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Thursday, 26 May, 2022 I 24 Shawwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 326 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Daylong Police brutalities fail to foil Pti March g

Imran Khan enters CapItal, heads towards d-ChowK

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Mian abrar

espIte daylong skirmishes between the ptI workers and security forces, former prime minister Imran Khan entered the limits of federal capital with eyes on d-Chowk as destination for the sit-in. d-Chowk remained center of attention as ptI workers go control of the place while the police resorted to extreme shelling to disperse the young and old workers gathered at the Chowk. Imran Khan did not reach dChowk till filing of this report by midnight. many old and kids were seen badly affected due to shelling as some women workers fainted due to the shelling. authorities were mulling proposal to deploy army in the federal capital. meanwhile, internet disruptions and power outages were reported across pakistan the whole day. ptI Chief Imran Khan entered the Capital city around 11:30pm while the party workers were facing worst shelling at d-Chwok. It was not easy to enter the capital for Khan as the police aided by para-

Govt mulls handInG over CapItal to army

military forces had erected hurdles one after another from swabi Interchange in Kp to Islamabad. even inside the capital, police brutalities added a new chapter in history as women, young and old were targeted by the law enforcing agencies, injuring many. not only the ptI workers and leaders were targeted but common citizens also came under attack as leas targeted anyone who came out. Former ministers hammad azhar, dr yasmin rashid, Bilal virk and many others got injured due to heavy shelling. Five ptI workers were reportedly killed in violence. But defiant ptI workers were still able to stage protests by pulling away containers and crossing over blocked roads. much later in the evening, in a video message tweeted by the ptI, Imran asked “all pakistanis” to take to the streets in their respective cities and said people heading to Islamabad must reach d-Chowk. “I will make it there in a couple of hours.” he also appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for “real independence”. Imran said it was “good news” that the supreme Court had decided that no one would be arrested during

the march. “your collective presence will send a message across pakistan that the nation has rejected this imported government.” earlier, around 6pm, the main convoy from Khyber pakhtunkhwa, which includes ptI chief Imran Khan, was able to enter punjab from attock after successfully removing barricades placed by the punjab government at the attock bridge to stop marchers from entering the province. some prominent ptI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry and shireen mazari, also urged supporters to make their way to the capital’s d-Chowk, saying that all containers and blockades on the way had been removed. there are reports of intense shelling in Islamabad’s Blue area, with television footage showing smoke rising from the ground and fires in the green belts adjacent to main roads. Imran departed for Islamabad from the wali Interchange in Khyber pakhtunkhwa. afterwards, ptI tweeted a photo of Imran waving to supporters from a truck adorned with ptI colours. after reaching swabi, Imran, holding a pakistan flag, delivered a speech to supporters saying that “we are going to d-Chowk and no one can stop us” as the crowd cheered. Calling the incumbent government a “group of thieves”, he termed them the most corrupt people in the country and said that they were afraid of the masses which is why they had placed containers. meanwhile, other party leaders departed from their respective locations, with hammad azhar, yasmin rashid and some others from lahore, while shehryar afridi led a demo from Kohar and shahid Khattak departed from Karak. ptI’s Fayyazul hasan Chohan could be seen on television footage departing for Islamabad on a motorcycle. Imran Khan rubbished the reports of a deal with the government as “rumours and deliberate disinformation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

PM urges people to reject politics of sit-ins, immorality KAROT staff report

prime minister shehbaz sharif wednesday urged the people to reject politics of sit-ins and immorality which had inflicted huge economic loss to the national economy in the past as well. the prime minister, addressing the engineers and workers at the underconstruction Karot hydropower project here, said the memories of 2014-sit in (by the pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf) still haunted which had caused the postponement of the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping. “a sit-in is being planned again… we should not divide nation through sit in… what message you are giving through the sit-in,” the prime minister questioned the ptI leadership which was on its way towards Islamabad for a sit-in in the federal capital. without naming the ptI, he said the political party had been requested to suspend their sit-in for three days but they were adamant not to change their mind. he said had the visit of Chinese president taken place in 2014, the Karot power project –a part of China pakistan economic Corridor- would had been completed a year ago to contribute 720 megawatt to the national grid. he said the government was trying to rectify the bad economy and inflation inherited from the previous government. By reducing the oil prices, the previous government had left a “landmine” for his government, he added. the prime minister, who reviewed the progress on the project, said the project faced some delay due to CovId and other related issues. he said the previous prime minister had enough time to drag to the opposition to tight corner, and create division

IMF makes removal of fuel, energy subsidies mandatory for revival of bailout package islAmAbAd staff report

the International monetary Fund (ImF) on wednesday emphasised renewed its condition of “removing fuel and energy subsidies” to achieve programme objectives. Finance minister miftah Ismail had earlier this week said he would convey to the ImF that fuel and energy subsidies — which were introduced by the previous ptI government — could not be reversed as the “nation cannot endure it”. But in a statement issued earlier today, the ImF said it had “emphasised the urgency of concrete policy actions, including in the context of removing fuel and energy subsidies and the Fy2023 budget, to achieve program objectives”. according to the ImF, the mission held “highly constructive discussions” with the pakistani authorities aimed at reaching an agreement on policies and reforms that would lead to the conclusion of the pending seventh review of the authorities’ reform

programme. It said the considerable progress was made during the mission, including on the need to continue to address high inflation and the elevated fiscal and current account deficits, while ensuring adequate protection for the most vulnerable. “In this regard, the further increase in policy rates implemented on may 23 was a welcome step. on the fiscal side, there have been deviations

from the policies agreed upon in the last review, partly reflecting the fuel and power subsidies announced by the authorities in February.” meanwhile, Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the ongoing bailout deal between pakistan and the ImF was “outdated” given a number of global crises. “this ImF deal is not based on ground realities, and the context has absolutely changed from the time

that this deal was negotiated,” Bilawal told reuters on the sidelines of the world economic Forum. he said it would be justified for pakistan to plead this case before the ImF in [current talks]. “this deal is a pre-Covid deal. It is a pre-afghanistan fallout deal. It is a pre-ukrainian crisis deal. It is a preinflation deal,” Fm Bilawal said. terming the deal “outdated” he said it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect a developing country like pakistan to navigate geopolitical issues under the current agreements. “we have to engage with the ImF and we have to keep pakistan’s word to the international community … however, going forward, it is very legitimate for pakistan to plead its case,” Bilawal said. the newly-elected government began talks with the Fund a week ago over the release of a $1 billion tranche under an extended Fund Facility, a process slowed by concerns about the pace of economic reforms in the country.

in the society but could not find some time to visit the gigantic project, control inflation, poverty and unemployment. he said after coming into power through a constitutional process, the incumbent government was striving to take measures for controlling inflation and stabilize the economy. he said during his interaction, the Chinese engineers assured for early completion for what he thanked the Chinese and pakistani workers, departments and ministries concerned for taking utmost interest to complete the project. he also thanked Chinese president Xi Jinping, pml-n Quaid nawaz sharif and Chairman of three Gorges Company which was executing the project. the prime minister said being a hydro power project, the electricity price would reduce to even rs 3 per unit gradually, after the retirement of the debt. he also thanked the three Gorges Company head for agreeing to supply free-of-charge electricity to the national grid till the finalization of Commercial operation dates to save rs 4 billion to the national kitty, which was unprecedented and a gesture of strong Chinapakistan friendship. “this is the China-pakistan friendship and iron brotherhood…this is the passion to serve which everyone should have … the only solution is the work hard and learn from past mistake and reject the sit-ins to achieve the lost grandeur,” he remarked. the prime minister called for emulating the Chinese model of development. he said both the punjab and azad Kashmir governments would get rs 1.2 billion as water use charge who would be spending rs 120 million annually for next 30 years for the uplift of the Karot area as the locals had sacrificed their properties for the project.

more inside

Committee fails to finalize inquiry into MG’s underinvoicing case STORY ON PAGE 02

eCp announces by-polls to 20 punjab constituencies on July 17 STORY ON PAGE 03

Yasin Malik jailed for life amid protests, worldwide condemnation STORY ON BACK PAGE

02-03 NEWS 26 May 2022_Layout 1 5/26/2022 1:37 AM Page 1

Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORe

news

POLICE USE BRUTE FORCE agaInST PTI wORkERS LAHore/KArACHi/peSHWAr

Shahab Omer /Staff repOrtS

oliCe on Wednesday used brute force, tear gas and baton charged the PTi leaders and workers to deter them from moving towards islambad as part of “Azadi March”, especially in lahore and Karachi. The police meted out worst treatment to the PTi workers and leaders in lahore. The provincial capital on Wednesday witnessed violent clashes between the PTi workers and the riot police, as the administration had blocked all exit points of the City, leading towards islamabad. The police fired tear-gas shells to disperse the PTi workers near Bhatti Chowk, Shahdara, Aiwan-e-Adl, Ravi Bridge and other areas. They baton charged the workers and leaders who were attempting to defy the barricades put in place to stop them from moving towards islamabad. At some places, the PTi workers manged to proceed towards islamabad by pushing aside containers amid tear-gas shelling. The vehicle of PTi leader Dr Yasmin Rashid was also damaged and she reportedly received minor injuries. Dr Yasmin, in a statement, alleged that the windscreen of her vehicle was broken by the police. later, Dr Yasmin along with Andaleeb Abbas was arrested at Batti Chowk. The police tried to arrest senior PTi leaders Shafqat Mahmood and Hammad Azhar, who were leading rallies.The PTi lawyers and workers also scuffled with police outside Aiwan-e-Adl and Post Master General office. The police, however, arrested dozens of PTi leaders and workers including Andleeb Abbas, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Jamshed iqbal and Senator ijaz Chaudhry. Some of them were released later. As soon as the long march of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTi) started in the provincial capital, clashes between police

and workers erupted in different areas, turning some parts of the city into a battlefield. According to details, caravans of PTi lahore had come from different parts of the city to gather at Batti Chowk to participate in the long march on the call of former prime minister imran Khan from where they were to leave for islamabad in caravans. When the workers tried to remove the barricades from Batti Chowk and move out of the city, the police charged them with baton and shelling knocking a female PTi leader unconscious. Meanwhile, the police also attacked the vehicle of PTi leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid and broke the wind screen of the vehicle. However, Yasmeen Rashid’s vehicle went ahead breaking the police cordon. However, lahore police arrested Dr Yasmeen Rashid and Andalib Abbas but they were later released whereas the CCPo lahore claimed that Dr Rashid and Andalib were not arrested as both women themselves remained in the police vehicle. He said that both were taken out of the police vehicle later. Similarly, lahore police also tried to arrest Hammad Azhar, a key PTi leader, near Shahdara Chowk. on the other hand, a large number of lawyers were present outside Awan-i-Adl to participate in the long march, where the police charged them with baton and fired tear gas on them. The police also arrested some lawyers. The police and the district administration closed teh city at 14 points while the citizens who went out of the city faced severe difficulties. obstacles were erected from Kachehri Chowk to Datadarbar and containers were placed from Pir Makki to Azadi Chowk while the roads from Azadi Chowk to Bhatti Chowk were also blocked. Similarly, roads from Rettigan Chowk to SSP office were also blocked and containers were placed from Rettigan Chowk to Bilal

Dollar reaches new high against rupee in interbank Monitoring report The Pakistani rupee continued to lose ground against US dollar and plunged to an all-time low against the greenback in the interbank market on Wednesday. According to forex dealers, the exchange rate remained under pressure as the US dollar continued its upward spiral against the local currency and gained 80 paisa in intraday trading. The value of the greenback surged by 80 paisa in early trade and currently trading at Rs202.21 in the interbank market, hitting an all-time high. US dollar in the open market is also trading at over Rs202, according to Forex dealers. The US dollar closed at 201.41 the other day. When the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government took over on April 11, the dollar was valued at Rs182.3. Since then, the rupee has lost Rs20.20 of its value. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday raised the monetary policy rate by 150 basis points to 13.75% for the next six weeks to maintain the balance between inflation and economic growth. “The MPC decided to raise policy rate by 150bps to 13.75%. This action, together with much needed fiscal consolidation, should help moderate demand to more sustainable pace while keeping inflation expectations anchored & containing risks to external stability,” the central bank said in a statement.

Policemen beat up a PTI worker at Batti Chowk.– Photos by Zubair Mahfooz

Ganj. Moreover, roads from istanbul Chowk to PMG Chowk, Bhatti Chowk to Azadi Chowk Flyover remained blocked and Ravi Bridge, old Bridge, lakkar Mandi were closed with containers. The administration also closed the entry and exit points of Thokar Niaz Baig, Mahmood Buti Motorway and M-2 lahoreislamabad Motorway from Thokar Niaz Baig and a heavy contingent of police was also deployed on these points. PTI WORKER’S DEATH: A PTi worker fell down and lost his life in a clash with police at Ravi Bridge in lahore. The participant in the deceased PTi worker was identified as Faisal, a resident of iqbal Town. Faisal Abbasi was rushed to hospital in critical condition after falling from the bridge but he could not survive. PETROL AND DIESEL SHORTAGE: Due to the closure of routes due to long march, the supply of petroleum products could not reach lahore, which led to shortage of petroleum products in the city and the shortage of petroleum products has started in different parts of the city. Petrol and diesel have gone missing in Dharampura, Garhi Shahu, Ravi Road, Shadbagh, Shahdara, lower Mall and other areas and citizens who used to come for petrol were worried. According to petroleum dealers, the daily consumption of petroleum products in the city was 3 million litres and if the roads remain closed, the shoratge will become a crisis.

SHORTAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: The clsosure of all entry and exit points of the City adversly affected normal supply of vegetable and fruit supply to the city markets. The shoratge led to increase in the prices of the commodities. President Badami Bagh Fruit and Vegetable Market, ejaz Chaudhry informed that 700 to 800 vehicles used to come to Badami Bagh Mandi on daily basis. But today [Wednesday] only about 350 of could reach the market, he added. Similarly, supply could not reach vegetable and fruit market of Kahna Kachha and only 30 trucks could reach while vegetables and fruits worth millions of rupees were damaged in the vehicles stuck due roads closure. Speaking to Pakistan Today, the vegetable and fruit sellers said that due to shortage of supply, prices have also gone up sharply which has affected both vendors and citizens. CLASHES AT KARACHI’S NUMAISH CHOWRANGI: Sindh Police and PTi workers clashed at Karachi’s busy intersection Numaish Chowrangi. The party workers torched a police van and removed all the hurdles created by the law enforcement agencies. The police resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse the protesters. However, the PTi workers responded by throwing stones at the law enforcers. The police resoretd to worst treatement of the protesting workers and arrested some of them.

Committee fails to probe MG’s under-invoicing case SHAHzAD pArACHA The inquiry committee, tasked to probe the alleged under-invoicing of MG motors, reportedly is using delaying tactics in finalizing the inquiry. Sources said that the four-member inquiry committee led by Director General Customs intelligence and investigation Rasheed Shiekh failed to furnish a report in the MG under-invoicing case. A four-member probe committee was supposed to submit a report by May 15, 2022. Sources said that the committee members are waiting for the written instructions of the Public Accounts Committee for investigating the alleged under-invoicing matter. The MG motors scam has been already adjudicated by the Collector Adjudication Karachi however such an adjudicated case needs to be reopened by the FBR through a written order under section 195 of the Customs Act as Chairman FBR or member customs legal can mandate a probe committee to reinvestigate such

an adjudicated case, sources added. Sources also said that member customs legal has asked incumbent chairman FBR to decide on reopening of the adjudicated order in the MG case but no response has been given to her so far. According to the ToRs of the probe committee, its members have been required to determine the fair value of imported MG vehicles under section 25 of the Customs Act. Sources said that the valuation department of FBR determines fair values of imported goods under section 25 usually by following the deductive value method of customs valuation. in the deductive value method of customs valuation given under section 25 of the Customs Act, the basic idea is, to begin with, the market value in the country of importation of imported goods similar or identical to the imported goods being valued and work back all through from country of importation to the country of exportation deducting from the market value all the expenses incurred from the country of exportation to the country of importation.

NOBODY WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER CAPTIAL: “Nobody should be allowed to besiege the capital and dictate his terms,” Minister for interior Rana Sanaullah said Tuesday. Schools in islamabad and Rawalpindi were closed and all exams cancelled, while a state of emergency was declared at all hospitals, with staff put on alert. “We have seen the capital blocked before but this is something unprecedented,” islamabad private school worker Allah Ditta, 52, told AFP. Salon worker Sawera Masih complained that the wide-scale disruption was falling hardest on daily wage workers like herself. “Whoever is in power doesn’t make a difference to us, but not earning even for a single day affects me and my family,” the 23-year-old said. ‘DON’T FEAR ARRESTS’: Meanwhile, Khan said he would reach the D-Chowk neighbourhood of islamabad at 3:00 pm and urged his followers to do the same. He will reach Swabi by helicopter from Peshawar, leading the procession from Ambar interchange. in a video message for his supporters ahead of the march, he announced his party’s only demand is a free and fair snap election and they won’t go home until they get the date for the polls. “Don’t be afraid of prisons,” the former prime minister said to his activists and supporters. “our future generations would not forgive us if we did not come out today,” he added.

NAB receives complaint against Imran for ‘misusing’ KP govt resources neWS DeSK PTi chairman imran Khan has once again come under criticism for allegedly using resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for himself. A complaint has been lodged against him with the NAB for investigation into the matter. A member of the KP Assembly, Sobia Shah, has lodged the complaint with the NAB’s KP region. it states: “imran Ahmad Khan Niazi is involved in blatantly misusing resources of the Government of KP, including use of official helicopter of the KP Chief Minister for personal purposes, thus causing huge losses to the government exchequer, which is an offence under the relevant provisions of NAo, 1999.” The complainant said any other additional documentary evidence, if needed, will be produced to the investigation officer in due course of time. The PTi chairman is already facing a NAB case on the same charges levelled in 2018 and had appeared before NAB at its KP office.

KSE-100 plunges over 500 points as police, PTI workers clashes inp The Pakistan Stock exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSe-100 index shed more than 500 points on Wednesday as clashes between PTi protesters and police officials in lahore dampened investor sentiment. According to the PSX website, the KSe100 index had gone down by 572.63 points, or 1.37 per cent, by 12:35pm. Ahsan Mehanti of the Arif Habib Corpo-

ration said the stock market was witnessing a slump due to the central bank’s decision to hike the key interest policy rate and the political instability. “Stocks fell across the board on investor fears over the impact of the opposition’s protest call to initiate fresh elections and massive State Bank of Pakistan policy tightening this week,” he said. “Domestic and foreign investors are withdrawing their capital from the market.

Political matters have deteriorated to such an extent that the market has not improved despite Saudi Arabia’s announcement regarding the extension of the kingdom’s $3 billion deposit to Pakistan,” he said. He added that reports of a delay in the resumption of the international Monetary Fund (iMF) programme and falling rupee played a catalyst role in the bearish activity. Raza Jaffrey, head of research at intermarket Securities, said that equities continue

to come down with the “risk of confrontation on the streets very much playing itself out”. “The balance of payments situation remains precarious as before. everything looks cheap but the market has been akin to a falling knife this month. investors are waiting for the dust to settle before entering equities again,” he said. Meanwhile, Salman Naqvi of Aba Ali Habib Securities attributed the slump in the market to the high interest rate and the fall

in the value of the rupee. “if we do not get the bailout package from the iMF, then the market could go down further.” He said that investors were also being cautious over the possibility of heavy taxes being imposed in the upcoming budget. “investors are also prioritising selling shares due to the possible law and order situation that could arise out of imran Khan’s long march call,” he said.

02-03 NEWS 26 May 2022_Layout 1 5/26/2022 1:37 AM Page 2

Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORe

aS PTI DEManDS FRESH ELECTIOnS, ECP UnVEILS By-POLLS PLan In PUnJaB iSLAMABAD

Staff repOrt

T a time when the PTi is staging a long march for a fresh election in the country, the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) on Wednesday announced by-election to the 20 vacant seats of Punjab Assembly. The eCP said that by-election to the 20 vacant seats of the provincial assembly will be held on July 17. These seats fell vacant after the eCP de-seated 25 dissident MPAs of the PTi in Punjab for vot-

ing in favour of Hamza Sharif against the party policy. The nomination papers for the by-election will be accepted from June 4 to 7, and scrutiny of the papers will be held on June 11. The election tribunal will decide on appeals against rejection or acceptance of nomination papers by June 21, while nomination papers can be withdrawn by June 23. The constitutencies where by-elections will be held include: PP-7, PP83, PP-90, PP-97, PP-125, PP-127, PP-140, PP-158, PP-167, PP-168, PP170, PP-202, PP-217, PP-224, PP-228, PP-237, PP-272, PP-273, PP-282

Bilawal to wEF: Pakistan committed to promoting financial inclusion iSLAMABAD

layyah and PP-288. The date for the byelections comes after the eCP on Monday de-notified the 25 PTi MPAs. The decision to de-seat the 25 PTi dissidents came during the announcement of the verdict in a case pertaining to the dissident members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs). earlier, the eCP had issued official notifications for the cancellation of the dissidents’ election from respective constituencies of Punjab and seats reserved for women and non-Muslims. “Pursuant to the order dated the 20″ May, 2022 passed by the election Commission of Pakistan in case No.

13(1)/2022-law, upon confirmation of the declarations under Article 63A(1)(b)(i) of the Constitution of islamic Republic of Pakistan, the election Commission of Pakistan hereby de notify the following members Provincial Assembly of Punjab from the respective Constituencies, seats reserved for women, and non-Muslims in terms of Article 63A(4) of the Constitution,” the notifications read. As many as 20 out of 25 dissidents were elected from different constituencies, three were elected on seats reserved for women and two were elected on seats reserved for non-Muslims.

IHC summons media group owner over ‘anti-judiciary’ advertisements

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Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan is fully committed to the promotion of financial inclusion in the country and highlighted the initiatives aimed at facilitating women’s participation and integration in the national economy, According to a Foreign office press communiqué on Wednesday, Bilawal, who is in Davos to represent Pakistan at the annual meeting of the World economic Forum (WeF), met with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and his counterparts, Bogdan Aurescu of Romania and Pekka Haavisto of Finland on the sidelines of the Davos forum. in a meeting with Queen Maxima, also the UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate for inclusive Finance for Development, the foreign minister highlighted that Pakistan’s efforts through the Roshan Digital Account initiative would improve access for overseas Pakistanis to the country’s banking services. As part of the National Digital infrastructure Development Strategy, the foreign minister emphasised, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had successfully operationalised the instant digital micropayments gateway called RAAST. in a separate press release, the foreign said that Bilawal and Romanian Foreign Minister Aurescu discussed bilateral matters including mutual cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, development and education as well as collaboration at multilateral forums.

The islamabad High Court (iHC) on Wednesday summoned Jang/Geo media group owner Mir Shakilur Rehman over anti-judiciary advertisements published in english daily over the past two days. The court, which had taken notice of the matter, also asked Rehman and the newspaper’s editor, Amir Ghauri, to submit affidavits tendering an apology. The advertisements in question were printed in the newspaper’s May 23 and 24 editions. These ads, according to the media outlet, were sponsored by the family of Barrister Fahad Malik, who was gunned down in islamabad in 2016. it called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice, claiming that the killers “had struck a deal with the ruling judge in the case”. The family urged the CJP to allow the case to be transferred to an “impartial and non-partisan judge of dignity”. They also called for establishing a larger bench to hear the appeal pending in the apex court against the removal of terrorism clauses in the case. They also requested to ensure that

the accused was not removed from the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed, and also asked for the appointment of a monitoring judge to ensure “smooth and equitable dispensation of justice”. in today’s edition, the paper [issued an apology][2] saying that the staff concerned overlooked the advertisement since it came from the family of the late barrister and was released by a known advertising agency. “The senior management of the newspaper has ordered an inquiry to probe the matter. Further directions are also passed by the senior management for future to more carefully examine the content of any advertisement being published in the newspaper,” it said. Ghauri appeared before iHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah during today’s hearing where the latter said that the advertisements printed by the paper did not come under “journalistic reporting”. “You used the picture of the honourable chief justice of Pakistan in the advertisements,” Justice Minallah told Ghauri, adding that this matter could not be ignored “at any cost”. Justice Minallah stated that the newspaper had printed advertisements against the judiciary for commercial

purposes. “We will not turn a blind eye. Printing such an advertisement is a serious issue,” he said. The newspaper’s editor apologised to the court over the advertisements but the iHC CJ reiterated that this matter could not be ignored. “Ask Mir Shakilur Rehman to personally appear before the court. Do you realise that you printed an advertisement on a matter that is currently under trial?” he asked. Ghauri told the court that the family of Barrister Fahad Malik had commissioned the advertisement, “Publishing the advertisement was an unintentional mistake,” Ghauri said. “You published the advertisement for two days and are now saying that it was an unintentional mistake,” the iHC CJ replied, adding that it had accused a judge of “making a deal”. He directed Rehman to appear in person at the next hearing schedule for Monday (May 30). This has become a joke where one feels they can say anything about the judiciary, the iHC CJ said. The lawyer representing Jang/Geo media group thanked the court for taking notice and said that it had printed an apology in today’s edition. Wednesday’s edition was also presented before the court.

PM confident UK dialogue will deepen bilateral engagement iSLAMABAD Staff repOrt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed confidence the enhanced Strategic Dialogue (eSD) would help deepen engagement between Pakistan and the United Kingdom in a range of mutually beneficial domains. Speaking to UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey, the prime minister emphasised islamabad and london enjoyed a long-standing partnership which was grounded in historic connections and abiding peopleto-people linkages. The prime minister expressed the desire to further enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries. Noting the two countries would be marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2022, Sharif hoped the occasion would be commemorated in a befitting manner and provide new impetus to further advancing Pakistan-UK cooperation in the years ahead. The prime minister also stressed the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, while highlighting the importance and urgency of taking necessary steps to avert a humanitarian crisis in that country. He underscored that the well-being of 40 million Afghans should be a key priority. on the issue of the Ukraine crisis, the prime minister spoke of his

news

actor Sajjad kishwar passes away at the age of 89 in Rawalpindi neWS DeSK Renowned television, film and radio actor Sajjad Kishwar has died at the age of 89 in Rawalpindi. He had been ill for the past few years. He is survived by a son, two daughters and grandchildren. His granddaughter Umme Aaman stated that after the death of his daughter last year, Mr Kishwar had been keeping unwell. “He breathed his last on Tuesday afternoon. He was suffering from multiple illnesses,” she said. His funeral prayers were offered in Shah di Talian Graveyard at Committee Chowk and was laid to rest. A large number of people attended the funeral. Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) Director Waqar Ahmed expressed grief over the sad demise of the senior actor and said Mr Kishwar played a significant role in the industry. Sajjad Kishwar began his career in Pakistan Television Rawalpindi in 1967, as an actor in drama Raizgari. over the course of his career, he performed in 100 films and 1,000 television dramas. He has received a Tamgha-i-imtiaz from the government of Pakistan and a lifetime Achievement Award from Radio Pakistan.

President alvi summons joint session of parliament today neWS DeSK President Arif Alvi on Wednesday summoned the joint sitting of the Parliament on May 26 at 4:00 pm. The president Arif Alvi has convened the joint session of the Parliament that would be attended by members of both the houses – National Assembly and Senate – on Thursday, said a press release. The President has summoned the joint session of the Parliament in the exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution, it added. The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the tabling of elections (Amendment) Bill 2022. The cabinet members emphasized the deliberation over reports of the election Commission on the use of electronic voting machines and the voting right of the expatriates. The meeting noted that the use of electronic voting machines and voting rights for the overseas Pakistanis should be examined under a pilot project.“The election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) will launch a pilot project for the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes in by-elections,” read the statement, adding that the project will be presented in the Parliament.

Bilawal highlights ‘immense business potential’ of Pakistan DAVoS NewS DeSk

concern the ongoing conflict had implications for the developing countries as well, while reaffirming Pakistan’s principled position on the issue. He urged the international community to remain engaged in the search for a diplomatic solution, in accordance with the relevant international law and the UN charter. The prime minister also highlighted the serious situation in the occupied

Jammu and Kashmir. Underlining Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace in the region, including with india, he stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir. He also underscored the importance of maintaining a stable military balance in South Asia.

The visiting minister reciprocated the prime minister’s sentiments to further augment the historic relationship between the two countries, especially in the trade and investment sectors. He also conveyed his government’s deep appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation with the UK, particularly with regard to evacuations in the aftermath of developments in Afghanistan post-August 15.

Addressing Pakistan’s business community at Davos, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari noted Pakistan’s “immense business potential” on Wednesday, while noting that this was the case despite the various challenges the country faced both on the global as well as domestic fronts. He said that Pakistan faced “existential threats” some of which were shared by the global community, such as the CoViD-19 pandemic and climate change, while others were specific to the country’s domestic context. of the latter, he particularly highlighted the “severe economic consequences” the country suffered subtly pointing to the former PTi government’s policies. He also added that just like in Afghanistan, ultimately the solution for the Ukraine conflict will have to come through diplomacy as he encouraged the international community to engage in dialogue. earlier today, FM Bilawal Bhutto and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Dr Nayef Falah M Al-Hajraf agreed to explore further avenues to enhance bilateral trade and economic ties. Bilawal met the GCC secretary general on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World economic Forum (WeF) in Davos, where the status of Pakistan’s cooperation with GCC member states was reviewed. it was also agreed to strengthen institutional linkages, in line with the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Dialogue. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman were also present during the meeting. The foreign minister underscored that Pakistan attached high importance to its fraternal relations with member states of the GCC, both

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Thurssday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

CelebrITIes Call ouT PDM govT over bruTalITIes agaInsT long MarCh ParTICIPanTs ISLAMABAD MIaN abRaR

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has come out in support of the public over the ongoing political unrest in the country. Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced march on May 25, where he asked supporters to reach the capital Islamabad from their respective cities. The 41-year-old lashed out at politicians and questioned why people have to suffer from political decisions. Hafeez mentioned all major leaders of the political parties and asked why a common man has to suffer from political decisions. “No Petrol available in any petrol station in Lahore??? No cash available in ATM machines?? Why a common man have to suffer from political decisions,”

Hafeez tweeted. Actor Shaan Shahid tweeted in Urdu, stating that Imran Khan would remain steadfast on the path towards the destiny and he would never compromise over it. Famous actor and model Syra Yousaf tweeted a video of a young woman in Karachi carrying two infants amid shelling and aerial firing, putting the following tweet. “This lady is at the protests with her one month baby and 1 year son in Karachi. She said if I don’t come out my future generations will suffer. She compared what was happening to Karbala,” she said. Actress Samina Peerzada said tweeted that Pakistan didn’t learn from history. In a subsequent tweet, Samina Peerzada said that Imran Khan started the campaign alone but the people kept joining him and now it had become a caravan.

‘Dream come true’ for Pakistan’s first Cannes screening CANNES

lahore police claim it recovered weapons from vehicles of PTI activists LAHORE INp

LHC fines Hamza Rs100,000 for failure to submit reply LAHORE

ReuteRs

staff RepoRt

The debut screening of Pakistan’s first entry to the Cannes Film Festival felt like “a dream has come true”, one of its stars Sarwat Gilani said after the film — which seeks to break gender stereotypes in her country — received a prolonged standing ovation. “It felt like the hard work that people do, the struggles that we face as artists in Pakistan, they’ve all come to be worth it,” Gilani told Reuters. Gilani, a film and TV star best known for her latest series “Churails”, plays Nucchi in “Joyland”, which competes in the “Un Certain Regard” section, a competition focused on more art-house films that runs parallel to the main “Palme d’Or” prize. Nucchi belongs to a household that has long hoped for the birth of a son to continue the family line, with the consecutive birth of her three daughters not enough to please her conservative father-in-law. And her brother-in-law Haider secretly falls in love with a transgender woman Biba, who fights for her right to work as a performer. “Joyland” also explores the frustration of women seeking to pursue a profession, when Haider’s wife Mumtaz falls into a depression for being forced to stay at home and do household chores and stop working as a make-up artist. “It’s not just about a love story anymore. It’s about real-time issues, real life issues that we all go through,” Gilani said. “Having a woman, a trans, represent that sector of the society, I think it’s a really good step in the direction where we can say we can write progressive stories.”

The Lahore High Court (LHC) imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and members of his administration over their failure to submit a response in a case related to his removal from the office. During the previous hearing in the case on Mary 20, the judge issued notices to Shehbaz, Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and principal secretary to the governor. Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) for Shehbaz’s removal after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 25 lawmakers of the PTI in the Punjab Assembly for voting in favour of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president. The judge also directed them to submit the fine in the account of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA). During the hearing, a counsel for the chief minister sought a two-day time for submitting the response. The court admonished him and said he should have submitted the response two days before rather than seeking more time in the case. Meanwhile, the counsel for PTI said Shehbaz does not have the majority in the House. “The question is

The police claimed to have recovered weapons from the cars of two Lahore office-bearers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the party launched its long march on Islamabad to demand elections. The government on Tuesday banned former prime minister Imran Khan from holding the massive, planned march in Islamabad and cracked down on his supporters in midnight raids across the country, arresting hundreds. During the raids, a policeman was killed when a man opened fire after officers barged into his home past midnight in Lahore. Today, Sohail Chaudhry, operations chief of Lahore police, claimed his force received information days ago about “illegal weapons” being brought to the provincial capital. “During the citywide blockades on Tuesday, the police tried to stop five cars on the motorway. Later, in a raid at the homes of Zubair Niazi and Bajash Niazi, Lahore office-bearers of PTI, the weapons were recovered. “The Niazi brothers have been taken into police custody,” he said, adding the police would ensure that the march was held peacefully according to the law. Similar allegations were made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz who tweeted the police had recovered weapons from the vehicles of the two activists. This was the “ugly face” of the party’s Azadi March, she declared. “Weapons recovered by Punjab Lahore police from vehicles of PTI Lahore office bearers Zubair Niazi and Bajash Niazi. Case registered.”Providing details of the weapons, she said the cache comprises “six 223 bore guns, 13 SMG rifles, three pistols, 10 kopay, 96 magazines of SMG rifles and 223 bore guns, 26 magazines of pistols, 50 boxes of bullets and six bigger packs of bullets”. Later, Ataullah Tarar, a spokesperson for the Punjab government, in a media briefing also said a “large quantity of weapons” was recovered from the homes of the two PTI activists. “It is now clear this isn’t a peaceful march. These people want chaos and anarchy to spread in the country,” Tarar claimed. He also showed the photographs of the “modern weapons” on display that Maryam posted on Twitter, and listed what was found.

IhC orders release of detained PTI workers not whether he has the majority or not. The question is if the Supreme Court’s decision will be applied to previous cases or not,” the chief justice said. It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI had filed a petition in the high court to declare the election of Shehbaz as Punjab chief minister null and void. The petition has been filed by MPA Sibtain Khan and four other lawmakers of the PTI arguing that lawmakers from PTI and PML-Q were forcefully removed from the House during the election. “The police forcefully barred our lawmakers from voting during the election process,” they said and asked how police were allowed to enter the assembly when private people were refrained from doing so.

Condemnantions pour in on Police brutalities against PTI marchers ISLAMABAD News Desk

Condemnation poured in from all sections of society on Wednesday’s police actions to contain and impede the PTI’s long march to Islamabad. Tensions in Punjab rose after police made use of tear gas and arrested several PTI marchers in cities across the province as supporters attempted to remove shipping containers blocking routes to Islamabad. The police also batoncharged protesters near Lahore’s Aiwan-e-Adal. Clashes between the police and protesters were also reported in other areas of Lahore such as Islampura, Karim Park, Mohni road and Badami Bagh. Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas noted the government had hurt itself through the use of force. “Another sad day in the charred democratic history of Pakistan,” he rued. Journalist Cyril Almeida termed the day’s events as an “ugly overreaction” on the government’s part. Pakistan correspondent for the New York Times, Salman Masood, remarked the government had used “ham-handed tactics” to contain the PTI in Punjab. Meanwhile, veteran journalist Mubashir Zaidi seemingly expressed scepticism on the Punjab government’s claims of recovering weapons from the PTI earlier in the day. “Our police are adept at retrieving such weapons on their own after placing them. Who knows this better than we people of Karachi,” he said. Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq called on all sides to cease fighting for “personal, party and group interests” and instead focus their energy on Kashmir’s freedom. Tania Aidrus, former special adviser to the prime minister on Digital Pakistan, criticised the reports of internet services being curtailed.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered the release of detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists and supporters. The IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, was hearing a petition related to harassing party workers by the police ahead of the long march. At the outset of the hearing, the judge asked why the PTI workers are being harassed despite the orders of the court? The deputy commissioner replied there were security threats issued by NACTA ahead of the long march and reports regarding weapons with the march participants were also received. The court then asked how many PTI activists have been taken into custody so far? Responding, the Islamabad deputy commissioner said nearly 70 workers have been taken into custody. “We do not want to intervene in the executive matters but want to ensure that human rights were not violated,” the judge remarked. The court directed the deputy commissioner to release the arrested PTI activists after submitting an affidavit and inform if concrete evidence is present against any worker. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has started its Azadi March towards Islamabad. The workers of PTI are advancing to the capital by removing the barriers and containers.staff RepoRteR

Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

MInIsTer Tells senATe: rule oF lAw wIll be ensureD AT All CosTs islamabad

M Daily Covid-19 report: 92 new cases ISLAMABAD: Pakistan confirmed 92 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the overall tally to 1,529,990, the ministry of health said on Wednesday. A total of 30,379 people died of Covid-19 in Pakistan, with no more deaths reported over the last 24 hours, according to the ministry’s statistics. On Tuesday, 16,800 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 0.55 percent. There are 86 patients who are in critical condition in the country. stAff rePort

PIA to resumes flights to Xi’an BEIJING: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is likely to resume its commercial flights on the Islamabad-Xi’an-Beijing route from June 4, its head of operations in Beijing, Qadir Bux Sangi, said. The national flag carrier has secured permission from the relevant authorities to operate its flights, Sangi told APP. In a recent meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, the two nations agreed on the resumption of direct flights between China and Pakistan operated by PIA. They also agreed on an increase in direct flights between the two countries according to the development of the coronavirus pandemic. PIA suspended its flight operation between Pakistan and China on December 18 after the closure of Xi’an airport following the Covid-19 prevention and control measures imposed by the local authorities. stAff rePort

Trailblazing journalist Talat Aslam die at 67 KARACHI: Veteran journalist and political commentator Talat Aslam has died aged 67. He was associated as a senior editor with the English-language daily The News. An ardent supporter of press freedom, Aslam remained associated with several leading publications, including the now-defunct Herald, during his decades-long career. According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over his death, and paid tribute to his services rendered for the freedom of the press and for raising awareness about human rights. Sharif also extended condolences to the bereaved family. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, who worked with Aslam at Herald, said it felt like her heart would “burst with grief”. “He was the kindest, funniest, wittiest, warmest soul in the whole world,” she tweeted.

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INISTER for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday said the government won’t allow anyone to interrupt daily life across Pakistan, and ensure the rule of law at all costs. Responding to a point of order in the Senate, Tarar said there would be no compromise on the writ of the state and appealed to everyone to respect the supremacy of law and the Constitution. He said the affairs of the state were managed according to certain rules and laws, and it was a moral and constitutional obligation of every person to avoid creating unrest in the country. H appealed to the senators from Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to follow rule of law in the country and avoid becoming part of “unlawful” protests. Tarar repeated the claim made by the vice president of his party, Maryam Nawaz, that on intercepting three vehicles in Lahore, a large cache of ammunition was recovered. He made it clear the government will not allow any armed group to plan an attack on

the capital. He added the government of Punjab has also started an investigation into the killing incident of a policeman in Lahore. He made it clear that a fake case was registered against Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan linking him to the 2014 massacre in the Model Town neighbourhood of Lahore, and added the anti-terrorism court and La-

hore High Court (LHC) have exonerated him of all charges. He said that Senator Ejaz Chaudhry of the PTI, who was arrested in the morning, has been released and assured the House that no such action will be taken against parliamentarians. He said there are clear directions to the police and law enforcement from the government in this regard. Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani

Daylong Police brutalities fail to foil PTI March continued from paGe 01 “Absolutely not!” He said the party was moving towards Islamabad and would remain in the capital until “dates for dissolution of assemblies and elections are given”. He also urged supporters from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to embark on the march. At a press conference, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “must have formed a negotiation team” by now in light of the Supreme Court order on a petition filed by the PTI earlier in the day. He said PTI had already formed its team led by Dr Babar Awan. The minister said the situation in Punjab,

Balochistan and Sindh was relatively peaceful, adding it was just KP where protesters were using state machinery and heading towards Islamabad. He said the government would abide by the court’s order for upholding peace and the law and order situation in the country. Sanaullah said police had carried out a total of 4,417 swoops on PTI supporters’ homes, offices and on protest rallies and had arrested nearly 1,700 people. Of those, 250 were freed after they submitted affidavits that they had nothing to do with the protest march, he said. Meanwhile, police fired tear gas at protesters near the Chacch Interchange in Hazro

town of Attock district. According to sources, the protesters had brought a crane and were attempting to remove the containers that were blocking the way. Sources have reported roadblocks in Faisalabad, Gujranwala and other cities in Punjab, with shelling on PTI supporters trying to cross these. Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered police to release all detained people after obtaining an undertaking from them assuring they would not indulge in any illegal activity or violate the law. Aside from Gujranwala, Sadhoke, Chenab Bridge, Khanki Headway and the city area have been completely blocked.

Pakistan’s fragile economy cannot aﬀord political turmoil: SCCI SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President, Iftikhar Ali Malik cautioned Wednesday that country’s fragile economy was not in position to bear the brunt of prolonged political turmoil at this crucial juncture of time. The political turmoil had been inflicting tremendous loss to economy, making the lives of poor more miserable besides putting the country at stake, he said while talking to a delegation of young educated progressive women led by an emerging U-tuber, Noreen Asim. Malik said, Pakistan was among a few countries where political instability had badly damaged the economic growth despite having plenty of indigenous resources. He said political instability has a significant negative effect on economic growth and government should take immediate measures on war footings to bring political stability, which he said was a pre-requisite for sustainable economy. APP

informed the House there was no need to issue a production order for Senator Chaudhry as he has already been released. Senator Humayun Mohmand said PTI MPs, leaders and workers were being arrested without any reason. He said that the government should stop arresting innocent people. Senator Danesh Kumar said the Senate chairman should give a ruling on the arrest of MPs to put an end to this practice. He added the government should avoid arresting parliamentarians. He appreciated the immediate response of the Leader of the House and the government for taking notice of the arrest of Senator Chaudhry and ensuring his release. Senator Dost Muhammad Khan said previous long marches of PTI were held peacefully and assured the incumbent will also be held in a peaceful manner. Senator Fida Muhammad said that rather than discussing personal issues the House should discuss issues of citizens of the country. He said it was the constitutional right of every citizen to protest against government policies.

PAF aircraft crashes near Mianwali news desk A trainer aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force crashed near Mianwali during a routine training mission, a statement issued by the PAF spokesperson said Wednesday. However, no loss of life or property occurred as the pilot ejected from the aircraft safely. “A PAF trainer aircraft has crashed near Mianwali during a routine training mission. Pilot ejected safely while no loss of life or property was reported on the ground,” the statement said. It further stated that a Board of Inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the incident.

IFC signs agreement for construction of hospital in Peshawar Ghulam abbas The International Finance Corporation has signed an agreement with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to help arrange a landmark public-private partnership for the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital with up to 500 beds in Peshawar. The new public-private partnership complements a $400 million World Bank-sponsored project aimed at strengthening the province’s healthcare system. Peshawar is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2 million and accounts for nearly a third of total hospital admissions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Peshawar’s population has increased by 52 percent over the last two decades. That has increased stress on the city’s healthcare facilities, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic and an influx of patients from surrounding districts and neighboring Afghanistan.

Minister rules out fuel shortage in country islamabad stAff rePort

Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik has said that the country has enough stocks of petroleum products and there is no chance of any shortage in the country amid the long march and protest calls. Addressing a news conference alongside Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Wednesday, Malik said that there is no shortage of petrol in the country as supply companies maintain enough oil reserves. He said that for the current month, additional supply up to 20% was already added in the system for any unforeseen circumstances. That would help in maintaining the supply chain of the petroleum products. “We will be keeping an eye on the supply lines across the country during the riots or protest”, said the minister of state. He said that the previous government gave a subsidy on petrol and diesel till June but did not fund

this subsidy through budgetary provisions. He said the government is making an all-out effort to give subsidies and relief to the poor. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants to give relief to the public with lower income, and a mechanism would be devised where people earning less than Rs. 30,000 would be given subsidies. Malik said that first the poor segment would be safeguarded and then the subsidy would be abolished. Speaking on this occasion, Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir said that the government will defend the constitutional and elected government and the rights of the common people. Earlier on Tuesday, the oil industry warned of a possible petroleum products shortage in Punjab and its adjoining areas. In a letter written to the provincial authorities in Punjab, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) stated: “The road blockades have cut links of major cities with adjoining regions, thereby severely impacting

fuel supplies within the province.” “At the onset, we would like to mention that ample fuel stocks are available at various locations in Punjab and many oil marketing companies dispatched morning loads to the retail outlets, but the same has not reached the destinations due to roadblocks,” the OCAC said. “Moreover, escalating rumours regarding product shortages may result in panic buying,” OCAC said movement of tank lorries is severely affected and the oil industry fears that the prevalent situation may result in delayed deliveries and product dry outs across the region/province due to closure of highways and motorways and non-availability of safe alternate routes. “Due to impacted fuel deliveries to petrol pumps in Lahore and adjoining areas which are fed from Machike,” OCAC sought the support to engage the local administration and issue necessary instructions for providing security and safe movement of tank lorries to the respective destinations across

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Punjab till the situation normalises. In a separate statement, the OCAC expressed its concern regarding the prevalent situation of road blockades and the alleged speculation of low stocks circulating on the various forums. It requested the public to

avoid panic buying. “There are ample stocks of MOGAS and HSD in the Punjab region and OMCs are making their best efforts to top-up the retails outlets timely, despite the road blockages,” the statement said.

06-07 Comments - 26th May 2022_Layout 1 5/25/2022 11:49 PM Page 1

Thursday, 26 May, 2022

06 COMMENT

Neither loan nor loot

Azadi March Supreme Court as arbiter

HE arrival of Imran Khan led Azadi March from KP was delayed by several hours. Keeping in view less than expected numbers that IK brought from KP and the Punjab govt’s action against PTI marchers, fewer PTI activists are likely to reach Islamabad than expected. The relatively smaller number that responded to IK’s call has brought to question the over-reaction on the part of the federal govt in the form of raids, arrests and enforcement of PPC’s Section 144. . PTI protestors in Punjab clashed with police at a few points when they were stopped from proceeding to Islamabad. At places the protestors were teargassed. This delayed their movement but many succeeded in getting through the obstacles. They will find more obstacles as they try to pass through Rawalpindi. This would further reduce the number of those participating in the march from Punjab. The govt has justified the blockade by maintaining that IK wants to resort to bloodshed and if the “bloody march” is not nipped in the bud, it would put the survival of the nation at risk. The common people suffered on account of the blockades. They couldn’t reach offices, other people’s businesses suffered, litigants coming from far off cities missed court proceedings and schools were closed and exam postponed. The arrest of a number of lawyers led Islamabad High Court Bar to approach the SC. While hearing their petition concerning arrests and worried over the political confrontation and the sad state of the economy, SC decided to play the role of the arbitrator. This could lead the court down a slippery slope. The SC allowed PTI to hold sit-in at Islamabad’s H-9, while Imran Khan has announced changing the venue of his sit-in from Srinagar Avenue to D-Chowk from where he targeted important gov offices and Parliament in 2014. The apex court called for letting the Azadi March leaders protest and go home. Imran Khan however wants to keep his marchers in Islamabad till the announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies and holding of elections. One wonders how the court will enforce the orders given as an arbitrator.

Indebtedness has not led to development, but corruption

Dr FariD a Malik

ESTERDAy during discussion with a major construction group, one of the Directors mentioned that they work with their own limited capital, they neither borrow nor earn interest on their reserves. In other words they follow ‘interest-free finances. I was not surprised to hear this, and in fact I praised their strength as their wealth was genuine and earned. It reminded me of my father’s strict adherence to this principle. When the flood gates of debt were opened during the Ayub regime many were opposed to this unnatural, so-called fast-track development that opened the gates of quick money and corruption. Borrowed money is usually misspent and consumed as if there is no payback time. Coming from a family of upright and honest entrepreneurs, I could feel the agony in their lives created by this artificial injection of interest-bearing borrowed wealth. Till October 1958, the family were leaders of the watch business with import licenses and retail outlets. Instead of the lure of debt, they decided for an honest living. Only one string of the family remains in the business of the ancestors. Following the principles of honest hard work and interest-free money, this fourth generation family member has built a thriving business of manufacturing Wall Clocks. It reminds me of the famous line quoted by my college friend Asif Khosa, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), “ Behind every fortune there is a crime “. In his historic judgement that disqualified the three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan he mentioned the Sicilian Mafias and the Godfathers. As the country today faces a serious debt trap it

Saudi deposit

AuDI Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Jadaan has told a foreign news agency on the sidelines of the Davos meeting that he country is finalizing the modalities for the continuance of the Saudi deposit of $3 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan. Tpnl witdrawal of psit, icwas , was expected to weigh heavily on the Pakistani foreign exchange reserves, which have been bleeding recently. This extension of tenor will provide Pakistan much relief, for when this deposit was combined with the $2 billion deposit by China, also due, it was expected to prove a heavy burden for Pakistan. China had made the continuation of its deposit conditional upon IMF approval. Saudi Arabia did not make this an absolute condition, though a roll-over by the uAE is also linked to this approval. The Doha negotiations between the IMF and Pakistan will be affected by this Saudi decision, to the benefit of Pakistan, which will now be less under pressure to achieve a deal. It should be noted that this decision took place after concerted efforts by Pakistani high officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Miftah Ismail were both in Saudi Arabia to deal with this issue, while COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, and while security issues constituted the main subject, the Saudi deposit could not have escaped discussion. The Saudi decision, coming just as the PTI launched its Long March, at the time when Pakistan was negotiating with the IMF, showed that the Saudi government has confidence in the new government, and perhaps most importantly, its longevity. In that respect, it is not just a reflection of the close ties between the tqo states, but also between the two governments. While this rollover will not bring in any new money to Pakistan, it will prevent the need for the payment of a large amount. Since new money is needed precisely to service old debt, the relief is at much greater.

This decentralized internet is coming, ready or not SalMaN HUSSaiN Why Is the Metaverse Important? For those who are still scratching the surface, finding an absolute answer can be a huge challenge but not for the majority. The majority of tech giants, futurists, enthusiasts, celebrities, governments, investors, and individuals have already stepped into the Metaverse. These people own virtual lands, characters, places, art, and other types of digital content bought with real money. From Facebook, Microsoft, ByteDance, Nike, and Coca-Cola to Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Shawn Mendes, and Lady Gaga, there is a huge pool of businesses and individuals who have dived into this whole new immersive world even before its being materialized for the mass audiences. This clearly shows that the Metaverse has got a huge potential and is capable of revolutionizing the world soon. What Are the future changes on a global scale? Built on the foundations of Web3, decentralization, virtual reality, and digital currencies, Metaverse is a whole new world for everyone to explore and step into. It is the future of the world as its impact on major global segments is significantly clear. From business, finance, and economics to gaming, entertainment, and lifestyle, the Metaverse is expanding in all possible ways and redefining many industries on a global scale. It has introduced unique concepts like decentralized finance (DeFi), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Social Economics, Virtual Consumerism, Digital Investments, and much more. This has not only given rise to new opportunities for investors and companies but for individuals as well in the form of lucrative employment opportunities and passive income generation. The Metaverse along with its immersive experience is going to evolve as a trillion-dollar social economy soon. While taking a closer look at the current industry insights, it is quite evident that this new age of internet is already evolving at an unprecedented

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

It is wisely said, “ All that glitters is not gold “. This artificial shine of loan and loot is in fact a mirage that has kept the people of Pakistan entrapped for several decades, it is time to unshackle ourselves and rise as a free nation

The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.

Metaverse: the future of the World

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

is time to re-evaluate our money management practices. A nation that relied on its own resources till October 1958 before the first dictator took control today is a debtor that cannot even pay interest on its loans. Where has all the money disappeared? I read an interesting clip which narrated a maneating incident in the African state of Congo. The French Ambassador was trapped by cannibals while hunting in the forest. When the news of his feasting reached Paris, the government demanded compensation for his death. As the impoverished nation was unable to pay, they offered in return the sacrifice of their Ambassador in France as compensation. Loans, corruption, and money laundering have taken place in the land of the pure. Billions of un-earned dollars and expensive properties abroad are owned by the elite for which the money trails do not exist. Muhammad Bin Suleman (MBS) the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, adopted a unique approach for recovery. He rounded all the princes in a five-star hotel and kept them there till they were willing to part with their loot. Those who paid back were let go. We, the first freeborn generation of Pakistan, have seen the motherland at the crossroads several times in our sojourn. As a five-yearold child in Octobter 1958, I stood with my father on the Mall Road waiting to receive the the Long March of the leading Muslim League leader of his times, Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan. Instead he was arrested at the Ravi Bridge and taken to the dungeons of the Lahore Fort. Instead of a democratically elected government, the country had to endure ten years of dictatorship. Then around 1962, we drove to the Railway Station to pick up our special house guest. Dr Anwar Iqbal Qureshi, my father’s uncle ( Khalu ) had the unique distinction of being the first Indian to attain PhD in Economics from Trinity College, Dublin. He had retired from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was invited by the President for an advisory position. After dinner he talked about his fast-track debtbased development model. My father did not agree with his approach. He warned Dr Qureshi of the dire

consequences of an interest based financial model. Being an honest upright entrepreneur he believed that money should be first earned and then spent. According to him, easy money would be misspent, resulting in corruption and defaults. The President with the help of IMF experts embarked on a journey that has brought us today at the brink of bankruptcy. Today, my old man stands vindicated. About his own journey he wrote that ‘ I am proud of my upright existence and life of honesty and integrity ‘. In 2022, now after almost six decades, it is payback time. Pakistan stands at another crossroads in our lifetime. As a nation we have to come out of this debt trap by ending this era of loan and loot. All expired loans must be recovered, no more extensions allowed or restructuring allowed. According to Dr Matin Mian, the Economist, only in Dubai the value of real estate owned by Pakistanis is around $10.6 billion: then there are properties in London and other important cities of the world owned by the elite of the country. This pomp and show on borrowed or looted wealth cannot continue any more. After recovery of outstanding loans the focus should then shift on expensive real estate. Money trails should be sought. Property ownership details should be published and their confiscation pursued. Debt is death for a nation. This luxury at public expense has now become intolerable. As a nation we must re-learn to live within our means Ayub Khan celebrated his Decade of Progress in 1968 but it proved to be the beginning of his end. It was indeed the best and the worst of times. Finally in March 1969 he had to step down due to street protests. Then there have been several lost decades since 1985 where the loans and the loot has spiralled out of control. We lost control of our finances under the first dictator and with it our sovereignty was also compromised. Freedom is incomplete without financial independence. There are no shortcuts to real success. Let us recover the loot and get rid of the loans to start breathing again. No more ventilators, we desire to succeed not just survive. It is wisely said, “ All that glitters is not gold “. This artificial shine of loan and loot is in fact a mirage that has kept the people of Pakistan entrapped for several decades, it is time to unshackle ourselves and rise as a free nation.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

pace. Technavio, a market-leading research organization reports “The market size is expected to grow by $677.98 billion from 2021 to 2026.” When it comes to mentioning key industry players, there are some huge market names. From software, hardware, networking, and cloud computing to gaming, business, and entertainment, companies from all over the world are constantly investing massive money in the Metaverse. Top celebrities have bought raw land in the virtual real estate segment, top fashion brands are planning to launch virtual merchandise and accessories, top tech giants are introducing smart and exciting experiences, and so on. 3D worlds like The Sandbox, Decentraland, Somnium, and few others have shaken the world and now owns a huge pool of fans who are continuously injecting real money into this virtual world that will soon make it worth trillions of dollars. It is indeed true that constantly evolving technologies are playing a key role in enriching our lives with more ease, convenience, fun, and excitement. This now includes a huge share of the Metaverse. After Neal Stephenson coined this term in his novel Snow Crash, there is a lot that has been introduced under the banner of the Metaverse. In the near future, communication is something that will reflect new shapes and dynamics. It becomes possible because the Metaverse allows its users to travel to any place and make their presence virtually. The future use cases of AR and VR are going to change dramatically. Today the majority of people use smart devices like mobile phones and tablets to access their entertainment sources but in the future, people will prefer using AR and VR technologies to access and experience the same content. What’s more interesting is that the entire gaming industry is about to make a radical shift from conventional PC and console-based gaming to virtual gaming. There are already a few but famous projects within this domain namely Roblox, Decentraland, Axie Infinity, and many others are already trending higher. Moving on, the global financial market has al-

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ready been shaken by the concept of DeFi or Decentralized Finance. It is expected to give an unimaginable rise to the idea of “Social Economy”. This also includes an indispensable dependability of making payments through cryptocurrencies. According to Mark Zuckerberg in a The Verge podcast, the Metaverse will soon become a place where its users will interact, work, play, and eat with each other. According to Insider, Snoop Dogg promotes his Snoopverse as an all-in-one place where people can enjoy virtual concerts, shopping, parties, and many other activities. Similarly, Paris Hilton offers copies of her outfits to the fans. According to CoinDesk, Genies, which is a virtual avatar company, is making digital replicas of Cardi B, Rihanna, and Migos. Even if you move forward from entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle, finance, economics, arts, and gaming are few of the other highly distinguished segments. All-new technologies like the Ethereum Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Cryptocurrencies are expected to continue growing with key focus on the Metaverse. It is also noticeable that the entire industry, which is built up of advanced technologies like blockchain, digital currencies, and smart contracts ,is full of uncertainties. According to Forbes, a huge market crash has been noticed on May 12, when the prices of top digital currencies namely Bitcoin, Ethereum, BND, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Terra’s Luna, And Avalanche dropped unimaginably. Particularly, Luna lost almost 99 percent of its worth in a few hours and is dragging down the entire industry. This is not the first time that the global cryptocurrency market has faced a drop but it is indeed the first time that top ranked digital currencies have lost their worth in a very short time. Investors are hopeful that the market will regain its value, but there are only a few signs. From those who oppose to those who endorse, it is a fact that the Metaverse is going to become the future and the next generation of the global internet. Businesses have invested billions of dollars and it seems like that there is nothing that can stop the Metaverse from becoming a trillion-dollar industry in the future. The writer can salman4pk@yahoo.com

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06-07 Comments - 26th May 2022_Layout 1 5/25/2022 11:49 PM Page 2

Thursday, 26 May, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail

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Political awareness

Trade deal stands for peace, Union, and Development A South Asian Union must not be held hostage to Indo-Pak diﬀerences

ZaHra kHaliD HaqUe

AKISTAN’S trading ties with India were indeed the most pressing need and advantageous to both countries while legitimating political and human rights scrutinizy. But both states must look for a lasting peaceful resolution. On 14 January, Pakistan launched its first-ever National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026. The public version is stated to be a citizen-centric policy framework, placing economic security at its core in hopes to improve trade ties with its neighbours, especially with India. In addition, the document manifests Pakistan’s interest in the pursuance of peace with India, giving rise to questions on whether there will be a policy change in workable strategy. A viable solution is needed to manoeuvre Pakistan’s domestic issues together with its involvement in the future tie-in between India-Pakistan and the ubcontinent overall. That iron-clad remedy is called the customized South Asia union which would enhance trade-economic ties, and regional stability will ensure. Tragically, power eradication, multidimensional deprivation, political dishonesty, and the path isn’t right in both nations, and on top of that masses are suffering at the subsistence level. However, a clear message was sent to Pakistan not to invite them to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the Indian PM for his second term in promoting the eight-member South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) categorization. An Initiative, a millennium of “Giving Peace A Chance” through the South Asian union, is the only tangible solution to the sufferings of the masses in Kashmir, and reducing the tensions between Pakistan and India which will bring peace, prosperity & stability, economy, trade, commerce, and tourism not only in the region but to the whole world. Peace, prosperity, openness, green development and innovation that brings regional different civilizations closer, and a widely welcomed public good and platform for South Asian union cooperation. The provision of article 370 that binds the state of J&K to the Indian union but which was revoked by the current government in India, granted Jammu and Kashmir special status, imposing restrictions on internet services, detention of local political leaders and the communication lockdown in the union territory. Therefore, the revocation of Article 370 which deprives occupied Jammu Kashmir of its provincial autonomy and its sovereignty with its own legislative as-

sembly has made it hard to epitomize and incorporate the Kashmir issue in the policy of national security of Pakistan at large. Resolving India-Pakistan conflicts where political realities must be kept aside, is viable through dialogue, but should be considered primarily a dream project to push nations to move forward toward conquering the infinite world of possibilities and ultimate destination. The culmination of this dream into reality needs great trade-in cooperation of organizations, individuals and governments who are working day in and day out to break the status quo and remove impediments in the path of tangible peace,and a sustainable and perpetual peaceful sub-continent. For a better, peacefully co-existing and conflict-free world, the idea of the South Asian union is inspired by the reality of the European union, a beacon to the other regional players achieving greater values of justice, peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable human development for at least 1000 years. As mentioned in the SDG Global Agenda, the “regional and sub-regional frameworks can facilitate the effective translation of sustainable development policies into concrete action at the national level.” Resource combining and individual development of South Asian union countries will provide means for implementation of SDGs at a grander scale primarily on the national and regional levels in making sustainable economic growth more viable and directly proportional to justice and peace regional integration. All the goals and targets of the Global Agenda of SDGs 2030 can only be achieved through the comprehensive composition of the South Asian union (SAu) without affecting the borders and identities of concerned member states with welfare. “We reaffirm that every State has, and shall freely exercise, full permanent sovereignty over all its wealth, natural resources and economic activity. We will implement the Agenda for the full benefit of all, for today’s generation and future generations. In doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to international law and emphasize that the Agenda is to be implemented in a manner that is consistent with the rights and obligations of States under international law.” This solution will give a panacea across the borders to the deep-rooted poverty, poor, health, poor economics, water stresses, and local conflicts. Regardless, Indo-Pak discord permanently brings negative sentiments for both nations. The regional appeal of the South Asian union giving peace a chance on a sustainable and perpetual basis is a grave endeavour and struggle for both warring nations to coexist peacefully for a better Subcontinent with equal growth opportunities

for all even keeping their social, economic, moral, cultural, religious, territorial, political differences and commonalities intact. Importantly, it demonstrates that despite geopolitical turmoil and differences of view on some important political issues, Pakistan and India are open to doing business with each other along with a new framework for e-commerce that will also be useful in the longer term. Also, new provisions in areas like the environment indicate a shared intention to ensure that Indo-Pak will continue to support evolving trade models and bilateral focus areas. There is only one mantra for this unwavering struggle is “GIVING PEACE A CHANCE THROuGH PARTNERSHIP’’ which must be recognized as a living reality for every person at the regional level of South Asia. Collectively, leaders and stakeholders must step up to work together to foster peace, equality and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. The new agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, and coherent societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights including the right to . Making Kashmir the headquarters of the South Asian union like Brussels of the Eu is the only incentivized solution and strategy for the greater prosperity of South Asian masses. This shows an effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions.” ~SDGs Declaration #35 JuSTICE: THE ROOT CAuSE OF PEACE. Doing so is a direct challenge to the uN Security Council resolution relevant to the plebiscite of Kashmir as a page-turner where there is a tangible solution for all the ailments, crises, problems, and depravities of the South Asian region. A joint parliament of SAARC nations will also be the source of peace for millennia. It’s the time Pakistan and India realized that peace comes from economic development, trade promotion programmes, joint centres for modern technology exchange, digital innovation setup centres for cooperation on satellite remote-sensing applications. This is the vision presented in 1967 by Pope Paul VI , who believed in the encyclical popularism progress (development of the people) saying “Development Is The New Name For Peace”.

The new agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, and coherent societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights including the right to . Making Kashmir the headquarters of the South Asian Union like Brussels of the EU is the only incentivized solution and strategy for the greater prosperity of South Asian masses.

The writer is the Regional Head of IKDAR for South Asia & Europe, and Research Fellow for Advocacy & Communication in a leading Think Tank SDPI of Pakistan. She Tweets at @kzahrahaq

FOR the past couple of months, the political environment in Pakistan has been destabilised. But the real crisis began with the tabling of the noconfidence motion in early March against then Prime Minister Imran Khan. The rejection of the motion on the pretext of a foreign-funded conspiracy followed by the unconstitutional act of dissolving the National Assembly further stirred uneasiness among the masses. However, on the order of the Supreme Court, these decisions were overturned, which eventually led to the removal of Imran Khan from the PM Office, leaving behind the unsolved mystery of whether a foreign regime is behind this upheaval or not. All this has ignited hot debates, disputes and disagreements among the general public. This type of political instability has compelled the public to become much more vocal about their stance. While it is admirable that the nation is finally standing up to guard its interests, this uneasiness has uncovered an enormous loophole within the political fabric of the nation. As conversations are increasingly being held, I have noticed that we as a nation have little knowledge about how politics works. Many people, especially the youth of Pakistan, are unaware of the basic principles stated in the Constitution. This can be one of the many reasons why our nation is so effortlessly manipulated. To form a sound judgement and have productive discussions, we all must educate ourselves about the narratives, ideologies and theories that govern politics. Instead of relying on word-of-mouth and our intuition, we as a nation should check reliable websites and news reports for crucial information. Moreover, we must verify anything that has been forwarded to us before spreading it to others. By being politically aware, we will not only be able to present our opinions effectively but will also be able to decide who to vote for. RUBIKA AYAZ SUKKUR

Overseas Pakistanis WHy is it that when an Indian PM visits any foreign country, overseas Indian diaspora are united in supporting him or her, irrespective of which political party is at the helm, while there is a clear division in the case of any Pakistan PM on foreign tour? The reason is that the Indian Constitution forbids dual nationality and only allows single nationality with undivided loyalty to the motherland. Indians, holding foreign passports, are forbidden to vote in an Indian election or become a member of any Indian political party or even give donations. They can however donate to registered charitable organisations in India. These Indian origin foreign nationals are actively involved in American or uK politics etc. and made inroads to corridors of power through united efforts. They have formed powerful pressure groups to support India in the uS Congress or uK Parliament. The only Pakistani to ever hold a prominent elected post is Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who has never been actively involved in Pakistani politics or been a member of any Pakistani political party. Indian foreign remittances in 2021 were $87 Billion with almost 20% from the uSA, while total remittances to Pakistan in 2021 were $29.4 Billion in 2020-2021, as compared to $23Billion in 2019-20. Foreign nationals living abroad remit their savings to support families living back home and these are likely to decrease over time when their offspring’s emotional attachment with their parent’s relative withers. unfortunately, the other difference with India is that majority of Pakistan’s paid, and elected elite have settled their dependent children abroad while holding office and are involved in the reverse flow of scarce foreign exchange abroad. Post-retirement they seek permanent residence abroad. Giving voting rights to overseas Pakistanis who have on oath pledged their loyalty to another nation will not serve the national interest and can compromise state sovereignty because of their split loyalties. MALIK TARIQ ALI LAHORE

Earn Profit “REAL estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.” Franklin D. Roosevelt They tell us that we need to be risk-takers and bold in our investments to yield greater revenues. We need to have cash fluidity, have buying power as consumers and also be prudent in making our decisions. We necessarily do not need to be sages but we definitely deserve to make informed decisions about our investments. An investor often thinks of two options while investing; gold and real estate. Which of these comes out to be better for our present as well as future depends on realistically gauging the scenario. For generations, we keep that gold of ours, bars or jewellery collection, in lockers, hardly taken out or hardly worn in fear of being stolen. Sometimes we pass it on, as gifts, in inheritance or at weddings, but seldom do we sell it and even then, we call it an investment that grows. This is a myth that we need to stop believing. Gold does not give any return unless it is sold, it has an illusion of being liquid but in the short term if you sell it, melt-down value, wear and tear, handling, etc., it gives only a nominal return on investment. We need to invest in something, which pays us back not only in the long term but also at regular intervals. Real estate comes as a saviour as it gives us an opportunity where we can hold an asset, grow it and generate revenue out of it. Real estate can give a steady flow of regular income. In the current times, we believe living in a community requires us to be socially responsible. By investing in real estate, you can engage the workforce in construction, employ workers to run your property, and open various avenues for economic activity. Individual choices must be inclusive and considerate; we need to share success with our society. your gold is beneficial to you only if it ever is traded for revenue while investing in a property can make you gradually construct an asset, which is productive, earn profit and engage the community. you can begin going from the ground up to small milestones and eventually larger revenues. In clear terms, real estate is the new gold – far better, instead. MARYAM NAWAZ KAYANI ISLAMABAD

08 WORLD VIEW 26th May 22_Layout 1 5/25/2022 7:56 PM Page 1

Thursday, 26 May, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

Can a US-China war be averted? HE ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT THE CHINESE VIEW OF THE UNITED STATES IS PROBABLY MORE ACCURATE THAN THE U.S. VIEW OF CHINA: “WHILE CHINA’S UNDERSTANDING OF MODERN AMERICA MAY BE IMPERFECT, IT IS MORE DISCIPLINED AND SOPHISTICATED THAN WHAT WE FIND TODAY AMONG WASHINGTON’S POLITICAL ELITES IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES CHINA TICK” NatioNal iNterest Paul Heer

here is no dearth of commentators with ideas about, and proposals for dealing with, the downward spiral in U.S.-China relations. But former Australian prime minister Kevin rudd offers a unique perspective that merits considered attention. A genuine scholar of China who also has broad, deep, and close ties in both Beijing and Washington—without being either Chinese or American—is rare indeed. This allows him to speak frankly to both sides, which he does in The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict between the US and Xi Jinping’s China. The purpose of the book, according to rudd, is to “provide a joint road map to help these two great nations to navigate a common pathway to the future” and thus avert what rudd correctly sees as a drift toward conflict. he is also correct in his diagnosis that “the worldviews now dominant in China and the United States are pushing the two countries toward war.” rudd’s prescription is what he calls “managed strategic competition,” in which Beijing and Washington would pursue mutual understandings and rules of the road that allow them to keep their inevitable strategic rivalry within limits, while maximizing opportunities for cooperation where it obviously serves the interests of both countries. rudd fully acknowledges that this will be very difficult because of the “mutual noncomprehension” and “near-complete erosion of trust” between the United States and China. he also recognizes the domestic political constraints that will make it risky for leaders on either side to advocate restraint or anything that looks like accommodation or appeasement. But rudd observes that the alternatives—including the current trajectory—only risk catastrophe. One of the central themes of the book is the need for Beijing and Washington to overcome the cognitive trap in which they have put themselves by their failure to pursue mutual understanding or strategic empathy. This has facilitated both sides’ misattribution or exaggeration of each other’s ambitions and intentions. What is needed instead is a better appreciation by each side of how the other perceives and thinks about the world. “At a minimum,” rudd states, “policy makers need to make a genuine attempt, free of ideological bias or self-delusion, to understand the prevailing ‘perception environment’ in each other’s capitals,” and to incorporate this into their strategic approach to the relationship. rudd is especially frank in issuing this call to Washington, partly because he was writing “for a mainly American audience.” he essentially says that the Chinese view of the United States is probably more accurate than the U.S. view of China: “While China’s understanding of modern America may be imperfect, it is more disciplined and sophisticated than what we find today among Washington’s political elites in their understanding of what actually makes China tick.” rudd’s readiness as a foreigner to speak bluntly to his American friends and associates is similarly reflected in his characterization of U.S. policy toward China as having been “driven in recent years by a destabilizing mix of ill-considered strategic panic and domestic political opportunism.” As a result, “the policy appetite and political space for a more rational American approach [to China] remains limited.” This is harsh criticism, but not misplaced. But rudd directs no less attention and criticism toward China. Indeed, half of the book is an in-depth explication of “Xi Jinping’s worldview,” structured as “ten concentric circles of interest” (which rudd compares to American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s classic “hierarchy of needs”). These begin with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) top priority of remaining in power and in control, and radiate out to en-

compass the CCP’s internal pursuit of economic and social stability, border security, and territorial integrity; and its external pursuit of regional and global influence, leverage, and security. The recurring theme that is most relevant to U.S.-China relations is Beijing’s view that it is contending with Washington on virtually all of China’s needs and priorities. This is because Chinese leaders see American contempt for the CCP, and what they interpret at Washington’s goal of regime change in Beijing, as the greatest threat to China’s internal stability. Similarly, they see (what they interpret as) a U.S. policy of containing China regionally and obstructing its power and influence globally as China’s primary external challenge. rudd comprehensively outlines Xi’s strategy for confronting this perceived threat, which focuses on reinforcing the CCP’s domestic authority at home, while pursuing more activist and assertive policies abroad to score points against the United States and maximize China’s global position and clout. Two key elements of rudd’s discussion of Xi’s worldview and ambitions raise questions that are ripe for debate. The first is his focus on Xi personally, which is ambivalent or at least inconclusive on the extent to which Chinese foreign policy is a reflection of Xi’s own influence and preferences, or of drivers that transcend his leadership and predate his tenure. rudd asserts that Xi “changed the course of China’s strategic relationship with the United States forever” when “back in 2014 ... he changed China’s grand strategy from an essentially defensive posture to a more activist policy seeking to advance Chinese interests and values across the region and the world.” But Beijing’s more activist and assertive posture was already in train under Xi’s predecessor, hu Jintao, who five years earlier had essentially announced Beijing’s retreat from Deng Xiaoping’s longstanding guidance for China to “hide its capabilities and bide its time.” Indeed, China scholar rush Doshi—now working in Biden’s National Security Council—wrote last year that attributing China’s recent assertiveness to Xi’s personality is “a mistaken notion that ignores the longstanding party consensus in which China’s behavior is actually rooted.” rudd appears to acknowledge this when he observes that the “current state of the USChina relationship is the product of a long, complex, and contested history,” and that “in many respects, what Xi has done is intensify and accelerate priorities that have long been part of the party’s strategy.” On the other hand, rudd asserts that Xi has “changed China’s world view” by “reinvigorating the party’s Marxist-Leninist foundations,” “turbo-charging” Chinese nationalism, and “sharpening ... the country’s national ambitions.” But these all build on earlier trends and characteristics of the CCP and its agenda. rudd asserts that Xi “has seen the return of the party to the epicenter” of Chinese policymaking; made it “clear that the CCP has no intention of ever transforming China into a more liberal democratic state”; and revealed a determination to “establish a Chinese sphere of influence across the eastern hemisphere, and dilute—and eventually remove— America’s military presence from the wider region.” The CCP, however, arguably has never left the epicenter of Chinese policymaking or revealed any interest in liberal democracy; and Beijing’s pursuit of a regional sphere of influence at Washington’s expense has been apparent for decades. Xi no doubt is a bolder and more decisive leader than his immediate predecessors, and he has put a strong personal imprint on Beijing’s international behavior. It is nonetheless important to recognize that his world view and strategic priorities are in large measure inherited and reflect a longstanding consensus with the Chinese leadership. They have also been driven in part by changes in the external environment, including actions by the United States and other countries, that have unfolded

before and since Xi took the helm. rudd does address one key strategic issue over which Xi’s personal proclivities could have a decisive impact: Taiwan. In rudd’s analysis, “it seems increasingly likely that Xi will want to try to secure Taiwan during his political lifetime.” Specifically, rudd speculates that Xi might want Beijing to have the military capability to seize Taiwan “as early as the late 2020s should he choose,” or least to have “sufficient military edge against the United States” to prompt a political settlement with Taipei. This is certainly conceivable, but it constitutes neither the establishment of a deadline for unification with Taiwan nor a decision to attack when the requisite military capability is achieved. The second element of rudd’s discussion of China’s strategic ambitions that invites debate is his characterization of Beijing’s longterm global objective. he is on solid ground when he asserts that “China’s global strategy is to increase its economic, foreign, and security policy influence across all regions,” and to do so in part by taking advantage of “the relative decline in American power” and “American complacency and lack of attention to the importance of its traditional friends and partners around the world.” It is also increasingly evident that Beijing seeks “a dilution of American power and the increase of its own” in the global order. Going further, China clearly is “challenging the political legitimacy and policy effectiveness of the Western liberal-democratic model” and seeking “a future order that is more accommodating of authoritarian political systems” and “much more conducive to [China’s] political, ideological, and economic interests.” But Beijing’s end game becomes fuzzier when rudd cites Xi’s goal of “rewriting the

THE TWO BIGGEST DANGERS FOR THE UNITED STATES ARE THAT AMERICA WILL LOSE ITS CONFIDENCE, OR THAT EITHER SIDE WILL ASSUME THAT “WINNING” NECESSARILY REQUIRES VANQUISHING THE OTHER

global rules-based order” and efforts “to change the nature of the order itself.” rudd acknowledges that “it is less clear how much China actually wants to change things [and] at what pace,” and he doubts that Beijing has “a detailed blueprint of what a China-led international system would finally look like.” What he does not address is the core question of whether Beijing is approaching its competition with the United States as a zerosum or winner-take-all game: whether China, as is widely claimed, aspires to supplant the United States as the leading global power and secure a Sino-centric world order. Many policy analysts and scholars think so, but on the basis of little conclusive evidence. Doshi argues that Beijing seeks to “displace” the U.S.-led order, but it is not entirely clear whether that means “replace.” rudd is also somewhat equivocal on this core issue. he observes correctly that China is working to “expand [its] influence across the existing institutions of global governance” and has taken the lead in establishing new institutions (like the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank) in which “China, not the United States, is the central organizing power.” he also notes that, in the crucial science and technology sector, Beijing is pursuing “long-term Chinese global influence and, if possible, dominance.” Perhaps most importantly, he notes that Xi sees “a new unfolding ideological struggle underway between state socialism and democratic capitalism, which China is determined to win.” At the same time, rudd asserts that “at its heart, Beijing’s call is for a multipolar world” rather than a unipolar one. Most of the available evidence supports this assessment. This suggests that Beijing is focused more on maximizing its position and relative

power and influence globally, rather than judging that it can and must become the global hegemon. rudd is correct that Beijing has been promoting its development model and the “accumulated wisdom that China has to share from its experience.” But he omits Xi’s insistence that China will not impose its model on other countries or oblige them to copy it. In short, Beijing seeks to legitimize its governing model, but not to rule the world the way it does at home. rudd judges that the trend lines currently are in favor of China strengthening its position relative to the United States, but this is largely because he sees Beijing as having its act together better than Washington does. Indeed, he asserts that “America and the much of the collective West appear to have lost confidence in themselves, their mission, and their future.” It is for this reason that rudd focuses on the need for the United States to demonstrate the “political resolve and strategic acumen” that will be necessary to meet the strategic challenge from China by rebuilding America’s economic and military power and reinvigorating its partnerships abroad. And Washington will only have the time, attention, and resources to focus on this self-restoration if it is able to avert conflict with China— which is where rudd’s “managed strategic competition” comes in. Fortunately, he notes that Beijing has the same need and desire to focus on domestic priorities because China— like the United States—“does not at this stage welcome the adversarial strategic environment in which it finds itself.” rudd is not pollyannish about what “managed strategic competition” might yield. Indeed, he is downright dismissive of any potential for the revival of “strategic engagement” or “win-win cooperation” because “there has already been too much water under the bridge for that.” This, however, might be unduly pessimistic. Neither Beijing nor Washington should rule out the possibility of restoring a constructive, mutually beneficial relationship. There is in fact some overlap between rudd’s proposal and Beijing’s advocacy a decade ago of a “new type of great power relations”—the substance of which is still inherent in China’s bilateral diplomacy and wish list. At the very least, it is premature or unnecessary at this stage to exclude the possibility of more positive outcomes. It will nonetheless be a tall order for Beijing and Washington to accommodate each other with self-imposed constraints on their respective regional and international behavior. And it sounds illogical that they would agree to allow each other to focus on building their respective capabilities for their own long-term competition. But as rudd persuasively observes, “that is the essential point.” Both sides would recognize that “managed competition” serves their interests because the only alternative is unmanaged competition—“with the loss of all strategic guardrails and the growing risk of crisis, conflict, or war.” The positive incentives for both sides also include the opportunity to reduce bilateral tensions, enhance cooperation in areas where it ultimately will be necessary, and allow the rivalry “to unfold relatively peacefully” rather than continue to escalate and become more hostile. rudd’s bottom line is exactly right: “In the world of ideas, systems, and governance, may the best team win.” And the “liberal-democratic-capitalist world” should feel at least as confident as China apparently does. The two biggest dangers for the United States are that America will lose its confidence, or that either side will assume that “winning” necessarily requires vanquishing the other. Paul Heer is a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for the National Interest and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He served as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia from 2007 to 2015. He is the author of Mr. X and the Pacific: George F. Kennan and American Policy in East Asia (Cornell University Press, 2018).

Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS corporate corner Dr. Syed Moosa raza honoured

SPreaDINg SaFeTy aWareNeSS: Ke’S roSHNI BaJIS CoNNeCT WITH over 380,000 HoUSeHoLDS KARACHI pr

Dr. Syed Moosa Raza Moosavi from Riphah International University, after graduating Bachelor's degree and successfully being able to get his research project done and published in National journal, is receiving degree in annual Convocation ceremony of university at Jinnah Convention Center Islamabad. In an interview Syed Moosa says, dream new dreams, embark on who you are, embrace life with passion, and keep reaching for the stars. pr

DW': Tabba Heart Institute partners with UBL

S an extreme heatwave gripped Karachi, KE partnered with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society Sindh to provide a day-long “Heatwave Relief Training” to KE’s Roshni Bajis and “Mohallah Safety Champions”, encompassing education on basic first aid, heat illness, treatment of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, enabling the participants to become first responders in an emergency. The Roshni Bajis are KE’s neighborhood safety ambassadors who have been engaging residents across Karachi’s most densely populated areas since 2021, spreading awareness on the basic principles of general safety, electrical safety, rain safety, hazards of power theft and energy conservation. The first cohort was inducted in February 2021 with 40 women,

while the second cohort of 60 women began their activity in November. Collectively, these women have been able to reach over 380,000 households across Karachi educating the public on how to use electricity safely within their homes. Faulty or makeshift wiring inside premises is a leading cause of injury and poses a grave risk to the public. Many of these incidents could have been easily prevented with proper sensitization and education of the residents. Through an innovative approach, the Roshni Bajis also identified 40 women in the areas they work to act as “Mohallah Safety Champions” who are leading the mission to inculcate a culture of safety among their peers even after the Roshni Bajis have completed their drives. Combating Kundas The Roshni Bajis and Mohallah Safety Champions are only one facet of a comprehensive, companywide strategy on safety. Across Karachi, theft of

electricity through kundas and illegal wires continues to endanger citizens causing injury and even death. Between 2021 and 2022, Over 200 cases of electrocution were reported across Karachi, all occurring inside premises or due to the use of kundas which were leaking current. KE’s distribution field teams are constantly conducting kunda removal drives across Karachi. Only last week, teams operating in the Lyari and Baldia areas removed over 4,500 kilograms of kundas in a single day. Kunda removal drives are not straightforward tasks. KE’s teams are regularly met with resistance from local residents who feel entitled to steal electricity, neglecting the risk to their personal and collective safety. Despite the challenges, the utility’s staff continues its crackdown to create safer environments enabling the provision of uninterrupted, secure, and reliable power supply. These steps are being taken to pave the way for a brighter, safer Karachi.

PNS Madadgar provides technical assistance to merchant vessel at sea KARACHI pr

Discount World - DW is delighted to announce that Tabba Heart Institute, one of the high-ranked Cardiac Care Hospital in Pakistan, has joined hands with United Bank Limited for the alliance program. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Mohammad Anas (Head of Consumer Banking), Usman Khan (Head of Cards) Richard (CEO - DW) & Team; Mohammad Mohsin (GM Marketing & Outreach Services) and Fahad Anwar Chishti (Head of Strategic Marketing). pr

First-ever Pak-Japan Center to strengthen bilateral cooperation inaugurated at NUST

Pakistan Navy Ship MADADGAR during maritime security patrol at sea responded to distress call by Merchant ship ILIA-10 that developed technical problem. The ship tilted to one side due to heavy flooding of water and likelihood to capsize in rough weather condition. On receipt of distress call, the technical team of PNS MADADGAR promptly boarded the merchant ship and rendered technical assistance; whereby, saving precious lives onboard. After painstaking efforts, PN Ship’s technical team repaired the defect and de-flooded the

vessel. Later, the ship was made seaworthy to continue its voyage. Pakistan Navy is committed to ensure safety of seafarers out at sea.

SHC extends Wassan’s bail in NAB case

BankIslami Launches Digital Service Centre KARACHI pr

ISLAMABAD: First-ever Pak-Japan Centre was inaugurated in Pakistan at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) on May 23 jointly by Lt Gen (Retd) Javed Mahmood Bukhari, Rector NUST, and Mitsuhiro Wada, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan. The facility has been established through the collaborative efforts of NUST & Plus W Inc. a Japanese company working on behalf of the Government of Japan. The event was also attended by the Ex-Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan H.E. Imtiaz Ahmad, First Secretary Economic & Development Section Embassy of Japan in Islamabad Mr Tsuchiya Taiji, and Ms Ismat Hassan Sial, the Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo. The Center will primarily focus on promoting exchanges between Pakistan and Japan to foster cooperation in the fields of human resource development and joint research, especially in the IT sector. It will also facilitate Japanese and Pakistani companies in setting up businesses in each other’s country by familiarising individuals with respective cultures, business principles and basics of language. Both the ambassadors praised the efforts of NUST and Plus W in affecting this partnership. In his remarks, Rector NUST stressed the need for a stronger industry-academia collaboration between the two countries. He further stated that collaborations like this would not only open up new avenues of practical research in cutting-edge fields for students, faculty and researchers, but also help in their capacity building in line with the expectations of the Japanese and Pakistani industry. pr

KARACHI staff report

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has failed to finalise a probe into the assets of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Manzoor Wassan. Subsequently, a Sindh High Court (SHC) bench extended his interim bail until June 27. An investigation officer of the Sukkur branch of NAB submitted his report to the court in a hearing on Wednesday. The accountability bureau is yet to file references against the former minister despite the passage of over two years. “Some objections raised from the NAB headquarters have been addressed,” the investigation officer informed the bench.

The NAB prosecutor pleaded for more time to address the remaining objections. The bench granted the request and directed the NAB to submit its progress report to the high court by June 27. In an earlier hearing, the SHC bench had asked the NAB prosecutor that “we were told about the closure of the inquiry against Manzoor Wassan, where is the report?” “No decision about the fate of the inquiry against Wassan yet taken and the matter is still pending with the NAB headquarters,” the prosecutor informed the bench. According to the NAB, the PPP leader is accused of making assets beyond his known sources of income and owns benami properties too.

BankIslami, Pakistan’s leading Islamic financial institution, has launched its state-of-the-art Digital Service Centre for an improved customer experience. BankIslami understands the evolving consumer needs, and continues to bring innovative solutions to its valued customers across the nation. The Bank's Digital Service Centre offers customers a variety of services to meet their daily online banking needs, such as offering cheque encashment options through a virtual teller, instant money credit into the bank account, and quick service with no queues, and much more. With extended working hours from 10am to 10pm, the CCDM accepts unlimited cash and cheque deposits with instant deposit receipts. The Digital Service Centre machines are equipped to accept notes of 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 only, with a maximum withdrawal limit of PKR 500,000 per transaction. BankIslami customers can avail up to PKR 500,000 cheque encashment, and up to 100,000 if a customer has a BankIslami cheque with no account. Commenting on the occasion, BankIslami President & CEO, Syed Amir Ali noted, “The Bank’s CCDM is a powerful platform that is designed to grow every day, and is now all set to empower users to make informed decisions on the go. Technological achievements like these allow us to completely redefine the customer experience with fresh and innovative tools, tailored for inclusion and to create even greater convenience for BankIslami users” BankIslami remains at the forefront of driving change across the Sharia-compliant banking industry in Pakistan.

Cnergyico wins 16th Occupational Safety, Health & Wellbeing Award KARACHI pr

Cnergyico Pk Limited (formerly Byco Petroleum), Pakistan’s largest vertically-integrated oil refining company, has received an award from the Employers` Federation of Pakistan (EFP) for securing the first position in the 16th Occupational Safety, Health & Wellbeing Award in the oil refinery sector. The award was presented by the honourable President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi and was received by Cnergyico’s Vice President for Information Mr. Azfar Saeed Baig during the prestigious OSHW Conference and Awards Ceremony held in

Karachi on 21st May 2022. Dr. Alvi congratulated Cnergyico and other recipients of awards and expressed admiration for employers who keep their employees safe and enforce high standards of occupational health and wellbeing. “We are proud to receive this award from the Employer Federation of Pakistan and it was an honour to share the stage with President Alvi,” said Mr. Azfar Saeed Baig. “Since its formation, Cnergyico has been committed to keeping employees safe and healthy. The well-being of employees, who are the backbone of our business, is incorporated in the very fabric of the organization, from our strategic and

business planning to day-to-day operations.” For Cnergyico, the well-being of employees is its top priority. The company, therefore, regularly takes measures that help improve the wellness of employees at work and at home. The employee health and safety arrangements at Cnergyico’s oil refinery have been audited by EFP, the apex body for employers in Pakistan. EFP lauded Cnergyico’s health and safety management systems, praised the company’s extraordinary wellness initiatives that extend to the employees’ families, and appreciated the company’s efforts in the fight against pandemic and climate change.

Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

XI JInPInG underscores PeoPle-cenTrIc PhIlosoPhy of human rIGhTs develoPmenT

HINESE President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said the people’s sense of gain, happiness and security has been enhanced which is the most important criterion to test a country’s human rights situation. He made the remarks during a meeting with visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet via video link. Noting that China has successfully blazed a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and suits its national conditions, he said that the human rights of the Chinese people have been protected as never before. To jointly advance the international human rights cause and bring benefits to people of all countries, China is ready to actively engage in human rights dialogue and cooperation with other parties, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, to expand consensus and reduce differences, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2022. /Xinhua thE pRioRitiES in hUMAn RightS dEvELopMEnt: It is the greatest human right to strive to enable people to live a happy life, he said, calling

for efforts to embrace a human rights philosophy that centers on people. The people’s interests are where the human rights cause starts and ends, he stressed. The people should be the real masters of their country, and become the main participants, promoters and beneficiaries of the development of human rights, he said. Noting that countries differ from each other in history, culture, social system and

Turkey says warming Israel ties will help Palestinians JERUSALEM: Turkey’s diplomatic thaw with Israel will help the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday, in the first trip to Israel by Ankara’s top diplomat in 15 years. Cavusoglu, who met Palestinian officials in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, was in Jerusalem as Turkey and Israel seek to mend ties following a breakdown that began during an Israeli military operation in Gaza in 2008. Cavusoglu and his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid stressed that economic ties had continued to grow despite years of acrimony between the two countries. “We won’t pretend that our relationship has not seen its ups and downs,” Lapid said. “Even in times of political tension, economic cooperation between our countries has been constantly on the rise.” Cavusoglu noted that Turkey was a top 10 trading partner for Israel and a major destination for Israeli tourists, voicing hope that deepening ties could yield benefits for Palestinians. “We believe that normalisation of our ties will have a positive impact on peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he said. Cavusoglu claimed that dialogue between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog helped “maintain calm” during a tense period in Jerusalem this year that saw widespread clashes as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish passover holiday overlapped. “Turkey is ready to take responsibility to continue the efforts towards (Israeli-Palestinian) dialogue,” Cavusoglu said. Israel and Turkey hailed a new era in relations when Herzog met with Erdogan in Ankara in March. Erdogan remains a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause but analysts say he wants improved relations with Israel to bolster Turkey’s struggling economy, including through joint gas initiatives. Cavusoglu and Lapid on Wednesday agreed to set up a formal process that would allow Israeli carriers to land in Turkey and renewed a bilateral economic commission. The Turkish diplomat had earlier visited Jerusalem’s Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem and was headed to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeliannexed east Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest site. afp

level of economic and social development, he said that they must promote and protect human rights in light of their national realities and the needs of their people. All aspects of human rights should be advanced, he said, adding that human rights are an all-encompassing concept, and must be advanced in a comprehensive and systematic manner. For developing countries, the rights to subsistence and development are the pri-

mary human rights, he added. He also emphasized that global human rights governance should be advanced. Countries should not politicize and instrumentalize human rights affairs, practice double standards or interfere in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, he said, adding that China will continue to support the active efforts of the United Nations in promoting the international human rights cause. Joint EffoRtS in gLobAL hUMAn RightS cAUSE: For her part, Bachelet said that the high commissioner’s office is ready to strengthen communication with China, explore cooperation and make joint efforts to promote progress in human rights globally. “This is the first visit to China by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 17 years, and I attach great importance to and cherish this visit,” she said. She said she admired China’s efforts and achievements in poverty eradication, human rights protection and economic and social development and appreciated the country’s important role in upholding multilateralism, addressing climate change and other global challenges and promoting global sustainable development. agencies

US Treasury official heads to India to discuss Russian oil purchases

WASHINGTON agencies

A Biden administration official headed to India on Tuesday to talk with officials and private industry about U.S. sanctions, the Treasury Department said, as Washington seeks to keep India’s purchases of Russian oil from rising. Elizabeth Rosenberg, the assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, will visit New Delhi and Mumbai through Thursday, a Treasury spokesperson said. Another senior U.S. official told Reuters on March 31 that a significant increase in Russian oil exports by India could expose New Delhi to “great risk” as Washington prepares to step up enforcement of sanctions against Moscow after its

invasion of Ukraine. Rosenberg’s visit is part of a wider Biden administration effort to fan out to partners and allies around the world to talk with officials and industry about implementation of U.S. sanctions and export controls, the Treasury spokesperson said. “It’s important to talk to the parts of the world that are strong U.S. partners on a whole host of other issues, and make sure we’re in close contact about our sanctions regime and working together to crack down on any evasion opportunities or evasion activities,” the spokesperson said. India, the world’s No. 3 oil importer, boosted Russian oil imports in April to about 277,000 barrels per day, up from 66,000 bpd in March as refiners buy the dis-

counted crude shunned by many Western countries and companies. Current U.S. sanctions against Russia do not prevent other countries from buying Russian oil. But Biden administration officials have considered so-called secondary sanctions that could restrict those purchases. Tariffs and price caps on Russian oil as well as putting proceeds from Russian oil sales into escrow accounts that its oil sellers could tap only for certain purchases have been under consideration. There have been no indications that such measures are imminent. Rosenberg was expected to meet with both Indian government officials and private and state refining companies and other businesses on topics ranging from sanctions to food security.

Gunman kills 19 children in Texas school rampage An 18-year-old gunman opened fire on Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 19 children as he went from classroom to classroom, officials said, in the deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade and the latest gruesome moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres. The attacker was killed by law enforcement. The death toll also included two adults, authorities said. Governor Greg Abbott said one of the two was a teacher. The assault at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a US grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. Hours after the attack, families were still awaiting word on their children. Outside the town civic centre, where families were told to gather, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. “No! Please, no!” one man yelled as he embraced another man. The school district superintendent, Hal Harrell, said, “My heart is broken today” and announced that all school activities were cancelled for the time being. “We’re a small community, and we’re going to need your prayers to get through this.” A priest comforts people as they react outside the Willie de Leon Civic Centre, where students were transported from Robb Elementary School after a shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, US. The attack also came just 10 days after a deadly, racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket that added to a years-long series of mass killings at churches, schools and stores. And the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations seemed as dim, if not dimmer, than in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths. But US President Joe Biden appeared ready for a fight, calling for new gun restrictions in an address to the nation hours after the attack. “As a nation we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?” Biden asked. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage?” Many of the wounded were rushed to Uvalde Memorial Hospital, where staff members in scrubs and devastated victims’ relatives could be seen weeping as they walked out of the complex. ‘ShootER ActEd ALonE’: Officials did not immediately reveal a motive, but they identified the assailant as Salvador Ramos, a resident of the community about 135 kilometers west of San Antonio. Law enforcement officials said he acted alone. Ramos had hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, according to state Senator Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police. He noted that the gunman “suggested the kids should watch out”. Before heading to the school, Ramon killed his grandmother with two military-style rifles he purchased on his birthday, Gutierrez said. “That was the first thing he did on his 18th birthday,” he said. The attack began about 11:30am, when the gunman crashed his car outside the school and ran into the building, according to Travis Considine, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. A resident who heard the crash called 911, and two local police officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter. Both officers were shot, though it was not immediately clear where on the campus that confrontation occurred, or how much time elapsed before more authorities arrived on the scene. Families gather and hug outside Grief counselling the Willie de Leon Civic Centre where grief counselling will be offered in Uvalde, Texas. Meanwhile, teams of Border Patrol agents raced to the school, including 10 to 15 members of a Swat-like tactical and counter-terrorism unit, said Jason Owens, a top regional official with the Border Patrol. agencies

Iraq man living in Ohio plotted assassination of George W. Bush, says FBI WASHINGTON afp

An Iraqi man who came to the United States two years ago and applied for asylum hatched a plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush in retaliation for casualties against his compatriots during the Iraq war, the US government announced Tuesday. Shihab Ahmed Shihab, 52, also schemed to smuggle other Iraqis into the US from Mexico to aid in the plot, after which they’d be smuggled back out through Mexico, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Columbus. Shihab insinuated he had contacts with the so-called Islamic State group, but it did not appear the plot came close to materialising, with confidential informants briefing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from April 2021 through this month, the complaint said.

Shihab was ordered held without bond by federal Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers during a short hearing in court Tuesday. Deavers scheduled a detention hearing for Friday. Shihab was not required to enter a plea. Soumyajit Dutta, a federal public defender representing Shihab at the hearing, declined to comment. If convicted, Shihab could face up to 30 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Freddy Ford, the chief of staff at the 75-year-old former president’s office, said, “President Bush has all the confidence in the world in the United States Secret Service and our law enforcement and intelligence communities.” Shihab worked at restaurants in and around Columbus and also at a market in Indianapolis where he had an apartment, the government said. Shihab told a confidential informant that he assisted in the killing of American soldiers during the Iraq War, and said he and others “wished to kill former president

Bush because they felt that he was responsible for killing many Iraqis and breaking apart the entire country of Iraq,” the complaint said. Shihab traveled in February to Dallas, where he took video of the entrance gate to the neighbourhood where Bush lives, and also traveled to Detroit in November to investigate smuggling Iraqi nationals into the US, the government said. Shihab met a confidential informant in a Columbus hotel room in March to examine weapons and US border patrol uniforms, according to the complaint. Shihab allegedly planned to use a Columbus car dealership to help transfer money from an Islamic State official into the US. Last fall, Shihab accepted thousands of dollars for what he thought was payment for him to smuggle another Iraqi citizen into the US, according to the complaint, but the transaction was entirely coordinated by the FBI.

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Thursday, 26 May, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

PCB ProvideS UPdATe on rePorTS of PAK-Wi odi SerieS geTTing PoSTPoned

AgeNcIeS

AKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified there is no truth in the reports that the home ODI series against West Indies is getting postponed. According to PCB DirectorMedia Sami-ul-Hasan Burney, no proposal is under consideration to postpone the series. The series is scheduled to begin on June 8 in Rawalpindi while Multan has been announced as the backup venue for the threematch series.

‘A star in the making’ Shadab praises leg spinner Tuba Hassan NewS DeSk

Sami affirmed that they are waiting for official confirmation regarding where to hold these matches. “Holding any event in Pakistan would not be possible without the support of the local administration,” Sami said. “Matches will be held at the venue where the green signal will be received, time is short for decisions,” he added. PCB had announced that the players will assemble in Rawalpindi on June 1 for a training camp, while West Indies will arrive on June 5. “It is important to know where the visitors have to reach before booking while the broad-

casters and their equipment must also arrive on time. It is also important to know whether they will be delivered to Rawalpindi or Multan,” he added. “We also have to manage the logistics needs, including the hotel. We hope that the government will guide us by the end of this week, and the series will go according to its schedule,” Sami concluded. It must be noted that the three-match ODI series is scheduled from June 8 to 12 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. The matches are part of ICC World Cup Super League.

Australia players raise concerns about touring Sri Lanka amid raging crisis AgeNcIeS

Pakistan women’s team defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets comfortably in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Southend club in Karachi. A complete bowling performance led by debutant Tuba Hassan made the real difference as she bagged the best bowling figures on debut for Pakistan Women in T20I. Leg-spinner finished with figures of 3/8 in four overs, restricting Sri Lanka to 106/8. The chase was completed in 18.2 overs by the home side. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s limited-overs vice-captain Shadab Khan praised Tuba for his high-quality legspin and opined she is the ‘A star in the making’. The second T20I of the series between both the sides will be played tomorrow, while the final match will take place on May 28.

Australia’s squad have raised ethical concerns about their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka with the island nation in the midst of an economic crisis but will back a decision to go ahead with the visit, Australian Cricketers Association chief Todd Greenberg said. Sri Lanka is reeling under its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with a severe shortage of foreign exchange severely curtailing imports, including essentials such as fuel and medicines. Demonstrations have roiled the country since late March, and violence broke out two weeks ago after clashes between government supporters and protesters in Colombo sparked further incidents across the country that left

Waqar Younis shares his regret of not being part of 1992 World Cup-winning side NewS DeSk Former legendary pacer Waqar Younis shared his regret of not being able to become part of the Pakistan side, which won the 1992 World Cup. In an appearance on Time Out with Ahsan Khan recently, the former captain recalled the moment when the trophy and his team members touched down in Pakistan.

Waqar suffered from a stress fracture in his back before the world cup and had to return to Pakistan. “I regret that I was not part of the winning side, but I was so excited and happy for my teammates,” Waqar Younis said. “I still remember very clearly the day they came back. There were no tunnels and stairs used to be attached with the aeroplanes in those times. Big searchlights were placed at the gate of the

plane”. “When the door opened, the crystal trophy was the first thing to come out and I was standing at the first row, literally, when they came out I felt someone had taken my soul from the legs and I sat down and started crying, it was very emotional but happy moment at the same time. My team members eventually picked me up and all the celebrations started,” he recalled.

Waqar praised the comradery members of the side shared back then which eventually helped them to win the world cup. “The bonding was great, Imran Khan’s leadership was solid, Javed Miandad was very strong. A batch came where six to seven players came from the U19 level and we were all part of the world cup squad. We also had Wasim Bhai, who was a bit senior but we were jelled all together,” he added.

nine people dead and about 300 injured. “The players are very aware of the situation in Sri Lanka,” Greenberg told the Australian Associated Press on Wednesday. “It’s fair to say there is a level of discomfort around touring in conditions that contrast those faced by the people of Sri Lanka, such as rising food prices, power cuts and fuel rationing. “Ultimately our players want to continue to play cricket and will take direction, guidance and advice from CA about tour arrangements and planning.” Australia have announced three strong squads for the seven-week tour in June and July, which includes a Twenty20 series, five one-day internationals as well as two tests in Galle.

UK govt issues licence for Chelsea sale to Boehly-led consortium

LONDON ReuteRs

Old friend awaits Djokovic as Nadal, Alcaraz star at French Open PARIS AFP

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic will come up against his long-time former coach when he plays Slovakia’s Alex Molcan in the second round Wednesday at Roland Garros, while Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz look to keep their French Open title ambitions on course. World number one Djokovic split from Marian Vajda after last year’s ATP Finals having worked with the Slovakian coach since he was a teenager in 2006. They took a break from each in other in 2017 but reunited the next year. Molcan and Vajda started working together earlier this month. Djokovic eased to victory in round one in his first Grand Slam match since losing last year’s US Open final, but standing in the way of a record-equalling 21st major are both potentially Nadal and

Alcaraz in the second week. “The draw is the draw. You can’t really affect it. It’s a matter of luck or some other force interfering with who is going to come to which side and quarter and semi and whatever,” said Djokovic. “I did look at the draw. I think we all do. But at the end of the day, you always have to turn your attention to only the next challenge.” Chasing a 14th French Open title, Nadal goes up against French wildcard Corentin Moutet in the evening session. Moutet knocked out 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in round one. Nadal began the year with a 20-match winning run, capturing a second Australian Open title to claim a record 21st Grand Slam and move ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer. The 35-year-old’s record at the French Open stands at a staggering 106 wins and just three losses since his 2005

title-winning debut, but he is without a title on clay this season after dealing with rib and foot injuries. “Of course, the confidence is higher when you win Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, or Rome,” said Nadal. “When you are winning more matches and more tournaments you have better confidence. The opponents feels that too, and at the end, you are more used to the level that you need to play to win matches. “When this is not the case, things are different.” Alcaraz, 19, is attempting to become just the eighth teenager to capture a major men’s title, and widely tipped to break the stranglehold of Djokovic and Nadal. He is the tour’s dominant player in 2022, posting a 29-3 record and winning a season-leading four titles. Three of his triumphs have come on clay in Rio, Barcelona and Madrid where he defeated Nadal, Djokovic and world

number three Alexander Zverev to hoist the trophy. He faces fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas for a place in the last 32. Zverev, a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2021, takes on Sebastian Baez of Argentina. The 21-year-old Baez won his maiden title at Estoril at the start of the month. Greek fourth seed Maria Sakkari, who was a point away from reaching the final here 12 months ago, takes on Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich in round two, while Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 winner at Flushing Meadows, faces Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Two-time former Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka meets Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, who made the last four in Paris eight years ago.

The British government has issued a licence that permits the sale of Chelsea to a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and backed by Clearlake Capital, sports minister Nadine Dorries said on Wednesday. Current owner Roman Abramovich is subject to sanctions by the British government. He put the London club up for sale in early March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”. “We are satisfied the proceeds of the sale will not benefit Roman Abramovich or other sanctioned individuals,” Dorries said on Twitter. “Given the sanctions, we placed on those linked to Putin and the bloody invasion of Ukraine, the long-term future of the club can only be secured under a new owner.” On Tuesday the consortium, which agreed terms to acquire Chelsea for 4.25 billion pounds ($5.33 billion) earlier this month, passed the Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test. Chelsea had been operating under a government license since Abramovich’s assets were frozen in March and it was set to expire on May 31. The club had earlier confirmed that all proceeds from the sale will be donated to charitable causes by Abramovich. “We are now satisfied that the full proceeds of the sale will not benefit Roman Abramovich or any other sanctioned individual,” said a government spokesperson. “We will now begin the process of ensuring the proceeds of the sale are used for humanitarian causes in Ukraine, supporting victims of the war.”

Thursday, 26 May, 2022

pRAyeR timings

NEWS

YaSIn MalIK jaIled For lIFe aMId ProTeSTS, worldwIde CondeMnaTIon New Delhi

news desk

N Indian court sentenced the illegally-detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, to life imprisonment in concocted cases to punish him for his leading role in the ongoing movement for Jammu and Kashmir’s freedom from Indian illegal occupation. Special Judge of India’s notorious National Investigation Agency (NIA), Praveen Singh, officially convicted Yasin Malik on May 19 in manifestly dubious and motivated cases registered against him over three decades ago and fixed hearing for (May 25) today for announcing the quantum of the sentence. He was presented before the court amid tight security. Hundreds of Indian policemen and paramilitary troops kept him under their siege when he was brought from Tihar Jail to the court. The Indian Supreme Court has already announced that life imprisonment means that the detained person will be kept in jail till he is alive. The NIA court had also formally framed the charges against APHC leaders including Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Syed Salahuddin, Advocate Shahid-ulIslam, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ayaz

Muhammad Akbar, Raja Merajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, and businessman, Zahoor Ahmad Watali. The JKLF chairman, who has been languishing in New Delhi’s infamous Tihar Jail for the last over four years, had told the court earlier that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him under various sections of draconian law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and Indian Penal Code including waging war against India as he did not have trust in the Indian judiciary. Yasin Malik was arrested by Indian police from his residence in Srinagar in February 2019 and was later shifted to New Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Narendra Modi-led fascist Indian

Maryam blames Imran Khan for violating SC directions LAHORE: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Wednesday said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan assured the Supreme Court of a peaceful protest but violated its directions. Talking to journalists in Lahore, Maryam said that the SC will see how the “PTI trampled the court’s orders under its feet.” She said that the party had a “safe passage for them if they had followed SC’s directions” but they chose not to do so. Maryam said that Khan was attacking the institutions and wanted to spread fitna and fasad. “Don’t make it a tradition of ruling in favour of someone who issues threats,” she said while referring to the country’s top court. Criticising the former prime minister, the PML-N vice president said that Khan “backstabs his benefactors” and added that the “establishment held his finger and gave him the office but he is attacking it.” She requested the institutions not let this fitna grow stronger and that he [Khan] should be dealt with as strictly as possible. “The solution to dealing with fitna is mentioned in the Quran. Maryam said that some PTI leaders met the government two days ago, asking for a safe exit and for a “give and take” deal, adding that those leaders contacted the speaker of the National Assembly today. The PML-N vice president also talked about the PTI government’s “corruption” and said that there was a huge scandal related to the Liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth Rs122 billion. “Everything will be revealed before the nation,” adding that millions of rupees were exchanged through Farah Gogi. “But Punjab took revenge on PML-N’s behalf for snatching its mandate.” During the press conference, Maryam also condemned Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik’s sentence by the Indian court. She said that the whole nation should have focused on Kashmir and Yasin Malik. “Mashal Malik cried and appealed to Khan to postpone the march but he did not pay heed to it,” she added. Agencies

government arrested thousands of Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders and activists and lodged them in different jails of occupied Kashmir and India. The Modi regime is victimizing them for opposing India’s illegal occupation of their homeland and demanding their UN recognized right to self-determination. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has said that Modi regime is using judiciary to victimize the illegally detained Muhammad Yasin Malik and other Hurriyat leaders in gross violation of UN resolutions and the international law for seeking liberation of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian illegal occupation. The APHC spokesman in a statement issued in

Srinagar maintained India cannot force the Kashmiri leaders to surrender their just cause by using its kangaroo courts. He urged the world community, particularly the UN, to play a role in the release of Kashmiri political detainees to save them from India’s wrath. CONDEMNATION: Meanwhile, strongly condemn unjust sentencing of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in a sham trial, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari-Bhutto said that India can never silence Kashmiris’ voice for freedom and self-determination. He declared that in fact this sentencing will help rejuvenate the freedom struggle of Kashmiris anew. “Pakistan stands with Kashmiri brothers and sisters and will continue to provide all possible support in their just struggle”, Bilawal reiterated the country’s resolve. On the other hand, twitteratis lashed out at the Indian government’s fascist mentally and condemned the sentencing of Yasin Malik under draconian laws. They said that India will fail to suppress the voices of Kashmiris and their struggle for freedom from illegal occupation. People took to their twitter handles and wrote: “Strongly condemn the unfair lifetime imprisonment of #YasinMalik. People who fight for the rights of their homeland are and will remain our heroes.”

FMs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia express resolve to deepen trade ties Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday expressed the resolve to deepen mutual cooperation in all fields including economy, trade and investment as well as at multilateral fora. In a meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the two foreign ministers reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar and Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman were also present during the meeting. The Foreign Minister paid tribute to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for achieving new heights of progress

and development of the Kingdom under their visionary leadership. Recalling their earlier interaction in Jeddah last month, the two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral partnership between the two countries and resolved to strengthen this partnership to mutual benefit. FM Bilawal underlined that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had historic and deep-rooted fraternal ties that stood the test of time. He appreciated consistent support of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and its steadfast solidarity for the Kashmir cause. Noting the commonality of views between the two sides on international issues, the two foreign ministers agreed to jointly explore avenues for improving collaboration and coordination amongst developing countries including through the OIC platform. inp

Impersonator behind fake ex-servicemen Twitter accounts held SARGODHA: The police claimed to have arrested an impersonator for creating fake Twitter accounts in the name of retired Pakistan Army officers. According to police sources on Wednesday, the accused has been identified as Sadaqat Hussain, a resident of Shahpur, Sargodha, who used to operate fake accounts of retired army officers on Twitter. The accused during interrogation also confessed to play fake voice clips of Gen (r) Haroon Aslam and Gen (r) Mirza Aslam Beg on social media. The sources quoted the investigators as saying that he had been tasked with creating a division among the Pakistan Army officers on political grounds. During interrogation, he also revealed that Shehzad Ahmed Mekan, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Sargodha, had contacted him. “The political party (PTI) added me to different social media groups and taught me to launch and operate trends on social media,” he told the officials. He also provided to the law-enforcement agencies an audio conversation with Talat Kashif, Information Secretary of PTI’s Canada Chapter. It is important mention here that Twitter is full of fake accounts as the fraud and deception has taken the form of a business on the social media platform. news desk

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Five PTI workers martyred due to Police brutalities: Qureshi ISLAMABAD: PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi late Wednesday said five PTI workers had been martyred due to the Police brutalities in across country. Speaking to media before arriving D-Chowk here, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the PTI held talks with the treasury delegation for peaceful holding of the protest rally but there was no breakthrough. Qureshi said that the PML-N leadership looked agreed to holding fresh elections but it seemed that the PPP leadership had blackmailed the ruling party. Qureshi said that the PTI sit in would continue till its demands were met. He said that the PTI leadership are facing barricades and resistance at almost every place but the people are advancing after removing barricades. The PTI vice-president said, “We are moving forward in a peaceful way and we will stay peaceful and would soon reach D-Chowk.” “Have we put containers in the way of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Fazlur Rehman when they arrived in Islamabad?” “We were not afraid and we did not make any arrest nor placed containers on the roads. The present government is afraid of us which forces it to place containers and make arrests.” “If Rana Sanaullah’s claim is true, then he should order to remove containers to see the number of participants. You have turned this place into the occupied Kashmir but how will you push back people through shelling and baton charge.” He said that the state machinery is being used against the marchers. He asked the interior minister to release the PTI workers and leaders and assured the government that they will stay peaceful. stAff RepoRt

Pakistan reports sixth polio case of current year Pakistan on Wednesday reported sixth polio case of the year 2022 as a minor boy from North Waziristan was left paralysed by wild polioviru. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health, the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was confirmed in the boy from North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province by the polio laboratory at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. It is learnt that the said boy was not administered anti-polio drops during the drive against the crippling disease. After staying a polio-free country for almost 15 months, Pakistan has reported four cases of polio in 2022 so far. All the cases have been reported in North Waziristan. A five-day anti-polio campaign is currently underway across Pakistan. The polio drive began on May 23. During the campaign, approximately 43.3 million children under the age of five years will be administered the anti-polio vaccine, reported Radio Pakistan. Read more: Pakistan reports third polio case A supplementary dose of Vitamin A drops will also be administered to children aged 6 to 59 months. Around 340,000 frontline workers will take part in the campaign to administer vaccines to the children at their doorsteps.inp

SC orders government to provide alternate site to PTI for demonstration ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the chief commissioner to provide an alternate ground to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its protest march on Islamabad and devise a traffic plan for demonstrators. The court announced the decision on a petition moved by Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) president Mohammad Shoaib Shaheen to challenge the closure of roads and highways, and arrests of workers and supporters of PTI ahead of the march. A three-member bench headed by Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan, and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, took up the petition filed on Tuesday. During the hearing, Justice Ahsan said PTI should lodge its protest and go back while government should devise a traffic plan to accommodate participants of the march. “Make an offer of an alternative venue to the PTI and inform the court about the outcome after negotiations,” Justice Ahsan said. “We would also seek assurances from the PTI,” he added. The judge further expressed hopes the government will reopen roads and lift blockages. He questioned if the entire country will be shut down whenever

Govt impounding containers will lead to losses: Exporters Exporters have started fearing losses for the government’s move of impounding containers to counter the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led protest and march towards Islamabad. In an immediate reaction to the seizure of thousands of containers across the country by the multiparty government, the exporters of fruit and vegetables have claimed that the export of horticulture products has started hampering by the blockage of major roads and seizure of containers to prevent long march. In a statement issued by Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association, the developing situation in the

country would badly affect the export of perishable items including the potatoes, onions and mangoes. According to the association the containers and trawler bound for port with export consignment have been stopped for blocking roads. Apart from the already loaded containers, a large number of empty containers were also stopped on the way to block roads and major arteries of the country. “In case the seizure of containers continues for a couple of days the export orders would be delayed, ultimately causing huge losses to the exporters,” said Waheed Ahmed of the horticulture association.

According to him, for delayed supply the fruit and vegetable export orders may be canceled, which would also cause loss of the export market. “This is very unfortunate that governments use the export oriented containers and trucks to block roads as a strategy to prevent protests and rallies in the country. Such initiatives badly affect the already crisis stricken trade and exports of the country,” the association said. “Whenever our exports are delayed the importers, as an immediate and alternative solution, approach Indian exporters for import of such items,” Waheed claims adding

that buyers refuse to accept the goods that are delivered late. The exporters have demanded early release of the containers and trawlers. This practice has been in vogue in Pakistan in order to stop agitators and strikers from gathering at one particular spot where they announce to protest on a particular date. The impounding started a few days before the proposed march and continues unabated. Any container that leaves a mill or factory fully loaded with export consignment gets impounded. All containers from upcountry are booked for Karachi from where they are

loaded on ships waiting for goods at the Karachi sea port. These ships follow a strict schedule. If the consignment does not reach the port in time, these ships leave for other destinations. Pakistan’s major exports are textiles that have to be delivered to the global consumers within the promised date. When a ship leaves Karachi port without export goods, the chances of timely delivery vanish as few ships touch our ports and the next ship might come late. The exporters may rightly be worried because they have no idea as to when these containers would be released. ghulAm AbbAs

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