E-Paper PDF 12 October (LHR)

CMYK

Saturday, 12 October, 2019 I 12 Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 102 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

Nawaz remaNded iN NaB cusTody for 14 days iN csm case g

former premier SayS Nab beiNg uSed To TargeT hiS family, pml-N workerS

LAHORE

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staff report

he National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday obtained a 14-day physical remand of the incarcerated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with the ongoing probe into Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case. earlier in the day, a NAB team, after taking the former premier into custody from Kot Lakhpat Jail, where he is serving a seven-year sentence in the Al Azizia reference, brought him to an accountability court to secure a 15-day physical remand.

As the hearing started, Judge Chaudhry Ameer Muhammad Khan questioned where Nawaz was, after which he appeared on the rostrum.

During proceedings, which were disrupted by party workers attempting to take pictures with the former premier, NAB prosecutor hafiz Asadullah Awan alleged that in 2016, Nawaz had been the largest shareholder in CSM and had retained his shareholding in CSM as well as in Shamim Sugar Mills.

The NAB prosecutor had further alleged that Maryam, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other Sharif family members had also been share-

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Nawaz’S couNSel SayS aNTigrafT waTchdog’S ‘diScloSureS’ iN The caSe are ‘baSeleSS’

holders in CSM. he had stated that CSM’s bank accounts had received foreign funds, adding that in 1992, one foreign company alone had provided Nawaz with Rs55.5 million. Awan said that they still do not know who the owner of this foreign company is.

After the NAB prosecutor concluded his statements, Nawaz’s counsel, Advocate Amjad Pervez, denied that his client had ever been a shareholder or director in CSM. “This is not the first time that Nawaz’s assets are under scrutiny,” he said, adding that opposing governments had previously also investigated the formation of the companies, but nothing was found. he further said Nawaz had no role in the formation of CSM. According to Pervez, all of Nawaz’s children had instead been directors and shareholders in the sugar mill. “For 30 years, Nawaz has declared his assets,” he said.

Pervez said that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had already investigated all the issues, after which NAB had filed a reference in Islamabad.

“There is no justification for another investigation; this is a fake case,” he said. he also argued that there was no need for the

Imran assures Erdogan of Pakistan’s support over Turkey’s Syria operation

court to give NAB physical remand of the former premier and alleged that his client had been wrongfully arrested.

“NAB’s dishonesty in the case is evident and this is just one more case being formed on political grounds,” said Pervez. he also described NAB’s “disclosures” in the CSM case as “baseless”.

Nawaz’s counsel noted that said his client was already in prison and if NAB had wanted to conduct an investigation, they could have simply visited him in his cell.

“Nawaz is serving his sentence after a trial and his arrest is not as per the law. he should not be handed over to the agency on physical remand for even an hour,” he argued. he had further pleaded that Nawaz be discharged in the CSM case.

NAWAZ PLEADS INNOCENCE: In his statement before the court, the former premier said NAB officials had visited him only once in jail and he had answered all questions he could, adding that he had not shared the information which he did not have knowledge of.

Nawaz said that he had requested to meet his lawyer and alleged that he was not permitted to do so. “The allegations being made against me are fake. NAB is conducting an investigation on declared assets,” he said.

“From 1937 till 1971, all the money came from the family business. My father was a businessman.

Tell me where is the corruption here?” asked Nawaz in court.

“Show corruption during the times when I was in power or the chief minister, I will leave politics.

I joined politics later while the assets were made way earlier,” he claimed.

The ousted prime minister claimed that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had created NAB for him. “It is a black law which is being used only against the leadership and workers of PML-N,” he concluded.

abbasi, miftah’s judicial remand extended till oct 28 in lNg scam STORY ON PAGE 02

Nawaz says ‘fully supports’ fazl’s azadi march STORY ON PAGE 02

Kashmiris will never accept Modi’s decision to revoke autonomy: PM

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Three army majors dismissed from service over ‘abuse of power’ STORY ON BACK PAGE

Dubai Land Department to provide details of Pakistani property owners: FBR chief STORY ON PAGE 12

Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize

STORIES ON BACK PAGE

100,000 flee homes in Syria; Trump threatens sanctions

STORY ON BACK PAGE

CMYK Saturday, 12 October, 2019

02 NEWS CSM case against Nawaz Sharif equivalent to political revenge: Ahsan Iqbal LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal said on Friday that the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case has been lodged against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for political revenge. In a media talk in Lahore, Iqbal affirmed that the hardships will not demoralize the party which is firmly standing in the face of revenge. Iqbal said the rulers will face consequences of the ongoing injustice. Inflation and unemployment have increased, the economy is destroyed and the government has failed, he said. PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said it is unfair to bring Nawaz Sharif to court “like this”. She further added that the rumors of differences between Nawaz and Shehbaz are not true. Nawaz has said that he can leave the entire world but not his brother, she remarked. Nawaz was produced before an accountability court in Lahore on Friday over money laundering accusations in Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference. Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb had gathered outside the court to express solidarity with him. INP

NAwAz SAyS he ‘fully SuPPOrtS’ fAzl’S AzAdI MArCh LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

NCARCERATED former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday threw his weight behind the Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) ‘Azadi March’ against the Imran Khan government, set to begin on October 31, saying that he “fully supports” it.

“Our viewpoint is the same as Maulana’s [Fazlur Rehman’s] viewpoint, ” said Nawaz while speaking to reporters at a Lahore accountability court. He was accompanied by his sonin-law Capt (r) Mohammad Safdar. A day earlier, Capt Safdar had disclosed that the party supremo’s message to the workers was “they must participate” in Fazl’s protest. “Those who love the country will join the march,” he had quoted Nawaz as saying.

Nawaz on Friday recalled that Rehman had called for resignations and protest after the 2018 general elections, in which the PTI came to power. “We had convinced him not to take that course but I feel [now] that

his argument was solid.” “Not paying heed to Maulana’s call for the march would be a mistake,” he added.

Nawaz said that he has already written a letter to his brother Shehbaz Sharif in this regard, detailing the future course of action of the party, and expressed hope that the PML-N president would brief the media on it.

PML-N DIVIDED: Earlier on Thursday, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif skipped “an all-important meeting” with the former prime minister in jail, fuelling speculation the two brothers had developed differences over the issue of joining the JUI-F’s march on Oct 31.

Shehbaz did not go to Kot Lakhpat jail to meet his elder brother despite the party’s announcement that the former would present suggestions of its senior leaders to the latter regarding joining the JUI-F protest.

The former Punjab chief minister was to announce Nawaz’s decision on the matter after the meeting.

A backache was cited as the reason for Shehbaz’s failure to meet his elder brother. Sources believe that

since Shehbaz is not in favour of joining the march, he “postponed” his meeting with Nawaz as he wanted to present “strong arguments” against the proposal to his brother later. However, a television channel quoted Shehbaz on Thursday night as saying he could have different views on some issues but his elder brother’s decision was final and the party would follow it.

Later in the day, some leaders — including the son-in-law of Nawaz — declared that the former prime minister had given a “go-ahead” to the workers to participate in it to oust the “selected government”.

Senior PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif said that Nawaz had written a letter to Maulana Fazl informing him about the party’s decision to join the anti-government march. PML-N’s Lahore chief Pervaiz Malik confirmed in a statement that on the directive of Nawaz, the party would take part in the march.

“Time has come to get rid of Imran Khan’s fascist government,” he said.

The party’s spokesperson, Mar-

riyum Aurangzeb, dismissed reports about differences between the two brothers over the march, describing them as a “malicious campaign”.

According to reports, during a meeting of PML-N’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Wednesday, Shehbaz had criticised his elder brother for “ignoring” his advice on key matters.

“I told Nawaz during his last tenure to stop fighting with the [military] establishment and serve the people,” Shehbaz was quoted as having told the party’s senior leadership during the meeting. He reportedly said that clashing with the establishment has always harmed the party.

“My elder brother does not listen to me,” he was reported as having said during the meeting.

Speaking about the rally, Shehbaz reportedly said that he had advised Nawaz against joining the JUI-F’s protest movement. He also told the meeting that he does not want to lead the party in the march and was nominating former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal to do so.

Abbasi, Miftah’s judicial remand extended till Oct 28 in LNG scam ABBASI’S SONS APPEAR BEFORE NAB, RECORD THEIR STATEMENTS IN THE CORRUPTION CASE ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Friday extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former finance minister Miftah Ismail till October 28 in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case. Talking to media after the hearing, Abbasi said that there are no corruption charges against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz

(PML-N) leaders and that the government is seeking political revenge through fake cases. The state is becoming dishonest with its own people, he added. Abbasi claimed that the retired bureaucrats are being threatened to become approver in cases against PML-N. We will continue to bear this injustice against us, he asserted.

Responding to a question related to Azadi March, he said that decision of participating in the anti-government protest will be taken by the party

Pakistan summons Indian envoy to condemn LoC ceasefire violation ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia again on Friday and strongly condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sharda, Nezapir, Satwal and Bagsar Sectors on Thursday, said an official press statement.

The indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by Indian Army at Sharda sector of the LoC martyred a child and wounded 16 others.

“One innocent child Faizan s/o Faiz Mir aged 10 years embraced Shahadat and others, sixteen innocent civilians, including six children and two ladies, sustained serious injuries. In addition to that, two got injured including a lady in Nezapir, three got injured including a child and a lady in Satwal Sector, and one got injured in Bagsar Sector,” official statement explained.

The Indian forces present along the border fired continuously with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars, and automatic weapons on the civilian population, said the FO.

The intended targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed regrettable and opposed to international human rights and humanitarian laws.

“The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate these and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement added.

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leadership.

Meanwhile, NAB has started investigating the three sons of Abbasi in the LNG corruption case.

Abdullah Shahid, Haider Shahid, and Nadir Shah appeared before NAB in Rawalpindi and recorded their statements.

They were asked about their father’s assets and businesses.

Abbasi is currently in NAB’s custody. The bureau has been investigating Abbasi in the LNG corruption case. He has been accused of handing over a tender worth Rs220 billion to a company in which he was a shareholder himself during his tenure as the federal petroleum minister. His name is also on the Exit Control List.

PM to chair federal cabinet meeting on October 16 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet on Oct 16 where he will take the cabinet members into confidence over his recent visit to China. Reportedly, a 15-point agenda will also be discussed in the forthcoming session. It has emerged that the premier will hold consultations with the cabinet over his expected visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran besides reviewing the political and economic situation of the country. A briefing will be given to the cabinet members over the assets’ details of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the master plan of the federal capital Islamabad and the re-organisation of CDA. Moreover, the cabinet is likely to approve the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the appointment of the managing director of the National Fertilizer Marketing Limited (NFML). Earlier on Oct 1, the federal cabinet meeting, which was presided over

by Prime Minister Imran Khan, had approved the first-ever e-commerce policy of the country. STAFF REPORT

CMYK Saturday, 12 October, 2019

NEWS Naeemul haque confirms PM Imran’s visit to Iran ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeem ul Haque confirmed on Friday that the prime minister Imran Khan will visit Iran in the next few days. Haque further said that during this visit PM Imran will hold meetings with the top Iranian leadership.

On being asked about Jamiat Ulema-eIslam (JUI-F) ‘Azadi March’, he told media, “The strategy for dealing with the ‘Azadi March’ is being formed by the Interior Minister and only he can brief about it.” As per sources, the PM is expected to leave for Iran on Sunday on a one-day trip where he will meet top Iranian leadership. During the meeting with the Iranian leadership, PM Imran will discuss ongoing Kashmir issue and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

After that, he will depart for Riyadh.

Sources also revealed that PM Imran will arbitrate talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He will also highlight the Kashmir issue in Tehran and Riyadh.

QureShI SAyS ‘MOtIveS behINd POlItICS Of SIt-INS Are CleAr tO everyONe’ ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

OREIGN Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said that motives behind the politics of sitins were clear to everyone. While talking to reporters, Qureshi said that the stated position of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been against such political antics yet it had extended support to the so-called ‘Azadi March’.

“Someone should ask Bilawal Bhutto Zardari why he is supporting this sit-in against a democratically elected government” “Shehbaz Sharif is the legal president of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) yet no one within his party is supporting his call to not participate in

the sit-in. Only a faction within the main opposition party is supporting the Jamiat Ulema-eIslam (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s planned sit-in in Islamabad,” he said.

The foreign minister said that Indian attempts of trying to blacklist Pakistan in the international community will meet with failure.

In reply to a question about escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabi and Iran, Qureshi said, “Pakistan has close relations with both countries and we will try to remove misunderstanding between the two Islamic countries as the region cannot bear the consequences of any untoward situation.”

The foreign minister announced that Pakistan will observe October 27 as ‘Black Day’ along with the people of Indian

Terrorism is an irreconcilable offence, rules SC The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ruled that terrorism is an irreconcilable offence and a settlement between two parties does not automatically entail the perpetrator’s release or reduction in sentence.

The apex court was hearing a case pertaining to the release of a terrorist on the basis of reconciliation.

The bench ruled that “terrorism is an unacceptable act and it is not possible to release the culprit charged with terror charges”.

“In a favourable case, a compromise or settlement between the parties under certain circumstances may lead reduction in sentence but the situation is different in a terrorism case, where the sentence will not be automatically reduced after reconciliation between the parties,” the court’s verdict added. The apex court also said that it would be the court’s discretion to consider any reduction in the perpetrator’s sentence. “The trial

court will consider reduction of sentence after reconciliation in the terror case,” the verdict added.

SC further stated that the president may consider a plea for reduction of sentence or mercy after reviewing the judicial forms of the terrorist. “In case of rejection from the president, the jail superintendent will send a new appeal to the president on behalf of the reconciling parties,” the verdict concluded. NEWS DESK

Nawaz has shared dharna strategy with son Hassan, claims Safdar Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (r) Safdar on Friday claimed that party supremo Nawaz Sharif has shared the strategy for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur’s upcoming dharna with his son Hassan Nawaz.

Speaking to the media, the son-in-law of the former premier said that the latter had written a letter to his son in London, informing him about the strategy for the upcoming anti-government protests.

However, Nawaz said earlier in the day that he had informed his younger brother, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, about the future strategy of the party. Captain (r) Safdar’s statements further fuel speculations re-

garding a rift between the Sharif brothers. On Thursday, reports surfaced that Shehbaz had criticised his elder brother for not paying heed to his advice on multiple occasions during the meeting of party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Wednesday. NEWS DESK

US deploying 3,000 more troops to Saudi Arabia: Pentagon WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The Pentagon said Friday it has approved the deployment of 3,000 additional troops and military hardware to Saudi Arabia to boost the country´s defenses in the wake of attacks on its oil installations. US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper authorized the deployment of two more Patriot missile batteries, one THAAD ballistic missile interception sys-

tem, two fighter squadrons and one air expeditionary wing, the Pentagon said in a statement. "Secretary Esper informed Saudi Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Muhammad bin Salman this morning of the additional troop deployment to assure and enhance the defense of Saudi Arabia," it said.

"Taken together with other deployments this constitutes an additional 3,000 forces that have been extended or authorized within the last month," it said.

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occupied Kashmir (IOK) in protest of the ongoing brutalities there.

He praised clerics for supporting the government by organising a rally to show solidarity with Kashmiris. “PM Imran Khan has pointed towards the dual standards of the world over neglecting the Kashmir crisis.”

Commenting over the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qureshi said that Turkey is a close ally of Pakistan as it has always support Islamabad’s stance in regard to IOK. Speaking about the arrival of the duke and duchess of Cambridge, Qureshi said he looked forward to the royal visit as earlier the late Princess Diana had played in important humanitarian role in her visit to Pakistan.

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‘Azadi March’ is a national movement: fazl CHINIOT STAFF REPORT

Jamiat Ulema-eIslam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that the Azadi March is a national level movement, something with which even the government’s allies agreed. Addressing a presser in Chiniot on Friday, the JUI-F chief said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was more corrupt than any other government in the world, adding that the debt taken by the government in its first year of office alone equalled the debt taken in the last 70 years. “The country’s economic situation is unlikely to change if PTI continues its hold on power,” he said. Fazl added that the government was targeting political rivals in corruption cases primarily to draw attention away from its failure to govern. “Whole country is suffering as a result of PTI’s misguided policies,” he said, adding that the government’s Ehsaas Saylani Langar Scheme was also another ploy to divert the public’s attention. Earlier this week, the JUI-F chief had announced that the date of the Azadi March had been changed from Oct 27 to Oct 31, stating that nationwide rallies would be observed by his party’s provincial chapters to express solidarity with the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) on the 27th.

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Saturday, 12 October, 2019

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Punjab govt to evolve strategy after fazl reveals sit-in Plan: raja basharat LAHORE

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APP

uNJAB Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat said on Friday that the government would evolve a strategy as per law after revealing a protest plan by JuI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

He expressed these views during the Punjab Assembly session which started one hour and 50 minutes behind its schedule time with Deputy Speaker Sar-

dar Dost Muhammad Mazari in the chair. Raja Basharat said that parents should refrain their children from participation in political activities, adding that political leaders should not use children to achieve their political interests.

Speaking at the floor of the house, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid repelled the impression that dengue cases were rising and said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had taken effective and efficient measures to cope with dengue.

The minister said that during the

IGP commends police officers involved in recovery of abducted children LAHORE: Inspector General Police Punjab Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan said that Punjab police is working with full commitment and devotion to stop incidents of child abduction and abuse.

The IGP underlined the police’s efforts in recovering a child held for Rs50 lac ransom in Toba Tek Singh and the rescuing of an injured minor who had been dumped in a sugar cane field after being severely abused. While speaking to parents of the rescued minors, he said that police has upped its efforts in foiling

such cases especially after the Chunian and Toba Tek Singh tragedies were brought to light. He further said that apart from the police, parents, teachers, clerics and civil society should play an active role in preventing child related crimes.

Capt (r) Amir Nawaz Khan congratulated parents of the kidnapped children for safe recovery of their children and said that mutual cooperation between public and police was the need of the hour. The parents thanked the IGP and police for successfully rescuing their

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) tenure, about 370 people died in 2011 due to dengue, adding that 4,000 dengue cases were reported in Rawalpindi in 2015. She said commissioners and deputy commissioners had already been directed to take all possible steps for the complete elimination of dengue, adding that so far 4,800 dengue cases were reported in Rawalpindi region.

Free medical facilities were being provided to dengue patients at all government and private hospitals, she said. The minister added that Chief Minister Sardar children from the hands of kidnappers.

Anam Bibi mother of a kidnapped minor said that the safe recovery of her child proved that Punjab police was operating to the best of its ability. The IGP also praised the efforts of officers involved in recovering the abducted children. He further said that police officers and officials should devote themselves to the service of the people through hard work, professionalism and commitment and work to ensure the safety ‘lives and properties’. He stressed that cases of child abuse and torture should be dealt with on a priority basis and no negligence and professional slackness would be tolerated in that regard. Add IG operations Inam Ghani, AIG Admin Hasan Raza Khan and other senior officers were present at this occasion. STAFF REPORT

usman Buzdar convened meetings on a regular basis to review arrangements regarding the anti-dengue campaign. She said that so far 33 cases of dengue were reported in the provincial capital, adding that the PTI government after coming to power started the recruitment process of medical professionals. In the session, Punjab Minister for Colonies Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said Langar Khana and Shelter Homes were being launched for welfare of people. He said the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party had refused to participate in the Maulana’s sit-in.

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Two serial killers arrested for murders of seven taxi drivers in Sargodha SARGODHA: Police in Sargodha on Friday arrested two serial killers involved in the gruesome murder of at least seven taxi drivers, according to officials privy to the developments. During a press conference, the District Police Officer Sargodha said that the suspects used to book taxi rides and afterwards give drugs to the taxi drivers. They then killed the drivers and disposed of their bodies. The taxi cars were later sold to buyers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Initial investigations into the case suggest that the suspects had carried out the heinous crime in multiple cities, including Sargodha, Jhang, Jhelum and Sarai Alamgir. INP

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office on Friday. INP

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

Thousands form human chain in capiTal To show solidariTy wiTh Kashmiris ISLAMABAD

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APP

HOUSANDS of the people turned up on Friday to form a human chain, stretched across the Constitution Avenue to express solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir, living under curfew for the last over two months.

On Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call, the workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), students from various educational institutions, government employees and people from cross sections of society, gathered in the Federal Capital to convey a clear message to Indian government that the whole of Pakistani nation stood by their

Man gets 8-year jail for uploading compromising photos of ex-fiancée ISLAMABAD: An anti-cybercrime court awarded a sentence of eight-year to the accused in a case concerning sharing compromising photos of a girl on social media. The accused, Muhammad Sajjad was also ordered to pay Rs500,000 as fine by the court of Judge Tahir Mehmood in the federal capital. The case against Sajjad was registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) related to charges of blackmailing his ex-fiancée and uploading her nude photos on a social media website. In the complaint, the complainant told the court that due to this action of Sajjad, her Nikah got rescinded before her Rukhsati. During the hearing, statements of the victim, investigation officer, forensic expert of FIA and other witnesses were recorded before the court.Complainant also told the court that the reason she broke the engagement with Sajjad was his criminal record. STAFF REPORT

Kashmiri brethren.

The flags of Pakistan and Kashmir were fluttering across the Constitution Avenue with the national songs played loudly. The people waved the flags and chanted slogans “Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan” and “Long Live Pakistan.”

The event is in continuation of the

government's decision to observe each Friday as a day of solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who proudly calls himself as the 'Ambassador of Kashmir' led the human chain activity which was also attended by President Dr Arif Alvi, Chairman Senate

Sadiq Sanjrani, federal ministers and the PTI leaders from across the country.

“We are here to convey a message to the Kashmir people that whole of the Pakistani nation stands by them and will keep up this,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the participants of the human chain at Prime Minister’s Office where across the road is located the Diplomatic Enclave housing most of the foreign embassies and missions.

The Prime Minister, who had widely criticized the international community’s response to the human rights situation in IOK during his interaction with US leadership and think-tanks during his recent visit to New York, now targeted the international media for not highlighting the Kashmir issue to its real severity.

Punjab Forest Department develops record-keeping mechanism LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

Department of Forest Punjab is managing 1.6 million acres of forest land area – 67 per cent of the entire forest land area in Punjab – under the Geographic Information System (GIS), Pakistan Today learnt reliably on Friday.

The program enabled the forests department to ensure sound management and introduce state of the art record-keeping and mapping methods.

‘Development of GIS-Based Forest Management Information System in Punjab’ was approved at PC-1 with a cost of Rs75000 million and a gestation period of 36 months (2016-2019) has allowed for transfer of all forest resources and inventories into IT-based inventory systems and achieved extensive field surveys, rapid data collection and its processing for development of the forestry sector on efficient lines.

The project also ensures better for-

est planning, management and monitoring on scientific lines by mapping through remote sensing and development of GIS-based centralized forest data repository in the province with an amount of Rs59.249 million incurred against the release of Rs64.247 million up to September 2019.

A forest department official told this scribe, “An area comprising 222,596 acres was mapped using GIS and satellite imageries through an ADP (Automatic Data Processing) funded development project titled ‘Institutional Support for Planning and Evaluation Cell of Punjab Forest Department’ (2010-16). In addition, the forest department plans to develop GIS-based FMIS (Financial Management Information System) and completed centralized GIS-based data repository record of 680,969 acres (222,596 acres already mapped and new area of 458,374 acres) along with obtaining satellite imagery under the said project”.

The official further informed, “The credible appraisal, planning, monitoring and evaluation through GIS will lead to better monitoring of afforestation undertaken annually by the department. This database will be very useful for preparation of future development and management plans of the forest sector at national level”.

Forest GIS Lab Manager Shahid Imran informed, “The project was started with an aim to strengthen forests monitoring by mapping through remote sensing (RS) and GIS techniques. Our field staff has conducted comprehensive GPS surveys for collection of coordinates. Similarly, we have also created a geo-database of demarcated forest boundaries on the basis of surveys, revenue records, working plan maps and historical records. The department also corrected the revenue record and data through a GPS survey.

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Woman kills son for objecting to her friend's visit KHANEWAL: A woman killed her 13-yearold son, with the help of an accomplice by drowning him in a river after he objected to her friend’s visits to their home, police said on Friday. District Police Officer Omer Saeed Malik, said in a press conference that the woman had filed a missing persons report about her son, Rizwan’s alleged disappearance. DPO Malik said that the woman was also included in the investigation and confessed during initial questioning to killing her son with the help of her friend, Aslam – the person to whose visits Rizwan had raised objections to.

Both Aslam and the woman have been arrested, police claimed. STAFF REPORT

LHC rejects Meesha Shafi’s appeal in harassment case against Ali Zafar LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed a petition filed by singer Meesha Shafi challenging the dismissal of her complaint against musician Ali Zafar on harassment charges. The earlier complaint of Shafi had been rejected by the Punjab governor and provincial ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women at workplace. This was the third time that the case of Shafi against Zafar has been dismissed by the Lahore High Court. The appeal was rejected on the basis of not being presented at the appropriate forum. In a post on Twitter, Zafar said fake allegations by opportunists could destroy lives and undermine genuine victims. He also thanked his fans for all the love and support during the case. “Ms Shafi’s case dismissed by the Lahore High Court. This is the 3rd dismissal.

Fake allegations by opportunists can destroy lives and undermine genuine victims,” he wrote on Twitter. “We fought to set a precedent. All evidence submitted will be public soon. Thank you for your love and support,” he added. During the last hearing, LHC had reserved its verdict on the petition filed by Shafi. Advocate Hina Jilani had argued that the ombudsperson dismissed the petitioner’s complaint on technical grounds and the governor also upheld the decision.

No compromise on quality of work in hospital projects, says Dr Yasmin LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid Friday said that no compromise would be made on quality of work in the development projects. She said this while chairing a meeting at the Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department. The minister reviewed progress on various ongoing development projects while Chief Planning officer Abdul Haq informed the minister in detail regarding ongoing projects in government hospitals. She directed to complete these projects as early as possible. The ongoing development schemes include up-gradation of outdoor ward of Services Hospital and procurement of medical equipment for different departments, construction of phase-III of Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences, improvement in the infrastructure of General Hospital, construction of cardiac surgery and institute of Paediatric Cardiology in Children Hospital, construction of University of Child Health, construction of second unit of Neonatology in Children Hospital. APP

CMYK

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Why Iran and the US are at an ImpaSSe and hoW to redUce mIdeaSt tenSIonS In SpIte of that L a timeS SEYED HOSSEIN MOUSAVIAN

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lot of effort went in to trying to arrange a meeting between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and President Trump last month when they were in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan all reportedly worked to facilitate a meeting between the Iranian and U.S. leaders. But it didn’t happen.

Why? The reality is that neither

the United States nor Iran is serious about negotiations, despite the obvious advantages for both countries in reducing the tensions between them.

Trump wants to hold direct talks with Iran, but only while continuing to pursue a policy of maximum pressure and sanctions. That won’t fly with Iran. In Iran’s view, by pulling out of the nuclear deal, Trump left the negotiating table, and by sanctioning Iran’s supreme leader and foreign minister and designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, he killed any chance for negotiations.

The ill-advised U.S. policy of maximum pressure revolves around a central misconception that it will put enough economic pressure on Iran to force it to accept Trump’s maximalist demands. It has already been more than a year since the United States has pulled out the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, regulating Iran’s nuclear activities, and none

of the stated objectives of maximum pressure have been achieved.

Trump’s policy and actions have led only to a political impasse.

Iran, for its part, is demanding concessions from the United States that the current administration is highly unlikely to agree to. Before any talks, Iran wants to reinstate the JCPOA and eliminate all sanctions that were reimposed after the nuclear deal. These are rational requests given that the JCPOA, the most comprehensive nonproliferation agreement in the history of nonproliferation, was ratified as U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 and that Iran was in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the deal. However, since Trump has frequently called the nuclear agreement “the worst deal ever” and a “disaster,” accepting Iran’s precondition for talks is probably a nonstarter — especially with his 2020 reelection campaign looming.

Iran too is entering an election

Whither nuclear arms control?

Project Syndicate BENNETT RAMBERG

Is nuclear arms control unraveling? The 1987 IntermediateRange Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has collapsed, the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is teetering, and North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear and ballistic-missile arsenal. Worse, it is unclear whether the United States will stick with the New START Treaty when it expires in 2021. That agreement limits (at 3,000) the number of strategic weapons Russia and the U.S. have pointed at each other.

Fortunately, history offers some solace. During and after the Cold War, periods of arms control breakdown were typically followed by phases of reconstruction. But reversing course is never easy. When it comes to bringing Russia, Iran and North Korea into compliance, past experience shows that there are limits to what can be accomplished by leveraging alliances or pursuing military action. The remaining options are economic sanctions — which are effective only up to a point — and a further arms buildup, to induce renewed negotiations.

To be sure, alliances historically have played an important role in nuclear nonproliferation.

In Europe, the U.S.-NATO nuclear umbrella prevented the bomb from spreading beyond Britain and France. When U.S. intelligence agencies learned in the 1970s and 1980s that South Korea and Taiwan had secret nuclear weapons programs, America threatened to withdraw its military and economic support and the programs eventually were shut down.

But intra-alliance pressure has no role to play with respect to loners like North Korea, Russia and Iran. Despite China’s military alliance and occasional summitry with North Korea, it has little influence over Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions.

And while Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia may yet be able to pressure the

U.S. into renewing dialogue with Iran, their efforts have yielded no results so far.

The use of force in nuclear arms control has long been contemplated but rarely pursued, owing to the risks of retaliation or radiological fallout. When these risks are absent, military action becomes attractive. In 1981 and 2007, Israel bombed suspected Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors under construction, without blowback. In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the U.S. Air Force struck Iraq’s concealed enrichment plants with impunity.

But this is not an option against Russia and North Korea today. A strike on Russia’s contraband intermediate-range missile arsenal or on North Korea’s nuclear program could bring about the very scenario that arms control is supposed to prevent: nuclear war.

Iran’s situation is different.

Fearing further Iranian enrichment activities, the U.S. could, in theory, fashion a limited strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities on the assumption that the threat of further U.S. action would deter an Iranian response. But Iran is not Iraq or Syria. Either directly or through its various regional proxies, Iran could unleash a wave of aggression against U.S. interests, as demonstrated by the recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. U.S. policymakers would have to weigh this risk seriously.

Barring effective alliance pressure or military action, another option historically has been to build up one’s own arsenal. In the early 1960s, America resumed nuclear weapons tests in response to the Soviet Union’s violation of the 1958 test moratorium; and this paved the way for the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Similarly, the INF was agreed to after the U.S. deployed intermediaterange missiles in Europe in response to Moscow’s introduction of such weapons. In each case, both sides concluded that tit-for-tat buildups had only increased their insecurity.

But in today’s climate, using nuclear escalation to induce another round of arms control negotiations would yield only mixed results. The U.S. could try to intimidate the North Koreans by returning to South Korea the nuclear weapons that it removed in 1991. But given that Kim associates the bomb with his own survival, such a move would

likely ratchet up tensions on the Korean Peninsula and raise China’s ire. The better way to prevent nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula, then, is classic deterrence, leveraging America’s offshore nuclear umbrella and onshore conventional weapons. At the same time, continued North Korean-U.S. diplomatic dialogue — if not relations — would reduce the risk of a conflict arising from some miscalculation or misunderstanding.

By contrast, the recent U.S. test of an intermediate-range land-based cruise missile, together with U.S. plans to develop an intermediate-range ballistic missile, fits with the historic pattern of using an arms buildup to refocus the Kremlin’s attention on arms control. By the same token, the U.S. may see fit to introduce land-based intermediate-range nuclear weapons in East Asia to temper China’s nuclear expansion.

Iran, by contrast, has no nuclear arsenal to ramp up or bargain down. Rather, it has a nuclear-enrichment breakout capacity that the U.S. wants to eliminate. Hence, the U.S. is tightening sanctions, increasing its military presence in the Persian Gulf and launching cyberattacks to break Iran’s will. In response, Iran has increased enrichment, disrupted oil shipping in the Persian Gulf, attacked Saudi oil infrastructure, and threatened U.S. interests and allies across the Middle East. The question now is whether brinkmanship will lead to a conflict or a mutual drawdown that would allow for renewed arms control talks, as in the earlier U.S.-Soviet cases.

In these unsettling times, it is natural to wonder whether arms control has run its course. Although most nuclear nonproliferation and test ban treaties remain in place, the global arms control regime is under strain. Nonetheless, in its many iterations, it has shown remarkable resilience over time. That resilience will be tested repeatedly in the months — if not years — to come.

Bennett Ramberg, a policy analyst in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs under President George H.W. Bush, is the author of “Destruction of Nuclear Energy Facilities in War” and “Nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the Enemy.”

season, with parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020 and 2021, respectively. And leaders there face similar pressures not to appear weak.

Another barrier to negotiations is the misperceptions each country has of the other. For its part, the U.S. seems to believe that Iran’s economy is in imminent danger of collapse as a result of the sanctions, and that this will force Iran to come to the table. Neither assumption is accurate.

In Iran, there is a pervasive belief that the West is in decline and that U.S. hegemony in the Middle East is over. This belief has gained credence as an array of Western intellectuals and leaders have acknowledged such a decline. Iranians note that the United States has failed in almost every conflict it initiated since the Second World War. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still able to exert influence on the world order.

Given the impasse between Iran and the United States, the most im-

mediate and realistic step toward reducing tensions in the Middle East would be to set aside the idea of negotiations between the two countries for now and instead focus on facilitating direct negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to discuss, among other things, putting an end to the devastating war in Yemen.

An alternative to bilateral talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be for the U.N. secretary-general to take initiative and invite both countries, as well as member countries of the European Union and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to hold a dialogue aimed at ending the bloodshed in Yemen.

In entering into such a dialogue, both Tehran and Riyadh would need to acknowledge several points: that neither side can have security at the expense of insecurity of other side, that neither side can be the hegemon of the region and that the best option is to

de-escalate tensions and work toward regional cooperation based on mutual interest, respect for each other’s sovereignty and the inviolability of international borders.

Such talks would of courses benefit the Yemeni people, but they could also go a long way toward reducing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. They might also reduce tension between Iran and the United States by resolving one of Trump’s major foreign policy problems with respect to the Middle East: the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

Seyed Hossein Mousavian is a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist at Princeton University and former chief of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council.

He is the author of the forthcoming book “A Middle East Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction.”

Modi acts first and thinks later

Print SHIVAM VIJ

The Narendra Modi government announces a policy for transition to electric vehicles and then realises it is unrealistic. It extends the deadline, which will no doubt be extended again.

In a huff, the government says single-use plastic will be banned across the country in a matter of weeks, only to realise it is just impractical to do so.

If you think these are isolated examples, just look at the first budget of the second Modi government, most of its big bad ideas have been rolled back. In the budget, the government said it would super tax the super-rich.

Under pressure from India Inc a few weeks later, it had to cut corporate tax. Soon it will realise that this is not what it needed to do since the main problem is lack of demand. Then, it will do something else.

Until now, the Modi government has only been accused of implementation paralysis, but the days of policy paralysis may not be far. Policy paralysis occurs when the government is too afraid to make any new policy move, fearing it will backfire. The Modi government has already slowed down a thriving economy with its compulsive need for disruption, and can’t afford to impose any more disruption (or so one hopes).

The root of the problem lies in making policy without evidence or a causal link. Sometimes there’s a political motive or a vested interest in doing so, sometimes it’s not even that.

Having dismantled the Indian Held Kashmir without any due process, using the Governor’s stamp after keeping the IHK assembly under suspension, the government decides to find reasons.

Article 370, it says, was coming in the way of development and fighting terrorism. There is absolutely no evidence of this. Worse, the government doesn’t feel the need

to give any evidence. No study, no commission of inquiry, no consultation, no nothing. How does it matter that Article 370 may actually have helped in the “development” of IHK? Similarly, the government first announced the rebuilding of the Central Vista, the iconic heart of New Delhi, and then went around finding reasons. There’s congestion, there’s the threat of earthquake, there’s this, there’s that… again, no study, no evidence.

The Modi government is sometimes so afraid of evidencebased policy-making that it decides to bury the evidence. In May this year, the union health ministry put a stop on publishing or even discussing any research regarding e-cigarettes by any governmentaffiliated institute. The government had already decided it was going to ban e-cigarettes, having already issued an advisory against them in August 2018. Now, it didn’t want any research saying they were safer than cigarettes.

Not even the tobacco control division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare cared to carry out any study or usage survey on e-cigarettes. When the result is pre-decided, why waste time with research? There was just one government-sponsored study, which conducted no original research, and conveniently ignored growing research that showed regulated use of e-cigarettes can actually help people quit smoking.

The ministry had set-up a subcommittee to look into the issue in 2014, and an RTI-accessed file noting showed a bureaucrat’s remark, “The issue does not appear to have proceeded in a scientific and objective manner. We should arrive at a decision after thorough consideration, especially of the contrarian view”.

Making policy without research and evidence, without establishing a causal link, comes at a high cost. E-cigarettes will now flourish in the grey market, without regulation. In the absence of regulation, people won’t even know what exactly they are inhaling. Those who want to quit smoking real cigarettes no longer have the e-cigarette option.

Similarly, the government’s flip-flops on the electric vehicle (EV) policy have contributed uncertainly in the auto sector, and regulatory uncertainty is the enemy of investment. The flip-flop over the EV policy has contributed

to the slowdown in the auto sector, perhaps resulting in job losses too.

India will achieve 100 per cent electric mobility by 2030, we were told in 2017-18, meaning diesel and petrol vehicles won’t be sold from 2030. This caused panic among manufacturers of fossil fuel-based vehicles and cheer among those looking to sell electric vehicles. But soon, the government realised the deadline was impractical and now it has decided not to formulate a promised EV policy. It realised it has to start with creating a charging infrastructure first so it has now drafted a charging policy. How soon before that is also changed, throwing many investment plans out of play?

In every such case, the government’s objective is not to achieve good long-term results but positivity-inducing short-term headlines.

‘India to go fully EV by 2030’.

Three cheers. When the policy is withdrawn, there are other sexy headlines to replace them: ‘India to ban single-use plastic on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday’. Fantastic!

Then, that is also withdrawn without a whimper.

This headline management is grievous for the economy. There can’t be a better example of it than Modi’s biggest policy blunders, demonetisation and GST. Both were so ill-thought-out that the government kept issuing circulars, amendments, ordinances and amended rules for weeks. If the government had cared for evidence-based policy-making, it would have rolled out GST slowly, testing its implementation.

If the government understood causality, it would have known that hoarded cash accounts for just 5 per cent of the black economy, and demonetisation was not worth the pain. Of course, the government didn’t carry out any study on the impact of demonetisation.

The government can get away with making and unmaking policy based on its whims and fancies because the opposition is too weak to question it. Coming soon: the government says it will prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens, asking all Indians to prove their citizenship. For such a draconian move you’d think it would first show evidence that India is over-run with illegal immigrants. But it doesn’t need to, it already has a brute majority. Besides, research is a western concept, and causality is an anti-Hindu idea.

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

TUrKey’s refUgee plan meT wiTh widespread sKepTicism ANKARA

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AGENCIES

N the face of widespread international criticism for his military foray into northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains defiant, standing by his pledge to return as many refugees as possible to a border corridor that will be carved out by force.

“We will rebuild an area for 1 million people, for those who want to return to their country and don’t have a home to go back to,” he told members of his governing party on Thursday to widespread applause.

On Wednesday, Turkey sent its military into northern Syria after announcing plans to create a buffer zone which pushes back Kurdish militants and potentially allows some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees settled in the country to return. The offensive was launched after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of American forces in northern Syria, a decision that has been fiercely criticized around the world and within his Republican Party.

Opponents of Turkey’s offensive into northern Syria argue that the assault is purely aimed at driving out Kurdish fighters and U.S. lawmakers have warned of potential sanctions. The word betrayal is doing the rounds as Kurdish fighters proved pivotal in the fight against the Islamic State group.

But Erdogan’s stated reason, according to Turkey observers who spoke to The Associated Press, faces overwhelming financial, political and prac-

tical obstacles.

“Calculate it: A bus carries about 50 passengers. How many buses would it take to drive them into this area? And how many housing units would you need to make sure that they are not just dumped out in the cold?” Kemal Kirisci, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said.

“These people have children in school, sick people in hospitals, jobs, some are married to Turkish nationals.

All this complicates things. And where would the organizational and financial capacity all for this come from?”

According to the United Nations refugee agency, there 3.6 million Syrians registered in Turkey — a number that has risen steadily throughout the war — as well as more than 350,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Most are protected under Turkish law banning the forced return

to a dangerous country.

The proposed security strip, 20 miles deep, would span across most of Syria’s multi-ethnic northern border areas and rival administrations created by nearly nine years of civil war.

“Northeast Syria is a rural, underserviced region that can barely meet the needs of its already existing 5 million people. Turkey’s campaign could devastate large areas of northeast Syria, making the Turkish plan all the more impractical,” said Nicholas A. Heras, a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, a Washington-based think-tank.

“Turkey’s timeline for resettling refugees is both ambitious and impractical. This would be a project that would require billions of dollars of support for infrastructure, security, and housing.”

The European Union has urged Turkey to halt its offensive while the

prime minister of neighbouring Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has accused Ankara of trying to impose “a violent transformation of the demographic makeup of the region.”

Turkish officials say the returns would be voluntary, insisting that the operation will provide the stability needed to create an environment for resettlement.

Erdogan has accused the EU of failing to fully honour a 6 billion-euro ($6.6 billion) funding deal reached in 2016 to stop migrants from travelling westward to the Greek islands and European mainland. Erdogan angrily rejected international criticism of his military campaign.

“Hey, European Union!” he said Thursday. “Come to your senses. I repeat: Don’t call this an invasion, it’s not. If you persist, we will open the gates and send 3.6 million refugees your way.”

It’s a threat likely to have an impact, says Janroj Yilmaz Keles, senior research fellow in Politics at Middlesex University in London. “Because of the refugee crisis, Europe is soft with Turkey. To prevent the refugees from coming to Europe, the price is being paid by the Kurds, and Europe knows this very well,” he said.

The Brookings Institution’s Kirisci adds: “I hope I’m wrong but I have a sinking feeling: I think the European Union has a converging interest with (Erdogan). When it comes to refugees, the West may look the other way.”

Trump administration ramps up deportations to Cuba MIAMI AGENCIES

After seeking asylum in the United States at the Mexican border, Pablo Sanchez was placed in a detention center and is now facing what has become an increasingly common scenario under President Donald Trump: deportation to Cuba.

Since the end of the Obama administration, the number of Cubans deported from the U.S. has increased more than tenfold to more than 800 in the past year as the Trump administration enforces a new policy inked just days before it took over. It is also imposing its own sharp limits on who is eligible for asylum. That’s an unwelcome development for growing numbers of asylum-seeking Cubans who had long benefited from a generous U.S. approach and their government’s unwillingness to take its people back.

For decades, Cubans fleeing the communist-governed island had for the most part enjoyed unique privileges. Even after the cold war ended, they were given a certain path to legal residence once they touched U.S. soil through the policy known as “wet foot, dry foot.” But an agreement reached during the final days of the Obama administration ended that and required Cuba to take back citizens who receive deportation orders going forward and consider on a caseby-case basis the return of the thousands of other Cubans who had received such orders over the

decades but remained in the U.S. because their country wouldn’t take them back.

Since Trump took office, more Cubans arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border have encountered new limits, including a policy introduced last month that denies protection to asylum seekers who have passed through another country before reaching Mexico and have not sought asylum there. Despite the new agreement, Cuba remains reluctant to take its people back, and is one of 10 countries that the U.S. government labels “recalcitrant.” That makes it difficult for the administration to enforce its aggressive measures against asylum — and leaves many Cubans in limbo.

Many, like Sanchez, are baffled by their predica-

ment. Sanchez is married to Barbara Rodriguez, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Miami, but was unable to apply for a visa in Cuba to join his wife in the U.S. because the Trump administration pulled most of its embassy staff out, outsourcing family-related visa petitions to consular services in Colombia or Guyana.

Rodriguez claims Sanchez was facing increasing political persecution after having brushes with local authorities over such episodes as damaging a referendum ballot as a sign of protest.

The couple agreed he had to get out of Cuba, saying they had learned he was being investigated and could face jail time. Feeling they had no time to waste — and with no visa services available in Cuba — Sanchez traveled to Nicaragua and through Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S., at a port of entry where authorities detained him and later sent him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for long-term custody.

“This is plain cruel, despite arriving in this country and demonstrating that you are persecuted and that you have credible fear. After all, this gets thrown away,” said his wife, Rodriguez, who talks to Sanchez on the phone daily. “The worse thing is that now I feel all that is left for him is deportation.”

It is unclear how the Cuban government treats people who are deported from the U.S., but rights advocates and lawyers say they could face retaliation for claiming asylum, especially those who claimed they were being persecuted.

Terror probe afTer mass sTabbing aT UK shopping cenTre MANCHESTER: Counter-terror police were on Friday probing a mass stabbing at a shopping centre in northwest England that left several people injured and needing hospital treatment. The attack happened at the Arndale shopping centre in the heart of Manchester, where an Islamist extremist suicide bomber killed 22 after an Ariana Grande concert in 2017. A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of serious assault. Footage posted online appeared to show one police officer restraining the suspect on the floor as another stands over him pointing a Taser. A shop worker who gave his name only as Jordan, 23, told Britain’s domestic Press Association news agency that “a man was running around with a knife lunging at multiple people, one of which came into my store visibly shaken with a small graze”. Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service said four people were injured during the incident, revising downwards an initial toll of five. Two women — one of them aged 19 — were taken to hospital with stab wounds and were said to be in a stable condition following the attack, which happened shortly after 11:00 am (1000 GMT). A man in his 50s was also being treated while the fourth victim, a woman in her 40s, did not require treatment, police said. More details were expected at a news conference later on Friday afternoon. Earlier, the force said: “Given the location of the incident and its nature, officers from Counter Terrorism Police North West are leading the investigation as we determine the circumstances.” Officers were “keeping an open mind about the motivation”, the force said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “shocked by the incident in Manchester and my thoughts are with the injured and all those affected”.

RUNNING AMOK: Among the pictures circulating on social media was one of the paramedics screening off a cafe to treat victims after the shopping centre was evacuated. Freddie Houlder, 22, said he was in the centre when he heard “a load of screams” before a woman told him she was nearly stabbed. “Luckily she had quite a thick jacket — she thought originally it was a fake knife because of how easily it grazed off but police came in and said it was a real knife and she burst into tears,” he said. “I definitely don’t think it was gang violence because this guy was going around trying to stab random people, I believe.” The Arndale Centre had already been the scene of a terror attack in 1996 when the largest peacetime bomb ever detonated in Britain injured 212. The 1,500-kilogram truck bomb, planted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, caused an estimated £770 million ($970 million, 880 million euros) damage, and led to the centre being completely redeveloped. AGENCIES

UN calls for greater heat protection for workers in Qatar DOHA AGENCIES

Improved safeguards and working hours are needed to protect labourers in Qatar from the effects of heat and humidity, the United Nations said Friday, as it published new research.

The desert monarchy has come under fire for conditions faced by its hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup. The risks of Qatar’s heat and humidity were again thrust into the spotlight at the recent World Athletics Championships in Doha when women’s marathon runners collapsed because of the conditions, despite the race being staged at midnight. Humidity hovered around 73 percent and the temperature was 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) for much of last month’s race.

The study, commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Qatar’s labour ministry, praised measures taken to reduce the effects of heat on 4,000 workers at one World Cup stadium project. It concluded that while the heat mitigation steps taken by the body responsible for delivering the football showcase were “moderately to highly acceptable”, other employers in Qatar could improve protections.

BAN ON WORKING HOTTEST HOURS: Of Qatar’s roughly 1.9 million workers, just 30,000 work directly on World Cup projects.

The head of the UN agency’s Qatar project office, Houtan Homayounpour, said the project was working with the government to turn the study’s recommendations into “improved legislation”.

Workers need to be able to set their own pace, he told AFP, in terms of “when

to stop, when to have a break, when to drink water — it’s very important… They know best how they feel.” “We’ll be promoting this very hard across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour.”

Homayounpour said the research also indicated a need to extend the ban on work during the hottest hours of the day, as well as the period of the year to which it applies.

The law currently states that work on exposed sites must stop between 11:30 am and 3:00 pm between June and August. Researchers from the University of Thessaly in Greece reviewed more than 5,500 hours of work as part of their research, the largest ever study of its kind and the first in the region. The study tracked environmental conditions over summer this year and the physiological responses of 125 workers subjected to different heat mitigation strategies. It compared practises at the under-construc-

tion 40,000-capacity Al-Rayyan stadium west of Doha with a rural farm, looking at the impact of hydration, work-rest ratios and clothing on heat strain.

‘LEADING THE REGION’: Workers on the stadium project, run by the Supreme Committee organising the World Cup, mitigated conditions through frequent breaks as well as access to shade and water, according to the study.

The researchers recommended companies in Qatar introduce heat stress alleviation plans and annual health check-ups as well as adjusting summertime working hours and empowering employees to take responsibility for their welfare.

Projects run by Qatar’s Supreme Committee are acknowledged by human rights groups to generally offer their workers better protections and rights than schemes not under the supervision of the World Cup organisers. On Thursday,

Human Rights Watch called on Qatar to “thoroughly and urgently investigate” worker deaths following publication of research linking cardiovascular fatalities in the country to heatstroke.

The study, published by Cardiology Journal in July, probed the “relationship between deaths of more than 1,300 Nepali workers between 2009 and 2017 and heat exposure”, according to HRW. Government spokesman, Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour Al-Thani, said: “Qatar has worked relentlessly for years… to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all workers” and that “to suggest otherwise is false and misleading”. Qatar is now “leading the region on workers’ health and safety”, he said in a statement, adding that summer working rules had been “strictly implemented” and more than 300 work suspension cases were ordered in summer 2019.

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

08 COMMENT

The great wisdom of millennial girls

Politics making accountability questionable Nawaz Sharif in NAB custody

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he PTI has been used to launching noisy public protests to hold those in power accountable. now that the shoe is on the other foot, the party leadership is acting like a cat on a hot tin roof. Currently the government is feeling uneasy about Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Freedom March, which is likely to be joined by traders, lawyers, seminary students and workers of several opposition parties. With the JUI-F leadership keeping its cards close to the chest, the government has become all the more jittery. After failing to dissuade the party from launching the protest through threats, it is taking recourse to other methods that are highly objectionable. A newspaper report suggests that an influential Gulf state has been approached by the government to persuade the Maulana to call off his march. In case there is any truth in the report, inviting a foreign country to interfere in the country’s politics can have dangerous ramifications.

The government is particularly apprehensive of the PPP and PML-n joining hands with the JUI-F. The PPP has maintained an element of ambivalence by maintaining that while the party is against changes of government through sit-ins, it could reverse its position if the government failed to put the brakes on actions that violate democratic principles.

A worrisome unknown for the PTI government was the position of the PML-n regarding the Freedom March.

While the PML-n was still discussing whether it should fully participate in the march or extend it only symbolic support, former PM nawaz Sharif came openly in support of the JUI-F’s move. The next day nAB initiated a new enquiry against Mr Sharif and got his physical remand for two weeks from an accountability court. It is believed that the immediate reason for taking him from the judicial lock up to nAB’s custody was to deprive the former PM of the opportunity to provide further support to the JUIF’s agitation. For many this was also an act of political vengeance. For the same reason former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s sons were summoned by nAB and told to get their statements recorded in the LnG case despite being too young to be involved the affair.

PTI’s foreign funding PTI’s reluctance creates the wrong optics

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he election Commission of Pakistan’s dismissal of multiple PTI petitions for secrecy about its foreign donations to be guarded by the committee investigating them once again raises questions about why the party is so reluctant to have details of those donations exposed. The case being considered has not been filed by a rival political party, but by a founding member of the PTI, now estranged, who belongs to the very category of people who make donations, an overseas Pakistani.

There is no harm in principle, in a political party accepting donations. Indeed, participation in the democratic process by making a donation to a party is one of the easiest methods of getting involved in the process. Pakistani parties do not encourage donations, because that means that influence might shift from the party grandees to the ordinary member. however, there is the problem that this might merely become a conduit for influence-peddling. One check on this has been full disclosure of all details of donations. Parties are not allowed to maintain secrecy about donations, foreign or domestic, because it as to be seen who is buying influence. Often enough, parties receive donations not because of ideological affinity, but because the donor wishes to influence the policies of the government which his money is likely to pay for its election campaign. The sugar lobby, the agricultural lobby, the business lobby, the industrial lobby, are among those which are powerful in Pakistan. however, it is the foreign lobby which is most insidious. Also, the use of foreign donations, especially through the non-banking ‘hawala’ channels the PTI is supposed to have used, to launder money, can only be imagined.

The PTI’s reluctance is strange in a party which campaigned with a very strong anti-corruption plank in its election platform. By making public the details of its own donations, it would have put pressure on other parties, less deeply committed against corruption, to go public themselves. The vigour with which it has conducted the legal battle against disclosure has made it probable that it is perceived, except perhaps by diehard supporters, as a party with something to hide. These are not the optics the PTI wants about itself, especially if they are not true. It should come clean before if it is forced to.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

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There is desperation under the wisdom Faraz TalaT

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he war for a liveable climate is the most important war we’ll ever fight.

And our flag-bearer is a 16-year-old autistic girl with braided hair.

Does this upset you, dearest uncle? Are the corners of your mouth already twitching; eyes narrowing or rolling, not sure whether to be outraged or amused by the absurdity of this suggestion?

Greta Thunberg, the face of Generation X environmentalists, is younger than my uncle’s arthritis, and probably no less irritating to him either.

At the age of 15, Greta began skipping school to sit outside the Swedish parliament– often by herself– to call for urgent action against climate change. It didn’t take her long to become somewhat of an icon for change, inspiring climate protests across the world. Under-developed countries like Pakistan generally– and unwisely– stay clear of the climate debate, assuming that it’s a matter for wealthier countries to tackle. This is not entirely unreasonable, as countries like Australia (16.2 metric tonnes), Saudi Arabia (16.3), and the US (15.0) have significantly higher carbon emissions per capita than Pakistan (0.9). Unfortunately, rising sea levels will not met out their punishment to each country in fair proportion to its contribution of carbon dioxide. For the sake of our own coastline, it would be inadvisable for Pakistan to retreat from the dialogue on climate change.

Pakistanis responded to the call for global protests on Friday, 20 September, with protests across 26 cities and towns, including Mardan, Mithi, Thatta, Kasur, Kotli, Chagai, Qilla Abdullah, Peshawar, Gilgit and Chitral.

Greta Thunberg’s successful activism gives tremendous hope to those on the side of environmental conservation. her success frightens evil corporations and their right-wing political lack-

eys, who are displeased with the replacement of poorly-understood numbers and statistics from climate science, with the face of a strong-willed human child. My use of the word ‘evil’ here must not be mistaken for hyperbole. In an average storybook, anyone attempting to maximise profits while wilfully endangering wildlife and the lives of billions of people, would be called ‘evil’ without much thought. Captain Planet had to be inspired by something, surely.

Across the Atlantic in Canada, Autumn Peltier– an indigenous 15-year-old activist of the Wikwemikong First nation– has been moving mountains to make way for the climate conservation movement. An official “water protector,” she fights for universal clean drinking water. Specifically, she advocates for safe waterways and drinking water for indigenous peoples in Canada and beyond.

Young people across the world have been catalysing the movement in their own unique ways. Timoci naulusala, 12-year-old boy from Fiji, made waves on the world stage with his inspiring speech at the Un’s COP23 climate conference in Bonn, Germany. Ridhima Pandey, a nine-year-old Indian activist, produced a 52-page petition before the national Green Tribunal on her government’s failure to tackle climate change. Xiuhtezcatl, aged 17, is the youth director of ‘earth Guardians’, an international organisation that works to contain coal ashes and get pesticides out of parks. Shalvi Sakshi, aged 11, captured the world’s imagination with her speeches on climate action. Jaden Anthony, also aged 11, is the author of Kid Brooklyn, a graphic novel series that raises awareness on climate challenges and other social issues.

Young people, particularly Generation X, is spearheading the climate conservation movement because they are the ones who have the most to lose from man-made climate change. My uncle

and I will be long gone before the first cities begin disappearing underwater; before climate refugees begin mobilising in millions, possibly billions; before the elements that we breathe, drink, and grow our crops in, turn against us. It’s easier for the older generation aged 40 and above– those who hold the greatest financial power and political clout– to speak of climate change as a theoretical problem, and grumble at “aaj kal ke bachay” (“kids today”) who are being ushered into catastrophe by our bloody, wrinkled hands. But this is one area where “aaj kal ke bachay” may be excused for being fiercely disobedient.

These ‘little girls’ wade through a deluge of old men’s tears, because they must. Girls like Greta, Malala, and Sakshi have endured endless criticism from the older generation; those who dismiss these young people’s struggles as trivial, because in their mind, everything that young people– particularly girls– do, is trivial. Scoff if you must, but the “selfie” generation will inherit a dying world beyond their capacity to save, if old men in high government and corporate offices don’t radically change ways. It shouldn’t be too hard to understand why they’re marching.

We don’t need an inter-generational conflict among over-inflated egos. If today’s kids are intelligent, environmentally-conscious, politically-active, and socially-sensitive, the boomer generation is free to take credit for this achievement rather than disputing it. You raised us, uncle. Would you prefer to believe you did a poor job? Or would you prefer the contentment of knowing that the young are smarter and more capable than the old, which is the very definition of ‘human progress’?

Faraz Talat is a medical doctor from Rawalpindi and an ardent traveller who writes frequently about science, social politics and international relations.

The rise of political entrepreneurship in Pakistan The PTI was just like a start-up

Jamal Sohail “Democracy is in the blood of the Muslims, who look upon complete equality of mankind, and believe in fraternity, equality, and liberty.”

– Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder and 1st Governor-General of Pakistan

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n 18 August 2018 Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan with his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, having won the general elections. It was an important victory as it disrupted the existing multi-party politics of Pakistan which was dominated by two main parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League nawaz (PML-n), for the last 40 years and more, making Imran Khan a political entrepreneur. entrepreneurship is defined as the readiness to take the risk of taking on a business venture that will create a new market, disrupting the existing market in order to make profit and of succeeding. In entrepreneurship the person who starts the company is called an entrepreneur and the company in its initial stages is called a start-up and undergoes three main phases, the start-up phase, the growth phase, and the exit phase. In politics Imran Khan’s PTI broke the status quo and went through all these phases since being founded in 1996.

Pakistan was created on 14 August 1947 as a separate homeland for the Muslims where they would live peacefully and freely on the

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basis of the two-nation theory. The two parties that dominated the democratic political framework of Pakistan for the past several decades were founded in 1967 (PPP) and 1988 (PML-n), whereas the PTI was founded in 1996 which makes it younger than its rivals. After its formation, the PTI had little success, as it contested the 1997, 2002 and 2013 general elections previously and boycotted the 2008 elections. It was not until 2002 when the party chairman Imran Khan won only one seat and 22 years later that the PTI came at the helm of power and its founder became the Prime Minister. And the saying goes, the rest is history.

Imran Khan started the PTI with a clear vision, just like an entrepreneur starting a business with a clear vision. even though Imran Khan lacked experience in politics he did have the credentials and profile to build a strong political party and convince others to join him. he is a cricket legend and was the captain of the 1992 cricket World Cup-winning team and as a philanthropist he established a leading cancer hospital in Pakistan. After starting a lone journey, Imran Khan and the PTI slowly started getting traction, followers and even senior ambitious politicians from other political parties started joining PTI as they shared the common vision Imran Khan had which can be compared to a start-up attracting senior management and board members from other well-established companies who share the same vision as the

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entrepreneur into his start-up. The vision was of a “naya Pakistan (new Pakistan)”, a Pakistan that would be corruption-free with millions of jobs and sweeping reforms for the country’s welfare. By having this vision PTI created a blue ocean in which they differentiated themselves from other political parties’ offerings and kept away from the red ocean of traditional politics and promises. This vision was not something novel but the manner in which it was being presented was different or innovative as it is said in a start-up culture and it immediately hooked the attention of the people of Pakistan and became a turning point for the PTI in politics.

The PTI came into the main limelight in 2011 and their prominence, importance and growth continued to surge after that. They were also considered strong contenders to win the 2013 general elections. Other than the vision, PTI also gave new meaning to the dharna/protest politics in 2014, in which they attracted large number of crowds and kept pressure on other political parties for several weeks. They also introduced the PTI membership drive to attract more people into the party, especially the youth, who would be voting for the next several elections and who are the majority of Pakistan. Following a successful startup and growth phase the next and most important step is the exit phase. After everything was set and done it was now time to test the confidence of the masses in PTI in the elections of 2018. It proved to

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be very positive and PTI formed the government, a peak that every political party wishes to achieve. This is the equivalent of an IPO (initial public offering/listing on the stock exchange) that every start-up dream to achieve as an exit.

PTI went from zero to one and today it claims to be the largest political party of Pakistan with more than 10 million members worldwide. It has now been over one year since Imran Khan became the Prime Minster of Pakistan and PTI formed the government. There are mixed reviews of their performances so far. They have done considerably well on the diplomatic front but have disappointed at the economic front. The speech of Imran Khan at the United nation General Assembly on September 27 was praised by many across the globe in which he highlighted Islamophobia and stressed on the unity between Muslims states and the world. he also had a firm stance on Kashmir and the Indian atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

We now have to see that can Imran Khan and PTI deliver the promises from their 2018 election manifesto, on the basis of which they got the support of the masses and came into power. Only then can the dream of naya Pakistan become a reality and PTI be re-elected once again for another term. Otherwise the confidence of the masses will be shattered and PTI shall fall just like a start-up that falls after failing to deliver, and with the investors pulling out. The success or failure of Imran Khan and PTI will also determine the future of political entrepreneurship in Pakistan.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

COMMENT 09 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

Dilution of foreign service meritocracy

India’s migration politics will topple Sheikh Hasina’s government India could make Bangladeshi Muslims go after their Hindu countrymen B z KhaSru

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nDIA’S migration politics—asserting that 40 million Bangladeshi migrants are illegally living in India and must be pushed back— can destabilise South Asia.

India’s campaign to round up suspected illegal migrants and put them in under-construction concentration camps may give hindu nationalists license to terrorise Muslims, forcing them to flee into neighbouring countries. To avoid detention, many non-citizens, especially those in Assam and West Bengal, will rush toward Bangladesh because of its proximity.

India’s most friendly but highly sensitive neighbour, Bangladesh, will refuse them entry, creating a humanitarian disaster. enraged by the plight of the Muslims at their border, Bangladeshi Muslims will turn against their hindu countrymen. Any atrocity on hindus in Bangladesh, in turn, will infuriate India’s hindus, who will vent their anger on Muslims in India. This sectarian tension could spiral out of control and spread through the region and beyond, perhaps to the Middle east and europe.

India will face an international public-relations nightmare, forcing it to divert attention from its most pressing task, fixing the economy.

India will get more than it is bargaining for if it pushes the alleged illegal migrants into Bangladesh: Violent anti-India street demonstrations will rock Bangladesh; the pro-Indian hasina government will fall; and hindus in Bangladesh will face the fury of Muslim mobs, forcing them to flee to India.

India’s current migration politics has its roots in Assam, where local politicians have periodically incited violence over the past 70 years to drive out non-Assamese, both hindus and Muslims, stoking regionalism for political gains.

The non-Assamese, mostly Bengali-speakers people from today’s Bangladesh or West Bengal, routinely voted for Congress. Assam and Bengal were one administrative unit under the British, and people moved freely throughout the region.

After Britain divided India— as well as Assam and Bengal— in 1947, many east Pakistan-based hindus migrated to Assam. This influx of migrants made indigenous Assamese angry and local politicians exploited this. A student group that waged a six-year-long anti-Bengali violent campaign captured state power in 1985 and 1996.

Then came Prime Minister narendra Modi in 2014, and hindutva— the anti-minority politics of his BJP— followed. Modi swept to power with a promise of jobs and growth, downplaying his roots in the powerful hindunationalist group RSS. After a heavy defeat later in Bihar, the BJP started spreading the sectarian venom that India is a hindu nation, and black-

listed minority Muslims.

Modi’s party does not target migrant Bangladeshi hindus, rather promises them citizenship. But it seeks to deport Muslims. During his election campaign, Modi told migrants in states bordering Bangladesh to keep their “bags packed”. But he waited until re-elected in 2019 to bring it up with Bangladesh.

Since hasina returned to power in 2009, Dhaka-Delhi relations have improved remarkably to the extent that many Bengalis think India is the strongest leg of her throne. Indeed, hasina has always been India’s favourite. When Bangladesh became independent of Pakistan in 1971, Delhi played the midwife, and later stood by hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

After his assassination in 1975, India sheltered a young, orphaned hasina.

In 1981, India nudged the military-strongman-turned-president, Gen Ziaur Rahman, to ensure her safe return home, paving the way for her to capture power in 1996. Later, Delhi helped hasina defeat the slain president’s widow, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, in the 2008 poll.

A grateful hasina repaid by handing over an Indian separatist leader, signing a land boundary agreement, and allowing India to ferry food and grains to its landlocked northeast through Bangladesh. On top of all this, she turned down a Chinese offer to help build a military base in Bangladesh.

To reciprocate, Modi in 2015 signed 22 agreements while visiting Dhaka, extended a $2 billion credit line and pledged $5 billion in investments. And, when hasina visited Delhi in 2017, she signed two defence pacts, the first ones between India and any neighbour, enabling joint military exercises and training.

But all these goodwill gestures may soon start unravelling, thanks to an explosive claim

by Modi’s government that the 40 million Bangladeshi illegal migrants must be sent back home.

Modi’s party campaigned on this issue during the 2019 general election and won a landslide victory. Bangladesh initially dismissed the campaign rhetoric as domestic politics. But in August India home Minister Amit Shah, likely to succeed Modi, raised the matter with his Bangladeshi counterpart during talks in Delhi.

Bangladesh’s home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan flatly dismissed India’s claim. he told Shah that Bangladeshis do not stay illegally in India, because Bangladesh’s economy is at par with India’s, if not better. (Bangladesh will post eight per cent growth in 2019, against India’s five per cent.) The matter became so acrimonious that the two sides failed to issue to a joint statement after the talks.

India, however, seems determined to push its agenda. It has launched a campaign to round

up Muslims unless they can prove they have lived in India since before 1971 when Bangladesh was created. They will be put in concentration camps, which ironically the migrants themselves are building now. India has classified nearly two million long-term residents as non-citizens, making them stateless.

Dhaka is nervous because India may seek to push at least the alleged Muslim migrants into Bangladesh, the world’s most densely populated country. hasina and Modi discussed the issue twice, first at the United nations in September and then in Delhi early October, with no apparent resolution. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Shahidul haque after the Delhi talks noted India’s position was “self-contradictory”. Modi says one thing, but his party and state leaders say another. Modi says it is India’s internal matter and will no way affect Bangladesh, but his cohorts are bent upon deporting the migrants.

Besides the setback on the migrant issue, several other hasina-Modi deals will infuriate her countrymen. First, an accord to give Feni River water and natural gas to India when the dispute over sharing the Teesta River water remains unresolved. Second, the pact on coastal surveillance radar stations to help India monitor China’s naval movements is sure to irk Beijing, a major investor in Bangladesh. Finally, the agreement to let India to use its neighbour’s ports to transport goods without reciprocal benefits to Dhaka.

On top of all this, what makes Bangladeshis even more jittery is the fear that India might export convicts, calling them illegal migrants, just as Cuba sent mental patients and miscreants to the USA in 1980 as refugees.

Any such move would have far-reaching consequences for Indian relations with Bangladesh. It will not only undermine hasina’s government, but also give fodder to Islamic extremists whom she has largely kept under control. Another worrisome prospect is there may be a repeat of the bloodbath of Partition.

Any forced dumping of Muslims from India will be catastrophic for Bangladesh’s 20 million hindus. Infuriated by India’s action, Bangladeshi Muslims will vent their anger on their hindu countrymen, forcing them to flee to India, as they did in 1971. Such an exodus, in turn, will enrage the BJP’s already psyched-up saffron soldiers, who will be more than pleased to turn India into an anti-Muslim battleground, to avenge Muslim rule, if nothing else.

If terrorised badly enough, India’s nearly 200 million Muslim citizens may start flocking to Pakistan, which orthodox hindus wish for; alternatively, they may fight back the hyper-nationalist hindus. This vicious cycle of communal hostility will push the region into chaos and misery.

ReCenT events following India’s annexation of IOK and our near diplomatic isolation failing to get support for submitting a resolution at UnhRC Geneva for gross human rights violation exposes loopholes in the capacity of those assigned diplomatic posts to represent our country. These are indeed difficult times where even our so-called brethren in IOC, with were not even forthcoming to support us. We should be grateful to China, Turkey, Iran and Malaysia etc who stood by us condemning atrocities against 8 Million Muslims of IOK by Indian forces.

It is indeed an uphill task for diplomatic corps posted at various capitals all over the world to achieve. Pakistan is neither a superpower nor an economic giant to indulge in such luxuries sending individuals on quota basis instead of merit and skills to foreign capitals. national interest dictates that only the best and most qualified be given these foreign assignments.

Although Pakistan State offers best post retirement pension and benefits in the region to retired civil and uniformed services, including subsidised allotment of plots, there seems to be no end to their insatiable greed for lucrative posts. elected civil governments do make few political appointments, but in doing so they must ensure that best are nominated. Their choice of individuals like haqqani, Kamran Shafi, nadar Chaudhry etc have not served national interests.

Perhaps it is time to reassess shortcomings of reserved quotas in civil bureaucracy, foreign service and heads of stateowned corporations and its toll on this country. Why should men trained as specialists in military strategy etc, be considered suitable for such postings? Pakistan faced embarrassment when our high Commissioner in Sri Lanka, against all diplomatic norms, issued a statement quoting their President, which they promptly denied.

MALiK TARiQ ALi Lahore

Maulana’s march PAKISTAn is going through a very critical time at the moment, and cannot afford internecine anarchy and chaotic conditions. holding thus in such a situation a sit-in, dharna in the capital by Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, JUI-F Chief, to protest until oust the illegal and incompetent PTI government—as he calls it—is not in the interest of the country. That FM Qureshi has already asked Maulana to review the date of the march indicates the uncertainty and troublesome position of Pakistan. Without opposition parties which seem to be indifferent to the march, Maulana may proceed to the capital alone which may not make the desired appearance there, entailing into eroding of the expectant objective(s) of the march. Though the barbs are being flown between government and Maulana and his camp, there has to be a top priority of both sides not to escalate the situation and take such steps to diffuse the matter, given the present precarious position of Pakistan. Though protesting peacefully is the beauty of democracy, the concerned authorities brook no violence, logjam or lockdown, as happened in Faizabad incident and 2014 dharna of Imran Khan.

RiAZ AHMAD SOOMRO Shikarpur

The youth betrayed PTI, the ruling parting which is mostly supported by youth, has done unfair with its own youth after coming into power. In current situation when we look around, we find youth more in crisis. As PTI government excluded the educational budget then higher education Commission heC has cut few educational stipends of universities. Similarly, universities are extending the amount of fees due to having low budgets, which is also affecting PTI’s youth. On the other hand, Chinese government is excluding the number of scholarships for Pakistani students due to slow working of CPeC projects. And PM khan’s promise of jobs is also not looking to be fulfilled.

Meanwhile It is requested Prime Minster Khan to please don’t disappoint your youth as they are behind your party’s rise.

SyED TAHiR RASHiDi Shahdadpur

Ban on Gutka In Sindh Assembly on Saturday, a significant bill was introduced to impose a ban on the sale and purchase of Gutka—a mixture of crushed areca nut, tobacco, catechu, paraffin wax, slaked lime and sweet or savoury flavourings, envisaging the imprisonment of one to six years and a fine up to Rs5,00,000 to violators.

This is highly laudable legislation as oral cancer prevalent among our people is due to the use of tobacco related products i.e. Gutka, betel nut, naswar and smoking. According to the experts, nearly 95 per cent dental and oral diseases are preventable by adopting better hygiene practices. Though stringent punishment envisaged in the bill may discourage the use of Gutka, it is also necessary to stop smuggling of betel nuts, chewing tobacco and carcinogenic stuff from any source.

More important, the nuisance of Gutka has taken a shape of an industry being run by mafia under the umbrella of bigwigs. According to the latest data, nearly 69 big factories producing Gutka are working in Karachi alone and that too under the patronage of policemen. While we welcome this bill, there is question: will Sindh Government be able to implement the proposed law in its true letter and spirit?

RiAZ AHMAD SOOMRO Shikarpur

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

eU, UK find The will To geT a brexiT deal, worK on The way BRUSSELS

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AGENCIES

HE European Union said Friday that talks with the U.K. to find an amicable divorce deal were back on track, despite huge challenges and a looming end-of-month deadline for Britain to leave the bloc.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said he has “received promising signals” from Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar that a Brexit deal is still possible, so he has extended a deadline to continue the Brexit talks. Tusk, speaking in Nicosia, said “for the first time” Varadkar and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson saw a pathway toward a deal, adding that “even the slightest chance must be used” to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Immediately, the wheels of the negotiating machinery started churning again.

Johnson’s Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, got a warm welcome from EU negotiator Michel Barnier before they started almost two hours of talks around breakfast. “If there is a will, there is, of course, a way. Otherwise people would not be working on this,” said EU Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva.

Originally, Tusk said he was planning to pull the plug Friday on the Brexit talks, but because of the breakthrough he can now see talks going through the weekend, ahead of the EU’s two-day summit, which starts next Thursday.

Tusk said “there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up” but insisted both sides should use every opportunity available ahead of Britain’s scheduled Oct. 31 departure date.

“A no-deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU,” Tusk said.

Johnson said late Thursday there was

a “pathway” to a belated agreement to stave off a chaotic, costly no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31, while Varadkar said the meeting was “very positive.”

After meeting with Barclay, Barnier said it was essential to keep focus.

“Brexit is like climbing a mountain.

We need vigilance, determination and patience,” said the man who once organized the 1992 Winter Olympics in his Savoie region of France. The main stumbling block remains how to handle the U.K.’s only land border with the EU, which is on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The challenge of keeping this border invisible — something that has underpinned both the local economy and the region’s peace deal — has dominated Brexit discussions for three years, ever since U.K. voters chose in 2016 to leave the EU. Tusk insisted “even the slightest chance must be used” to avoid an acrimo-

Climate protester lies atop aeroplane to disrupt London City airport

LONDON AGENCIES

A protester lay on top of a plane while another forced a jet to turn around on the runway as climate change activists descended on London City Airport on

Thursday, causing some disruption but ultimately failing to cancel flights.

Protest organisers Extinction Rebellion had vowed to occupy the airport’s terminal and shut down operations for three days as part of its action in the British capital.

London City is the capital’s fifthbiggest — and most central — airport, popular with business travellers, bankers, and politicians for short-haul and regional routes. A Reuters photographer saw one man, former paralympian cyclist James Brown, lay himself across the top of the body of a British Airways Embraer 190 jet.

“I managed to get on the roof,” Brown said in a video he posted online.

“This is all about the climate and ecological crisis. We’re protesting against government inaction.” He was eventually removed. A spokesperson for BA said “we are investigating what happened as a matter of urgency”.

The group said they were protesting plans to expand the airport, which aims to have 6.5 million passengers a year by 2022 compared to the 4.8 million in 2018, and which has said there could be demand for as many as 11 million by 2035. On Thursday, 18,000 passengers were due to arrive or depart from the airport, with 286 flights scheduled.

While some protesters got inside the terminal building, flights were continuing, though some were delayed.

An Aer Lingus plane was forced to stop taxiing and return to its gate when

nious split since both the EU and the U.K. would be hit hard economically.

One way to do that could be to extend the Oct. 31 deadline so that negotiators have more time to work things out in legally-binding detail. But Johnson has insisted that Britain is leaving on Oct. 31 “do or die” — with or without a divorce deal.

France has also long said that deadlines cannot be extended forever, since Britain was originally slated to leave the bloc on March 31.

a passenger got up to give a speech about climate change. “I’m extremely sorry to disturb everybody here. We have two generations of human civilisation left if we carry on doing what we’re doing,” the unnamed man said in a video of the incident, as he politely declined efforts by staff and passengers to get him to sit down.

Aer Lingus said that a passenger was removed from the flight to Dublin due to “disruptive behaviour on board.”

Extra security measures at the airport meant that most of the protesting happened well away from the runway.

Protesters glued themselves to the terminal building, occupied a nearby Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station and blocked roads around the airport.

Police have made hundreds of arrests so far this week as the protesters have sought to shut down London with two weeks of civil disobedience.

“We continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure the safe operation of the airport, which remains fully open and operational,” a spokesman for London City Airport said.

Police said that they had arrested one person on a flight on the runway with a number of people arrested outside the airport, without specifying how many.

The airport said it is “committed to building a more sustainable future for the airport and the aviation industry” and has said it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. British Airways owner IAG also pledged on Thursday to meet that emissions target.

Sex tapes, scandals in Hungary’s local election campaign BUDAPEST AGENCIES

The campaign in Hungary for Sunday’s nationwide municipal elections has seen one outrageous event after another: Candidates have been caught on secret sex tapes or alleged to be using drugs; one opposition candidate’s poster has been smeared with feces and a pro-government activist provoked another opposition candidate with a phallic sex toy.

“We’re in the middle of a singularly dirty campaign,” Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, said at a government news conference this week, calling the release of the sex videos “the low point of Hungarian political life.” Gulyas was asked so many questions about a secret video of Zsolt Borkai, a former Olympic champion gymnast shown having sex on a yacht with alleged prostitutes, that he said he feared that the televised press event would have to be labeled as unsuitable for minors.

Borkai is running for re-election as mayor of the northwestern city of Gyor, representing Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party. Another leaked sex video featured an opposition politician, Tamas Wittinghoff, the mayor of a town near Budapest. Both men said they had apologized to their families but had no plans to abandon their candidacies.

While such campaign events may be more common in Western democracies, they are just now infiltrating Hungary’s political arena, attracting the interest of voters in a way that the country’s frequent corruption scandals no longer do. “Drugs or sex are elements which grab the attention even of those who don’t follow politics closely,” said Andrea Virag, strategic director at Republikon Institute, a Budapest-based liberal think-tank. “It’s new that the private life of politicians has been mixed into the campaign.”

Hungarians will be choosing over 3,100 mayors and 16,000 councilors nationwide in Sunday’s vote, which is expected to have serious consequences ahead of a parliamentary election in

2022. “This is the dress rehearsal of opposition cooperation,” Virag said. “It will be a good test to see to what extent the different opposition voter bases can be unified behind a single joint candidate.”

Similarly to Turkey and Poland, where in the past year opposition candidates have been elected as mayors of the capital cities, a victory in Budapest for Gergely Karacsony, who has the support of five left-wing, liberal or Green parties, could be a first step in the opposition’s efforts to break the dominance of Orban and Fidesz, who have easily swept parliamentary, municipal and European Parliament elections since 2010. “Winning Budapest … would make a great difference in the state of mind and the motivation of both

CMYK

the opposition politicians and the opposition voters,” Virag said.

Karacsony, who has been mayor of Budapest’s Zuglo district since 2014, wants to tax luxury real estate and use the proceeds to alleviate the capital’s housing shortage. He is also proposing measures to cut down on tourist overcrowding and says he will gradually make Budapest’s vast public transportation network free of charge.

Opposition victories would be “the first serious check on power” for a government “that centralizes not just politics but the economy and the media,” said Karacsony, who according to several polls is in a statistical dead heat with incumbent Istvan Tarlos.

Nominally an independent but running as the Fidesz candidate, Tarlos has promised, with Orban’s backing, to continue Budapest’s infrastructure development, including the renovation of the capital’s iconic Chain Bridge and the installation of air conditioning on the M3, the city’s longest subway line.

Usually unruffled, Tarlos recently confronted an opposition politician who tried to troll one of his press events, yelling into a megaphone he held just inches from the other man’s face, calling him a “wretched figure.” “This campaign has been about everything except the mayor’s competencies and achievements,” Tarlos said on state television.

In Paris, France’s European affairs minister, Amelie de Montchalin, had another take on the debate, saying that a nodeal Brexit “is probable, at this stage.”

De Montchalin told France Inter radio that she does not see an obvious reason to grant a further extension to the U.K. “I have a fundamental question: why give more time. If it is time for the sake of time? It has taken one year, even three years, and we don’t really get it,” she said.

alexei leonov, 1sT hUman To walK in space, dies in moscow MOSCOW: Russia’s space agency says Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space 54 years ago, has died in Moscow.

He was 85. Roscosmos says in a statement on its website that Leonov died on Friday. It did not provide details.

Leonov performed his spacewalk on March 18, 1965, when he exited his Voskhod 2 capsule, secured by a tether.

On his second trip to space ten years later, Leonov commanded the Soviet half of the Apollo-Soyuz 19 mission. It was the first joint space mission between the Soviet Union and the United States, carried out at the height of the Cold War. The cosmonaut turned 85 in May. Several days before that, two Russian crewmembers on the International Space Station ventured into open space on a planned spacewalk with stickers attached on their spacesuits paying tribute to him, and congratulated him from space.

Roscosmos said Leonov would be buried Tuesday at a military memorial cemetery outside Moscow. AGENCIES

arresTed Japanese sTalKer Used pUpil image reflecTions TOKYO: A man arrested on suspicion of stalking a female pop idol used the reflections of her pupils in photos she shared on social media and Google Street View to find where she lived. Tokyo police declined comment on the specifics of the investigation but confirmed Friday that 26-year-old Hibiki Sato was arrested Sept. 17 on suspicion of indecent behavior in connection with stalking and causing injuries to the 20-year-old woman. The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as is often policy at Japanese bureaucracies, said the case was related to the reports about a stalker and pupil images. Police described Sato as an “avid fan.” Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported this week that details in the woman’s selfies were used to identify the train station she frequented. They said Sato looked at other images she shared, such as her apartment, to figure out where she lived. Police say he hurt her and committed indecent acts, such as groping her after accosting her from behind and knocking her down.

Japan has many young female performance groups. AGENCIES

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

BUSINESS 11

CORPORATE CORNER

TrADe DefIcIT ShrInkS 35Pc To $5.72Bn ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD: Occupational English Test (OET), a testing service for healthcare professionals, will be available in Islamabad at AEO Pakistan from next month. PRESS RElEASE

ISLAMABAD: As part of its annual tradition, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has launched a month-long breast cancer awareness campaign. P R E S S R E l E A S E

LAHORE: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman and WAPDA Sports Board Patron-inChief Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain receives the 33rd National Games 2019 torch in a ceremony held at the WAPDA House. P R E S S R E l E A S E

LAHORE: Vivo has unveiled its new V17 Pro smartphone in Lahore. Vivo’s first Brand Ambassador in Pakistan Fahad Mustafa, along with other celebrities, fashion icons, tech KOLs and Vivo’s business partners, was also present on the occasion. P R E S S R E l E A S E

LAHORE: HBL, Ufone and Huawei have signed a landmark agreement, through which HBL has extended bilateral trade finance in Chinese Yuan (RMB/CNY) for the import of cellular network equipment through Huawei Technologies. The ceremony was witnessed by HBL President & CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb, PTCL & Ufone President & CEO Rashid Khan and Huawei Pakistan CEO Chi Linchun. P R E S S R E l E A S E

W

GHUlAM ABBAS

ITH a slight increase in exports and a significant decrease in imports, the overall trade deficit in the first quarter of the ongoing financial year (FY20) has decreased by 35pc.

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country's trade deficit stood at $5.727 billion in the quarter ending 30th September 2019, as compared to $8.791 billion in the same period of fiscal year.

The decline was largely driven by a fall in imports, which reduced by 20.59pc during the period under review. Exports increased by a nominal 2.75pc.

According to the PBS data, the volume of exports during the first three months of FY 20

IMPORTS FALL 20.5PC, EXPORTS UP 2.7PC DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF FY20 clocked in at $5.522 billion, as compared to $5.374 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal.

The imports fell to $11.249 billion in JulySeptember 2019, as against $14.165 billion in the same period last year.

On a month-on-month basis, exports increased by 2.67pc during the month of September 2019, from $1.723 billion in Sept 2018 to $1.769 billion. Similarly, imports dropped by 13.90pc, from $4.396 billion in Sept 2018 to $3.785 billion. The trade deficit thus showed a sharp decline of 24.58pc in the month under review when com-

MoneyGram launches bank deposit service in Pakistan

pared with the same month last year.

According to sources, the Commerce Division had expected double-digit growth in exports during September 2019, provided that “the mystery regarding export figures of $300 million was resolved”. PM's Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood was reportedly shocked to learn that there was a discrepancy of $300 million in the first two months (July-August) of FY20 noted in export figures of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Dawood, who presided over a meeting last week, directed the stakeholders concerned to sort out the said issue at the earliest.

The overall growth in exports during the first quarter of the current fiscal year has been nominal and if the $1 billion worth export quota of China is excluded, the growth would have been negative.

ADB, Pakistan sign $200m loan agreement to expand BISP outreach ISLAMABAD

NEWS DESK

STAFF REPORT

MoneyGram Chairman & CEO Alex Holmes has signed a contract with BankAlfalah CEO Bilal Asghar to launch a new bank deposit service which will allow the customers to send money to any bank account in Pakistan.

The ceremony, held in London, was presided over by Prime Minister's Spokesman on Trade & Investment for UK & Europe Sahibzada Jahangir.

While addressing the media, he remarked, "Pakistan is a key market that is positioned for growth, especially in terms of receiving remittances.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Xiaohong Yang and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed on Friday signed a $200 million additional financing agreement to help support the government’s flagship social protection initiative, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). BISP Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta signed the accompanying project agreement with ADB, according to a statement issued by the Economic Affairs Division.

Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar was also present on the occasion. BISP, considered one of the largest social protection programmes in South Asia, is part of a larger government strategy called “Ehsaas”, which focuses on the eradication of poverty and inequality. The programme supports Ehsaas through cash transfers, poverty graduation initiatives, and a targeted safety net. The ADB-financed Social Protection Development Project, approved in October 2013, has enabled the enrollment of over 855,000 women beneficiaries to the programme.

The $200 million additional financing will continue to support this initiative as well as help BISP to implement institutional strengthening measures. “ADB’s additional financing will support further institutional strengthening of BISP. A policy research unit will be established within BISP to help monitor and improve ongoing programmes and design new evidencebased initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, following global best practices,” said ADB Country Director Xiaohong Yang. She added that ADB was committed to helping Pakistan implement alternate modalities for social protection and poverty reduction that promote improved human capital and reduction in intergenerational poverty. Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar on the occasion appreciated the bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistan and its people, saying that the assistance from ADB will help further strengthen the national social protection programme and provide support to the poorest segment of the population under the government’s Ehsaas strategy.

In line with PM Imran Khan's policies to eliminate money laundering and facilitate overseas Pakistanis in remitting their hard-earned money back to Pakistan, this new arrange-

ment between MoneyGram & BankAlfalah will provide customised solutions that best serve their needs."

The ceremony was attended by senior bankers.

India's industrial output shrinks at fastest rate in more than six years NEW DELHI: India’s industrial output shrank at its fastest rate in more than six years in August, reflecting the impact of an economic slowdown that could prompt the central bank to cut its key policy rate for the sixth time in December.

Annual industrial output contracted 1.1pc in August compared with 4.6pc growth in the previous month, government data showed on Friday. It was the worst performance since a 1.7pc contraction in November 2012, data compiled by the Statistics ministry showed.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast industrial output for the month to have grown at 1.8pc. Subdued inflation and an economic slowdown have prompted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut interest rates by a total of 135 basis points this year, including a 25basis-point cut last week, making it the most

aggressive central bank in Asia.

“Another rate cut in December seems likely,” Shilan Shah, of Capital Economics, said before the release of the data.

India’s infrastructure output fell in August from a year earlier, the first contraction since April 2015, signaling the recovery in Asia’s third largest economy may be slow despite a cut in the corporate tax rate and other policy measures designed to spur investment.

India’s passenger vehicle sales slumped 23.7pc in September, the 11th straight month of declines, prompting an industry body to flag more job cuts if sales failed to pick up soon.

Car and auto component makers have cut thousands of jobs and halted some production as the industry grapples with various challenges amid a broader economic slowdown. AGENCIES

Toyota unveils revamped hydrogen sedan to take on Tesla TOKYO AGENCIES

LAHORE: Samsung Electronics Pakistan Managing Director Roy Chang, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation CEO Danish Jabbar Khan and Punjab Skill Development Fund CEO Jawad Khan sign an MOU for the second edition of “Aangan” to improve the financial outlook and create opportunities for women. P R E S S R E l E A S E

Toyota Motor Corp unveiled a completely redesigned hydrogen-powered fuel cell sedan on Friday in its latest attempt to revive demand for the niche technology that it hopes will become mainstream.

Japan’s biggest automaker has been developing fuel-cell vehicles for more than two decades, but the technology has been eclipsed by the rapid rise of rival battery-powered electric vehicles promoted by the likes of Tesla Inc.

Ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show starting on Oct 24, Toyota unveiled a prototype of the new hydrogen sedan built on the same platform as its luxury Lexus brand’s LS coupe. The new Mirai model boasts longer driving range than its predecessor and completely redesigned fuel cell stack and hydrogen tanks, the company said. “We wanted to make a car that people really want to buy, not just because it’s an eco-car,” Yoshikazu Tanaka, chief engineer of the new Mirai, said at the unveiling.

“We wanted something that’s fun to drive.”

Its sporty redesign with longer wheelbase and lower-slung chassis is a marked departure from the firstgeneration Mirai, which looks like a bulked-up Prius hybrid.

The new car also has a 30pc improvement in driving range over the previous iteration’s approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles), according to the company.

Tanaka said the latest Mirai would cost less to make than its predecessor, because of a shift to mass production. The current model is mostly assembled by hand.

Costing consumers about 5 mil-

lion yen ($46,500) after subsidies in Japan, the original Mirai is one of three fuel cell cars available to consumers. Hyundai Motor Co sells the Nexo, while Honda Motor Co Ltd leases out the Clarity.

Toyota has sold fewer than 10,000 of the Mirai, a fuel cell sedan it touted as a game changer at its launch five years ago. By contrast, Tesla sold 25,000 of battery-powered Model S sedans in its first year and a half. Toyota declined to disclose a price for the model and said it would be available from late next year in Japan, North America and Europe.

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

12 BUSINESS MARKET DAILY

Stocks extends rally, kSe-100 closes 447 points higher INDEX SURGES 1,442 POINTS OR 4.37PC IN WEEK, ENDS AT 34,475.69 KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Bulls controlled the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) once again on Friday, as the indices remained in the green zone throughout the session amid healthy volumes. Foreign investors turned out to be net sellers on Thursday with a net outflow of $1.90 million. On the economic front, remittances received from overseas Pakistanis grew by 17.56pc in September 2019, as compared to the same month last year. Over 80pc of the remittances were received from five countries, namely Saudi Arabia (24pc), UAE (21pc), USA (16pc), UK (15pc) and Malaysia (7pc). The KSE-100 Index gained 1,442.37 points or 4.37pc during the week, closing at 34,475.69 (+447 points on Friday). The KMI-30 Index appreciated by 1.57pc to end at 55,326.86, while the KSE All Share Index accumulated 220.01 points, ending at 24,794.59. Out of the total traded shares, 210 advanced, 141 declined while the value of 17 remained unchanged. The overall market volumes improved significantly during the week, averaging at around 284 million. Volumes on Friday were recorded at 287.03 million. Worldcall Telecom (WTL 0.00pc), Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited (LOTCHEM +0.37pc) and TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG +4.42pc) dominated the volume chart, with 30.82 million shares, 19.11 million shares and 18.79 million shares exchanging hands respectively. Sectors that helped the KSE-100 Index stay in the green zone included banking (+169.75 points), oil and gas exploration (+88.52 points) and fertiliser (+39.33 points). Among the companies, Habib Bank Limited (HBL +75.13 points), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC +36.21 points) and Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC +32.72 points) remained the top contributors to the index. The cement sector added 1.25pc in its cumulative market capitalization. Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +2.75pc), Cherat Cement Company Limited (CHCC +2.54pc) Attock Cement (Pakistan) Limited (ACPL +1.65pc) managed to close with decent gains.

Baqir seeks to enhance women’s role in financial services BUSINESS DESK State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir has stressed the need for commercial banks to simplify the banking system for women, asking all stakeholders to come up with proposals to enhance women’s role in financial services. “Only 7pc to 25pc of women own bank accounts in Pakistan,” Dr Reza Baqir said while addressing the ‘LadiesFund Women’s Awards for Pakistan’ at the Governor House on Friday. “In comparison, 58pc women have access to formal financial services in Saudi Arabia and 92pc in Iran.” He said Islam does not prohibit women from indulging in monetary affairs, adding that the provision of equal opportunities to women could help improve the national economy. “There are examples of many countries that progressed after they allowed their women to play a role in their economies,” he maintained.

“The central bank has launched programmes in 168 districts across the country to enhance female literacy rate.”

LadiesFund Women’s Awards for Pakistan is a recognition award, the first of its kind in Pakistani history for women and is designed to acknowledge and celebrate the top female role models and achievers particularly entrepreneurs in Pakistan. All winners on the occasion received a plaque and a LadiesFund membership card.

‘DuBAI LAnD DePArTmenT To ProvIDe DeTAILS of PAkISTAnI ProPerTy oWnerS’ UAE HAS AGREED TO SHARE DETAILS OF PROPERTIES OWNED BY 500 NON-IQAMA HOLDER PAKISTANI NATIONALS

f

BUSINESS DESK

EDERAL Board of Revenue Chairman Syed Shabbar Zaidi said on Friday that the tax authority has held a very productive meeting over October 9 and 10 with UAE officials on the exchange of information regarding property owners.

“Dubai Land Department will instantly provide details of Pakistani owners of Dubai properties,” Zaidi wrote on Twitter. “Iqama abuse is also being handled.”

Meanwhile, according to private media outlet, UAE has agreed to share details of the properties owned by 500 non-Iqama holder Pakistani nationals that will provide valuable information to the tax machinery as it remains unable to effectively utilise the previous offshore information.

Both the countries also agreed to renegotiate the Pak-UAE avoidance of double taxation treaty that would also help remove irritants in cooperation in areas of taxation.

But the issue of sharing details of Pakistani nationals, who also hold UAE residence visa, known as Iqama, under its Residence by Investment (RBI) policy remains unresolved.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has already sought the help of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to resolve the Iqamaholder issue. The Dubai authorities agreed to provide non-Iqama holder Pakistanis’ information during a meeting held between the officials of UAE’s Ministry of Finance and the FBR Directorate General of International Taxes.

Earlier on October 5, Zaidi had said that in the last 20 years, around $6 billion had been siphoned off on an annual basis from the country.

Noting that this figure had been reported in the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well, he had described the flight of capital from the country was a serious matter.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB)

Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had also expressed frustration over what he called ‘cold response’ from other countries with regard to providing legal assistance required to proceed against the suspects having off-shore holdings.

“White-collar crime begins from Lahore and reaches Islamabad from where it goes to Dubai and other states and one fine morning we come to know that properties and farmhouses have been made (by suspects) in Europe, the USA and Australia. When we approach these countries (they do not bother) because we have a begging bowl in our hand, how come we (could) talk to them on equal footing,” he had said during a press briefing earlier this month. He had said even a small country did not listen to Pakistan when it sought evidence against a suspect.

Car sales decline 39pc in Sept NEWS DESK Car sales in Pakistan registered a decline of 39pc in Sept 2019, compared with the same month of last year.

This is primarily attributable to higher auto prices post rupee devaluation, higher interest rates for auto financing, and overall economic slowdown affecting disposable income.

Honda (HCAR) remained the biggest contributor to the industry's decline, as its sales went down 68pc in Sept 2019, followed by Indus Motors (INDU -57pc) and Pak Suzuki (PSMC -18pc).

The significant attrition in INDU's volumes was mainly due to a 59pc YoY decline in its Corolla variant, which historically has supported the company's overall vol-

umes and has been the consumers' preferred choice in the sedan category. Similarly, the sales of Fortuner and Hilux plunged by 43pc and 32pc during the month under review.

HCAR suffered badly in Sept,

as the sale of City & Civic fell by 66pc YoY amid a significant hike in their prices. BR-V continued to underperform as its sales were down by a whopping 82pc.

PSMC's 18pc decline in Sept

was led by Wagon-R, sales of which down 74pc YoY mainly due to the shift of customers' interest towards Alto and recently launched Picanto

by Kia Lucky Motors.

Alto recorded sales of 4,924 units for September, highest monthly sales since its launch. Although PSMC has recently raised prices of Alto by Rs70,000 – Rs85,000, but being an entry segment car, experts believe that it will perform well in the upcoming months as well. Bolan & Ravi variants were down 67pc and 73pc YoY, respectively. Swift sales were down by 59pc compared with the same period last year.

Atlas Honda (ATLH) registered a decline of 22pc, as its sales clocked in at 75,007 units, lowest in the last 26 months.

Renault ousts CEO in post Ghosn-era reset PARIS AGENCIES

Renault’s board voted on Friday to oust chief executive Thierry Bollore, as the French carmaker and Japanese partner Nissan seek a fresh start following the scandal-hit tenure of former alliance supremo Carlos Ghosn.

Relations between Renault, which named its finance director as temporary CEO, and Nissan, which picked a new CEO on Tuesday, have been strained since Ghosn’s arrest in

Tokyo last year on allegations of financial misconduct, which he denies.

Bollore, who had long been Ghosn’s righthand man, was promoted to help steady Renault this year, with Jean-Dominique Senard hired from Michelin as chairman.

But Bollore had had an uneasy relationship with Nissan, according to sources familiar with the matter, and Renault and the French state, its key shareholder, have repeatedly emphasized their wish to repair ties and reinforce the alliance.

Tensions between the partners were further

inflamed this year, including during various spats over governance reforms, and after a failed deal under Senard’s watch to pair Renault up with Fiat Chrysler, which withdrew a merger offer.

Renault said on Friday that financial director Clotilde Delbos would take over Bollore’s job on an interim basis.

“The board of directors decided to end the mandate of Mr Thierry Bollore as Chief Executive Officer of Renault ... with immediate effect,” the company said in a statement.

Renault shares were up 4.2pc at 1030 GMT.

Oil rises 2pc after reports of Iranian tanker attack NEW YORK AGENCIES

Oil prices rose about 2pc on Friday after Iranian media said a state-owned oil tanker had been attacked in the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia, pushing Brent crude above $60 a barrel for the first time this month.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 gained $1.31, or 2.2pc, to $60.41 a barrel by 11:27 a.m. EDT (1527 GMT), after earlier reaching a session high of $60.65 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures rose 97 cents, or 1.8pc, to $54.52 a barrel. It earlier hit

$54.87 a barrel.

The gains were tempered by the In ternational Energy Agency’s forecast for weakened demand in 2020. Still, Brent and WTI were headed for their first weekly increases in three weeks. Brent was on track to rise 3.4pc for the week, while WTI was set to rise 3.3pc.

The Iranian Suezmax crude tanker was struck in the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia’s coast on Friday, Iranian media said, with various reports differing on the level of damage caused.

The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) said the ship was damaged

but stable and denied reports it had been set ablaze.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated in the wake of attacks on tankers and US drones in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping artery for the global oil trade.

The United States is sending more troops – potentially thousands – to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities. It did not specify how those troops would be used.

Both oil benchmarks are set to record their biggest daily rise since Sept 16, the first trading day after attacks on Saudi in-

stallations knocked out more than half of the kingdom’s crude output and temporarily pushed oil prices up by about 20pc.

Iranian oil exports are under US sanctions that have diminished Iran’s impact on the global supply picture.

“The market still has fresh memories of the Saudi Arabia attacks and the very quick price reversals afterwards. The price results of attacks this year have not been sustained in terms of risk premium,” said Petromatrix analyst Olivier Jakob.

“In terms of oil prices, the impact is limited unless you think Iran is going to retaliate in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday said that global oil markets had recovered quickly from the Saudi attacks and even face oversupply next year as global demand slows.

“Intuitively, the precision attacks on Saudi Arabia and the possibility of a repeat should keep the market on edge,” the IEA said in its report. “There should be talk of a geopolitical premium on top of oil prices.”

Troubled economic prospects for 2020 prompted the IEA to reduce its forecast for oil demand growth by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.2 million bpd.

5 TimeS madam Noor JehaN waS a TreNdSeTTer eveN Before iT Became cool

S

By Rohama Riaz

omE people did not need social media to get popular. They did not need any stylist and they created their own styles and trends. They did not have to copy other celebrities because they were a star on their own. Yes, malika-eTarannum -madam Noor Jehan gave us these fashion tips when they were not even in trend. so, basically, she is the real queen of all the fashion statements that we keep drooling over and keep chasing to look “kicky” and “up to date”.

cism and tries to learn from that.

By Rohama Riaz

Y

SMUDGY EYES

GLOSSY LIPS

oh well, if you think you have got it right, learn it from madam Noor Jehan. There is no match to her aura and the way she carried every eyeshadow with a grace that no one could ever do.

If all the 90 kids are thinking that they started this trend of lip gloss, you are terribly wrong.

This beauty inspiration solely belongs to madam Noor Jehan. honestly, there was a reason she was the queen of her era because she already knew what is class and what is not.

CHOKER

Did you say chokers were a trend in 2018? If so, look at the picture and get your answers straight away. how exquisite does it look to see every time Noor Jehan had a matching choker that very well complemented her each outfit. oh, that beauty!!!

HIGHLIGHTER

WINGED LINER

Did you see that glow? Noor Jehan was a masterpiece, perfection and an asset. she earned respect from everyone around her only through her talent and undying charm. It was impossible to take away the tag of fashion icon even at middle age because she always made sure that her appearance was on point. she knew that the glow was always essential to the cheekbones. *Wink*

No, not again.

That is still not our thing.

Noor Jehan’s winged liner is way better than many of the makeup artists around us. how flawless and pointed; we cannot just take our eyes off this beauty in her golden era.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

YASHMA GILL’S RECENT INTERVIEW WAS CERTAINLY AN EYE-OPENER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE! ashma Gill is certainly a new name in the television industry but she is definitely getting fast recognition in a very short span of time. starting her career with small TV roles, Yashma proved through her acting that she was much more than that and took over the small screen with a storm. she gave her star performances in Ghar Titli Ka Par, Qurban, Umm E haniya as well as ab Deikh Khuda Kya Karta hai. her recent drama Piya Naam Ka Diya has just ended and a new drama “alif” is on air to give us more of Yashma Gill on the screen.

Recently, in an interview with samina Pirzada, Yashma Gill opened up about her family, transition in her beliefs, her childhood and her acting career. This is what we learned from her conversation.

1. She takeS acting very SeriouSly and reliveS the character She iS playing to reach perfection. her success is no luck, in fact, it is all because of her hard work and the way she takes each role with so much dedication. she has the habit of reading the script two or three times and then getting into the character in every manner.

2. She iS talkative in the moSt adorable way. She iS frank, honeSt and extremely comfortable in her Skin.

Throughout the interview, Yashma Gill was very comfortable and did not hold back. she openly talked about her childhood traumas, her father’s two marriages and everything she went through. she was all smiles even when she spoke about her dark past and that truly is a sign of a winner.

3. She learned a lot while working on SetS, SometimeS through queStionS and SometimeS through obServation. actors usually give a very candid reply to such questions but, not Yashma. she casually spoke about how she was a silent learner who kept learning from her co-stars. she always wanted to be an actor and learned a lot from her co-stars while on set. she also added how she always takes comments as positive criti-

Jared Leto 'Upset' By Joaquin Phoenix Joker

Brie Larson Says Marvel Thinking Of All-Female Movie

With the Todd Phillips-directed Joker movie a smash hit, it is learned that Jared Leto felt upset with Warner Bros. moving ahead with the Joaquin Phoenix version of the movie.

Jared Leto played the Joker in the David ayer suicide squad movie, which wasn't that all well received, though it has been said massive amounts of footage featuring the Clown Prince of Crime had been cut or edited, much like the rest of the flick. In an article by ThR about how martin scorsese paved the way for the Joaquin Phoenix film, a tidbit is mentioned about how Jared Leto felt: Tsujihara and Emmerich greenlit Joker, which cost less than $70 million, leaving Jared Leto — who played Joker in suicide squad — alienated and upset by the move.

Regarding the Joaquin Phoenix movie, it's already closing in on $300 million. I saw the movie last night with my 15-year-old, and we loved it. What's pretty cool about it is that it can fit within existing DCEU continuity as arthur Fleck could inspire people to become their own versions of The Joker for years to come.

Brie Larson lets it be known that she and the rest of the female cast of the marvel movies have spoken with Kevin Feige about an all-female flick. speaking with Variety, Brie Larson offers: “I will say that a lot of the female cast members from marvel walked up to Kevin and we were like, ‘We are in this together, we want to do this,'” Larson explained. “What that means, I have no idea.

You know, I’m not in charge of the future of marvel, but it is something that we’re really passionate about and we love and I feel like if enough people out in the world talk about how much they want it, maybe it’ll happen.”

This isn't the first time the subject of a female marvel movie has come up as previously while promoting Captain marvel, Brie Larson said she wouldn't mind being the leader of an all-female avengers team: Duh! I mean, I feel like they have to elect me. We’ve been talking about this, about what our democratic system would be, as to who gets to be the leader — or if there even is one.

CMYK

4. She had a very SenSitive, inSecure and highly complexed childhood. all her childhood, Yashma was in a constant war with herself where she questioned her worth a million times. Yashma unintentionally related to so many girls who go through the same situation when born to a home that is either split into parts or where the birth of a girl is never welcomed.

5. She waS Someone who waS highly dependent on her friendS during her childhood.

To escape the shackles that she had put herself onto, Yashma found comfort in her friends and spent most of her teenage years with them. she started driving when she was just 14, she mentioned in the interview how this created a bad reputation for her.

6. yaShma not only fought back her own depreSSion but thiS made her Study pSychology So that She could help otherS fight too. since Yashma personally went through hell and back, she knew the importance of mental health early on in her life. she took her past as a sign for her future path and went to australia to study psychology.

7. from atheiSm, She found her way back to iSlam and from there began her journey of complete faith and tawakkal.

Yashma turned to atheism at one point in her life, because she believed everything around her was negative and that the concept of karma was flawed. Though, she found her way back by herself and finally found the peace she was looking for.

8. yaShma took no Shame in admitting that her love waS “lahaaSil.” she revealed bravely that she did fall in love but things did not work out the way she would have wanted. Even on that note, she said that hopeless lovers cherish their love forever as compared to those who succeed in finding their love.

Amitabh Bachchan, the master of comebacks who defeated bad health, returned from brink of bankruptcy It can be safely be said that actor amitabh Bachchan, who turns 77 on Friday, is an apt example of triumph of the spirit against seemingly insurmountable odds. If success has been his second nature, failure, misfortune and ill health have threatened his life at every juncture, at least in the last 35 years. on amitabh Bachchan’s birthday today, here’s a look the struggles he braved in his long and chequered life.

Born Inquilaab Bachchan in 1942, amitabh is the elder son of noted hindi poet harivansh Rai Bachchan. his mother Teji was a Punjabi sikh, originally hailing from Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) from modern-day Pakistan. his father named him so as it was the year of Gandhiji’s clarion call to the British: Quit India. however, at the behest of celebrated hindi poet sumitranandan Pant, harivansh Rai changed his son’s name to ‘amitabh’. By the mid and late 1970s, amitabh would become one of the biggest film personalities Indian screen has ever seen.

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

14 SPORTS

TsiTsipas says he 'scares' Big Three afTer BeaTing Djokovic NEW YORK

s

AGENCIES

TEFANOS Tsitsipas said that he scares the “Big Three” after the young Greek stunned world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals on Friday. The 21-year-old has now defeated Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal this year and faces another major talent on Saturday in the form of 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev.

Tsitsipas recovered from losing the opening three games in just seven minutes to shock the reigning champion 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Calling it the best comeback of his nascent career, the seventh-ranked Tsitsipas said he dreamt of beating the “Big Three”. But rather than being intimidated by then, Tsitsipas said: “I honestly feel like they are more threatened than I am and that makes me more relaxed on court. “I know I just have to hang in there and be able to be more aggressive.

“Once you get aggressive and they see you going for it, I might even say they get scared.”

It was a double celebration for Tsitsipas, who also confirmed his place in the prestigious seasonending ATP Finals.

Tsitsipas sealed the deal with a gleeful smash and held both arms aloft. Djokovic met his opponent with a warm embrace at the net. Djokovic, who had looked imperious up until now, had no complaints.

“He deserved the victory, he was the better player,” said the 32-year-old Serbian.

“Second and third set I started off very well, but then I wasn’t sharp. “I lacked that little bit of dynamic movement and acceleration in my shots.

“I didn’t have any breakpoints for two sets. I mean, he did serve well, credit to him, but just wasn’t pleased with the way I played.”

Asked if Tsitsipas has the potential to be number one, Djokovic replied: “He definitely has, yes.”

‘CRUSHING SERVE’: Djokovic says that he is fully recovered from a shoulder injury and did not drop a set in winning the title in Tokyo last week.

He had carried that ominous form into Shanghai and threatened to blow Tsitsipas away in the first set.

“He hit some insane shots, completely unbelievable, which I had no chance of getting back,” said the Greek. “I was saying to myself, how is this even possible?” But Tsitsipas found his feet in the second set, winning on a tie break, then went 3-1 up in the decider when Djokovic planted a forehand wide on the third break point. Tsitsipas grabbed his place at the ATP Finals after fourth-ranked Medvedev tamed self-styled “wild horse” Fabio Fognini 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in their quarter-final.

Fognini was vying for a ticket to the Finals in London. Medvedev — another of the next generation — sent down 12 aces to help see off Fognini and said: “I don’t know what happened, my serve was crushing it.” The Russian has a 12-0 record in quarter-finals this year and Djokovic this week described the US Open finalist as a “very complete” player.

Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, faces young German Alexander Zverev later Friday

in his quarter-final.

The other match is between Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who beat Tsitsipas to the China Open title on

King Kohli overhauls Bradman's Test runs tally with double ton

Welterweight boxing champ Spence hospitalized after car crash DALLAS AGENCIES

Undefeated welterweight boxing world champion Errol Spence is expected to make a full recovery after sustaining facial lacerations in a one-car crash in Dallas, his management team said in a statement on Friday.

“Errol Spence Jr., IBF/WBC unified welterweight world champion, was involved in a serious, single-car accident in Dallas early Thursday morning and is being treated at a Dallas-area hospital,” the statement said.

“Spence is awake and responding and his condition is listed as stable. He did not sustain any broken bones or fractures but has some facial lacerations. He is expected to make a full recovery.”

Spence was treated in an intensive care unit after his white Ferrari rolled over multiple times just before 3 am local time (0800GMT), Dallas television station KTVT reported, citing police.

Police said Spence’s vehicle was traveling at high speed when it went across a center median and flipped over several times, throwing the driver, identified as Spence, out of the car. “He is currently resting with his family by his side,” the statement said.

“They want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes and are extremely grateful to the Dallas first responders who rushed to the scene to attend to Errol after the accident and the doctors who are taking care of him at the hospital.”

Spence, a 29-year-old southpaw, unified the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles two weeks ago with a split-decision victory over fellow American Shawn Porter in Los Angeles, improving to 26-0 with 21 knockouts.

“My dad always tells me ‘this boxing thing is a part of your life but it’s not going to last forever. U still have a lot of life to live after that,'” Porter tweeted. “With that, I’m praying for @ErrolSpenceJr & his family because he has a lot of life to live and I pray he recovers quickly & fully.”

Spence, a welterweight quarter-finalist at the 2012 London Olympics, made his professional debut in 2012 and won his first world title, the IBF crown, by knocking out Britain’s Kell Brook in England in 2017.

Spence defended the title four times, beating American Lamont Peterson and Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo last year and American Mikey Garcia last March before his unification showdown triumph over Porter.

There had been early talk about a 2020 fight between Porter and reigning World Boxing Association welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, the 40-year-old Filipino icon who stands 62-7 with two drawn and 39 knockouts. “Praying for @ErrolSpenceJr,” Pacquiao tweeted.

Another possible future foe is World Boxing Organization champion Terrence Crawford, who tweeted: “Praying for you champ @ErrolSpenceJr get well we fighters I know you will.”

DEHLI: India skipper Virat Kohli struck a double century and surpassed batting great Don Bradman’s Test tally of 6,996 runs in the second Test against South Africa on Friday. Kohli completed his seventh 200 in his 81st Test. He swept Senuran Muthusamy for two runs to reach the landmark and raised his bat with a smile to an ovation from the crowd in Pune.

Kohli has now scored more than 7,000 Test runs at an average of over 53 since making his debut in the West Indies in 2011. The benchmark puts him in the top 50 Test run-getters, a field led by Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs in 200 matches. Tendulkar retired in 2013 with 100 international centuries across formats. Kohli has the most double hundreds among Indian batsmen, while Bradman leads the international list with 12 to his name.

Playing his 50th Test as captain, Kohli has overtaken many big names in Test cricket. Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Australian Steve Smith (6973 each), and former England batsman Len Hutton (6971) are now behind Kohli in Test runs. AGENCIES

Sunday, and Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

US Open champion Nadal is not in Shanghai because of a wrist injury.

Nike shuts down Oregon Project after coach Salazar banned Nike said on Friday it plans to shut down its Oregon Project training group after top athletics coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for doping.

Salazar, best known for coaching Britain’s four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, was last week handed a four-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for a catalogue of drugs violations.

The US sportswear giant had initially backed Salazar after the 61-year-old Cuban-born American denied the allegations.

Salazar’s doping violations include trafficking in testosterone,

“This situation, along with ongoing unsubstantiated assertions, is a distraction for many of the athletes and is compromising their ability to focus on their training and competition needs,” Parker said. “I have therefore made the decision to wind down the Oregon Project.” Parker said however that Nike would still support Salazar in his appeal against the ban.

“A four-year suspension for someone who acted in good faith is wrong,” said Parker in the memo, adding that “the panel found there was no orchestrated doping, no finding that performance-enhancing drugs have ever been used on Oregon Project athletes and went out of its way to note Alberto’s desire to follow all rules”.

tampering with the doping control process, and administering illicit infusions of the fat-burning substance, L-carnitine.

Salazar has vowed to appeal the ban and just last week, Mark Parker, Nike’s chief executive, announced that the company was standing behind Salazar, a marathon champion in his 20s and the leading figure in American distance running in the modern era.But in a memo to staff, Nike CEO Mark Parker said the project was being terminated because of the scandal.

ATHLETES FACING QUESTIONS: Athletes from the Oregon Project won three gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Doha that ended on Sunday.

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won the women’s 1,500 metres and 10,000 while Donavan Brazier of the United States took the men’s 800m gold. There is no suggestion either athlete has been involved in doping.

An angry Hassan said she was happy to be tested “every single day” to prove she was a clean athlete.

PORTLAND AGENCIES

Aussie scheme lets cricketers bat on after having kids SYDNEY: Cricket Australia unveiled a “game-changing” parental leave scheme Thursday designed to let players in its history-making women’s team remain in the game while raising a family. The policy includes 12 months’ paid parental leave for players who give birth and a guaranteed contract extension for the following season so they know they can return to the sport. Cricket Australia said it had been working on the policy with players and the Australian Cricketers Association for three years. “(It is) a world-leading parental leave policy providing all professional players peace of mind when starting a family,” it said. While primarily aimed at female players, the policy also includes provisions that will be available to men, including three weeks’ paid parental leave. AGENCIES

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Saturday, 12 October, 2019

SPORTS 15

BoTTas, hamilTon fasTesT Before japan gp hunkers Down for Typhoon TOKYO

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AGENCIES

ALTTERI Bottas was quickest Friday in practice before the Japanese Grand Prix locked down ahead of an approaching super typhoon, finishing a tenth of a second ahead of teammate and world championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes pair, benefiting in Japan from an aerodynamic upgrade package to their W10 cars, were comfortably ahead of the third-fastest Red Bull of Max Verstappen in the second session of the condensed racing weekend at Suzuka.

“It was a very positive day,” said Bottas. “We tried the new bits with the car. It felt good since the beginning.”

Just before the first session began on Friday morning, race organisers announced that the entire Saturday track programme, including qualifying, had been scrapped for safety reasons in the face of the approaching Super Typhoon Hagibis. Qualifying was rescheduled to 10am (0100 GMT) Sunday, with the race still taking place at 2:10pm (0510 GMT) as originally planned, providing the weather improves. “(We) still need to remember it’s only practice, Sunday is still going to be close with qualifying and the race,” Bottas said.

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, who had dominated practice

and qualifying at the previous four grands prix since the summer break, could only trail in fourth and fifth after failing to record a clean lap on the fastest soft tyres.

The loss of Saturday’s timetable added extra spice with only Friday’s two practice sessions available to prepare the cars for qualifying. And should bad weather linger on Sunday morning and prevent the qualifying session taking place, the governing body FIA confirmed that the timings from Friday’s second practice will be used to determine the starting grid.

That would leave Mercedes sitting pretty with a front-row lockout as they look to secure the one-two finish they need to clinch a record sixth successive constructors championship. Finland’s Bottas recovered from a mid-session spin on the final bend to lap the 5.807-kilometre circuit in 1min 27.8785sec, 0.100sec ahead of Britain’s Hamilton.

LOCAL HERO: Verstappen of the Netherlands was third on 1:28.066 in his Red Bull, 0.281sec slower than Bottas, with Monaco’s Leclerc was fourth on

1:28.141 and Vettel fifth on 1:28.376.

“Mercedes are looking very strong, which is no surprise on this track,” Verstappen told reporters. “But we made a good recovery from this morning.

“I’m not worried about doing qualifying and the race on Sunday as it won’t affect my approach. We can’t change the weather and it’s out of our control, so now we just have to see what happens on Sunday.” It was a timely riposte by Mercedes to the resurgent Ferrari team who had dominated practice and qualifying since the summer break.

A win for Hamilton on Sunday would leave only Bottas, who lies 73 points behind, able to catch him in the drivers’ standings with just four races to come after Japan. It would also put the Englishman in line to wrap up a sixth drivers’ title, a feat only previously achieved by Michael Schumacher, and third world title in a row at Mexico later this month.

The fanatical Japanese spectators, left reeling from the news of a blank Saturday, were given something to cheer on Friday morning as local hero Naoki Yamamoto made his Formula One debut, replacing Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso for the practice session. The 31-year-old reigning champion in Japan’s Super Formula and Super GT series completed 30 laps — more than any other driver in the session — and finished 17th fastest.

FIFA bans former Afghan general secretary in sexual abuse inquiry KABUL AGENCIES

Sayed Aghazada, the former general secretary of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), has been banned for five years and fined after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of violations relating to the abuse of female players.

The world soccer body said in a statement that the investigation concerned complaints lodged by several female Afghan football players against former AFF president Keramuudin Karim.

Karim was banned for life in June.

The female players’ complaints related to sexual abuse between 2013 and 2018, at a time when Aghazada, who is on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee, was general secretary.

“In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that Mr Aghazada was aware of this abuse and had the duty to report and prevent it according to the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said on Friday.

“Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Aghazada had breached … the FIFA Code of Ethics and sanctioned him with a ban … for five years. In addition, a fine in the amount of 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,000) has been imposed.”

Aghazada was also a FIFA standing committee member.

FIFA said Aghazada was notified of the decision on Friday, with the ban from all football activities nationally and internationally coming into force immediately. The AFC acknowledged the decision in a brief statement while refraining from comment.

The FIFA ethics committee said it was still looking into allegations against other officials as part of the investigation.

Afghan women’s coach Kelly Lindsey and programme director Khalida Popal wrote to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino in August to say that the soccer body needed urgently to widen the investigation.

They said action had yet to be taken against several other individuals named by

players as being directly or indirectly linked to the case. The Guardian newspaper reported last November that some members of the national women’s team had said they were molested by AFF officials at the federation’s headquarters and at a training camp in Jordan.

Aghazada told a news conference in Kabul in December that the allegations were “baseless”.

The AFF also warned then that the report could lead to threats against members of the women’s team.

Afghanistan is ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for women, and allegations of sexual contact outside marriage can have deadly consequences.

Victims of sexual harassment are often extremely reluctant to come forward for fear that they will be accused of adultery.

Formula One team boss fined for calling steward 'stupid' MOSCOW AGENCIES

Outspoken Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner was on Friday fined 7,500 euros ($8,250) and warned about his future behaviour for calling a race steward “stupid” and “idiotic” at the end of the Russian Grand Prix two weeks ago. Steiner was hauled in front of a hearing at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday where stewards ruled he had caused “moral injury to FIA officials”. Steiner launched his tirade over team radio after Kevin Magnussen was given a five-second time penalty for rejoining the track incorrectly after going off at turn two during the Sochi race.

The sanction relegated the Dane to ninth place from eighth. Steiner fumed moments after the chequered flag: “If we didn’t have a stupid, idiotic, steward we would be eighth.

“You know who is the steward.

You know him. It is always the same. He just does not get any more intelligent.” A statement from the FIA, detailing the ruling and fine, said: “This message over the team radio was broadcast to the public and has since been carried by a number of media outlets in both print and audio form. “(The message) is an insult to the stewards of the event and calls into question both the skills and the integrity of those stewards.

“The wording used by Mr Steiner has caused moral injury to FIA officials, was prejudicial to the interests of motorsport and therefore shall be deemed to be a breach of the rules. “Public personal attacks against individual officials are totally inappropriate and will not be accepted.

“Since no penalties have been imposed on Mr Steiner for similar behaviour in the past, a fine of the amount imposed is considered appropriate,” it concluded.

Iran women freely attend football match for first time in decades TEHRAN AGENCIES

Waving flags and snapping selfies, thousands of Iranian women on Thursday attended a football match freely for the first time in decades, after FIFA threatened to suspend the country over its controversial stadium restrictions.

Elated female fans wore the national green, white and red flag around their shoulders and over their hair as they streamed into a tiny section of Tehran’s Azadi Stadium for Iran’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Cambodia.

Some donned sporty hats over their headscarves, while others painted their faces with the colours of the flag.

Their beaming smiles underscored a day that felt victorious for the female fans, even before the match began.

And with every goal the Iranian team scored, the cheers in the women’s section grew louder.

By the end of the game, the Iranian side had won with a blowout of 14-0.

CMYK

For nearly 40 years, the Islamic republic has barred female spectators from entering football and other sports stadiums, with clerics arguing women must be shielded from the masculine atmosphere and sight of semi-clad men.

Last month, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Iran to allow women access to stadiums without restriction and in numbers determined by demand for tickets.

‘NO TURNING BACK’: That came after the death of Sahar Khodayari, who set herself ablaze last month outside a court in fear of being jailed for trying to attend a match. Dubbed “Blue Girl” because of the colours of the club she supported — Esteghlal FC — she had reportedly been detained last year when trying to enter a stadium dressed as a boy.

Her death sparked an outcry, with many calling for Iran to be banned and matches boycotted. FIFA feted Thursday’s match as “a very positive step forward”.

“FIFA now looks more than ever towards a future when ALL girls and

women wishing to attend football matches in… Iran will be free to do so, and in a safe environment,” it said.

“There can be no stopping or turning back now.” FIFA Foundation CEO Youri Djorkaeff called it “a great first”.

“There must be a beginning, and today, there was a beginning,” he told AFP. According to an AFP journalist, between 4,000 to 4,500 women watched the game, which was also attended by some 6,000 men.

Initially, only four sections of the stadium were opened to women, allowing for some 3,500 to attend the match, but nearly a thousand more were granted entrance halfway through. State news agency IRNA had earlier reported that 3,500 women purchased tickets ahead of the match. For Mojgan, 36, the night was a victory for women that only materialised because FIFA stepped in.

“This was 100 percent an achievement for women,” she told AFP after the match, waiting outside the stadium with her family and friends.

Saturday, 12 October, 2019

NEWS

Kashmiris will never accept modi's decision to revoKe region's autonomy, pm imran says IMRAN CALLS OUT INT’L MEDIA FOR PRIORITISING COVERAGE OF HONG KONG PROTESTS OVER KASHMIR SITUATION ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “played his last card” by downgrading the autonomy of occupied Kashmir, stressing that the residents of the disputed region will not accept the decision.

“Narendra Modi committed a mistake, he has played his last card,” he told the participants of a ‘human chain’ event held in Islamabad to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

He said Modi thinks that the people of occupied Kashmir will accept the decision

Three army majors dismissed from service over 'abuse of power' RAWALPINDI: Three majors of the Pakistan Army have been dismissed from service while two of them have also been awarded “rigorous imprisonment” after they were found guilty of indiscipline and misconduct charges, including abuse of authority and involvement in illegal activities, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Friday. According to the military’s media wing: “Upon [being] found guilty of the charges leveled against them, all three [have been] dismissed from service while two [have] also [been] awarded rigorous imprisonment for two years each.” “Charges included misuse of authority and involvement in illegal activities unbecoming of an officer,” the ISPR said. The exact nature of the charges have not been specified, however, and it remains unclear exactly what the three officers were found guilty of. Earlier in May, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa endorsed punishment to two senior retired army officers and one civil officer “on the charges of espionage/ leakage of sensitive information to foreign agencies prejudice to the national security”. “The officers were tried under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Official Secret Act by separate Field General Court Martial (FGCM) for separate cases,” said an ISPR statement at the time. Later in August, General Bajwa confirmed life imprisonment awarded to a serving major for misusing his authority.

According to an ISPR press release, prior to the sentence, the major was tried by a Field General Court Martial which found him guilty of misusing his authority.

of revoking Article 370. “He [Modi] doesn’t know that what the Kashmiri people have faced in the last several decades, it has eliminated the fear of death among them. Tens of thousands of Kashmiri people will not accept the decision and come out when the curfew is lifted,” he added.

Prime Minister Imran said people had gathered in the federal capital to deliver a message to the people of occupied Kashmir that the Pakistani nation stands with them.

“We will continue reminding the international community that eight million humans have been locked up in Kashmir,” he vowed.

The premier regretted the wall-towall coverage of the Hong Kong protests by international media, and the relative si-

lence surrounding the treatment of the people of Kashmir.

“I want to highlight the issue of double standards as Kashmir is not a part of India and Hong Kong is a part of China but the proportion of coverage of the Kashmiri people is very less as compared to the issue of Hong Kong,” he said.

“Our movement is for the human rights of the Kashmiri people; God willing it will become massive,” the prime minister added. His address came after a large number of people gathered in the capital after Friday prayers to form a ‘human chain’ from D-Chowk to Radio Pakistan Chowk in a show of solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran joined the chain as it passed through the Prime Minister’s Office.

Earlier in the day, PM Imran wrote on Twitter: “I am puzzled as to how international media continues to give headline coverage to Hong Kong protests but ig-

October 11, 2019 The tweets came ahead of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting to reconfigure ties strained by tough talk on the occupied Kashmir issue by both sides.

‘BREAK THE CHAINS’: Addressing the event, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said the premier had promised to the Kashmiri people that he will approach each and every forum to highlight their plight. She the message delivered by the prime minister with his participation in the human chain was of “connectivity — of one hand with another and one heart with another”.

“The chain was formed to shake the silence of the global community and the international media,” she said, adding that Prime Minister Imran had once again told the world that the Pakistani nation will continue to raise voices for Kashmir.

Imran assures Erdogan of Pakistan’s support over Turkey's Syria operation ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday assured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Pakistan’s support for Ankara as it faces international pressure over Turkey’s ongoing operation against Kurdish forces in Syria.

The premier, during a telephonic conversation, told the Turkish president that “Pakistan fully understands Turkey’s concerns relating to terrorism”, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“As a country which has lost more than 70,000 lives due to terrorism and borne the burden of more than 3 million refugees for decades, Pakistan is fully cognisant of the threats and challenges being faced by Turkey having lost 40,000 of its people to terrorism,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

“We pray that Turkey’s efforts

for enhanced security, regional stability and peaceful resolution of the Syrian situation are fully successful,” he added.

Turkey considers Kurdish militants in northern Syria a “terrorist” offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in its own territory.

It wants a 30 kilometre wide buffer zone along the border, which can also serve as an area to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey.

In this regard, Turkey earlier this week launched a military offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, causing concerns among several countries who have called on Ankara to show restraint.

During the phone call, Prime Minister Imran said that the government and people of Pakistan are looking forward to accord a warm welcome to President Erdogan on his forthcoming visit to Pakistan later this month.

100,000 flee homes in Syria; Trump threatens sanctions AKCAKALE: Some 100,000 people have fled their homes in north Syria, the UN reports, as Turkey presses on with its cross-border offensive on Kurdish-held areas. Meanwhile, US has threatened to impose “very significant” sanctions on Turkey. Many people are sheltering in schools or other buildings in Hassakeh city and the town of Tal Tamer, the UN says. Turkey took action on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump pulled American troops out of the area. At least 11 civilians have died. Humanitarian groups say the number of people affected will rise further. Analysts say the US withdrawal in effect gave Turkey the green light to begin its cross-border assault. One major concern for the international community is the fate of thousands of suspected IS prisoners, including many foreign nationals, being guarded by Kurdish-led forces in the region.

TRUMP THREATENS SANCTIONS: President Trump threatened Friday to impose “very significant” sanctions on Turkey over its decision to bombard American-allied Kurds in northeast Syria. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions could be levied against any person associated with the government of Turkey and any “portion of the government.” “At this point we are not activating the sanctions,” Mr. Mnuchin said. Instead, Mr. Trump has signed executive orders that put the sanctions threat on the table. Mr. Mnuchin said Mr. Trump does not feel as though his decision to move American troops out of the way in Syria contributed to Turkey’s decision to strike. AGENCIES

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel peace prize

ANP announces support for JUI-F; Imran says option for talks open As Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali announced “full support” for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) upcoming ‘Azadi March”, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that option for talks would remain open. Wali, while addressing reporters, said that he himself would participate in the protest rally once it reaches the federal capital. He also warned that if political workers are stopped or tortured then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister would be responsible. Meanwhile, while chairing a high-level meeting, the premier was asked if a committee was formed to talk to JUI-F, to which he said that there was no need for it. He added that “if someone wants to talk, the option should remain open”. It is worth mentioning here that earlier in the day, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif had also announced that he would support JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his anti-government protests. NEWS DESK

nores the dire human rights crisis in IOJK — an internationally recognised disputed territory illegally annexed by India with 900,000 troops imposing a siege on 8 million Kashmiris [contd] for over 2 months, with a complete blackout of communications, thousands imprisoned — including [the] entire spectrum of political leadership plus children — and a growing humanitarian crisis.” “In IOJK, 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed over 30 years fighting for their right to self-determination as committed to them by the international community through UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.

For over 2 months with a complete blackout of communications, thousands imprisoned,including entire spectrum of political leadership plus children, & a growing humanitarian crisis. In IOJK 100k Kashmiris have been killed over 30 yrs fighting for their right to self determination — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI)

ADDIS ABABA AGENCIES

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 in recognition of his efforts to end his country’s twodecade border conflict with Eritrea.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute on Friday also praised the “important reforms” that Abiy, Ethiopia’s leader since April 2018, has launched at home. The prize comes as Abiy faces pressure to uphold the sweeping freedoms he introduced, and critics warn that his

ability to deal with rising domestic unrest may be slipping.

The Nobel committee said some people may consider it too early to give him the prize, but “it is now that Abiy Ahmed’s efforts need recognition and deserve encouragement.”

The award, the 100th Nobel Peace Prize, reflects the committee’s taste for trying to encourage works in progress. Abiy said he was “humbled and thrilled.” In a call with the Nobel committee, he laid out his hope that the award will be taken “positively” by other African leaders “to work on (the) peacebuilding

process on our continent.”

Abiy, 43, took office after widespread protests pressured the longtime ruling coalition and hurt one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Africa’s youngest leader quickly announced dramatic reforms and “Abiymania” began. On taking office, Abiy surprised people by fully accepting a peace deal ending a 20-year border war between the two East African nations that saw tens of thousands of people killed. Ethiopia and Eritrea had not had diplomatic ties since the war began in 1998, with Abiy himself once fighting in a town that remained contested at the time of his announcement last year.

Within weeks, the visibly moved Eritrean president, Isaias Afwerki, visited Addis Ababa and communications and transport links were restored. For the first time in two decades, long-divided families made tearful reunions.

The improving relations led to the lifting of United Nations sanctions on Eritrea, one of the world’s most reclusive nations. But Ethiopia’s reforms do not appear to have inspired any in Eritrea, which has since closed border posts with its neighbor.

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

CMYK

China's president in India for summit amid Kashmir tensions NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in India on Friday for a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time of tensions over Beijing joining Pakistan in opposing India’s downgrading of occupied Kashmir’s autonomy and the ongoing lockdown in the disputed region. Xi landed at the Chennai airport, where Tamil Nadu state Governor Banwarilal Purohit greeted him with a bouquet as a cultural group beat drums and blew horns. India’s foreign ministry said Xi and Modi will meet at the seaside temple town of Mamallapuram for talks on regional and global developments later Friday and Saturday. Their one-to-one meeting in Wuhan in China in April last year also was preceded by tensions caused by a 10-week standoff between their armed forces on the Bhutan border. China claims some 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin Plateau in the western Himalayas. Officials have met at least 20 times to discuss the competing border claims without making significant progress.

The two countries fought a bloody border war in 1962. AGENCIES