E-Paper PDF 17 September (LHR)

CMYK

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019 I 17 Muharram-ul-Haram, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 77 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

RESTORE NORMALCY IN KASHMIR, INDIA’S TOp COuRT TELLS GOVT g

IndIan suPrEME CourT bEnCH says rEsToraTIon of norMalCy sHould bE In lInE wITH ‘naTIonal sECurITy’

g

IndIa’s CHIEf jusTICE To vIsIT oCCuPIEd KasHMIr To sEE CITIzEns’ frEEdoM of MovEMEnT

NEW DELHI AGENCIES

I

ndia’s top court on Monday said that the federal government should restore normal life in Kashmir as soon as possible, as a partial shutdown of the disputed region entered its 42nd day. india stripped its portion of Muslim-majority Kashmir of autonomy and statehood on august 5, shutting off phone networks and imposing curfew-like restrictions in some areas to dampen discontent.

Some of those curbs have been relaxed, but mobile communications in the Kashmir valley are largely still blocked, and more than a thousand people are likely to still be detained, according to official data.

“We direct Jammu and Kashmir to make the very best endeavor to make sure normal life returns,” india’s Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said on Monday, after a panel of three judges heard several petitions relating to Kashmir, which is also claimed by Pakistan.

The court had previously said authorities there needed more time to restore order in Kashmir. according to india Today, a bench of the court refused to pass any order on the restoration of the disputed region but said that the restoration would be done on a “selective basis, keeping in mind national interests”.

“We are not passing any orders. We are saying restore keeping in mind national security. We have said all facilities should be restored keeping in mind national security. We are not carving out exceptions for any category,” Chief Justice Gogoi said.

One of the Supreme Court judges, Sharad arvind Bobde, said that the situation in Kashmir, where thousands have died since an armed rebellion against indian rule began three decades ago, as “a terrible state of affairs”. a written submission by the government said restrictions were still required in order to maintain law and order, and that they had prevented widespread casualties seen in previous periods of unrest. “not a single life has been lost since the abrogation of article 370,” said india’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the government, referring to the action of india’s constitution granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir state.

Separately on Monday, local media reported Farooq abdullah, a three-time former chief min-

Over 200 anti-Hindu rioters booked in three cases Editorial: Ghotki held hostage STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 08

Nawaz directs PML-N to fully support JUI-F’s ‘Azadi March’

ister of the state, was detained in state capital Srinagar under the Public Safety act, a special law that allows for detention of up to two years without trial, and has been criticised by rights groups as draconian. a current member of india’s parliament, 81year-old abdullah was previously under informal house arrest. abdullah and indian police officials in Kashmir did not respond or were not reachable for comment.

INDIAN CHIEF JUSTICE TO VISIT SRINAGAR: india’s Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Monday said that he would himself visit occupied Kashmir’s biggest city Srinagar to see if people were unable to access the region’s high court.

He made the remarks during the hearing of a petition filed by child rights activists Enakshi Ganguly and Professor Shanta Sinha, whose lawyers said that people in the region could not access the Jammu and Kashmir High Court due to a government-imposed lockdown that has been in place for over a month.

While hearing Ganguly and Professor Sinha’s appeal, Chief Justice Gogoi said, “if you make a statement that it is difficult to approach the HC [high court], it is a very serious statement. is anyone coming in the way of you going to the high court? Please tell why?” according to the lawyer, the shutdown in the region was preventing people from approaching

the court, india Today reported.

Seeking a report from the region’s high court chief justice, the top judge said, “it is very, very serious if people are unable to approach the high court; i will myself visit Srinagar.” additionally, he warned a lawyer for one of the petitioners that if the report was contrary to what they were saying then they should “be ready for the consequences”. india’s top court also allowed Ghulam nabi azad, a senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, to visit occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

While granting him permission, the Supreme Court asked azad to interact with people in the region and to file a ground report on the situation. it also told azad not to take part in any political rally, the report added. azad was among a delegation of india’s top opposition leaders, including former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who were sent back after they landed in Srinagar on august 24.

India arrests former IoK CM farooq abdullah

Weapons used in Saudi attacks ‘came from Iran’: coalition

STORY ON BACK PAGE

ECP to announce verdict in Maryam’s party office plea today STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 03

PM Imran again rules out ‘deal’ with corrupt elements STORY ON PAGE 03

KP govt takes u-turn on dress code decision STORY ON PAGE 02

POL prices may surge by up to Rs8 from Oct 1 STORY ON PAGE 12

In show of bond, Trump to join Modi in Houston rally STORIES ON BACK PAGE

Interest rate remains unchanged at 13.25pc STORY ON PAGE 12

CMYK Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

02 NEWS

over 200 anti-Hindu rioters booKed in tHree Cases GHOTKI

P

STAFF REPORT

OLICE on Monday registered three cases against rioters who had taken to the streets to protest against an alleged incident of blasphemy a day before.

According to Sukkur Additional Inspector General (AIG) Jamil Ahmed, all first information reports (FIR) have been filed in the Ghotki A-section police station with the State as the complainant.

One FIR was filed under Sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). AIG Ahmed said that Section 295 was included because the protesters had van-

to court after the law and order situation has been assessed.

Though the situation in Ghotki was relatively calm on Monday, shops owned by Hindu residents in the Ladies Market, Shahi Bazaar and other areas remained closed. Delegations of political parties visited Dhaam Mandir, which had been vandalised by mobs, and expressed solidarity with the Hindu community.

Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Chairman Qadir Magsi, who was among the politicians who visited the temple, called for a judicial inquiry of the matter. Protests began in Ghotki on Saturday after a FIR was filed against the principal — who is from the Hindu community — of Sindh Public School on the complaint of Abdul Aziz Rajput, a student’s father who claimed that the former had committed blasphemy.

Residents of Ghotki demanded that the police arrest the principal, issued a call for a shutter-down strike, and took

dalised a Hindu temple. Police have nominated 45 people in the FIR, out of which 22 are named while 23 are unidentified.

Another case was lodged against 150 people — 27 named and 123 unidentified persons — for blocking roads. A third FIR pertaining to rioting and theft was filed against 23 people, including 11 unidentified persons, over reports that protesters had stolen goods from multiple shops in Shahi Bazar.

Police have asked the school administration to file a separate complaint against people who damaged the building and infrastructure, so that a fourth FIR can be registered. If the administration of the school is reluctant to act as complainant, it should inform the police so the case can be lodged on behalf of the state, the management was told.

In response to a question regarding the principal of the school, who has been accused of committing blasphemy, AIG Ahmed said that he will be taken

court rejects Zardari’s plea seeking more visits by family, legal team ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday rejected a petition filed by former president and PPP Asif Ali Zardari requesting an increase in days on which he can be visited by family members and his legal team.

Filed by Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, the petition was opposed by the prosecutor of the accountability watchdog. The NAB lawyer stated that meetings with the former president and his sister could only be held on Mondays. Earlier, an accountability court had rejected the applications submitted by Zardari and Talpur seeking A-class and extra facilities in jail during judicial remand in the fake accounts case. STAFF REPORT

One FIR FIled agaInst mOb undeR sectIOn 295 OF blasphemy law FOR vandalIsIng hIndu temple In ghOtkI

to the streets in protest. Videos of stickwielding protesters were shared on social media on Sunday, in which they were seen vandalising a Hindu temple and damaging the school where the alleged incident took place.

Protests were also held in surrounding towns, including Mirpur Mathelo and Adilpur, where demonstrators blocked roads and demanded that the police arrest the school principal.

The Hindu community of the area was forced to remain indoors due to the riots.

Police brought the situation under control and posted guards to protect the life and property of Hindus. For support, they called a heavy contingent of Rangers.

ecp to announce verdict in maryam’s party office plea today ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday reserved its verdict in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s party designation petition which will be announced on Tuesday. The prosecutor argued that Section 203 of the constitution should be read with Article 62 and 63 recalling that a PTI candidate in South Punjab, Rai Hasan Nawaz, was dismissed from party designation on the

same clause which bars disqualified leaders from holding a position in the party.

He further recalled that the Supreme Court had noted that Section 203 was formulated “just to benefit one person”. The defense counsel argued that some political parties are headed by their presidents, some by chairmen and some by emirs.

“The only person who matters is the one with authority,” he said, adding: “The vice presidents and subordinate ranks do not possess any significant power [in the party].” The apex court had also

mentioned about party head in its verdict, the counsel added while requesting the Commission to dismiss the petition.

On May 4, Maryam was appointed the vice-presidents of the PML-N along with 15 other leaders, day after party President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif stepped down as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). According to the notification, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was appointed the senior vice president of the party while Ahsan Iqbal was made general secretary.

Pakistan identifies two Indian spies involved in Balochistan terrorism QUETTA INP

Pakistan on Monday identified two more Indian spies actively involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan. According to details, the spies identified as Swami Asemanand and Goband Part, sneaked into Pakistan through Iran’s port city of Chabahar. It merits a mention here that Kalbhushan

Jadhav, the in-service Indian Naval commander currently in Pakistan’s captivity, was also using Irani soil to execute terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Reportedly, the Indian spies had conducted a terrorist activity in Mastung before fleeing to Afghanistan. Pakistan has shared details with the governments of Iran and Afghanistan regarding the Indian agents, and also penned a letter to the concerned authorities of the two countries.

KP CM taKes baCK ‘naya dress Code’ deCision PESHAWAR: Hours after the Peshawar district administration made it mandatory for schoolgirls to wear abaya (full body veil), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan retracted the notification, saying it was issued without government’s consent. Secretary Education Arshad Khan had also told a local news outlet that the government would rescind the notification on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, district administration asked female students to cover their bodies during school hours to “protect themselves from unethical incidents”. A notification was issued in this regard by Peshawar District Officer Samina Ghani, wherein, the heads of all girls’ schools were ordered to ensure compliance with the order. Without mentioning any reason behind the order, the notification asked officials of the education department asked the matter to be treated as “most urgent and important”. Adviser to KP CM on Education Ziaullah Bangash said that the decision was made keeping in view the traditions and religious values. “Decisions will have to be made in the province and the country in accordance with the Islamic values,” he said. Bangash also said that the government had taken the decision over a large number of complaints of harassment.

“Schoolgirls could wear any of an abaya, gown or chadar,” he said, adding that parents should remove their fears and get their girls educated. STAFF REPORT

CMYK

ex-PM abbasi released on parole to attend relative's funeral ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Monday released former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on parole for attending his uncle’s funeral prayers in the federal capital. The court allowed Khaqan’s release on the condition that the district administration of Islamabad and Rawalpindi provide him foolproof security.

Accountability judge Mohammad Bashir said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) director-general should only allow the release if the district administration can take responsibility for providing Khaqan with security. He also directed the DG to make appropriate arrangements for the release of the former premier. Earlier, NAB prosecutor had told the court that Khaqan cannot be released as he is being investigated. It is against the law to release a suspect in such circumstances, he had argued. On the other hand, Sadia Abbasi, the ex-premier’s sister, said she had asked for her request to be granted on a humanitarian basis. “These requests are not made every day,” she said.

Sadia also highlighted that the former premier had been on physical remand for more than 60 days.

sC grants bail to PtM's alamzeb Mehsud ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday granted bail to Alamzeb Mehsud, a rights activist and founding member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). Mehsud was granted bail against a surety bond of Rs500,000 by a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar. The PTM leader had been in custody since January 21 when he was arrested in Karachi on charges of rioting and inciting hatred at a protest near Sohrab Goth. During Monday’s hearing, the court asked Mehsud’s lawyer whether a forensic audit had been conducted of a video that purportedly shows the PTM leader delivering an allegedly anti-state and antimilitary speech. His lawyer informed the SC bench that no such video had ever been found. Moreover, the prosecution lawyer told the court that no date had yet been fixed for a trial. The SC bench then accepted Mehsud’s plea for bail and announced its verdict in his favour. Mehsud had addressed a rally organised by the PTM in Karachi on January 20. A day later, a case was registered on behalf of the state against 16 PTM leaders and over 200 workers for allegedly using provocative language against state institutions. The police report named Mehsud and 15 others, including MNA Ali Wazir who was eventually arrested in May following a clash between PTM supporters and army troops in North Waziristan.

CMYK Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

NEWS

nawaz direCts PML-n to fuLLy suPPort Jui-f’s ‘azadi MarCH’ LAHORE

i

STAFF REPORT

NCARCERATED former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed his party to fully support the ‘Azadi March’ announced by Jamiat Ulemae-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Nawaz gave the directions during a meeting with his younger brother and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif who met him at the Kot Lakhpat Jail. Their meeting continued for over three hours.

The meeting, which was also attended by PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Asif, and Nawaz’s lawyer Azam Nazir Tarar, also discussed matters pertaining to consultation with the JUI-F chief for the anti-government movement and cases against the Sharif family. According

to reports, Shehbaz asked Nawaz to reconsider his decision but the latter reaffirmed his stance. The PML-N president also proposed to change the date of the sit-in due to current situation of the country, however, the elder Sharif said every possible step needed to be taken “to save the country”.

On Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Fazlur Rehman during which he expressed the PML-N’s support for JUI-F’s plan to lockdown

Islamabad. However, Shehbaz said a final decision will be taken by the PML-N in its central executive committee meeting –which will also be attended by a JUI-F delegation – on September 30. The date for Islamabad lockdown will be announced by both parties after mutual consultations, said Ahsan Iqbal while addressing a joint press conference with JUI-F’s Akram Durrani.

It may be noted here that the PPP

has already distanced itself from the long march, saying the PPP was against dharna politics. However, the party will lend moral support to Fazl.

“We support Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s politics and the issues he is raising. We provide moral support, political support for his initiative [but] strategically, we don’t see eye to eye,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had said in a presser.

Bilawal had announced that he will go around the country as part of his mass contact campaign and raise the same issues as Rehman. “While Rehman will be in Islamabad, I will be going across the country and our narrative will be the same, which is that this puppet, incapable prime minister, who has been imposed upon us through rigging, who has ruined our economy, who has weakened our national security position on every issue including Kashmir […] he will have to go home,” the PPP chief had said.

sindh cm summoned by nab in graft probe KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has been summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday to question him regarding his alleged role in offering subsidies to sugar mills through improper channels.

Shah had earlier appeared before the Supreme Court-formed joint investigation team (JIT) in Islamabad which was probing the money laundering and fake bank accounts case involving transactions worth billions of rupees.

The top leadership of the PPP is alleged to be among the beneficiaries of the fake accounts.

According to reports, when Shah was the Sindh finance minister, subsidies were given to certain sugar mills including “closed” Thatta Sugar Mills, Dadu Sugar Mills, etc.

One of the stated purposes of such subsidies was to “revive sick industrial units” but that money was allegedly not utilised for the intended purposes.

The Sindh chief minister is also facing a probe by NAB in the Nooriabad power project case in which three people were already arrested in May. They included Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company Chairman Khursheed Jamali, CEO M/S Technomen Kinetic Pvt Ltd Syed Asif Mahmood and Director Nooriabad Power Company Syed Arif Ali. According to NAB, they were arrested for extending illegal favours to M/S Technomen Kinetic Pvt Ltd and others in projects of Sindh Nooriabad Power Company and Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC), and causing a $16 million loss to the national exchequer. The Nooriabad power project was orig-

inally conceived by the Sindh government in 2012, but could not be materialised then due to “red-tapism and delays in regulatory approvals”.

The project was finally launched in August 2014 under a public-private partnership at a cost of Rs13bn in which the Sindh government held 49 per cent shares and a private company owned 51pc. A 95km long, 132kV double-circuit transmission line was laid from Nooriabad to Karachi at a cost of Rs1.95bn. SECMC Chairman Jamali, who was then director Sindh Nooriabad Power Company Ltd, said in 2017 that the plant would use gas to produce 100MW of power at less than Rs10 per unit, as compared to the Rs15 per unit charged by the Water and Power Development Authority.

Earlier this year, the Sindh cabinet was informed that the power plant had earned a profit of Rs6.62bn.

talpur warns of economic meltdown stemming from ‘witch hunt’ of politicians, businessmen Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur during her address in the Sindh Assembly on Monday condemned “political victimisation in the garb of accountability”.

It is worth mentioning here that Faryal Talpur and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari were arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in mega-money laundering case whereas a trial against 30 PPP leaders including Faryal Talpur and Asif Ali Zardari is ongoing by the anti-corruption watchdog.

The under trail leader said that if the “witch-hunt” of politicians and businessmen continues, it would lead the country to an imminent “economic meltdown”.

“The manner in which people have been humiliated and harassed in the name of

accountability is regrettable.

This is not the progress of a country or a nation. In fact, this is bringing your country to [the cusp of an] economic meltdown,” she added.

“People will not want to live in this country. There will come a time when people will want to leave this country. Such is the situation being created,” she further added.

The PPP leader also acknowledged the corruption charges against her saying, “We [the suspects] do not have any problems with these false allegations. We will face them; we have faced them in the past”.

Speaking about the situation in occupied Kashmir, Talpur termed it “very bad” and lamented that the efforts being made for the people of the valley were not enough.

“I have to say this with re-

gret that what is happening [in occupied Kashmir] is very bad and we have not been able to extend any help except for delivering lengthy speeches. They say actions speak louder than words, and there is no action, just words.

“Neither have we gone to other countries, nor have we asked for help over the Kashmir issue. I feel that for [occupied] Kashmir, there is a lot to be done and should be done, which is not being done by Pakistan,” Talpur stated.

Furthermore, she extended her condolences to the families of the soldiers who have been martyred at the restive Line of Control (LoC) and expressed hope that the recent extension given to Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa would “help stabilise the country”.

Earlier on September 13, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench had allowed the PPP leader to attend Sindh Assembly session held today. Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf heard the case pertaining to implementation on Talpur’s production orders and also directed to put the production orders into the effect of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. NEWS DESK

CMYK

03

PM imran again rules out ‘deal’ with corrupt elements ISLAMABAD: Standing firm on his stance of ‘no deal, no compromise’, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the process of accountability will continue against the corrupt elements. PM Imran met with former law minister Babar Awan and ruled out again any chance of a deal. PM Imran and Awan discussed legal and constitutional matters in detail during the meeting. PM Imran said that for the first time, the process of accountability is continuing without any political interference and in a transparent manner. Referring to his address at the United Nations General Assembly at the end of this month, the prime minister said that he is entirely focused on his address as it will be important. STAFF REPORT

Judge arshad Malik's videos authentic, say two british forensic agencies Two leading forensic firms of London have authenticated the audios, videos and transcripts of judge Arshad Malik that were recorded secretly by Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader Nasir Butt, according to a media report. According to the report, the two digital forensic expert firms have confirmed in their separate notes addressed to Pakistani courts that the videos and audios made by Nasir Butt are genuine, original and the contents have not been tampered with or altered at any stage. Both firms were instructed by Nasir Butt to also provide transcript of the videos and audios. Judge Arshad Malik’s video caused a storm in Pakistan after PML-N released part of the videos – withholding six out of total seven videos – in which the former accountability judge has admitted that he was blackmailed and pressurised to give verdict against Nawaz Sharif in order to jail him. Nasir Butt, the British national PML-N leader, who reached London three days before the video was made public, made the videos.

According to the report, two Samsung phones were forensically examined by the firms. One Samsung device only had audio of judge Arshad Malik on it and the other phone had both audio and video. On the phone used by Nasir Butt, while sitting next to Judge Arshad Malik, audio of the judge was recorded while an accomplice of Nasir Butt, sitting opposite, used front pocket of his jacket to make the video through Samsung phone, the report added.

Meanwhile, Nasir Butt has agreed to appear in the Pakistan High Commission in London along with the forensic reports of the data. According to a media report, Nasir Butt said that he is ready to testify in the video scandal case. NEWS DESK

04 LAHORE

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

WEATHER UPDATES 0 TUESDAY

37 C

260C

WEDNESDAY

360C

260C

THURSDAY

350C

250C

FRIDAY

360C

270C

Leaked videoS BrinG Privacy Law FIA FAILS TO ACT AGAINST GROSS VIOLATION OF CITIZENS’ PRIVACY THROUGH LEAKING OF INTIMATE VIDEOS into focuS LAHORE

r

FIDA HUSSNAIN

eceNT ccTV footages of couples engaging in acts of intimacy in a cinema hall and a hospital’s private room, which were leaked on social media ostensibly by employees of both facilities, have raised concerns about citizens’ privacy and brought the inefficiency of state institutions in protecting the rights of people into focus. While the public had been quick in questioning the morality of the acts as soon as the videos went viral, one factor that remains unaddressed is the gross violation of citizens’ privacy.

Under the Prevention of electronic

crimes Act, 2016, an offender may be imprisoned for five years for violating a person’s privacy with or without a fine of Rs10 million. The law explicitly states that whoever facilitates the production and distribution of material that breaches someone’s privacy shall be liable to imprisonment for six months with or without fine of Rs50,000.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Khurram chughtai, an expert in privacy laws, said that this is a very alarming situation as it is a gross attack on the privacy of citizens. “I am stunned over the shameful acts of the hospital staff and cinema management who leaked the videos on social media,” he added.

Saiqa Javed, an expert in criminal

law, said that the state must ensure protection of citizens’ privacy. She cited the example of a recent First Information Report (FIR) which was lodged by a judge over a video about the legal fraternity which also contained inappropriate content. She said that the law should hold the violators accountable so that justice can be served.Advocate Aftab Bajwa said that according to the electronic crimes law, if someone displays or transfers ‘immoral content’ through electronic devices, he may be sentenced to five years behind bars. He said that the scope of this law extends to those who display leaked videos in press conferences.“Maryam Nawaz played Judge Arshad Malik’s video in her press conference,” he added.Barrister Ali

Zafar also shared a similar opinion. He said those who leaked the videos on social media can be tried under the Prevention of electronic crimes Act, 2016.

However, he added that there is no specific law about the protection of employees’ privacy at their workplace.

When contacted, FIA Lahore cybercrime Wing Assistant Director Munam chaudhry said that the leaked videos were in clear violation of privacy laws. He said that stern action would be taken against the violators if the victims could be identified or if they moved any application before the bureau. “The bureau may also take action against the culprits on its own accord as well,” he added.

IGP directs DPOs, RPOs to clean up their act LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Inspector-General (IG) of Police Punjab captain retd Arif Nawaz Khan said that it is the responsibility of regional police officers (RPO) and district police officers (DPO) to improve the working of police stations therefore all field officers should pay surprise visits to police stations and also assess the working of staff deputed in front desk, operations and investigation branches and also ensure the strict implementation of performance of duties in accordance with the devised SOPs by central Police Office (cPO).

He further said that the monitoring of ccTV cameras installed in lockups, front desk and inside rooms of station house

offices (SHO) should be guaranteed at any cost and if any incident of discourteous behaviour with public or taking of law into hands happens then there should be no delay in taking action against the guilty officers or officials.

He added that the officers who don’t award punishment to their subordinates in accordance with the discipline matrix should also be ready for departmental actions. IGP Punjab further directed the DPOs that they should personally supervise the crackdown against top 20 listed criminals of their concerned districts and rest of the accused should be arrested and presented before the law.

IGP directed to prepare the list of those officers and officials who were again and again posted in one police stations and directed to shift them from these police stations immediately. He moreover said that stern steps should be taken against the drug pushers especially dealers of drug known as Ice who are spoiling the future of young generations. IGP reiterated that information based operation should be boosted up against drugs pushers especially at educational institutions and they should be arrested and punished severely.

Shahbaz Gill sacked on Buzdar's request, says PM's aide Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Naeemul Haque has revealed that Shahbaz Gill, a former spokesperson to Punjab chief minister, was removed on the request of Usman Buzdar. Gill resigned from his post on Friday. The statement of Haque has validated the rumours about Gill. According to different sources, Gill was removed from his post because he was promoting himself instead of his boss. “The Punjab chief minister had some reservations with Shahbaz Gill, and he was removed because Buzdar requested it,” Haque said in a video message. We will try assigning him some important role in the federal government, he added. NEWS DESK

Police detain 31 in Lahore for one-wheeling LAHORE: Police arrested at least 31 boys between the age of 16 and 27 from different parts of Lahore on Monday for one-wheeling, a media outlet reported.

Later, police shifted the arrested youngsters to the various stations in the city and registered as many as 21 cases against them. STAFF REPORT

WCLA, Balochistan govt sign MoU for conserving Sandeman Fort LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Walled city of Lahore Authority (WcLA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of Balochistan for conserving the Sandeman Fort in Zhob, Pakistan Today learnt on Monday. The MoU was signed by the WcLA director conservation Najam us Saqib and Zhob Deputy commissioner (Dc) Taha Saleem. It was further learnt that WcLA would provide technical assistance to the government of Balochistan for the conservation of the fort and other heritage sites whereas a meeting between the WcLA Director General (DG) Kamran Lashari and Balochistan chief Minister (cM) Jam Kamal was also held to discuss the projects and scope of tourism keeping in view the policy of tourism by the new PTI government.

It was learnt that after the conservation the fort would be turned into a museum and would be opened for tourists whereas at present it has the accommodation of the Zhob Dc, who has willingly decided to move his accommodation so that the fort can be conserved and restored. The director conservation WcLA Najam Us Saquib while talking to Pakistan Today said, “WcLA would be providing technical assistance to the district administration of Zhob for conserving the Sandeman Fort. It is presently the office and residence of the Dc Zhob whereas a part of the fort,

which is almost 30 per cent, has collided with the passage of time. The Zhob Dc has agreed to vacate his residence and after the conservation is completed the fort will be converted into a museum and will also be opened for the public.

The collided parts will be reconstructed as per given standards and Dc residence will be moved to other small structures in the fort.

He further informed that this process would lead to the

tourism and culture plan of the place as it needed much attention. “Zhob is important as it is located on the cPec route and is at the junction connecting Punjab with KPK and Baluchistan. The road is already made with the state of art expertise and tourists will not be facing any difficulty in reaching the place”, Najam added. About the history of the place, he said, “Zhob is located on the banks of Zhob River 337 km from Quetta. In

December 1889 the town of Zhob, then known as Apozai, was occupied by the British and named Fort Sandeman after Sir Robert Sandeman. It obtained its current name on 30 July 1976 when the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had the name changed. This is a culturally and historically rich place and needs immediate preservation. It will surely be a hotspot for tourists once restored to its beauty”.

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

NEWS

Acting PA speaker rejects PML-N leaders’ production orders requests LAHORE: Acting Speaker Punjab Assembly (PA) Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari on Monday rejected the requests of issuing production orders of detained lawmakers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The PML-N members have made a set of requests for issuance of production orders of imprisoned leaders Khawaja Salman Rafique and Opposition leader in the assembly Hamza Shehbaz. Mazari rejected the requests for issuance of production orders of the imprisoned leaders of the PML-N. The PML-N has decided to raise an issue in assembly regarding the deputy speaker’s behavior and also to protest on the issue. STAFF REPORT

LHC to decide on Punjab govt request for judicial inquiry into Salahuddin’s death LAHORE: The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) registrar on Monday said that a decision on the Punjab government’s request to nominate a high court judge to conduct a judicial inquiry into the custodial death of the alleged automated teller machine (ATM) robber Salahuddin Ayubi will be taken after the return of LHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan to the country. In a letter written to the LHC registrar on Sept 11, the provincial government asked that “a judge of the high court be nominated to constitute a one-man tribunal to hold a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts and circumstances for Ayubi’s death in police custody” and “to suggest measures to prevent any such incident in the future”. In another letter written on Sept 5, the Punjab government had asked for the appointment a judicial officer to hold a judicial inquiry into the matter. However, the high court’s registrar on Friday disposed of this request and said that a senior judge was already appointed to conduct an inquiry into Salahuddin’s death.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter which brought into light the police culture across the province which the PTI government repeatedly vowed to address. A resident of Gujrat’s Kamonkey district, Salahuddin was arrested on Aug 31 from Rahim Yar Khan from an ATM booth where he was allegedly attempting another robbery.

Two days later, he was reported dead. According to the district police officer’s spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa, Ayubi was behaving like a “mad man” in lockup when he “suddenly became unwell”. Following Ayubi’s death, his father on Sept 4 filed an FIR (first information report) against police officials who, he claimed, had “brutally murdered” his son. Subsequently, Rahim Yar Khan city Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abbas Akhtar was suspended from service for alleged misconduct/inefficiency in handling the case and Rahim Yar Khan DPO Umar Farooq Salamat was also removed from his post. STAFF REPORT

Provincial government in denial mode as dengue causes havoc in KP PESHAWAR: Dengue cases are on the rise in KhyberPakhtunkhwa and the situation seems to be falling out of the hands of the provincial government. The KP Health Department has reported 98 fresh cases during the last 24 hours, including 55 cases from Peshawar. There are no separate hospital wards for the treatment of dengue patients in several KP districts, due to which patients have to come to Peshawar for treatment.

Besides Peshawar, nine cases each were reported from Swat, Shangla and Battagram, six from Mansehra, five from Swabi, and four each from Mardan, Lower Dir and Buner. The total number of people affected by dengue in the province this year has reached 1,189. Meanwhile, the KP government seems to be in denial mode as Chief Minister Mehmood Khan ordered action against those spreading false information about the spread of the disease. However, the alarming rise in the increase of dengue cases calls for emergency measures to be taken by the government. In a meeting held with health department officials on Sept 12, the chief minister was told that NS-1 positive patients were being falsely diagnosed with dengue fever by private laboratories. The briefing suggested that this was being done for monetary gain. The health officials told the chief minister that special cells have been set up in government hospitals for the diagnosis of dengue virus in patients. The chief minister subsequently ordered for the immediate hiring of entomologists for the permanent extermination of the virus. AZIZ BUNERI

05

PM CALLS for tAPPiNg Huge PoteNtiAL of PAKiStAN’S touriSM SeCtor ISLAMABAD

P

APP

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday underscored the need for tapping huge potential of Pakistan in tourism sector.

He said the development of tourism hubs at various tourist sites would not only highlight country’s tourism potential but would also lead to creation of greater job opportunities for the people. The prime minister expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review progress on New Balakot City Project.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Revnue Hammad Azhar, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal, Chief Secretary

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Saleem and other senior officials.

The prime minister was apprised about the new Balakot City Project and the way forward towards addressing legal, administrative and financial issues which stalled steady progress on the project. Strategy to transform the new city into a tourism hub and modern

business and residential city, hosting local gemstones’ mining industry was also discussed.

The PM while appreciating the efforts being made to revive the stalled project said that location of the new city carried huge potential for attracting local as well as international tourism and thus would contribute significantly towards

national GDP (Gross Domestic Product). He directed that public private partnership model should be followed during the development of the new city.

The PM further directed that the issues regarding settlement of claims, should also be taken up on priority to ensure seamless implementation of the project.

Enhanced tax revenue, reduced fiscal deficit top priority of govt: Firdous

ISLAMABAD APP

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday said that the federal government’s measures for the prosperity of the general public and national development have started yielding results.

In a series of tweets, she said the government was implementing the agenda of economic reforms under the leadership of PM Imran Khan and was taking steps to improve economic con-

dition of the state. Awan said enhancement of tax revenue and reduction in fiscal deficit were included in the government’s top priorities. She said the government has collected Rs580 billion tax in the first two months of the new fiscal year as compared to Rs509 billion in the corresponding period of the last year. She said 600,000 new tax filers have been added into the list of filers of the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR).

She said, “credit for such success goes to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has for the first time [in the history of Pakistan] turned tax revenue collection into a national movement.”

Awan said it was for the first time that the national exchequer was increasing and not the assets of rulers. “This is good news for the country and the entire nation.” She termed a 73 percent reduction in current account deficit as “a major achievement,” adding that there has been a significant increase in exports and de-

crease in imports. She said Rs70 billion have been received from two cellular companies under license fee, and another Rs70 billion are expected from another cellular company. As a whole, Rs200 billion will be collected from this sector. The PTI stalwart said the government was striving to promote economic activities and facilitate the business community.

Awan said the government has reduced its expenditures. “No supplementary grant was approved for two months, and the government has saved Rs246 billion due to appreciation in the currency value in the last few weeks. She expressed confidence that the government would be able to collect Rs1,000 billion as non-tax revenue this year, which included Rs200 billion from cellular companies, Rs400 billion from profits of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Rs300 billion from the privatisation of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants.

NADRA ex-chairman acquitted in dual nationality case ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad’s model trial court on Monday acquitted former chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Tariq Malik in a case of allegedly hiding his dual nationality.

Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi while disposing of the case, ordered the cancellation of the first information report registered against Malik on May 12, 2014.

Tariq Malik served NADRA from 2008 to 2014 in different capacities, including director-general, deputy chairman and chairman.

The case was filed on the directive of the then interior minister

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Malik’s counsel Qausain Mufti argued that false allegations were framed against his client. Judge Shaista Kundi, in her judgement, observed: “I am unable to understand that what offence is made out in the given circumstances? Investigation officer is not in a position to answer successfully that if the petitioner did not disclose the facts right then what damage he caused to anybody and how section 6(1)(A)(E) of the Passport Act is made out? At the most, the petitioner could proceed under the relevant rules on the charge of misconduct by the authority or his passport could be cancelled due to suppression of facts or providing incorrect information.

“The petitioner said at the time of filling online declaration forms for obtaining both the passports in question, he had provided every piece of information which the DEO had asked him but the DEO did not ask for the other nationality and resultantly this procedural lapse happened and there was no mala fide intention on his side.

“The data entry operator concerned, Wazir Satti, also joined the investigation and recorded his statement. “Mr Malik claimed that not only the NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) by itself was an evidence of his intention of not concealing his foreign nationality but the address of other country was clearly

mentioned on the said card. “In the light of above facts and circumstances, I agree with the contention of the investigation officer that the cancellation report under alleged sections is valid and same is hereby allowed,” the judge said.

Journalist bodies allege police apathy in probing reporter’s murder NEWS DESK A local journalist, who had been missing from Vehari since September 7, was found dead four days later on Sept 11 in Punjab, the International Federation of Journalists said in a statement condemning the killing on Monday.

The journalist, who has been identified as Zafar Abbas, used to work as a correspondent for English daily Dawn. He was, according to the statement, returning home late from work when he was

kidnapped. IFJ and its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, have alleged that police had not investigated the matter in spite of a kidnapping complaint having been filed in the matter.

Abbas’s body was found in a dry well.

Several journalists’ bodies reportedly protested against what they said was police apathy towards beginning an investigation in this regard. Eventually, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar ordered an

investigation, under which seven suspects have been identified, said the statement. “The PFUJ president GM Jamali and secretary general Rana M Azeem demand the chief minister of Punjab ensure the authorities investigate Abbas’ murder, prosecute the killers and provide financial compensation to Abbas’ family,” said the journalists’ body.

According to the IFJ, Abbas is the third journalist to be killed in Pakistan this year and the second journalist to be killed in the

Punjab province. On August 30, Mirza Waseem Baig was shot six times outside his house in Punjab. Another journalist was killed on April 30 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, noted the statement. On June 16, 22-year-old journalist Muhammad Bilal Khan, who ran a YouTube channel on politics, was stabbed to death in Islamabad. Then as well, journalists’ bodies had noted the delay in investigating the killing.

In July, Al Jazeera reported that news

television channels Channel 24, Abbtak News, and Capital TV were taken off air after they aired a live press conference by opposition leader Maryam Nawaz.

Pakistan ranks 142 in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index. It’s ranking fell three notches from 139 in 2018. Reporters Sans Frontières has held that the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority created by the Imran Khan government has been understood to have de facto replaced “regulation” with “censorship.”

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

The original corporaTe raiders HOW THE BRITISH TRADING BEHEMOTH TOOK CONTROL OF 200 MILLION PEOPLE AND ONE OF THE RICHEST EMPIRES ON EARTH

new StateSman

i

ShaShi Tharoor

n 1930, a book emerged by the young American historian and philosopher Will Durant that occasioned apoplectic outrage in British colonial India. The Case for India was a brief but savage indictment of the British Raj, written in indignant passion with the forensic precision of the historian and the moral empathy of the philosopher. Durant had interrupted a research visit to India, part of a worldwide journey that would result in the 11-volume The Story of Civilisation (1935-75), to record what he saw and read of Britain’s “conscious and deliberate bleeding of India”. So shocked was he by “the invasion and destruction of a high civilization by a trading Company [the British East India Company] utterly without scruple or principle”, that he set aside his research into the ancient past to produce a philippic about the present, depicting in wounding terms this “greatest crime in all history”.

Durant’s portrait of a corporation running amok, “overrunning with fire and sword a country temporarily disordered and helpless, bribing and murdering, annexing and stealing”, profoundly shocked its readers in 1930. The plunder of India marked the beginning of the destruction of a thriving and prosperous civilisation, and its supplanting, eventually, by the rise to global dominance of imperial Britain.

At the beginning of the 19th century, as the British economic historian Angus Maddison has demonstrated, India’s share of the world economy was around 23 per cent, almost as large as all of Europe put together. (It had been 27 per cent in 1700, when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s treasury raked in £100m in tax revenues alone.) By the time the British departed India, it had dropped to just over 3 per cent. The reason was simple: India was governed for the benefit of Britain. Britain’s rise for 200 years was substantially financed by its depredations in India. **** It all began when a group of burghers were granted a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 to incorporate themselves as the East India Company, in order to trade in profitable Indian commodities, notably silk and spices, which were in great demand. The Company set out to establish outposts in India. The first British expedition to land in India, led by William Hawkins in 1608-09, found it hard going. Things improved slightly when the British ambassador Thomas Roe presented his credentials from King James I in 1615 to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, then the world’s mightiest monarch, at whose court the Englishman was a humble supplicant. After three years of effort, Roe established a Mughal-East India Company relationship based on trade, not attempted military domination.

In order to conduct its trading activities, the Company set up outposts (known

COURTS MUST REMAIN WARY OF POLITICAL MOVES TO UNDERMINE THE JUDICIARY Hindu Remarks made by a Minister in Uttar Pradesh that the construction of a temple in the disputed site at Ayodhya is a certainty because “the Supreme Court is ours” cannot be dismissed as mere political zeal displayed by a party committed to the cause. It reveals a disconcerting cockiness that those in power tend to dis-

as “factories”) along the coast, establishing settlements in what would grow into the grand port cities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. But if trade was profitable, it could also be threatened, not least by colonial rivals and local rulers. This prompted the Company – whose charter granted it the right to “wage war” – to recruit soldiers, initially to defend its premises, personnel and trade. But soon enough, in an increasingly strife-torn land, the business of commerce became the business of conquest. The Company’s factories were protected by forts, its merchants shielded (and outnumbered) by armed mercenaries.

As Durant pointed out, the India that the East India Company gradually took over by conquest was no primitive country, but a prosperous and sophisticated civilisation. It accounted, William Dalrymple tells us in The Anarchy, for a fifth of the world’s population and a quarter of the globe’s manufactured goods, while England, with a 20th of India’s population, produced 3 per cent of the world’s manufactured goods.

India’s accomplishments and prosperity, its vast and varied industries, meant that it was considerably ahead of any nation in Europe. It had been a producer and exporter of fine cotton, wool, linen and silk for nearly two millennia. It mastered jewellery making, metalworking (steel, silver, gold and brass) and architecture – of which the Taj Mahal was but the best-known example – and had a great shipbuilding tradition, which was used not for naval warfare but, in conjunction with merchant bankers, for commerce and trade by land and sea.

The scale of British conquest could scarcely have been imagined when the Company first set out. The Mughal empire in India was vast, extending west to east from Afghanistan to what is today Bangladesh, and from Kashmir in the north to what is today Karnataka in the south. The Mughal empire had been weakened by internal rivalries and fratricidal wars, the growing independence of its provincial governors and the increasing fecklessness of its monarchs.

The devastating sacking of Delhi by the Persian invader nader Shah in 1739 accelerated the collapse of Mughal authority. Chaos ensued; while the emperor hung on to his throne, his significance was largely symbolic, as provincial satraps paying him nominal allegiance asserted control over their own regions. Meanwhile the Marathas, formidable military warriors from central India, also grew in power, establishing their own rule over large pockets of the Mughal dominions.

This was the anarchy that the Company took advantage of. In 1757 the Company’s commander, Robert Clive, won a stunning victory over the nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud- Daulah, at the Battle of Plassey, through a combination of military strength and double- dealing. Clive engineered the betrayal of the nawab by one of his closest nobles, Mir Jafar, who was duly placed on his throne, in exchange for surrendering a vast fortune (25m rupees, or £325m in today’s money) and granting the Company control of Bengal. Clive began the practice of transferring the contents of Indian

treasuries to the Company’s coffers in England as the spoils of conquest. (“nader Shah had shown the way,” Dalrymple tartly observes.)

There was no looking back. In August 1765 the young and weakened Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was in no condition to resist when the Company pressed him into issuing an imperial edict giving “the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company” the right to collect revenue in the provinces of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. A British company had supplanted the Mughal government; but this was no ordinary business, since it wielded its own private army and exacted deference from rulers across the country. India would never be the same again.

As a number of warring principalities battled for authority, the Company wrested control of India from the collapsing Mughal empire. It enjoyed several advantages: powerful artillery (the Brown Bess muskets, in particular), superior European-style military techniques and the armour of an utterly amoral cynicism.

The Company displaced Muslim nawabs and Hindu maharajas for the right price, emptied their treasuries, took over their states through various means of coercion (including, from the 1840s, the cynical “doctrine of lapse” whenever a ruler died without an heir), and stripped farmers of their ownership of the lands they had tilled for generations. With the absorption of each native state, as a company official observed in the 1840s, “the little court disappears, trade languishes, the capital decays, the people are impoverished, the Englishman flourishes, and acts like a sponge, drawing up riches from the banks of the Ganges, and squeezing them down upon the banks of the Thames”.

The Mughal court was reduced to a combination of fig-leaf and rubber-stamp for the British. Shah Alam II and his successors lived on the sufferance of the Company. “What honour is left to us,” Dalrymple quotes a Mughal official named narayan Singh asking around 1765, “when we have to take orders from a handful of traders who have not yet learned to wash their bottoms?” But honour was an irrelevant concern for his emperor’s “faithful servants and sincere well-wishers”. The Company – “the most advanced capitalist organisation in the world”, Dalrymple calls it – ran India, and like all companies, it had one principal concern animating its capitalist masters in London: the bottom line.

The century after Clive’s victory at Plassey saw the East India Company extending its control over most of India. By the 1750s the business from Bengal alone accounted for a fifth of Britain’s total export trade. At the start of the 19th century the Company’s army employed 260,000 men and enjoyed the backing of the British government and parliament.

In 1803, where Dalrymple’s narrative reaches its climax, the Company’s troops marched into Delhi and seized the old and terrified Mughal monarch. Dalrymple does not cover the half-century thereafter, when Lord Dalhousie, governor-general from 1847, annexed a quarter of a million

square miles of territory from Indian rulers in just eight years. Until 1857, when an open revolt – the “Indian Mutiny” – led to the takeover of the Company’s domains by the British Crown, the East India Company ruled over a subcontinent. It presided over the destinies of more than 200 million people, determined their economic, social and political life, collected taxes, reshaped society and education, introduced (and profited grossly from) the railways and financed the start of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. Its shareholders had reason to be pleased. **** Dalrymple recounts, for instance, that the Company grandee Francis Day established Madras at a location chosen only because it was convenient for him to pursue his romantic assignations with a Tamil lady whose village lay just inland from the new British settlement. A throwaway line mentions “the Raja from Tipperary”, a former Irish cabin-boy turned artillery captain. Another footnote narrates the story of Captain James Stewart, killed by a sniper in 1779, whose head is still worshipped at a shrine in the local police station.

What is clear from his extensive reading of contemporary records, accounts and correspondence, is that the self-serving myth that the British acquired India in a “fit of absent-mindedness” is utterly false. The British knew what they were doing at every stage, even when luck, weather and happenstance enabled some of their more unlikely successes.

At the same time, he gives us enough information to read between the lines. We are told, for instance, that the British in 1756 made no effort to save the “Black Town” in Calcutta – where their “native” servants lived – from the depredations of the invading Siraj ud-Daulah, nor to offer shelter in the fort to the terrified victims of the marauders: “no wonder, then, that… all the Indian support staff… defected, leaving the garrison without lascars to pull the guns, coolies to carry shot and powder, carpenters to build batteries and repair the gun carriages, or even cooks to feed the militia.” The words “racism” or “apartheid” nowhere occur in this volume, but the reader will have no difficulty finding the seeds of both in the early days of the empire’s establishment.

It is hard to disagree with most of Dalrymple’s assessments, whether of the role of the opportunistic Indian merchant bankers – the Jagat Seths, who dealt at their peak with as much money as the Bank of England – in the triumph of the East India Company (they financed the Company’s overthrow of rulers they saw as hostile to their trading interests and profits), or of the weaknesses, faults and sheer cruelty of many of the Indian princes whom the British defeated.

He comes to even-handed conclusions on such contentious issues as the “Black Hole of Calcutta”, the tale of the imprisonment and suffocation in 1756 of British prisoners by Siraj ud-Daulah.

British mythologisers described it in lurid terms to whip up outrage at home and justify the Company’s conquest as righteous revenge. Dalrymple is also good on the positive qualities of the “connoisseur and intellectual” Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, Britain’s most redoubtable Indian military opponent. Tipu Sultan – who invited napoleon to come from Egypt to help him defeat the British, and died heroically in battle in 1799 – was a Muslim ruler now unjustly demonised by

India’s current ruling establishment as an Islamic fanatic.

Dalrymple is unsparing in detailing how the takeover of Bengal by the Company was an “unmitigated catastrophe” for the Bengali people, a fifth of whom perished in the famine of 1770, caused and prolonged by British policy. (In historian Thomas Babington Macaulay’s words, the Company looked on Bengal as “a Buccaneer would look on a galleon”.)

More contentiously, he is kind to Warren Hastings, the subject of the most famous impeachment trial in British parliamentary history. Hastings, the Company’s former de facto governor-general of India, was tried in parliament between 1788 and 1795 on charges of corruption and malfeasance: the dramatic process, led by the Whig MPs Edmund Burke and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, amounted to an indictment of Company rule in India. **** When Lord Wellesley, governor- general of Bengal, whose reputation Dalrymple does much to restore, heard of the death of Tipu Sultan, he raised a toast: “I drink to the corpse of India.” Dalrymple contents himself in The Anarchy with describing the “most extraordinary corporate takeover in history” – the first 200 years of the Company’s existence, 15991799, culminating in British dominance of the whole of India by 1803. A sequel to extend the narrative to 1857 would have been most welcome, and would surely warrant as many pages; but Dalrymple disposes of it in two. The corpse of India did rise in 1857, against the Company that mutilated it, drained it of everything it possessed and then stitched it back together again. After the Crown then took over the Raj, the East India Company, shorn of its grandest possession, wound up in 1874. A few years ago, its brand name was acquired by a Gujarati Indian businessman who uses it to sell “condiments and fine foods” from a showroom in the West End of London.

The Anarchy ends on a minatory note, finding parallels between the dominance today of “multinational finance systems and global markets”, and the overweening power of the East India Company, whose story “has never been more current”.

Shashi Tharoor’s most recent book is “Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India” (Penguin).

The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company, William Dalrymple, Bloomsbury, 576pp, £30.

Irresponsible remarks: On UP minister’s Ayodhya comments play when they believe that courts have to defer to those with an electoral majority. “The construction of a Ram temple is our resolve. The Supreme Court is ours, the judiciary, the country and the temple are ours,” is what the Minister for Cooperatives, Mukut Bihari Verma, is reported to have said. It is reassuring to note that the Bench, which is hearing a set of appeals against the decree passed by the Allahabad High Court in the title suits, condemned the remarks, as soon as its attention was drawn to them. Such irresponsible utterances must be quite annoying to the judges, and unforgivably embarrassing when they come from

prominent members of the ruling party at the Centre. The court has said its reservations would be recorded in the order, which means that it will not let this brazen claim consume its valuable time.

Mr. Verma has sought to clarify that when he said the court was “ours”, he did not mean that the government “owns the court”, but only that the court belongs to everyone and that it reflected his faith in the top Court. It is quite unconvincing as his claim of control over the judiciary was made in the context of the party’s resolve to construct the temple.

It would be in order if the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister took cognisance

of his Minister’s remarks and initiated appropriate action against him. However, given the Bharatiya Janata Party’s fanatical commitment to the cause of building the temple at the site in which frenzied mobs had pulled down the Babri Masjid, it is unlikely that any such action would be forthcoming. The hearing in the Ayodhya appeals in the Supreme Court has been going on for weeks. In Lucknow, the trial court is making slow progress in the criminal case against those who demolished the mosque. In this backdrop, any attempt to create an atmosphere of fear or influence the proceedings will have to be viewed seriously. Earlier this month, the

Supreme Court Bench ordered notice to a Chennai-based octogenarian who had allegedly written to senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, hurling curses on him for representing a Muslim party in the dispute. Mr. Dhavan has spoken about facing threats, ridicule and intimidating behaviour.

While welcoming the court’s assurance that the parties can advance their arguments without fear, it would be in order to underscore that it should remain vigilant against attempts to undermine its role in adjudicating this dispute. After all, the quarters from which these irresponsible utterances come do not consider the fact of being in office a restraining factor.

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

ErdOgaN hOsTs PuTIN, rOuhaNI fOr syrIa summIT ANKARA

T

AGENCIES

URkISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host his Russian and Iranian counterparts on Monday for their latest summit on Syria, with attention focused on Damascus’s push on the last rebel-held bastion of Idlib.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani will join Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara for their fifth summit on the conflict since 2017.

Iran and Russia have been staunch supporters of Syrian President Bashar alAssad, while Turkey has called for his ouster and backed opposition fighters.

But with Assad’s position looking increasingly secure, Turkey’s priority has shifted to preventing a mass influx of refugees from Idlib in Syria’s northwest.

Turkey is concerned by the steady advance of Syrian forces into the region, backed by Russian airpower, despite a series of ceasefires.

Turkey has 12 observation posts in Idlib to enforce a buffer zone agreement struck a year ago with Russia to prevent a full-scale Syrian offensive.

But the posts look increasingly threatened, with one of them cut off

from the rest of Idlib when Syrian forces advanced last month.

Russian air strikes have continued in the region despite the latest ceasefire between Ankara and Moscow on August 31. “A large number of terrorists are still present in this zone… and fighters continue to fire on the positions of government forces,” kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov said on Friday.

The Turkish presidency said the leaders would discuss the latest developments in Syria as well as “ensuring the necessary conditions for the volun-

tary return of refugees and discussing the joint step to be taken in the period ahead with the aim of achieving a lasting political solution.”

Moscow is keen to see progress on establishing a constitutional committee to oversee the next stage of the political settlement in Syria.

That would give Putin a political win to add to its military victories, said Dareen khalifa, senior Syria analyst at International Crisis Group.

But she said expectations should remain low. Even if they could agree on

FOREIGN NEWS 07

who will form the committee, “this leaves a crux of issues unaddressed for the future of the political process including the regime’s ability and willingness to undertake any kind of political reform,” khalifa told AFP. All three leaders are expected to hold one-on-one meetings before the summit, the kremlin said.

They will also hold a closing news conference with a view to presenting a joint declaration.

Meanwhile, Turkey has other concerns regarding Syria.

It has repeatedly threatened to launch a cross-border offensive against Syrian kurdish forces, whom it sees as allied to kurdish militants in its own territory. That has strained Turkey’s relations with its NATO ally, the United States, which backs the Syrian kurds as the main fighting force against the Islamic State group (IS).

The US has vowed to work with Turkey to clear kurdish forces away from its border, but Ankara says progress has so far been “cosmetic” and it could launch an operation into Syria by the end of this month. Turkey has conducted two previous offensives against IS in 2016 and the kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia in 2018.

PuTIN dIsCussEs IdlIb sITuaTION wITh ErdOgaN ANKARA: Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the situation in Syria’s Idlib region with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, RIA news agency reported on Monday. The leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran will meet on Monday to try to secure a lasting truce in northwest Syria following attacks by the government that risk deepening regional turmoil and pushing a new wave of migrants toward Turkey. The summit in Ankara, bringing together countries whose Syrian allies are combatants in a ruinous eight-year-old war, will focus on the Idlib region, the last remaining territory held by rebels seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. AGNECIES

600,000 Rohingya still in Myanmar at 'serious risk of genocide': UN

NAYPYITAW AGENCIES

Rohingya Muslims remaining in Myanmar still face a “serious risk of genocide”, UN investigators said Monday, warning the repatriation of a million already driven from the country by the army remains “impossible”.

The fact-finding mission to Myanmar, set up by the Human Rights Council, last year branded the army operations in 2017 as “genocide” and called for the prosecution of top generals, including army chief Min Aung

Hlaing. Some 740,000 Rohingya fled burning villages, bringing accounts of murder, rape and torture over the border to sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh, where survivors of previous waves of persecution already languished. But in a damning report, the United Nations team said the 600,000 Rohingya still inside Myanmar’s Rakhine state remain in deteriorating and “deplorable” conditions.

“Myanmar continues to harbour genocidal intent and the Rohingya remain under serious risk of genocide,” the investigators said in their final re-

port on Myanmar, due to be presented Tuesday in Geneva. The country is “denying wrongdoing, destroying evidence, refusing to conduct effective investigations and clearing, razing, confiscating and building on land from which it displaced Rohingya”, it said.

Rohingya were living in “inhumane” conditions, the report continued, adding more than 40,000 structures had been destroyed in the 2017 crackdown.

WAR CRIMES: The mission reiterated calls for the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or to set up a tribunal, like for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

It said it had a confidential list of more than 100 names, including officials, suspected of being involved in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in addition to the six generals named publicly last year. The report also repeated calls for foreign governments and companies to sever all business ties with the military, urging a “moratorium” on investment and development assistance in Rakhine state.

The maligned Muslim community has long been subjected to tight movement restrictions, making it difficult or impossible to access healthcare, work and education.

The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and are acused of being illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

The army justified the crackdown as a means of rooting out Rohingya insurgents. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal two years ago, but virtually no refugees have returned to date. The investigators described conditions in Myanmar as “unsafe, unsustainable and impossible” for returns to take place. Nearly 130,000 Rohingya have been trapped in camps in central Rakhine since a previous bout of violence seven years ago. Described as “open-air prisons” by Amnesty International, people there remain reliant on humanitarian aid and are rarely granted permission to leave.

Those outside the camps fare little better, needing special authorisation — and often hefty bribes — to leave their village boundaries. Their homes flattened by bulldozers and land commandeered, refugees in Bangladesh fear they will be subjected to the same, or even worse, treatment if they return to the processing camps built by Myanmar. The UN team also accused the army of fresh “war crimes”, including forced labour and torture, against civilians in the north of Rakhine state.

OIC foreign ministers reject Netanyahu annexation pledge

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday expressed its “total rejection” of the Israeli prime minister’s pre-election pledge to annex part of the West Bank, Saudi state media said. Battling to win re-election in polls on Tuesday, Benjamin Netanyahu made a deeply controversial promise last week to annex the strategic Jordan Valley, which accounts for around a third of the occupied West Bank.

He also repeated his intention to annex Israeli settlements in the wider West Bank, but in coordination with US President Donald Trump. After an emergency foreign ministers’ meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, the OIC expressed “its total rejection and strong condemnation of the Israeli Prime Minister’s declaration”. “This dangerous declaration… deliberately undermines international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace… and pushes the whole region towards further violence and instability,” the 57-member pan-Islamic body added in a statement carried by Saudi state media. The emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers was called at the request of Saudi Arabia, which has unilaterally condemned Netanyahu’s pledge as a “dangerous escalation”. The multilateral statement comes as Netanyahu’s government on Sunday approved a new settlement in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli cabinet agreed to turn the wildcat settlement of Mevoot Yericho in the Jordan Valley into an official settlement, the premier’s office said. Netanyahu’s moves could essentially destroy any remaining hopes for a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. AGENCIES

Netanyahu, Gantz spur supporters on eve of tense Israeli polls TEL AVIV AGENCIES

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent Benny Gantz sought to galvanise supporters Monday on the eve of a tense election with the political fate of the country’s longest-serving premier in the balance.

The vote on Tuesday will be Israel’s second in five months after Netanyahu suffered one of the biggest defeats of his political career when he failed to form a coalition after April polls.

Opinion polls indicate another tight race that may see ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu’s former right-hand man who is now a rival, play a kingmaker role with his campaign to “make Israel normal again.” The slogan is a reference to what the staunch secularist says is the undue influence on politics of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

Netanyahu has spent recent days seeking to boost turnout among his base, using a combination of warnings he could lose and a flurry of announcements welcomed by right-wing nationalists, key to

his re-election campaign.

On Sunday night, he went as far as to cancel his appearance at the final rally for his right-wing Likud party, saying he was instead holding an “emergency consultation”, warning the potential of low turnout could lead to his defeat.

For Israelis, it was a familiar tactic that Netanyahu has used repeatedly in the past — though this time the risk may be greater since voter fatigue could play a role due to the repeat election.

He has also hit on his other campaign themes: portraying himself as Israel’s essential leader, dismissing his main opponents as “weak” and “left” despite their security credentials, and highlighting Israel’s economic growth.

HISTORIC CHANGE: Netanyahu has issued a controversial pledge to annex the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank if he wins — a third of the territory.

He says he would then move to impose Israeli sovereignty over settlements in the wider West Bank in coordination with US President Donald Trump, whose long-awaited peace plan is expected to be released after the vote.

“We find ourselves at the high point of an historic change in the history of the Jewish people and the state of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote in Maariv newspaper, which gave space to both of the main candidates to spell out their positions.

Gantz, an ex-military chief, has campaigned by presenting himself as an honourable alternative to Netanyahu, who is facing a possible corruption indictment in the weeks ahead.

He has repeatedly spoken of Ne-

tanyahu’s willingness to form a coalition with far-right parties that could help him seek immunity from prosecution in parliament. Gantz says he and his centrist Blue and White alliance would want to form a unity government that the vast majority of Israelis would support.

“Blue and White under my leadership will change the direction of the ship of state of Israeli democracy,” he wrote in Maariv. “No more instigating rifts in an attempt to divide and conquer, but rather quick action to form a unity government.”

Netanyahu has also faced criticism over the final days of the campaign due to his unfounded warnings that the election could be stolen by fraud in Arab areas.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s choice to form the next government may depend on Lieberman, who polls show has gained in popularity due to his campaign against ultra-Orthodox parties, an important part of Netanyahu’s coalition plans. He accuses them of seeking to impose Jewish religious law on Israel’s secular population and wants legislation ending the ultra-Orthodox’s exemption from mandatory military service.

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

08 COMMENT

‘God’s Plan’

Country not being told the whole truth Those in power will be held responsible for any failure

And does everything happen for the best?

A

fter trump’s offer of mediation between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, PM Khan was euphoric. He told his supporters on arrival at Islamabad airport that he felt like having won another world cup. fM Qureshi described the meeting as “a new beginning in the bilateral relations”. Days later trump took a U-turn saying Pakistan and India can handle the Kashmir dispute themselves. early this month Saudi deputy foreign minister and UAe’s foreign Minister visited Pakistan. they held talks with fM Qureshi, PM Imran Khan and COAS Bajwa. A statement by the ISPr maintained that the two had assured complete support of both their countries “to resolve the situation created by India’s unilateral steps in occupied Kashmir”. the BJP government has taken two unilateral steps i.e., annexation of IOK by revoking Article 370 and locking down the occupied Valley. the perception created by the ISPr statement is that the two foreign ministers supported Pakistan’s stand on both the issues. After a month and a half of the annexation the two governments haven’t said a word of condemnation against India. Are those running the country simply gullible or are they leading the people down the garden path? the BJP government cannot keep the IOK locked down, with cell phones and internet service blocked for months. Sooner or later it will have to lift the restrictions. the core issue is that of the resolution of Kashmir issue through referendum. reportedly attempts are afoot to convince Pakistan to accept the annexation as a fait accompli and initiate talks with India on other issues like improvement of relations through trade and investment. further, that PM Imran Khan is being asked by some of the major powers and a few Muslim countries to stop using strong language about Modi by comparing him with Hitler or calling him a fascist in return for Indian goodwill.

It is time the details of the talks with important countries are brought to the notice of the Parliament. As this is not being done, conspiracy theories are spreading like wildfire in the country. the government is meanwhile providing the opposition a sensitive issue to exploit the public sentiment.

Ghotki held hostage Influence giving way to unchecked violence

A

Hindu school owner was accused by one of his students of committing blasphemy in Ghotki, Sindh resulting in a complete shut down as a violent mob of hundreds terrorised the town. thankfully no casualties have been reported so far probably because the main accused was taken into custody before the mob could get their hands on him that would have most likely resulted in him getting lynched as has happened in such circumstances so many times before. that the mob was led by the brother of Mian Mithoo, a former MNA of the PPP and an influential personality (pir) in Ghotki suggests that law enforcement agencies refrained from taking pre-emptive action to stop the escalation. He has also been accused in the past for facilitating forced conversions of Hindu girls. Hindu families had to hide in their homes for hours out of fear as the charged mob went about vandalising a Mandir, ransacking five Hinduowned shops and setting fire to the school in question.

More than seventy people involved in blasphemy cases have been murdered in the last thirty year in Pakistan.

In 2017 Mashal Khan, a prominent figure at his university was shot dead after being falsely accused of blasphemy by a KP tehsil councillor among others.

Although no one has been given the death sentence for the crime they usually languish in jail for years seeking justice. It took ten years for Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman falsely accused of blasphemy to win her freedom.

During those years the country would see the murder of a sitting governor of Punjab, Salman taseer, who took up her cause and opposed the blasphemy law; multiple violent protests across the country led by religious extremists against her release and the formation of the tLP, a far right religious party whose politics revolves around the blasphemy law. It is high time the government start punishing those who misuse the blasphemy law with the same ferocity that is meted out to an alleged blasphemer. those using their influence to aid or incite a mob should be made an example of. the Sindh government must not ignore this latest incident and take action; otherwise there will be more of the same.

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

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

haSaN aFTaB SaEED

T

Here’S no dearth of misery and misfortune in the world. there’s plenty of joy and happiness too, but as far as most thoughtful individuals are concerned, in the long run the misery far outweighs the joy. Is this all part of God’s Plan?

It has been observed that those who are doing well in life find it decidedly less difficult to acquiesce in this so-called God’s Plan than those who have been on the receiving end of major mishaps in life. what, then, is one to make of God’s Plan, if there’s any such thing that is.

A man applies for a job he wants desperately, and for which he is ideally qualified too.

Despite doing his best at the interview, he is not offered the job. Is it part of God’s Plan? Is the apparent setback just one minor glitch in a larger scheme where ‘all works out for the best’? what about all the wars, genocides, famines and epidemics of history? Does this concept of God’s Plan dismiss free-will as well as the absurdities of blind luck and tragedy? Is it God’s will that random people die young of disease, violence or accident? Doesn’t tracing the source of such things to God diminish God? As is the case when one grapples with any philosophical question, one must first be clear about what precisely one means by ‘God’s Plan’. everything that ever happens conforms to the laws of the universe, as it must. Now, God is the Creator of the universe (and its laws) so those laws can alternatively be called God’s will. In this sense, everything undoubtedly happens according to God’s Plan because nothing’s ever going to surprise God. for example, the damage to flesh and bones caused by physical impact is firmly based in the laws of the universe (or God’s Plan, if you like). But a man brings the damage to himself by driving his automobile recklessly or under the influence. Now, driving under those conditions is certainly not the only possible cause of being

in a car crash. there are countless others: a heart attack, sudden brake failure, road conditions, worn-out tires, some other driver’s fault, and what not; many of which are outside one’s control. Any crash that happens, happens when certain factors align unfavourably (all of which may not be known at the time); but wisdom on a man’s part amounts to not knowingly contributing to those factors. However, what if after doing everything in one’s power to be safe, one still meets an accident that scars one physically and/or mentally? wisdom here calls for accepting it as God’s Plan (as it undoubtedly is) and moving on with life. On this point, one is often accused of fatalism. Is it though? Is there any wiser attitude in matters one can’t help or change? the free-will/predestination debate is a lengthy one, and one on which I have written in these pages. Suffice it to say here that God being outside time and space, there’s no logical contradiction between God’s ‘Prescience’ and a man being free to make his choices in the domain where he has free will. for then, the free-will becomes one of the many other factors that influence events.

So much for God’s Plan! we now focus our attention on our second major question: even accepting God’s Plan, is it correct to say that everything happens for the best? that is, is there anything necessarily good about each development, even if only in the long run? this is a faulty question. It’s like asking, ‘Is it hot in the summer?’ It’s hot as compared to the winter; but is it hot as compared to the inside of your oven or the surface of the sun? that is why for an objective assessment one talks of temperatures and not hot or cold. Similarly,

good and bad aren’t absolute concepts; they are relative. when a lion runs down a gazelle, it’s good for the lion; but bad for the gazelle.

Voltaire famously took the mickey out of the Panglossian view of everything ‘happening for the best’, and justifiably so. However, atheists, ever since, have fancied this line of criticism so much that it is now one of their preferred ‘arguments’ against theists. ‘Is this world – with so much death and destruction – the best your God could create? where is perfection in this scheme that you people never tire of proclaiming’, they ask sarcastically. the word ‘perfect’ is an interesting one. It’s often blown up – by the theist and the atheist alike – beyond recognition. All it means is something having all elements and characteristics for its purpose. It can never be torn loose from its context. A perfect family car is one that has a certain combination of safety, fuel efficiency and reliability for its power output and over its service life. In other words, it does best the job it was made for.

(A perfect f1 racing car would have very different demands.) the word ‘perfect’ doesn’t mean the car needs no power source; or is unbreakable no matter how fast you drive it into a wall; or is subject to zero wear and tear. It certainly doesn’t mean that the automobile comes into your room every night and tucks you up in bed. Some food for thought: what would a perfect existence look like, provided its purpose, as far as human beings are concerned, is to test their conduct?

The word ‘perfect’ is an interesting one.

It’s often blown up– by the theist and the atheist alike– beyond recognition

Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

Whims and applause of the crowd What causes the mightiest of us to perish sans redemption?

Shah Nawaz Mohal

F

ew of us become momentary masters of lives and fates of great many. these few are adored by those who believe them to be saviours, praised by those who know they will deliver, followed by countless acolytes, and opposed by those who envy their rise and position. their struggle is mythologised, their life is dramatised, their sacrifices are highlighted, their every move is significant, and their every omission is monitored. they are, in a nutshell, bathed in glory and attention.

Until fate takes a turn for the worst, whims change and applause of the crowd fades.

In our times, no matter how rational, reasonable and right a decision may seem at the time of making it, later on, hindsight ruins it. Since hindsight, wisdom after the event presents better options that make us regret the roads not Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

taken and choices not opted. the best of men are reduced to caricatures, eventually. And then an endless array of regrets and rues pile up ultimately leading to the path towards perdition.

Our Prime Minister Imran Khan is infamous for taking a decision, then revisiting that decision, and then deciding against that decision. remember the Atif Mian episode? Imran Khan took a decision to bring him on board the economic advisory committee, he regretted it immediately. the right person, turned out, was of wrong faith. And when the enlightened, brave, bold, upright Prime Minister realised it, he surrendered. even the mightiest, as and when go against the whims of the crowd, have to fall in line or fall prey to the onslaught of raging masses.

One group in these masses is unified by hatred of a very specific ‘other’ group. In the insightful words of eric Hoffer, a 20th century philosopher, movements of every shape and hue ‘can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil.’ Minorities, even if they are wealthy and influential, are easy prey for the sheer fact that they are few in numbers and in no position to mount a successful struggle against the excesses of the majority.

A crowd belongs to the majority. And in a democracy, even if it is as flawed and dangerous as ours, they are not only paid heed

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

but their sheer number dictates everything from policy matters to day to day affairs of governance.

And in Mankind’s quest for ‘making devils’, we have forgotten the better angels that dwell inside us.

In our land people are selected for their competence and the same people are de-selected because they hail from a ‘wrong’ belief.

Our Naya Pakistan is where the mighty Saviour caved in to unreasonable, utterly shambolic and wholly shameful demands of sacking a person of known credentials for no other reason but the faith he ascribed to. welcome, dear reader, to a land where those who demand reverence for books triumph over those who read them. the triumph of the Crowd continues. rather than paying heed to the matters of consequence that touch us all, we have opted to look the other way. we have entered ourselves in the service of one long, endless, unwritten covenant where we have agreed upon the order of things and how much priority they have. the movers and shakers in our midst, the makers and destroyers who rule over us, the things and people they rule over are all deaf, mute servants who give in when they should have looked at the crowd in its eye and told them how the wise and right decision is not always the popular one.

Bearing in mind the cost of sounding clichéd, we all know the

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

ultimate truth. All these grave, solemn matters of utmost consequence will ultimately be of no consequence. Crowds have certain common issues and dilemmas. these masses that are flooded across the length and breadth of mother earth are divided along the lines of race, nationalism, faith, cast, creed, clan, and ethnicity. these folks have been busy trying to lick clean their wounds with parched tongues since time began.

Some among them perish because few Celsius go up; others feel lucky that they don’t fall in the cursed category. Most of them parrot what the media tells them, others have their noses and eyes glued to their smartphones. Many vie for morsels to feed their kith and kin; others are obese with diseases that only go away once a person bites dust.

Amidst the whims of these crowds, mightiest of the men perish. In search of applause and approval of these crowds, many vie for glory and a place among the immortals. Mankind, it won’t be a hyperbole, sacrifices its best at the altar of Lord time. Be it saviours, dissidents, innovators, discoverers, or thinkers-those who stay clear of the whims and applause of the crowd are the ones who are immortalised for eons to come.

Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and journalist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at mshahnawazmohal@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 17 September, 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

Kashmir crisis

CPEC and Gwadar Strategic implications of Pakistan’s coastal development arShaD rahiM

A

Historical Background t the time of independence Gwadar had been under the suzerainty of the sultanate of Muscat and Oman since 1784. Soon after independence its potential as a port was pointed out by a naval officer Commander Jackson serving in the Directorate of Ports and Shipping as its Director. In 1954, at the request of the Government of Pakistan, the US Geological Survey engaged the firm worth Condrick to carry out a survey of Pakistan’s coast. the firm confirmed the feasibility of development of Gwadar as a deep sea port long before its purchase from the Sultan of Oman on 7 September 1958. Its development, however, had to wait a long time because of the huge investment required not only of the port but also the supporting infrastructure across the entire stretch of the difficult and barren terrain of Balochistan. the initiative for the development of Gwadar into a deep-water port eventually came from China at the turn of the twentieth century. China felt that Gwadar would provide the shortest route of access to sea not only to the less developed western region of China but also through it to Central Asian states and russia. It would also enable China to circumvent the Straits of Malacca through which the entire sea traffic to China from the west is routed and whose vulnerability in passage through the straits has been a major Chinese concern.

Construction of the port commenced in 2002 and on completion of the first Phase in 2007 it was leased to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) for 40 years. the lease was, however, terminated in 2013 with the consent of the firm and the construction and operation of the port was reverted back to the Chinese government. Since then it is being operated by the state-owned firm China’s Overseas Port Holding Company.

In early twenty-first century Various ideas concerning Asian mainland’s access to sea floating were tied up by China in a breathtaking proposal of global significance titled ‘Belt and road Initiative’, announced by China’s paramount leader Xi Jinping in September and Oc-

tober 2013 in visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia. the primary object of this initiative is to create a ‘unified large market’. to that end it initially aims to redress the infrastructure gaps in less developed areas of the belt through massive investments in highways, railways, power and many other sectors. with the most important leg CPeC (China Pakistan economic Corridor) of this Chinese mega project resting on Gwadar its development along with relevant infrastructure received a big boost in 2015.

Pa k i s ta n ’ s strategic concerns After the 1971 war Pakistan’s Navy underwent a major reorganisation. this involved shifting of Naval Headquarters to Islamabad, setting up of Naval Air Arm, and development of coastal defence infrastructure including a full-fledged naval base at Ormara. the development of Gwadar port and a Naval Base at Ormara has significantly improved Pakistan’s overall strategic posture with respect to the perennial Indian threat by providing it the much-needed strategic depth. An alternate communication line running along the entire northsouth stretch of Pakistan west of river Indus offsets to a large extent the adverse effects of the vulnerability of Pakistan’s communication lines running close to its eastern border. the layout of the coastal infrastructure has improved manifold the maritime defence posture of Pakistan. It has enhanced the intercep-

tion capability of Pakistan Navy and increased the vulnerability of Indian warships and submarines operating along Pakistan’s coast. for instance, the Indian Osa missile boats would not have been launch and get away with a missile attack on Pakistan Navy ships had they been operating from Ormara instead of Karachi in the 1971 war. Similarly, Pakistan’s ability of detection of Indian submarines deployed for interdiction of shipping traffic along the coast has significantly improved. In recent years Indian submarines have been detected south of Ormara at least on two occasions in 2016 and 2019 and forced to leave Pakistan’s waters. the second incident was soon after the shooting down of two Indian warplanes in february in Azad Kashmir when tensions were high and the forces of the two countries on high alert. On this Occasion an Indian submarine operating south of Ormara with hostile intent was detected, tracked, localised and forced to withdraw. the most important but historically and currently the most contentious leg of the Belt and road initiative is the China-Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC) which rests on Gwadar port which is an equally vital and sensitive sealand transition centre of the mega project.

India’s involvement in malicious activities in Balochistan to undermine this project have now been confirmed by an inadvertent leak in the Indian press by an ex-member of rAw and also implicit in the recent judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case filed by India.

Keeping in view the Indian meddling in Balochistan and with Gwadar feeding the most important strip (CPeC) of Belt and road Initiative through the province across the vast Asian mainland to europe and beyond, it is imperative for Pakistan to ensure the security of communication lines feeding Gwadar over land and sea. Security of Gwadar Port and the relevant sea lines of communications is one of the primary tasks of Pakistan Navy.

It is of course true that Pakistan Navy faces an adversary several times larger in size and capability in the north Arabian Sea. However, over the years the Pakistan Navy has evolved into a small but balanced, well trained, and competent force. with plans based on a sound strategy and advantages accruing on account of a vastly improved coastal setup, it is capable of giving a befitting response to any challenge posed by the Indian Navy and accomplishing its assigned mission in case of hostilities.

The development of Gwadar port and a Naval Base at Ormara has significantly improved Pakistan’s overall strategic posture with respect to the perennial Indian threat by providing it the much-needed strategic depth

Arshad Rahim is a retired commodore of Pakistan Navy.

tHe 74th annual session of the UN General Assembly is going to held from September 17 to 27, 2019. this is an opportunity for Islamic republic of Pakistan to present Kashmir issue in UNGA, as an independent participation with the help of P.5-countries (USA, russia, UK, france and China) and UfC-Coffee Club (Pakistan’s UN-group). the purpose of the United Nations (UN) is the maintenance of international peace and security. It has mixed records. the UN has been successful in socio-economic field. But it is failure in political domain which overshadowed its social services.

However, to analyse UN’s Policy and its mission and vision on Kashmir issue. One can say UN is failed in political arena to maintain peace in the world. there are many solutions. to present solutions of Kashmir issue, one ought to know current situation.

It is globally acknowledge, Kashmir is an International dispute in South Asia (especially between republic of India and Islamic republic of Pakistan). the dispute continued over 72 years.

On August 5, 2019, the current government of India under Mr Narendra Modi administration altered the status of Indianoccupied Kashmir through the revocation of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution. this move is illegal under the Constitution of India. It violates not only the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Kashmir, but also transgresses to the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), statements of the first Prime Minister (PM) of India Late Jawaharlal Nehru on Kashmir’s solidarity, and the Shimla Agreement. the former Chief Minister (CM) of Indian Occupied Kashmir Mrs Mehbooba Mufti said in ‘App_ki_Adalat’ programme, “India wants territory of Kashmir not the People of Kashmir.”

Once Mr Modi said in election campaign 2019, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee had spoken about Humanity, and the essence of being a Kashmiri.” to follow the Modi’s words, it can be stop very easy. India should let those people in the Kashmir; determine their own destiny through referendum, through the Ballot Box rather than through Bullets. It should be on the will of Kashmiris that either they want to join Islamic republic of Pakistan, republic of India or an Independent Kashmir!

SAdAM HuSSAIN CHANNA Shikarpur

Nepotism galore? eVer since PtI government came into power, Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly reiterated his determination and commitment to create corruption free Pakistan. His led federal government also claims everything being done in a transparent manner without any nepotism and favouritism whatsoever.

But at least some members of the federal cabinet are reportedly doing contrary to what the PtI government claims and promoting nepotism and favouritism right under the nose of PM Imran Khan. federal education Minister Shafqat Mahmood who hails from Lahore according to some reports is promoting nepotism in the National History and Literary Heritage Division of which he holds additional charge. while he has not been able to show impressive performance as the federal education Minister all these months, still he holds the additional charge. Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) falls under the National History and Literary Heritage Division which has announced vacancy on its website for senior position of the Director General PNCA though the same has not yet been advertised in the national dailies so far. the Minister incharge is reported to be interested in inducting an elderly woman relative from Lahore to the top slot of the PNCA by hook or crook belying the federal government claims of transparency and no nepotism. His lady relative is already 77-year-old whereas the maximum age limit for the vacancy announced by the PNCA is 63 years. the Prime Minister is requested to take some time off his otherwise very heavy internal and external commitments and engagements and order an inquiry in the PNCA affairs to ensure no nepotism is promoted, transparency prevails and the Minister incharge is not able to induct his cousin as DG PNCA by misusing his power, please.

OSAMA bIN ASIM Rawalpindi

Increasing tax revenues tHe present government has set an ambitious target for this fiscal year in terms of tax collection – rs5.5 trillion – to tide over its financial woes. It is commendable for Pakistan’s financial and tax managers to realise that the country must drastically enhance its tax collection system and bring those sections of society in the tax net that have evaded payment of taxes so far though they have been reaping high profits. the tobacco and soft drinks sectors are the ones that make big profits. Among others, the government’s revenue collection machinery must focus on these sectors to achieve the new revenue collection targets. the government has already adopted various new means to increase its tax revenues. However, it is imperative for the tax managers to immediately introduce more innovative ways and means by which tax revenues can be further enhanced.

In this regard, the PtI government must not waste time reinventing the wheel and instead follow the most developed and efficient tracking systems prevalent both in the developed and developing economies to further expand the tax net through its own initiatives. It must take on board entities that meet international standards and regulations so that they can help it achieve its revenue targets through the use of technology, especially in those sectors that have a history of tax evasion. the government can then channelise these additional revenues into a genuine national development regime.

SyEd OvAIS AkHtAR karachi

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

JOhNsON ThE brExIT 'hulk' fINally mEETs Eu's JuNCkEr LONDON

s

AGENCIES

Ix weeks after he took office and six weeks before he is due to lead Britain out of the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to meet JeanClaude Junker.

On Monday, after comparing himself to berserk comic book super-smasher Hulk, the British leader will enjoy a genteel working lunch with the EU Commission president.

Downing Street has confidently billed the Luxembourg visit as part of efforts to negotiate an orderly divorce from the union before an October 17 EU summit.

But Brussels has played down talk of a breakthrough, insisting Johnson has yet to suggest any “legally operable” proposal to revise a previous withdrawal accord.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier, who will join the leaders for their talks in Juncker’s native Grand Duchy, has said he has “no reason to be optimistic”.

And the European Parliament will this week vote on a resolution rejecting Johnson’s demand that the so-called

“Irish backstop” clause be stripped from the deal. Johnson insists this measure, which temporarily keeps the Uk in the EU customs union, has to go if he is to bring the agreement back to the House of Commons.

But the accord will also have to win the support of the other 27 EU leaders and the European Parliament if Britain is not to crash out with no deal on October 31.

Johnson, in turn, boasts that he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than ask his European counterparts to postpone Brexit for a third time into next year.

“Be in no doubt that if we cannot get a deal — the right deal for both sides — then the Uk will come out anyway,” Johnson said, writing in the Daily Telegraph on Monday. It is difficult, then, to see what might come from the lunch, which will be held behind closed doors with no plan for a joint statement afterward.

‘HULK SMASH!’ Nevertheless, Johnson told the Mail on Sunday he remains “very confident” of getting a new deal before the October 17 summit.

“A huge amount of progress is being made,” he said, referring to “technical talks” on border procedures between his

Brexit adviser David Frost and Barnier’s team. Speaking to the BBC Sunday, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay indicated that any post-Brexit transition period could be extended past 2020 in order to resolve issues with the border.

Johnson compared himself to Marvel comics hero Hulk, the rampaging mutant

100 days in: How Hong Kongers sustain protests with creativity

CENTRAL AGENCIES

With Hong kong shaken by 100 days of huge prodemocracy protests, activists have adopted a host of creative ways to fuel their movement away from the barricades.

From laser pen light shows, to flashmob singalongs and human chains, we look at some of the inventive methods embraced by a movement that shows no signs of abating.

FLASHMOB SING ALONGS: Music has long played a prominent role in Hong kong’s years of democracy rallies. The tune that received the most traction early on in this summer’s protests was the catchy Christian hymn “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” as well as “Do you hear the people sing?” from the musical “Les Miserables”.

But in the last fortnight a new anthem has been embraced with gusto. “Glory to Hong kong” was written by an anonymous composer and has gone viral, its defiant lyrics repeatedly belted out at protests, nightly flashmob concerts in city malls and even football matches.

LASER SHOWS: Laser pointers were initially used by frontline protesters to indicate police positions, distract officers and stop people from taking photos or videos. But they were adopted en masse after a student leader with 10 laser pens in his bag was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

Since then demonstrators have held “lightshows” outside of police stations and at most public gatherings, lending the protests a somewhat surreal disco-vibe once the sun sets.

HUMAN CHAINS: Human chains were first adopted in late August on the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, when more than a million people linked arms in huge anti-Soviet Union demonstrations.

The symbol caught on. Tens of thousands have taken part in human chains across the city in recent weeks, some formed on top of famous hills such as the Peak and Lion Rock. Secondary school students have also formed them each morning before classes.

CROWD FUNDING: Several online crowd-funding campaigns have been hugely successful.

Two campaigns raised over Hk$21 million ($2.7 million) to place adverts in major international newspapers. “By placing ads internationally, we can break through the filter of the media and show the world the truth underneath the government propaganda,” a campaign co-organiser, who gave his name as Taylor, told AFP. Other campaigns have raised money to build a four-metre-tall statue called “Lady Liberty Hong kong” and to provide defence funds for the some

1,400 people arrested.

LENNON WALLS: Plastered in colourful stickynotes, posters and slogans, “Lennon Walls” have sprung up in more than a hundred locations across the city, often in pedestrian tunnels or near subway stations. The first Hong kong wall appeared during huge pro-democracy protests in 2014 and was a local take on a public graffiti wall in Prague that appeared after the 1980 murder of John Lennon.

When crowds of government supporters tore down a Lennon Wall outside the city’s parliament early on in this summer’s protests, democracy activists simply created new ones in their local neighbourhoods. Walls are still being torn down by opponents but they reappear within hours.

10 PM CHANTING: Hong kongers have taken to shouting protest slogans from their apartments each night at 10pm, inspired by cacerolazos, a form of protest that emerged in authoritarian Chile during the 1970s and has since been adopted by multiple dissent movements.

In a city renowned for the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the world, the chanting is particularly effective, with popular slogans such as “Liberate Hong kong, revolution now” and “No rioters, only tyranny” bouncing off buildings and echoing through neighbourhoods.

MOONCAKES: Traditionally given during the mid-autumn festival, these dense pastries have been given a protest makeover. One bakery has sold tens of thousands of cakes which sport popular protest slogans on their crusts.

PROTEST ART: Painting, calligraphy, comic strips, sculptures — Hong kongers have been working around the clock to provide an artistic backdrop to their protests.

Much of the art is distributed in a highly modern fashion — shared on online forums or pinged to people’s phones using Bluetooth and Airdrop. It is not unusual for someone’s phone to receive multiple digital flyers and posters each day, especially on the subway. Soon the same artworks are printed and placed on the city’s Lennon Walls, which have become a constantly evolving canvas of dissent.

FLAGS: Small groups of protesters have waved the flags of Britain, colonial era Hong kong and the United States. But by far the most common flag is the “wilted bauhinia” — a twist on Hong kong’s official flag, a white bauhinia flower on a red backdrop. The new flag has turned the backdrop black, to reflect the mood of the streets, and the bauhinia flower is wilted and blood-stained.

Australian-based Chinese dissident artist Badiucao, who draws daily cartoons for the protest movement, has also created a flag of rainbow-coloured squares, meant to symbolise the Lennon Walls.

Another popular emblem directed at Beijing is dubbed “Chinazi” — a red flag with yellow stars in the shape of a swastika.

BE WATER: Inventiveness has been a core principle of the protests themselves with the phrase “Be water” commonly chanted.

The slogan references a philosophy of unpredictability espoused by local kung fu legend Bruce Lee and encourages protesters to keep mobile in a bid to stretch police resources and avoid mass arrests. Protesters have also found creative ways to hold rallies that are banned, portraying them instead as opportunities to go window shopping, hold picnics or gather for religious meetings.

alter-ego of a mild-mannered nuclear scientist whose catchphrase is “Hulk smash!” “The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets and he always escaped, no matter how tightly bound in he seemed to be,” Johnson told the paper.

Johnson’s strategy faces opposition at home, where rebel and opposition MPs

have passed a law aimed at forcing him to seek a Brexit delay.

Britain’s Supreme Court will rule this week on a bid to overturn Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament and limit time to debate the crisis.

Barnier will address the European Parliament session in Strasbourg on Wednesday as MEPs vote to reaffirm and reinforce the EU Brexit stance.

Barnier previously briefed the leaders of political groups in the assembly on Thursday last week, and he had a downbeat message. “I can’t objectively tell you whether the contacts we have undertaken with Mr. Johnson’s government will lead to an agreement between now and mid-October,” he said.

After that meeting, the speaker of the parliament David Sassoli unveiled the Brexit resolution, which would insist that the Irish backstop remains in the deal.

“The resolution says that if there is a no-deal departure, then that is entirely the responsibility of the United kingdom,” he said. After his lunch with Juncker, Johnson is due to meet Luxembourg’s Prime Minister xavier Bettel. The pair will hold a joint news conference.

Trump rebuffs Kavanaugh impeachment calls after new sexual misconduct report

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

United States President Donald Trump rejected Democrats’ calls for impeaching Supreme Court Justice Brett kavanaugh on Sunday after a new report involving sexual misconduct allegations, encouraging the latter to sue for libel and suggesting the Justice Department could “rescue” him.

Some Democratic presidential candidates called for kavanaugh’s impeachment, saying he lied under oath, after a New York Times report on Saturday disclosed new information about sexual misconduct allegations against him.

The Times’ essay, drawn from an upcoming book written by the newspaper’s reporters, said it was able to corroborate an allegation by former classmate Deborah Ramirez that kavanaugh exposed his penis to her during a drunken party at a Yale University when they were undergraduates.

“Brett kavanaugh should start suing people for libel, or the Justice Department should come to his rescue,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

It was unclear what action the Republican president was advocating the Justice Department take.

The Times’ article said at least seven people, including Ramirez’ mother, had heard about the incident long before kavanaugh became a judge. kavanaugh denied Ramirez’ accusations during his acrimonious Senate confirmation hearing last fall.

The Times’ piece also disclosed a previously unreported account that echoes Ramirez’ story.

Former Yale classmate Max Stier describes kavanaugh pushing his private parts into the hand of a female student at a party. The report said the classmate notified US senators and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the incident, but the bureau did not investigate. The FBI declined to comment on the report. kavanaugh did not comment to the Times on

CMYK

the allegations. The Supreme Court press officers did not immediately return a request for comment. kavanaugh, a conservative appointed by Trump, was confirmed by the US Senate in October after he denied accusations of sexual assault from three women. The Senate confirmed his appointment to the high court by 50-48 vote, one of the tightest margins ever for a justice.

Some of the Democrats running to replace Trump in 2020 called for kavanaugh’s impeachment in Twitter posts on Sunday.

“The revelations today confirm what we already knew: During his hearing, kavanaugh faced credible accusations and likely lied to Congress,” US Senator Bernie Sanders said.

“I sat through those hearings. Brett kavanaugh lied to the US Senate and most importantly to the American people,” wrote Senator kamala Harris, a Judiciary Committee member. “He must be impeached.” “Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing. Like the man who appointed him, kavanaugh should be impeached,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said in another Twitter post.

Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke joined the chorus on Sunday, as did former US Housing Secretary Julian Castro, who launched the calls for kavanaugh’s impeachment on Saturday.

Senator Amy klobuchar posted a picture of the woman who testified to the Senate about her allegations against kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford, with the caption, “Let us never forget what courage looks like.”

Trump did not mention the Times article but blamed “radical left Democrats” and the “LameStream Media” for going after kavanaugh.

In a series of Twitter posts, he accused Democrats of threatening impeachment to influence kavanaugh’s opinions on court cases. “They want to scare him into turning Liberal!” he wrote.

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

BUSINESS 11 CORPORATE CORNER

Govt StRIvInG hARd to REctIFy PASt EconoMIc BlundERS: dAWood ‘UNCONTROLLED IMPORTS, UNDER-INVOICING, CONTRARY TO THE FACT TARIFF STRUCTURES AND IRRATIONAL EXCHANGE RATE POLICIES HAD CRIPPLED THE ECONOMY’ LAHORE

KARACHI: Engro Corporation President Ghias Khan welcomes US Ambassador Paul W Jones during the latter’s visit to Engro Elengy Terminal Limited. The envoy was accompanied by the US consul general and Port Qasim Authority chairman. PR

LAHORE: AkzoNobel Pakistan Limited (ANPL) and Hyundai Nishat Motor (Private) Limited (HNMPL) recently signed a memorandum of understanding. The ceremony was attended by ANPL CEO Saad Mahmood Rashid, CFO Harris Mahmood, National Sales Manager Shahid Islam, HNMPL CEO Hasan Mansha, COO Tatsuya Sato, Vice President Sohail Nawaz, CFO Norez Abdullah and GM Shafiq Ahmad. PR

A

STAFF REPORT

DvISER to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said on Monday that 14pc rise in export and 18pc fall in imports in July 2019 proved that “things are now moving in the right direction”.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) Export Trophy2019, he said the government was striving hard to rectify the mistakes committed by the past regimes. “We had a trader-led consumption-driven economy in the past. Uncontrolled imports, under-invoicing, contrary to the fact tariff structures and an irrational exchange rate policy had crippled the economy,” he said. “Major industries had stopped manufacturing and relied on imports because there was five per cent duty imposed on finished goods as compared to 20pc on the import of raw materials.”

Dawood said that the incumbent government’s was duty-bound to take corrective measures as it understood the gravity of the situation.

“Our survival lies in exports. It is the government’s responsibility to give businessmen

Won’t tolerate any negligence in tax collection, FBR chief says ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi has said the country’s tax collection ratio has witnessed an increase, which would improve and strengthen the national economy. Talking to state television on Monday, he said no negligence would be tolerated in tax collection. He said Pakistan’s economy could not afford massive imports and the incumbent government was formulating ways to enhance exports. “Owing to the government’s prudent policies, exports of the country have been increasing while the imports have witnessed a significant decrease,” he stated. “The government is also taking appropriate steps to ensure industrialisation-based economy in the country,” he added. The chairman stressed the need to document the national economy so as to broaden the tax net and achieve the tax collection targets. He said the previous government had left the economy in a fragile condition but measures were being taken to recover the looted money from the exchequer to further boost the economy.

DEADLINES EXTENDED: Meanwhile, the FBR has extended the date for submission of sales tax and federal excise returns for the period of August from September 18th to September 20th, 2019. The revenue board has also extended the date for the submission of licencing applications for electronic monitoring (track and trace system) of tobacco products from September 20th to September 27th, 2019. According to a notification issued on Monday, FBR stated that the procurement would be made by following all PRRA Rules so that any irregularity and ambiguity could be avoided. “The applicants who obtain 70 out of 80 marks in respect of technique and experience, would be considered technically approved,” the notification read. “The licencing documents can be obtained from office of project director (track and trace system) and also can be downloaded from the FBR website.” STAFF REPORT

market access to different countries.”

The adviser said that China had agreed to extend duty-free access on 313 tariff lines. “I have targeted five countries, namely USA, Canada, Japan, Korea and Australia, to get market access for Pakistani businessmen,” he asserted.

He said that engineering and other sectors were being focused for exports, lauding the fact that Pakistan had exported tractors to Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya etc. LCCI President Almas Hyder said on the occasion that the current account deficit remained the biggest problem of Pakistan, while the huge gap between import and export had created issues like currency devaluation and rise in interest rates.

He said, “Exports have paramount importance in Pakistan’s economy as these are the main source of revenue generation (around $24 billion) and employment creation. Exports are also imperative to maintain the country’s balance of payment. “As Pakistan aims to become a competitive economy in the region, it is important for us to enhance our export revenues so as to deal with multi-dimensional economic challenges that have confronted our nation.”

Almas Hyder stressed the need for a longterm integrated export strategy that encouraged

Tax officials warned against abuse of power ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials are defying their chairman’s orders by continuing with raids on business premises.

The tax department, through a notification on Monday, issued instructions to its field offices regarding invoking the action under article 175 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

As per the notification available with this scribe, Special Assistant to FBR Chairman Zubair Bilal said there were reports that certain officials and staff of the FBR were abusing their powers.

“It is hereby directed that power under section 175(1) will only be used under exceptional circumstances with the specific approval of the chief commissioner of the region. Any complaint of abuse of power will be dealt strictly,” he added.

Under Section 175, FBR officials have a power to enter and search premises with the approval of the commissioner.

According to sources, the

customs department and Inland Revenue intelligence had been conducting raids in different parts of the country, especially in Karachi, which ignited the business community. FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi in May this year had placed restrictions on raids on taxpayers’ premises.

He had directed the officials to take prior approval from the IR-Operations member and the chairman before conducting any raid. “If there is evidence of economic transaction(s) that are chargeable to tax and the organization/entity is not a tax registered person, then the officer will report it to the IR-Operations member and FBR chairman.”

In addition, he had also prohibited the suspension from active taxpayers list unless there was personal interaction with CEO/owner of the business 24 hours before the suspension.

The list of all such cases would be sent to the FBR chairman and IR-Operations member with reasons for the suspension and evidence of personal interaction, he had added.

PQA issues provisional LoI for establishment of Energas LNG terminal ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has issued a provisional Letter of Intent (LoI) to Energas Terminal (Pvt) Limited (ETPL) for the establishment of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at Port Qasim, it was learnt on Monday.

“The PQA has conveyed its intent to permit Energas furnish technical and financial proposals in line with project guidelines 2019 for the establishment of a dedicated LNG facility on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis at Port Qasim,” the LoI available with this scribe read.

The PQA has, however, asked Energas to fulfil some requirements for its final approval.

“In the case of non-fulfilment of the requirements, the provi-

sional LoI will be revoked automatically,” it added.

The authority stated that the provisional LoI was issued based on the fact that the company’s quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was individually feasible, however, final LoI would be issued after due evaluation of technical and financial proposals as per the project guidelines and combined assessment of all existing and upcoming LNG terminals by the PQA-appointed consultants.

Energas Terminal (Pvt) Limited is a consortium represented

by Younus Brothers, Sapphire & Halmore and US energy giant ExxonMobil. The tolling capacity Energas’ LNG terminal would be between 750mmcfd and a maximum of 1,000mmcfd.

The ETPL has been asked to

submit a mandatory concession fee of $10 million to Port Qasim, of which $2 million shall be paid within a period of 60 days after the issuance of the LoI while $8 million upon the signing of Implementation Agreement (IA).

“In case of non-submission of $2 million, this provisional LoI will be revoked automatically and in case of non-issuance of LoI by PQA due to any reason, $2 million will be refunded.”

PQA has also advised Energas to submit a mandatory performance bond of $10 million on the date of signing of IA while the performance bond would be forfeited and encashed in case of failure in the commissioning of terminal within 24 months from the date of signing of IA. “In case of delay to commission the terminal within 24

months after signing of IA, liquidated damages at the rate of $10,000 per day would be imposed till commission of the terminal. Likewise, minimum royalty would be charged on 250mmcfd and secured through Bank Guarantee (BG) of $3 million to remain valid throughout the concession period,” it added.

PQA said royalty shall be charged at the rate of $1.9 per tonne (excluding taxes) which would be payable on a monthly basis. The royalty rate would increase 25pc every five years. “The LNG terminal developer shall bind the shipping lines & consignees to pay berthage, pilotage, wharfage and all other applicable charges to PQA at prescribed gazette notified rates, revised from time to time,” the PQA provisional letter of LoI added.

investment in manufacturing, promoted valueaddition, and resolved long-standing issues like competitiveness and productivity.

“Special focus in the new export strategy should be given to technology-intensive industries with immense export potential, like sports goods, surgical, auto parts, chemicals, valueadded textile, ceramics, cutlery, engineering goods and pharmaceuticals etc. There was also a need to enhance Pakistan’s industry competitiveness through a rational tariff regime that promoted industrialization and an efficient system of refund payments which would not squeeze the working capital of the industry,” he added.

The LCCI chief said that the persistent business regulatory challenges, including company registration, electricity connection, construction permits, insolvency and property registration etc. needed to be dealt with to facilitate investment in export-oriented industries.

“As the countries around the world are moving swiftly towards smart regulations, electronic portals, Pakistan would have to adopt a similar course and review old regulations with a Regulatory Guillotine,” he concluded.

Earlier, Abdul Razak Dawood conferred LCCI export awards on the best exporters from various categories.

‘Chief Minister Trophy’ went to Mian Tariq Nisar of Nisar Spinning Mills, while two ‘Best Export Performance’ awards were given to Muhammad Rizwan Younis of Guard Agricultural Research & Services and Alid Hassam Asghar of Ali Commercial Corporation.

Pak, Iran sign revised agreement on IP gas pipeline project The Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) and the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) on Monday signed a revised agreement on the muchdelayed Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. As per the revised agreement, Pakistan would no longer have to pay fine to Iran, and Iran would not go to an arbitration court for any delay in IP pipeline construction. Both countries would work together to find a viable solution to the project. Furthermore, Pakistan could build the IP pipeline until the year 2024. For more than four years, the IP gas project was off the table due to international sanctions - both multilateral imposed by the United Nations and the unilateral clamped by the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and the European Union. The unilateral sanctions imposed by the US were the most severe amongst all international restrictions – Iran Sanctions Act 1996, Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act 2010 and National Defence Authorisation Act-2012.

The construction work on the Pakistani section of the pipeline was inaugurated in March 2013 and was planned to be completed within 22 months. On Feb 25, 2014, former petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the National Assembly that the project for the moment was off the table, citing international sanctions as the issue. BUSINESS DESK

Government urged to remove tax anomalies in SEZs ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has urged the government to remove tax anomalies in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which were being set up under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to attract local as well as foreign investments. In a statement issued on Monday, ICCI President Ahmed Hassan Moughal said local and foreign investors have pinned lot of hopes on the SEZs, which were vital for growth acceleration and jobs creation. He urged the government to take urgent measures to address the concerns of investors so as to make these investment projects successful. “The SEZs were marketed as tax-free zones for 10 years for those investors who would start commercial production by June 2020. Now the government has reportedly applied 1.5pc turnover tax on sales in SEZs, which is in violation of the spirit of SEZs Act 2012,” he remarked. The ICCI president said the SEZs were highly capital intensive due to which the investors needed 2-3 years to reach the breakeven point. “The imposition of 1.5pc turnover tax on their sales will act as a discouraging factor for potential investors and should be reviewed forthwith,” he added. Moughal requested the government to thoroughly reconsider the pros and cons of this proposal and withdraw this tax in order to improve investor confidence. APP

‘500MW solar power plant to be set up in Balochistan’ ISLAMABAD: Power Division Minister Umar Ayub Khan has said that a 500-megawatt solar power plant would be set up in Balochistan with the cooperation of Saudi Arabia, adding that 26,000MW electricity would be distributed in the system from next year.

Addressing a ceremony in the National Electric Power Regularity Authority on Monday, the minister stated that Pakistan spends an exorbitant amount to generate 60pc of the total energy while the cost of energy production could be lowered through the use of alternative sources. He said that the ministry was taking appropriate measures to readdress the customers’ complaints despite the fact that it was the duty of power distribution companies. The minister said Afghanistan was a vital player in the region, as Pakistan wanted power and gas from the Central Asian countries, which would pass through Afghanistan. INP

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

12 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER

KARACHI: Careem General Manager (South) Asad Khan and HBL Global Operations Head Nassir Salim shake hands after signing an agreement. The partnership is in line with the vision of both the organisations to provide digital solutions through value added products and services. PR

IntERESt RAtE REMAInS unchAnGEd At 13.25Pc

t

BUSINESS DESK

AKING a pause from a series of hikes, the State Bank of Pakistan’s on Monday left its main policy rate unchanged at 13.25 per cent.

According to a statement issued after SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the decision to leave the policy rate unchanged “reflected the MPC’s view that inflation outcomes have

been largely as expected and inflation projections for FY20 have remained unchanged since the last MPC meeting” on July 16.

“The MPC also viewed that, based on available information, the current stance of monetary policy was appropriate to bring inflation down to the target range of 5 – 7pc over the next twentyfour months,” it added.

The committee noted two key developments since its last meeting that influenced its decision.

“First, the interbank foreign exchange market had adjusted relatively well to the introduction of the market-based exchange rate system. The initial volatility and associated uncertainty in the exchange market had subsided.

Reflecting these improved sentiments and continued adjustment in the current account, the rupee had strengthened modestly against the US dollar since the last MPC, unlike its previous trend.

“Second, on the external front, the US Fed, as anticipated, reduced its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps), followed by policy rate cuts by other major central banks around the world. This would help lower the pressures on emerging markets’ currencies and potentially increase financial inflows.”

It is pertinent to mention that the bank last lifted rates in July by 100 basis points, its ninth cut since the start of 2018, as it faced rising inflation, a substantial current account deficit and downward pressure on the rupee.

The decision comes at a time of scrutiny for the economy as an International Monetary Fund team arrived in Islamabad on Monday to review progress on reforms agreed as part of a bailout package in July.

MARKET DAILY

Bullish trend prevails as KSE-100 closes 447 higher LAHORE: Progressive Education Network (PEN) Founder, Director and former CEO Omar Khayyam Sheikh (PEN) on Monday conducted a session on ‘Employee Motivation’. PR

OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION SECTOR GAINS 4.83 PER CENT FOLLOWING A SURGE IN INTERNATIONAL CRUDE PRICES KARACHI STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: The Coca-Cola System, in collaboration with the Environment Protection Department of Punjab (EPD), announced its support to protect the environment from harmful impact of climate change by planting more trees. A ceremony in this regard was held on Monday at the Coca-Cola’s Bottling Plant, operated by Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI) Pakistan. PR

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a positive start to the trading week, as the indices headed north as soon as the opening bell rang, while volumes remained decent ahead of the monetary policy announcement.

As per media reports, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation has arrived in Pakistan to hold a series of meetings with top government officials. The delegation would be briefed on the $6 billion loan it extended to Pakistan earlier this year.

Adding 473.25 points, the benchmark

KSE-100 Index marked an intraday high of 31,954.56. The index settled higher by 447.24 points at 31,928.55. The KMI-30 Index accumulated 1,003.23 points to end at 50,720.00, while the KSE All Share Index closed higher by 296.15 points at 23,334.15. Out of the total traded shares, 154 advanced and 134 declined.

The overall market volumes were recorded at 104.61 million, of which 81.68 million came from the benchmark KSE-100 Index.

DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC -1.42pc) topped the volume chart following the announcement of its financial performance for FY19. The company’s sales increased by 32pc YoY, while earnings per share declined from Rs20.17 in FY18 to Rs3.67 in FY19 owing to a significant increase in finance cost (up from Rs519 million in FY18 to Rs3.30 billion in FY19). Moreover, the company announced to increase its equity investment in Hyundai Nishat Motors (Pvt) Limited from Rs850 million to Rs1.06 billion.

The Oil and Gas Development Company

Oil surges 20pc after Saudi attack, softens on stockpile hopes LAHORE: BankIslami held its annual dinner for its corporate clients at a local hotel. The entire leadership of BankIslami was present on the occasion to welcome the distinguished guests. PR

BRENT CRUDE POSTS BIGGEST INTRADAY GAIN SINCE THE GULF WAR IN 1991 SINGAPORE/LONDON AGENCIES

LAHORE: Award-winning EdTech enterprise SABAQ and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate for research and outreach purposes in order to contribute towards building a robust education ecosystem in Pakistan. PR

LAHORE: OPPO Director Marketing Ali Kakvi recently highlighted his company’s strong growth in sales volume. PR

Oil prices surged nearly 20pc at one point on Monday, with Brent crude posting its biggest intraday gain since the Gulf War in 1991, after an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities at the weekend halved the kingdom’s production.

Prices came off their peaks after US President Donald Trump authorised the use of his country’s emergency stockpile to ensure stable supply. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, rose as much as 19.5pc to $71.95 per barrel, the biggest intraday jump since Jan 14, 1991. By 1100 GMT, the contract was at $65.38, up $5.16, or 8.6pc. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures climbed as much as 15.5pc to $63.34, the biggest intraday percentage gain since June 22, 1998. The contract was later at $59.36, up $4.51 or 8.22pc. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest oil exporter.

The attack on state-owned producer Saudi Aramco’s crude-processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais cut output by 5.7 million barrels per day. The company has not given a timeline for the resumption of full output. Two sources briefed on Aramco’s operations said a full return to normal production volumes “may take months”. “If these outages are lengthy, Saudi Aramco will struggle to hit export specification for its Arab Light and Arab Extra Light streams, and may even be forced to declare force majeure on some of these exports,” consultancy Energy Aspects said in a note.

“We expect the IEA and US DOE to also release strategic stocks to fill the gap if the Saudi outage is prolonged,” it said, referring to the International Energy Agency and the

US Department of Energy. Trump said he had approved the release of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve if needed. He also said the United States was “locked and loaded” for a potential response to the attack.

It was the threat of retaliation and escalation of the tension and conflict in the Middle East, however, that has kept prices high, irrespective of the relief from global stockpiles. “This justifies a risk premium on the oil price, so prices are initially unlikely to return to the levels at which they were trading before the attacks,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, Germany. The attack on plants in the heartland of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, including the world’s biggest petroleum-processing facility at Abqaiq, came from the direction of Iran, and cruise missiles may have been used, a US official said.

ASIA EXPOSED, PRODUCTS IN DEMAND: Saudi oil exports will continue as normal this week as the kingdom taps into stocks from its large storage facilities, an industry source briefed on the developments told Reuters.

Major importers of Saudi crude, such as India, China, Japan and South Korea, will be the most vulnerable to the supply disruption.

“India could be most exposed as its reserves are the least. China has a Strategic Petroleum Reserve and commercial crude storage, while Korea and Japan have IEA reserves to fall back on,” Wood Mackenzie research director vima Jayabalan said. South Korea has already said it would consider releasing oil from its strategic reserves.

Saudi Arabia is set to become a significant buyer of refined products after the attacks, which may have also cut Saudi Aramco’s refining capacity, consultancy Energy Aspects said. Aramco Trading Company (ATC) is making enquiries to buy diesel for prompt delivery, trade sources said. US gasoline futures rose as much as 12.9pc, while US heating oil futures gained 10.8pc.

China’s Shanghai crude futures rose to their trading limit, gaining 8pc at the open.

Limited (OGDC +4.90pc) was next on the volume chart with 6.71 million exchanging hands.

Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL +5.00pc), with 5.70 million traded shares, touched its upper lock during early hours following an announcement that its board meeting would be held on 23rd September to consider and approve its right shares. The stock had fallen by 37pc ever since its half-year financials were announced on August 29th.

The oil and gas exploration sector gained 4.83pc while the oil and gas marketing sector surged 2.60pc after an increase in the crude oil prices by over 10pc in the international markets.

Pak Petroleum Limited (PPL +4.99pc), Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL +4.89pc) and Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MARI +3.99pc) all closed with decent gains.

Similarly, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGP +3.92pc), Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO +2.96pc) and Hi-Tech Lubricants Limited (HTL +5.71pc) also ended in the green zone.

Pol PRIcES MAy SuRGE By uP to RS8 FRoM oct 1 The prices of petroleum products in Pakistan are likely to go up by up to Rs12 in the next two months owing to an increase in the international market following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure last week. The country’s energy supply is also at a risk due to the mounted tensions with India over the revocation of autonomous status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan faces a wide gap in energy demand and supply as it relies mainly on crude oil and petroleum product supplies.

POL prices are likely to be increased by Rs5 to Rs8 from October 1 and Rs10 to Rs12 in the following month, sources privy to the development told a private media outlet on Monday. Sources said the impact of hike in crude oil price would be felt by the masses in November according to local mechanism used to determine prices of petroleum products in the country. They said the government would reduce the taxes in a bid to lessen the burden of increased POL prices on the masses. BUSINESS DESK

SAudI oIl FIRM ARAMco lIkEly to dElAy IPo AFtER AttAckS Saudi Arabia officials are discussing delaying Aramco’s initial public offering as attacks on the company’s oil facilities have drastically reduced their output, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is expected to move forward with presentations to analysts and meetings with bankers as planned.

However, Saudi energy officials and Aramco executives are debating a rescheduling of the IPO until after the company fully restores its production to normal levels. Discussions of a change in the offering’s timing have been confined to Saudi officials and Aramco executives, the report said. Yemen’s Houthi Group on Saturday claimed responsibility for the drone attacks on two Aramco’s plants. Aramco had planned to list 1pc shares of the state oil plant on the Riyadh stock exchange before the end of this year and another 1pc in 2020, Reuters reported last week. Based on the indicated $2 trillion valuation that Saudi Aramco had hoped to achieve, a 1pc float would be worth $20 billion. AGENCIES

laal kabooTar for The inTernaTional feaTure film

T

AlizA AftAb KhAn

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

he Academy Selection Committee of Pakistan has nominated the film, "Laal Kabootar" for the International Feature Film category in the 92nd Academy Awards, being held in 2020.

The Oscar Awards committee will scrutinize the films submitted by all the countries, in December of the ongoing year, and the final nominations will be announced on the 13th January of the following year. The award ceremony will be held on the 9th of February, 2020.

The head of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee, is Sharmeen Ubaid Chinoy, a Director who has won the Oscar Award twice.

Others in the committee include the country's most illustrious actors, directors, and writers, as well as individuals belonging from various other fields, namely, Zaiba Bakhtiar, Zarar Khoro, Zaib un Nisa hamid, Sarmad Khoosat, Asim Abbasi, Rizawan Beyg, Jameel Beyg, Sanam Saeed and hamna Zubair.

For a film to be accepted and shortlisted for the final Oscar nominations, it is essential for the respective film to have been screened in a commercial Cinema of its own country for at least a week, between the 1st of October 2018 till 30th September 2019.

Since after eid, no other Pakistani film is being presented before the 30th September deadline, the committee has arrived at this decision, taking place through a secretly held consensus.

Retrospectively, "Laal Kabootar" was released across Cinemas in Pakistan on 22nd March of the present year, and was screened for a total of 11 weeks, consecutively. According to the film's Producer, Kamil Chima, the film's budget was 3 crore and its total Box Office revenue amounted to 3.5 crore.

The film was highly praised by the audiences; however, it didn't turn out to be as successful at the Box Office. It is important to note here that the Oscar Nominations Committee reviews a film based on its technical aspects, and

Brie Larson Back On Twitter For Marvel Dance and Pokemon everyone's favorite Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson returns to Twitter to offer her support for a cool Marvel dance that has gone viral on YouTube, and Pokemon.

Regarding the Marvel dance, Brie Larson tweeted: "hello I have returned to twitter for two seconds to tell you that ThIS IS FRICKeN AWeSOMe." Brie Larson included the video of the "'Marvel' homecoming Assembly Dance" in the tweet which has received over 2.7 million views on YouTube, with over 103K likes. Watch below.

For Pokemon, Brie Larson retweeted and recognized that Ash Ketchum finally won the Pokemon League, which is after 22 years.

Prior to her recent tweets, the last time Brie Larson tweeted was back in May of 2018, which saw her retweet a "Brie Larson as Pokémon: a thread."

Brie Larson looks to have left Twitter following the release of her Captain Marvel movie, Unicorn Store and The Avengers: endgame.

not the Box Office revenue.

The film's Director, Kamal Khan, expressed his feelings regarding the selection of "Laal Kabootar", "humbled by the news! This is an extremely proud moment for the entire team, we are all very excited. Want to thank the Pakistan selection committee and audiences for giving Laal Kabootar so much love."

The Producers of the film, Kamil Chima and hania Chima, also evinced the pride and excitement they felt regarding the news.

Isolated from the upscale Karachi life, "Laal Kabootar" is a story, set in the streets of the commoners, its lead characters a cab driver, Ahmed Ali Butt and the widow of an assassinated journalist, Mansha Pasha. Kashif Farooqui and Saleem Mairaj also played significant roles in the film. The film is based on an incident of traget killing, apparently a common street crime. ever since the revival of Pakistani Cinema, Pakistan has submitted a film every year for the Academy Award Nominations; however, none of the films have made it to the final nominations yet.

"Laal Kabootar is an authentic representation of the new wave cinema in Pakistan.

Karachi’s raw and fierce beauty has never been shown like this on screen before," said Sarmad Khoosat.

The revival of Pakistani Cinema began with the film "Zinda Bhaag" (2013), after which "Dukhtar" (2014), "Moor" (2015), "Maah e Mir" (2016), "Saawan" (2017), and "Cake" in the preceding year, 2018, have been selected for Oscar considerations.

Earth and the planet Theia were twin planets sharing an orbit until they collided and Earth absorbed Theia.

The San Francisco’s Golden Gate park is said to be home to two ghosts. one is a police officer who might try to give you a ticket. Locals claim they have received tickets, only to find out he didn’t exist. The other ghost resides at Stow Lake known as the ‘White Lady’ who accidently drowned her baby and herself. Since then she has been seen roaming there in search of her baby for years. Take a walk around Stow Lake at night and she might come out of the lake to ask if you’ve seen her baby.

The world’s most poisonous plant is Gimpy Gimpy.

It is found in Australia. Merely touching it is so painful that it has led many animals as well as humans kill themselves. the pain is described as a mixture of an acid burn and electric shock. Mostly anyone who touches it prefer to commit suicide, than bear the pain.

Ranbir Kapoor reveals his 2 lucky charms, Shilpa Shinde on not getting good says ‘I used to cross my fingers, shut my offers: ‘Cine and TV Artistes Association mouth and make a wish’ did not want people to work with me’ Actor Ranbir Kapoor has revealed his two lucky charms in a video shared by Sonam Kapoor, who has asked several Bollywood actors to talk about their lucky charms as part of the promotions of her film, The Zoya Factor. She shared the video and called Ranbir, “mere Sanju.”

Talking about his first lucky charm, Ranbir says in the video, “When I used to go to school and would see a red mail truck on my way, I used to cross my fingers, shut my mouth and make a wish and until I saw three black cars on the road, I didn’t uncross my fingers or speak a word.”

“Usually when I was successful in spotting three black cars before reaching school, strangely all my wishes came true. And this went on for a very long time until I naturally stopped when they stopped coming true,” he added.

Ranbir called his fixation with the number eight his second lucky charm. he says, “My mom’s birthday is on 8th. I just fell in love with the design of the number and also the fact that can mean infinity.”

CMYK

ever since she made her acting debut in 2001 with TV show Kabhi Aaye Na Judaai in 2001, Shilpa Shinde has had a successful stint on the small screen. This includes her wining the reality show Bigg Boss last year. So when the actor says that TV does not interest her anymore, it ought to surprise everyone.

“TV is no for now,” says Shilpa, adding, “All these years, I dedicated my life to the medium and have had got immense love and job satisfaction. however, after what happened when I left my last (sitcom) show… The work I was getting wasn’t good enough and after a point, I realised that was because [Cine and TV Artistes Association] did not want people to work with me. After a lot of fights, finally things have changed for better, but still I’m not getting the kind of work I’d like to do. Since that’s not happening, I’m not thinking about TV right now.” For the uninitiated, Shilpa had filed an FIR against her last show’s producer accusing him of sexual harassment, alleged mental torture and not clearing her remuneration.

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

14 SPORTS

african players in europe: Mane bags brace, fati scores again the beginning of last season.

paris

e

Agencies

AMINE HArIT (Schalke): Hakimi's fellow Moroccan Harit grabbed a brace in a 5-1 win at Paderborn to take his season tally to five goals. He gratefully picked up assists from Jonjoe Kenny and Ahmed Kutucu as Schalke ran through promoted minnows Paderborn in the second half.

STABLISHED star Sadio Mane and the emerging 16year-old Ansu Fati both scored as they shared the limelight among Africans in the top European leagues at the weekend.

Senegal's Mane boosted hopes of succeeding Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah as African Footballer of the Year with a brace in a Premier League comeback win over Newcastle United.

Guinea-Bissauan Fati, the teenager taking La Liga by storm, notched his second goal in as many matches to set up Barcelona for victory over Valencia.

ENGLANd SAdIO MANE/MOHAMEd SALAH (Liverpool): Mane sparked Liverpool into action against Newcastle once he was switched to the left of the formidable front three. The Magpies were leading at that stage, but once the tactical switch was made shortly before the half hour they were run ragged, largely by the Senegalese. Mane scored twice before the break to turn the tide and maintain his extraordinary record of Liverpool never losing a Premier League home game when he is among the goals, winning 33 and drawing two.

Egyptian Salah then scored his fourth goal of the campaign.

MOuSSA dJENEPO (Southampton): The young Mali international has quickly settled into the Premier League after a close-season move from Standard Liege. Having opened his account for the Saints against Brighton prior to the international break, the 21-year-old scored the only goal of the game at Sheffield United with a cracking individual goal.

PIErrE-EMErICK AuBAMEYANG

SALIF SANE (Schalke): Harit's teammate Sane also played his part, scoring his side's first goal as they came from behind to triumph convincingly. The Senegalese defender rose above goalkeeper Jannik Huth to nod in the equaliser on 33 minutes.

(Arsenal): Aubameyang struck twice in quick succession in the first half against Watford to take his season tally to five in as many games. However, the Gabon international's contribution was not enough for all three points as the Gunners collapsed after the break and had to hang on for a 2-2 draw.

SPAIN ANSu FATI (Barcelona): The teenager from Guinea-Bissau continued the remarkable start to his senior career at Barcelona by scoring inside two minutes on his full debut. Fati went on to assist Frenkie de Jong's seventh-minute goal as the reigning La Liga champions romped to a 5-2 win over Valencia.

ITALY KALIdOu KOuLIBALY (Napoli): Senegalese defender Koulibaly put his own-goal howler against Juventus behind him by helping Napoli keep a clean sheet for the first time this season with a 2-0 win over Sampdoria. "We wanted to win without taking goals and to con-

vince on the first try in front of our fans: done," Koulibaly wrote on Twitter after Napoli had conceded seven goals in their two previous games.

KEVIN-PrINCE BOATENG (Fiorentina): Ghanaian Boateng came on as a substitute in place of Franck Ribery against champions Juventus.

The 32-year-old had a volley off target but Fiorentina held on for a 0-0 and earned their first point this season.

GErVINHO (Parma): The Ivorian missed a chance to equalise as Parma fell 3-1 at home to Cagliari. Gervinho shrugged off defenders after an hour but paid for sloppy finishing as Parma fell to their second loss in three games.

GErMANY ACHrAF HAKIMI (Borussia dortmund): The young Moroccan rightback sent a pinpoint cross into Paco Alcacer to create Dortmund's opener in a 4-0 rout of Bayer Leverkusen. Hakimi has made seven assists since joining Dortmund on loan from Real Madrid at

PIErrE KuNdE (Mainz): The Cameroon international was involved in the opening goal as Mainz grabbed a dramatic 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin to pick up their first points of the season. Kunde whipped in a cross to set up Robin Quaison, but Mainz needed an 89th-minute goal from Jeremiah St. Juste to win.

FrANCE VICTOr OSIMHEN (Lille): Nigerian youngster Osimhen scored his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the campaign as last season's runners-up Lille beat Angers 21. The 20-year-old, who previously scored doubles in home wins over Saint-Etienne and Nantes, grabbed his goal courtesy of a dreadful error by Angers goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle.

KEITA BALdE (Monaco): Senegal striker Balde came off the bench late on against Marseille and gave Monaco hope of snatching an unlikely point with his first goal of the season. But, having led 2-0 early on, Leonardo Jardim's men lost 4-3. Balde has returned to Monaco for the current campaign after spending last term on loan at Inter Milan.

Alcacer in electric form ahead of clash with former club Barcelona BarceLona Agencies

A former bench-warmer at Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund sharpshooter Paco Alcacer is hoping to hurt his former club when the two teams meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Alcacer, 26, joined Dortmund in 2018 after struggling to hold down a place in the first team in two seasons at star-studded Barcelona.

He has flourished in the Bundesliga, bringing a killer instinct to Dortmund's young attack and regaining his place in the Spanish national

team. The striker now faces Barcelona in the middle of a purple patch for club and country, having scored 10 goals in his last eight matches.

His opener in a 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday means he has scored in every game for Dortmund so far this term. He also picked up three goals for Spain in Euro 2020 qualification wins over Romania and the Faroe Islands last week.

Alcacer's electric form is reminiscent of his explosive start to life at Dortmund as a loanee at the beginning of last season, when he fired in a recordbreaking seven goals in his first four

games. That run prompted Dortmund to shell out 23 million euros to sign him on a permanent deal, and marked a turning point in Alcacer's career.

"It is a liberation to be playing, getting time on the pitch and enjoying my job," said the Spaniard at the time.

He had just arrived from two frustrating years at Barcelona, in which he was kept out of the team by an iconic attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. After a move from boyhood club Valencia in 2016, he made just 23 starts for the Catalan giants, and played a full 90 minutes in just 10 matches.

Klopp expects daunting ride as liverpool eye istanbul return LiverpooL Agencies

Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool that retaining the Champions League will be even harder than their incredible march to victory in Madrid last season.

Klopp's side start their bid to win a seventh European Cup with a trip to Napoli for their Group E opener on Tuesday. The Reds have reached the last two Champions League finals, beating Tottenham in the Spanish capital in June after losing to Real Madrid 12 months earlier. But Klopp believes Liverpool face a daunting task to make it to the final in Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium -- a venue which carries extra resonance for the club after they won the 2005 Champions League with an astonishing comeback against AC Milan in the same stadium.

Before Liverpool can dream of emulating Steven Gerrard and company's triumph by the banks of the Bosphorus, Klopp knows they will have to run the gauntlet in what he expects to be a fiercely contested tournament. Napoli are expected to pose the sternest test to Liverpool in a group which also includes unfancied Salzburg and Genk. Carlo Ancelotti's team came within a whisker of ending Liverpool's European campaign in the group stage last season when Alisson Becker's superb late save denied Arkadiusz Milik to preserve a 1-0 win at Anfield that sent the Reds into the last 16 at the expense of Napoli. Even if Liverpool should advance to the knockout rounds without so much drama this season, Klopp is wary of the restocked superpowers certain to be lying in wait in the latter stages. "I will have no problem with it (reaching the final) if it happens again, but at this moment I am not too sure it will," he said when the draw was made in August. "We have the same chance like everyone else, but that is all, and I don't see us, the English teams, dominating. I really think a lot of teams have a good chance. "Look at the squad Borussia Dortmund has and tell me we are stronger than them. That is incredible. They can make five changes and you think: 'Really, they didn't play last week? Why?' There are a lot of quality teams. "Juventus will be there, PSG will be there. Real Madrid? Do you think they gave up already? Bayern Munich now finally brought in Perisic and Coutinho which is a big boost."

Djokovic in Brisbane, Nadal in Perth as ATP Cup draw made BrisBane Agencies

World number one Novak Djokovic will begin his 2020 season in Brisbane, Rafael Nadal in Perth and Roger Federer in Sydney after Monday's draw for the ATP Cup, the new world tennis team event.

The championship, which will take place from January 3-12 in the lead-up to the year's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne, will feature 24 nations split into six groups across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Eight teams -- with up to five players each -- will emerge from the round-robin stage to compete in the knockout phase in Sydney until one is left standing Most of the world's top 30 men will take part, with ties comprising two singles and one doubles match.

At the draw in Sydney, Djokovic's Serbia were pitted against France, South Africa, Germany, Greece, Canada and wildcard entry Australia in Brisbane.

Nadal's Spain will face Japan, Georgia, Russia, Italy and the United States in Perth while Federer's Switzerland take on

Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Argentina and the Andy Murray-led Britain.

The final five nations in the ATP Cup standings, based on the ranking of their number one singles player, will be determined by the second entry deadline of November 13. The new-look start to the year offers Aus$22 million ($15 million) in prize money and a maximum of 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points It will be held on the back of a revamped Davis Cup, run by the International Tennis Federation, in November, bringing together 18 nations in one place for a week at the end of the 2019 season.

ATP CuP drAw: Group A (Brisbane) - Serbia, France, South Africa +1 TBC Group B (Perth) - Spain, Japan, Georgia +1 TBC Group C (Sydney) - Switzerland, Belgium, Britain +1 TBC Group D (Perth) - Russia, Italy, USA +1 TBC Group E (Sydney) Austria, Croatia, Argentina +1 TBC Group F (Brisbane) - Germany, Greece, Canada, Australia

CMYK

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

SPORTS 15

paine proud of australia despite defeat in 5th test LonDon

a

Agencies

USTRALIA captain Tim Paine said it was mission accomplished even though his team lost the fifth and final Ashes Test against England on Sunday to draw the series 2-2.

The tourists came into the match at the Oval seeking their first series victory in England since 2001 but came up short, losing by 135 runs. But Paine said Australia, who won at Edgbaston and Old Trafford but lost agonisingly to a Ben Stokes-inspired England at Headingley, had achieved their main objective in retaining the urn. "We're taking the urn home so that's certainly what we came to do," he said. "We're thrilled by that, a little disappointed by this game obviously, puts a bit of a dampener on it."

"We can be really proud of the way we've come over here, which is a challenging place for Australians to come and

play and win," he added.

"To win two Test matches pretty convincingly, should have won a third (at Headingley) -- let that slip no doubt."

Paine said winning the first Test at Edgbaston, where Australia triumphed by 251 runs, had been crucial for his side's confidence. "There was so much talk about that being a fortress and how difficult a place it was going to be for us to start the series, probably by design, so for us to come over and win that first Test, and win it, in the end, quite convincingly gave us the belief that we could do it," he said. And the skipper said he still felt he had a role to play in taking the side forward. "We've still got a way to go," he said. "Obviously Steve (Smith) had an unbelievably good series and won us a couple of Tests by himself so we've got some parts that we need to improve.

"But if we click them into gear while we've got Steve at the height of his powers and with the pace attack we've got, in the next few years we're going to be a

very hard team to beat."

"There's plenty of improvement in this side," Paine added. "I still feel I've got a little bit to give in that space and we're always trying to develop more leaders within our group as well."

Smith, who scored 774 runs in just seven innings, said he was exhausted after a long tour, which also included the World Cup. The former captain, who returned to international cricket in June after a ban for ball-tampering, received a standing ovation from the crowd in south London when he was out.

"It was a nice reception as I walked off," he said. "It would have been nice if I'd had a few more runs under my belt in this game. "I've given it my all since I've been here for the last four-and-a-halfmonths in every Test match that we've played and I didn't have much left to give today. "I'm pretty cooked to be honest, mentally and physically. I'm looking forward to a nice couple of weeks' rest now before getting into the Australian summer."

Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam come in as Bangladesh revamp T20I squad

concussion substitution comes into play in Quaid-eazam trophy Monitoring report

probables for sri lanka series announced LAHOrE: Pakistan cricket team’s head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq on Monday named 20 probables for the training camp, which will commence from 18 September here at the National Cricket Academy. The camp was being set-up to prepare the side for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, which will be held from 27 September to 9 October. On Saturday, 21 September, Misbah-ul-Haq will announce the two squads. The ODI side will move to Karachi on 24 September, where the first ODI will be played on 27 September.

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have not been named in the probables as they have been granted NOC until 12 October to participate in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Meanwhile, the PCB has also appointed the team management for the Sri Lanka and Australia series, which is: Misbahul-Haq (Head Coach and Chief Selector); Mansoor Rana (Team Operations, Logistics & Administrative Manager), Waqar Younis (Bowling Coach), Grant Bradburn (Fielding Coach), Shahid Aslam (Assistant to Head coach on cricket), Cliffe Deacon (Physiotherapist), Yasir Malik (Trainer), Maj (retd) Azhar Arif (Security Manager - for Sri Lanka series), Col (retd) Usman Anwari (Security Manager - for Australia tour), Raza Kitchlew (Team Media Manager), Talha Butt (Team Analyst) and Malang Ali (Masseur). APP

Dhaka Agencies

Bangladesh have rung in a host of changes following the defeat to Afghanistan, including bringing back experienced pacemen Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam, for their third and fourth matches of the ongoing T20I tri-series at home, where Zimbabwe are the third team.

Soumya Sarkar, a regular with the team across formats, had a poor World Cup, and though he shone with bat and ball in the third ODI in Sri Lanka in late July, returns of 4 and 0 in the two tri-series games have led to his axing. Also going out were offspinner Mahedi Hasan, and pacemen Abu Hider and Yeasin Arafat, none of whom played any of the two matches - a win over Zimbabwe and the loss to Afghanistan.

Both those matches, as well as Afghanistan's win over Zimbabwe, were played in Dhaka, and now the action shifts to Chattogram for the second set of round-robin matches.

Apart from Rubel and Shafiul, Bangladesh have drafted in Najmul Hossain, the left-handed top-order batsman, teenaged legspinning-allrounder Aminul Islam, and exciting young opening batsman Mohammad Naim.

Najmul, 21, has played two Test matches and three ODIs since making his international debut in January 2017, and was recently among the runs in both the one-dayers and the four-dayers on the Bangladesh Emerging Team's tour of Sri Lanka.

Aminul, 19, was also on that tour, but didn't do much of note.

However, with Bangladesh looking for a wristspinner to complement

their many fingerspinners, Aminul might get a chance in the two remaining group-stage matches to show his capabilities.

Like Aminul, Naim is uncapped at the international level, but is regarded highly in local cricket circles. A tall, left-handed opening batsman, 20-year-old Naim made a name for himself in last season's Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, scoring 807 runs in 16 games for Legends of Rupganj to finish second on the run-scorers' list.

Rubel Hossain, meanwhile, hasn't played a T20I since August last year and hasn't played any T20 cricket since February this year, but has likely been brought back to add some experience to the pace attack, which is also the case with Shafiul, whose last T20I appearance came back in October 2017.

The concussion substitution was used for the first time in the history of the Quaid-eAzam Trophy. The incident took place during the Punjab derby between Central Punjab and Southern Punjab at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Central Punjab’s Usman Salahuddin was hit on the neck while fielding during the game. He was substituted by Mohammad Saad for the rest of the fixture. The replacement player will not be allowed to bowl in the match. Safety concerns in cricket have been under scrutiny ever since the tragic death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes back in 2014. The rule allows the like-for-like player to be substituted in the match if he/she suffers a concussion after being hit by the cricket ball. Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa have already allowed concussion substitutes in domestic cricket. The International Cricket Council had approved the use of substitutions in men’s and women’s cricket this year.

Talismanic Australian batsman Steve Smith was substituted by Marnus Labuschagne after he was hit on the head by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the during the second Ashes series at Lord’s.

pakistan to host Wbc recognised ‘arabian sea title fight’ in november

Akram apologises to boxer Waseem for not receiving due treatment after major win Lahore stAff RePoRt

Former captain Wasim Akram on Sunday issued a public apology to Muhammad Waseem “on behalf of Pakistan” after the star boxer’s stunning firstround knockout victory over Philippines’ Conrado Tanamor in Dubai last week as well as his arrival back home largely went unnoticed.

“Nobody from the boxing federation or the government came to welcome me at the airport,” said the boxer who had dedicated the win to occupied Kashmir. After the news started to make rounds on social media, Waseem, who held an 8-1 record with six knockouts prior to the fight, said that the honor is “not about a fancy protocol but respect” for the country.

“I’m not fighting to get istaqbals at the airport. I’m fighting so that Pakistan gets good istaqbal all over the world.

Every fight, every camp, every training, every tour, is another opportunity for me to show the boxing world the world class boxing talent Pakistan has.”

Following his tweet, Akram immediately responded, apologising for the lack of love and respect given to him for his win and at his return.

“I apologise on the behalf of Pakistan, sometimes we as a country need to be “smacked [in] the face” with the fist of reality to wake us up and remind us how we should be treating our hero’s. I’m picking you up from the airport next time myself! Massive congratulations on the win!” the former pace king said via Twitter.

Waseem returned to winning ways

on Friday when he knocked out Tanamor in just 62 seconds. His 62-second road to victory at the 9-fight card billed as #RotundaRumble, organized by boxing

CMYK

promoter MTK Global, was similarly played earlier when Irishman Rohan Date gave his Indian opponent Pardeep Kharera a one-round pounding.

ISLAMABAd: Professional boxing in Pakistan is set to get a boost as for the first time, the country is going to host the World Boxing Council (WBC) event, ‘The Arabian Sea Title Fight’ in Islamabad in November, this year. The WBC is launching the top flight event in Pakistan in association with Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL). The Arabian Sea region includes 16 countries: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Maldives and India. “It’ll be a very big event as top pro-boxers from this region will be seen in action for the first time in Pakistan in various fighting categories,” Syed Nouman Shah, the PPBL president told APP on Monday. He said that the award of event to Pakistan was as a recognition of PPBL’s efforts to promote professional boxing in the country. APP

Tuesday, 17 September, 2019

NEWS

WeApONs used IN sAudI ATTACKs ‘CAMe FrOM IrAN’: COAlITION TRUMP SAYS US ‘LOCKED AND LOADED’ AFTER SAUDI OIL FACILITIES ATTACK

T

AGENCIES

HE weapons used to strike Saudi oil facilities were Iranian-made, the Riyadhled coalition said Monday, heightening fears of regional conflict after the US hinted at military response to the assault.

The weekend strikes on Abqaiq – - the world’s largest oil processing facility –- and the Khurais oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia have roiled global energy markets with prices spiking Monday to record highs.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for the strikes but Washington has squarely blamed Iran, with President Donald Trump saying the US is “locked and loaded” to respond. Saudi’s energy infrastructure has been hit before, but this strike was of a different order, abruptly halting 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd) or about six per cent of the world’s oil supply.

The Saudi-led coalition, which is

bogged down in a five-year war in neighbouring Yemen, reiterated the assessment that the Huthis were not behind it, pointing the finger at Iran for providing the weapons.

Russia urged “all countries to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation” while the European Union stressed all sides should show “maximum restraint”. China also called on the US and Iran to “exercise restraint… in the absence of a conclusive investigation or verdict.”

“All indications are that weapons used in both attacks came from Iran,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh, adding they were now probing “from where they were fired”. “This strike didn’t come from Yemen territory as the Huthi militia are pretending,” Maliki said, adding an investigation had been opened. He labelled the Huthis “a tool in the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the terrorist regime of Iran”.

The rebels said they fired 10 drones at the Saudi infrastructure, but

Kartarpur Corridor to be inaugurated on Nov 12 ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan has completed 86 per cent of the Kartarpur Corridor work on its side, Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the project on Nov 9, three days before the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak to be celebrated on November 12. Talking to media on Monday, Kartarpur Corridor Project Director Atif Majeed said that the prime minister had laid the foundation stone of the project last year on November 28 and he will inaugurate the project on November 9. He said that 5,000 Sikh pilgrims will arrive and stay in the initial phase while later 10,000 pilgrims will arrive. Atif Majeed said that Pakistan’s biggest Gurdwara Baba Guru Nanak comprises 42 acres of land while Panja Sahib Gurdwara comprises of four acres of land and Nankana Sahib Gurdwara comprises of 14 acres of land. He further said that the project that was to be completed in three and a half year has been completed in just 10 months, adding that the project’s 86 per cent work has been completed and the remaining work will be completed in 45 days.

The work on the project is underway 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, he said and added the pilgrims will start coming from Indian from November 9. The project director said that 76 immigration counters have been made to cater 5000 Sikh pilgrims from India, further adding that 152 counters have been made to cater 10,000 pilgrims. “The border terminal has been built 350 meters away from the zero-point and the pilgrims will be transported to the Gurdwara through buses where they will be given airport-style facilities,” Majeed said. STAFF REPORT

the New York Times reported that US officials had satellite images showing the attacks — possibly with drones and cruise missiles — had come from the north or northwest. That indicated they were sourced in the northern Persian Gulf, Iran or Iraq, rather than Yemen.

‘UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK’: The assault on the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, which engulfed the facilities in flames, has been condemned by Washington as an “unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply”.

Oil prices saw their biggest daily gain since the 1991 Gulf War on Monday after the attacks halved output in the world’s top crude exporter, fuelling fresh geopolitical and growth fears. Europe’s benchmark Brent crude surged by 20 per cent and US counterpart WTI by 15 per cent as commodities trading got underway.

IPO IN TROUBLE? The attack is a major test for Saudi Arabia as it could dampen investor confidence in Aramco’s upcoming two-stage initial public offering (IPO), a mammoth listing that the government hopes will generate up to $100 billion.

Saudi authorities are considering whether to delay an IPO for the oil

giant, people with knowledge of the matter said. “They’re in the process of assessing the damage. It’s a possibility but it’s still very early,” said one of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The IPO, earlier scheduled for 2018, has already been mired in delays as it reportedly struggled to reach a $2 trillion valuation desired by Saudi rulers.

Saudi authorities have sought to calm jittery markets, with the Energy Intelligence specialist newsletter citing industry sources as saying Aramco was “close to restoring as much as 40 per cent” of the lost production, or about 2.3 million barrels per day (bdp).

‘US LOCKED AND LOADED’: Tensions are flaring in the Persian Gulf after US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States was “locked and loaded” for a potential response to the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities. “There is [a] reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!” Trump said on Twitter.

Turkish journalists briefed on rights violations in IOK: ISPR

In show of bond, Trump to join Modi in Houston rally WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a gathering of Indian-Americans in Houston, the White House said on Sunday, in a symbolic show of the bond between the two leaders and countries. The Sept 22 rally — dubbed, with a touch of Texan twang, “Howdy, Modi!” — will mark a rare joint appearance between a US president and a foreign leader before an ethnic community, and be the pair’s third meeting this year. Organisers say that more than 50,000 people have registered for the event, which will take place inside the NRG Stadium of the Houston Texans football team. The gathering is “a great opportunity to emphasise the strong ties between the people of the United States and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship,” the White House said. The White House said Trump would travel the same day to Ohio to showcase an Australian-owned factory alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who will be on a state visit. The two joint appearances amount to a day-long attempt to nurture relationships with foreign leaders by Trump, whose brash style and outspoken remarks have frequently unnerved allies. The rally with Modi indicates that the two countries have turned the page on an incident in July when Trump baffled India by saying, in a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, that Modi had sought mediation on Kashmir. India has for decades rejected any outside role in Kashmir. Last month, the Indian government repealed Article 370 of its constitution, stripping occupied Kashmir of its special status, and imposed a strict lockdown and communications blackout in the region. India’s actions drew criticism from the UN human rights chief and rights groups, with Pakistan urging pressure on India.

After Article 370 was revoked, Trump spoke with both Prime Minister Imran and Prime Minister Modi, urging a reduction of tension between the two countries over the Kashmir issue. He later said that India and Pakistan could handle their dispute over occupied Kashmir on their own, but he was there should they need him.

REACHING ACROSS AISLE: Trump and Modi have frequently drawn comparisons to each other, with the two right-wing leaders elected on vows to promote the identity of the majority community. AGENCIES

India arrests former IOK CM Farooq Abdullah

RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

A group of Turkish journalists who visited ISPR headquarters on Monday were briefed on New Delhi’s human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), the military’s media wing said.

“The delegation was briefed about PakistanIndia February stand-off, situation along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary and human rights violations in IOK, including implications for regional peace,” it said in a statement.

The group, the military said, will visit Muzaffarabad and Chokthi regions of AJK on Tuesday to interact with residents who have fallen victim to Indian ceasefire violations.

Military clampdown in IOK continues since August 5, when New Delhi revoked the occupied territory’s special autonomous status. Since then, a curfew is in place in the valley with hundreds of political leaders and activists detained and mobile network and internet remaining shut.

Earlier in the day, Indian Supreme Court directed New Delhi to restore normalcy in occupied Kashmir. “We have said all facilities should be restored keeping in mind national security. We are not carving out exceptions for any category,” Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said. Pakistan has raised the issue in United Nations, as well as other international forums. While it has downgraded its diplomatic ties with India, Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to highlight the illegal action in his UNGA address later this month.

NEW DELHI: A parliament member, who is a senior pro-India politician in occupied Kashmir, was arrested on Monday under a controversial law that allows authorities to imprison someone for up to two years without charge or trial. Farooq Abdullah, 81, who also was the former chief minister of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) at his residence in Srinagar, the summer capital and main city of the disputed Himalayan region. “We have arrested him, and a committee will decide how long the arrest will be,” said Muneer Khan, a top police official. Abdullah is the first pro-India politician who has been arrested under PSA, under which rights activists say more than 20,000 Kashmiris have been detained in the last two decades. Abdullah’s residence was declared a subsidiary jail and he, as well as other Kashmiri leaders, was put under house arrest on August 5 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist-led government in New Delhi stripped occupied Kashmir of semi-autonomy and statehood.

On August 6, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah denied to the lower house of Parliament that Abdullah had been detained or arrested. AGENCIES

Screams in the night at Indian army camp in occupied Kashmir HIRPORA AGENCIES

The soldiers came after midnight, Abid Khan says, his hands trembling, one of around two dozen young men in just one part of Kashmir who say they have been tortured by the Indian army.

The alleged abuse, residents say, is aimed at creating a climate of fear after India stripped the long-restive, bloodsoaked Himalayan region of its autonomy on August 5.

Khan, 26, from Hirpora village in Shopian district, says he was dragged out and blindfolded along with his brother, who has learning difficulties, on August 14.

“They gave electric shocks to my brother right on the road outside. I heard him scream painfully,” Khan told AFP, showing marks on his arms, legs and buttocks.

Once inside the nearby Chowgam army camp, Khan said soldiers stripped him naked, tied up his legs and wrists,

suspended him and beat him with rods.

The camp major, Khan said, accused him of inviting Riyaz Naikoo from Hizbul Mujahideen — one of several militant groups fighting Indian rule — to his recent marriage.

An uprising in Indian Kashmir — backed New Delhi says by Pakistan which since 1947 has controlled the other part of the region — has killed tens of thousands since 1989, mostly civilians. “I kept repeating that was not true,” Khan said. “Then they gave me electric shocks again on my genitals and wounds. One of them said ´I will make you impotent´.”

After being released at dawn and barely able to stand, Khan says he kept vomiting for 10 days and only managed to start moving around again after 20 days. “I can´t eat properly anymore,” he said. “I don´t go into the room my wife sleeps in anymore… It´s better to die with a bullet than undergo such torture.”

‘PEOPLE-FRIENDLY’: New Delhi says its Kashmir lockdown since last month, with mobile service and the internet still snapped in most areas, is to prevent “terrorists” backed by Islamabad from stirring up trouble.

India´s national security advisor has denied that the military has committed any atrocities, a statement echoed by Colonel Rajesh Kalia, an army spokesman in Kashmir. “All counter-terrorist operations are conducted in the most professional and people-friendly manner. Allegations of manhandling levelled against the army are completely baseless,” Kalia told AFP. But people in Hirpora say they often hear screams from the army camp at night. Three other villagers told AFP they were also tortured. In total, around two dozen young men in the villages of Shopian told similar stories.

“The army is making examples of two or three young men from each vil-

lage,” said one resident of Shopian who has compiled a list.

The pattern is often of soldiers raiding homes, taking identity cards and mobiles and telling young men to report to the camps to retrieve them.

One 21-year-old, who declined to be

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

CMYK

named but shared with AFP photos of his wounds, said he has reported to the Pahnoo camp three times since August 27 and was abused each time.

An officer accused of him of giving food to rebels and then offered him money for information, he said.