EpaperLHR_22-5-28

Saturday, 28 May, 2022 I 26 Shawwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 328 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

PM unveils Rs28b Relief to offset Pol PRice hike iMPact g

SayS about one third of country’S population to benefit from package ISLAMABAD

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staff report

rime minister Shehbaz on friday announced a massive saving of rs28 billion on petrol buying for 14 million poor families to protect them from the impact of inflation, a day after the government jacked up prices of petroleum products by rs30 per litre. in his maiden address to the nation after becoming the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif said every family registered with the benazir income Support pro-

gramme (biSp) will get a monthly relief of rs2000 on petrol buying, saying that about one third of the country’s population or 85 million people will benefit from the financial relief.

“We took the tough decision to increase the fuel prices as global [petroleum] prices are rising… the previous government provided subsidies on fuel for political gains,” he added. “this tough decision is an important step to steer the country out of crisis and stabilise.” the prime minister said the government took the difficult decision of raising prices of petroleum products to save

pakistan’s economy from a precarious situation and economic default. the premier said the stipend will be given to the deserving families through benazir income Support programme (biSp). in addition, the government-run utility stores across the country have been directed to sell a 10kg flour bag at rs400, he informed. Shehbaz Sharif blamed former prime minister imran khan’s government for destroying the country’s economy, saying that the last pti regime accepted the tough conditions of the international monetary fund (imf), which, he said made the lives of

the masses miserable. the premier said that imran khan was ousted from power on public demand and through democratic means. “the people of pakistan demanded to get rid of the incompetent and corrupt rulers. that is why we accepted the challenge.” he added: “We are ready to make tough decisions and we will take all those decisions necessary for the prosperity of the country.” recalling the last tenure of the pmln, pm Shehbaz said his party built several developmental projects and ended load-shedding from the country.

earlier, information minister marriyum aurangzeb had earlier said the pm would announce the coalition government’s policy decisions on important issues faced by the nation. pakistan television (ptV) would broadcast the address at 8:00pm tonight. however, the government later announced that the premier would now address the nation at 9pm owing some last-minute ‘final touches’ to his speech. the announcement came after the federal government increased petroleum product prices by rs30 per litre, or up to one-fourth of their existing prices, paving the way for reaching a staff-level agreement with the international monetary fund by June 12. finance minister miftah ismail made the decision public in an unscheduled news conference after prime minister Shehbaz gave him the go-ahead in a party meeting.

PM WOOS JAPANESE INVESTORS: meanwhile, prime minister muhammad Shehbaz Sharif friday while underscoring his government’s efforts for creating businessfriendly opportunities, invited new Japanese companies to avail themselves of such opportunities and invest in pakistan.

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Saturday, 28 May, 2022 | LAHORE

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GovT DeviSinG new STRATeGy To CoMbAT inflATion in CounTRy: DR AiShA

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News Desk

TATE Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Friday said the incumbent government was working on many structural reforms to bring back the economy on the track of an inclusive and sustainable growth.

Responding to various queries during the Questions Hour in the Senate, she said

the government was completely acquainted with the current economic woes and it would have to take tough decisions for mitigating the severe effects of inflation on the middle and low-income groups.

Dr Aisha said the masses had been provided relief during the holy month of Ramzan and they would be facilitated in the coming days.

She said the government was working on the needed reforms to achieve the

macroeconomic stability, build fiscal resilience and stimulate economic recovery.

She said the government was devising a new strategy to overcome inflation in the country. The minister said we needed to regain the credibility which we had lost substantially in the last four years.

The main factor of inflation was taking foreign loans in the last three years, she added. She said the 22 per cent inflation was due to importing many things including

food items.

She said with respect to income tax, there had not been any major changes in tax rates except one, wherein a new additional tax rate was introduced to tax on money income vide tax laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021. This new additional tax was later on increased in 2022.

She said this measure was taken to reduce on money practice and bring the income from on money into the tax net.

In written reply, she said the present SBP governor had been appointed under Section 10 (3) of SBP Act, 1956 which provides that the governor shall be appointed by the president for a term of three years and on such salary and terms and conditions of service as the president may determine, except that neither the salary of the governor nor his other terms and conditions of service shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.

K-P reports sixth case of wild polio News Desk Two more wild polio cases have been confirmed from North Waziristan, leaving young boy and a girl paralyzed, health officials confirmed on Friday. According to them, both children are 18-months old and belong to Mir Ali. The female child had onset of paralysis on May 10 and the male child on 11 May 11. Both cases were confirmed by the Pakistan National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad on Thursday, May 26. This is the sixth case in North Waziristan, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, this year. “These children will struggle for the rest of their lives because of the pain of disabilities caused by polio. I urge the people of Pakistan to vaccinate your children,” said Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel. The southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that include North and South Waziristan, D.I.Khan, Bannu, Tank and Lakki Marwat, are at highest risk of wild polio virus. While no human transmission has been reported outside North Waziristan, two positive environmental samples between April and May were reported from Bannu. “All children suffering from wild polio are being offered rehabilitation services but regardless of the support the government provides, there is cure to polio.

The only way to protect children is to give them repeated doses of the polio vaccine,” said Federal Health Secretary Aamir Ashraf Khawaja.

Mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara succumbs to injuries News Desk Eminent mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara succumbed to his wounds in Skardu on Friday, weeks after he fell off a cliff and critically injured. He was 56 years old. On May 17, Sadpara sustained severe injuries when he slipped off a cliff and fell into a ditch during a routine climbing drill. According to Sadpara’s family, doctors at the Skardu hospital, where he was taken for treatment, said the mountianeer had fractured his spinal cord and several ribs. Ali Raza Sadpara’s funeral prayers took place today at the Olding village’s graveyard at 10am. Sadpara was to attempt scaling the K2, the world’s second-highest peak, this summer. The mountaineer’s career began in 1986 and he had climbed Pakistan’s 8,000-metre peaks 17 times, including the Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-II, and Gasherbrum-I – all higher than 8,000 metres. Sadpara was also said to be the coach for prominent mountaineer Ali Sadpara, who passed away last year attempting to climb the K2, Hasan Sadpara and numerous other climbers. Fellow climbers, politicians, journalists and civil society members expressed condolences to his family and described Sadpara’s death as a “huge loss” for mountaineering in Paksitan. They further recognised the climber for his contributions to the promotion of adventure tourism. Saad Munawar, Sadpara’s expedition manager, was also bereaved by the news. “Heartbroken at the demise of Ali Raza. Death is indeed the biggest reality of life,” he wrote on his Instagram account. “Pakistan will miss a legend. Pakistani mountaineers will miss their mentor and the mountains will miss their best friend.”

LAHORE: Activists of Rickshaw Union stage a protest against increase in prices of petroleum products outside Lahore Press Club on Thursday. Photo by Zubair Mehfooz. Zubair MehfooZ

IHC adjourns hearing against Rana Shamim APP The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday adjourned hearing till June 30, on contempt of court case against ex-chief judge Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim in controversial statement case.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case wherein Rana Shamim also appeared before the court.

The court was told that Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali couldn’t attend the proceeding due to his engagements in Supreme Court.

At the outset of hearing, the chief justice remarked that everybody humiliating courts for political narratives. We couldn’t know so far that where the affidavit of Rana Shamim was prepared.

Rana Shamim said that it was leaked by notary public.

The chief justice remarked that the

affidavit claimed that benches of court were set up on consent of someone else. Rana Shamim said he had not given this statement as he had fully trust in court and its judges.

The court remarked that this court wouldn’t allow anyone to built political narrative on basis of such statements.

The further hearing of the case then adjourned till June 30.

Meanwhile, IHC extended its order for stopping Hanif Abbasi from performing official duty as Special Assistant to the Prime Minsiter (SAPM) till June 2, on the petition filed by ex-interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case challenging the appointment of Hanif Abbasi as SAPM. At the outset of hearing, the chief justice remarked that in light of the judgment of the Supreme Court nobody

could hold the public office until his conviction was sustained.

Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah told the bench that a summary was sent to the prime minister for reviewing the appointment on the directives of this court.

The chief justice remarked that there was a clear judgment of the top court that no convict person could hold any public office.

First there was need to remove conviction from court if one wanted to hold public office, he said.

Justice Minallah remarked that this court did not interfere into the affairs of executive but they should view such matter by themselves.

The court said it would be a contempt of court if Abbasi would perform official duties.

The further hearing of the case then adjourned till June 2.

Court rejects bail plea of TikToker Dolly News Desk A court in Islamabad on Friday dismissed the bail plea of Dolly who was accused of setting the forest at Margalla Hills on fire for filming a TikTok video. While hearing the case, Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Rakhshanda Shaheen dismissed the bail plea of the TikToker over non-appearance.

“Where is the accused?” asked the judge from the lawyer for the accused.

“She is here. We have appealed to shift the case to another court,” he added. At this, the ADSJ asked the lawyer to produce the accused in the court. The court official also called the name of the accused three times but she did not appear which promoted the judge to dismiss her bail plea. On the occasion, the lawyer for Dolly contended: “The provisions in the case cannot be heard by this court.

Musadik says ‘Imran froze petrol, diesel prices sans subsidiary allocations or ECC approval’ News Desk Minister of State for Petroleum Senator Dr Musadik Malik Friday said ex-prime minister Imran Khan had frozen the petroleum prices without allocating the required subsidy amount or approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Friday, he said Imran indeed had installed “land mines” for the government by subsiding the oil prices-thus deliberately pushing the country to the brink of bankruptcy.

He said comprehensive investigations have transpired that

Imran Khan had announced the freezing of petroleum product prices sans having any cogent plan for paying the subsidy. He urged Imran not to mislead people on only assumptions. Dr Musadik said Imran Khan had inflicted from Rs 700- 800 billion losses to the national exchequer on account of subsidizing petroleum products if taxes were included.

The annual budget to meet expenses of the federal government was Rs 520 billion, he added.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made it clear that he would not allow an increase in oil prices without finalizing a plan to save poor segments of society. “We have to save

the people having an income of Rs 20,000- 30,000 per month from impacts of inflation.” Let the rich share the burden of inflation, he added.

The government has devised a comprehensive strategy to save the poor segments of society from the impact of increased petroleum prices.

He said the PM would announce the plan soon to save the poor from inflation. Regarding Imran Khan’s claim of buying oil from Russia, he said no documentary evidence of his claims had so far been spotted. If there was any understanding with Russia, where were the documents? he questioned. The minister said the Imran government in its last days had written a letter to Russia

expressing the desire for starting trade with Russia without receiving any response from Russia.

He said, present government has also contacted Russia but the energy minister of Russia said they were ready for holding talks on the projects related to infrastructure development. “The Russian ambassador was also contacted but we did not receive any reply yet.” Musadik said Pakistan State Oil (PSO) arranged nearly 50 per cent of imports of petroleum products through open tendering. The people claiming to buy petroleum products at a 30 per cent discount should compete for the open bidding and bring cheap oil to the country, he added.

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oveRSeAS PAKiSTAniS noT DePRiveD of voTinG RiGhTS, TARAR RefuTeS RePoRTS

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News Desk

EDERAL Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on Friday refuted the news item about depriving overseas Pakistanis from voting rights.

He claimed that overseas Pakistanis had not been deprived of voting rights under Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022.

The National Assembly on Thursday had approved the Elections Amendment Bill 2022 and the Senate has also passed the bill.

Addressing a press conference along

with Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi and Jamiat Ulame Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) Senator Kamran Murtaza, he said that the coalition government held the presser to clarify to the people about the legislation as some people were trying to distract the masses.

He said that the National Assembly with majority approved three amendments in Election Act and around 25 amendments were approved in the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance as the courts mentioned flaws in NAB laws and civil society also raised objections and the law was being used

ruthlessly. “I should clarify that overseas Pakistanis are our asset for the country.

They have a major contribution to the country’s progress and otherwise, they have a vital role in Pakistan’s wellbeing,” Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said.

Tarar said that the government wanted to give overseas Pakistanis representation in Senate and National Assembly.

He said that the matter regarding Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) had been left to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had said in front of the Supreme Court that if elections were to be held, this

should be done within six to eight months and this is not enough time to figure out the logistics of electronic voting.

The minister said the ECP had given its views after reviewing the internet connection, electricity problems in several parts of Pakistan, and the training that would need to be given to polling staff. He said recent legislation was only aimed at enabling the ECP to devise a strategy to ensure the right to vote for overseas Pakistanis in a transparent manner. “I want to tell that overseas Pakistanis are not ended with the bill,” he said and added that the bill was

approved by the Senate on Friday by a majority vote amid the opposition’s protest.

He said that overseas Pakistanis ‘right to vote’ would remain intact. He said it was unfortunate that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were introduced without having any technical expertise, public awareness to use them and logistics as it was not practicable to implement them at once across the country. Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the former government had introduced an e-voting bill in 2021 and attached electronic voting machine with it after bulldozing the Parliament.

HEC deplores budget cut; fears closure of various university programmes News Desk The Higher Education Commission’s governing body “Commission” has strongly deplored the unprecedented and massive cut in the budget for higher education sector, emphasizing that this will destroy all the efforts made in the last two decades.

The Commission, in its meeting held online on Friday, unanimously demanded reversal of decision by the government and provision of due share to the higher education sector in the upcoming budget, and warned that this cut will lead to dire consequences including closing of institutions, winding up of university programmes, firing of faculty members, termination of research projects and halting of international higher education agreements.

The Ministry of Finance has

communicated IBC (Indicative Budget Ceilings) of only 30 billion rupees for higher education’s recurring grant against the rationalized demand of Rs 104.983 billion. The allocation is 45 per cent less even than the current year’s allocation (FY 2021-22) that was Rs. 66.25 billion.

The meeting highlighted the fact that the academics have been demanding provision of at least one percent of the GDP for higher education, but the proposed allocation of merely 0.04

percent of the GDP will be disastrous for the already struggling higher education sector where universities are finding it hard to manage even the basic expenses like payment of salaries, pensions and services.

The Commission Members said that they were conscious of the country’s current financial situation, but the higher education sector was already being ignored and never got its minimum required share in the budget.

They emphasized that new institutions had been chartered unabatedly without realizing and catering for the budgetary impact of this expansion. While increasing access and quality of higher education in the country was a common agenda of every government, this was impracticable without enough financial support on sustainable basis.

They warned that the public

universities would be left with no other option but to increase the student fee drastically, enhance student intake beyond capacities, adding that these repercussions will lead the sector to disaster and severely dent the quality of learning and graduates. The members were also briefed about Thursday’s Vice Chancellors meeting which gave a clear message to the government that this budget cut was akin to completely ignoring the higher education sector and brining the universities to a standstill.

On Thursday, over 120 heads of public sector universities unanimously lamented the decision for the unprecedented cut in the universities’ budget and urged the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Minister for Education to urgently look into the matter and enhance the budget as per rationalized demand of Rs 104.983 billion.

GB CM booked after PTI long march; Karachi leaders seek protective bails GILGIT News Desk

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and activists who are facing a barrage of cases against them for violating Section 144 and under the MPO 16 after the party’s long march, another high-profile case was lodged on Friday against the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister with the Hassanabdal police.

According to details, an FIR was registered against GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid in Hassanabdal police station. It was alleged in the FIR that during PTI long march, GB chief minister Khalid Khurshid’s security guards opened fire on the security officials deployed to thwart the march.

The CM’s chief security officer was also booked

in the case. The FIR further said that CM Khursheed and his security team kept on firing bullets and raising slogans.

Meanwhile, Fearing arrests, the PTI leaders have started approaching courts to seek protective bails. Party leaders Ali Zaidi, Khurram Sher Zaman, Jamal Siddiqui, Firdaus Shamim Naqvi Arsalan Taj and others reached the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday and prayed to the court to bar the police from arresting them in connection with two cases registered against them in Ferozabad and Soldier Bazaar police stations of Karachi.

Similarly, PTI Karachi President and MPA Bilal Ghaffar also went to the SHC along with his counsel Abdul Majeed Khoso in connection with the hearing of his petition against the raid on his home and his

arrest.

LHC SEEKS REPORT FOR NOT RELEASING PTI ACTIVISTS: On the other hand, the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Punjab home department to immediately submit to it a report for not releasing the PTI workers arrested in connection with the party’s long march.

During the hearing of the case of detention of PTI workers, Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz inquired from the government’s counsel to tell as to why those taken into custody had not been released so far.

He also asked them to inform the court of the number of people getting injured and dying as well as the damage caused to people’s properties during the march.

Former SSP Mufakhar Adeel handed down life sentence in Tatla murder case News Desk A court in Lahore on Friday handed down life sentence to former SSP Mufakhar Adeel in the murder case of assistant advocate general (AAG), Punjab Shahbaz Tatla.

The court of additional and sessions judge Shabraiz Akhtar Raja imposed Rs0.4 million in fine on Mufakhar for murdering Tatla besides awarding fiveyear prison terms and imposing Rs25, 000 in fine on him on each count of kidnapping and obliterating the evidence.

The court, however, acquitted other two accused in the case namely Asad and Irfan Ali by giving them benefit of the doubt.

As many as 29 witnesses from the prosecution recorded their statements to the court, while challan against suspects in the case had been presented on October 6, 2020.

Case had been registered against all three persons at Lahore’s Naseerabad police station.

Advocate Shahbaz Tatla had gone missing from his house in Lahore on February 7, 2020, after which a case of kidnapping was registered on the complaint of his brother Sajjad Ahmed.

The CCTV footage showed that Tatla had left his office with SSP Mufakhar Adeel, after which an investigation was launched against the latter but he erased all evidence of the murder before going into hiding to avoid his arrest.

In the midst of all this, police arrested accomplice Asad Bhatti who confessed to have assisted the SSP in destroying the body of Shahbaz Tatla.

Ex-SSP Mufakhar Adeel had made his own arrest to the police on March 11, 2020. Another accused of the case admitted that he had provided acid to the SSP Mufakhar to dissolve the dead body of advocate Tatla in a drum.

Miftah stresses to maintain and regulate sugar prices to curb price-hike APP Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail on Friday stressed for maintaining strategic reserves of sugar and regulation of its prices for avoiding price-hike and providing maximum relief to the masses. The minister was talking to Chairman Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf during a meeting at Finance Division. The Secretaries Finance, Commerce, National Food Security and Research, and other senior officers also attended the meeting, according to statement issued by finance ministry. Miftah He assured Chairman PSMA that the government was aware of the issues being faced by the sugar industry in Pakistan and was keen to resolve these problems at exigency. He expressed government’s resolve to promote business activities and facilitate the business community to attain sustainable growth in the country. On the occasion, Zaka Ashraf appreciated the efforts of the government to tackle the inflationary pressure and apprised the finance minister about the issues that were being faced by the sugar industry.

Govt to shelve Punjab Rozgar Scheme News Desk The government has decided to shelve the ‘Punjab Rozgar’ scheme launched by the previous PTI government to disburse loans among the youth of the province, it was learnt on Friday. The previous government decided to distribute loans amounting to Rs30 billion among the unemployed youth of Punjab.

But it could disburse loans to the tune of Rs600 million only among them. Industry and trade ministry secretary informed that as many as 100,000 unemployed youth had taken loans under the ‘Punjab Rozgar’ scheme during previous government. However, the scheme would be restricted to the current fiscal year for the third party evaluation, the secretary said adding that work on launching better schemes for provision of loans was underway.

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04 NEWS PTI long march failed despite using KP machinery: Muqam APP Adviser to the Prime Minister for Political and Public Affairs, Engr Amir Muqam on Friday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march completely failed despite the illegitimate use of KP’s official machinery because people were fed up with supporting PTI Chairman Imran Khan as he had been doing politics of agitation and leveling baseless accusations against his political opponents. “Many so-called political pundits were expecting millions of people in PTI’s long march but all their speculations and analysis went wrong after people of KP had distanced themselves from the party due to irrational demands of Imran Niazi,’” he told APP during an exclusive interview on the occasion of his visit to NADRA office Friday. He maintained that PTI had quickly winded up its long march after seeing the people’s lackluster response. In spite of cleared routes and minimal restrictions, Imran failed to bring political workers to Islamabad even when he had provided free transport, misused KP government’s helicopter and targeted the provincial constituencies to gather large number of people, he said. Muqam said the entire nation had witnessed how a province stormed the centre and protestors burnt down precious trees, attacked media outlets and vehicles at Islamabad. He said Imran Khan’s drama regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly stood exposed as neither did he dissolve the KP Assembly nor PTI lawmakers appeared before Speaker NA for verification of their resignations. “Imran’s six days ultimatum for dissolution of the National Assembly and election date is an evidence that he is living in a fool’s paradise,” Muqam said. He said the country’s economic growth was badly affected due to the poor monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the PTI government which resulted into price hike and rising of current accounts deficit.

AJK PresIdenT APProAches Un seeKInG releAse of YAsIn MAlIK

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News Desk

zAD Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry while vehemently condemning the unjust sentencing of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik by India’s Kangaroo court appealed on Friday to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to play his role in the early release of the Kashmiri leader.

In a letter addressed to the UN SCG, the AJK president while highlighting the Indian government’s mala fide intentions behind the controversial court ruling said that the incarcerated leader was neither given ample opportunity to defend his case in the court of law nor was he given the right to fair trial that happens to be a fundamental right of a prisoner.

He said that Malik’s conviction and sentencing in a manifestly dubious and politically motivated case was a deep-rooted

conspiracy to silence the Kashmiri leader who has championed the Kashmiris’ inalienable rights and sought a settlement of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue and diplomacy. Malik, he said, has been a strong proponent of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

“Malik is being punished because of his political beliefs”, the letter said, adding that the unjust sentencing of Yasin Malik was tantamount to pushing Kashmiris’ new generation to violence.Malik’s life sentence, he said, was a reflection of India’s belligerent mindset and antagonistic approach to crush Kashmiris’ legitimate political demands.

The letter further highlighted the Indian government’s designs to change the demographic complexion of the disputed territory. “India has issued fake domiciles to non-state Hindus in Occupied Kashmir to change the proportion of population in the area of Occupied Kashmir”, the letter said, adding that India wanted to bring a

Chief Minister of its choice in the region.He said that it was incumbent upon the UN to stop human rights violations in Kashmir that happens to be an internationally recognized disputed territory. The president said that the UN should also play its role in granting Kashmiris their right to self-determination promised to them by the leadership India and Pakistan.

The AJK President also wrote to the

APHC-AJK stages protest to condemn Yasin Malik conviction News Desk The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter held a protest demonstration in front of Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, today, against the sentencing of Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Mohammad Yasin Malik to life imprisonment by an Indian court. The protesters were holding banners and placards

with slogans against India and in favour of freedom and Yasin Malik. They were also chanting high-pitched slogans against the Indian atrocities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Hurriyat leaders, addressing on the occasion paid rich tributes to the Kashmiri martyrs and reiterated the pledge to continue freedom movement till it reached its logical conclusion. They also strongly condemned day to

UN Commission on Human Rights, the President of the European Union, the President of the European Parliament, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and other European Parliaments urging them to play their role in release of Yasin Malik and other leaders who have been languishing in different jails in and outside Kashmir for past several years

day cordon and search operations in the occupied territory in which innocent Kashmiris, particularly youth, are being killed by Indian forces’ personnel. They maintained that India could not break the will of Kashmiris by extra-judicial killings, convicting Hurriyat leaders and booking them under draconian laws. They said that India was attempting to suppress the Kashmiris’ struggle for securing their right to self-determination but would never succeed in its sinister designs. India is also trying to turn the Muslim majority of IIOJK into a minority as it is settling non-Kashmiri people in the territory, they deplored.

Jamat-e-Islami recommends special seats for Pakistani expats

Monkeypox diagnose kits to arrive soon: Patel IsLAMABAD News Desk

News Desk

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel on Friday said that the government has ordered testing kits for monkeypox diagnose and dispelled the reports that some cases of the disease have been reported in the country.

“We have ordered … the kits for diagnosing monkeypox and they will reach soon,” the minister told Dawn.com. The minister termed reports of the disease’s presence in Pakistan “misleading” that “should not be taken seriously”.

“We have alerted all [staff at] entry points [of the country] and there has been no case so far,” he said.

On Tuesday, the National Institute of Health (NIH) had also clarified that no monkeypox cases had yet been detected in Pakistan and said news circulating about the disease’s prevalence in the country on social media was “incorrect”. The clarification from the institute had come a day after it issued an alert, calling upon national and provincial health authorities to remain on high alert for any suspected case of monkeypox. The NIH had further said that steps to pre-empt a potential outbreak in the country had already been taken, with arrangements made at all airports — including medical screenings — in order to identify any infected passengers.

What is monkeypox: According to an alert issued by the NIH, monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.

Although the natural reservoir of monkeypox is un-

Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Siraj-ul-Haq has recommended special seats for overseas Pakistanis and advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to return to assemblies. The JI amir, Siraj-ul-Haq, talking to media persons in Lahore on Friday said that overseas Pakistanis send over Rs30 remittances, and they should not be deprived of their right to vote.

There should be special seats for overseas Pakistanis in the National Assembly, he added. Siraj also advised the PTI to come back to the assemblies and play the role of tough and effective opposition. The JI chief also urged for a proportional representation system in Paksitan. Siraj-ul-Haq added that the Rs30 hike in petroleum prices is a suicide attack by that government. Prices of everyday use items would skyrocket following the increase in fuel prices, he added. The JI head rejected the fuel price hike and announced to protest against it on Sunday. He said that it is pertinent to do electoral reforms ahead of the elections and that all parties should take part in the process. Taking to the judicial system he said that only the powerful have access to justice in our system, while poor man’s cases take years to reach conclusions. He added that the JI believes in the supremacy of the law and that all institutions should act within their constitutional limits.

known, African rodents and non-human primates like monkeys may harbour the virus and infect people.

The alert said the disease could be transmitted through contact with infected animals, humans or materials contaminated with the virus.

The virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or the mucous membranes like the eyes, nose or mouth.

The patient develops a rash within one to three days after the appearance of fever, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Other symptoms include headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and lymphadenopathy.

The incubation period is usually seven to 14 days but can range from five to 21 days. The illness typically lasts for two to four weeks.

President gives directive to SLICP to pay Rs 0.7m insurance claims to families of deceased policyholders News Desk President Dr Arif Alvi has directed the State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLICP) to pay the life insurance claims worth Rs 700,000 to the family members of the deceased policyholders.

The SLICP had denied the insurance money to the policyholders over the allegations of hiding pre-insurance ailments at the time of obtaining the policy.

While rejecting the two separate representations of SLICP against the decisions of the Wafaqi Mohtasib, the president noted that the onus to prove the pre-insurance ailments rested upon the insurance company and required unimpeachable evidence regarding its existence which it had failed to provide.

As per details, the deceased Azhar Hussain and Mazhar Hussain had obtained life insurance policies for the sum assured of Rs 600,000 and Rs 100,000

respectively.

After their deaths, their family members approached SLICP for the insurance claims which were repudiated on the grounds that the deceased policyholders had pre-insurance ailments which they had kept secret, therefore, they were not entitled to the payments.

Feeling aggrieved, the family members approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib to seek justice.

The Mohtasib declared that the insurance company had mentally tormented the complainants by not making the payment of claims without any valid justification and directed SLICP to process the cases and pay the assured amounts to the nominated family members without any delay and report compliance within 30 days.

The SLICP, however, challenged the decisions in both cases and filed separate representations with the president.

CMYK

The president rejected both representations on the grounds that the documents provided by the SLICP – the Agency – in support of its claims related to post-insurance periods and, therefore, were not worth consideration.

He also highlighted that in both

cases, the deceased policyholders had been declared as healthy by the field officers of SLICP at the time of obtaining the policy and they had categorically stated that they knew the deceased for the past few years.

The president also made reference to the Lahore High Court decision in State Life Insurance Corporation vs Mst Sadaqat Bano case, wherein it had been held by the court that as per section 80 of the Insurance Ordinance, 2000, an insurance policy cannot be called in question on the grounds of misrepresentation, false statement or suppression of material facts after two years from the date when the policy was originally effected.

He rejected the two representations stating that maladministration had been established on the part of the Agency and directed it to report compliance within 30 days.

Saturday, 28 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS PM unveils Rs28b relief to offset POL price hike impact continued from page 01 The prime minister, in a meeting with Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Mitsuhiro Wada here, assured that the government would extend all possible facilitation to Japanese investors.

Conveying Pakistan’s firm resolve to elevate this relationship to new heights, the prime minister emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, development, education, IT, climate change, and infrastructure. During the course of their conversation, views were exchanged on further strengthening the existing PakistanJapan bilateral relationship.

The prime minister recalled that the year 2022 was being observed as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

He also appreciated that the special events being organized to commemorate this landmark occasion were a reflection of the special relationship that Pakistan enjoyed with Japan.

The prime minister was deeply appreciative of JICA’s ongoing programmes and meaningful contribution for supporting socioeconomic and development sectors in Pakistan.

Ambassador Wada recalled Japan’s longstanding bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields and expressed his government’s commitment to working together for the achievement of shared goals and objectives.

The ambassador also conveyed Japan’s appreciation for Pakistan’s facilitation in the post-15 August 2021 evacuation of Japanese nationals from Afghanistan, following the takeover of the Taliban.

While underlining the need to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, the prime minister extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to undertake a visit to Pakistan, at an early date.

Nawaz to be remembered for conducting nuclear tests: Siddiqui newS deSk Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Senator Irfan Siddiqui Friday said the former Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would remain alive in the history of Pakistan for his achievement of conducting nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 to safeguard the interest of the country and strengthen its defence.

In an interview with APP in connection with the Youm-i-Takbir falling on May 28, Irfan Siddiqui said “Youm-e-Takbir is our identity and a great day when we nurtured our self respect, recognized our status and rejected the pressure of the world”.

Irfan Siddiqui said “The then Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif only safeguarded the interest of Pakistan and kept defence of the country at supreme while taking such a step which was in benefit of 22 million population”.

“Nawaz Sharif conducted historic nuclear tests on that day what was essential for the respect, integrity and sovereignty of the country and independent identity of its people”, he said.

“Today those raising the slogans of American conspiracy could not imagine what kind of pressure the then Prime Minister sustained in the year 1998 when the nuclear tests were conducted but he (Nawaz Sharif) neither waved any letter nor he talked about any conspiracy, oppression and pressure but went straight to Chaghi mountains and conducted six nuclear blasts in response to the five tests by India, giving a befitting response in front of the world”. He said, “We are thankful to all those people, engineers, politicians and those leading armed forces who contributed in execution of this program at that time.”

05

Six dayS aSide, iMRaN wOuLdN’t RetuRN tO iSLaMabad iN 6 ceNtuRieS : MaRRiyuM iSLamaBad

M

staff report

INISTER for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said Imran Khan would never return to Islamabad with a so-called long march again as the masses did not support him anymore due to his 4-year rule of corruption, nepotism, loot and plunder.

“Six days aside, he (Imran) will not return to Islamabad in the next six centuries,” she said while making it clear to all and sundry that the fresh election would be held on completion of the coalition government’s constitutional term.

Addressing a news conference, she said it was the prerogative of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies to announce the fresh election date and they would do so. She said the people had realized that Imran is a kleptomaniac, thief, incompetent and imbecile person who ruined the economy, devalued the rupee, rendered millions of youth unemployed and burdened the people with massive debts.

The minister termed Imran’s march a “flop show” and advised him to stay-at-home as it would be difficult for him to face the people who had rejected the politics of vandalism, arson and sabotage.

“Take a relaxing pill and rest at your residence in Banigala, and let others to relax,” she said asking Imran to watch television while being at home and learn from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as to how run the state’s affairs.

She said stay-at-home was the only option for Imran as his politics and political narrative had been buried by the masses who had decided to support the politics of progress, development and prosperity.

Marriyum said the journey of progress had been started under the dynamic leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif who was working day and night to steer the country out of economic crisis and provide them maximum relief to ward off impact of the inflation inherited by the current government from the previous one.

She said the prime minister would address the nation shortly and inform them about the elements of economic plan prepared by the PML-N government in consultation with its allies for providing relief to the masses.“The people will see the difference tonight that the country had not a prime minister who got to know from TV that the rupee had devalued and inflation gone up,” she said, adding Shehbaz Sharif was a hands-on PM who was chalking out a plan which would help reduce the burden of the conditions accepted by the government in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement. She said a plan was underway to ease the IMF agreement’s conditions with policy fixes for the public who would be provided relief through fiscal management.

The conditions in the agreement were agreed by the Imran-led government, she said vowing that a plan was also being devised to ensure peoplefriendly negotiations with the IMF in the future. She said as per the PTI regime’s agreement with IMF, the Imran led government promised to increase the price of petroleum products every month and the mafias near Imran were the major beneficiary.

Marriyum said the present government could have raised the price of petrol and diesel on the very first day after coming into power on the basis of the PTI government and IMF deal, but it realized that the masses were already suffering under the burden of inflation and even now this decision was taken with a heavy heart.

She said when Imran realized that he would be voted out through no confidence motion, he announced subsidy on petroleum products which was opposed by his Minister for Finance and secretary finance and it was never presented before the federal cabinet for approval.

She said the person who could not hold a small public gathering in Islamabad, would never launch a long march again. What sort of the long march was it? The leader was airborne and giving call to its workers to reach D-Chowk and use brute force against the policemen.

Marriyum said he climbed to his container after descending from the helicopter the next day. Despite giving the calls to its workers for reaching the D-Chowk, he, himself, not went there and abandoned them abruptly.

“It cannot be a revolution, rather it is impassiveness and impudicity,” she said, adding Imran ran away despite the government gave them permission for the protest.

She said revolution was not possible without the power of masses. “The revolution and power comes again and again when a leader has a support of its people as this happens in the case of Nawaz Sharif,” she added.

Reacting to Imran’s presser, she said he had admitted that he returned after failure of his much trumpeted long march.

Imran claimed that there were hurdles on the way, but at the same time admitted they came to Islamabad without preparation, she added.

Taking a dig at the PTI chief, she said that actually they had made preparations for collecting weapons, sticks and ammunition as they already announced a “bloody long march”.

She revealed that every PTI MNA and MPA from KP was given Rs3.5 million from the KPK government’s resources for making arrangements of

the long march.

The PTI leaders had conspired to pitch KP, Punjab and Federal police against each other, she added.

Marriuym said that PTI activists carrying arms were shown on the television channels and no one could deny the fact.

Imran’s claim that he returned as he feared that there would be violence was strange. The actual reason to abandon the march was his frustration over meager number of participants including 20 vehicles in his convoy and about 1500 protesters on the ground.

She said that Imran’s claim of hurdles was not based on reality as from Attock Bridge to F-8 there was no hurdle along the way. His convoy was stopped for more than half a dozen times to wait for the arrival of other supporters but no one turned up as the people had rejected the politics of violence. Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Imran should also visit the residence of the police man martyred in firing of PTI activists in Lahore and apologize with his family as he did visit the house of PTI worker.

She also brushed aside the notion that the overseas Pakistanis were deprived of the voting right. The new legislation on electoral reforms had been made after removing anomalies in the law enacted by the PTI government through ordinance.

The expats were given the voting right, but its procedure would be decided by the Election Commission of Pakistan so that their vote would not become controversial. “We are giving them representation in the Parliament.

She said the ECP was empowered by the current government and given a right to ensure free and fair elections in the country. Marriyum said she had proposed to record the wrongdoings of the NAB under its present chairman who should not let go home without holding him to the account.

Govt to permanently ban ‘violent protests’, rallies in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday decided to permanently ban violent rallies and protests in Islamabad. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to review the law and order situation in the country. The meeting has decided to formulate a strategy to prevent violent rallies and protests strictly. During the meeting, the Interior Minister directed the Islamabad administration to take more effective measures to stop long march in future. The meeting has also decided to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against miscreants. It was decided that no one will be allowed to stage a protest in Islamabad without a written permission from the administration. Speaking on the occasion, Rana Sanaullah said that miscreants would not be allowed to take the country hostage. “Violent marches will not be allowed to enter the federal capital,” the minister said, adding that no one would be allowed to attack police and security personnel. He also condemned the killing of police constable who was shot dead during Lahore raids, saying that the state is responsible for the protection of citizens’ life and property. Rana also directed the security agencies to ensure law and order in the country at all costs. The meeting was attended

by Interior Secretary, Inspector-Generals of Punjab and Islamabad. Regional Police Officers (RPOs) of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Sheikhupura were also present during the meeting. news desk

Senate thumbs up for amendments to elections, NAB laws iSLamaBad staff report

The Upper House of the Parliament on Friday passed two crucial bills, the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021, after both the bills sailed through the National Assembly on Thursday.

The Senate passed the bills to reverse the electoral reforms introduced by the previous PTI government regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting for overseas Pakistanis and curtailing the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Earlier on Friday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented both the bills in the Senate. The bills were presented amid talks about the possibility of early elections in the country and a day after PTI chairman Imran Khan abruptly ended his long march by giving a six-day ultimatum to the government to announce fresh elections.

After approval from both the houses of the parliament, the bills required the president’s assent to become law.

When Abbasi presented the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 amid chants of “no, no” from the opposition, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani asked whether the bill should be sent to the relevant committee. Tarar replied that the committee had already approved the bill. He clarified that overseas Pakistanis had not been deprived of their right to vote.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had been asked to ensure voting rights while assuring secrecy, he told the upper house of parliament. “The ECP has expressed its inability to conduct elections using electronic voting machines. However, the Election Commission should ensure overseas Pakistanis can vote,” he informed.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Dr Shahzad Waseem, said the opposition would not allow anyone to “rob” overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote or compromise on the use of EVMs. At this point, Tarar noted that former science minister Senator Shibli Faraz and former railways minister Azam Swati were part of the Senate panel that had approved the bill.

However, Faraz said the government was trying to give the impression that the bill was acceptable to him, which was based on “mala fide intentions”.

“Votes were equal in the committee [meeting] during which the bill was considered,” he said and added that the Election Commission’s objections were “just a piece of paper that has no value”.

Following Faraz’s response, the opposition members started sloganeering again.

Subsequently, the Senate chairman asked whether the bill should be sent to the committee but the majority of the members answered in the negative.

Thereafter, the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed by the Senate.

The Senate session once again witnessed shouting as opposition members chanted slogans of “imported government” and “no to

NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)”.

Later during the session, Tarar presented the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 which was also passed. The session was adjourned till 4pm on Monday.

ELECTION LAWS: Under the amendment to Section 94 of the Election Act of 2017, the ECP may conduct pilot projects for voting by overseas Pakistanis in by-elections to ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security and financial feasibility of such voting and shall share the results with the government, which shall, within 15 days from the commencement of a session of a house after the receipt of the report, lay the same before both houses of parliament.

Under the amendment to Section 103 of the Election Act, the ECP may conduct pilot projects to utilise EVMs and the biometric verification system in by-elections.

NAB LAW: According to the bill seeking an amendment to NAB Ordinance 1999, incumbent NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal would not be able to continue in the office as it has removed the clause inserted by the previous government granting extension to him until the time of the appointment of his successor.

The bill has suggested that NAB’s deputy chairman, to be appointed by the federal government, would become the acting chairman of the bureau following the completion of the tenure of the chairman.

The bill has also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau’s prosecutor general to three years.

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After approval of the law, NAB will not be able to act on federal, provincial or local tax matters. Moreover, the regulatory bodies functioning in the country have also been placed out of NAB’s domain.

The provisions of the law shall also not be applicable on the “decisions of federal or provincial cabinet, their committees or subcommittees, Council of Common Interests (CCI), National Economic Council (NEC), National Finance Commission (NFC), Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), Central Development Working Party (CDWP), the State Bank of Pakistan and such other bodies except where the holder of the public office has received a monetary gain as a result of such decision”.

The law will not be applicable on “procedural lapses in performance of any public or government work or function, project or scheme, unless there is evidence to prove that a holder of public office or any other person acting on his behalf has been conferred or has received any monetary or other material benefit from that particular public or government work or function whether directly or indirectly on account of such procedural lapses, which the said recipient otherwise received”.

Through the bill, NAB officials have been barred from making any public statement before filing references and during the investigation. In case of a violation, they will have to face imprisonment of up to one year with a fine of one million rupees.

The bill has also suggested punishment for filing a false reference which can be up

to five-year imprisonment.

The new law has also set a three-year term for the judges of the accountability courts. It will also make it binding upon the courts to decide a case within one year.

Under the proposed law, it has been made binding upon NAB to ensure the availability of evidence against an accused prior to his or her arrest.

Moreover, NAB will be required to begin an investigation on a complaint within six months and present an arrested person before an accountability court within 24 hours. The bill has also deprived NAB of its power to keep an accused on a 90-day remand and the period has now been reduced to 14 days.

It further says the process of the NAB chairman’s appointment will start two months prior to the completion of his term and will be completed in 45 days. After the passage of the law, the power to appoint the NAB chairman will now rest with the “federal government” instead of the president.

In case of a lack of consensus between the prime minister and the opposition leader on the name of the NAB chairman, the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee to be constituted by the National Assembly speaker, which will be bound to finalise the name within a month. The members of the Senate will also have representation in the committee.

According to one of the key amendments, the act “shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the commencement of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999”.

06-07 Comments - 28th May 2022_Layout 1 5/28/2022 12:16 AM Page 1

Saturday, 28 May, 2022

06 COMMENT

Short of revolution

A difficult decision for PTI Holding talks instead of rallies

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2014 and 2022 are different

TI chief Imran Khan is going to find in days to come that political issues can only be resolved through talks rather than ultimatums and agitation. He wants the national Assembly to be immediately wrapped up and new elections announced. The ruling alliance is finally ready for the elections. A national Assembly committee has appointed two missing Election Commission members with the result that the ECP is now at full strength with all the four provinces duly represented. The national Assembly has also passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 with two important provisions that are likely to irk the PTI. The first is the rejection of the Electronic Voting Machines for casting votes. The second is denial of voting rights to expatriates. With the PTI having resigned from the national Assembly it will have no role in the appointment of the caretaker PM either who will be nominated by the PM and the leader of the opposition through consensus.

The government has withdrawn some of the nAB laws widely considered to be draconian. These laws had demoralized the bureaucracy, making it reluctant to take decisions while the provisions were used to harass the business community also. The PTI government had made use of these laws specially to subject opposition leaders to media trial and prolonged incarceration in the absence of evidence. This would ensure that the opposition leaders would not face humiliation and undeserved torture any more.

Fulfilling a promise made to the bIMF to gradually taper off the financial burden on the budget, the government has announced a significant rise in fuel prices, though still less than required by IMF. It has also decided to divert funds from development projects to finance the budget deficit. This has sent a positive message to financial markets, leading to a surge in rupee’s value and to the KSE-100 index gaining over 950 points during intraday trade. The move is also supposed to convey that, unlike the PTI, the PML(n)-led parties care more for the national interest than for their own partisan gains.

What is still lacking is any meaningful move by the govt to secure the common man from inflation which is bound to rise further with increase in fuel prices.

While maintaining that only national Assembly will decide the election date the PM has shown willingness to hold committee level talks with PTI. There is need to resolve issues through talks than waste energies and resources in marches and sit-ins.

Dr QaiSar raShiD

I

n Cairo, Tahrir Square called the Liberation Square might have fascinated the Egyptians on 25 January 2011 to launch a protest movement that forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign on 11 February 2011. The square inspired several developing countries to replicate the same on one pretext or the other to cause a regime change as a bottom-up model. Pakistan was no exception. Year 2014 saw Pakistan embroiled in the agitation politics expressed through a long march and sit-in. A similar situation emerged now in 2022.

In these eight years (from 2014 to 2022), Pakistanis have failed to learn that Pakistan is not Egypt. The area constituting Pakistan has been experiencing democracy since 1861, when the Imperial Legislative Council was formed. The 20th century, especially after the Indian Councils Act of 1909, transformed habitants of the Indian Subcontinent into democraticoriented and English-speaking residents ready to play politics in the western (British) style.

Arguments and negotiations remained the hallmark of meetings that took place between rival political parties. now, however, the political horizon is marred by impatience and uproars. Without learning fundamentals, politics is practised on the basis of sheer populism earned from philanthropic work. It is assumed that charitable endeavours make one a better politician to do legislation and run the country. The assumption has turned farcical.

The dharna (sit-in) politics of today is missing

Yasin Malik convicted Outburst of rage in Valley reflects Indian failure

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HE sentencing of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League chief Yasin Malik to life imprisonment has caused more outrage in the Held Valley than his conviction on the original terrorism charges, because it is seen that any form of cooperation with the Indian occupiers will only be met by brute force. Though Mr Malik’s JKLF had been forced to take up arms because it saw no other way to move towards the inherent right of selfdetermination which had been denied to the Kashmiri people since the Un Security Resolutions promising a plebiscite, it had eschewed violence and decided to continue its struggle non-violently. However, Mr Malik and the JKLF never conceded that Occupied Kashmir was anything but an occupied territory, and proposed that apart from opting for either India or Pakistan, Kashmiris should also have the right to opt for independence. He is paying the price, and there is every possibility that the Indian government, which is holding him in new Delhi’s Tihar Jail under inhuman conditions, would like to see him dead.

Already, Kashmiri Hurriyet conference leaders like Abdul Gjhani Lone, even if they engage with the Indian strate.

Syed Ali Geelani recently died in in Indian prison, his medical problems (many the direct result of imprisonment) not properly attended to. In this fashion, the Indian government is helping a process of elimination, which is meant to deprive the Kashmiri people of their genuine leadership, leaving only puppets like the Abdullah family, or the Mufti family, available, who might find that they will have to add to their acceptance of inclusion in the Indian Union, by tacking on support for the Modi government’s downgrading of the state, splitting it into two union territories, and allowing outsiders to buy property in the state.

Pakistan has made protesting noises, including the holding of a press conference by Mr Malk’s wife and daughter, who live in Islamabad. However, there is an air of ritualism about everything. Moral and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people is clearly not cutting it.

Making clever speeches at the UnGA, as the previous PM did, have not stopped the Indian state’s brutalities. Pakistan must think out of the box if it is to find a lasting solution to a problem that has scarred the lives of millions.

Saima afzal

O

n 19 May 2022, Malik was convicted by the Indian national Investigation Agency (nIA) Court on charges of conspiracy and waging war against the Indian state. It is pertinent to mention that during the first five years of the BJP/ RSS government led by PM narendra Modi no militancy-related cases against him or his party were filed. India in defiance of the government signed an agreement that violated the ceasefire pledge made in 1994 when the TADA court in Jammu started a trial of these 30-year-old militancy-related cases which is actually against the spirit of the truce. It is sad to say that the recent development on Yasin Malik’s case exposes the nefarious Indian designs to undermine historic and distinct political and cultural identity of Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Such cases against Kashmiri freedom fighters highlights a malicious Indian campaign to deprive the Kashmiris of their true leadership.

Yasin Malik is a Kashmiri freedom fighter and chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). He along with other Hurriyat leaders have been illegally imprisoned by India in a jail in new Delhi for the past several years. The Indian court has convicted Yasin Malik in a 30-year-old concocted case. International media like Aljazeera has termed the Indian illegal action a political vendetta “The filing of all these cases against the leading pro-freedom leader has forced many in the disputed region to fear that the Indian state has already decided to “sign his death warrant”.

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer can qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

be

reached

at

Another episode in India’s futile attempt to suppress the Kashmiri freedom struggle

Arif Nizami (Late)

M. A. Niazi

The PTI has failed to learn that in a democratic country like Pakistan, which is driven by a written constitution and which believes in parliamentary supremacy, there is no room for any revolution.

Death of Justice: The case of Kashmiri Yasin Malik

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Allama Dr Tahir-ul Qadri, who offered full services of his religio-political party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), to current protesters of the Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) in an effort to convert the D Chowk Islamabad into the Tahrir Square of Cairo. The Azadi March (Freedom Movement) that began on 14 August 2014, ended on 17 December 2014, without achieving anything substantial. The D Chowk could not be converted into Tahrir Square.

Introduced by the PTI, the current lunge is short of both rationality and legitimacy. The rhetoric is that the regime change has been introduced from outside in connivance with certain insiders, the fifth column, ever hungry for occupying the helm of affairs.

The assumption is that, before its ouster, the PTI’s government was performing remarkably well and that the success necessitated its removal before it could achieve certain enviable politico-economic feats. Driven by its own fabricated notion that foreign forces triggered the regime change, the PTI is now out to defeat the connivers who had collaborated with the foreign forces and who derived a wedge of mistrust between the PTI and its followers, who happened to be mostly youth. Pliability is the major benefit that the youth offer to their managers.

The same is cashed in on.

Replicating the past, the PTI is determined to subjugate first the D Chowk, Islamabad. The only demand the party has been raising is the call for early elections.

The PTI believes that power did not change hands through the democratic process of a no-confidence motion. Instead, power was snatched from the PTI which now reserves all rights to redeem the lost clout.

The underlying foreboding is that in case the time is lost to the incumbent ruling coalition of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the chance to appoint the next Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the party’s own choice would also be squandered. The PTI is bent upon filling the post in an effort to requite the favour it received in the general elections of 2018.

In that way, the party would get a COAS who would be partisan in its favour and who never would stand neutral. The PTI’s reliance on the military to act as a conjoined twin to run the country’s affairs has become the bane of the country’s politics and constitu-

tion. This is another malicious habit-forming practice supposed to ruin democracy in Pakistan.

As a party in the opposition, the PTI has a right to demand early elections but the PTI has no right to resort to agitation and hooliganism to choke the country to exact elections. After the country’s democratic turnaround on April 10, it is the right of the PDM to run the country for the rest of the parliamentary tenure of one and a half years. There is no reason for calling early elections and there is no reason for submitting to this egregious unjustifiable demand. It is for the first time in the country’s history that a coalition in the name of PDM is trying to manage politico-economic affairs. The PDM deserves all space and opportunities to execute its resolve to run the country unimpeded.

The difference between the dharna politics of 2014 and that of 2022 is that at that time the PTI had secured clandestine support from sections of the military and the ace intelligence agency. The support continued even in the run-up to the general elections of 2018. The PDM is now determined to recreate that embrace, come what may before the next general elections approach. Like in the past, even the higher judiciary has been nurturinmg a sympathetic favourable corner for the PTI. The ruling PDM is tolerating the same, as the coalition is in no mood to annoy or defy the higher judiciary at the time when the country has been passing through an economic crunch. negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are still fruitless, as the PDM is reluctant to reduce subsidies on oil and energy– an act that might de-popularize the incumbent government in the sight of the masses.

The PTI has failed to learn that in a democratic country like Pakistan, which is driven by a written constitution and which believes in parliamentary supremacy, there is no room for any revolution. In the current scenario, revolution is a misnomer meant for misleading the pliant minds of the youth disassociating them from reality.

The strength of the ruling PDM can be summed up in one word: experienced. The magnitude of the crisis is immense, encompassing both political and economic fields. The masses are counting on the experience of the political parties constituting the PDM to manage the country aptly.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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According to an open letter Malik released from prison through his family in March 2020, JKLF had announced a unilateral ceasefire in 1994 after assurances of a political settlement and suspension of “militancy-related cases” against him and his colleagues by the Indian state. India is deliberately trying to suppress the voices of Kashmiris across the globe.

However, Yasin Malik has publicly accused the judge of behaving like a “prosecuting or police officer” and has complained being denied a fair trial.

He stated, “though I have every legal right to be presented physically before the court, the judge and the CBI at the behest of government are not allowing me to present myself before the trial court physically. I am being presented through video conference, where neither I am able to hear the arguments of the lawyers nor am I being allowed to speak.”

However, the bravery and fearlessness of Yasin Malik is firm as despite long imprisonment, ailment and knowing the fate; he courageously talked in court telling them the reality of the cases against him. During the trial, he protested the charges leveled against him and said he was a freedom fighter.

“Terrorism-related charges leveled against me are concocted, fabricated and politically motivated,” “If seeking freedom is a crime, then I am ready to accept this crime and its consequences”.

Likewise, Tufail Raja, the lawyer representing Malik in the nIA’s “terror funding” case, alleged that cases are being fabricated against him. Raja said Malik has decided that if the government does not offer him a fair trial, he will boycott it. Khurram Parvez, a leading human rights activist said “Fair trial is a globally recognized right for everyone. If you are suddenly pulling out old cases and not even allowing the accused to properly represent his case, then there would be question marks over it ‘’ Human rights groups and activists not only in Indian-Occupied Kashmir but also around the world, have also accused the Indian government of being unfair towards Malik.

Therefore, it is public knowledge how the Indian government 1984 judicially murdered the JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat by sending him to the gallows.

People in the IIOJK fear Malik is next in line to be “judicially murdered” by India’s right-wing government to further their political gains. Former Indian diplomat Wajahat Habibullah also acknowledged speculations of him being hanged doing the rounds.

Faizan Bhat, an Indian-Occupied Kashmir—based

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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independent researcher said, “We have seen that when it comes to Kashmiri political detainees, apart from the Indian state, even the judiciary also bypasses all rules, laws, and guidelines”. The AJK PM condemned Malik’s unilateral trial by a “kangaroo court” in India, two days after the incarcerated JKLF chairman was virtually coerced into pleading guilty in a fabricated and politically motivated case of terrorism filed by the notorious nIA. On 17 May 2022, UK Foreign Office minister Tariq Ahmad told the House of Lords that the British government was monitoring the trial of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik very closely, under the heading of “Human Rights Situation in IIOJKJ”.Another British parliamentarian Lord Qurban Hussain said that Malik is a “prominent Kashmiri leader, who has a huge following in the UK as well, Hussain claimed that Kashmiris suspect the Indian government wants to get rid of him too”. “His life is in real danger”.

Pakistan’s former Ambassador Abdul Basit also tweeted that “Yasin Malik is an indisputable Kashmiri leader and in Tihar Jail, Delhi for years. Modi Govt is preparing false grounds to hang him as was done in case of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru. Kashmiris will not rest till given their right to self-determination as was promised to them by Un.” Furthermore, in a statement issued following Malik’s conviction, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) called the development “highly reprehensible” and said that the “fictitious charges’’ against him were not only in defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) but also attempted to make “conjectural insinuations about Pakistan”. The Pakistani government also strongly condemns another abhorrent attempt of the Indian Government to deprive the Kashmiri people of their true leadership in Indian-Occupied Kashmir..

The international community should take note of the Indian government’s mistreatment of political prisoners. The conviction of prominent Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik on fake terrorism charges is a futile effort to silence voices critical of India’s blatant human rights abuses. The Modi regime must be held accountable. no matter how much it tries to mislead the world, India will never be able to suppress the legitimate struggle of Kashmiris against foreign occupation.

India is the biggest impediment to peace in South Asia. It must end its state terrorism and implement UnSC resolutions on Kashmir.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 28th May 2022_Layout 1 5/28/2022 12:16 AM Page 2

Saturday, 28 May, 2022

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

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

Child development

Strength and weaknesses of Pak-Afghan relations The removal of both Bhutto and Daud meant the relationship could not develop

Dr rajkumar Singh

C

LEARLY, not in Pakistan but in Afghanistan, both superpowers of the time, the USA and the USSR, remained active in their own way and desired to minimise the other’s influence in the country and so especially in the postWorld War Two phase, in comparison to Pakistan, Afghanistan was considered a hotbed of international politics.

As Afghanistan knew this well, it took benefits of the rivalry as well as the competition between superpowers. Although President Ayub Khan was confident about Afghanistan’s leanings towards the USSR, the USA was not in favour of being tough in regards to Kabul only because it would provide the USSR more access in Kabul, damaging US interests in the region and Afghanistan as well, along with pushing the country near to the Kremlin. In the meantime, Afghanistan allowed the USA to use Peshawar airport for its U-2 flights, which prompted the USSR to become ready for Afghan help to balance Washington’s influence in Kabul. As a result, the Kremlin began supporting every Afghan move to isolate or damage Pakistani interests.

Russian strength and backing encouraged Afghanistan to conduct cross-border raids in Pakistani territories in the early 1960s and it further led to termination of Pak-Afghan relations, closure of consulates and trade offices, breaking of diplomatic relations and suspension of transit trade with Pakistan. The suspension of transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan more damaged Kabul economically as it was a landlocked country, having limited access to the world through Iran and with India by airways.

In the new situation the USA came under pressure to help Afghanistan, failing which Russia would again get an opportunity to assist and expand its power and influence in the country and region. As expected, US pressure on Pakistan for rapprochement with Afghanistan worked and Islamabad agreed, rather unwillingly, and allowed Afghan tentacles across the border and also consented to meet Afghan’ foreign minister in new York.

In the talks held in September 1962, the role of mediator was performed by Tehran in which both-Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to

restore diplomatic relations, re-open closed borders and resume trade and commercial ties.

In addition, they also agreed to solve all their problems in accordance with international laws and continue to work for mutual benefit, cooperation and understanding.

Restoration of full-fledged relationship between the two resulted in the resignation of Afghan Prime Minister Sardar Daud, a staunch supporter of Pakhtoonistan, in March 1963, and by midyear their relations were back to normal and the demand for separate statehood went in the background. Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, it proved the golden moment for PakAfghan relationship and it improved to such an extent that during India-Pakistan war of 1965, Kabul sided with Pakistan which enabled it to focus on war with no care for security of its western border.

The understanding reached in this period gave a boost to their economic relationship when King Zahir Shah visited Islamabad in 1968, followed by the tour of Pakistan’s Finance Minister to explore the possibilities of increasing trade and fields of economy between the two countries. For some time to come their mutual understanding continued as Pakistan had disbanded its one-unit scheme, implemented eairlier, and Afghanistan also remained neutral during the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and refused to take any advantage of Pakistan’s preoccupation in war.

The years between 1963 and 1973 in Pak-Afghan relations were too good to last and before solving any historical dispute, it reverted back in July 1973 with Sardar Daud, a committed supporter of Pakhtoonistan replacing Zahir Shah, while he was on a medical tour to Europe. He took the help of leftist forces directly and the USSR indirectly. The leftist forces mainly belonged to the Parcham wing under Babrak Karmal of the Communist People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The new ruler eradicated monarchy in the country and established a republic under his presidency but he accommodated pro-Soviet elements in large numbers in the government and higher bureaucracy. This development in Kabul was not liked either by the USA or Pakistan and was considered as an extension of Soviet powers and influence in Afghanistan. Islamabad, in particular, viewed the event as repetition of Daud’s earlier history in Afghanistan when he used to foment separatists of Pakistan-Pakhtoon and Balochi living across the Durand Line.

Daud, the new ruler of Afghanistan, stood clearly with Baloch insurgents and announced in 1974-75 that his forces would gather around the Pak-Afghan borders a under the guise of war

games and it was responded by Pakistan by doing the same along the western border, In addition, Afghanistan also hosted and motivated Pashtun-Baloch militants who were against Pakistan to work under the leadership of national Awami Party led by Abdul Wali Khan. In retaliation, Islamabad too harboured against Kabul and start supporting Islamic movements led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Ahmed Shah Massoud, both members of the Jamiat-e-Islami, along with the Haqqanis, and asked them to rise against the government of Afghanistan.

It not only welcomed them in Pakistan but also provided them training and other support for attacks and incursions inside the Kabul and soon it prepared a group of dissidents numbering around 5000. Another neighbour, Iran, considered Afghan action as a step against Pakhtuns who were living in their country and may rise and unite in the name of Pashtun nationalism. Although the issue of Pakhtoon and Baloch were not new, inept handling of it by the Pakistan government for long made it an issue which over years transformed into a demand for political autonomy.

After coming to power in Afghanistan, Daud felt the need of Afghanistan’s friendship with Pakistan on account of the increasing power and influence of pro-Soviet forces and he viewed this relationship in the interest of the Kabul as he was also fed up with Islamist groups operating against the Afghan government encouraged by Islamabad.

In this situation, he moved for reconciliation and invited Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for a Kabul visit and gave him an unprecedented warm welcome in course of the tour in June 1976. and aud himself went to Pakistan two months later in the same year to revive earlier trust, defuse tension, and find peaceful co-existence as well as pacific settlements of old disputes. These moments of good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan did not long and the last silver line of hope and expectation ended with the overthrow of the Bhutto government in July 1977 in a military coup hatched by Gen Ziaul Haq, followed by the assassination of Daud by Communist forces in April 1978. These events, once again, pushed both Kabul and Islamabad into an atmosphere of political instability as well as social unrest and chaos.

Daud moved for reconciliation and invited Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for a Kabul visit and gave him an unprecedented warm welcome in course of the tour in June 1976.

The writer is presently Professor and Head, Department of Political Science and Dean of Social Sciences at B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura (Bihar), India. His 20 books published in addition to 900 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries.

AS children grow older, they undergo both physical and mental changes, which impact their overall development. Physical changes include weight and height while mental changes include intelligence and cognitive skills. naturally, not all children have the same form of growth or development because of innate tendencies as well as other social factors. However, some patterns or periods of development are similar for most children, which are crucial and must be paid attention to.

Motor development takes place in the early ages during which the child’s muscles, bones, and the ability to move or touch are strengthened. Fine motor skills refer to small movements in the hands, feet, lips, etc. Gross motor skills include the motor development of muscles that enable babies to hold up their heads, sit and crawl, and eventually walk. Parents and caregivers should focus on supporting the children to develop these skills by undertaking moderate forms of physical activities with the children. Primary socialisation enables children to learn to communicate, which is furthered by secondary socialisation at schools where children begin learning, interacting with a group of people, and forming friendships. This aids both emotional and cognitive development as the children are compelled to think, explore, and figure things out.

In Pakistan, there is little awareness about the different development stages and even paediatricians fail to inform new parents of these stages.

Relevant health authorities should undertake the initiative to inform parents of the different stages and necessary measures to ensure the healthy growth and development of children.

UROOJ SULTAN THATTA

Rotten political system THE ongoing conflict in Pakistani politics is getting worse instead of reaching a fruitful conclusion. Prejudice has permeated politics to such an extent that traditions are being established to undermine the country’s dignity, interest and security. The tendency to make the armed forces a subject of political discourse has created much apprehension among the masses. A defamatory campaign is being waged directly on social media against in which baseless allegations and provocative statements are constantly being circulated.

All this is not the result of any external conspiracy but a reflection of our internal weaknesses. The seeds of the politics of self-interest that certain politicians have sown are now ripe. In fact, it is the rotten political system of the country that is now revealing itself in the worst form. The political class has in fact lost its place in the eyes of the people.

Traditional politics is now going through a process of disintegration.

Pakistani society is on a journey of change. Social media has attracted the educated class of the country, especially the young generation, towards politics to such an extent that they refuse to believe these fake political narratives. Politicians may not have much time left and should therefore either revamp their political style or be prepared for outright rejection by the people.

MUHAMMAD SHAFIQUE ISLAMABAD

Illegal smuggling THE term smuggling refers to the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people from one area to another. In order words, it means to import or export secretly while breaking the law, especially without paying duties imposed by the law. Such acts are indeed highly harmful to any country. Firstly, the country loses a lot of money by way of unpaid taxes and duties. And secondly, industries are badly affected when foreign goods are sold at prices lower than their market price.

Over the past decade, smuggling has become a huge problem in Pakistan. The smuggling of goods to and from neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan and Iran has not only adversely affected the economy but has also created a vicious black market that feeds the illegal system present in the underbelly of society. According to reports, the volume of goods smuggled into Pakistan increased nearly threefold from 2014 to 2018. In terms of value as a share of Pakistan’s GDP, smuggling went up from 3.88% to 11.25%. It is also an open secret that smuggled goods have penetrated many different sectors and range from cellphones and fuel to daily-use items like toiletries and tea.

Authorities should take the necessary steps to first regulate and then stop smuggling altogether.

Perpetrators need to be caught and punished while corrupt officials need to identified and penalised accordingly. Curbing this on a massive scale is indeed difficult. Therefore, concerned authorities need to systematically detangle this web and bring it down piece by piece.

ALI HASAN SHERAZI SARGODHA

Illegal sales of cigarettes THE unchecked illegal sale of cigarettes in Pakistan is posing a serious threat to public health and nullifying Government’s tobacco control initiatives. According to the Federal Ministry of national Health Services Regulations, 166,000 deaths are caused by smoking in Pakistan every year.

As per the statistics of the federal ministry, children and youth between the ages of 6 and 15 are starting to smoke on a daily basis in the country.

These alarming statistics prove that tobacco control laws are being openly violated and despite having legal authority, the authorities are not interested in stopping the illegal sale of cigarettes. Despite the Government’s ban, we see cigarette promotions, cigarettes are being sold to minors and despite a regulatory minimum price of Rs.63 per pack, cigarettes are being sold as low as Rs. 20.

It is imperative for authorities to crack down against violators of laws and eliminate the illegal sales of cigarettes before it is too late. The property of those involved in the illicit cigarette trade and the stock of illicit cigarettes should be confiscated and the scope of disciplinary action should be extended to illegal cigarette stocks, dealers, and retailers.

USAMA GHULAM RASOOL KARACHI

08 WORLD VIEW 28th May 22_Layout 1 5/27/2022 8:50 PM Page 1

Saturday, 28 May, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

Will israel survive?

A SOCIETY CANNOT GO FAR WITH ITS HEAD BURIED IN THE SAND, AND WILL CERTAINLY BE UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE REAL CHALLENGES CONFRONTING IT

MIddlE East EyE Gideon levy

i

F there is one thing completely missing from the public agenda in Israel, it is the long-term view.

Israel does not look ahead, not even by half a generation. Children are important in Israel, and the time and energy devoted to them may substantially exceed what is typical in most other societies, yet no one talks about what lies ahead for them or for their own future children. there is not a single Israeli, not one, who knows where his country is headed. ask any ordinary Israeli or any politician, any journalist or scientist, from the political centre or the right or the left: where are you going? how will your country look in another 20 years? Or 50? they can’t even describe what 10 years from now might be like. Few Israelis could even say where they would like their country to be going, apart from empty slogans about peace and security and prosperity.

TROUBLING QUESTION: also very instructive is the one question that does arise about the long term: will Israel still exist in another 20 or 50 years? that is all you will hear queried in Israel about the future. and meanwhile a different question - Will there ever be peace? which a generation or two ago was omnipresent, is no longer on the agenda and almost never asked. there are very few places where people ask whether or not their country will exist a few decades hence. People don’t ask that in Germany or albania, or in togo or in Chad. this question may not be pertinent for Israel either - a powerfully armed regional power, impressively well-connected, with such technological prowess and such prosperity, the darling of the West.

Yet consider the fact that so many Israelis continue to ask this question, more often lately than ever. Note the incredible efforts Israelis expend to obtain a second passport for themselves and their children - any passport! Let it be Portuguese or Lithuanian, the main thing is to have some option beyond an Israeli passport, as if an Israeli passport is some kind of temporary permit nearing its expiration date, as if it weren’t possible to go on renewing it forever. all of that suggests that the Israeli habit of burying their heads in the sand about the future of their country disguises a deep-seated, and possibly very realistic, fear about what the future may hold. Israelis are afraid of the future of their country. they brag about their country’s power and ability, a righteous nation, a chosen people, a light unto the nations; they are exceedingly boastful about their army, about their skills, while at the same time a primordial fear gnaws at their innards. the future of their country is hidden from them, shrouded in mist. they like to talk in religious terms about eternity, “a united Jerusalem for eternity” and “God’s eternal promise to Israel”, while deep down they have no clue what will be happening to their country tomorrow or, at the latest, the day after that.

SELF-DELUSION PROVIDES NO ANSWER: the name of the game is repression, denial, self-delusion, on a scale unknown in any other society that comes to mind.

Just as for most Israelis there is no occupation, and definitely no apartheid, despite the mountains of evidence towering higher all the time - so, for most Israelis, tomorrow is not a thing. tomorrow is not a thing in terms of the environment or climate change in Israel; tomorrow is not a thing in terms of relations with the other nation living alongside us with our knee on its throat.

Just try asking Israelis what it is going to be like here one day with a Palestinian majority between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, and in the best case you’ll get nothing but a shrug. Where is it all headed?

Will we live forever by the sword? Is it worth the price?

What you’ll discover is that - guess what? - Israelis have never asked themselves this question before and no one has ever queried them about it before, either. their expression will tell you that they’ve never heard such a strange question. In any event, there will be no answer.

Israelis have no answer. this situation is very unhealthy, of course. a society cannot go far with its head buried in the sand, and will certainly be unable to cope with the real challenges confronting it. the occupation, which more than anything else is what defines Israel today, presents more than a few challenges - with which Israel refuses to grapple.

What will happen with the occupation? Where will it take the two societies, occupier and occupied, Israeli and Palestinian? Can the occupation go on forever?

Until recently, I was convinced that the occupation cannot last forever. history has taught us that a people fighting to be free generally wins and that rotten regimes, like the military occupation of the Palestinian people by Israel, collapse of their own accord, crumbling internally from the decay that always pervades them. But as the Israeli occupation drags on and its end continually recedes, doubts have riven my once-solid conviction that something will surely happen soon to bring down the occupation, like a tree that looks robust but has rotted from within. the most frightening case in point is that of america and the Native americans, a story of a conquest that became permanent, with the conquered herded onto reservations where they have independence and self-determination only in theory and their national rights are ignored.

INDEFINITE OCCUPATION: In other words, there are indeed occupations that go on indefinitely, defying the odds and all the predictions, persisting and persisting until a conquered people stops being a nation and becomes an anthropological curiosity living in its cage on a reservation. this happens when the occupation is particularly powerful and the conquered are especially weak and the world loses interest in their fate. a future like that now looms over the Palestinians. they are at their most perilous hour since the Nakba in 1948.

Divided, isolated, lacking strong leadership, bleeding at the side of the road and slowly losing their most precious asset in terms of the solidarity they aroused all over the world, especially in the global south. Yasser arafat was a global icon; there was nowhere on earth that did not know his name. No Palestinian leader today

even comes close. Worse yet, their cause is gradually disappearing from the world’s agenda as it pivots to pressing issues like migration, the environment and the war in Ukraine. the world is tired of the Palestinians, the arab world tired of them long ago and the Israelis were never interested in them. that could still change, but the current trends are deeply disheartening. another Nakba on the 1948 model would not seem a realistic option for Israel at the present time; the second Nakba is an ongoing one that creeps along insidiously all the time, but without drama. there are certainly those in Israel who toy with the idea that under the cloak of some future war, Israel could “finish the job” only partially completed in 1948. threatening voices in that key have sounded louder lately but they remain a minority in Israeli discourse.

Continue with the settlements? Why not. Most Israelis just do not care. they have never been to the settlements, will never go there and couldn’t care less whether evyatar is evacuated or not. the struggle has long since moved to the international front. the crucial shift will come only from there, as happened in South africa. But part of the world has simply lost interest, and the rest clings to the formula of a two-state solution as if it were sanctified by religious edict. Yet, most decision-makers already know that the two-state solution is long dead, if in fact it ever lived and breathed.

EQUALITY IS THE PATH: the only exit from this depressing impasse is by creating a new discourse, a dis-

course of rights and equality. People must stop singing the songs of yesteryear and embrace a new vision. For the international community, this should be obvious; for the Israelis and to a lesser extent the Palestinians, the idea is revolutionary, threatening, and exceedingly painful. equality. equal rights from the river to the sea. One person, one vote. So basic and yet so revolutionary. this path requires a parting of the ways with Zionism and the rejection of Jewish supremacy, and letting go of the entire self-definition of both peoples - but it represents the only ray of hope.

In Israel until just a few years ago this idea was viewed as subversive, treasonous and illegitimate. It is still viewed that way but with somewhat less force. It has become mentionable. It now remains for civil societies in the West and then the politicians to embrace the change. Most of them already know that this is the only solution left, but are afraid to admit it lest they lose the magic formula for a continued Israeli occupation provided by the now dead two-state solution. the present is deeply discouraging, the future no less so. and yet to persist in thinking that something can still be hoped for, some action can still be taken, is of the utmost importance. the worst thing that could happen in this part of the world would be for everyone to lose interest in what happens here and resign themselves to the current reality. that must not be.

Gideon Levy is a Haaretz columnist and a member of the newspaper’s editorial board.

india is a nation of meat-eaters BESIDES SMASHING THE ‘VEGETARIAN INDIA’ MYTH, NFHS DATA ALSO REVEALS HOW ENTRENCHED PATRIARCHY DICTATES WHO IS ALLOWED TO EAT WHAT IndIan ExprEss M A KAlAM

W

hatever may be the rhetoric or the narrative, even if the latter is a preponderantly dominant one, truth finds its own place to emerge. For years, many sections of Indian society, principally the rightwing segment, have peddled the story that India is primarily a vegetarian nation. Proclamations of this sort have been made time and again, although archaeological and anthropological data do not give any credence to such claims and assertions. the vedas too do not support this narrative. In fact, it is unequivocally held that it was unviable to depend only on vegetarian food anywhere in the world even during the vedic times. the National Family health Survey (NFhS-5) data (conducted between 2019-21) show that the proportion of men aged 15-49 years who refrained from consuming “non-vegetarian” food, that is, fish, chicken or meat (to be categorical, any meat) were a mere 16.6 per cent. Besides the fact that it is such a miniscule proportion of the population, what is more illuminating and significant is the revelation that there has been a 5 percentage-point drop from the 21.6 per cent recorded in the earlier round

of the survey, that is, NFhS-4, conducted in 2015-16. however, in the case of women, the reduction was almost insignificant – it dipped from 29.9 per cent in 201516 to 29.4 per cent in 2019-21.

Stated differently, a staggering 83.4 per cent of men and 70.6 per cent of women in the 15-49 age group are non-vegetarian according to the NFhS-5 data. the corresponding figures from the NFhS-4 were 78.4 per cent for men and 70 per cent for women. So, is there any room for those who peddle the “vegetarian nation” rhetoric to hide? and if so, where?

While it is rather difficult to check the veracity of this assertion, there is often a tendency to establish a correlation between eating meat and consuming alcohol.

But those who subscribe to such thoughts would be disappointed in this particular case as data from the NFhS does not support such a contention. there has actually been a 7 per cent decrease in the consumption of alcohol among men aged 15-49 between the NFhS-4 and NFhS-5 data.

But before we analyse the likely reasons for the gender difference and skewing, and also the overall difference in terms of why more men consume non-vegetarian food, let us give a thought to the epithet that is bandied about so nonchalantly — the appellation “non-vegetarian”.

Firstly, it is a negative sobriquet that has been so generously bestowed upon those who have continued to eat meat of some kind or the other and have normalised a diet intake that includes meat products. But what is conveniently forgotten is that all such people also con-

sume pulses, grains, vegetables, fruits and the like. If anything, such people have to be categorised as omnivorous because their food is derived from both animals and plants.

Secondly, and revealingly, some sections/groups have deviated from an earlier omnivorous form of food intake and after refraining from animal food, they have defined themselves as “vegetarians”. Moreover, gradually, vegetarianism has been projected, particularly and almost exclusively in India, as something pious, saintly, virtuous and righteous, leading to the prevalent holier-than-thou attitude. and that is being transmitted by the myriad vested interest groups in the country through generations, often with unstinted support from a section of politicians, devoutly religious people, and spiritual figureheads.

While it may not be all that easy to pinpoint the reasons for the increase in the consumption of animal food among men from the NFhS-4 to NFhS-5 data period, it is, however, almost a given that more men than women consume animal food mainly because of two reasons.

One of these reasons is obvious; there are more opportunities to eat animal food outside of the home than at home. eating in restaurants is more common among men than among women, and even if there are some restrictions at home, those seem to apply more to women. eating outside the home gives men a lot of autonomy as well as anonymity at the same time.

In spite of the advances that India has made in so many spheres, it is still quite rare to find single women (or even a group of women) dining by themselves in

restaurants in most parts of India. In other words, autonomy and anonymity do not come easily to women. another factor that may well be at work on the home front is that due to gender discrimination, women often get deprived of certain kinds of food. this happens in most families across class levels. Besides, if at all there are any religious or cultural reasons in terms of avoidance of certain foods, it applies, at times loosely, and sometimes exclusively, to women. Given the patriarchal set up that is so prevalent in India, men exercise control over almost everything, including women’s piety and related dietary observances. the realm of food is not manifestly excluded from the kind of authority that men exert in the Indian context. also, in families and households where animal food is not cooked at home men may order/procure animal food from outside but invariably women do not partake of such food. It is significant to point out here that the process of socialisation is so biased in favour of men that the gender discriminatory path is laid out in families almost as if it is the divine path that has to be tread by the women. Globally, the proportion of those who are vegetarian would, at best, be 8 to 10 per cent. But the kind of gender skew in this context that can be found in India is an exclusive feature of the country, not replicated anywhere else.

The writer, a social anthropologist, is Visiting Professor, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad.

Saturday, 28 May, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS corporate corner EBM wins top awards at 16th OSHW Karachi: Pakistan’s leading FMCG Company, English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt.) Ltd (EBM), has been honored by the Employees Federation of Pakistan (EFP) with two awards at the 16th International Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellbeing (OSHW) awards.

EBM has won the first position with an excellence award in the food sector. Mr. Anas Hammad, Group Lead EHS, EBM, has been awarded the ambassador award from EFP. EBM has once again proved to be a frontrunner in workplace health and safety and in maintaining occupational safety and health standards best practices.

Along with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, EBM has developed companywide consistent inspection, reporting and tracking systems with area specific manager’s toolboxes which support health and safety standards. In addition to more than 580 training sessions held for employees in the past years, EBM has also launched a behavior-based safety program, a robust emergency response plan, state-of-the art firefighting system as part of the regular trainings and drills. pr

Zong teams up with PSDF and Huawei to close digital divide Lahore: In a collective effort to narrow the digital divide in Pakistan, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, Zong 4G has joined forces with PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) and theglobal technology leader, Huawei.As part of the partnership, PSDF has received 300 smart Huawei tablets from Zong, with both partners workingcollaboratively to digitally empower the Pakistani youth by providing critical digital resources and tools tosupport their skill development.

PSDF received the MetaPad tablets and will utilize them to implement its online learning and hybrid trainingprograms targeted at nurturing learners’ skillsets so they can seize employment and incomegeneratingopportunities.As part of its digital training program ‘e-tayyar’, PSDF is funding skills training that is in demand by employersto equip learners with skills to advance their careers in the digital era. pr

University of Wah organizes job fair

The Engineering College, University of Wah organized 11th Open House & Job Fair on wherein Engr Muhammad NajeebHaroon, Chairman, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) was the chief guest.

Prof. Dr. Jameelun Nabi, Vice Chancellor, University of Wah welcomed the Chief Guest upon his arrival. A total of 66 Final Year Projects (FYPs) were exhibited by the undergraduate students from multiple departments including Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Computer Science. 70 representatives from 24 well-reputed organizations including POF, Wah Nobel Group, Air Weapons Complex; Maritime Technologies Complex, NESCOM; Heavy Mechanical Complex, Taxila; Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Civil Aviation Authority, Deewan Cement Limited and various well reputed private industrial setups attended this significant event. pr

PBS hosts workshop on 7th Population & Housing Census

Census is an important national activity and its success depends on collaborating efforts of all stakeholders. To gain confidence of stakeholders their understanding and involvement in the process, from planning of this gigantic exercise till finalization of results and Data Dissemination is important. Provinces are important stakeholders in Census process as they are directly involved in data collection, execution, and monitoring of the entire activity. Therefore, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has initiated a series of Sensitization Workshops with Chief Secretaries, relevant Secretaries, and functionaries at Provincial levels. This exercise will bring more clarity and ownership of provinces in the process of the census. For taking stakeholders on board, at first stage consultative meetings with provinces were conducted and at second stage sensitization workshops with Academia, Data users and Researchers were carried out. Now, third stage sensitization workshops of the series with provinces, in connection with the forthcoming 7th Population and Housing Census 2022, (the first-ever Digital Census in Pakistan) are in progress. pr

09

RUPEE EnDS FREE-FALL; gAinS AgAinSt USD KaraChI

P

News Desk

AkISTANI currency gained strength on Friday and recovered by Rs1.81, bringing it up to Rs200.20 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Friday, ending the twoweek-long free-fall.

Similarly, the Pakistan Stock Exchange surged 2.25% (or over 950 points) to 43,497 points just before noon.

The recovery comes after Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced to increase prices of petroleum products

by Rs30 per litre last night with effect from Friday (today). The action is expected to be followed by a revival of the multibillion-dollar loan programme by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has been on an elevenmonth hold, while Pakistan needs over $7 billion to repay the foreign debt and finance the current account deficit over

the next months.

The IMF is now expected to release the next tranche of $1 billion soon.

The global lender had conditioned the resumption of the $6 billion bailout package upon the reversal of certain government policies, including fuel

subsidies and withdrawal of the tax amnesty scheme, as well as demands for an increase in electricity tariffs, imposition of new taxes and ensuring fiscal savings aimed at bringing down the projected primary budget deficit of Rs1.3 trillion to the earlier agreed limit

Pakistan’s external financing gap could rise to $8bn: Morgan Stanley Khurram husaIN The outlook for Pakistan is worsening, says Morgan Stanley in a report released on Friday.

The country has “underperformed significantly since February”, with spreads widening up to 1250 basis points and some bonds selling for as low as sixty cents on the dollar.

“The key driver has been rising concerns about Pakistan’s external funding gap” say the authors of the report. The deteriorating current account deficit, “increased risks to the IMF disbursements” and slowing remittances are principally responsible.

“We expect total funding need to be $35 billion for 2022” the report says. The current account deficit could widen to $17bn, and “predetermined drain on reserves” is $18bn. The authors consider external financing requirements under two scenarios: with and without and IMF program. “[I]n a better scenario, we estimate the available sources to be $32bn, assuming Pakistan will receive the next IMF tranches and issue Eurobonds successfully.

This means a $3bn funding gap.”

This means even with a fund program and a successful Eurobond floatation, there will still be

$3bn required to plug the financing gap in 2022.

The real problem begins in the absence of an IMF program. “[I]f Pakistan does not get the rest of the EFF loans from the IMF, it would add $2.8bn of funding pressure. And if Pakistan is not able to roll over the global sukuk bond due in December 2022 it adds another $1bn of funding pressure. In this case we estimate the funding gap to be $8bn, also driven by lower private sector loan disbursements”.

The authors advise their clients to steer away from Pakistani paper. “We suggest a dislike stance on Pakistan” they say bluntly, pointing to the “downside risks regarding funding” and persistent uncertainty around the talks with the IMF, with oil prices continuing to rise.

The authors also point out risks to Pakistan’s credit rating of B negative given these powerful vulnerabilities. “[W]e don’t think that now is a good time to be long on Pakistan despite their cheaper valuations.

Pakistan’s bonds rallied on Friday as the government began the process of fuel price adjustments on late Thursday night. The adjustment was cheered by the markets since it is the first step down the road the country has to walk to restore its economic viability.

Pak-China red chilli contract farming achieves bumper harvest BEIJING News Desk

Six model farms under Pakistan-China Red Chilli Contract Farming Project are achieving a bumper harvest in southern Punjab and northern Sindh, Pakistan, with an estimated yield of 700 tons of dried chillies.

The crops in the six model farms with a total area of nearly 300 acres started bearing fruits in May, said Dai Bao, leader of the agricultural project of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) in Pakistan.

“When the chillies are naturally dried we ship them to China for further processing,” Dai noted. Compared with the last year, the size of planting area has increased six times, extending from Lahore to other parts of Punjab and Sindh.

Also, the total output increased seven-fold, and

the yield per unit area increased by more than 30 percent, Dai told CEN. More than 200 local technicians were trained this planting season and nearly 1,000 jobs were created, Dai added. Based on planting, they will further develop downstream deep-processing industries and create more employment opportunities for the locals in the future.

As China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has entered into a stage of enrichment and expansion since 2020, agricultural exchanges and cooperation have become the focus for both China and Pakistan. The chilli contract farming project was launched with joint efforts of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Pakistani Ministry of National Food Security & Research and companies from both countries, including CMEC, China, Sichuan Litong Food Group, China, Fatima Group, Pakistan, and so on.

of Rs25 billion surplus.

Besides, friendly countries and other multilateral lenders are also expected to announce fresh funding to Islamabad.

China and Pakistan have reaffirmed their support for each other’s “core interests and major concerns,” while vowing to further enhance economic and defense cooperation during Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s maiden visit to the neighbouring country on Tuesday. Moreover, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf on Thursday agreed to explore further avenues to enhance bilateral trade and economic ties at the World Economic Forum in talks with Bilawal as well.

The likely inflows will help improve the county’s foreign exchange reserves and improve its capacity to make international payments.

The reserves had fallen to a critically low level of six-week import cover at $10.08 billion.

Jazz signs accord to fiberize its network in Lahore

Lahore: Jazz, Pakistan’s number one 4G operator and the largest internet and mobile broadband provider,has signed an agreement to connect all of its Mobile towers directly to fiber in Lahore. Fiber infrastructure and services provider, Nayatel, has partnered to lead this Fiber to the Site (FTTS) project, which is expected to complete by December2022. FTTS is a network connectivity solution that enables each cell site to carry up to 10Gbps of traffic at significantly lowerlatencies and enhances network availability and resilience. “Digital transformation across the country increasingly requires high-bandwidth solutions with the demand for data andspeed increasing exponentially. Fiberization showcases our commitment to delivering a consistently fast and reliableinternet solution; and is crucial if we are to build a digital ecosystem which compliments the users evolving lifestyleneeds,” said Jazz’s Chief Technology Officer, Khalid Shehzad. pr

HBL partners with PAFLA to enable freelance industry

HBL has entered into a strategic alliance with Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), a non-profit organization founded to empower Pakistani freelancers. The partnership will enable the freelancing individuals and start-ups to become part of the Banking segment through HBL’s Freelancer Digital Current Account & Solutions. The agreement was signed by Abrar Ahmed Mir, Chief Innovation & Financial Inclusion Officer – HBL and Kazi Rahat Ali, Secretary General – PAFLA. Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL and other senior leaders from both organizations were also present at the ceremony. pr

GB govt seeks provision of indigenous wheat, enhanced quota ahmad ahmadaNI Inferior quality of imported wheat is being provided to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Chief Secretary of GB has asked Ministry of National Food Security and Research to provide indigenous wheat to avert any serious law & order situation.

Raising serious concerns over the provision of inferior quality of imported wheat to GilgitBaltistan (GB), Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Secretary, in a letter to Secretary National Food Security and Research, Islamabad, has pointed out that the imported wheat is of inferior quality and serious complaints from general public are being received on daily basis. Moreover, if PASSCO authorities keep providing imported wheat to GilgitBaltistan, the shortage of wheat/flour across GB

may become worse and finance division Islamabad may impose further cut on wheat allocation to GB for financial year 2022-23 owing to increasing price of imported wheat, said a letter of GB’s Chief Secretary.

At the same time, the Supreme Appellate Court GB has also taken Suo Motu notice on inferior quality of imported wheat and the case is under trial in the apex court, said a letter of the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The GB’s Chief Secretary also asked for enhanced wheat quota and to ensure approval of allocation of 10000 Metric Ton (MT) from the federal cabinet’s economic coordination committee (ECC) on priority basis before 1st July, 2022 to avert any law and order situation across GB in the coming financial year. He said that so far the matter has not yet

been placed before ECC for approval of enhanced wheat quota of 10,000MT to Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Hence, provision of indigenous wheat to GB as well as approval of 10,000MT enhanced wheat allocation from ECC need to be ensured on priority basis before 1st July, 2022 to avert any law & order situation across GB in the coming financial year,” reads the letter of GB’s Chief Secretary.

It is worth mentioning here that the Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan has requested that the matter may kindly be placed before ECC for approval of 10,000MT enhanced wheat allocation. He further requested that indigenous wheat may please be provided to Gilgit-Baltistan to avert any serious law and order situation which may arise due to shortage of wheat and to apprise the honorable Supreme Appellate Court GB.

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10 FORIGEN NEWS

Beijing SayS Blinken’S SPeeCH ‘SmearS CHina’ BEIJING

C

AgeNcies

HINA’S foreign ministry on Friday accused US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of “smearing” the country, after America’s top diplomat delivered a landmark policy speech calling for action to counterbalance Beijing’s influence.

In the most comprehensive statement to date on China by US President Joe Biden’s administration, Blinken said on Thursday the Asian power posed “the most serious longterm challenge to the international order”.

China has faced a chorus of warnings from the United States and Western allies in recent days over its growing influence and global ambitions.

Blinken warned on Thursday of China’s “intent to reshape the international order” and called on countries to defend the status quo.

He also accused Beijing of raising tensions over Taiwan — a self-ruled island China claims as its territory — and said Bei-

jing has “cut off Taiwan’s relations with countries around the world and (is) blocking it from participating in international organisations”.

Beijing hit out angrily at the speech on Friday, saying it “spreads false information, exaggerates the China threat, interferes in China’s internal affairs and smears China’s domestic and foreign policies”.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that China “firmly opposed” the speech and it showed Washington sought to “contain and suppress China’s development and maintain US hegemony and power”. The United State recently launched a loose new trade framework across Asia and has set up a forum with the European Union to set technological standards.

The efforts are aimed at uniting likeminded nations as China dominates new fields, such as artificial intelligence.

Blinken acknowledged a growing consensus that other nations cannot change the trajectory of China, saying that under President Xi Jinping it has become “more repressive at home, more aggressive abroad”.

“There is growing convergence about the need to approach relations with Beijing with more realism,” he said.

The speech by the US secretary of state contrasted with the approach under former president Donald Trump, whose administration spoke in stark terms of an all-out global conflict with China.

Blinken has warned of China’s “intent to reshape the international order” and called for defending the status quo.

On trips to Africa and Latin America, where China has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure, Blinken has downplayed US-China competition and has not asked nations to take sides.

“We are not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, we’re determined to avoid both,” he said in his speech.

“We don’t seek to block China from its role as a major power, nor to stop China — or any other country for that matter – from growing their economy or advancing the interests of their people.”

But he said that defending the current global order, including international law and

agreements, would “make it possible for all countries — including the United States and China — to coexist and cooperate”.

Biden on Monday made waves by offering the most explicit pledge in decades that

NRA gun lobby convenes in Texas in wake of school massacre HOUSTON AFP

Husband of teacher slain in Texas massacre dies ‘due to grief’ AGENcIES The husband of a heroic fourth grade teacher who was killed protecting her students during a massacre at a Texas elementary school has died of an apparent heart attack. A GoFundMe page set up by Debra Austin, who said she was the cousin of teacher Irma Garcia, said that Irma’s husband Joe “has tragically passed away this morning (5/26/2022) as a result of a medical emergency.” “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life,” she added. John Martinez, who identified himself as Garcia’s nephew, also tweeted: “EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia (aunt) Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief.”

Ernie Zuniga, a news anchor for local station KABB FOX San Antonio, tweeted that Garcia had died from a heart attack. The couple, who were married for 24 years, according to the website of the Robb Elementary school, leaves behind four children. Both Irma Garcia and her co-teacher Eva Mireles, who had connected classrooms, died in the mass shooting. The shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was inside the building for about 40 minutes before police entered and fatally shot him.

Pakistan participates 17th SCO Forum meeting BEIJING News Desk

About forty experts and political analysts from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, India and Uzbekistan attended the 17th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum meeting. SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming spoke at the opening ceremony of the meeting held via videoconference, according to SCO Secretariat here. The Centre of East Asia and SCO Studies at the MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry organised the event chaired by Russia.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov also spoke at the opening ceremony. The participants discussed three main subjects in detail, viz., more intensive interaction between the SCO states in the field of international security, economic cooperation matters and expanded cultural and humanitarian cooperation. During the Forum meeting, scientists suggested many useful ideas and considerations, which the SCO governing bodies will take into consideration in their work.

America’s powerful National Rifle Association kicked off a major convention in Houston Friday, days after the horrific massacre of children at a Texas elementary school, but a string of high-profile no-shows underscored deep unease at the timing of the gun lobby event.

Former president Donald Trump was among the scheduled speakers at the annual convention, held around four hours drive from the small town of Uvalde, where a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers on Tuesday with an AR15 assault rifle. Thousands of gun enthusiasts descended on the meeting, filling a vast convention hall packed with booths of gun and gear manufacturers, walls of semi-automatic rifles and hunting products. “This is it, this is the mega,” said a man in his 60s, as he handled a new Hellion rifle he was considering purchasing — as loud music blared from speakers nearby.

But with millions of Americans grieving and angry following the worst school shooting in a decade, “American Pie” singer Don McLean led a wave of country music dropouts from the three-day event, while the Republican state governor, Greg Abbott, said he would no longer appear in person.

McLean said it would be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform at the “Grand Ole Night of Freedom” concert scheduled during the convention on Saturday. At least five other country music stars, including Lee Greenwood and Larry Gatlin, have also reportedly pulled out.

Abbott — who has brushed aside increasingly emotional calls for tougher gun laws in Texas, where attachment to the right to bear arms runs deep — is expected to make a pre-

recorded video address instead. The governor’s lieutenant Dan Patrick also canceled plans to speak at the event.

Facing mounting scrutiny, the gun manufacturer Daniel Defense — which made the assault rifle purchased by the Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos shortly after his 18th birthday — also decided not to attend in light of the “horrifying tragedy.” The cancellations came as Texas police faced angry questioning over why it took an hour to neutralize the gunman, while video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. Daniel Myers and his wife Matilda — both local pastors — told AFP they saw parents growing frantic at the scene. “One family member, he says: ‘I was in the military, just give me a gun, I’ll go in,'” said Daniel Myers, 72.

‘Don’t forget them, please’ – Facing rapid-fire questioning on the police response to the tragedy, Victor Escalon of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Thursday that investigators were still piecing together the timeline of events. According to the accounts provided so far, Ramos first shot his grandmother, then drove and crashed her vehicle near the school, firing on bystanders before entering. Officers went in minutes later, but were held back by gunfire and called for backup. About an hour later, a tactical team entered and killed the gunman. In the interim, officers evacuated students and teachers and unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with Ramos, who kept firing while barricaded in a classroom. The gunman’s victims included 10-year-old Amerie Garza — a little girl who loved her classes, drawing, and playing with clay. “She was an innocent little girl, loving school and looking forward to summer,” her 63-year-old grandmother, Dora Mendoza, told reporters after paying respects at a makeshift memorial outside the school.

the United States would militarily defend Taiwan from any invasion by Beijing.

The pledge angered Beijing, which warned Washington not to “underestimate” China’s resolve and capabilities.

Pakistan participates 17th SCO Forum meeting BEIJING News Desk

About forty experts and political analysts from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, India and Uzbekistan attended the 17th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum meeting.SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming spoke at the opening ceremony of the meeting held via videoconference, according to SCO Secretariat here. The Centre of East Asia and SCO Studies at the MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry organised the event chaired by Russia.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov also spoke at the opening ceremony. The participants discussed three main subjects in detail, viz., more intensive interaction between the SCO states in the field of international security, economic cooperation matters and expanded cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

During the Forum meeting, scientists suggested many useful ideas and considerations, which the SCO governing bodies will take into consideration in their work.

The SCO Forum was established in 2006 as a consultative-expert mechanism that brings together the research and development and political-science circles of the SCO member states.

At Harvard, Jacinda Ardern pays glowing tribute to late Benazir Bhutto ISLAMABAD AgeNcies

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern paid tribute to the late Benazir Bhutto, a former Pakistani prime minister, during her Harvard University Commencement address on Thursday, echoing Bhutto’s caution about the fragile nature of democracy.

Bhutto, the “daughter of Pakistan,” was twice elected prime minister and was killed on December 27, 2007, in a combined shooting and bombing attack at a rally in Rawalpindi.

“I met Benazir Bhutto in Geneva in June of 2007. We both attended a conference that drew together progressive parties from around the world. Seven months later she was assassinated,” Ardern said in her commencement address.

“There will be opinions and differing perspectives written about all of us as political leaders. Two things that history will not contest about Benazir Bhutto. She was the first Muslim female Prime Minister elected in an Islamic country, when a woman in power was a rare thing. She was also the first to give birth in office. The second and only other leader to have given birth in office almost 30 years later, was me.”

Ardern said her daughter, Neve Te

Aroha Ardern Gayford, was born on June 21, 2018, Benazir Bhutto’s birthday.

“The path she carved as a woman feels as relevant today as it was decades ago, and so too is the message she shared here, in this place,” Ardern said about Bhutto’s own 1989 commencement address at Harvard entitled “Democratic nations must unite.”

“She said part way through her speech in 1989 the following: ‘We must realise that democracy can be fragile’,” Ardern said. “Now I read those words as I sat in my office in Wellington, New Zealand, a world away from Pakistan. And while the

reasons that gave rise for her words then were vastly different, they still ring true.”

“Democracy can be fragile. This imperfect but precious way that we organise ourselves, that has been created to give equal voice to the weak and to the strong, that is designed to help drive consensus – it is fragile.”

Bhutto was born in 1953 into a wealthy landowning family. The first of four children, she was educated at a Christian mission school in Karachi, and then at Harvard and Oxford universities.

The daughter of Pakistan’s first popu-

larly elected leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, her mission began in 1977 when army chief Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq overthrew him.

Twenty-one months later Zulfikar was hanged after a controversial trial.

Bhutto became the first female prime minister in the Muslim world when she was elected in 1988 at the age of 35. She was deposed in 1990, re-elected in 1993, and ousted again in 1996 amid charges of corruption and mismanagement.

She said the charges were politically motivated but in 1999 chose to stay in exile rather than face them.

After more years spent abroad, Bhutto, 54, flew back again in October 2007 to lead her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) into national elections.

Hours after she returned home after eight years of self-imposed exile, a suicide bomber killed nearly 150 people in an attack targeting her motorcade in the streets of Karachi.

The attack followed threats by militants linked to al Qaeda, angered by Bhutto’s support for Washington’s war on terrorism.

“They might try to assassinate me,” Bhutto had told the pan-Arab Asharq alAwsat newspaper in an interview before she set out to return to Pakistan. “I have prepared my family and my loved ones for any possibility.”

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SPORTS 11

BaBar Can BECoME firST PlayEr To BE ranKEd aS no.1 in all forMaTS: dinESh KarThiK ISLAMABAD

i

APP

NDIA star Dinesh Karthik believes Pakistan captain Babar Azam can become the first player to be ranked as the No.1 batter in all formats of the game. While Babar already holds top billing in both white-ball formats, he is only ranked fifth and still behind the current-day stars in the most recent MRF Tyres ICC rankings for Test batters.

But Karthik can sense that changing soon, with the India veteran predicting on the latest episode of The ICC Review that the Pakistan batter can create history and hold the top ranking in all three formats.

“One-hundred per cent (he is capable of achieving that),” Karthik told Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review. “He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess and he has got some Test matches coming up. “He has been phenomenal in all three formats of the game and he has done

well in different batting positions too. “I wish him all the best and think he has the potential. He has got all the following of Pakistan helping him in abundance to go on and do special things for his country.”

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is currently ranked first in the Test batting ranks, but it’s been the ‘Big Four’ of India’s Virat Kohli, England’s Joe Root, Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson that have dominated red-ball cricket for the past decade.

While Babar still has much to do to match the feats of the aforementioned ‘Big Four’, Karthik thinks it’s only a matter of time before the Pakistan right-hander joins the illustrious group.

“It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a ‘Fab Five’,” Karthik noted.

“There is no doubt he is there or there-

abouts … he is a very special player.”

Karthik said he had noticed subtle changes that Babar had made to his batting technique in recent years that has helped

him become a better player, and that his timing of the ball is now on par with all modern-day batters.

“The two things that struck me when I

Leinster eye record-equalling fifth Euro crown MARSEILLE AFP

A Johnny Sexton-led Leinster will take on 2021 runners-up La Rochelle in the European Champions Cup in Marseille on Saturday eyeing a record-equalling fifth continental crown.

Toulouse beat La Rochelle last year for a fifth European title, but Leinster, with Ireland skipper Sexton to the fore, hammered the defending champions in the semi-finals to set up an intriguing match up against a French side coached by Munster legend Ronan O’Gara.

“Obviously this final would have been different if it had been Munster, but at the same time, they’re massive opponents,” said O’Gara, who has transformed La Rochelle since taking over in 2019 after a coaching stint with the Crusaders.

Leinster, who previously won the tournament in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018, and lost the 2019 final, “are a team against which I’ve played a lot of matches as a player, a team for

KP stuns Pakistan Jrs. team in Sardar Zareen Memorial Volleyball PESHAWAR News Desk

Spirited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stunned Pakistan Junior team in a thrill-packed five sets battle (3-2) and moved to the semi-finals of the ongoing All Pakistan Sardar Muhammad Zareen Memorial Volleyball Championship being played at Homa Mera Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. It is a great win by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa young team against strong Pakistan Junior team, former national team coach Khalid Waqar told APP on phone. He said the spirited team of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not only registered the key victory against a strong Pakistan Junior team but also qualified for the semi-final after a tough fight in the 3-2 battle. The two teams stretched to five sets before playing a superb display of attacking spikes and strong serves wherein a large number of spectators also enjoyed with their cheering hands. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lost the first set at 18-25 and similarly Pakistan Juniors side came back strong with another set victory at 19-25 but later on failed to click. Taking 2-0 lead in the first set, Pakistan Juniors did not concentrate on their forceful display and lost some key points. On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team after conceding two sets managed their position and staged a strong comeback by winning the third set at 25-22. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team featuring Waleed Khan, Nasir, Khalilullah, Ahtisham Khan, Zohaib, Mir Afzal, Imran Khan, Hassan, Azhar Khan, Junaid, Talha and Irfan Khan played like a rock and did not give much time to Pakistan Juniors team to strike back. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after making the set tally 1-2, won another set, the fourth one, and tied the tally 2-2. The score was 26-24. KP saved two match points and marched to victory at 2624 before playing a level at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 1010, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, and 24-24.

which I have a lot of respect, who are currently really strong”, added O’Gara, who vied with Sexton for the Ireland fly-half shirt.

“But that’s all in the past, today I’m La Rochelle coach with a big chance to win this final and that’s very cool.” To better prepare for the final against Leinster, impressive 40-17 winners over Toulouse in their semifinal, O’Gara said he had revisited video of La Rochelle’s 32-23 victory over Sexton’s team in the last four of last season’s Cup. “Of course we’ve looked at some images of last year’s semi-final but that was 12 months ago,” said O’Gara, who as a player with Munster won the European Cup in 2006 and 2008.

“They’ve really progressed in their game and us as well. At the same time, it gives us a lot of confidence, but I prefer we concentrate on our game, and settle things.”It’s up to us to impose our game,” he said. “It’ll be important to play territory and in the right zones. “When they arrive in our 22, they’re a tough team to stop.

They’re very well structured so we need to control the ball well.”

CLINICAL, ACCURATE: La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt echoed O’Gara’s sentiments.

“It’s the type of challenge I love,” the free-roaming backrow forward said, calling the current Leinster crop “clinical, very accurate” “They play pattern after pattern, but it’s so well executed it’s efficient.”

Alldritt added: “Leinster make up three-quarters of the Ireland team, with practically the same gameplan.

Our goal will be to try to disrupt what they’re used to doing.”

La Rochelle go into Saturday’s game on the back of three defeats in finals, having lost to Toulouse in last season’s Top 14 and European Cup showdowns, as well as the 2019 European Challenge Cup. “If I need five finals to win one, sign me up straightaway,” Alldritt said. “The goal is to win a title. We don’t talk about defeat because if we start talking about it, it’s the end. “I’m convinced we can win this against Leinster and that we will win.”

Veterans Memorial Basketball Tournament postponed ISLAMABAD News Desk

All-Pakistan Veterans Memorial Basketball Tournament has been postponed due to some unavoidable reasons, a spokesman of Federal Basketball Association (FBA) said on Friday. The event being organised by FBA was scheduled to be held at Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad from May 30 to June 4.

He said the Association had made extensive arrangements for the event however it had been delayed for a few weeks. “The new dates of the event will be announced later on,” he added.

watched him bat is his balance and his striking point when he plays a ball,” Karthik explained. “Whether it is on the front foot or the back foot, his ability to strike the ball more often than not under his eyes, has been phenomenal.

“He strikes the ball at the point where it is optimum power for where the ball is pitched and that makes him a very special player.”

Karthik believes Babar will continue to develop further as he learns how to adapt with the different conditions that players face when playing away from home.

“When you play international cricket you have got to keep changing a little bit here and there to keep improving your technique,” he said.

“Sometimes just by one per cent a lot of the time so that so you can go on and achieve success in that particular tour you are on, so I think he has definitely tweaked his technique a bit here and there over a period of time.”

England Test coach McCullum eager to support ‘strong leader’ Stokes LONDON AFP

Brendon McCullum is relishing the prospect of working alongside a “really strong leader” in new captain Ben Stokes as they prepare to launch a new era for the England Test team.

McCullum himself has only been recently appointed to the role of England Test coach, with the team on a woeful run of one win in 17 matches ahead of their series opener against his native New Zealand starting at Lord’s next week. Former Black Caps skipper McCullum is known for a bold approach that helped kickstart a revival in the fortunes of New Zealand, the reigning world Test champions, and his outlook is expected to dovetail with the attacking instincts of dynamic all-rounder Stokes.

The England job is McCullum’s first as a redball coach, a point he acknowledged to reporters at Lord’s on Friday. “I certainly don’t coach technically,” he told Sky Sports. “I understand the technique obviously but for me it’s more around tactics and man-management and trying to provide the right environment for the team to try and go out there and be the best versions of themselves.” The 40-year-old added: “I think with Stokesy as captain we’ve got a really strong leader, a ‘follow me’ type of captain and so I think my job will be to try and ensure that we’re consistent with a lot of our messaging. “You have a natural speed you travel at with Stokes as captain. “I’ll look after the guys inside the environment as well and try and allow them to really grow at a speed which they might not have got to previously, so it’s a big challenge.”

‘PINNACLE’ McCullum said an improved England side would benefit Test cricket as a whole. “I think for me red-ball cricket has always been the pinnacle of the sport,” he said. “If you look at where the game sits currently, it’s probably on a bit of a downward trend and to me the nation that can really change that is England — because of the tradition of Test cricket here in England and I guess the fan following and the support that it gets in this country.

Ayesha helps Pakistan to secure series victory over Sri Lanka KARACHI News Desk

Pakistan needed a middle order counterattack once again to cross the finish line against Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 International and secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series here at the Southend Club.

After the top-order failed to give Pakistan a solid start in their chase of a 103run target set by the visitors, it was Ayesha Amin who smashed an unbeaten 45 off 31 balls (five fours and a six) to help the home side register a sevenwicket win.

The 17-year-old came in at number five instead of veteran all-rounder Nida Dar, whose 36 off 21 balls proved to be key for the hosts in a similar situation in

the first match. Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof played an anchor role once again, adding 22 off 29 to the total.

Ayesha walked onto the crease when Pakistan were reeling at 34-3 in the eighth over following early departures of openers Gul Feroza (3) and Muneeba Ali (17) and Iram Javed (11).

After nearly three overs of negotiating cautiously with Sri Lankan bowlers Kavisha Dilhari and Inoka Ranaweera, Bismah smashed Ama Kanchana for Pakistan’s first boundary in 24 balls.

Ayesha pounced on the momentum set by her captain to hit two more boundaries in the next two overs. The duo kept their cool keeping in mind that the required score wasn’t a big one before Ayesha plundered Dilhari for a six and a four in the 16th.

The right-hander hit two more boundaries in the next two overs to take Pakistan home with 17 balls to spare.

“Plan was to play sensibly,” said Ayesha after the match. “I waited for the right ball to attack and play to my strengths, Bismah guided me well through in the middle.”

Bismah was impressed how it was two youngsters in Ayesha and leg-spinner Tuba Hasan — who bagged four wickets in the first T20 — played match-winning roles. “Our performance was good, we are backing youngsters and they’re doing well,” said the Pakistan captain. “Tuba and Ayesha have done brilliantly in the first and second games respectively. I hope they continue doing so in the future.”

Tuba, despite taking just one wicket in the second match, conceded only 13

runs in her four-over spell. The other four Pakistan bowlers also got a wicket each with Sri Lanka making 102-5.

The pick of the Sri Lanka batters was opener Hasini Perera, who took 51 balls to score 35 runs. Nikasha de Silva, with 21 off 29 was the islanders’ secondbest batter.

“We thought of getting 130, I got out early and our batters struggled,” said Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu.

“T20s are won by boundaries but we couldn’t, they did that well and rotated strike well too.”

The final T20, a dead rubber, will be played at the same venue on Saturday before the two teams compete in a threematch One-day International series which will be a part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Saturday, 28 May, 2022

Prayer Timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:38

11:59

3:39

5:09

6:49

8:21

AzAdi MArch stopped to Avert bloodshed: iMrAn KhAn

p

news desk

TI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday dispelled reports that he had struck a deal in exchange for ending the party’s Azadi March, saying that he did so in order to avoid bloodshed.

He expressed the views while addressing a press conference in Peshawar, adding that he would take to the streets again if early elections were not announced. He regretted how police officials attacked the participants of the march, blaming the government for hand-picking officers to target the PTI. “Our workers asked why we did not stage a sit-in. I am the man who staged a sitin for 126 days. It was not difficult for me, but by the time I reached I became aware of the extent of the situation […] I knew that day that there would be bloodshed.”

Imran said the people were “ready” after seeing the “terrorism” carried out through the police. “Everyone was ready to fight, some of our people were so angered by what they saw,” he said, adding that officials were instructed to brutalise protesters.

“The anger at the time, if I had staged a sit-in that day I can guarantee that there would have been bloodshed,” he said, adding that there was a prevailing sense of hatred against police officials.

“But the police is also ours, it is not their fault,” the PTI chairman said, blaming the

government for issuing the directives. If there was violence then it would only have caused chaos in the country, he said.

“Do not think it was our weakness and don’t think that a deal was made. I am hearing strange things that a deal was made with the establishment. I did not make a deal with anyone,” he said, adding that the only motive behind his actions was concern for the country.

He also made it clear that the PTI would not negotiate with or accept the “imported government”.

“I think of this as a jihad. I will stand up against this as long as I am alive,” he said, reiterating that he only cared about the future of the country.

Imran again stressed on his six-day ultimatum to the government for the announcement of early elections. “If they do not clearly announce a date for the elections or for the dissolution of the assemblies, I will take to the streets again. Let me make it clear, this time we will be prepared.”

He said that protesters were not prepared for the way they were attacked by the police.

After the Supreme Court issued the order, we thought all the blockades would be removed and there would be no issue with the police, he said.

Imran claimed that the government was “afraid”, pointing out how they pressurised media channels and slowed down internet services. “No one knew what was going on.

There was confusion.”

He also termed his party workers “heroes” for taking to the streets in the national interest. “You came out for the country’s haqeeqi azadi (true freedom).”

Lamenting how people were injured due to shelling at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, Imran said he had written to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial asking whether or not the party had the right to stage a peaceful protest in a democracy.

“This is the fundamental right of a citizen […] I ask our judiciary, do you think we will remain silent [like] sheep and accept all of

this? If you think this, it means that we are pushing the country towards treason. If you do not allow people to stage peaceful protests, what other options do they have left?”

He said that he had written a letter to the CJP to make his position “clear”, reiterating that he would take to the streets again after six days. In six days we will find out whether or not the apex court protects our fundamental rights, he said.

The manner in which lawyers and women were forced to disembark from a bus and were “beaten”, had anyone seen some-

thing like that before, he asked.

“Which justice system allows this? The entire nation should know who stands for [their] rights and who is carrying out oppression.”

Responding to a question from a reporter, Imran reiterated that the party would take to the streets once again after the sixday deadline, calling on the SC to provide protection. But if the government uses the same tactics then they will be responsible for the direction the country will head toward, he added.

Imran also said that the door for negotiating with the government was always open.

“We are not here to fight. Our only objective is elections in June and dissolution of assemblies.” He said that the best way to achieve this would be to do this through talks, but if they did not succeed then protests would be the way to go.

Talking about the decision to hike the prices of all petroleum products by Rs30, Imran lambasted the government for “succumbing” to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) pressure, asking whether such a massive hike had been seen ever before.

“When we were raising petrol prices due to a global increase in prices […] at one point we decided that we would not further burden the people […] we decided petrol prices would not be increased till June.”

The PTI chairman said that the government’s decision would impact the prices of all commodities.

‘Half-mad’ Imran should stay away from media: Maryam LAHORe news desk

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday advised “half-mad” former prime minister Imran Khan to stay away from media for a while as his “miserable mental health” did not allow him to be in front of the camera in the aftermath of his party PTI’s “failed” long march.

She was apparently responding to an incident that happened earlier today during which Imran Khan suddenly stepped out of a press conference following a harsh question by a journalist in Peshawar.

“The people have rejected Imran Khan. A revolution takes its own course and does not get stopped by the police and the one which runs away after seeing the police should die its own death,” she wrote on her official Twitter handle.

Calling Imran Khan “half-mad”, Maryam advised him to stay away from the media “due to his miserable mental health”, saying that the former premier had claimed to bring three million people to Islamabad but could hardly manage 10,000.

The PML-N leader said that Imran Khan, who was abusing the Supreme Court a few days ago, now under the pretext of the top court’s latest verdict wanted to fulfil his agenda of ‘anarchy’.

“Supreme Court must stay vigilant and should keep itself away from this political battle. Otherwise, the impression of partisanship will be fuelled which would be detrimental to judiciary as an institution,” she added.

Maryam said that Imran should seek forgiveness from police officials

who became victims of his chaos.

Earlier in the day, while addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Imran Khan dismissed reports that a deal was made to end the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s much-hyped long march and said he decided to conclude the protest in order to ‘avoid bloodshed’.

Imran said he would march again if early elections were not announced.

Referring to the party’s “Haqeeqi Azadi March”, the ousted premier lamented how police officials attacked the participants of the march, blaming the incumbent coalition government for picking officers to target the PTI. Imran reassured his supporters that he was the same leader who once conducted a sit-in for 126 days and that it would not have been difficult to do so again during the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in the federal capital.

“However, as soon as I reached, I became aware of the extent of the situation,” Imran said, adding that he knew there would be bloodshed and claimed that his supporters were “ready” even after seeing the “terrorism” carried out by the police.

CJP questions cabinet’s power to amend ECL rules news desk Showing his resentment over changing in rules in laws concerning corruption and default on taxes, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan has questioned the authority of the federal cabinet saying at whose behest the cabinet amended the rules.

A five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, was hearing a suo motu notice taken on government’s interference in the investigating agencies’ affairs on Friday.

The chief justice of Pakistan wondered how the federal cabinet could amend the rules while taking corruption and other things out of them.

The CJP asked the additional advocate general to read the ECL Rule, 2010 under which people involved in corruption and terrorism cases and those who defaulted on taxes and loans, they could not go abroad.

At whose behest, the federal cabinet has amended the rules and has given its assent to change them, the vexed chief justice inquired. He fumed that without con-

sulting the National Accountability Bureau, the names of accused had been excluded from the Exit Control List.

The AAG assured the court that after the approval of the cabinet, he would present the cabinet minutes before the court.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan inquired would the name of the accused automatically be excluded from the ECL after the expiry of 120 days.

On this, the AAG replied that the period of 120 days would be applicable when the name of the accused was first entered in the no fly list.

Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi remarked how the cabinet members could amend the rules which were to benefit them! He wondered was it not the clash of interests that the cabinet members were on the ECL and they amended the ECL rules.

Justice Muneeb remarked that the court agreed that right now there were only accusations against the federal ministers. But is there any code available which specifies that a minister who is involved in a corruption case, the relevant file should not be sent to him, the judge asked adding that was it not more appropriate that the accused minister should not sit in the meeting which would take up his corruption case.

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