EpaperLHR_22-4-2

saturday, 2 april, 2022 i 29 shaʽban, 1443 i Rs 15.00 i Vol Xii no 274 i 12 pages i lahore edition

Punjab governor accePts cM buzdar’s resignation g

Sarwar SummonS Punjab aSSembly SeSSion today to elect new chief miniSter

LAHORE staff report

P

unjab Governor chaudhry muhammad Sarwar has accepted the resignation of chief minister usman buzdar and convened a session of the provincial legislative assembly on Saturday (today) at 11:00 am to elect his successor. “in exercise of powers conferred under article 109 of the constitution, i summon the 40th session of provincial assembly for the election of the chief minister under article 130,” the notification read. with the resignation of buzdar, his cabinet comprising members from the 17th legislative assembly stands dissolved until the election of a new chief

minister. buzdar submitted his resignation to the prime minister on march 28 as the ruling Pakistan tehreek-i-insaf (Pti) party announced Punjab assembly Speaker chaudhry Pervaiz elahi as its candidate for the post of the provincial chief executive to save his governments in Punjab and islamabad. in exchange for the chief ministership, elahi’s Pakistan muslim league-Quaid (Pml-Q) agreed to put its weight behind embattled imran Khan, who is facing a no-trust move against him by the unified opposition. buzdar submitted his resignation the same day the opposition in the Punjab assembly moved a no-confidence motion to remove him from office.

122 lawmakers from the Pakistan muslim league-nawaz (Pml-n) and

coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,524,973

LAST UPDATED AT 9:16 AM ON APRIL 1-4-2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

4

180

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,485,924 30,359 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

575,331

505,054

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

219,062

35,474

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

43,269/11,708

135,075

seven from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) signed the motion before submitting it to the office of the speaker, said rana mashhood ahmad Khan of the Pml-n. the assembly of the 371-seat house is dominated by the Pti whose government is supported by a coalition of 199 lawmakers. of these, 184 belong to the Pti, 10 to Pml-Q, one to a lesser-known Pakistan rah-i-haq Party (PrhP) and four independent mPs. whereas, the opposition, essentially the Pml-n and PPP, have 172 seats combined with 165 of them belonging to the former. elahi needs the support of 182 lawmakers to enter the office. after an abrupt exit from office three and a half years after Khan handpicked him to head the party government in the province, buzdar, a former nazim of taunsa tehsil, is likely to fade into oblivion. during his time in office, he was praised for expanding health insurance coverage to the entire population of the province, ring-fencing development funds for south Punjab and undertaking certain long-overdue soft reforms in the health and school education sectors.

Joint opposition’s candidate yet to be finalised: meanwhile, the opposition in Punjab has yet to finalise its candidate for the post of the new chief minister.

Pml-n mna javed latif earlier told a private tV channel that leader of the opposition in the Punjab assembly hamza Shehbaz or disgruntled Pti mPa aleem Khan might be the joint opposition’s candidate for the provincial chief minister. however, another Pml-n leader later told a news outlet: “as hamza’s father Shehbaz Sharif is nominated for the prime minister’s office by the joint opposition, it does not want to give two top posts to ‘one party and one family’ in the post-imran Khan scenario.”

pM says ‘establishment’ gave him three options to end political turmoil isLAmAbAd staff report

.Prime minister imran Khan has said that Pakistan’s strong ‘establishment’ gave him three options to end the ongoing political turmoil in the country; face no-trust vote in parliament, hold fresh elections or step down. “i said early election is the best option… i could never think of resigning… and for no-trust motion i believe that i will fight till the last minute,” the premier remarked.

Prime minister imran also claimed that he knew that a “foreign conspiracy” was being hatched in london to topple his government since august last year. “this game started in august [last year]… i received reports about people frequently visiting london from here [Pakistan]… and [also received] reports from agencies,” the premier said. he also alleged that Pml-n supremo nawaz Sharif, who has been living in london since 2019 for medical treatment, was plotting against his government. “he [nawaz] was frequently holding meetings with individuals who are against military and held last meeting with hussain haqqani on march 3,” imran Khan claimed.

fawad says security agencies have uncovered plot to assassinate pM isLAmAbAd

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

‘powerful’ country angered by recent visit to Russia: pM STORY ON BACK PAGE

staff report

minister for information fawad chaudhry said intelligence agencies have reported a plot to assassinate the prime minister. the security of imran Khan has since then been beefed up after these reports, he said in a shocking tweet. the tweet came days after former minister and Pakistan tehreek-i-insaf (Pti) leader faisal Vawda said that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate Khan over his refusal to “sell the country”. he made the claim on wednesday on the ary news programme “off the record” in response to a question about lettergate which the prime minister said contained “evidence” of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.

Khan raised the issue of the letter on Sunday — citing an unnamed “foreign power” — at a huge rally of his supporters in islamabad.

Vawda said there was a threat to Khan’s life but remained evasive when host

while responding to a question, Pm imran rubbished the rumours that he was mulling to de-notify army chief General Qamar javed bajwa and added that it was a “propaganda spread by Pml-n”. “i can never think of doing anything which is detrimental to our armed forces… our country needs a strong military.”

Pm imran said he will never speak against the country’s military. “despite the issues, i will never discuss them publicly because Pakistan needs a strong army and we should not do anything which causes harms to [military],” he remarked.

Speaking about the reported impasse over new spy chief’s appointment in october last year, Pm imran admitted that he wanted General faiz hameed to continue as dG iSi till winter amid fears of civil war in afghanistan. “he [General Qamar] had a different view in this regard while i was thinking as the chief executive of the country,” said the premier while dispelling the impression that his approach was based on “favouritism”.

Pm imran said he had so far not thought about giving extension to the incumbent army chief or appointing a new military head.

bilawal rejects claims of ‘foreign conspiracy theory’, asks Pm to leave with dignity STORY ON PAGE 03

Kashif abbasi asked whether the purported plan to assassinate Khan was mentioned in the letter. the former senator told abbasi the prime minister was told multiple times that bulletproof glass needed to be installed before his dais at the march 27 rally. “but, as always and as usual, he said my [death] will come when allah wills. don’t worry about it,” he quoted Khan as saying.

Us MeddlinG: in a speech delivered to the nation last night,

Khan accused the united States of meddling in internal politics — a claim quickly denied by washington — as a debate on the no-confidence motion against him in the national assembly was postponed. no prime minister has ever seen out a full term in Pakistan, and Khan is facing the biggest challenge to his rule since being elected in 2018, with opponents accusing him of economic mismanagement and foreign-policy bungling.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

shehbaz sharif censures pM imran, says ‘defeat’ imminent on sunday STORY ON PAGE 02

uS denies charge of conspiracy to oust imran from power STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

ShehbAz ShArif ceNSureS PM iMrAN, SAyS ‘defeAt’ iMMiNeNt oN SuNdAy

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NewS DeSk

EADER of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif censured Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying his “defeat was imminent” on Sunday — when the lower house is scheduled to vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier.

In a press conference, the Opposition leader said the only cure for an “arrogant and stubborn” man’s illness is to oust his government through the legal process — a no-confidence motion. Shehbaz, responding to the prime minister’s allegations of a “foreign power” threatening to oust his government, said: “I do not speak on assumptions. I speak on solid evidence.”

Talking about PM Imran Khan’s address to the nation held a day earlier where he lashed out at the Opposition for “conspiring with foreign powers”, Shehbaz said he does not listen to the premier’s speeches as he had made “abusive language” the order of the day.

But Shehbaz noted that since he is the

Opposition leader, he receives information from several sources about what an important personality has said.

“Have you no shame?” Shehbaz said in response to the prime minister’s almost 45minute long speech. The Opposition leader said during the PML-N’s government, Nawaz Sharif condemned drone attacks on every forum. In his address to the nation, the premier had claimed that he was the first politician to raise his voice against drone attacks and that no other politician had done it before him.

“His narrative of accountability has been shattered […] in the name of accountability, he took the worst political revenge against political opponents,” he added.

During the press conference, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif telephoned Shehbaz, where, the former prime minister wanted to discuss the current political developments with his brother.

But cutting the call short, Shehbaz told Nawaz that he was in the middle of a press conference and would talk to him later. “I am in a press conference […] we are in

NA Speaker Asad Qaiser issues production orders for MNA Ali Wazir NewS DeSk Ahead of voting on the controversial no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has released productions orders of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement MNA Ali Wazir, sources reported on Friday. According to a statement by the NA Secretariat, the production orders for the detained lawmaker were issued under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007. A screengrab of the production order issued by the National Assembly Secretariat. It is worth mentioning that a couple of Opposition leaders, including Mohsin Dawar, filed an instant petition at the Islamabad High Court seeking the release of Wazir to cast vote in the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan. “Under clause (3) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the speaker has summoned the National Assembly on March 25, 2022, which is currently in session at Parliament House, Islamabad,” the notification read.

The statement further mentioned that the speaker considers the presence of Ali Wazir, Member, National Assembly, during the said session [April 3] of the National Assembly “necessary”, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007 “the speaker has been pleased to summon Ali Wazir to attend the said session at the Parliament House, Islamabad.” NA speaker has further directed to produce Ali Wazir at the commencement of each sitting of the National Assembly before the Sergeant-at-Arms at the Parliament House, Islamabad, who shall, after the conclusion of the sittings deliver him into the custody, accordingly. The crucial NA session for the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan — which started after much delay on Thursday — was adjourned till Sunday 11:30am.

consultation with our allies,” he said.

As the political tensions are on the rise and the voting on the no-confidence motion is right around the corner, the prime minister took the opportunity to speak to the nation and express his thoughts.

The prime minister’s long address included accusations against the Opposition and “foreign powers”, his 25-year struggle in politics, and the need for following Islam.

The PTI effectively lost its majority in the 342-member National Assembly Wednesday when a coalition partner — MQM-P — said its seven lawmakers would vote with an opposition alliance. Before them, several other allies had switched sides.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has demanded the provision of foolproof security on April 3, the day of the no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The PML-N chief, in a letter to the interior secretary, stated that PM Imran had announced that 100,000 Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaaf supporters would arrive in the federal capital on the day of the vote, therefore

opposition members should be provided with enhanced security.

The letter further said that the district administration and the police should “perform their duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law” to ensure the security of the opposition lawmakers.

Shehbaz also demanded foolproof security on the day of the election of the new prime minister.

A copy of the letter has been sent to commissioner Islamabad, deputy commissioner and inspector general.

The joint opposition on Thursday demanded that the election of a new prime minister must be added to the agenda of the National Assembly session.

An application was submitted to the NA on behalf of Shehbaz Sharif, which read that a supplementary agenda should be issued to include the matter of electing a new premier in case the no-confidence motion was passed in the ongoing session.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that saying former prime minister Nawaz Sharif did nothing to stop

US drone attacks in Pakistan was similar to distorting history. “My leader fought Pakistan’s case against drone attacks and this is all on record,” he added.

Shehbaz said PM Imran, after returning from US visit where he met with former US President Donald Trump, had said that he brought another Cricket World Cup home, adding that the premier has damaged Pakistan’s relations with many countries.

“China has always supported Pakistan in difficult times. Who propagated against CPEC in Pakistan? The loan for Lahore Orange Line was taken at 2 per cent interest rate, not 8 per cent,” he added.

Speaking about the “threat letter”, Shehbaz said that when it arrived on March 7 then why Imran Khan remained silent for three weeks. “When the letter was written by the US then why did you invite a US representative to the OIC conference,” he questioned.

Imran says KP rejected ‘traitors’ as PTI dominates local bodies elections ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The prime minister on Friday congratulated his team after the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party appeared poised for an “overwhelming success” in the second phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Preliminary and unofficial results from 41 of 65 tehsil councils showed the party emerging victorious in at least 20.

On the remaining 21 slots of chairmen and mayors, Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) is leading in eight councils, followed by independent candidates in four, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in four, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami in two each and Awami National Party (ANP) in one council.

The results on 24 seats are awaited.

“Congratulations to [Chief Minister Mahmood Khan] & our PTI team for their overwhelming success” in the elections, Imran Khan tweeted.

The people of “KP have emphatically rejected the traitors who sold out to foreign masters,” he declared, adding the result was an “early warning to all traitors of what awaits them in their constituencies”.

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the “landslide victory” of the PTI in the elections proved the nation stood by its leader.

“Now the real decision will not be made through the no-confidence motion.

The question is whether Pakistan’s future will be decided by its people or a few sold-out politicians and their foreign masters,” he questioned.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in addition to the mayor and chairman slots in 65 city and tehsil councils, elections were also held for various seats of 1,830

village and neighbourhood councils.

A total of 28,020 candidates were in the run, out of whom 651 contested for the seats of city and tehsil council mayor and chairman. Besides, 12,980 candidates were vying for the general seats of village and neighbourhood councils, 2,668 for reserved seats for women, 6,451 for peasants, 5,213 for youth and 57 for minority seats.

In the first phase of the polls in

December in 17 districts of the province, JUI-F had bagged 23 slots of mayor and chairman of tehsil councils while PTI trailed behind with 18 seats.

Independent candidates remained successful on 10 seats of tehsil council mayors and chairmen, whereas ANP had won seven seats. Three seats were won by PML-N, two seats each by JI and Tehreek-i-Islahat Pakistan and one

by PPP.

Rasheed once again calls for early elections NewS DeSk Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid urged ‘responsible quarters’ on Friday to take the initiative and announce early elections to hold accountable those who sold their votes.

While addressing a ceremony held in Rawalpindi to confer upon the Waqar-un-Nisa College the status of a university, the interior minister added that tomorrow would be an important day in Pakistan’s politics.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan will not be defeated by elements who looted the country for decades, and have now united against his government,” he said.

“Even if the no-confidence motion is successful on Sunday, everyone is with Imran Khan.

Rawalpindi does not like those who sell their votes.”

The interior minister reiterated that he is standing with the premier like a ‘rock’. “Imran

Khan will fight against these plunderers and looters,” the minister stressed.

Rashid said he wanted for the Nullah Leh project to also be inaugurated, “but I guess people didn’t want that”.

Announcing 264 jobs and Rs300 million worth of funds for the university, Minister Rashid said that he did not know where he would be the day after tomorrow but these jobs were to be given to the daughters of

underprivileged families.

The minister lamented that it was an uphill task trying to give the medical college the status of a university. “Had to please people who no one even bothers to greet,” the minister said.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

biLAWAL rejectS cLAiMS of ‘foreigN coNSPirAcy theory’, ASkS PM to LeAve With digNity

d

NewS DeSk

ISMISSING Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations that opposition was involved in a “foreign-funded conspiracy” to topple his government, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday urged the premier to leave his office ‘respectfully’ and not look for any “facesaving”.

“The decision [to table noconfidence motion] was taken long before Imran Khan’s visit to Russia. We took many decisions during our CEC meeting in January,” he said while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

PPP Chairman further said that

Prime Minister Imran Khan was “setting the Foreign Office up in flames” by revealing the “threat memo” in public.

Meanwhile, during his press conference in the federal capital, Bilawal said the prime minister tried to make the NSC “controversial” by calling the meeting of the committee ahead of the no-confidence in a bid to save his “seat”.

The PPP chairman said that as the voting on the no-confidence motion has not taken place, it was “inappropriate” of the prime minister to call meetings of national security forums.

“The national security forums are being used as political tools to try and undermine the democratic noconfidence motion and create the red herring propaganda message for the

public,” Bilawal said.

He said that had the prime minister known how to handle such situations while in office, he would have “never” called the meetings of such high-level forums and use them for his political ends.

“If there is an actual threat to the country’s national security, then the meetings of such forums should take place. They should not be made controversial as it should be written in history that these are not controversial.” “…these should be kept far away from political matters.

But unfortunately, this person — Imran Khan — tried to make the forum controversial,” the PPP chairman said, vowing that despite the premier’s attempts, the Opposition would not allow him to become a “political

martyr”.

Bilawal said that the opposition had been struggling to oust the PTI-led government for the past three years.

“Did we know that the prime minister was going to visit Russia? Did we know that Russia was going to attack Ukraine?

Mr prime minister, at least tell people lies which sound like truth,” he remarked.

The PPP chief said that if the prime minister is refusing to see the facts, it doesn’t mean that he is not going to lose.

“If a common man had said something like what the prime minister is saying it would have been fine but when it comes from the mouth of a country’s leader, it damages the country,” he said and added that a routine diplomatic process has been made controversial.

Fawad says Shehbaz became self-appointed PM while sitting at home NewS DeSk

ruet-i-hilal committee to meet today for ramazan moon-sighting NewS DeSk The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee meeting to sight the Ramazan moon will be held on Saturday (today).

The committee’s meeting will be held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Chairman Central Ruet-iHilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. Azad said that the meeting will be attended by Peshawar’s zonal committee members and officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Met Department and SUPARCO. Meanwhile, the other zonal committees will also meet in respective cities including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Islamabad, he added. The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council had said that the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin in Pakistan on April 3 (Sunday) this year while Eid-ul-Fitr is expected on May 3. Ruet-eHilal’s Secretary-General Khalid Ejaz Mufti said: “The birth of the new moon of Ramadan is expected on April 1 at 11:24am. On 29 Shaban (April 2), the age of the moon should be at least 19 hours. In some parts of Pakistan, it would exceed 31 hours.” In a statement earlier this month, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said that there is a possibility that the Ramadan moon will be sighted on April 2. “The new moon of Ramadan, 1443 AH, will be born on [the] crossing conjunction point at 1124 PST on 01-04-2022,” a statement from the meteorological department said. “According to astronomical parameters, there is a good chance of sighting the new moon of Ramadan, 1443 AH on the evening of [April 2] i.e. on 29th of Shaban, 1443 AH,” the statement said. The PMD said that according to climate records, the weather is expected to be fair or partly cloudy in most parts of the country during the evening of April 2. In case the holy month begins in line with the PMD’s forecast, Eidul Fitr is expected to be observed either on May 3 or 2.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has become a “selfappointed prime minister while sitting at home.”

Addressing a press conference, flanked by Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, Fawad vowed that the “dream of the Opposition to oust the premier will be shattered” on Sunday when the members of the Parliament will gather in the house to vote for the no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

“Each minute of the next 48 hours is very important,” he said.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also announced that he was being given the additional charge of the law ministry tomorrow following the resignation of Barrister Farogh Naseem earlier this week. Naseem had resigned as the law minister on Wednesday after his party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) parted ways with the PTI-led coalition government and threw its weight behind the opposition ahead of a no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Along with Naseem, the MQM-P’s Aminul Haque had also resigned as the federal minister for information technology and telecommunication.

Taking a jibe at the confidence of the Opposition leaders, Fawad said that while Shahbaz is dreaming of becoming the prime minister of the country, his son [Hamza Shahbaz] is eyeing the seat of chief minister in Punjab.

Fawad further added that the government is planning to file a petition to cancel the bail orders of both Shahbaz and Hamza.

Talking about the “foreign conspiracy” under debate after PM Imran Khan claimed that the country has received a “threat letter”, the information minister said the leaders of the Opposition are part of the conspiracy.

“Pakistanis will never allow somebody sitting outside of the country to change the political dynamics here,” he said, questioning how is it possible that somebody who is living abroad initiates a movement in the Parliament.

Regarding the “threat letter”, Fawad recalled that the leader of the Opposition had said that if the government unmasks the letter they [the Opposition] will support them; however when he [Shahbaz] was invited to see the letter, he did not show up “because he knows everything regarding the letter as he is a part of the conspiracy.”

Regarding former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s statement on Thursday, when she said that the premier has “sabotaged the Pakistan-US relationship by accusing the former,” Fawad said that during PPP’s tenure, Khar did not even know the details of the drone attacks. “We will neither allow anybody to sell Pakistan nor will be bow down before anybody,” he reiterated. Speaking about the dissident PTI MNAs, the minister said that action will be taken against all these members.

He urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of the plans of foreigners to overthrow the government and how the conscience of the people is awakened.

PM approves filing references against dissident lawmakers

NewS DeSk Prime Minister Imran Khan has formally approved filing references against the dissdent lawmakers, who joined the opposition camp to support the no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly.

Development comes days after, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued show-cause notices to dissident lawmakers for joining the opposition parties.

In the notices issued on March 19, the ruling party reminded the dissidents that they were bound to follow the

directions issued by the PTI as its member. It asked the lawmakers to explain within seven days about giving the impression that they were about to leave the party.

PM Imran as chairman of the ruling PTI on Friday dismissed the responses submitted by the estranged MNAs as “unreasonable”, according to a statement issued by the ruling party.

The statement was issued after PM’s adviser on parliamentary affairs Dr Babar Awan and PTI Central Additional Secretary General Amir Mahmood Kayani held a meeting to prepare the references against the estranged lawmakers in line with the instructions of PM Imran.

The statement said documentary evidence of horse-trading will also be sent along the references to the National Assembly speaker under Article 63-A (1) of the party’s constitution.

Awan said the PM Imran has directed to take stern legal action against the “unscrupulous members”.

Constitution requires the parliamentarians to be honest and trustworthy, said the PM’ aide, adding that those who are involved in ‘horsetrading’ are not sadiq [truthful] and ameen [righteous].

03

ihc holds chief executive responsible for enforced disappearances ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said enforced disappearance is tantamount to treason that warrants registration of a treason case against those responsible. The inaction over the notorious practice, which he lamented the government failed to end, shows the government is inept, the judge declared. Balochistan, where militants have waged an insurgency against the state that has grown in profile as China develops mining there, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have long been plagued by enforced disappearances. Families say men are picked up by the security forces, disappear often for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation.

Security officials say many of the so-called disappeared have links to the militants. But actual court punishments have been rare. Justice Minallah was hearing cases involving persons purportedly gone missing including journalist Mudassar Naaru, among others, on Friday. The judge remarked that enforced disappearances in a country that is governed by a Constitution were not acceptable. If the state institutions were not under the control of the executive, then the executive would be held responsible, he said. “Why should the court not hold the chief executive responsible for the disappearances.” He observed that the disappearance evokes terrorism clauses maintaining “it amounts to treason”. The chief justice deplored that the government was not even listening to the long protesting students from Balochistan. “If people go missing, it betrays the state’s inability to protect its subjects,” he added. During the hearing, the additional attorney general (AAG) told the court that KP police and other concerned departments tried hard to find Naaru’s whereabouts. A dead body was also found near the bank of Kunhar River. But it wasn’t his, he added. On this, the judge asked was it not the failure of the state institutions to find Naaru. He also expressed hope that after this case, the federal government would take action. The AAG said the state was pursuing the case seriously. But the judge asked him to show any progress, if made, in this case. He said both federal and provincial governments were bound to resolve the issue.

THE CASE: In August 2018, Naaru — a social activist and rights defender — went on vacation to the Kaghan Valley but has since been missing. He was last spotted near the Kaghan river. Initially, his family and friends thought that he may have accidentally fallen into the river and drowned, but his body was never found. Others began speculating that Naaru may have killed himself — a claim instantly rejected by the family, saying he had no signs of despair. His family subsequently tried to register a first information report (FIR) against “unidentified persons”. When the police refused to cooperate, they were forced to approach civil rights organisations but to no avail. A few months following his disappearance, one of his friends claimed he had spotted Naaru at a detention centre for “missing persons”.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

Exports incrEasE by 17.3pc

a

GhULAm ABBAs

s per data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, Pakistan’s exports for March 2022 grew by 17.3 per cent to $2.773 billion as compared to $2.365 billion in March 2021.

As per the data, exports during the past nine months of this financial year have reached $23.332 billion as compared to $18.688 billion over the corresponding period of last fiscal year which is around 25 per cent increase.

The increase in export proceeds from July to March FY22 is mainly due to massive depreciation of rupee along with several support measures.

“Our exports are in line with our targets & we expect to achieve our yearly target”, Advisor on Commerce Razak Dawood said on Friday.

The government has projected that the annual exports target for commodities at $31.2 billion while the target for exports of services is $7.5 billion. Razak Dawood is firm

that the exporters will achieve the annual targets.

The export proceeds in March 2022 posted a growth of 17.3 per cent to $2.773 billion this year from $2.365 billion over the corresponding month of last year.

The average monthly export proceeds hover between $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion.

“We would like to congratulate our exporters for maintaining the momentum of exports under these testing times in the global market”, the advisor further said.

The ministry did not release the import figures for the month of March. “The import figures would be shared when finalized by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics”, the advisor added.

Export proceeds went up by 18 per cent to $25.294 billion in FY21 from $21.394 billion over the last year. Pakistan’s exports are in line with the targets and it is expected to achieve yearly targets.

Abdul Razak Dawood said that the import figures would be shared when finalized by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

despite waning popularity, field hockey still has place in Pakistan, says german legend Stefan Bloecher urgeS PakiStan to follow lead of itS arch-rival india and reclaim loSt glory KARAChI Agencies

Field hockey fans all across the globe still recall Germany's legendary forward Stefan Bloecher, who mesmerized generations with his dribble and feint, moves otherwise considered a forte of Asian players. Unlike other European players, who relied on long passes, the tall, broad-shouldered Bloecher would pick the ball from the middle of the ground and dribble through the D with ease and perfection, leaving the opposing defence helpless.

Bloecher, who represented the country from 1978 to 1992, first for erstwhile West Germany and then Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of the East in November 1989, spoke exclusively to Anadolu Agency about the factors that contributed to the decline of field hockey in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan.

Field hockey is the national sport of an otherwise cricket-obsessed Pakistan, which has dominated the game for decades, most notably from 1948 to 1994.

Bloecher, who is currently in Pakistan, believes that a lack of government patronage and modern in-

frastructure, dwindling sponsorships, a decaying domestic structure, and "too much popularity and glamour" of cricket have all contributed to the gradual decline of field hockey in the South Asian country, pushing the former sport giant to 18th place in the world ranking. Another factor, he added, is Pakistan's "huge size and population," which makes it difficult to find and gather quality hockey players.

"In countries like Germany, (the) Netherlands, or Belgium, which are way smaller (than Pakistan), it's quite easy to gather hundreds of top-class players in one place. But, it's too difficult for Pakistan, which, in addition to its huge size and population, lacks resources and finance," he observed.

Whereas, Australia, which is even bigger than Pakistan in terms of land, has three to four top-class hockey centres where 200-300 quality players are gathered, and education and other facilities are pro-

vided. "This is not the case in Pakistan," he added.

"Pakistan needs more Astroturf (artificial grass surface) and more (hockey) sticks to distribute among youths, especially at the school and university levels, and then pick a couple of good players from each institution and give them a chance to play at club level.

That's exactly what we do in Germany," added Bloecher.

Hockey still Has place in pakistan: Pakistan is the most successful and only side to have won the World Cup four times, in 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994.

Besides, the country have also won three Olympic gold medals -- in 1960, 1968, and 1984 -- as well as eight Asian Games and four Champions Trophy tournaments.

However, the sport for which the country were once famed is now a picture of apathy in Pakistan.

Pakistan pavilion wins Silver Award for interior design at Dubai's Expo 2020 DUBAI Monitoring report

An international jury has given Pakistan the Silver Award for interior design out of the 192 pavilions at

Expo 2020, Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said.

Last week, the Pakistan pavilion won the BURJ CEO Award for “Best Pavilion Exterior Design.”

The pavilion has been visited by over one million

people since its launch in October last year.

“We would like to thank our Creative team, especially Ms Noor Jahan for (Interior) and Mr Rashid Rana for (Exterior) for their creativity in showing actual Pakistan to a broader audience,” Dawood said.

He also appreciated the team at the Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Pakistan Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as Pakistan’s ambassador to the sheikhdom.

HACPL achieves milestone of producing 0.5m units

British-Pakistani lawyer wins case in London court PR

LAhoRe pr

Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited (HACPL) celebrated the 500,000 units of cumulative automobile production at its factory in Manga Mandi, Lahore. At the ceremony, Honda Civic 2022 rolled off from the production line, commemorating the 500,000th unit produced. This remarkable milestone symbolizes Pakistani customers’ trust and strong support to Honda Pakistan. The company will continue its significant contribution to the country’s automobile business and demonstrates its commitment to long-term investment in the country. Mr. Aamir H. Shirazi, Chairman Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura, President & CEO: Mr. Katsumi Kasai Vice President Production:, Mr. Maqsood ur Rehman Rehmani, Vice President Admin & HR and other top management attended the ceremony together with HACPL associates. Mr. Aamir H. Shirazi - Chairman Honda Atlas Cars

CMYK

(Pakistan) Limited, expressed his extreme delight on reaching this milestone and appreciated the HACPL team on this auspicious occasion. He said, I am grateful to our customers for their belief in our innovative products. Honda inducted many recordbreaking models in Pakistan which are loved by our customers. Today Honda has fulfilled 500,000 dreams of Pakistanis and will fill many more dreams in coming days.

Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura said, “I would like to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to Pakistani customers for their trust and strong support of almost 3 decades, which made HACPL achieve another important production milestone. We will continue to provide best quality products that go beyond the customers’ expectations.” HACPL started business operations in 1994 with the launch of Civic, and added the City model to the production line-up in January 1997. HACPL achieved its 100,000-unit production milestone in December 2005, and the 200,000-unit production milestone in July 2012.

A landmark decision from the High Court of Justice London reported on 16 March 2022 whereby an Afghan national claimant represented by famous Human Rights lawyer/Solicitor Mr Amer Manzoor, from Pakistani origin practicing in London and Counsel Mr Mansoor Fazli from 12 Old Square. This case of AHN, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 582 is of important nature because according to the Hugh mercer QC sitting as a deputy Judge of the High Court London’s viewimpact other similar cases. The Defendant in this case was Secretary of the State for the Home Department UK. The SSHD refused to grant the Claimant British Citizenship on good character grounds. The Claimant, a doctor’s naturalization application was refused because he was a member.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Fawad says security agencies have uncovered plot to assassinate PM contInued from page 01 The government is also battling to contain a rise in militancy by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Fighting for his political life, Khan addressed the nation, appearing to blunder when he named the United States as the origin of a “message” he said showed meddling in Pakistan’s affairs. “America has — oh, not America but a foreign country I can’t name. I mean from a foreign country, we received a message,” he said.

Reports appearing in the media have said the message was in a briefing letter from Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, recording a senior US official telling him they felt relations would be better if the prime minister left office. “They say that ‘our anger will vanish if Imran Khan loses this no-confidence vote’,” he said.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters there was “no truth” to the allegations.

“We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect (and) we support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law,” Price said.

Khan has long complained that Pakistan was asked to sacrifice too much in joining Washington’s “war on terror”, launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, with too little recognition or reward. “Has anyone said ‘thank you Pakistan’ for what we did?” he asked in Thursday’s address.

Khan spoke off-the-cuff for around 45 minutes, touching on several topics including his efforts to get Islamophobia recognised as a global threat, and charting an independent path for Pakistan on the world stage.

DPC meeting for NHMP officers held Departmental Promotion Committee meeting of National Highways & Motorway Police was held under the chairmanship of Federal Secretary for Communications Zaffar Hasan at Ministry of Communications, Islamabad. The IG NHMP, Inam Ghani and Senior Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communications were also present. In this meeting (06) Chief Patrol Officers/DSP (BPS-17) have been promoted to the rank of Superintend of Police (BPS-18), which was formally approved by the Secretary for Communications. Promotions were based purely on seniority and merit in accordance with the rules. Officers promoted to the rank of SP are Farrukh Raza, Syed Ahmad Jawad Shah, Atif Shehzad, Javed Iqbal, Faisal Akram and Zahid Nazir. The Secretary for Communications congratulated IG NHMP and acknowledged the exemplary performance of promoted officers. He advised promoted officers to work hard with dedication for the goodwill of the department. The Inspector General, Inam Ghani congratulated the newly promoted officers and he expects that promoted officers will enhance the traffic discipline and make the Motorways and Highways even more safe and secure.

Moreover, he said that cutting edge technology is being utilized to enhance performance of Motorway Police. Secretary Communications Zafar Hasan and IG Inam Ghani expressed best wishes for the promoted officers and hoped that these officers would serve the people with devotion, selfless service, honesty and professionalism. PR

Privatisation Commission holds ceremony for sale of Heavy Electric Complex

Privatisation Commission hosted the signing ceremony for sale of Heavy Electric Complex (HEC) to IMS Engineering (IMS).

This is the first entity-level privatisation in the country in seven years and this was the fifth attempt to sell HEC since 2006. Per transaction structure approved by the Government, all 96.6% shares of the company were offered for sale in a competitive open-bidding process. HEC is owned by State Engineering Corporation (SEC) which is under the administrative control of Ministry of Industries and Production (MOIP). The winning bid of IMS at Rs. 99.999 per share will result in Rs. 1.4 billion of proceeds for the government. Additionally, IMS will assume all liabilities of the company. PEL and Waves-Singer were unsuccessful bidders. The signing ceremony at the office of PC was attended by officials of PC, MOIP, SEC, IMS, Bank of Khyber and advisors BridgeFactor and AxisLaw. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Mahmoodul Haq, CEO of IMS stated, “We are extremely delighted to sign the agreement to acquire HEC and are excited about the prospects of IMS Heavy in the future.

Combined with IMS Engineering and IMS Electric, we will be the only vertically-integrated end-to end electrical contracting and supply company in Pakistan. We value HEC’s personnel and will grow the workforce to support our investment. We will not only serve the power transformer needs in Pakistan but also export to regional markets. We have also planned for researchdriven product line expansion from power transformers to grid stations in coming years. PR

05

PM sAys ‘EstAblisHMENt’ gAvE HiM tHrEE oPtioNs to END PolitiCAl turMoil W contInued from page 01

HEN asked if he still enjoyed cordial ties with the military chief, the premier said, “The relations are fine”.

Yesterday, PM Imran had said he was paying the price in the shape of a “foreign conspiracy hatched by the United States” to topple the incumbent government through the opposition’s no-confidence motion for pursuing an “independent foreign policy”.

In an address to the nation, he

stated that on March 7 the government received a message from a foreign country through Pakistan’s ambassador there, which said that “they would pardon Pakistan’s all misgivings if Imran Khan was ousted. If happened otherwise, Pakistan would have to face difficulties”.

His administration late on Thursday night lodged a formal protest with the US over a threatening letter that warned of dire consequences if the opposition’s no-confidence motion against PM Imran failed.

The acting US envoy in Islam-

abad was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over the “threatening” letter, hours after the country’s top decision-making body on national security voiced concerns over the issue during a meeting chaired by the premier.

PM Imran, in today’s interview’ said his life was in danger because his opponents “know that I will not back down or sit quietly”.

The prime minister said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari after coming into power will abolish the National

Accountability Bureau (NAB) to end the accountability drive launched against them by his administration.

“No one has harmed the country as much as Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari and they both wreaked havoc in Pakistan… come what may I will not give them NRO [deal],” he added.

PM Imran said that Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam publicly spoke against military. “But I will never speak against the army because our country needs strong military otherwise it will be disintegrated.”

ADB reiterates support to PSW initiative

Islamabad PR

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) was honored to host Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Pakistan, Mr. Yong Ye for a briefing on the implementation of the Single Window system. Mr. Ye was also updated on the Trade Information Portal of Pakistan (TIPP) which rolled out on March 31, 2022. The ADB country partner-

ship strategy, 2021–2025 for Pakistan focuses on three priorities: improving economic management, building resilience, and boosting competitiveness and private sector development.

ADB is supporting the development of PSW, which automates and integrates cross border trade related government processes under a single digital platform to ease international trade. Briefing Mr. Ye on the progress of the PSW, CEO PSW Mr. Aftab

Haider said, “PSW is fulfilling its commitment under the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement for the roll out of the PSW system by June 2022. The new system began rolling out in July 2021 and more than 44,000 traders are now registered with the system.

PSW has also integrated commercial banks on the PSW platform for real time exchange of financial data with the banks, Pakistan Customs and the State Bank of Pakistan”. The ADB delegation was also given a preview of the Trade Information Portal (TIP) that digitizes over 530 laws, regulations, procedures, and other trade-related measures from over 77 government agencies which can now be accessed online. “With the launch of TIPP, PSW hopes that Pakistan’s business community will have a useful tool to find the information necessary to facilitate their import-export activities” Haider said.

Ramazan Relief Package: USC to ensure selfaccountability, transparency, efficiency in operations Islamabad PR

Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC) to provide 19 staple food items at prices lower than open market under its flagship Ramzan Relief Package 2022, through its widely spread network of around 4000 retail outlets all over Pakistan.

USC has also successfully transformed itself by implementing ERP system in a short span of time.

Through one of the largest public sector digital transformation, during the month of Ramzan, USC would be able to provide exhaustive services to its customers by ensuring self-accountability, transparency and efficiency in its operations. To Discourage black marketing, it has been decided that subsidized stock will not be sold in bulk, so that maximum beneficiaries can avail the Ramzan

Relief Package.Our valued customers are requested to share their feedback via USC’s toll-free number: 0800-05590 and helpline: 051-111-123570 for further improving our services.

AJK PM inaugurates shelter home in Muzaffarabad Prime Minister AJ & K Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi along with Managing Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar inaugurates ‘Panahgah’ in Muzaffarabad for the daily wagers, labourers and other needy persons of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Panahgah was inaugurated in a gracious ceremony participated by the leading socio-political figures of the area.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Azad Jammu & Kashmir said the Prime Minister's Ehsaas Program is a comprehensive package for the poor persons and bringing a positive difference in the lives of the backward and deprived people of the country. The Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Nizai reaffirmed the government’s resolution to accommodate the vulnerable community in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He also acknowledged the propoor services of PBM through the country.

Speaking the audience, Managing Director PBM, Malik Zaheer Abbas told as far as 28 such Panahgah centres have been established under Prime Minister’s “Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soey” Programm, with the aim to provide overnight accommodation and breakfast in neat and clean environment for all the needy people including passengers, students and daily-wagers. Further, dinner is also served to 400 persons on daily basis in ‘Panahgah’. Managing Director PBM also visited Dar-ul-Ehsaas Centre of PBM in Muzaffarabad and met with the orphan children residing there to have an overview about the facilities. PR

Bahria University campus inaugurated in Islamabad Islamabad PR

Inauguration Ceremony of state of the art Campus of Bahria University was held at H-11 Islamabad. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI(M) S Bt was the Chief Guest at the Ceremony.

Vice Admiral (R) Kaleem Shaukat HI (M) Rector Bahria University, Engineer Waheed Ahmed Mangi Director General Planning & Development Higher Education Commission, Rear Admiral Tariq Mahmood SI (M) DG Maritime Technology Complex, Engineer Nasir Mehmood Khan Secretary/

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Registrar Pakistan Engineering Council, Ex Rectors of Bahria University, senior serving and retired Naval and Civil Officers and Dean & Faculty Members Bahria School of Engineering and Applied Sciences were also present on this auspicious occasion. During the Welcome Address, Rector Bahria University Vice Admiral (R) Kaleem Shaukat HI (M) apprised the audience that BU’s H-11 Campus has been dedicated for faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He also informed that the campus covers an area of 4 acres which comprises of two Academic Blocks, Girls Hostel with accommodation capacity of around 184 female students, 22 fully

equipped Lecture Halls, 21 Labs with modern hardware and software tools, well- furnished Faculty Offices and a central two-floor Library. Moreover,

some other allied facilities such as the Auditorium, Sick Bay, Conference Room, Student Support Centre, Administration Offices, separate male.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022

06 COMMENT

The no-confidence resolution

A crown of thorns for new governent

Imran made too many enemies, too few friends

Negative economic legacy of Imran Khan

t

HE myths of economic success propagated by Pti spokesmen, like collection of unprecedented revenues, revolutionary impact of increase in exports and large foreign exchange reserves are getting unraveled one after another. the PM claimed that his government has significantly raised the collection of revenues that would allow the PM to spend more on social welfare while keeping down petrol prices and power rates. the revenue increase has taken place at the import stage and due to indirect taxes. Goods with high custom duties that included luxury items like packed foods, animal foods, master baths, cosmetics,hatchbacks and luxury cars were allowed to be imported leading to unsustainable imbalances. While the PM congratulated himself at the rise of exports these were outstripped by a rise in imports leading to a current account deficit of more than $12 billion between July 2021 and February 2022. indirect taxes contributed to higher prices, including those of sugar and edible oil, causing social unrest. the government spokesmen had all along trumpeted the increase in foreign exchange reserves. With the repayment of Chinese loans and regular debt servicing, the reserves dropped to $12.047 billionn during the week ending on March 25, leaving the next government insufficient foreign exchange to cover two months imports. the drop in foreign exchange reserves was followed by the rupee plunging to a historic low of Rs183.70 against the Us dollar in the interbank market. this would add to inflation, particularly making imports costlier. as pressure from the opposition increased, the Pti government resorted to populist policies to help imran khan politically, but were bound to have a damaging long term impact. towards the end of February the government slashed petrol prices by Rs10 and the power tariff by Rs5 as part of relief measures for the public. it was promised that there would be no increase in petrol and electricity prices until the next budget. the new government will face opposition if it reverses the measures. the government succeeding the Pti administration will inherit mind-boggling economic challenges. there is a significant outflow of foreign investments noted by the sBP. the new government will need external financing to continue to meet its obligations given the pressures on its foreign-exchange reserves. For this it will have to commit to implementing unpopular reforms.

Dr Qaisar rashiD

O

n March 28, led by shahbaz sharif, the Opposition finally moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament to remove the sitting Prime Minister (PM), imran khan, of the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan tehreeke insaf (Pti). as the opposition leader, sharif invoked article 95 of the Constitution and expressed the resolve that the PM had lost a majority in the House. Hence, the PM should cease to hold the office. the debate on the resolution would commence on March 31 and the voting would be held within seven days, probably on april34. the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the announcement of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) that it had broken ranks with the ruling coalition to join the opposition benches. Unlike Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-i-azam (PML-Q), who fell for the slot of the Punjab’s Chief Minister for the rest of the (un)expected tenure, the MQM showed prescience to secure its position for the next five years. in the “national interests”, the beaten track, the MQM entered into a pact with the opposition parties to get its offices opened in karachi (to revive political activities) and secure certain politico-administrative posts in the future set-up (to resuscitate the party’s power in karachi). Further, on the one hand, the MQM-P demanded the recovery of its missing persons, whereas on the other hand, the party observed silence on the role of its shooters trained for killing opponents mercilessly. in sindh, how the PPP deals with the militant face of the MQM in general would be a major challenge. in the Punjab, the PML(Q)’s decision to stick

NCOC closes A job well done, an epidemic over

Absolutely No Truth

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HE national Command and Operations Centre, which for two years spearheaded the nation’s fight against the covid-19 pandemic, has closed its doors after all the pandemic indicators, touched an alltime low in the country. the daily single-day tally of fresh cases, the national positivity ratio, the daily death toll and the hospitalization of critical cases, all have come down. the best thing is that these are not one-off dips, but represent part of a declining trend, which means that the epidemic has probably been tamed enough to prevent fears of widespread infection, and the sort of death and devastation that the country had experience, and which led to the setting up of the nCOC in the first place. initially, when the epidemic began, the first response was made by the national Disaster Management authority. to say the least, it was not up to the job. in fact, there are still unanswered questions about the funds it was allocated initially. the nCOC was set up to coordinate all efforts, national or provincial, civilian or military, to collate and reconcile the data, and take decisions about which areas needed being placed under lockdown. Perhaps the most important thing the nCOC did was ensure that decisions were based on science, not political expediency. that was because the person, in-charge Planning Minister asad Umar, not just kept under control any desire to make political capital out of the situation, but allowed Health services saPM Dr Faisal sultan, an expert on infectious diseases, his head. One of the main things done by Dr sultan and the nCOC was a vigorous vaccination campaign, which has seen Pakistan achieve 70 percent coverage, making it one of those few countries which have achieved herd immunity. However, before there is too much euphoria, it should not be forgotten that indicators, like the disease itself, are down, but not out. the disease is still with us. People are still dying of it. apart from the vigorous vaccination programme continuing, people should maintain social distancing and safe hygiene practices. the nation will undergo its first test during the coming Ramazan, with its taravih congregations, Eid shopping and succeeding Eid celebrations. it is to be hoped that it will pass. that will be the best tribute the nCOC can get.

The proper way was not chosen

Mustafa abDullah baloch

P

akistan is a sovereign country with an independent foreign policy having a global importance because of its regional location, sharing borders with afghanistan, iran and india. Be it the soviet-afghan war or War on terror there have been strong in-depth diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Usa. there have been frequent highs and lows in the relation between both the countries in all these years but each time it was dealt in a subtle way keeping all the diplomatic decorum in view..

On 30 august 2021 american forces left afghanistan permanently after having a long stretched 20-year war. the withdrawal was a firm decision by President Joe Biden who believed that draining dollars in a prolonged war was not in the interest of the american people and their economy. the withdrawal was abrupt and raised major concerns on humanitarian grounds, due to which the Biden administration received harsh criticism. it seemed that Washington was no longer interested in engaging with afghanistan as it laid off former afghan President ashraf Ghani and his democratically elected government, giving space to other entities in afghanistan. now, call it diplomatic failure or communication lapse, but in all this process President Biden did not bother to call Pakistan’s Prime Minister imran khan which miffed the latter and then he came up with a controversial term ‘absolutely not’.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

to the ruling party in the no-confidence resolution is a blessing in disguise for the Pakistan Muslim League nawaz (PML-n), which wants to serve the province once again to establish its political imprint undyingly. the PML(Q) missed the golden opportunity to stage a comeback in Punjab in the forthcoming elections, after which Elahi could have become the Chief Minister. the PML(Q) is bound to regret its decision. Once lost, such an opportunity is irretrievable later. the ruling Pti experienced a series of defections for three major reasons; first, a perpetual economic meltdown; second, an uninterrupted political instability; and third, a plethora of foreign policy failures. after winning the controversial elections in 2018, the Pti remained crisis-driven: after dealing with one crisis, it fell into the next one. inexperience and incompetence remained the hallmark of its rule. the Pti lawmakers expected that running the government’s affairs would be a nine-to-five job. the evening would be open for carousing. this could not be the case. in Pakistan, political instability is intrinsic to the body politics. Mistakes pile up to destabilize any ruling set-up.

Even a martial law exceeding more than five years struggled for steadiness. Pakistanis are politically impatient. Mistakes of a ruling government exacerbate their impatience. interestingly, with the slogan of “change”, the Pti came into power but the party ignored the fact that the change was the factor persistent with the Pakistanis, who are intolerant to anything stationary for a long time. the Pti itself has become a victim of the desire for 0change. another calculation went wrong was that the military would keep on buttressing the Pti. the military could have continued with its support for the Pti, if nawaz sharif had not launched into tirades from London publicly against the military leadership that had undermined his government. Overt denouncements took a heavy toll on the military’s repute, both locally and internationally. the PML(n) voter held the military responsible for the loss of their votes. Other opposition parties felt that they could also speak out their mind to the public more vehemently. the international press started questioning the role of the military in coercing political governments to do its bidding. internationally, an effort was made to channelize funds avoiding

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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khan claimed that he declined the request of the Usa to use Pakistani bases against afghan soil. immediately there was a rebuttal from the other side; Washington cleared their position by denying the allegation made by khan and claimed to have never asked for any bases as they had already pulled their forces back and were not keen to further continue the war with afghanistan. so, this was merely a political stunt by PM imran to get public support and attention from POtUs who maintained an obvious distance from khan since the day he took charge. the diplomatic gap between the two countries started widening and there was no substantial effort by khan’s Foreign Office to fill the gap. now that the PM is facing a political crisis where the joint opposition has tabled a vote of no-confidence against him in Parliament and his own legislators have joined the other side, he ushered in another controversy by waving a letter at a public gathering in islamabad claiming it was a threatening letter by a specific country. the contents of the letter and name of that country was not shared but it was obvious where the PM was hitting at. He also claimed that all this political turmoil that he is facing was an international conspiracy against him and his government because he wanted an independent foreign policy for Pakistan. He claimed that the powerful country got angry over his recent visit to Russia which is currently having a cold war with the western countries after the Russia-Ukraine war.

Later on PM shared and discussed the threat letter in the nsC (national security Committee) meeting

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

the military, which felt increasingly isolated. Even funds and training were denied. the major cause of rift between the PM Office and the military was the country’s economy. that is, how to run the economy to serve the masses, as the military was already helping the Pti to run the administration. the economy remained the weakest point of both the Pti and the military. Both considered each other responsible for the failure on the economic front. the military considered it vital to keep advising the PM Office on the need to improve the economy at the earliest. the masses were annoyed at the Pti, as the flaunted dream team of economic managers was missing.

From Day One, the PMO remained clueless on how to manage the economy. the military forced the PM Office to change the country’s economic wizards, who kept on jiggling with the economic trajectory. the practice made the mockery of the Pti. the persistent advice on the economy and frequent interfering in economic decisions created bad blood between the PM Office and the military. another cause of fissure was that the military tried to help the Pti in administrative affairs, but this attempt backfired. instead of improving administration for the Pti, the military earned the notoriety for being the backseat driver of the Pti. Created by Bilawal Bhutto, the slogan of the “prime minster select” forced the PM finally into distancing his office from any semblance of being considered subordinate to the military. the slogan drove a wedge of variance between the PM Office and the military headquarters. acrimony emerged on the appointment of the DG isi. this was unexpected for the military, which felt spent. nevertheless, the difference became the culmination of annoyance lingering on between the PM Office and the military.

Generally, committing blunders on the foreign policy front de-popularized the Pti in the westernoriented educated and ruling class, which sees its future associated with the West. the attempts of the PM Office to sweep its blunders under the carpet of national esteem have remained short of serving the purpose. Unnecessary bravado has invited more problems for Pakistan than could serve the country.

The writer may qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

be

reached

at

and decided to issue ‘strong démarche’ to that foreign country. Meanwhile, the opposition believed that this was just another political stunt and tactic by the PM to divert attention from the no-confidence motion which had already created a strong momentum. in his address to the nation the PM further talked about the threatening letter and connected it with the no-confidence motion, he even mentioned the name of that country. the very next day White House spokesperson dismissed the allegation made by the PM by saying “there is absolutely no truth to that allegation”. now, the million-dollar question is what would be the possible repercussions of this diplomatic crisis created by the head of the government himself? Pakistan is already under strict iMF conditions and the debt ratio is rising every passing year and the country cannot afford further economic pressure. Here an important question arises: should such sensitive diplomatic cables be discussed or shared publicly? Firstly, the Prime Minister should not have discussed this letter in public; secondly, he should not have linked this letter with the no-confidence motion.

Matters related to national security should be dealt with in a careful manner; media and public gatherings are not the right forums to reveal such documents. Prime Minister khan tried to play the victim card on the cost of national security to gain public support and exert pressure on the joint opposition to reverse the vote of no-confidence.

Moreover, the opposition refused to pull back the motion as they have gathered a strong position in Parliament and are confident to vote out the Prime Minister.

However, despite the ongoing political, diplomatic and economic turmoil Pakistan will shine and move forward towards progress and prosperity.

Matters related to national security should be dealt with in a careful manner; media and public gatherings are not the right forums to reveal such documents. Prime Minister Khan tried to play the victim card on the cost of national security to gain public support and exert pressure on the joint opposition to reverse the vote of no-confidence.

Moreover, the opposition refused to pull back the motion as they have gathered a strong position in Parliament and are confident to vote out the Prime Minister.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Dr Tausif Kamal is a U.S.based attorney at law, and can be c6ntacted at Tausifkamal@hotmail.com and ktklaw147@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 2 April, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

Cultural Democracy

Larger Effects of Russia-Ukraine War Id sanity going to prevail?

Dr rajkuMar singh

T

HE normal life of the people of Ukraine became harder on 24 February 2022 when the Russian Federation, a superpower of the time, attacked its territory due to diplomatic/strategic reasons best known to all of us. it was followed by a daily routine, an environment of fear and uncertainty continuing till today on account of the war lingering beyond Russian expectations and veiled support of Ukraine extended by natO members including the Usa. in the continuing war Ukraine suffered a lot as it was the largest military assault on a European state since World War two, although it was started in 2014 when an anti-Russian dispensation took over in the country and Russian-speaking people began helping Russia against the homeland government, dividing the nation into pro- and anti-government factions. Even a part of the territory was captured by Russian-backed separatists and going a step further, kremlin recognized the two republics,-Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, as separate states managed and maintained by Russian supporters.

On that very day, the Federation Council of Russia authorized Vladimir Putin to use military force abroad, and following the authorization, the Russian forces entered these two states of Ukraine. as a result, in addition to heavy losses due to the ongoing war, more than one million Ukrainians left the country and took shelter in East European countries keeping in view their security and safety. Under a planned war strategy a multi-pronged invasion was launched on Ukraine where the latter proved helpless before the world community, although it got a lot of direct assistance from the natO countries, especially the Usa, without them being directly involved in the war. thus, a group of anti-Russians sympathized and helped Ukraine to face a massive and extended war on the part of the kremlin.

Most people and nations of the world are of the opinion that Russian Federation has fueled fire and is also responsible for not ending the war at the earliest and while Ukraine is fighting

in its defense, Russia has attacked Ukraine in a offensive way to destroy as well as capture the country by force, to end or minimize its leanings towards natO and the Western countries including the Usa. the kremlin estimation in assessing Ukraine’s real power has also gone wrong because since 2014, the Uk, Us, EU and natO have provided the country with non-lethal military aid, making it a viable fighter against a power like Russia. in continuation these nations have also sold Ukraine varieties of war weapons and anti-tank missiles in 2018, 2019 and 2022 that made it able to stand before Russia for such a long time (about 40 days). in the war even foreign volunteers are frequently allowed to participate from Ukraine’s side and in an order dated 1 March, it also provisionally lifted visa restrictions for those volunteers who want to come and fight on Ukraine’s side; as a little latter it was disclosed by Ukraine’s foreign minister that as of 6 March around 20,000 foreign nationals from 52 countries were fighting against the Russian attack. in fact, they came in response to the call given by its President Zelenskyy who earlier created the international Legion of territorial Defence of Ukraine, which Russia opposed vehemently and began preparing to counter. Only because of claims and counterclaims, at the juncture, it is not possible to know the authentic number of deaths of civilian and military forces and persons engaged in this war, and even the office of the United nations High Commissioner for Human Rights considers the number of civilian casualties to be higher than they certify and announce. the Russian attack on Ukraine is a clear violation of international law, norms, and practices implemented since the end of the second World War, but especially after the formation of the United nations Organisation (UnO). at the juncture while almost entire world community is against the Russian invasion on Ukraine as it had violated/distorted the very first stated purpose of the Un which says, ‘to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind’ and to have these dreams come true, it founded the organization called Un was established based on the sovereignty of states as mentioned in article 2(1) of the Charter and also outlawed the use of force by one state against another (article 2(4) in the context, it is clear that sending armies across the border of a state without its consent or without authorization of the Un security Council is an attack on one member by another.

in addition, the kremlin also violated international law and norms by recognizing two republics of Ukraine as independent states, andit interfered in the sovereignty of an independent country.

Hardly a week after the outbreak of the war on March 4, 2022 the Human Rights Council created a committee called the international Commission of inquiry by voting with 32 in favour two against and 13 abstentions. amnesty international (ai), another Un institution, also remained active from the beginning of the war and it has clearly undermined the global image of the kremlin.

With the eruption of war on 24 February, the first talk on ceasefire was held in Belarus between the two only after four days which proved fruitless as they both failed to achieve a consensus. it was mainly focused on ensuring humanitarian corridors for the safe routes for citizens and after three rounds of talks no deal was reached to handle the issue, however, on 5 March the Russian Federation agreed to give a five- and-a- half hour ceasefire for evacuation of needy humans in some parts of the country, but the time was much less than was required. as the war moved further its strategic side became clearer when Russia put three diplomatic-cum-strategic demands which include;1. Ukraine’s neutrality, 2. recognition of Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014 as kremlin’s territory, 3. recognition of the two newly self-proclaimed separatist republics of Ukraine, recently created

by Russian support. With these proposals, Russia also expressed its good wishes and declared a temporary ceasefire in several places including Ukraine’s capital, kyiv. in the circumstances it was not possible for Ukraine to accept these in toto and, in response, its President Zelensky suggested a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin to end the continuing war and also proposed a collective security agreement for Ukraine to ensure its safety and security. aDespite the ongoing war between the two, negotiation channels were never blocked and, as earlier talks took place on 10, 17, 20 and 22 March 2022 which raised genuine hopes for ceasefire and ultimately the end of the war in the larger interest of humanity.

Despite the ongoing war between the two, negotiation channels were never blocked and, as earlier talks took place on 10, 17, 20 and 22 March 2022 which raised genuine hopes for ceasefire and ultimately the end of the war in the larger interest of humanity

The writer is presently Professor and Head, Department of Political Science and Dean of Social Sciences at B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura (Bihar), India. His 19 books published in addition to 900 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries.

OnE is wanted to draw attention towards the prevailing political chaos by government and opposition, the latter wants to bring a no-confidence move against the incumbent PM. When there is only a year left for the elections why opposition wants to create unrest by this move. However, one is conceived in Pakistan there is a leadership crisis.

One cannot deny the crystal clear fact that procedural democracy in the absence of cultural democracy is not only unfavourable but also dangerous because democracy advocates for values like inclusiveness, coherence, and equitable societal ethos. in the absence of this ethos democratic process turns out to be counterproductive. Undoubtedly, the electoral procedure is important, the success of democratic culture depends upon its ability to inculcate values of tolerance, inclusivity, equity and rule of law.

For best democratic outcomes as a process, it is mandatory to implement it as a culture too. What is democracy as a culture? the answer is something that has been enriched in our societies for periods. Without having distinct democratic norms like justice, fairness, equality and liberty a society cannot claim to have democratic culture. Democracy as a culture teaches the public to be conscious of their rights and duties and make them vibrant and vigilant to promote democratic governments through their active participation.

We have long known that procedural democracy if deficient in democratic culture is something to install a political party in government only. Constitution and voting system which are the main pillars of procedural democracy no matter how carefully crafted if the lack in cultural democracy, certainly will be unable to teach the public to accept the existence of contrasting views and of politicians. the same is happening nowadays in Pakistan when opposing parties want to bring no-confidence moves against the current PM. the countries which are having democratic cultures too are enjoying the fruits of their labour as they have evolved democratic norms from ancient times. if we take a cue from British democracy which is based on customs, it dates back to the Magna Carta 1215. it is an evident fact that democracy does not nurture in a vacuum. it is significant, to instil democracy first boost-up political, social and economic setup.

Certainly, by doing so democracy in Pakistan can promote good governance and assist to maintain public well-being.

SYEDA HADIA BAKHTAWAR, Nankana Sahib.

Digital Claims tHE insurance industry in Pakistan is relatively small compared to its peers in the region. One of the reasons for this lacking is that we are still unable to create that element of trust when it comes to the claims. this is an important factor for the customer when they actually look for an insurance partner.

Recently, i was discussing the same issue with one of my friends and he mentioned the digital claim process salaam takaful is offering. since he is a member of salaam takaful, he shared his experience with me where he got admitted to a hospital and filed all his claims digitally through their salaam app. Personally speaking, i was amazed to see the process as it was pretty smooth. technology-based innovations like these can be beneficial in gaining the trust of the masses because we as a nation must modernize ourselves. insurance and takaful companies should start adopting smarter ways to engage the customer rather than piling-up heaps of documents to submit a claim.

MUHAMMAD ROHAIL HASSAN, Karachi.

Skyrocketing Inflation anOtHER horrendous experience has come to the screen. the incumbent government has embroiled plebs into manifold crises of the utmost severity. among such miseries, inflation tops the list and therefore is palpable. it has been extremely hard for the general masses to purchase foodstuff for one time, as the prizes of daily commodities are ascending rapidly. Moreover, petroleum prices are increasing at a constant pace which is adding salt to the wounds of common people.

Reportedly, the government has decided to increase the petroleum prices by 12 rupees: crossing and transgressing previous prices. Undoubtedly, such pathetic and terrible efforts of the government to overload the shoulders of citizens is inciting the ire of the poor sector of the country to trigger chaos and disorder in the society. Moreover, if the government continues to throw the bomb of inflation on people, it would be an extremely Herculean task for it to control other sorts of vices and evils. On a serious note, rising inflation can breed various other crimes like robbery, street crimes and so on. therefore, the government should formulate such strategies which can exterminate and abate the abysmal and macabre circumstances of people. they should be given subsidies to live their lives easily without any burden of inflation. the Prime Minister should look after the misery-stricken people of the country to shield, safeguard and abate the financial turmoils and ordeals of destitute people.

NASRULLAH KHADIM, SINDH.

Quality of health care service Pakistan is one of the countries which is trying its very best to fulfil the objective of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). these are basically the goals that are set for the countries that are in the developing process. there has been a focus on the health care sector since the formation of Pakistan. although the improvements are being made through bringing health reforms and health care policies. the introduced programs by previous governments are already having limited scope and that is the reason why the health care sector in Pakistan is inefficient and facing decline (Premani et al., 2016). Major weaknesses in our health care service providers include lack of resources, poor governance, poor quality of data available regarding the management system for the health, lack of interest by governments in monitoring the health policies and high level of corruption in this sector. the bureaucratic system of Pakistan has not played a productive role as bureaucratic power has divided the health care services for rich and poor instead of dividing it with equity (Premani et al., 2016). treatments for any health-related issues is a right for every individual rather than just providing to the elite and ignoring the middle-class individual One of the surveys conducted by transparency international provided that health care is one of the most corrupt sectors in Pakistan (relief web, 2013). this is one of the reasons why the majority of the population in Pakistan are very unhappy with the services being provided by the medical centres. the government-controlled health care centres are in a deep decline while the privately owned and controlled health centres are so expensive that they can not be afforded by the majority of the general public.

JANNAT UMAR LAHORE

Saturday, 2 April, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

US ATTempTS To deceIve woRld wITh ITS “empIRe of lIeS"

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PeoPle'S daily online

HE issue of U.S. biological laboratories in Ukraine continues to develop. Research on coronaviruses in bats, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus are conducted in these labs, according to the Russian side, which also revealed that the outbreaks of the viruses can be covered up as natural ones. Previously, the World Health Organization had suggested destroying these high-threat pathogens.

In the face of the proof, the American side has kept on obfuscating and has made contradictory statements.

The U.S. Department of State has denied the existence of any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine in a press release, while public information from the U.S. Department of Defense shows that there are 46 biological laboratories, and a document the U.S. submitted to the Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) shows that there are 26.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland admitted that these labs are very dangerous, and voiced concern that the Russian side may be seeking to gain control of them. Asserting that it has complied with the BWC, the U.S. has been standing alone in opposing setting up multilateral verification mechanisms.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson said the Pentagon's Ukraine bio-lab talking points are an utter lie. But for the U.S., an American-built “empire of lies,” it is merely the

“CONCEALMENT, DECEPTION AND OUTRIGHT LIES HAVE CHARACTERIZED US NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY FOR DECADES,” SAID GORDON ADAMS. IT IS ANOTHER PROOF OF THE CIA-LIKE APPROACH OF “WE LIED, WE CHEATED, WE STOLE,” AS BOASTED BY FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO tip of the iceberg.

There is no lie that the Americans cannot make up themselves for the sake of U.S. hegemony over the world. The world will not forget that the then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell held up a vial of white powder as evidence of "weapons of mass destruction" developed in Iraq during his presentation at the United Nations Security Council before the U.S. launched military strikes against the country. People still remember that the U.S., the U.k. and France launched over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles in Syria, claiming that Syria used chemical weapons against its own people. The U.S. has been bragging both at home and abroad about its successes in intervening in Afghanistan over the past 20 years or so. But the whole world has seen that none of

Iran talks in limbo DEAL ON RESTORING IRAN NUCLEAR PACT APPARENTLY STILL STUCK ON US/IRANIAN DISPUTE ON THE DE-LISTING OF IRAN’S IRGC FROM STATE DEPARTMENT TERROR BLACK LIST

SubStack

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laura rozEn

ALkS on restoring the Iran nuclear deal, on pause since early March, remain in a state of limbo over the issue of the listing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on a State Department terror black list, following a visit of the European Union coordinator Enrique Mora to Tehran and Washington in recent days. “There are a small number of outstanding issues” to finalize a deal return, State Department spokesman Ned Price said today (March 31). “The onus now is on Iran to make those decisions.”

Price noted that since the Trump administration quit the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, put the IRGC on a State Department terror black list in 2019, and killed IRGC Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran’s expansion of its nuclear program and attacks on US facilities and partners in the region have grown substantially worse.

“From 2012-2018, there were no significant attacks on US service members, US diplomatic facilities in Iraq,” Price said at the State Department press briefing today. “That changed in 2018. And between 2019 and 2020, the number of attacks by Iran backed groups went up 400%.

That was in the aftermath of leaving the JCPOA, the FTO designation, in the aftermath of killing Soleimani.” “The effort to subdue Iran’s proxies has not worked under the strategy we inherited,” Price continued. “We want to see to it that we have a strategy that does work, that is effective,” Price said. “We continue to believe that returning to JCPOA is that appropriate recourse.”

EU’S MORA SHUTTLES TO TEHRAN AND DC: In a seeming sign the Vienna talks may not be expected to resume very soon, a media tent erected outside the talks venue, the Coburg Palace Hotel, in Vienna, was dismantled, Vienna-based reporter Stephanie Liechstenstein noted.

A European Union official said there was nothing to conclude from the media tent being dismantled. It was due to a budget and cost issue from the Austrian hosts in which the EU did not

have a say, the EU official told me.

European Union coordinator Mora traveled to Iran last weekend for meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Deputy Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Ali Bagheri-kani.

Mora subsequently traveled to Washington, meeting with US Iran envoy Rob Malley en route on the plane from Doha on March 28, and in Washington with NSC Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk. However, Mora’s trip to Washington was primarily for the purpose of coordinating US/EU policy on Russia, which was launched with a formal dialogue with his counterpart Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, on Wednesday (March 30).

FINAL ISSUE After a year of negotiations, a deal to restore a US return and Iranian full compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear pact is basically done save for being stuck on the final issue of the designation of the IRGC by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization.

“The great step forward on the Iran nuclear issue is that we've got the basis of an agreement,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France 24. “There's still deadlock (...) linked to the relationship between the US and Iran. I hope we're able to settle the matter.”

The Iranians want the IRGC to be removed from the State Department FTO list, to which it was added by the Trump administration in April 2019. The IRGC would still remain on the Treasury Department’s list of specially designated global terrorists, to which it was added by the Trump Administration in 2017. In addition, the IRGC-Qods Force is on the Treasury Department SDGT list, since 2007.

But the Biden administration finds it very difficult to lift the designation, especially given reported US intelligence of Iranian plots to avenge the US killing in January 2000 of IRGC Qods force commander Qassem Soleimani that are reported to target former Trump administration officials Mike Pompeo and Brian Hook. It would find it hard to justify internally, to allies on Capitol Hill, and is also under pressure from Israel and Arab partners not to do so.

For the Biden administration to lift the IRGC designation puts it in an impossible situation to explain why it did so, especially while it reportedly has intelligence of active plots targeting former U.S. officials over the Soleimani assassination, said Ali Vaez, a top expert on the negotiations.

“It is very difficult to find a mutually acceptable formula,” Vaez, director of the Iran program at the International Crisis Group, said on a panel hosted by the Institute for Science and Technology on Tuesday (March 29). “It is like a Mexican

its goals, such as building a democratic Afghanistan, had been realized by the time it withdrew from the country.

It left behind a country devastated by wars, 3.5 million displaced refugees, and two Afghans who fell to their deaths from a U.S. military transport aircraft.

“Concealment, deception and outright lies have characterized US national security policy for decades,” said Gordon Adams, Professor Emeritus of International Relations at American University’s School of International Service on a news website. It is another proof of the CIA-like approach of “we lied, we cheated, we stole,” as boasted by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The U.S. launched over 200 armed conflicts over the past seven decades. Such moves were assisted by the

standoff,” Vaez continued. “Each side expects the other to concede because it thinks the other needs the deal more. In reality, both sides need it, but I think both sides are prone to miscalculation.”

The issue is no less tricky for being more political than about material effect, said Sahil Shah, with the European Leadership Network. “The Iranians are not asking for Trump’s October 2017 designation of the IRGC as a specially designated global terrorist or Iran being on the [U.S. list of state sponsors of terror] to be rescinded or removed,” Shah told the IST panel. “It is not trying to change the minds of foreign investors.”

In Shah’s opinion, the U.S. administration could defend a de-listing decision “because of the fact that it doesn’t have much material consequence.” The continued stalemate over the issue “really points to the domestic constraint both sides are under,” he said. The FTO designation of the IRGC seems to have had no practical benefit for US security, Vaez agreed. “The reality is that if the FTO designation had worked, then there [would be] no threat against the U.S. presence [in the region] or U.S. individuals,” Vaez told the IST panel. “So this is in fact…evidence that the designation has not achieved its objective, and has not made the U.S. any safer.”

But while “holding on to a designation that has utterly failed makes zero sense,” Vaez continued, “the reality is that this is not about practical issues, it is really political.” An Iranian official, asked if he had any sense of if the sides could find a way forward, said they are trying. “They are working hard to find a way out,” the Iranian official, speaking not for attribution, told me by email today. “It’s difficult to predict when they’ll reach an agreement.” A European negotiator also said they were trying, but offered no sense of what the next steps would be. “We are trying our best,” the European negotiator said today.

WAIT AND SEE “I think [the parties] are in a bit of a wait and see mode post-Nowruz to see what shakes loose,” said Henry Rome, Iran analyst at the Eurasia Group, referring to the Iranian New Year holiday (March 20). The negotiating process seems “to be in a bit of suspended animation.”

On possible solutions to the standoff, Rome said he had no independent confirmation, but pointed to a thread from Israeli journalist Amichai Stein that discussed the idea of removing the IRGC from the State FTO list but adding several IRGC sub-components as a possible way to square the circle.

Radio Farda reported another idea was to seek an Iranian commitment to rescind the operational threats to avenge Soleimani’s killing in exchange for delisting. Eurasia Group’s Rome said he thinks one way or the other, the odds are on a deal being reached. “I think a deal is still more likely than not,” Rome told me. “There is enough political interest on both sides to overcome this last hurdle, and enough will to make it happen.” “And the war [in Ukraine] creates certain conditions that incentivizes the US not to give up on this, from the perspective of oil prices,” Rome continued.

Asked if how an Iran deal could affect oil prices is a factor on the US side, Rome said “maybe not at the level of negotiators.” But for the U.S. administration, focused abroad on the effort to unite the world to pressure Russia and support Ukraine, and on countering inflation and high gas prices at home, six months out from mid-term elections, “it has to be.”

“empire of lies” built by the West.

The pure hypocrisy and double standard of the West has been exposed during the Ukraine crisis. Time magazine has come out with two covers, with one being “The Agony of Ukraine,” conveying compassion for the weak and reflections on war. But the cover of the magazine in 1999 when NATO dropped cluster bombs in Serbia, then a part of Yugoslavia, was “Bringing the Serbs to heel, a massive bombing attack opens the door to peace.”

During a football game in Serbia on March 17, Serbian football fans raised huge banners listing U.S.-led interventions in over 20 countries and regions such as the Democratic People's Republic of korea, Vietnam, Panama, and Syria, with one of the banners reading “All we are saying is give peace a chance." But the self-proclaimed peace-loving media of the West remained silent.

So here is the question, are the Western media outlets, under the guise of press freedom, really the defenders of justice, or just the mouthpieces of money politics?

In the face of the Ukraine crisis, values that the Western world has always cherished such as “freedom of speech,” like “art knows no borders” for instance, no longer work. Performances of the famous Russian soprano Anna Netrebko have been cancelled as she refused to publicly express her political position. The Western world has launched a series of sanctions on Russia, even on Russian cats, dogs, and the classic ballet piece “Swan Lake” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky who died over 100 years ago.

According to the American Psychological Association, a “big lie” refers to a propaganda device in which a false statement of extreme magnitude is constantly repeated to persuade the public, which helps a ruler to seize or maintain his power. As a systematic power, the U.S. is exactly an “empire of lies,” supported by its obedient satellite states.

It is high time that those cheated by American lies asked the U.S. a question: Do I live inside the Truman Show?

Record-breaking Arctic temperatures A HEATWAVE AT THE NORTH POLE AND COLLAPSED ANTARCTIC ICE SHELF ARE REMINDERS TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS, AND FOCUS ON CLIMATE Guardian

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Editorial

heatwave in the Arctic and the collapse of the Conger ice shelf in East Antarctica bring warnings that climate breakdown could be accelerating. There are signs of melting at weather stations near the north pole, with temperatures 30C above normal. In Antarctica, temperatures are 40C up. While the Conger ice shelf is too small to cause significant sea-level rises, its collapse points to growing instability.

These weather events do more than offer proof of the dangers of global heating. They also risk triggering changes that could accelerate the disruption.

When policymakers and the public are focused on war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living, it is hard to be reminded of the existential threat posed by rising temperatures. But the extent to which climate has faded from consciousness in the months since the UN conference in Glasgow is frightening. If we are to avoid the worst effects of global heating, with around half the world’s population said by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be highly vulnerable, it is imperative to make drastic changes to our global energy system. Of course, extreme weather at the poles doesn’t affect people in the same way as in densely populated areas. But the truth is that even when large populations are harmed, dangerous weather events in poorer countries do not reliably catch and keep international attention. Generally, it takes a crisis in a rich, developed nation for western audiences to take notice of what runaway warming could mean: the record-smashing heat dome in the northern US and Canada last summer, for example, or fires and heatwaves in California and Europe. Even then, we are learning all the time how quickly memories fade, and how hard it is to keep climate at the top of the agenda. The world’s political and economic systems were not built to conserve the Earth’s atmosphere. Whether our human focus on shortterm goals is learned or hardwired, and whether we regard governments, corporations or civilisation itself as responsible for the failure to dismantle our fossil-fuel-powered global system, one fact is known.

As long as emissions keep rising, we are failing to prioritise our collective long-term survival. It’s not only at the poles that we see climate disaster unfolding. In the Horn of Africa, conditions are the driest since 1981 and scientists believe the failure of three consecutive rainy seasons has been exacerbated by global heating. Somalia faces the risk of famine, with a million malnourished children. In November, Madagascar’s environment minister used the global stage of Cop26 to link high-carbon western lifestyles with the desperate hardship endured by people in her country due to climate-induced droughts – and the failure of western governments to deliver the climate finance that would pay for a pipeline. Animals, as well as people, are doing their best to adapt to changing conditions. This week, US scientists revealed research showing that many species of birds are building nests and laying eggs around a month earlier than a century ago. Such adjustments are a vital part of the climate message. Without the hope they offer, that we can find ways to live in changed conditions, the danger is that the prospect becomes too scary, prompting reactions of either avoidance or despair. This was the message of the recent film Don’t Look Up, with it satirical portrait of a world hellbent on denial as scientists try to warn about an approaching comet.

It’s essential to stress that the climate crisis is not a comet that will instantly wipe out civilisation. In April, the IPCC will update its recommendations to governments on how to limit emissions. The shift to green power remains achievable. But time is running out.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | lAhore

neWS

09

FBR exceeds tax collection taRget islamabad

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FBR freezes bank accounts of Zong islamabad Shahzad Paracha

The Federal Board of Revenue has frozen the bank accounts of China Mobile Pakistan Limited (Zong), accusing the company of “income tax default” totaling Rs4.1 billion. Sources said that the enforcement team of Large Taxpayers’ Office Islamabad took action against China Mobile Pakistan Limited (Zong) on Thursday and attached its bank accounts across the country.

FBR sources say the amount was against advance tax liability for the first quarter of the current tax year under the income tax law. FBR routinely takes such action against telecom companies in most cases the action is stayed by the courts and is rarely upheld.

More recently the tax authorities moved against Telenor Pakistan under very similar allegations.

Sources further revealed that such recovery actions are expected to be initiated against other telecom companies soon. The scribe approached the officials of Zong for comments on this matter but no reply was received till the filing of the story.

KP govt not to launch any foreign-funded project next year

Shahzad Paracha

HE Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has surpassed its collection target by Rs247 billion from July to March of the current financial year 2021-22 (H1FY22). According to the provisional information, FBR has collected net revenue of Rs4,382 billion from July 2021 to March 2022 of the current financial year 2021-22, which has exceeded the target by Rs247 billion.

This represents a growth of about 29.1 per cent over the collection of Rs3,394 billion during the same period, last year.

Similarly, the net collection for the month of March 2022 realized Rs575 billion representing an increase of 20.5 per cent over Rs477 billion collected in March 2021.

On the other hand, the gross collections increased from Rs3,577 billion from July 2020 to March 2021 to Rs4,611 billion in the current financial year from July 2021 to March 2022, showing an increase of 28.9 per cent.

Likewise, the number of refunds disbursed during March 2022 was Rs31.9 billion while in March 2021 the refunds disbursed were Rs26.3 billion, registering an increase of 21.3 per cent.

Similarly, refunds worth Rs229 billion have been disbursed from July 2021 to March 2022 compared to Rs183 billion paid last year, showing an increase of 25.0 per cent.

It is pertinent to mention that the ongoing unprecedented and constant growth trajectory in revenue collection has been achieved despite massive tax relief given by the government on various essential items to the common man.

For the first time ever in the country’s history, sales tax on all POL products has been reduced to

zero which cost FBR Rs45 billion in March 2022.

Likewise, the revenue impact of Sales Tax exemptions provided to fertilizers, pesticides, tractors, vehicles, and oil and ghee comes to Rs18 billion per month.

Similarly, zero-rating on pharmaceutical products has cost FBR Rs10 billion in sales tax during the month of March 2022. Thus, in aggregate, these relief measures have impacted revenue collection by approximately Rs73 billion during the month of March 2022. Furthermore, the political uncertainty and import compression also negatively impacted revenue collection during March.

It is worth sharing that FBR has introduced a number of innovative interventions both at the policy and operational level with a view to maximizing

revenue potential through digitization, transparency, and taxpayers’ facilitation. This has not only resulted in ensuring the ease of doing business but also translated into healthy and steady growth in revenue collection.

Likewise, the incumbent top leadership of FBR has launched a new culture of clean taxation with a clear focus on collecting only the fair tax and not holding up refunds that are due to be paid. This has not only fast-tracked the process of bridging the trust deficit between FBR and taxpayers but also ensured the muchneeded cash liquidity for the business community.

That’s precisely why FBR continues to surpass its assigned revenue targets despite challenges and price stabilization measures adopted by the government.

Fertiliser industry concerned over FBR actions

islamabad aziz Buneri

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would not launch any new mega project in the next financial year with international aid or loans, whereas funds will be allocated to complete most of the ongoing development projects.

The government sources said that list of development projects proposed for next financial year has been received by the planning and development department. However, except two small projects, administrative departments have not finalised new mega project in collaboration with foreign aid agencies. According to sources, one project will be launched for cities hosting IDPs including Peshawar while another project will be launched for disposal of waste in Bannu and DI Khan. Both projects will be started with the help of German aid. However, the provincial government is not initiating any major project in collaboration with international organizations.

islamabad Shahzad Paracha

Fertilizer Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) has shown concerns over show-cause notices from FBR received by industry players for disallowance of input tax for sales to unregistered persons despite following the guidelines set by the FBR in its SRO 1337 issued in December 2020.

In a letter to FBR Chairman, FMPAC Executive Director Sher Shah Malik said the fertilizer industry appreciates the efforts of FBR towards documentation of the economy and ease of doing business.

It was through the industry’s cooperation and support that over 1,000 major fertilizer dealers have registered themselves for GST and almost 100 per cent are having NTN. In the same

context, we wish to draw your attention to the following issue, he added.

FMPAC Executive Director further explained that Post promulgation of the Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2019, input GST was disallowed on sales made to unregistered persons exceeding Rs10 million in a month / Rs100 million in a financial year, adding significant exposure for the fertilizer industry. After due deliberation,

FBR issued a notification (SRO 1337) in December 2020, whereby exemption would be granted subject to the provision of dealers’ information, including bank account etc. to FBR. The industry has submitted all information pertaining to the dealers except in a few cases bank accounts of terminated / one-off customers. During various meetings, the industry was given an understanding about the exemption being granted in this case after compliance of SRO 1337.

Sher Shah Malik said that it is a very disturbing fact that companies have started receiving show-cause notices for disallowance of input tax for sales to unregistered persons despite the submission of the aforementioned information and a favorable report from the concerned field formation.

While mentioning in its letter to FBR, that the fertilizer industry is one of the best-documented and tax compliant sectors, FMPAC requested the FBR chairman that the field formations be educated on the grant of exemption from input tax inadmissibility/expenditure disallowance on sales to unregistered dealers whose information has been furnished in compliance with the SRO and be directed to withdraw the notices.

The scribe asked the spokesperson of FBR for comments but no reply was received till the filing of the story.

Weekly inflation surges 0.53pc islamabad TLTP

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based inflation increased by 0.53 percent for the second straight week ended on March 31 after surging 1.10 percent in the preceding week.

According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday, inflation on a year-on-year basis increased to 16.79 percent from 15.67 percent recorded a week earlier.

The weekly inflation for the lowest income group (Q1) witnessed an increase of 0.91 percent, while it went 14.61 percent up on a year-on-year (YoY) basis for the same group. Overall for the other four income groups, the weekly inflation increased from 0.38 percent (Q5) to 0.83 percent (Q2), while it went up from 15.71 percent (Q2) to 17.56 percent (Q5) on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

According to the PBS, the combined index was at 171.82 on March 31, 2022 as compared to 170.92 on March 24, 2022 while the index was recorded at 147.12 a

year ago on April 01, 2021.

The SPI is computed on a weekly basis to assess the price movements of essential commodities at a shorter interval of time so as to review the price situation in the country. The SPI with base 2015-16=100 comprises 51 essential items and the prices are being collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country for all expenditure groups/quintiles and combined.

During the week under review, out of 51 items, prices of 24 (47.06%) items increased, prices of 07 (13.73%) items decreased, and prices of 20 (39.21%) items remained stable.

The SPI for the current week recorded an increase in the prices of food items including tomatoes (41.01%), onions (22.74%), bananas (4.75%), cooking oil 5 litre (2.07%), rice IRRI-6/9 (1.72%) and pulse Masoor (1.11%) with joint impact of 0.65 percent into the overall SPI for combined group of 0.53 percent.

On the other hand, a decrease was observed in the prices of chicken (8.93%), eggs (2.11%), garlic (1.49%), gur (1.09%), LPG (0.58%), sugar (0.20%) and rice Basmati

broken (0.18%).

According to the PBS data, the year on year trend depicts an increase of 16.79 percent and the items whose prices increased included tomatoes (127.45%), LPG (71.45%), garlic (67.75%), mustard oil (58.39%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (56.47%), vegetable ghee 1-kg (55.28%), cooking oil 5-litre (54.81%), onions (42.84%), washing soap (39.10%), pulse Masoor (37.84%), petrol (35.25%) and diesel (27%). On the other hand, a decrease was observed in the prices of chillies powdered (37.44%), pulse Moong (28.24%), eggs (23.79%), sugar (14.09%), potatoes (3.86%) and electricity charges for Q1 (0.16%).

Meanwhile, Pakistan's yearly inflation rate in March 2022 was 12.72 percent compared to 12.24 percent in February 2022 and 9.1 percent in March 2021. This takes 9MFY22 average inflation to 10.77 percent compared to 8.34 percent from the corresponding period last year.

Market Expectations for March were between 12.25 percent and 13.18 percent with an average estimate of 12.58 percent. On a

month-on-month basis, it went up by 0.8 percent in March 2022 as compared to an in-

crease of 1.2 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.4 percent in March 2021.

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

US warnS IndIa agaInSt ‘UnrelIable’ rUSSIa

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Agencies

HE US has warned India against warming up to Russia, ahead of a visit by Moscow’s top diplomat to press New Delhi to resist Western pressure to condemn its invasion of Ukraine.

India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Moscow and continues to buy Russian oil from its “longstanding and timetested friend” and biggest supplier of arms.

But Delhi shares Western alarm over Beijing’s assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region, with 20 Indian and four Chinese troops killed in a brawl on their disputed Himalayan border in 2020.

Daleep Singh, Washington’s chief sanctions strategist, was quoted by local media in a visit to Delhi as saying that India could not rely on Russia if there was another clash.

“Russia is going to be the junior partner in this relationship with China. And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India,” Singh was quoted as saying on Thursday.

“I don’t think anyone would believe that if China once again breached the Line of (Actual) Control, that Russia would come running to India’s defence,” he said, referring to the India-China border.

Moscow, facing massive Western sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February, has declared a “no-limits partnership” with China, which has also failed to condemn Russia’s actions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Delhi late Thursday from China, where he had hailed Beijing as part of a new

“multipolar, just, democratic world order”.

On Friday Lavrov was due to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

India and Russia are working on a rupeeruble mechanism to facilitate trade and get around Western sanctions on Russian banks, according to media reports.

Russia has written to India’s defence ministry requesting clearance of payments worth $1.3 billion that have been halted since last month, according to the local Economic Times newspaper.

Singh said the US was ready to help India — the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer — diversify its energy and defence supplies.

But he added that there would be consequences for countries seeking to circumvent the sanctions.

“I come here in a spirit of friendship to explain the mechanisms of our sanctions, the importance of joining us, to express a shared resolve and to advance shared interests. And yes, there are consequences to countries that actively attempt to circumvent or backfill the sanctions,” he said.

“We are very keen for all countries, especially our allies and partners, not to create mechanisms that prop up the ruble and that attempt to undermine the dollar-based financial system,” he said.

India is part of the so-called Quad alliance with the United States, Japan and Australia — seen as a bulwark against China.

After the 2020 clash on the China border, India rushed large amounts of military hardware to the frontier, most of it Russianorigin.

Sri Lanka steps up security as anger over economic crisis boils over ReUteRs

taliban hoist giant flag in afghanistan capital, eight months after return KABUL AFP

The Taliban raised a giant white flag of their movement on a hill overlooking the Afghan capital Thursday in a ceremony held nearly eight months after they returned to power. Several hundred Taliban, many armed, attended the ceremony presided over by Abdul Salam Hanafi, a deputy prime minister, on the hill in Wazir Akbar Khan, near the mostly deserted diplomatic enclave in Kabul. Measuring 40 metres (130 feet) wide and 26 metres high, the white flag is decorated with the Islamic profession of faith in black letters. Some of those in attendance showed their joy by touching or grabbing the flag before it was raised.

“Today, a flag has been hoisted which is the flag of independence, peace and brotherhood, and the symbol of the rules of the Islamic system,” said Hanafi. “It is not the flag of the Taliban or the mullahs, it is the flag of the whole nation that has made sacrifices. This flag belongs to the whole of Afghanistan.” The Afghan national flag had been a black, red and green vertical tricolour with the national emblem overlaid in white, but the Taliban have ordered all government departments to display the white standard instead. After returning to power in August, the Taliban promised a softer version of the harsh rule that characterised their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, but restrictions have crept back — often implemented regionally at the whim of local officials. The flag-raising comes a week after the Taliban shut down all girls’ secondary schools just hours after they allowed them to reopen for the first time since August. In recent days, they have also barred women from flying unless accompanied by a male relative, and decreed men and women cannot visit parks in the capital on the same days. Women are increasingly being shut out of public life — barred from most government jobs, and ordered to dress according to the Taliban’s interpretation of the Quran.

Sri Lanka’s capital was under heavy security on Friday after hundreds of protesters tried to storm the president’s home in a night of violence and anger at a dire economic crisis.

The South Asian nation is seeing severe shortages of essentials, sharp price rises and crippling power cuts in its most painful downturn since independence in 1948. Many fear it will default on its debts.

Thursday night’s unrest saw hundreds of people, rallied by unidentified social media activists, march on President Gotabaya’s home demanding his resignation.

They set two military buses and a police jeep ablaze, threw bricks to attack officers and barricaded a main road into Colombo with burning tyres.

One person was critically injured and police said five officers were hurt in running battles. Forty five people were arrested. Security forces fired into the crowd and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators. It was not immediately clear if they used live rounds or rubber bullets.

An overnight curfew was lifted early on Friday morning, but police and military presence was beefed up around the city, where a burnt-out wreckage of a bus was still blocking the road to Rajapaksa’s house.

Rajapaksa’s office said on Friday that

the protesters wanted to create an “Arab Spring” — a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that gripped the Middle East over a decade ago.

“The Thursday night protest was led by extremist forces calling for an Arab Spring to create instability in our country,” the president’s office said in a brief statement. Rajapaksa was not at home during the protest, according to official sources. A live broadcast by a private television network abruptly stopped after what journalists said was pressure from the government. But videos shared on

social media verified as genuine by AFP showed men and women shouting “lunatic, lunatic go home” and demanding that all members of the powerful Rajapaksa family step down.

The president’s elder brother Mahinda serves as prime minister while the youngest Basil is finance minister.

His eldest brother and nephew also hold cabinet positions.

Sri Lanka’s predicament has been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, which torpedoed tourism and remittances. Many economists also say it has been exacerbated by government mis-

Russia's Lavrov praises India's stance on Ukraine AFP Russia's foreign minister on Friday praised India's refusal to condemn the Ukraine invasion, saying Moscow and Delhi would find ways to circumvent "illegal" Western sanctions and continue to trade.

India has abstained from multiple United Nations resolutions censuring Moscow, calling only for an end to violence, and has increased its oil purchases from Russia, its biggest supplier of arms.

"These days our Western colleagues would like to reduce any meaningful international issue to the crisis in Ukraine... (We) appreciate that India is taking this situation in the entirety of facts, not just in a one-sided way," Sergei Lavrov said in New Delhi.

"Friendship is the key word to describe the history of our relations, and our relations were very sustainable during many difficult times in the past," Lavrov said, speaking in English. His counterpart S. Jaishankar reiterated "the importance of cessation of violence and ending hostilities" and said "disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy".

Western financial sanctions have reportedly made it difficult for India to pay Russia for imports including arms, oil, rough diamonds and fertilisers.

Russia has written to India's defence ministry requesting clearance of back payments worth $1.3 billion, according to the Economic Times newspaper.

India and Russia are working on a rupee-rouble mechanism to facilitate trade and get around Western sanctions on Russian banks, according to media reports.

Lavrov told reporters he was confident the two countries would find a solution.

"Many years ago we started moving in our relations with India, with China, with many other countries from using dollars and euros to more and more use of national currencies. Under these circumstances this trend I believe will be intensified," he said.

"We will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy... and I have no doubt that a way will be found to bypass the artificial impediments which illegal unilateral sanctions by the West create."

India however is in a tricky spot since the Ukraine crisis has pushed Russia closer to China.

Lavrov arrived in Delhi on Thursday from China, where he had hailed Beijing as part of a new "multipolar, just, democratic world order".

Moscow has declared a "no-limits partnership" with China, which has also refused to condemn Russia's invasion. India shares Western alarm over China's grow-

management and years of accumulated borrowing.

RecoRd inflation: Latest official data released on Friday showed that inflation in Colombo hit 18.7 per cent in March, the sixth consecutive monthly record. Food prices also soared a record 30.1pc. Colombo imposed a broad import ban in March 2020 in a bid to save foreign currency needed to repay nearly $7.0 billion this year to service its $51 billion in debts.

Diesel shortages had sparked outrage across Sri Lanka in recent days, but the protests had been in various towns and not aimed at any top leader.

But on Thursday diesel was unavailable at stations across the island, according to officials and media reports. The state electricity monopoly said it enforced a 13-hour power cuts from Thursday — the longest ever — because it did not have diesel for generators.

Several state-run hospitals have stopped conducting surgeries as they have run out of essential life-saving medicines. The government has said it is seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund while asking for more loans from India and China.

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington on Thursday that such talks should begin “in the coming days”, with Sri Lanka’s finance minister expected in the US capital.

ing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, and is a member of the so-called Quad alliance with the United States, Japan and Australia.

Twenty Indian and four Chinese troops were killed in a brawl on their disputed Himalayan border in 2020, sparking a sharp deterioration in their already frosty ties. Senior US official Daleep Singh, Washington's chief sanctions strategist, was quoted by local media as saying India could not rely on Russia if there was another clash with China.

"Russia is going to be the junior partner in this relationship with China. And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India," Singh said in a parallel visit to Delhi on Thursday. "I don't think anyone would believe that if China once again breached the Line of (Actual) Control, that Russia would come running to India's defence," he added, referring to the India-China border.

Singh said the United States was ready to help India diversify its energy and defence supplies but warned of "consequences" for countries that circumvent sanctions on Russia. "We are very keen for all countries, especially our allies and partners, not to create mechanisms that prop up the ruble and that attempt to undermine the dollar-based financial system," he said.

Lavrov was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Friday, saying he would pass on Russian President Vladimir Putin's "best regards".

Saturday, 2 April, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

HArmer mArks soutH AFrICA return AFter sIx yeArs WItH Four-WICket test HAul DuRBAN

o

AFP

FF-SPINNER Simon Harmer ended an absence of more than six years by taking four wickets and putting South Africa in charge on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Kingsmead on Friday.

Bangladesh were 98 for four at the close in reply to South Africa’s 367 all out. Harmer took four for 42 in 20 overs.

Harmer, 32, had not played in a Test match since November 2015.

He signed a Kolpak contract with English county Essex in 2017, making him ineligible to play for South Africa before the system came

to an end in 2020.

Now classified as an overseas player for the county and again becoming available for his country, Harmer took 491 first-class wickets during his time away from international cricket.

Harmer made the first breakthrough in the last over before tea when he bowled Shadman Islam for nine with the third ball of his second over. He ended a 55-run stand between Mahmudul Hasan and Najmul Hossain by bowling Najmul for 38 with a superb delivery which drifted in and spun past the bat.

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque fell without scoring in Harmer’s next over, caught off bat and pad by a diving Keegan Petersen at silly point.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim was Harmer’s fourth wicket, gloving a ball down the leg side to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.

Mahmudal, playing in his third Test, survived until the close, scoring 44 not out.

Temba Bavuma top-scored for South Africa with 93, while fast bowler Khaled Ahmed took four for 92 for Bangladesh. Khaled had taken only one wicket -– that of Pakistan captain Babar Azam -– in his previous three Test matches.

Bavuma’s long wait for a second Test century continued. He made 102 not out against England in Cape Town in January 2016 in his seventh Test match.

He is currently making his 50th appearance and has scored 18 half-

centuries without adding another three-figure score.

Bavuma batted through a tricky

period for South Africa on Friday as Bangladesh bowled well with the second new ball on a pitch which ap-

China readies Covid plan for Asian Games BEIJING AFP

Competition venues for the Asian Games have been completed six months before the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou hosts athletes from across the region, organisers said Friday.

The 19th edition of the regional sporting event is still on despite nearby Shanghai battling one of China’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks since the pandemic began. Organisers say a virus control plan that “learns from the successful experience” of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February will be published

in the coming weeks.

All 56 competition venues for September’s Asian Games and Asian Para Games have been completed, organisers added in a statement.

“Functional checks for the events have been finished,” the statement said, adding several Games villages and over 30 training venues have also been built.

“We’re now just making a few final adjustments and improvements to the facilities,” Lu Chunjiang, an official in charge of operations at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre, told state broadcaster CCTV. “Most of our energy is going to-

wards preparatory work for venue operations.”

Hangzhou, the capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang province, will host the Games from 10-25 September.

The city of 12 million will become the third in China to host the continental competition after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.

Some events will be held in other provincial cities including Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing and Jinhua.

Hangzhou lies less than 200 kilometres (124 miles) from Shanghai, where an Omicron-fuelled outbreak in recent weeks has triggered partial lockdowns,

panic-buying and transport chaos.

Organisers have provided few details of how they intend to hold the Games if China’s strict zero-Covid policy remains unchanged.

But there are signs they may emulate Winter Olympics, where a Covid-secure bubble known as a “closed-loop” completely isolated participants from the general population.

Participants in a Para Games meeting this week also “explained in detail” disease control policies including “vaccination, remote prevention, health monitoring and closed-loop management”, according to a separate statement.

Labuschagne says learned from Babar’s masterclass LAHORE ReuteRs

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne did not allow the disappointment of defeat to interfere with his appreciation of Babar Azam’s sublime century, saying he learned from the Pakistan captain’s masterclass in the second one-dayer on Thursday.

Babar orchestrated Pakistan’s record chase of 349 with a masterly 114 of 83 balls, denying Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The elegant right-hander, ably supported by fellow centurion Imam ul-Haq, scored his 15th ODI century in 83 innings, which is the fastest by any batsman.

“I enjoyed every minute of watching — it was a pity it was against us,” Labuschagne told reporters after their six-wicket defeat in Lahore.

“That was a very good inning. I sat back and I took some things on board for my own game to learn from that innings.

“To score 100 off 73 balls, he barely put a foot wrong. It was just phenomenal.”

Labuschagne praised Imam as well but felt dismissing Babar early in Saturday’s decider, also in Lahore, was crucial to clinch the series.

“I think if we can find a way to get him out early, put a bit more pressure on the middle to lower order, we have a chance,” the 27-year-old said.

“He batted us out of the game and fair play to him. It was a tremendous innings.”

Ben McDermott smashed his maiden international century for Australia and Labuschagne, who made 59, was elated to be at the non-striker’s end when his childhood friend brought up his hundred.

“We were best mates growing up in Australia. He was over at my house almost every second day, coming on the train home and we used to (play) in my backyard,” Labuschagne said.

“The hard work that he’s putting in

domestic cricket in the Big Bash and his four-day game as well has just come

such a long way, and I was I was over the moon for him today.”

peared to have quickened up since the first day.

Khaled made a double strike, dismissing Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder off successive deliveries.

South Africa were 245 for six, having added only 12 runs to their overnight total, but Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj added 53 runs for the seventh wicket as Bavuma moved closer to his hundred.

But Bavuma attempted a cut against off-spinner Mehidy Hasan.

The ball spun back sharply and deflected off Bavuma’s pad into the stumps. He had faced 190 balls and hit 12 fours.

Maharaj was bowled by Ebadot Hossain off the next ball but Harmer hit 38 not out as the last two wickets yielded 67 runs.

FIFA urged to eject Iran from World Cup PARIS AFP

FIFA on Friday faced calls to sanction Iran and even throw its team out of the 2022 World Cup finals over the Islamic republic's renewed failure to allow women to attend an international football match. Iranian news agencies this week confirmed that 2,000 women who had bought tickets for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Lebanon in the northeastern city of Mashhad could not enter the stadium. Activists based outside Iran accused the authorities of using pepper spray at close range to disperse women who then protested the ban outside the venue. The United for Navid group of exiled Iranian athletes and activists, set up after the execution of wrestling champion Navid Afkari in September 2020, said Iran should be suspended from international football until it changes its stance. "We formally request that FIFA immediately suspend Iran and prohibit its participation in the World Cup 2022 as long as the Football Federation of Iran continues to violate the Olympic Charter and FIFA regulations," it said in a letter to FIFA's deputy secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP Friday, it said that Iran had pledged to FIFA that it would end its policy of "gender apartheid" by allowing women to attend matches. "But not only has Iran broken that promise by continuing to bar women from entering a stadium but women are beaten, abused and threatened," it added. United for Navid said Iran "continues to ignore" FIFA's requests to show "basic adherence" to human rights. Human Rights Watch meanwhile urged FIFA to demand that Iran urgently overturn the "discriminatory" stadium ban on women and ensure accountability for abuses. "Given the Iranian authorities' longstanding violations, FIFA needs to follow its own global guidelines on nondiscrimination and should consider enforcing penalties for Iran's noncompliance," Tara Sepehri Far, HRW's senior Iran researcher, said in a statement. The New York-based NGO said that under FIFA's statutes discrimination on the basis of gender is "strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion". "It is long overdue for FIFA to demonstrate that it is serious in enforcing transparent accountability measures," said Sepehri Far.

Juve-Inter showdown marks end of Italy’s Covid emergency MILAN AFP

Inter Milan and Juventus face off on Sunday with their title hopes in the balance as Italy fully opens its doors to supporters for the first time in two years and fans focus on domestic concerns following the national team’s World Cup flop.

The so-called ‘Derby of Italy’ in Turin will be one of the first matches to be played in front of a full house after also being one of the first to be played behind closed doors back in March 2020, and the return to 100 percent capacity grounds comes for a match which could be crucial in deciding who claims the Scudetto.

With eight matches remaining, Inter’s grip on their league crown has slipped after a collapse in form which leaves them third, six points behind leaders and local rivals AC Milan, who have a chance to slip further ahead when they host Bologna on Monday.

Juve, who at the start of February were 11 points behind Inter — then four points clear at the top — have surged to within a point of their old rivals thanks to a 16match unbeaten run which has almost guaranteed them a place in the Champions League and also made them

dark horses for the run-in.

Since losing at home to Atalanta in late November Juve have picked up 38 points from a possible 48 despite never really performing to the standards coach Massimiliano Allegri set during his first spell at the Allianz Stadium. Allegri, who has been heavily criticised for his team’s often turgid style of football, revealed in an interview with magazine GQ he went back on an agreement with Florentino Perez to succeed Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid to rejoin his old team.

“I’d already signed an agreement with Real Madrid, but in the morning I called the president and I told him that I wasn’t going to Madrid because I’d chosen Juventus,” Allegri said. “I’ve not had any doubts at all ever since Juve called me in May.” Italy might have ended its Covid-19 state of emergency but the virus still looms over the league as on Thursday the Italian Football Federation said Napoli, chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis and the club doctor have been referred to its tribunal over three players not being kept in quarantine for the match with Juve in January.

Meanwhile, the five matches stopped by the winter spike in cases have all been rescheduled, with Inter’s unplayed January fixture at Bologna now to be played on

April 27 — just four weeks from the end of the season.

Napoli are having a difficult week ahead of their trip to Atalanta, as suspensions and a raft of injury doubts leave Milan’s closest rivals without a host of key players. Star striker Victor Osimhen and starting centre-back Amir Rrahmani are both suspended while Osimhen’s replacement Andrea Petagna, Italy right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and goalkeeper Alex Meret will all be absent with injury.

And coach Luciano Spalletti, whose side are three points off top spot, is also sweating on midfielders Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa, Fabian Ruiz, Adam Ounas and Piotr Zielinski. Working in their favour is Atalanta’s abysmal home record this season, with just four home wins and 18 points collected from their 14 matches at the Gewiss Stadium.

Player to watch – Gianluca Scamacca: Italy’s shock World Cup play-off defeat to North Macedonia has led to coach Roberto Mancini taking a look at a younger crop of players in view of the next European Championship in two years’ time.

Sassuolo striker Scamacca is the number one candidate to replace striker Ciro Immobile — who has been heavily criticised for the massive gap between his form for Lazio and the national team — and is set to face off

against the league’s leading scorer at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Key StatS 10 – The points swing between Juve and Inter in the last two months 1 – Inter have fallen off their perch thanks to just one win in that time.

FixtureS (timeS Gmt) Saturday Spezia v Venezia (1300), Lazio v Sassuolo (1600), Salernitana v Torino (1845) Sunday Fiorentina v Empoli (1030), Atalanta v Napoli, Udinese v Cagliari (both 1300), Sampdoria v Roma (1600), Juventus v Inter (1845) Monday Verona v Genoa (1630), AC Milan v Bologna (1845)

saturday, 2 April, 2022

prayer timings

news

‘PowerfUl’ coUntry angered by recent viSit to rUSSia: PM

islamabad

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staff report

eRMING an independent foreign policy crucial for any nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said the reason why Pakistan could not reach its peak potential was the “dependency syndrome”, leading Islamabad to rely on influential countries.

“A county without an independent foreign policy remains unable to secure the interests of its people,” the prime minister said in his address at the Islamabad Security Dialogue.

The two-day event gathered intelligentsia from across the country in addition to representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, India and european Union.

Khan said taking independent deci-

sions while prioritising the national interests was crucial rather than succumbing to foreign diktat in exchange for money.

He said a nation could not progress until it kept thinking that it could not survive without foreign aid and criticised the decisions of previous governments for joining foreign wars, the Soviet War in Afghanistan and the post9/11 War on Terror.

“These decisions, that incurred major damage to the society, were made for the sake of [receiving] dollars,” he said.

He pointed out that such detrimental policies resulted in sectarian militancy that disrupted the environment of investment, and gave birth to drug rackets and black money in the country.

He regretted that no independent evaluation was made afterwards to assess the damage suffered by the society, and “the elite filled up their bank accounts at the cost of the nation”.

Khan said his government since coming to power in 2018 pursued an independent foreign policy that helped the country gain respect in the global arena.

Referring to the US, he said a “powerful country” had expressed displeasure over his recent visit to Russia. “On the other hand, it is supporting its ally India which is importing oil from Russia [despite sanctions]”.

“How come a country can interfere in the affairs of an independent state,” he said. “But not to blame them, as it is our fault because we gave them this impression”.

He said for its own interest, Pakistan’s elite threw the nation to the altar and put its self-respect at stake.

The prime minister said national security was a multidimensional phenomenon and could be ensured when the state and nation shared a single vision and ideology.

He said his government firmly believed there was a symbiotic relationship between economic, human, and traditional security which was imperative for Pakistan’s long-term development.

He said domestic stability and regional peace based on mutual co-existence, regional connectivity, and shared prosperity were essential prerequisites to optimising national security.

Khalilzad offers to play role for strengthening diplomatic cooperation islamabad staff report

Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and a prominent guest speaker at Islamabad Security Dialogue Zalmay Khalilzad called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ on Friday, the military said.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed, military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement.

Commenting on Afghanistan situation, the army chief once again stressed upon the need for global convergence and sincere efforts to avert a looming humanitarian catastrophe. He aslo thanked Khalilzad for attending the Islamabad Security Dialogue.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role and efforts towards regional stability. He pledged to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels, the Inter-Services

Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The ex-US envoy expressed his gratitude for being

given an opportunity to attend the Islamabad Security Dialogue.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:42

12:10

3:38

6:03

WasHiNGTON The United States rejected on Thursday claims from the prime minister that it is involved in a conspiracy to remove him from power through the no-confidence vote moved against him by the unified opposition.

In his address to the nation on Thursday, Imran Khan said the move to oust him was a “foreign conspiracy” backed by a Western country that was unhappy with his visit last month to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin.

Khan was in Moscow and met with Putin the day Russian forces entered neighbouring Ukraine.

The prime minister did not openly name the alleged conspiring country. He appeared to blunder when he named the United States as the origin of a “message” he said showed meddling in Pakistan’s affairs. “America has — oh, not America but a foreign country I can’t name. I mean from a foreign country, we received a message.”

In separate briefings on Thursday, the State Department and the White House said there was “no truth” to those claims.

“There is absolutely no truth to that allegation,” White House spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield told reporters in a briefing.

Khan has faced mounting criticism of his performance, including his management of a troubled economy. On Sunday, he faces a tough parliamentary no-confidence vote

7:38

Pakistan lodges formal protest with US over ‘threatening letter’ islamabad staff report

Pakistan late on Thursday night lodged a formal protest with the US over a threatening letter that warned of dire consequences if the opposition’s noconfidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan failed.

Acting US envoy in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over the “threatening” letter, hours after the country’s top decision-making body on national security voiced concerns over the issue during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A Foreign Office official confirmed that a demarche was also handed over to the acting US envoy, adding that the US was told that the use of such undiplomatic language was unacceptable, the official said.

“As decided in the National Security Committee meeting held on 31 March 2022, the requisite demarches have been made through diplomatic channels,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement in the early hours of Friday.

The decision to hand over the demarche to the US was taken during the NSC meeting, which was also attended by federal ministers for defence, energy, information, interior, finance, human rights and planning, besides chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers.

The NSC meeting was convened against the backdrop of alleged “foreign-funded plot” against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The presence of the alleged plot was based on a diplomatic cable the Pakistani ambassador in Washington wrote to the Foreign Office earlier this month.

The secret memo contains minutes of the meeting between the Pakistani envoy and a US official.

According to the government, the US official conveyed a threatening message, stating that if the vote of no-confidence did not succeed the country would have to face consequences.

Prime Minister Imran, in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, insisted that a certain foreign power wanted to see his ouster because he was pursuing an independent foreign policy.

A handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the national security adviser briefed the committee on the formal communication of a senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan’s ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting, which was duly conveyed by the ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The committee expressed grave concern at the communication, terming the language used by the foreign official undiplomatic. The committee concluded that the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances.

The committee decided that Pakistan would issue a strong demarche to the country in question both in Islamabad and in the country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with diplomatic norms.

The participants also endorsed the decision taken in the special cabinet meeting on Wednesday, chaired

by Prime Minister Imran, to take parliament into confidence through an in-camera briefing of the National Security Committee of Parliament.

However, the NSC did not say if the letter constituted a conspiracy against the sitting government and did not suggest if the opposition parties were part of the plan. There was no decision either to order an inquiry to look into the controversy.

This, observers believe, may be an effort to downplay the conspiracy element on part of the military leadership, which initially was not willing to take the matter seriously. In the official statement, the NSC was cautious that the protest would be lodged with that foreign country keeping with diplomatic norms.

This indicates that there is unlikely Pakistan takes any harsh steps other than issuing a demarche to the US.

Us denies charge of conspiracy to oust Imran from power staff report

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seeking to oust him.

“I have never accepted defeat in life.

Whatever the result of the vote, I will come forward with more strength,” Khan said Thursday.

The vote has become increasingly difficult for Khan since he lost his majority in parliament when Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) quit his coalition.

It could see the former cricket star ousted and the return of political uncertainty.

“Well, we are closely following developments in Pakistan, and we respect, we support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a briefing.

“But when it comes to those allegations [of the letter], there is no truth to them.”

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