1991 – Madrid summit

Representatives of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) attend a peace conference.

No agreements are reached but the scene is set for direct contacts.

1994 – Israel-Jordan agreement Jordan becomes the second Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel. But the treaty is unpopular and pro-Palestinian sentiment is widespread in Jordan.

1993-1995 – Declaration of Principles/Oslo Accords Israel and the PLO hold secret talks in Norway that result in interim peace accords calling for the establishment of Palestinian interim self-government and an elected council in the West Bank and Gaza for a five-year transitional period, Israeli troop withdrawals, and negotiations on a permanent settlement.

2000 – Camp David summit U.S. President Bill Clinton convenes Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak at Camp David. They fail to agree. Another Palestinian uprising ensues.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk