E-Paper PDF 19 October (KHI)

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Saturday, 19 October, 2019 I 19 Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 1441 I Rs 17.00 I Vol X No 109 I 16 Pages I Karachi Edition

PakisTan To remain on FaTF grey lisT Till Feb 2020 T PARIS

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he Financial Action Task Force (FATF)– an inter-governmental body that combats money laundering, terrorist financing and threats to the international financial system – has decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list for another four months.

The decision was taken at the end of the FATF meeting that was held in Paris from October 13 to October 18. Pakistan has been given till February 2020 to fully implement the FATF’s 27-point action plan.

During the meeting, a Pakistani delegation led by Minister for economic Affairs hammad Azhar presented its compliance report.

“Despite a high level commitment by Pakistan to fix these weaknesses, Pakistan has not made enough progress,” Xiangmin Liu, president of the FATF, said in Paris. “If by February 2020 the country has not made significant progress, we will consider further actions which potentially could include placing the country… on the blacklist,” he said.

Only two countries, North Korea and Iran, are on the FATF blacklist, which severely crimps their access to the global financial system as well as international aid.

The Pakistani government has demonstrated strong political will to implement its action plan,” Liu said.

“We will provide all the necessary training and assistance, and we have called on our members and our global network to help in that regard,” he added.

The FATF, in its statement, said that the country has

PML-N to fully participate in Azadi March g

Shehbaz SayS maSSive rally will be held in iSlamabad on oct 31 STORY ON BACK PAGE

bilawal announces anti-govt protests across country STORY ON PAGE 03

Pakistan denies entry to CPJ official Senate body to fix responsibility for undeclared media censorship STORIES ON BACK PAGE

PCB sacks Sarfraz due to’ drop in overall form’ STORY ON PAGE 15

blasts in afghanistan mosque kill at least 62

STORY ON BACK PAGE

made major progress on only five of 27 action items, with varying levels of progress made on the rest of the action plan.

“Since June 2018, when Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) to strengthen its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terror financing (CTF) regime and to address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies, Pakistan has made progress towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including the recent development of its money laundering/terror financing risk assessment,” read the statement. earlier, Pakistan had failed to meet the January and May deadlines set by the FATF for implementing its action plan.

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watchdog SayS country haS made major ProgreSS on only Five oF 27 action itemS Finance miniStry SayS PakiStan inFormed FatF about itS Political commitment to Fully imPlement action Plan

CMYK Saturday, 19 October, 2019

02 NEWS Police ban catering, lodging services for Azadi marchers Islamabad Police has placed a ban on providing catering, sound system and tent services to the protesters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s (JUI-F) Azadi March while hotels, motels and guest houses have also been prohibited to offer them accommodation. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will march on Islamabad on Oct 31 to “topple the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government”, accusing it of coming into power through rigged elections. All major opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) have already announced their support for the protests. In a written warning notice, the Islamabad Capital Territory Police also warned crane and excavator machine operators, power generator vendors, welders and hardware stores against offering their products and services to the participants of the protest. According to reports, all 22 police stations of Islamabad have issued advance notices to the mentioned service providers and business owners operating in areas of their jurisdiction. As per the warning notice, supply of any tools, accessories and equipment for the protest is strictly prohibited. Those found involved in the activity would face action, it read. Rejecting the police’s warning not, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajaran President Ajmal Baloch questioned how could an institution prohibit traders from earning their living? Baloch said that the law does not allow any such move. News Desk

PM's focal person for polio eradication steps down ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s focal person on polio Babar Atta on Friday resigned from position due to personal reasons. Babar Bin Atta said, “After a stint of over a year as the Prime Minister Imran Khan Focal Person for Polio, I have asked the PM to relieve me of my duties because of some personal reasons pertaining to my family. During this time I got a chance to work with the best minds in the world.”

“When I look back, I am proud to say that I made all possible efforts to create that enabling environment where polio eradication is a top priority. A 24/7 call centre will soon be inaugurated to address all concerns of people who have questions related to the vaccine”, he added. Babar Atta further stated that the countries first ever Perception Management Initiative will be rolled out by the end of this month and the effects of which will be a game changer. staff RepoRt

Prince William, Kate leave for UK ISLAMABAD

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RITAIN’S Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton on Friday left for the United Kingdom after completing a five-day visit of Pakistan, the first royal trip to the country in more than a decade. They were seen off at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi by British High Commissioner Thomas Drew and other officials.

Earlier in the day, a plane carrying the royal couple had safely landed in Islamabad, hours after two failed landing attempts in bad weather forced them to fly back to Lahore.

The duke and duchess of Cambridge ended up staying the night at a hotel in Lahore before finally flying back to Islamabad on Friday morning, according to British royal correspondents on board their plane.

There has been no statement yet from Kensington Palace on Thursday’s mid-air drama, which reportedly saw the Royal Air Force pilot circle for at least an hour during a fierce thunderstorm that hit Islamabad, before finally abandoning the attempt and returning to Lahore.

It came after the royals spent a busy day in Lahore, during which they played cricket, visited a children’s orphanage and a cancer hospital, and toured the iconic Badshahi Mosque. The delay meant the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had to reschedule their engagements for today, the last day of their five-day tour.

According to Britain’s Press Association, William and Kate were due to fly over the Khyber Pass bordering Afghanistan in an engagement on Friday, but a “pretty bad storm” saw their flight turn back on Thursday evening.

The royal couple’s visit to the Khyber Pass has

been called off due to lack of time. According to Reuters, the couple will visit an army canine training school in Islamabad before departing later in the day.

THE ROYAL SAGA: The duke and duchess arrived in Islamabad for their maiden visit to Pakistan on Monday night. Their second day was a busy one, which started with a visit to a girl’s college in the capital and then Margalla Hills, where they attended an event regarding environmental protection. The couple was hosted by President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Aiwan-i-Sadr and Prime Minister House, respectively.

In the evening, they attended a star-studded reception, hosted by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew, at the National Monument where

William, in his first official address, paid tribute to all the people who “endured sacrifice and helped build Pakistan to the country it is today”.

On the third day of their trip, the royals paid a visit to the Chitral district to observe the effect of climate change in the region. During the visit, the couple flew to the Baroghil Valley National Park in the extreme north and the Bumburate Valley in the south where they mingled with the Kalasha community.

Upon reaching the Bumburate Valley, the couple was given a red-carpet reception by the Kalasha community — led by MPA Wazir Zada — from where they drove to a number of sites devastated by flash floods in 2015. The royal couple was told about the causes of natural disasters in the region.

On Thursday, they arrived in Lahore where they were welcomed by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar.

They later visited the SOS Children’s Village, where they took part in a storytelling session and interacted with the staff and children. Kate also delivered a short address at a birthday party held for three children at the center and wished the kids ‘happy birthday’ in Urdu. Afterward, the duke and duchess went to the National Cricket Academy where both of them tried their hand at batting.

William and Kate also toured the iconic Badshahi Mosque and later joined a discussion on interfaith harmony with religious leaders. The royal couple then visited the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, where they were welcomed by the hospital’s CEO Dr. Faisal Sultan and other senior officials.

At the hospital, they met children suffering from cancer and also visited the department hosting the hospital’s radiation machine.

Bilawal vows to challenge 'rigged' PS-11 by-poll KARACHI staff RepoRt

A day after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lost a by-poll in its home constituency PS-11 (Larkana-II), party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday vowed to challenge the “rigged” election.

Earlier on Thursday, Grand Demo cratic Alliance’s (GDA) candidate Moazzam Ali Abbasi managed to retain his seat as, according to unofficial results, he bagged 31,557 votes, while his rival, PPP’s Jamil Soomro,

could get 26,021 votes.

The PS-11 by-election had been announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the Supreme Court had de-seated Abbasi, who had won the seat in the 2018 general election, in August.

Following the result, Bilawal took to Twitter to announce that he “will challenge this rigging at every forum.

The truth can’t be hidden. We will expose this selection. We will have reelection and take back this seat.”

In a series of posts posted after

midnight, the PPP chairman said he was proud of his party workers for “fighting an honorable election despite immense pressure from the establishment. From pre-poll with NAB arresting & sending notices to PPP workers & their families”.

Bilawal alleged that “on polling day, Rangers took over the inside of polling stations. harassed our women voters, threw out our polling agents, and deliberately slowed polling. Women polling stations where PPP performs well were purposely started hours late.”

Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list till Feb 2020 ContInueD fRoM pAge 01 The FATF had put Pakistan on its grey list in June 2017 because of deficiencies in the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing regulations.

Pakistan, which accuses India of lobbying to blacklist it, relied for support on friends including China, as well as Turkey and Malaysia who batted for Pakistan during the meeting. Reuters had earlier reported that in a recent visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Imran Khan secured a guarantee from China that Pakistan would not be placed on the blacklist.

In its response to the development, the Pakistan finance ministry said in a statement that Pakistan’s delegation at the FATF reaffirmed its political commitment to fully implement the action plan.

“The plenary meeting decided to maintain status quo on the FATF action plan.”

“The FATF meeting considered Pakistan’s progress report on the FATF action plan and Pakistan’s APG Mutual Evaluation report (MER),” it said.

According to the statement, the delegation also held sideline meetings with various delegations and briefed them about the progress made by Pakistan on the FATF action plan and steps taken for strengthening its AML/CFT framework.

A session on technical assistance and training needs of Pakistan was also organised in collaboration with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and APG Secretariat which was attended by a number of interested countries and multilateral agencies including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, EU, World Bank, the Interna-

tional Monitory Fund, and the Asian Development Bank.

Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019.

A week before the meeting in Paris, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) said that Pakistan “largely but partially” complied with 36 parameters, while missing out on the remaining four, out of the total 40. The APG is a regional body of the FATF, which requires its members to undergo mutual evaluation of the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism frameworks.

In its 228-page ‘Mutual Evaluation Report’ released on October 2, the APG said out of the FATF’s 40 recommendations on curbing money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, Pakistan was fully compliant only on

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one. It was largely compliant on nine, partially compliant on 26 and non-compliant on four recommendations.

Being on the grey list doesn’t come with any sanctions, but if we remain on this list, we face the risk of being put on the black list. This is where it gets problematic.

Being on the black list means our banking system will be regarded as one with poor controls over AML and CFT standards — forget bringing PayPal to Pakistan, expatriates will find it difficult to send remittances and traders’ cost of business will increase because our banks will face higher scrutiny in international payments and foreign banks might not even do business with Pakistani banks. The government, too, will struggle to raise funds from international markets if we are placed on the black list.

He noted that media had been reporting that women voters were “threatened” to vote for GDA. He regretted that “despite our pleas, ECP did not take notice.”

Further, Bilawal said that the PPP candidate wasn’t allowed inside polling stations. “We kept asking ECP to intervene but its malafide intent was apparent in its silence.”

He also said that “despite the political engineering”, PPP had reduced the lead of other parties by 5,000 votes in less than a year and vowed to challenge the ‘rigging’ at every forum.

‘Larkana no more stronghold of PPP’ ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

While expressing her reaction on the byelection results in PS-11, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Friday that Larkana is no more stronghold of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and now it belongs to common people. Moazim Ali Abbasi of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) defeated his main rival from PPP Jameel Ahmed Soomro by 5,536 votes in the by-election of the Sindh Assembly constituency PS-11Larkana-II on October 17. In a tweet, the special assistant said that now everyone has clearly seen that who came via rigging and who by actual public support. “The narrative of those making hue and cry over rigging has failed, PPP’s defeat in the by-election is sufficient to open their eyes,” she said.

CMYK Saturday, 19 October, 2019

NEWS govt to amend naB law The federal government has decided to make amendments in National Accountability Ordinance 1999 with the insertion of subsection 10 in the ordinance which will assign C Class jail facilities to a suspect accused of embezzling funds over Rs50 million. The accused will be given a C class in jail during the investigation or trial, according to media reports. Furthermore, the government also decided to amend the Benami Transaction Act 2017.

Clause no. 31 has been added to section 2 of the Transaction Act 2017 under which everyone will be able to identify benami assets. NAB amendment ordinance will be tabled at the next federal cabinet meeting for approval. News Desk

Two 'terrorists' killed in attack on Loralai checkpost RAWALpInDI staff RepoRt

At least two suspected terrorists reportedly blew themselves up with explosives after a failed attack on a security checkpost in Loralai on Friday, according to the Pakistan Army’s media wing.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the unidentified suspects allegedly ambushed a security checkpost located in Loralai but the security officials thwarted the attack and returned fire.

Officials said that the terrorists blew themselves up when the security forces besieged them. The officials further said that two security personnel sustained bullet injuries during exchange of fire with the suspected terrorists.

Earlier on September 4, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces in a joint operation had killed six terrorists in Quetta.

BilaWal annoUnces anti-govt Protests across coUntry PPP CHIEF SAYS HIS PARTY DOES NOT ACCEPT ‘ARTIFICIAL DEMOCRACY’, DEMANDS PM IMRAN’S RESIGNATION KARACHI

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AKISTAN People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday called for nationwide protests to restore “real democracy in the country”. “Our demand is to restore democracy,” Bilawal said while addressing his party workers at a rally organised to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 2007 Karsaz bomb blasts.

“We don’t accept this artificial democracy… the democratic and socioeconomic rights of the masses shall be restored… and for this Imran Khan has to resign.” Bilawal said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government

had lost its footing among the people as it had failed to live up to its promises.

He said that all opposition parties were united in calling for the government to step down. “Our anti-government movement has started from Karachi,” he said, as he announced his plan for further protests.

The PPP chairman said that his party will hold protests in Thar in Kash-

more in the following weeks while rallies in Punjab will begin from November 1. “We will tour the entire country and when we return from Kashmir, you [Imran Khan] will have to go…We will expose your governance in every nook and corner of the country.”

Bilawal said that the PPP had always stood for democracy and would

go to any means to ensure the supremacy of the Parliament.

“Imran Khan neither has the capability nor seriousness to govern a country of 200 million people,” he said.

“Parliament has been side-lined and politicians have taken to the streets,” adding that the rulers of the country had compromised on Kashmir issue.

“Even a blind person can see Kashmir has been sold out, and CPEC has been slowed down,” he said. “The incompetent government should be removed for committing these crimes.”

Recalling the terrorist violence directed at the PPP upon the arrival of former premier Benazir Bhutto in 2007, Bilawal said, “177 people sacrificed their lives to catch the glimpse of their leader.”

The PPP leader said the 2018 elections had been rigged in favor of the PTI while genuine democratic forces such as his party were deliberately sidelined. “We don’t want our institutions to be controversial but when army personnel are deployed inside polling stations, their credibility will be questioned,” he said.

Civil society urges Opp to stand for democracy

Star-studded three-day Asma Jahangir conference on Friday AGHS Legal Aid Cell in collaboration with the Pakistan Bar Council has organised a three-day Asma Jahangir Conference at Avari Hotel from 9 am to 6 pm, starting on Friday. Multiple sessions will be held on women’s and children’s rights, religious and ethnic minorities’ rights, rule of law, strengthening of democratic institutions, opportunities and challenges for women in the legal profession, and the state’s responsibility to protect fundamental rights of its citizens, including freedom of expression. European Union Ambassador HE Androulla Kaminara, Human Rights Ambassador of Kingdom of The Netherlands HE Dr Bahia TahzibLie, Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bokhari, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, BNPM chief and former chief minister Akhtar Mengal, acting UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan Knut Otsby, Balochistan Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, senior journalists Arif Nizami, Mohammed Hanif, Mehmal Sarfaraz and others will participate in the three day event. Last year, the theme of the moot was ‘Justice for Empowerment’ and it was attended by chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, and former speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq. News Desk

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We the concerned citizens, intellectuals, writers, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists and democrats from across various shades of opinion, who have been dedicated to the cause of a peoples’ democratic, federal, prosperous and pluralist Pakistan at peace with itself

and with the world, are alarmed about any prospect of implosion of the state and society.

It called upon the peoples of Pakistan and all democratic and progressive forces to stand for: The sovereignty of the people and their civil, social, economic and

human rights, including freedom of expression, as enshrined in the international covenants and the Constitution and unfettered right to elect their true representatives thorough a free, fair and un-manipulated franchise must be actualised under a fully independent and powerful Election Commission, as opposed to the past farcical and controversial electoral exercises.

There is no alternative to a constitutional, civilian, democratic and peoples’ rule as reflected through a sovereign parliament, autonomous provincial assemblies and the authoritative local governments, participatory federation and provincial autonomy, subordination of all institutions of the state to the will of the people (Parliament), a responsible and truly representative government serving the interests of the downtrodden people of Pakistan. News Desk

Army takes pride in maintaining high standards of training, physical fitness, says Gen Bajwa KARACHI staff RepoRt

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan Army takes pride in maintaining high degree of training and physical fitness standards.

He said this while addressing garrison officers participating in Physical Agility and Combat Efficiency System (PACES) Championship on Friday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a

statement.

The army chief attended closing ceremony of the championship and witnessed training exercise of mechanised formation. He talked to officers about environment, challenges and the response.

We shall never leave Kashmiris alone, COAS reiterates on LoC visit. Speaking to troops busy in training exercise, General Qamar said that regardless of the advancement in warfare technology, the basic traits of

soldiering are linked with maintaining high standards of training and physical fitness.

The COAS also awarded prizes to winners of Army PACES and Young Soldiers Paces championship. Gujranwala Corps team won the 8th Army PACES Championship while Engineer Centre team won the 7th Young Soldiers Paces Championship. Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant General Humayun Aziz accompanied the army chief during the visit.

0.9 million troops in IOK to 'terrorise' Kashmiris, not fight terrorism: Imran Keeping up to his words to act as an ambassador of Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday once again drew attention to the situation in the occupied valley, criticising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for thinking he could “get his agenda of annexation”. In a post shared on Twitter, the premier said: “Modi is riding a tiger — he thought he could get his agenda of annexation by using 900,000 forces to silence Kashmiris. “You don’t need 900,000 troops to fight terrorism; you need them to terrorise 8m Kashmiri people.” In a series of tweets, the prime minister said the Indian premier was now “fearful” because “he knows the moment the siege is lifted, there will be a bloodbath — which would be the only way to subdue the Kashmiri people”. Frustration and anger have been growing in occupied Kashmir since Aug 5, when the Indian government stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status through a rushed presidential decree and imposed a complete curfew and communications blackout. While some call and text services for mobile phone services were previously restored in the region, text messaging services were again blocked on Tuesday. The clampdown has now continued for over 70 days. Friday is being observed as Kashmir Day across the country to express solidarity with Kashmiris. In this regard, sirens were rung at 3 pm and people stood up to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren. News Desk

Jail amenities: Court reserves verdict over ex-PM Abbasi’s plea ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

An accountability court reserved its verdict over the petition filed by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi seeking amenities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Friday.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed the hearing of the petition. The hearing was attended by Abbasi’s sister Sadia Abbasi and Barrister

Zafarullah Khan.

The officials from the Adiala Jail submitted a medical report of the exPM and said that they have decided to conduct medical tests of Abbasi.

Sadia Abbasi pleaded the court that her brother wanted to undergo his medical tests from a hospital of his own choice. During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor opposed providing a laptop to Abbasi in his prison cell.

After completion of the arguments, the court has reserved its verdict over the petition.

Abbasi had been arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while en-route to Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore on July 18 in a multi-billion-rupee case related to the award of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract.

NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded LNG import and

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distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.

Earlier on April 26, the names of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail and five others were placed in exit control list in an inquiry into the LNG scandal.

On September 30, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s plea had been granted by an

accountability court seeking additional facilities in jail.

The petitioner had pleaded that a cook should be allowed to stay with him to prepare controlled diet for the former prime minister.

The petitioner also sought the permission of air conditioner, refrigerator, TV set and other facilities for Abbasi during his stay in jail. The court had granted the plea of additional facilities to the former prime minister.

04 KARACHI Govt bans pillion riding ahead of Chehlum

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

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Karachi Fire brigade extinguishes flames that erupted at a house in Muhammad Ali Society. ONLINe

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday slapped a ban on pillion riding on motorcycles on October 20, on account of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A.). Sindh Home department has slapped ban under section 144 to deter any untoward incident during majalis and azadari processions across the province, including Karachi. The Sindh police have been directed to start snapchecking all over the province. However, females, children less than 12 years of age, senior citizens and media persons bearing official card as well as CNIC will be exempted from this order. The all arms permits have also been cancelled by the provincial government. The main mourning procession of chehlum in Karachi will be taken out from Nishtar Park, which will end at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar after marching its traditional route. staff RePORt

Dengue fever claims teenage girl's life in Karachi KARACHI: Dengue fever has claimed life of a girl in Karachi at a private hospital of the city, taking the death toll from this mosquito-borne disease to 19 since Jan 01, 2019. Spokesman Prevention & Control Program for Dengue in Sindh, confirmed the death of a 20year-old girl in a private hospital of Karachi and informed that a total of 19 people have died due to dengue fever in private and public sector hospitals of the city this year so far. The private hospital sources said a girl, Habiba, resident of North Karachi, was brought to the hospital with dengue related complications couple of days ago where she died during treatment. The report said that 214 new dengue cases were detected in Karachi in 24-hours. In October, a total of 2,930 dengue positive cases surfaced throughout the province out of them 2,723 were detected in Karachi and 207 in other districts. This year, a total of 6,147 dengue cases emerged in Sindh province so far out of which, 5,766 happened in Karachi and 381 in other districts. staff RePORt

Court rejects police report in Sheesha ban case KARACHI: The Sindh High Court rejected on Friday the report submitted by the Super Highway police claiming that a restaurant has stopped serving sheesha to its customers. A petition has been filed in the court against restaurants on the highway serving sheesha.

It says that the restaurant was serving sheesha to customers despite the ban. In 2017, the Sindh Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs advised the provincial government to impose a ban on the unhealthy practice of sheesha smoking across the province. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar has remarked that the police have presented a false report, adding that they are just protecting the restaurant owners. The court has ordered the SHO to submit another report after reviewing the restaurant by November. The restaurant owners have been ordered to appear in court too. staff RePORt

Four PPL employees dead in accident KANDHKOT: In a tragic incident, four persons were killed when a truck carrying stones overturned and fell onto their car in Kandhkot on Friday.

The incident happened due to the bad condition of the road near Rano Stop in Sindh’s Kashmore district, rescue sources said. The fully-loaded truck rolled over and landed on top of a car, resulting in the deaths of four people on the spot. The rescue team rushed to the scene and taken out the bodies from the car by turning a truck upright and removing it from the four-door passenger vehicle. All four deceased were the employees at PP Gas Field and were on their way to the office while the truck was travelling from Kashmore to Kandhkot for the delivery of stones, the rescue official said. INP

IRSHAD RANJHANI MURDER CASE

ATC dismisses bAil pleA of UC ChAirmAn KARACHI

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staff RePORt

N anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday once again rejected the bail plea of a UC chairman, Raheem Shah, in Irshad Ranjhani murder case.

As the plea came up for hearing, the court however rejected it. The bail plea was filed for second time.

However, the Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed bail plea of Rahim

Shah, who had shot to death Irshad Ranjhani, a local leader of Jeay Sindh Tahreek, a nationalist group, in February.

The SHC had ordered the accused for filing another bail plea after recording of the statement of a medico-legal officer.

Ranjhani was publically shot dead

by Rahim Shah. Later, a video clip went viral on social media which led to Sindh-wide protests against Shah.

It must be noted here that, an eye-

witness of the case, Masood Shah, central leader of JST, has gone missing since last month.

In April, the ambulance driver had made startling revelations in Irshad Ranjhani murder case, who was killed on February 6 by UC Nazim Rahim Shah at Bhains Colony.

The driver, in his statement, had disclosed that accused Rahim Shah again opened fire on the injured Irshad Ranjhani while victim was being rushed to hospital.

According to the challan, the driver who was shifting Ranjhani to hospital, has revealed that injured Irshad Ranjhani was first shifted to police station and later he was being taken to hospital in the ambulance along with inspector Ali Gohar when accused Rahim Shah appeared before the vehicle.

The driver went on to disclose, “As Rahim Shah opened fire on injured Ranjhani, the police officer who was also present in the ambulance ordered me to remain silence and keep moving to-

Standing committee concerned about Karachi’s growing drug problem

Rabies claims 19th life in Sindh

Members of the Standing Committee on Narcotics Control have expressed concerns over the growing number of drug users in Karachi.

Many young boys are forced to buy and sell drugs in Malir, said Jamil Ahmed Khan, a committee member who has been elected from Karachi’s Malir. Drugs have seeped into our schools, colleges, homes and even lives, he said. “I have just mentioned one area, however, the problem prevails in other areas too,” Khan added.

“I looked after the federal affairs and I am witness to the trade of heroin in my area,” said committee secretary Amjad Javed.

The committee even questioned the performance of ANF in trying to control the drug trade.

Another woman died of rabies at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, on Friday. The deceased has been identified as 55-year-old Hoor Bibi from Benazirabad. She was bitten by a rabid dog in her neighbourhood in September. The death toll from Rabies has reached 19 in Sindh. The executive director of Jinnah hospital, Dr Seemin Jamali, said the woman was admitted on October 16. This is the ninth rabies death at the hospital this year, she added. The Sindh High Court said on Wednesday that anyone is allowed to catch stray dogs in the province. The local government and health secretaries were ordered to present their reports regarding the work they’ve done on October 22. If someone, who was bitten, dies due to the unavailability of an anti-rabies vaccine, then the Sindh health department would be held responsible, the court ruled.

The children of sitting officers are accompanied by security guards but no one cares about the children coming from poor backgrounds, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) member Noor Aslam.

Sheharyar Afridi, the federal

minister on Narcotics Control, came into the defence of the ANF. He said that 2,900 people alone can’t run the ANF. “We have launched an awareness programme and are working on the launch of the Zindagi App,” he added. News Desk

Man dies of Congo fever in Hyderabad HYDERABAD INP

A man died of Congo fever on Thursday night, taking the death toll from the disease in the country to 19.

The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Yaqoob Hussain, a farmer from Mirpurkhas.

He died during treatment at

the Liaquat Medical Hospital in Hyderabad.

According to the disease surveillance unit in the region, the man had developed high fever and body ache on October 6. He was treated at a local practitioner’s clinic but his condition did not improve.

He started bleeding from the

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mouth and nose and had blood in his stools. His condition worsened and his blood samples were sent for investigation, which came out positive after his death.

The directorate general of health services has recommended that Congo virus surveillance be improved immediately in the region.

KARACHI INP

Woman found dead in Karachi KARACHI PPI

A hanging body of a woman was found from her house in Surjani Town area of the city in the wee hours of Friday. According to rescue sources, the woman was identified as 30 years old Samina, a resident of Surjani Town area. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

saturday, 19 October, 2019

PakIsTan, IndIa To sIgn kaRTaRPuR CoRRIdoR agREEmEnT nExT wEEk

T

HE agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor – being built to provide visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims – will be signed next week between Pakistan and India, according to reports.

Pakistan handed the final draft of the proposed bilateral agreement to India last Friday and the signing ceremony is expected to take place on ei-

Two more patients die of dengue fever in Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI stAff RepoRt Two more patients lost their lives in Rawalpindi on Friday due to dengue fever which has become a pandemic throughout the country.

The two patients identified as 22year-old Talha and 65-year-old Gul Muhammad were under treatment at the Holy Family Hospital of Islamabad. Moreover, the dengue virus has claimed another life in Karachi Friday, taking the death toll to 20 in the Sindh province. A 20year-old girl, a resident of North Karachi area, was under treatment at the private hospital of Karachi for the past few days, said hospital administration.

ther Wednesday or Thursday.

According to reports, Pakistan has maintained the $20 fee for every pilgrim – which India refuses to make part of the draft.

Pakistan has also accepted India’s demand to allow devotees of other faiths – Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians etc – to visit Baba Guru Nanak Devji’s final resting place.

Every day 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the holy site. India will share the list of pilgrims ten days before their visit. Pakistan will verify the list and finalise it four days before their visit.

The agreement will be signed either at Zero Point of Lahore’s Wagah border or the Kartarpur border.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will

news

inaugurate the project on Nov 9, three days before the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak to be celebrated on November 12.

The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib.

Earlier this year, 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 had said that 5,000 Sikh pilgrims will arrive and stay in the initial phase while later 10,000 pilgrims will arrive.

Majeed had 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. 76 immigration counters have been made to cater 5000 Sikh pilgrims from India.

“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 had said. news Desk

IHC seeks further arguments on lawmakers' eligibility case ISLAMABAD App

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought further arguments from respondents in petitions challenging the eligibility of three lawmakers including Kanwal Shozeb, Tashfeen Safdar and Maleeka Bokhari.

The bench asked the respondents to provide clear information regarding date of nomination submission by the members and last announced date of ECP in this regard.

Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC conducted hearing on petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) against the eligibility of above lawmakers. The court also sought written reply from the lawyer of Mallaeka Bokhari on the matter.

The petitioner had claimed in

his plea that the lawmakers had hide information in their nomination papers thus should be declared disqualify under Article 62, 63 of the Constitution.

It may be mentioned here that the court had already reserved its judgment on the above petition.

However, it had sought further information from the respondents.

05

PTI moves ECP for Faryal Talpur’s disqualification KARACHI stAff RepoRt

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed on Friday a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking disqualification of Faryal Talpur as a member of the Sindh Assembly. Talpur, who is the sister of Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, was elected as an MPA from PS-10 Larkana-I. PTI’s Arsalan Taj filed the petition in the ECP seeking her disqualification for allegedly hiding assets.

According to the petition, Talpur didn’t declare her 60-acre land in Shahdadkot, while another land owned by her in Shahdadpur is not mentioned in revenue department’s record. It said the PPP lawmaker also hid her plot in Nawabshah from the ECP. Talpur is currently on judicial remand until October 22 in the mega money laundering case filed by the National Accountability Bureau. She was arrested on June 14, four days after Zardari was taken into custody in the same case. They both are being investigated in the Park Lane case too.

IHC serves judgement on Hindu community's plea ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday reserved its judgment on the maintainability of a petition seeking official holidays for Hindu employees on the occasion of their religious festivals. Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC took up the case filed by a citizen Ashok Chand through his counsel Chaudhry Yasir Mehmood Advocate here. During outset of hearing, the lawyer pleaded that the Hindu employees should be given holidays officially on their religious festivals ‘Holli’ and ‘Dewali’ etc as it was their basic right. He further prayed the court to issue directives to the government for announcement of advance salaries for these employees on special occasions. Justice Farooq asked the lawyer to explain that how the basic rights of minority sect were affected. To this Yasir Advocate said that the Constitution protects the rights of minorities as well and this petition was filed in this context. App

Apples rot on trees as Kashmir strife inflicts economic pain SHOPIAN Agencies

Kashmir’s apple orchards, backbone of the economy and livelihood for nearly half the region’s people, are deserted with fruit rotting on the trees at a time when they should be bustling with harvesters.

Losses are mounting as insurgent groups pressure pickers, traders and drivers to shun the industry to protest an Indian government crackdown.

Apple growers call it a “silent war declared on their stomachs.”

“That’s almost $1,200 worth of produce. It’s all a waste now,” said apple farmer Mohammad Shafi, pointing to a heap of rotten apples thrown into a pit in Wuyan, a small village 37 miles (60 kms) east of Srinagar, the region’s main city.

Kashmir’s pristine mountainous landscapes, ski resorts, lake houseboats and orchards have long made it a tourist attraction. But an armed rebellion has raged 30 years in the Indian-controlled portion of disputed Kashmir.

In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist-led government stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and imposed a strict crackdown, sending in tens of thousands more troops,

detaining thousands of people and blocking mobile phones and internet services.

More than two months later, the region remains under a communications blockade. Authorities have restored landline services and some cellphones, but not internet, making it difficult to reach traders outside the region to conduct business.

Apple growers were expecting a bumper crop this year. Now, they say, losses are in the millions of dollars and the business might suffer its worst year since the beginning of the insurgency that has resulted in almost 70,000 deaths.

“It all started in August. We haven’t recovered since,” Shafi said.

On Wednesday, police said suspected militants shot dead an apple trader and injured another in a late-night attack in southern Shopian. The same day, a migrant laborer who worked at a brick kiln was also shot dead, police said.

That followed the arrests Tuesday of two militants suspected of shooting dead a truck driver near an apple orchard where he had collected 800 boxes of fruit.

On Sept. 6, unknown gunmen fired at a fruit trader in northern Sopore, injuring him and four members of his family.

So, the orchards lie empty of har-

vesters, as overripe fruit ripens and thuds to the ground.

The apple trade, worth $1.6 billion in exports in 2017, accounts for nearly a fifth of Kashmir’s economy and provides livelihoods for 3.3 million. This year, less than 10% of the harvested apples had left the region by Oct. 6.

“It will take us years to recover from this shock,” said Basheer Ahmad Basheer, who heads an apple growers union in Srinagar.

The authorities set up four wholesale markets to help support the industry, but as of Oct. 6 those markets had only managed to buy $300,000 worth of apples out of what was expected to be a crop worth close to $1.9 billion this year.

“We have only managed to dispatch two trucks from this place to outside Kashmir,” said Anshul Mittal, a government official at a wholesale market set up in Parimpora, Srinagar.

Many of the more than one dozen officials sent to help at the market said the effort was failing, partly because truckers are refusing to take the risk of shipping the apples. None wanted to be named as they feared retribution from higher-ups.

The worst-hit region is southern Kashmir, where dense apple orchards

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stretch through hundreds of villages.

Shafi’s orchard in Wuyan usually produces almost 10,000 boxes of apples per year. He says he’s only sold 1,000 boxes this year. Half of the rest of the harvest had to be thrown out because the apples were bruised from falling off the trees, he said.

Growers like Shafi often rely on loans to pay for labor, fertilizer and other costs.

“A few days ago, a friend came to me asking for the repayment of loans. I wept and begged in front of him as I have no money to give back to him,” Shafi said.

The despair trickles down to unskilled workers like 22-year-old Sheeraz Ahman, who was counting on 45 days of work to earn more than $400 to help support his family.

So far, he’s only gotten five days of work.

“We are in a desperate situation,” Ahmad said.

Still, there are fewer laborers looking for work than usual: many left the region at the same time tourists were advised to get out in August.

One young apple picker, who asked not to be named out of fear of the authorities, said he preferred to be hungry rather than trapped in an army camp.

The army has denied allegations of arrests and torture. But rumors of such tactics have alarmed those who usually would be working in the orchards. So have the shootings.

Police blamed a local rebel for the Sept. 6 shooting and claimed insurgents were intimidating traders and truck drivers.

Many farmers told The Associated Press such threats were keeping them away from the orchards, regardless of who was brandishing weapons.

Beyond the crippling of this bedrock of the Kashmir economy is the symbolic importance of its apples.

Some working in the industry said they preferred to let the apples rot to foil Indian efforts to show the situation has returned to normal.

The government’s crackdown, by stifling communications and provoking the insurgents, has made that impossible, said Aabid Gulzar, a 19-year-old English literature student who also works as a laborer at an apple orchard to help support his family of six.

“They (India) can blame anybody they want to but who created this rapidly deteriorating situation in first place?” he asked.

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Why Trump is a hisTorically corrupT presidenT TRUMP’S UNMATCHED SLEAZE: GRIFTERS, WOMEN, TRAMPLING CONSTITUTION AND NOW G-7 AT DORAL

USA TodAy Paul Brandus

W

e’ve had presidents who were used by members of their own family for personal gain, like Ulysses S. Grant.

We’ve had presidents who stocked their Cabinet with greedy, self-serving mediocrities who took advantage of the public trust, like Warren G. Harding.

We’ve had presidents who swore to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution, only to then abuse it, like Richard Nixon.

And we’ve had presidents who, thanks to a presumptive sense of entitlement, lived slimy private lives, using countless women before tossing them aside — Harding again, plus John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.

President Donald Trump falls into every single sleazy category, squarely and shamelessly. Just Thursday, we learned that he’ll hold next year’s Group of Seven meeting (with leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and

the United Kingdom) at his own Doral golf resort in Miami.

It’s the latest example of how Trump, who never divested from his businesses, continues to make millions from them. It’s also the latest reminder that he constantly violates the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which is supposed to ban presidents from accepting money from foreign governments.

This while the House is in the middle of an impeachment inquiry and there are two lawsuits pending over the emoluments clause.

“This is unbelievable,” said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and ethics in Washington, which filed one of those suits, speaking for much of America.

GRIFTERS THROUGH THE AGES: Grant was an honest man, yet under his nose, his own brotherin-law and two other grifters tried to corner the gold market. The financial panic that followed was called “Black Friday.” Then there was the “Whiskey Ring Scandal,” in which the president’s own secretary played a role in attempting to defraud the government of millions.

And Trump? Unlike other presidents, he never bothered to place his assets in a blind trust. Instead he allows his family to run his trust, and he remains its one and only beneficiary. And the emoluments clause hasn’t stopped diplomats, representatives of gov-

ernment-owned businesses and other foreign visitors from buying his properties and running up big tabs at his resorts and hotels.

That’s stuffing cash, albeit indirectly, into Trump’s pocket.

Meantime, finger-pointing at Hunter Biden diverts media attention — a time-honored Trump tactic — from his own children’s brazen exploitation of their father’s office. As Bloomberg’s Stephanie Baker notes, they “have continued working with foreign business partners from Dubai to Indonesia and India while their father sits in the White House.” First daughter Ivanka and hubby Jared Kushner raked in an estimated $82 million in 2017 alone, records show.

“Time and again,” notes the Los Angeles Times, “Trump’s children have blurred the lines of family, nation and business — essentially the charge the president makes against the Bidens.”

FLEECING THE TAXPAYERS: Perhaps you’ve heard of “Teapot Dome,” a huge oil reserve scandal involving Warren G. Harding’s Interior secretary, Albert Fall. Fall was convicted of accepting a bribe and went to prison. Meanwhile, Harding’s veterans secretary, Charles Forbes, looted the 2019 equivalent of $2.8 billion in a string of shady deals; he, too, was convicted of bribery and went to prison.

No one in Trump’s revolvingdoor Cabinet has ripped off tax-

payers on that scale, but many have fleeced we the people for everything from private air travel (former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin), running up big tabs in europe for spouses (former veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin), and ripoffs for everything from new office doors (exInterior Secretary Ryan Zinke), dining room furniture (Housing Secretary Ben Carson) and more.

Then there is fellow swamp monster Scott Pruitt, whose list of grifting while he headed the environmental Protection Agency was almost as long as the list of clean water and clean air regulations he helped the president gut.

And need I mention that Trump’s campaign chief (Paul Manafort) and first national security adviser (Michael Flynn) are now convicted felons? And that one of his top Oval Office aides (Rob Porter) had to leave after it became known that not one but both of his former spouses accused Porter of physical and verbal abuse. even a president as shameless as Trump has had to ditch many of these let-them-eat-cake mediocrities to appease critics. Isn’t this the guy who bragged that he hires only the very best? And his base still buys this claptrap.

TRAMPLING THE CONSTITUTION: We all know what

Nixon did. And Trump? It goes well beyond ignoring the emoluments clause to monetize the presidency.

Trump took an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” But just this month he publicly invited an adversary, China, to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. He has attacked the First Amendment by trying to ban reporters who ask unpleasant questions from the White House and suggesting that Tv networks he dislikes lose their broadcast licenses. He has suggested cutting corners on due process for illegal immigrants, a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

He has suggested ending birthright citizenship, a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. “Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States?” Rubbish.

Trump only wants to bother with the parts that are convenient to him.

ALL THOSE WOMEN, ALL THAT SEX: Harding was so sleazy that — as president — he once had sex with one of his mistresses in Central Park. He had an illegitimate daughter with one woman, a long affair with another who was suspected of being a German agent during World War I, and trysts in the Oval Office itself. Kennedy’s voluminous affairs were beyond sleazy. One with the girlfriend of a Mafia kingpin, and another with a woman believed to be an east German spy, even exposed him to potential blackmail.

Then there is our most recent philanderer in chief, Bill Clinton, whose lies about an affair with a

How social media is changing the way people commit crimes and police fight them SOCIAL MEDIA PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PERSONAL DIARIES, PHOTO ALBUMS, AND HOME MOVIES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, MOST OF IT FREELY PROVIDED SO THAT THE 21ST CENTURY IS AN ERA OF UNPRECEDENTED SELF-SURVEILLANCE LSE BLog ray surette

In 2013, a 16 year old boy in Ottawa, Canada was arrested for making bomb threats to schools across North America.

While sadly this type of crime is now not particularly unusual, what is different is the way in which he was caught; his extensive bragging about his anonymous phone calls on Twitter eventually brought the police to his door. Until now, those who commit crimes have preferred to try and hide their actions and identities. However in the 21st century social media world, these surreptitious crimes now compete with performance crimes like these.

The core elements of contemporary performance crimes are that they are created for distribution via social media and involve both willing and unwilling performers. Performance crime can be of two types. The first is a sort of ‘informed consent’ performance where the actors are aware of the production (sometimes recording or filming it themselves) and at least tacitly support its subsequent distribution — in this sense a crime performer is ‘behaving for the camera’ similar to an actor in a play. The second involves an uninformed, unwitting performance produced without performer knowledge or acquiescence — here a person is being recorded in a production similar to a nature documentary. Social media have caused performances of both types to explode.

These performances are no longer rare events place and time bound to physical stages and scheduled broadcasts; they are now ephemeral renditions constantly created and digitally distributed. This change came about with the transition from legacy to new media in the 1990s, which in turn has brought about changes

in society and created new stressors on criminal justice systems. The content and portrayals of crime and justice in new and legacy media look similar and the transition from one to the other has been largely seamless. The result has been a muted recognition of the substantial impact of the shift on crime and justice and the subsequent emergence of performance crime.

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS AS CONTENT PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS: With the rise of social media a significant change has been that content consumers can also be producers of selfgenerated content and can be content distributors. In the 21st century people place themselves open to the voyeuristic gaze of others in uncountable small-scale private performances that are socially mediated for public consumption on an often large scale. The isolated acts of ‘reading the newspaper or turning on the television’ have been replaced by the collective experience of posting, tweeting and ‘going viral’. The result has been the shifting of audiences from passive to active participants and to performance emerging as a common characteristic of media content.

Due to these trends, a large amount of seemingly disparate crime and justice activities by offenders and law enforcement and judicial personnel can be understood through the conceptual lens of a performance. In this new social media reality the public not only follows crime and justice, but participates and adds their own performances, the most noticeable being performance crimes.

PERFORMANCE CRIME: The growth of performance crime is additionally tied to the celebrity culture that emerged in the 20th century when celebrities became a focus of public interest and becoming a celebrity a career goal. Feeding off of this celebrity culture, social media has resulted in offenders posting pre-crime confessions, videos of themselves committing

offences, and post-crime footage holding evidence and bragging about their criminal acts. In the process, these enthusiastic crime performers often generate evidence used for their conviction. Social mediabased performance crime waves include activities such as ghost riding, and the knockout game. The social media dynamic that drives offenders to post their crime performances has also influenced the treatment of crime victims, so that ‘performance victimization’ is also a new reality and adds a public humiliation element to criminal victimization in a perverse ‘shaming-the-victim’ process.

The regular online posting of terrorism videos and the numerous terrorist group internet sites further exemplify how social media is used to produce online performance terrorism specifically tailored to multiple audiences. The over-sharing that lies at the core of self-incriminating performances is an extension of the significance that social media have come to play culturally. It is better to get your performance out there and be known than to be unknown in a celebrity culture, even if criminality is required.

PERFORMANCE CRIMEFIGHTING: The main impact of social media performances on law enforcement has been to enhance and extend surveillance. Social media provide access to the personal diaries, photo albums, and home movies of millions of people, most of it freely provided so that the 21st century is an era of unprecedented self-surveillance. The historical prerequisite that a person must be under suspicion to be brought under surveillance has faded, and broadly targeted, automatic, continuous surveillance is the norm. The popu-

larity of self-surveillance makes hidden and pervasive surveillance more acceptable due to the fact that when voluntary performances are ubiquitous, surveillance is not perceived as intrusive and being in a camera’s view is no longer unusual. Public space surveillance as non-consensual passive consent performances is exemplified by law enforcement-operated surveillance camera systems and the rise of car, body, and community surveillance camera systems. From these systems images are regularly culled for evidence as well as news content.

The lure of self-surveillance and selfpromotion is such that a number of fugitives have provided enough information on social media for law enforcement to determine their identities and locations.

Unsolicited voluntary performances from offenders have also resulted in a number of posted confessions. In these performances, offenders post scenes that clearly reflect and sometimes openly boast of their guilt.

Lastly law enforcement agencies have developed social media-based counter-performances, a common one being to pose as

White House intern got him impeached.

Clinton’s liaisons showed him to be impulsive and sexually reckless in way that left a stain (literally and figuratively) on the presidency. Making Nixon look good: Donald Trump is much worse than Richard Nixon. He may even have committed treason.

Trump’s infidelities fall short of Harding and Kennedy. But sleaze is sleaze: He has cheated on all three wives and, in the case of porn star Stormy Daniels, did it right after his third wife, Melania, gave birth to their son, Barron. And at last count, no fewer than 25 women accuse him of either “misconduct” or flat-out assault. It’s certainly obvious why evangelicals continue to call Trump a good, God-fearing Christian, isn’t it?

Trump, who even lies about the weather, says every single one of these women is making it all up. Trump, as you know, is a Boy Scout and would never lay so much as an orange finger on anyone. And that “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced in 2016, in which he bragged about assaulting women? Fake. Sure.

A grifting family. A sleazy what’s-in-it-for-me Cabinet.

Trampling on our beloved Constitution. And all these women. All the boxes, checked.

Paul Brandus, founder and White House bureau chief of West Wing Reports, is the author of “Under This Roof: The White House and the Presidency” and is a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors.

pedophiles to attract and capture sex offenders. In these performances police falsely perform to lure individuals who then unknowingly perform as predators in surreptitiously recorded performance crimes.

WHAT DRIVES CRIME AND JUSTICE PERFORMANCES? In criminal justice systems, information traditionally has been textual, linear, impersonal, and paper based and flowed in one direction across loosely coupled criminal justice agencies. Social media content, in contrast, is multi-medium, digital, holistic, emotional, and image dominated. As social media have broadened access to and altered the nature of crime and justice information, crime and justice performances have become more fluid, multi-directional products whose owners are not readily apparent. Thus, information flows naturally in all directions through social media while in criminal justice it traditionally flowed in one downstream direction. Substantial impacts on criminal justice systems from the emergence of free-wielding social media linked crime and justice performances were unavoidable.

It is therefore not surprising that social media created both issues and opportunities for criminal justice. Social media performances will alter the way crime is committed by offenders, cases are processed by criminal justice agencies, and justice is experienced by citizens. The most noticeable effect is through ‘performance crime’ committed to gain attention, but other less visible effects on criminal justice such as on juror behavior will be equally significant.

The growth of performance crime and justice is producing a unique set of phenomena that criminal justice systems worldwide will have to manage.

This article is based on the paper, “Performance Crime and Justice” in Current Issues in Criminal Justice.

Ray Surette is a Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida. His recent works include Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Images, Realities, and Policies (5th ed.) and The Media and Criminal Justice Policy. This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of USAPP – American Politics and Policy, nor the London School of Economics.

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

Protests grIP Lebanon demandIng govt resIgns BEIRUT

t

Agencies

HOUSANDS of protesters blocked roads and burned tires across Lebanon for a second day on Friday, demanding the demise of a political elite they say looted the economy to the point of breakdown.

The nationwide protests, Lebanon’s biggest in years, brought ordinary people from all sects and walks of life to the streets. They carried banners and chanted slogans calling on the government to resign. “We came to the streets because we can no longer bear this situation. This regime is totally corrupt,” said Fadi Issa, 51, who marching with his son. “They are all thieves, they come to the government to fill their pockets, not to serve the country.” “We don’t want just a resignation.

We want them (leaders) be held account-

able. They should return all the money they stole. We want change,” he added.

The demonstrations came as economists, investors and rating agencies warned that indebted Lebanon’s economy and graft-entrenched financial system is closer to the brink than any time since the war-torn 1980s. Foreign allies have pressured Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to enact reforms long promised but never delivered because of vested interests, beginning with an overhaul with some state assets. A video circulated on social media showed protesters in the Chouf mountains burning a large poster of President Michel Aoun, yelling in unison “come on get out and leave”. Across the country, protesters chanted against the country’s top leaders including Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Demonstrators had gathered outside the government headquarters in central Beirut on Thursday evening, forcing the

cabinet to backtrack on plans to impose a new fee on WhatsApp voice calls. Police fired tear gas as they clashed with some demonstrators overnight. People blocked roads in the north, the south and the capital on Friday. Schools and businesses were closed. “The people want the downfall of the regime,” protesters near the government’s Serail headquarters chanted.

The unrest prompted Hariri to cancel a cabinet meeting due on Friday to discuss the 2020 draft budget. He is set to make a speech instead. Fires in the street of central Beirut were smoldering on Friday. Pavements were scattered with the glass of several smashed shop-fronts and billboards had been torn down. Fatima, a dentist, said: “We are protesting against the politicians to force them to give back the money they stole and put it back at the service of the people. If it wasn’t for their corruption there would be no economic crisis.” In a country fractured along sectarian lines, the

unusually wide geographic reach of these protests highlights the deepening anger of the Lebanese. The government, which includes nearly all of Lebanon’s main parties, has long failed to implement reforms that are vital to resolve the crisis. “We’ve lived for 30 years with their lies. They’re sitting in their castles at the expense of the people,” said Ali Kassem, a protester in the suburb of Ouzai. Christian politician Samir Geagea and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt,

France resists EU membership talks for North Macedonia and Albania

BRUSSELS Agencies

French President Emmanuel Macron refused on Friday to let North Macedonia start talks on joining the European Union and led a group of leaders who blocked opening talks with Albania, despite concerns over Chinese and Russian influence in the Balkans.

North Macedonia, Albania and four other Balkan countries – Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and

Serbia – are trying to join the 28nation political and trading group following the ethnic wars of the 1990s that led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

But though member states see their eventual membership as inevitable, debate on starting the yearslong accession process became emotional at an EU summit in Brussels and lasted into the early hours of Friday, an EU diplomat said.

Macron said the membership bids of Albania and North Macedo-

nia could not progress until the EU changes how and when candidates are vetted on meeting accession targets which range from economic policy to human rights and the rule of law. “He stuck to his position despite an attempt by Germany and others to draft a new position,” an EU diplomat said after talks which one envoy described as emotional.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said it was “an historic error”.

“We had to start membership talks, I’m very disappointed,” Conte told reporters. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the accession of Balkan countries was an important strategic issue, adding: “We’ll see how to get back to this debate later.”

CONCERNS ABOUT RUSSIA AND CHINA: Croatia joined the EU in 2013. Warning of the risk of inflaming the region by failing to offer EU membership, the European Commission, the EU executive, wants other ex-Yugoslav republics and Kosovo brought into the EU fold to shield them from what they see as the growing influence of China and Russia. They say blocking their accession damages the credibility of the EU. In Brussels on the eve of the summit, North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said China and

Russia would “fill in the vacuum” left by the Europeans and urged EU leaders “not to fade out the bright stars” of the European Union flag.

North Macedonia’ foreign minister, Nikola Dimitrov, tweeted: “The least that the European Union owes the region is to be straightforward with us. If there is no more consensus on the European future of the Western Balkans … the citizens deserve to know.” After Skopje agreed to end a dispute with Greece over the country’s name – changing from Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to Republic of North Macedonia – German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Paris to at least allow it to start talks. But all countries have to agree before approval is given for accession talks.

All countries except France backed opening membership talks with North Macedonia, which is judged to have met EU targets for a host of reforms and ending disputes with its neighbors. But France won support from Denmark and the Netherlands in its resistance to giving Albania’s bid the green light, citing a need to deep measures to tackle corruption and organized crime. “It was 27 against one,” a second diplomat said of the support for North Macedonian membership talks.

whose parties both have some ministers in the coalition cabinet, have called on the government to resign. Seeking ways to boost revenues, a government minister on Thursday announced plans to raise a new fee of 20 cents per day for calls via voice over internet protocol (VoIP), used by applications including Facebook-owned WhatsApp. But as the protests spread, Telecoms Minister Mohamed Choucair revoked the proposed levy.

In first, spacewalk conducted by two women WASHINGTON: The first ever spacewalk with an all-female team began Friday, footage broadcast

by NASA showed.

US astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir’s mission to replace a power controller outside the International Space Station officially began at 1138 GMT. “Christina, you may egress the airlock,” spacecraft communicator Stephanie Wilson told the two. “Friday’s all-woman spacewalk is generating public interest we normally don’t get for a spacewalk. Here are the basics on the spacewalk itself, how to watch and how to participate in the conversation,” NASA said on its website. Agencies

FATF gives Iran until Feb 2020 to tighten anti-money laundering rules A global dirty money watchdog said on Friday it had given Iran a final deadline of February 2020 to comply with international norms after which it would urge all its members to apply counter-measures. “If before February 2020, Iran does not enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, then the FATF will fully lift the suspension of countermeasures and call on its members and urge all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures, in line with recommendation 19,” it said in a statement. That meant countries should apply countermeasures when called upon to do so by the FATF and should also be able to do so independently of any call by the FATF, it added. Agencies

Cartel gunmen terrorize Mexican city, free El Chapo’s son MEXICO CITY Agencies

Heavily armed fighters surrounded security forces in a Mexican city on Thursday and made them free one of drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s sons, after his capture triggered gunbattles and a prison break that sent civilians scurrying for cover.

Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said a patrol by National Guard militarized police first came under attack from within a house in the city of Culiacan, 1,235 km (770 miles) northwest of Mexico City. After entering the house, they found four men, including Ovidio Guzman, who is accused of drug trafficking in the United States. The patrol was quickly outmatched by cartel gunmen, however, and it was withdrawn to prevent lives being lost, the government said. Simultaneously, fighters swarmed through the city, battling police and soldiers in broad daylight. They

torched vehicles and left at least one gas station ablaze.

“The decision was taken to retreat from the house, without Guzman, to try to avoid more violence in the area and preserve the lives of our personnel and recover calm in the city,” Durazo told Reuters.

The reaction to Guzman’s capture was on a scale rarely seen during Mexico’s long drug war, even after his more famous father’s arrests. The chaos was continuing as night fell. A large group of inmates escaped from the city prison. Residents cowered in shopping centers and supermarkets as gunfire roared. Black plumes of smoke rose across the skyline. Families with young children left their cars and lay flat in the road. Bullets cracked up ahead. “Dad, can we get up now?” a small boy said to his father in a video posted on Twitter. “No, stay there on the floor,” the man replied, his voice trembling.

Cristobal Castaneda, head of security in Sinaloa, told the Tele-

visa network that two people had been killed and 21 injured, according to preliminary information. He said police had come under attack when they approached roadblocks manned by gunmen. He advised residents not to leave their homes. It was not immediately clear if members of the patrol were harmed in the standoff. Reuters TV showed scenes of at least three bodies lying next to cars on the street.

WARNED OF REPRISALS The chaos in Culiacan, long a stronghold for the Guzmans’ Sinaloa cartel, will increase pressure on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office in December promising to pacify a country weary after more than a decade of drug-war fighting. Murders this year are set to be at a record high. Thursday’s events follow the massacre of more than a dozen police in western Mexico

earlier this week, and the killing of 14 suspected gangsters by the army a day later. Falko Ernst, senior analyst for the International Crisis Group in Mexico, said the release of Ovidio Guzman set “a dangerous precedent” and sent a message that the state itself, including the army, could be blackmailed and was not in control. Presumed cartel members apparently intercepted a radio frequency used by security forces, one video showed, warning of reprisals against soldiers if Guzman was not freed. A state police spokesman confirmed to Reuters that several prisoners escaped from a prison during the chaos.

Video footage showed a group of at least 20 prisoners running in the streets. It was not immediately clear how many had escaped.

“They are freeing them,” a panicked woman said in the video apparently filmed from an tall building. “No we can’t go outside!” she said as other voices debated making a dash for their car.

In another video, a man driving

repeatedly shouted: “There is a big gunfight,” before taking a sharp turn and leaving his car at a gas station to take cover. His voice then became inaudible because of the rattling roar of automatic gunfire.

‘El Chapo’ Guzman led the Sinaloa cartel for decades, escaping from prison twice before being arrested and extradited to the United States.

He was found guilty in a U.S. court in February of smuggling tons of drugs and sentenced to life in prison. He is believed to have about 12 children including Ovidio. The U.S. Department of Justice unveiled an indictment against Ovidio and another of the brothers in February, charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana in the US. The indictment gave Ovidio’s age as 28, and said he had been involved in trafficking conspiracies since he was a teenager. Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, a lawyer for the Guzmans, told news network Milenio that Ovidio had been in touch with the family and said he was free.

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

08 COMMENT There’s a good time coming, boys But will we see the day?

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Ike the PML-N government before him, Prime Minister Imran khan too has something to give to the youth. early this year the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) allocated $30 million to mainstream the marginalised youth in Pakistan.

This led to the envisioning of the ‘kamyab Jawan Programme’ by the PTI. Mr khan assured the people that a good time is in the offing The programme was announced, amidst taunts aimed at the opposition, at a gathering of the youth in Islamabad. Under the initiative, young men and women would get loans to set up their businesses and provided educational and skill-development opportunities. Besides the programme will also arrange internships through which 25,000 young people will supposedly be connected with industries. According to the estimates presented at the gathering, there will be two million beneficiaries of the PTI’s programme.

There are several similarities between the PML-N government’s youth programme and the one launched by PM Imran khan, like interest-free loans, youth training, a skills development scheme as well as emphasis on concentrating on less developed areas. The amount of funds available this time is however much larger, thanks the UNDP. There are however differences in the two programmes also. While the PML-N distributed laptops among deserving students, PM Imran khan wants to establish 500 laboratories in the seminaries which is supposedly a step towards mainstreaming the madrassas. To be able to make use of the laboratories, science teachers too will have to be recruited. A number of questions remain unanswered.

For instance, will highly conservative seminaries welcome the inclusion of science as a subject, and who will pay the science teachers’ salaries? only time will show whether the experiment is feasible.

As under Nawaz Sharif, Mr khan too has put a gung-ho party loyalist in charge of the programme.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif however had to resign a year after when her appointment was challenged in the Lahore high Court. To avoid controversy, there is a need for programmes of the sort to be led by skilled professionals not involved head over heels in partisan politics. The PM’s denigrating remark about the JUI-F chief while announcing the programme, makes this all the more necessary.

Larkana by-election The PPP loses again

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or the PPP to have lost a provincial seat from Larkana, the home district of party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his daughter Benazir Bhutto and current party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was bad enough in the general election, but to lose again in a byelection, with its government holding the reins, was even worse. Yet that is what has happened. While there may be charges that the result was engineered in the general election, the by-election showed that either the provincial government was grossly incompetent in failing to prevent a repeat, or that disaffection has set in.

Disaffection does not result from voter fatigue, but because the PPP has been weak in performance. The PPP leadership, whose home district it is, have been guilty of taking their voter too much for granted, of assuming that the Bhutto magic will last forever. It should not be forgotten that Larkana was at the centre of the AIDS epidemic that occurred this summer. No ruling party should be able to overcome such a public-relations disaster. The PPP has for too long assumed that interior Sindh was its as if by right. Loyalty to a dead leader might be all very well, but the modern voter wants a greater result for his vote than the rather hollow satisfaction of a particular party or a particular individual holding office. At least he wants freedom from the fear of being killed, whether by such deadly epidemics as AIDS, or from the more mundane starvation, that has been occurring in the Thar, another instance where the PPP government has hardly covered itself with glory.

Instead of seeking to improve performance, the PPP should stop blaming others for this defeat, and acknowledge that this particular constituency has probably had enough of it and has slipped out of the party leadership’s hands. It should also remember that it has been in office since 2013, and might see itself defeated if its provincial government does not improve its performance, especially in its service delivery in the fields of education, health and infrastructure development. It should not ignore the fact that its latest defeat has been political, and any renewal will also have to be political.

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

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Tracing Pashtun ethno-nationalist trends Kabul has historically been involved

MuhaMMad Tahir iqbal

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he current sharpness in the ethno-nationalist trend in the Pashtun tribal belt of Pakistan is not new. The affiliation with the ideals of Pashtun nationalism had been there since decades; but there have been vicissitudes in the intensity of their attachment.

The state’s policy of absorbing more and more Pashtuns into its fold– intake in civil and military bureaucracy, share in federal ministries, participation in sports at national level, extension of provincial autonomy under constitutional clauses like the 18th Amendment, and son– considerably blunted the sharp contours of the nationalistic approach with the result that the political parties with a predominantly federal ideology penetrated into the Pashtun belt and brought them to the national embrace.

The state does not have any problem with the bent towards nationalism until the ideals are exploited by some external players from across the Durand Line with the connivance of other stake holders in the region.

Let us travel down the history lane to trace out the ethno-nationalistic tendency in Pashtun terrain of Pakistan and ascertain what behaviour it has been showing over the decades.

Before Partition in 1947, the khudai khidmatgar, or Surkh Posh or red Shirts– formed by Abdul Ghaffar khan, a politician from Charsadda– was the movement that united and organised the Pashtuns of erstwhile NWFP and infused in them the ideals of Pashtun nationalism.

Abdul Ghaffar khan had great affiliation with Gandhi and his party, the Indian National Congress; and he knew that the Pathans of NWFP would never go for this alliance. So, the idea of anti-imperialism– independence from the British raj– was extensively used to make Pashtuns pro-Congress with the idea that Congress also wanted independence.

Abdul Ghaffar khan worked laboriously to make inroads for Congress into the Pashtun areas. Due to his ardent support and tireless efforts, Congress was able to secure 17 seats out of 50 seats in 1937, and 30 out of 50 in the 1946 elections, in the NWFP. But the winds started veering when the Pash-

tuns sensed that Congress was planning to replace the British raj with the hindu raj in NWFP. The conspicuous slogans of Muslim League like ‘No hindu raj’ and ‘Muslim Unity’ attracted the Pashtuns and weaned them away from the wiles of the Congress. By December 1946, the Muslim League had emerged as a potent political force in NWFP and the adjoining tribal areas.

This disappointed Abdul Ghaffar khan who had worked for Congress for more than a decade.

To dispel the impressions created by Muslim League, he planned a visit of Congress leader Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to the tribal belt. on october 20, 1946, Abdul Ghaffar khan was in the tribal areas along with Nehru, but their motorcade was attacked by the locals who then did not have any heart for the latter and his kind of politics.

At the time of Partition, Abdul Ghaffar khan boycotted the referendum on the basis of “Pakistan or India”; he, instead, demanded referendum on the basis of “Pashtunistan or Pakistan”.

The situation became all the more complex when Afghanistan, too, jumped in to fish in the troubled waters and claimed that the territories lying between the Durand Line and the Indus river belonged to Afghanistan, and the tribals of these areas should be given an option to re-join Afghanistan.

From here starts a series of hostile episodes initiated by Afghanistan to support insurgencies on the western border areas of Pakistan. on 12 August 1949, some members of the Afridi tribe met at Tirah, and issued a declaration of independence and sent that to the Pashtun organisations and parties in Pakistan, abroad and the UNo. The declaration was hailed by Afghanistan with great verve, and kabul radio also broadcasted energised debates on it. other notable Pashtun nationalists, Mirzali khan and Malik Wali khan kukikhel, in alliance with the khudai khidmatgars, refused to recognise Pakistan and started a guerrilla warfare with the nascent state with the support of Afghanistan.

Malik kukikhel led two attacks on Pakistan’s territories from kabul in January 1952. In 1959, he was pardoned and allowed to come back and settle in Pakistan as a policy of integrating disgrun-

tled Pashtuns into the fold of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, khan Abdul Jabbar khan, the elder brother of Abdul Ghaffar khan, better known as Dr khan Sahib, was made the Chief Minister of West Pakistan. The trend was followed by other Pashtun nationalists, too, who started taking part in the centre-oriented politics of Pakistan.

Important developments happened in 1970s igniting once again the sleeping embers of Pashtun nationalism. By then, khudai khidmatgars had turned into National Awami Party (NAP), participating in the parliamentary electoral process.

But the leadership at the helms of affairs in Pakistan was piqued at the NAP chapter of east Pakistan for its support to the cause of Bangladesh there. In 1973, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, dismissed the NAP government in Balochistan, resulting in the resignation of NAP government of the NWFP as a protest.

This was a time when Sardar Daud khan was in power in Afghanistan. he was an ardent supporter of Pashtun nationalism in Pakistan, and had also earlier led the Afghan Army into Pakistan’s Bajaur region in 1960 but was repulsed by the military government of Pakistan.

Some NAP nationalists, such as Ajmal khattak, found it quite convenient to flee into Afghanistan so as to resuscitate the Pashtunistan issue again.

During Ziaul haq’s martial law, Pashtun nationalists under the NAP joined the anti-Bhutto campaign of Pakistan National Alliance (PNA).

Later, Talibanisation shifted their attention to a bigger dilemma, thus landing them in an eerie ilk of quicksand which gripped them for quite a while but which they are now remarkably out as a result of relentless military operations.

The irony is that despite paying tributes to the state’s policy of clearing the tribal areas of the Taliban, some local politicians have again started raising ethno-nationalism with ever more vim and angst, and again in complicity with other players from across the Durand Line. So, we again stand on the same ground with the same realities jeering at us.

Muhammad Tahir Iqbal can be reached at tahiriqbalstars@gmail.com and tweets @TahirIqbal87

The business of tutoring It’s an extra burden on students

Fawad ali

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he mantra of educational reform has always been a part of our rhetorical political discourse. Much has been talked about corporal punishment, revamping of curriculum, regulation of private institutions, the issue of teachers absenteeism and to a degree, some well-intended steps have been taken in the recent past.

These reforms appear to be a top priority for the government but the abysmal state of education needs deeper solutions than mere policy changes. one of the most palpable yet unaddressed issue is of private tuition and tutoring academies.

Sometimes referred to as ‘‘shadow education’’, it stands as a successful business reality that has critical implications for the growing segmentation in the society.

While we are still debating equal opportunities of basic education for every citizen, as provided by our Constitution in Article 25A, the growing network of private academies continue to complicate the availability of quality education for everyone.

Let us look at the basic purpose of private tuition centres. Initially, home run tuition centres emerged to assist students who were unable to grasp daily lessons in their schools Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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and colleges. But gradually, this individual-run tutoring model evolved into a giant private-run academic system that has now established itself as a necessity, especially for the students enrolled in secondary and higher secondary education.

Students are required to attend their regular classes, in a usual 8am-1:30pm routine and right after a break of an hour or two, they catch a ride to the academies, often in their school uniforms to avoid getting late for their second round of daily lessons.

Firstly, this is a highly grinding academic routine that restricts the students from finding time for their extra-curricular aspirations and also puts extra strain of achieving maximum numbers because of the expectations associated by their parents.

Secondly, not everyone can afford to send their children to private academies as they charge much more than the private institutions these students are officially enrolled in. So, an average lower middleclass family that avoids the government schooling system and struggles to sponsor their children in private institutions has to now face this new dilemma in the form of tuition academies.

There’s an inherent problem with the structure and functioning

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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of private academies that offer ‘extra’ knowledge to the ones who can afford it.

Now let’s recall the purpose of these private academies which was to assist the low performing students to catch up with their daily lessons. But the ongoing practice prefers students that achieve good marks on their own in one half of SSC or hSSC level of education and attracts the top performing students by presenting scholarships.

These students also serve as an advertising opportunity for academies who take pride in their top performers by displaying their images on street banners and digital media. Interestingly, the institutions they are part of also rely on the same strategy of associating their brand success with their top performers. But in contrast, nobody’s yet ready to take the responsibility of low performing students or even probe the reason of their failure.

There’s a very strong objection to these academies by the teaching community, which complains that they are not paid enough money for the effort they put in the institutions. So, they have to rely on maximising their time to ensure financial stability for their families.

But there is a definite conflict of interest when teachers who are unable to tutor their very own students in

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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private schools and colleges offer them extra assistance in return for more money.

It is also seen that some teachers put in more effort in their tuition academies than they would during the official duty hours. So, a great deal of students who attend private academies have a much better ability to solve critical questions than their fellow students who only attend the normal academic hours.

This is not only a downright dishonesty by the teaching staff but is also a preferential situation for a selected segment that can afford these academies, creating a discriminatory environment for students who enrol in a private institution to attain an equitable amount of knowledge.

We’re still stuck in the conventional Private-versus-Government Schooling debate, while a third form of educational system has gradually taken over. The monopoly of private academies is so strong that their owners are turning them into private schools and colleges to avoid any sort of restriction from the private institutions they are associated with.

It’s high time for the policy sector to take notice of this growing network and bring the topic into discussion, as the lack of comprehensive research on it is alarming.

Fawad Ali can be reached at fawadali21@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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

Dilution of foreign service meritocracy

Dismal performance of CSS-2019 candidates How academies entice prospective candidates anwar ali

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he Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) recently declared the result of the written portion of the examination of the Central Superior Services (CSS) conducted in February 2019 across the country.

The statistics given by the FPSC for CSS2019 are dispiriting. The number of candidates who appeared was 14, 521 and out of them only 372 could pass the written examination making the pass percentage stand at 2.56. In contrast, in CSS-2018, more candidates had passed the written examination. In 2018, the number of candidates appeared was 11, 887 and out of them 569 passed the written examination making 4.79 the pass percentage. Now the question is this: what are the reasons for the dismal performance of CSS candidates? over the years, two cities of Pakistan, Lahore and Islamabad, have seen the burgeoning of coaching academies claiming to guide and prepare prospective candidates for the CSS examination. In Lahore, excluding seasonal academies, there are more than one dozen established coaching academies whereas in Islamabad their number is around eight. More than half the CSS candidates appear from Punjab, and every year, prospective candidates from all over the country reach Lahore to seek admission in these academies. In Lahore, the areas of Garden Town, Lawrence road and Upper Mall proliferate with such coaching academies, which are more moneymaking machines than anything related to coaching. As a rule of thumb, in the presence of these coaching academies, the result should have been exceptional or at least better than before, but this is not the case.

Most candidates have failed in the english essay paper. Those who escaped the tangle got caught in the english Precis and Composition paper. In this context, one major difference is that, in CSS-2018, simple essays of low academic and trite value were asked on easily guessed topics (such as higher education, corruption, terrorism, social media, global warming, democracy, and the CPeC) whereas in CSS-2019, mostly analytical essays of high academic value were asked on difficult-to-guess topics. Similarly, english precis, which is a backbone of the english Precis and Composition paper, required more thinking in CSS-2019 than in CSS-2018. english is a known nemesis of CSS candidates and, to multiply the disaster, the coaching academies play their role in five main ways.

First, coaching academies are business ventures and not knowledge dispensers. except one or two, all academies are run by businessmen who invest money for a higher return. The owners are incapable of delivering a lecture on any subject except for talking boastfully of the ear-

lier success of the academy. Low-paid teachers contrived sense of achievement. A series of are hired to save expenses. even former CSS mock interviews is held for all those who pass candidates are invited to teach subjects from the written examination. Pictures of such cantheir notes (which they had jotted down when didates are captured and, when some of them they were learning the subject as learners). Low secure positions on the final-result list, their picquality teaching delivers low quality knowl- tures are advertised in newspapers and disedge. Some academies have on their pay roll played at the reception desk to befool the serving civil servants, mostly of the Pakistan viewers by giving the impression as if the sucAdministrative Service, the Police Service, and cessful candidates had received the coaching of the office Management Group. These officers written examination from the same academy. can be found cringing before the owners to keep here, a partner in crime are the candidates who providing them with teaching jobs for eking out never got admission to the academy but start their financial resources. They are even ready promoting the academy. Dinners are hosted and to serve the owners by looking after their per- ceremonies are arranged in their honour to air a pretended sense of attainment to the fresh cansonal issues with the city administration.

Second, coaching academies promote didates, who get enticed into believing that the knowledge of a compromised quality. These academy is a real civil-servant maker.

Fifth, coaching academies seek the FPSC academies endorse low-cost books churned out collaboration to publish

by Urdu Bazar publishmagazines to offer a ers, instead of promoting bogus sense of quality. the FPSC’s recomThere is now a rat race mended books. The sceto publish a current-afnario is grave because fairs magazine and get it each academy offers a All this is happening recommended by the composite course of to promote an about five months for rs because neither prospective FPSC academy’s business. In 60.000 to rs 80,000 per head. Parents are hoodcandidates nor their parents principle, the FPSC cannot recommend any winked and children are hold these coaching magazine to be a mustdeceived into believing read for prospective canthat low-quality books academies answerable for didates not only because are easy to understand each issue of the magaand the knowledge making high claims at the zine offers quality differtherein is easy to reprotime of offering admission ent from the previous duce in the examination version, but also because to earn high marks. In but subjecting the the FPSC has no mechamost academies, linism to keep surveilbraries are made availcandidates during the lance over the editorial able but these are used course to a low-quality and opinion policy of the more for web searching magazine published in and socialising than knowledge in both Pakistan to meet certain seeking erudition. quality standards. By exProspective candidates substance and delivery tending recommendation from rural backgrounds to one or two such magfind these libraries strikazines, the FPSC has ing because of the co-edprodded other magazine ucation atmosphere. publishers to knock at Third, coaching the door of the FPSC academies instil a false sense of achievement in prospective candidates. and get their magazines recommended even by The work of a candidate, for instance, in eng- bribing the FPSC officials. This is where the lish essay or precis, is not checked and, instead, FPSC is a partner in crime for sponsoring a exceptional marks are given to buoy up the can- sham sense of quality delivered by certain acaddidates so that they could remain loyal to the emies through their representative magazines.

All this is happening because neither academy and keep paying the fees. Those teachers are discouraged who pass fair remarks on prospective candidates nor their parents hold the work of a prospective candidate. Unfortu- these coaching academies answerable for maknately, candidates recognise the deceit when the ing high claims at the time of offering admisFPSC declares the result of the written portion sion but subjecting the candidates during the of the examination. Neither any smart class nor course to a low-quality knowledge in both subany super class– a trend in certain academies– stance and delivery. could save the candidates from performing misAnwar Ali can be contacted at anwarerably in the written examination.

Fourth, coaching academies broadcast a ali_60@yahoo.com

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

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

Although Pakistan State offers best post retirement pension and benefits in the region to retired civil and uniformed services, including subsidised allotment of plots, there seems to be no end to their insatiable greed for lucrative posts. elected civil governments do make few political appointments, but in doing so they must ensure that best are nominated. Their choice of individuals like haqqani, kamran Shafi, Nadar Chaudhry etc have not served national interests. Perhaps it is time to reassess shortcomings of reserved quotas in civil bureaucracy, foreign service and heads of state- owned corporations and its toll on this country. Why should men trained as specialists in military strategy etc, be considered suitable for such postings?

Pakistan faced embarrassment when our high Commissioner in Sri Lanka, against all diplomatic norms, issued a statement quoting their President, which they promptly denied.

MALIk TArIq ALI Lahore

Why tax: Letter to PM honorable prime minister, you have shown great interest in collection of the taxes and bringing back looted money.

I am writing this to bring to your notice about the unequal tax system of our country. Let me give you some examples of the unequal tax distribution. As a citizen of the Turbat, I buy groceries from Turbat markets I pay my indirect taxes on everything that I buy and if whatever I buy in the markets of karachi I too pay the same amount of the indirect taxes. The same amount of taxes goes to the public revenue.

Furthermore, for an example, if I buy a rs100 Warid card for Turbat each call and message cost an amount of tax, same as a message and a call have a tax amount in Lahore, on the contrast, I do not get the same services from both cities. Why the network services of Warid is not the same as Lahore. My question is why the government charges me the same amount of taxes on both cities. Moreover, why should I pay taxes on my savings or on the amount that I made profit from my businesses. It’s too tough to build a business in area such as Turbat as compared to karachi or Lahore. In here, people have very low purchasing power than other major cities. other than that public sector organizations of karachi are better service provider than Turbat’s and it is the same level of the education sector. I do not get the same education skills in Turbat. The tax system of our needs more reforms.

SohAIL BALoch Turbat

Maulana’s march PAkISTAN is going through a very critical time at the moment, and cannot afford internecine anarchy and chaotic conditions. holding thus in such a situation a sit-in, dharna in the capital by Maulana Fazl-ur-rehman, JUI-F Chief, to protest until oust the illegal and incompetent PTI government—as he calls it—is not in the interest of the country. That FM Qureshi has already asked Maulana to review the date of the march indicates the uncertainty and troublesome position of Pakistan. Without opposition parties which seem to be indifferent to the march, Maulana may proceed to the capital alone which may not make the desired appearance there, entailing into eroding of the expectant objective(s) of the march. Though the barbs are being flown between government and Maulana and his camp, there has to be a top priority of both sides not to escalate the situation and take such steps to diffuse the matter, given the present precarious position of Pakistan.

Though protesting peacefully is the beauty of democracy, the concerned authorities brook no violence, logjam or lockdown, as happened in Faizabad incident and 2014 dharna of Imran khan. rIAZ AhMAD SooMro Shikarpur

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

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

SyED TAhIr rAShIDI Shahdadpur

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ProTESTS ParalySE CaTalonia aS marChES hEad for BarCElona BARCELONA

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Agencies

PAIN’S northeastern Catalonia region and its riot-swept regional capital, Barcelona, were paralyzed Friday by a mix of strikes and marches as it faced its fifth day of protests over the conviction of independence leaders.

Spain’s central authorities said that 57 flights into and out of the region were canceled for the day due to a general strike called by pro-independence unions. Picketers also closed off to traffic the border with France across the Pyrenees and

burned tires or blocked dozens of roads and highways across the northeastern region.

Commuter and long-distance train services were reduced significantly, and many shops and factories didn’t open for business.

Architect Antoni Gaudí’s modernist Sagrada Familia, a tourist magnet in central Barcelona, closed its doors due to a protest blocking the access to the basilica.

Highways were occupied by thousands of people joining five marches from inland towns that are expected to converge in Barcelona’s city center on Friday afternoon for a mass protest with striking students and workers. Farmers in tractors are

joining some of the so-called “Freedom marches,” organized by the grassroots pro-independence ANC and Omnium groups. That follows clashes with police that broke out in cities across the region late on Thursday, for the fourth night in a row. In the capital, a mob of farright anti-independence activists also tried to storm a separatist protest of thousands. Health authorities in the region say that 42 people were injured Thursday night, most of them in the capital, and the regional police arrested 16 protesters, sending eight to jail, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.

The caretaker interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska,

said that authorities are tracking “minority groups that are provoking incidents in very specific places,” vowing to punish the radicals. More than 200 people have been arrested since separatist sentiment swelled again this week following the imprisonment of nine separatist politicians and activists who led a push for independence that triggered Spain’s deepest political crisis in decades.

Their former leader, Carles Puigdemont, on Friday avoided arrest after he voluntarily testified before Belgian judicial authorities over a new warrant that Spain issued this week following the sentences.

Spain is seeking

Puigdemont on possible charges of sedition and misuse of public funds after previously failing to secure his extradition from Germany and Belgium on suspicion of rebellion.

Puigdemont fled to Brussels in late 2017 following the failed attempt to establish a new European republic in the wealthy re-

gion, and has since then campaigned for Catalan independence from there. In May, he was elected as European lawmaker, but he wasn’t sworn in because Spain’s electoral board said he didn’t qualify for the seat by failing to show up in Madrid to swear Spain’s constitution.

Bangladesh border forces kill Indian guard in rare clash DhAkA Agencies

Turkey plans to establish 12 posts in Syria ‘safe zone’: Erdogan

Bangladeshi border forces shot and killed an Indian border guard on Thursday when a altercation erupted over an Indian fisherman the Bangladeshis had detained, in a rare clash between the two sides.

The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) said it had fired in self-defence after Indian border guards intruded into Bangladesh to try to take away the detained Indian fisherman. One Indian guard was also wounded, Indian officials said.

The fisherman had been held because he was fishing in the Padma River at the border, where

Bangladesh has banned fishing, it said. On Friday, the situation at the border was “normal”, Shariful Islam a spokesman for the Bangladeshi force said.

“Our troops have been put on high alert to avoid any untoward incident,” he said. Bangladesh officials said they would hand over the fisherman during a meeting later. Both sides have agreed to investigate the matter, Bangladesh said. India and Bangladesh share close ties and struck a series of deals this month when Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi. They share a border stretching more than 4,000km (2,400 miles), where clashes have intermittently erupted over what India terms illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

ISTANBUL: Turkey aims to establish 12 observation posts in a planned so-called safe zone in northern Syria, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding Ankara would respond if the Syrian government “makes a mistake” in the region. Ankara agreed with Washington on Thursday to pause its operation in northern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia while it withdraws from the border region. Turkey wants to settle refugees in the area vacated by the YPG. Speaking to foreign press, Erdogan said 2 million refugees can be settled in the “safe zone” if it includes the cities of Deir Al Zor and Raqqa. Turkey hosts 3.6 million refugees that have fled the eight-year war in Syria. Erdogan added that Turkey will respond if the Syrian government, which has moved into some areas that YPG has already left, “makes a mistake.” Agencies

Trudeau could lose power in Canada’s election Monday TORONTO Agencies

Ian Bremmer remembers the first time he met Justin Trudeau, at the annual gathering of elites in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Bremmer, a prominent foreign policy expert, said Canada’s party at the world economic forum is usually “the sleepiest thing you could do.” It is typically held at a second-tier hotel, and if you go, it’s because you’re on the way someplace else. But in early 2016, Canada’s new leader, tall and trim, the son of the liberal icon and late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, arrived.

“It was insane. Everyone wanted to be there. He

was the superstar on the global stage that year. The idea that a Canadian prime minister would have that kind of impact and star power was insane,” said Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group. “He’s still considered one of the good guys, one of the globalists. But let’s face it, his star has diminished.” Polls show Trudeau could lose to his Conservative Party rival in national elections on Monday or fail to win a majority of seats in Parliament and have to rely on an opposition party to remain in power. Not since 1935 has a first-term Canadian prime minister with a parliamentary majority lost a bid for re-election. A combination of scandal and high expectations has damaged his prospects.

Last month, photos of Trudeau in blackface and brownface when he was younger surfaced, casting doubt on his judgment. And the boyishly handsome 47year-old was tarnished by a scandal that erupted earlier this year, when his former attorney general said he pressured her to halt the prosecution of a Quebec company.

Trudeau has said he was standing up for jobs. “I don’t think he’s totally negated, but he’s not just the draw, the leader, if you like, that people wanted and expected,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto.

Trudeau’s opponent, Andrew Scheer, is a career politician described by those in his own party as bland, a possible antidote for those tired of Trudeau’s flash.

Scheer, 40, calls Trudeau a phony who can’t even recall how many times he has worn blackface. He is promising to scrap the national carbon tax and cut government spending, including foreign aid, by 25 percent.

But he, too, has had a bumpy ride. He has been criticized for embellishing his resume and for holding dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, as the Globe and Mail newspaper revealed earlier this month.

Trudeau’s father swept to power in 1968 on a wave of “Trudeaumania,” and while he had a scare at the polls when he ran for re-election four years later, he would lead Canada for almost 16 years, becoming a storied name in the country’s history, responsible for opening the door wide to immigration.

Justin Trudeau reasserted the country’s liberal identity in 2015 after almost 10 years of Conservative rule and has been viewed as a beacon of hope for liberals in the Trump era. The Liberal Party leader appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine under the headline “Why Can’t He Be Our President?”

Sensing Trudeau is now in trouble, Barack Obama made an unprecedented endorsement by a former American president, urging Canadians to re-elect Trudeau and describing him as a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change.

Singapore hands down first conviction for terror financing SINGAPORE CITY: A Singaporean man became the first of the country’s citizens to be jailed for financing terrorism after he was convicted of sending money to a radical Muslim preacher.

There have been a steady stream of arrests in Singapore related to support for extremism, and the affluent citystate’s leaders have warned it is a prime target for an attack.

Ahmed Hussein Abdul Kadir Sheik Uduman was jailed for two and a half years for donating Sg$1,146 ($840) to Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, a Muslim preacher living in Jamaica, according to court documents seen by AFP Friday.

Hussein reached out to Faisal after watching videos on his website and YouTube channels in which he preached support for the militant Islamic State (IS) group.

Faisal was jailed for nine years in Britain in 2003 after calling for the murders of non-Muslims and was deported to his native Jamaica after serving four years of his sentence.

Hussein, who was handed a prison term on Thursday, was arrested in July 2018 under Singapore’s Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial for up to two years.

He had been radicalised and “wanted to undertake armed violence in Syria in support of the IS group in Iraq and Syria,” court documents said.

The prosecution recommended jail time to send “a strong message to other likeminded individuals that supporting terrorist propaganda through financial means will attract uncompromising punishment”, they said.

In September, authorities detained three Indonesian maids without trial over allegations they donated funds to support the IS group. And in July, two Singaporeans accused of intending to join the militants were arrested.

The IS group lost the last scrap of its self-declared “caliphate” this year but remains influential. There are fears that foreign fighters returning from the Middle East could rejuvenate terror networks elsewhere, including in Southeast Asia.

Most Singaporeans are ethnic Chinese but the country is also home to a substantial Muslim minority. Agencies

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

buSineSS 11 PLTL annuls LNG terminal agreement with PGPCL pgpcl warns it will ‘immEdiatEly movE For intErnational arbitration in london iF pltl takEs ovEr its Facility’ ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADAni

Pakistan LNG Terminals Limited (PLTL) has terminated the operation and service agreement (OSA) of the LNG re-gasification terminal with Pakistan Gas Port Consortium Limited (PGPCL) for "failing to maintain the OSA requirements", Pakistan Today has learnt. According to sources, PLTL has cancelled the OSA with PGPCL apparently due to non-submission of $15 million worth performance guarantee as per the international credit rating. They said both parties were engaged in the performance guarantee dispute for the past one year. Following the termination of OSA with PGPCL, sources added, PLTL has been making necessary arrangements to take over the LNG regasification terminal of PGPCL. Earlier, a penalty worth $50 million was imposed on PGPCL due to late start of operations at the LNG terminal. According to the PLTL's termination notice issued on 14th October, the company had been seeking 'Adequate Assurance of Performance' from PGPCL since 3rd September 2018, for the sake of continuity of the project. "However, no response was provided in this regard by PGPCL until the issuance date of the notice. Similarly, PGPCL, despite making commitments to provide fresh credit rating and creating a security interest in favour of PLTL worth $15 million on its assets, had failed in meeting its commitments pertaining to the provision of adequate assurance of performance (AAP). "PLTL had given dozens of opportunities to PGPCL to rectify its breach under the OSA with a view to maintain the spirit of cooperation between the parties. On 1st August 2019, PLTL wrote to PGPCL to share a draft of the security instrument for creating a first pari passu charge in favour of PLTL on the fixed assets of PGPCL for a value of $15 million, along with no objection certificates from existing creditors of PGPCL. PLTL once again wrote to PGPCL on 6th September 2019 and asked PGPCL to furnish the AAP. Furthermore, between 17th Sept and 27th Sept, PLTL had exchanged various emails with PGPCL and sought to fulfill commitments. “PGPCL continued to be in default of the OSA by not providing the AAP, as required by PLTL. PGPCL's fixed assets did not have sufficient cushion to provide adequate security in favour of PLTL.” Meanwhile, PGPCL Chief Executive Officer Fasih Ahmed has shared with this scribe a letter which PGPCL had submitted to PLTL on 15th October 2019, a day after the issuance of the termination notice. He said there was a dispute resolution process enshrined in the contract. “We intend to continue to abide by our commitments and obligations under the contract and expect the same from our counterpart.” Responding to PLTL’s termination notice, PGPCL has rejected the contentions of the notice and said both parties, after extended negotiations, had reached an agreement to resolve the dispute and PGPCL shared the final version of the Letter of Hypothecation (LOH) as APP to PLTL on 27th Sept 2019. “The PLTL had unconditionally accepted the PGPCL offer on same date,” it claimed.

PGPCL, in its letter, made it crystal clear that it wanted to serve Pakistan, and avoid casting upon it a burden of damages. “Nevertheless, under the present circumstances, we are constrained to invoke Clause 37 of the OSA for Dispute Resolution. The name of our representative will be relayed to you accordingly. You are therefore called upon to name your representative so as to settle the dispute amicably within a period of 90 days, failing which the matter will be referred to international arbitration under London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Rules for binding settlement of the dispute between the parties.” It also declared that if PLTL will take over PGPCL facility (LNG terminal), then PGPCL will immediately move for international arbitration in London.

ExPErTs sTrEss boLd dECisioNs To AvErT FATF sCArE ISLAMABAD

A

GHUlAM ABBAS

S the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has directed Islamabad to take more measures for the complete elimination of terror financing and money laundering, economists in Pakistan believe that the government would need to bold key political and administrative decisions to come out of the FATF grey list.

FATF on Friday formally announced that Pakistan will remain on its grey list till February 2020.

"It seems the incumbent government has not taken the (FATF) matter seriously," a renowned economist and a former government official said, adding that the government should now take some political and administrative decisions to avoid difficulties at FATF in February 2022.

"I cannot understand the support extended by the US in the FATF issue. The US support, as expected, was apparently not there for Pakistan.

Economists lamEnt rolE playEd by Us in kEEping pakistan in FtaF grEy list Otherwise, Pakistan would have come out of the grey list," he remarked.

Meanwhile, renowned economist and Economic Advisory Council member Dr Ashfaq Hassan said although Pakistan has shown tremendous progress on major FATF conditions, the anti-Pakistan lobby may try to keep Pakistan in the grey list as long as the IMF programme continues.

"Majority of remaining tasks are political in nature. The positive aspect is that both civil and military leaderships are on the same page on the FATF issue," he said. "I hope Pakistan will meet the tasks within the given timeframe. But my apprehension is that the some influential countries

‘Canadian companies mull investments in Pakistan’s energy sector’ ISLAMABAD STAFF RePoRT

Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour said on Friday that Canadian companies are looking forward to investing in Pakistan, especially in its transmission and renewable energy sector.

The high commissioner said this during a meeting with Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood at the Ministry of Commerce.

The two dignitaries expressed their satisfaction over the pace and direction

of bilateral trade, investment and business relations.

The envoy stated that her country was looking forward to having a very productive dialogue with Pakistan in the upcoming meeting of Pakistan-Canada Joint Working Group.

The adviser, while welcoming the overtures of Canadian companies to invest in Pakistan, said that the country has a huge potential of wind energy and is looking forward to generate 10,000MW of energy from renewable resources.

The adviser also apprised the envoy about the

recently announced eCommerce Policy, which is aimed at fully realising the potential of IT professionals in Pakistan.

The high commissioner welcomed the policy, saying that it would give impetus to the rising IT business collaboration between the companies of both sides.

She shared the stories of successful joint ventures of established Canadian IT companies with Pakistan counterparts.

Both sides renewed the assurance to further enhance the economic relations at an accelerated pace.

ISLAMABAD: A vendor displays grapes and pomegranates at his roadside set up. online

like India will force FATF to keep Pakistan under pressure," he added.

Another economist, on the condition of anonymity, blamed the present government for the "FATF debacle".

He said the government's "incompetence" and "lack of seriousness" would build pressure on Pakistan in the next four months.

"If you are not serious, then China, Turkey or Malaysia cannot do anything for you at FATF," he maintained.

However, a former financial official lauded the fact that Pakistan did not fall in the blacklist, but termed the role played by US as "suspicious".

"Instead of helping Pakistan come out of the list, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice G Wells had given a negative statement against Pakistan at the beginning of the FTAF meeting.

"Pakistan needed to fight both on political and diplomatic fronts so as to meet with the remaining conditions of FTAF," he added.

Aramco makes relatively little from foreign refining LONDON AGenCieS

Documents from Saudi Aramco show that the world’s largest oil firm earns only a limited proportion of its profit from foreign refining ventures, an area in which the company plans huge investment. The news comes as Aramco, according to two sources familiar with the matter, has delayed the planned launch of its initial public offering in hopes that pending third-quarter results will bolster investor confidence. A subsidiary that holds Aramco stakes in South Korean refiner S-Oil and Showa Shell of Japan made a net income of $319 million in 2018, accounts seen by Reuters show. Saudi Refining Inc, through which Aramco operates the largest U.S. oil refinery, made $423 million last year, separate accounts showed. The documents, seen by Reuters, do not appear to be in the public domain. The earnings represent a small proportion of Aramco’s $111 billion in net income from 2018. They also illustrate just how profitable Aramco’s core oil-producing business - which pumps about 10pc of the world’s oil actually is. Aramco is making huge investments in overseas downstream operations. With Indian companies and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, it plans to build a giant refinery and petrochemical project that sources say will cost $60 billion. Aramco declined to comment. Selling a stake in Aramco has been a centrepiece of Vision 2030, a plan championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil. Aramco appears to make a small proportion of its profit from refining compared with listed peers. Royal Dutch Shell, for example, earned $7.57 billion from downstream activities in 2018, almost a quarter of its $23.83 billion annual earnings. In 2018, Aramco received revenue of $138.67 billion from its downstream operations and $216.9 billion from upstream, according to the company’s published acccounts. Some analysts say Aramco’s performance is better than that of its listed peers, based on metrics followed by investors in oil companies.

Jason Kenney of Santander said Aramco’s first-half 2019 earnings showed a higher return on capital employed than listed peers and stronger performance on operational yardsticks such as refinery reliability. This highlights “the impressive order of magnitude at which Saudi Aramco is delivering”, he said in a report.

China’s GDP growth grinds to near 30-year low as tariffs hit production BEIJING AGenCieS

China’s third-quarter economic growth slowed more than expected and to its weakest pace in almost three decades as the bruising US trade war hit factory production, boosting the case for Beijing to roll out fresh support.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 6.0pc year-on-year, marking a further loss of momentum for the economy from the second quarter’s 6.2pc growth.

China’s trading partners and investors are closely watching the health of the world’s second-largest economy as the trade war with the United States fuels fears about a global recession.

Asian stocks stumbled after the data,

reversing gains made on the UK and European Union striking a long-awaited Brexit deal. Downbeat Chinese data in recent months has highlighted weaker demand at home and abroad. Still, most analysts say the scope for aggressive stimulus is limited in an economy already saddled with piles of debt following previous easing cycles, which have sent housing prices sharply higher.

Nie Wen, a Shanghai-based economist at Hwabao Trust, pinned the worsethan-expected GDP growth mainly to weakness in export-related industries, especially the manufacturing sector.

“Given exports are unlikely to stage a comeback and a possible slowdown in the property sector, the downward pressure on China’s economy is likely to continue,

with fourth-quarter economic growth expected to slip to 5.9pc,” Nie said. “Authorities will loosen policies, but in a more restrained way.” The third-quarter GDP growth was the slowest since the first quarter of 1992, the earliest quarterly data on record, and missed forecasts for 6.1pc growth in a Reuters poll of analysts. It was also at the bottom end of the government’s full-year target range of 6.0pc-6.5pc.

In a briefing after the GDP data release, Mao Shengyong, a spokesman for China’s statistics bureau, announced Beijing’s plans to bring forward some 2020 special local government bond issuance to this year, in a move to spur regional infrastructure investment.

Even recent signs of a breakthrough in the protracted trade war between Beijing

and Washington are unlikely to change the economic outlook any time soon.

US President Donald Trump said last week the two sides had reached agreement on the first phase of a deal and suspended a tariff hike, but officials warn much work still needed to be done.

A slide in China’s exports accelerated in September while imports contracted for a fifth straight month.

The drags on demand, both domestic and global, have hit several key parts of the economy with weakness seen in freight shipments, factory power generation, employment and entertainment spending. In September, factory gate prices fell at their fastest pace in three years.

Mao from the statistics bureau said there was ample room to change monetary

policy, as rising consumer inflation has been mainly driven by volatile food prices.

The International Monetary Fund has warned the US-China trade war will cut 2019 global growth to its slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, but said output would rebound if their dueling tariffs were removed.

Beijing has relied on a combination of fiscal stimulus and monetary easing to weather the current slowdown, including trillions of yuan in tax cuts and local government bonds to fund infrastructure projects and efforts to spur bank lending.

But the economy has been slow to respond with business confidence shaky and local governments facing increasing strains as tax cuts hit revenues, weighing on investment.

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

12 buSineSS

‘$1.2bN PENALTy iN KArKEy CAsE LiKELy To bE wAivEd’ s BUSINESS DESK

PiA to operate 13 flights on new int’l routes ISLAMABAD inP

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate 13 flights on its new international routes, an official of the national flag carrier said on Friday. He said that two more flight routes from Karachi to Toronto will be functional by the end of this month. "This will bring the airline's total number of flights to Canada to five." Similarly, he stated, an additional seven flights will be added to the Jeddah route, bringing the total number of flights to from Pakistan to Jeddah to 42 per week. The spokesman said that from October 28, there will be two weekly flights between Quetta and Jeddah, while the same number of weekly flights will be operated from Multan to Riyadh and Dubai.

He said that the airline had already resumed flights from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur on October 14, adding that PIA also aims to increase the number of flights from Islamabad to Birmingham. "PIA will start its direct flight operation to the US soon," he added.

China, Pakistan agree to enhance cooperation in fisheries, tourism sectors ISLAMABAD

ENIOR lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan has said that the $1.2 billion penalty that Pakistan has to pay to Turkey’s Karkey rental power plant is likely to be waived, a private media outlet reported.

“International institutions, through highlevel backdoor contacts, have agreed to waive off the penalty. This is very good news for Pakistan,” said Awan while addressing the media on Friday.

“International institutions have shown their trust in Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

Last year, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) had asked Pakistan to pay $760 million along with interest to Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim, the Turkish ship-based energy firm, after it filed arbitration claims against the country under the Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Following the decision, Karkey went to the US, the UK and Germany for enforcing the court’s ruling.

Govt decides to open escrow account in Karkey rental power case Pakistan’s assets abroad were at major risk

Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan has said that the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was progressing satisfactorily, as a lot of challenges related to it have been addressed by the government. "As per Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision, we should deepen the people-topeople contacts, organise cultural exchange programmes and promote tourism and mutual visits between both sides," the secretary said while co-chairing a video conference of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Planning with NDRC Deputy Director General Gao Jian on Friday. CPEC Additional Secretary/Project Director Waqarul Hasan, along with the senior officials from both sides, was also present on the occasion. The planning secretary stated that provision of affordable houses to the masses was among the top priorities of the incumbent government. "In this regard, Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority has been established to fast the track housing projects and leverage the supply-demand gap in the country." Hasan apprised that the government's long-term plan entails the promotion of cross border and coastal tourism, adding that both countries should work together to promote tourism.

The secretary noted that PM Imran Khan, during his recent visit to China, had suggested enhancing fisheries trade between the two countries. "For this purpose, we can enhance cooperation in establishing fish meal factories, vessels monitoring system and fishing traceability to prevent illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing," he stated, adding that oil and gas was another sector where an enhanced focus was required. Both sides agreed that interventions in this sector can be taken up following the finalisation of the oil and gas development plan, which was at an advanced stage of completion. National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) Deputy Director General Gao Jian stressed the need for more exchange programmes pertaining to the training of fishermen. The Chinese side agreed to continue its support to Pakistan in technical and vocational training to develop skilled manpower, including upgrading vocational training institutes, vocational training exchanges, and capacity building of trainers.

of being taken over as security to enforce the international court’s verdict, which could have huge financial implications for the country.

In June 2019, Islamabad had decided to open an escrow account in a European bank for depositing $50 million in partial security while seeking extension of stay in enforcement of the international court’s verdict. Karkey was one of the 12 rental power companies awarded contracts for electricity production by the Pakistan People’s Party-led government in 2009.

The Turkish firm installed a 232-megawatt ship-based rental power plant and signed a rental services agreement in April 2009 under the Rental Power Policy 2008 to produce electricity in collaboration with Lakhra Power Generation Company.

Food imports down 24pc, exports up 14pc in Q1 FY20 BUSINESS DESK

STAFF RePoRT

pti lEadEr says intErnational institUtions, throUgh highlEvEl backdoor contacts, havE agrEEd to waivE oFF thE pEnalty

Food group imports into the country during the first quarter of the current financial year (July-Sept 2019-20) decreased considerably by 24.7pc, whereas exports increased by 13.98pc compared with the corresponding period of last year.

The import of food commodities into the country during the period under review came down from $1.45 billion to $1 billion, whereas the exports increased from $864 million to $984.7 million, according to latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

As per details, food commodities that recorded a decrease in their imports included milk, cream & milk food for infants (-41.8pc), tea (-31pc), palm oil (-25.38pc), sugar (-18pc)

and pulses (-22.3pc).

Meanwhile, the commodities that recorded an increase in their exports included basmati rice (+47.29pc), fruits (+10.2pc), vegetables (+21pc) and tobacco (+269.6pc) respectively.

On the other hand, the commodities that witnessed a decline in their exports included wheat (-88pc), spices (-2.7pc), oilseeds, nuts and kernels (-13.5pc) and sugar (-22.9pc).

On a month-on-month basis, food imports into the country reduced by 1.74pc in Sept 2019 as compared to Aug 2019, whereas it dropped by 21pc when compared with Sept 2018.

Similarly, the food exports during Sept 2019 surged by 21pc to $275 million compared with Aug 2019 and 13pc to $294.9 million as against Sept 2018.

UaE offers pakistan access to its labour market database ISLAMABAD APP

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered Pakistan access to its labour market database, which would help boost export of Pakistani workforce to the former.

The offer was extended by UAE Human Resources Minister Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli during a meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistan and Human Resource Development Syed Zulfikar Bukhari on the sidelines of the 5th Ministerial Session of Abu Dubai Dialogue, said a press statement issued on Friday.

The initiative would provide Pakistan updated information on job opportunities in the

UAE's labour market, besides enabling it to train the workforce as per the market demand.

Zulfikar Bukhari informed his counterpart that Pakistan wanted to integrate a digital platform with the UAE so as to ensure fair, transparent and cost-effective recruitment process.

"Pakistan is ready to link its digital platform with the UAE." Both the sides agreed to activate the joint committee, which was formed for implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed recently to ensure the protection of Pakistani workers' rights and resolving their legal job disputes in the Emirates.

It was also decided to prepare a three-year plan for the recruitment of Pakistani workforce.

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu action against rental power projects, declaring illegal all such agreements signed under the Rental Power Policy 2008.

The apex court also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate investigation into the projects. The anti-corruption watchdog started probe and prevented the powerproducing ship of the Turkish company from leaving Pakistan.

According to NAB, Karkey ship was brought to Karachi Port in April 2011 to provide electricity to the national grid under the Rental Power Policy to overcome the energy crisis. However, it failed to generate 231MW as required under the agreement, although $9 million was paid in advance as capacity charges to its management.

The power plant produced only 30-55MW and that too at a cost of Rs41 per unit, which was a serious breach of the contract.

In April 2019, Laeeq Ahmed Sheikh, the key suspect in the rental power plants case who is in NAB’s custody, confessed to have received kickbacks worth $350,000 for brokering a deal between the government of Pakistan and the Turkish company to address the power shortage in the country.

Penny Appeal CEo Aamer Naeem accused of harassment, misconduct BUSINESS DESK Leading British Muslim charity Penny Appeal’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aamer Naeem OBE has been accused of "bullying, harassment and intimidation" by a number of senior executives. Sources at the Wakefield-based charity told a private media outlet that a number of senior members of the charity have launched extraordinary complaints that Aamer Naeem allegedly presided over campaigns of targeted harassment, including attempts to literally drive people out of the organisation in a bid to cover his own leadership failings. One of the complaints includes details of how one female member of staff was reduced to tears and humiliation on numerous occasions, said a trusted source at the charity. Penny Appeal has been in news recently after its founder Adeem Younis was suspended in what some sources have described as an orchestrated coup to take power and control of one of the fastest growing Muslim charities in Britain. The founder of the charity and serial entrepreneur Adeem Younis was told at the airport, as he landed back from a successful charity campaign with Pakistani Alister Mehwish Hayat and Dragons’ Dens star James Caan that he was subject to a suspension.

Adeem Younis was in Pakistan for ten days on behalf of the Penny Appeal for the charitable projects of the charity near Rawalpindi. Locks of the charity’s headquarters were changed, IT servers were removed which brought the work of the charity to a standstill for a number of weeks and full time security guards were hired to guard the building to prevent anyone unauthorised from entering the building. This reporter has seen leaked correspondence in which a female employee has accused that the CEO and his associates of an “orchestrated takeover of the organisation in order to protect his own failures”.

MARKET DAILY

KSe-100 falls flat amid volatility KARACHI STAFF RePoRT

After trading in the green zone for a brief period, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) fell in the grip of bears on Friday, following the official announcement made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that Pakistan will remain on the grey list until next February.

The FATF has strongly urged Pakistan to swiftly complete its action plan

by February 2020. Should significant and

sustainable progress was not made across the full range of its action plan by the next plenary meeting, the FATF would take the due action (blacklisting Pakistan).

The KSE-100 Index gained 197.83 points to mark an intraday high of 34,096.39. The index then lost its momentum and reached its intraday low at 33,667.80 after shedding 230.76 points.

However, it managed to recover some losses and ended the session down by 28.41 points at 33,870.15.

The KMI-30 Index fell 389.40

points to end at 54,589.47, while the KSE All Share Index declined by 136.16 points, settling at 24,453.83. Out of the total traded shares, 132 advanced and 182 declined.

The overall trading volumes fell from 137.99 million in the previous session to 114.99 million. Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited (LOTCHEM -3.13pc) topped the volume chart with 18.39 million shares exchanging hands, followed by Engro Fertilizer Limited (EFERT +4.44pc) with 7.82 million traded shares. The company

announced its financial performance for the third quarter of FY19, along with an interim cash dividend of Rs6.

EFERT's sales increased by 8pc to Rs18.54 billion as compared to the same period last year; other income jumped by 49pc while finance cost surged by 87pc on a yearly basis. The earnings per share for the third quarter stood at Rs3.53 while cumulative EPS was recorded at Rs9.90.

Sectors that pulled the index in the red zone included banking (-51.59 points), tobacco (-37.47 points) and

chemical (-12.50 points), whereas fertiliser (+104.31 points), investment banking (+5.55 points) and food and personal care products (+5.02 points) remained unsuccessful in helping the index improve.

Philip Morris Pakistan Limited (PMPK -5.00pc) announced an EPS of Rs-12.70 for 3QFY19 (Rs2.55 in 3QFY18), Bank AlFalah Limited (BAFL -0.69pc) posted an EPS of Rs1.71 (Rs1.61 in 3QFY18) and International Industries Limited (INIL -4.99pc) declared an EPS of Rs-0.91 (Rs6.09 in 3QFY18).

How a small piece of cake sHattered tHe eartH.

cake, a comedy sHort film about love in Hate by kaHani saaz!

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

How can a small piece of cake cause world war III? How can a small piece of cake change the course of history?

How can a small piece of cake break the socio, economic, political fabric of society?

The answer lies in KahaniSaaz’s latest release CAKE, a comedy short film about a couple fighting over a slice of cake. But it’s not just a comedy. It’s not even a typical love story.

It’s a love hate story.

The short movie follows the story of a couple who are so fed up of each other that even the smallest of glitch creates havoc. It wages war in the house followed by useless arguments that get serious in the end. But despite that the two get emotional in the end patch up again.

Cake is a short film about love in hate. It is a story of every couple. Couples, who could fight like animals but still the soft corner that they have for each other brings them back together again.

Released on the last, Cake is actually the very first production of KahaniSaaz, taking us back to the humble beginnings.

The film stars Affan-ul-Haq as Ahmer, Fatima Asad as Gazal and Ayesha Farhan Baig as Sharmeen. This is Ayesha’s acting debut while

Octopuses lay 56,000 eggs at a time The mother spends six months so devoted to protecting the eggs that she doesn’t eat. The babies are the size of a grain of rice when they’re born.

Fatima and Affan already gave their first appearance as actors with KahaniSaaz. Fatima appeared in Jahaaz as Rani and Affan in Asmaan Ka Batwaara as Jugnu.

The script of the film Cake is written by three people this time; Naveed Akbar, Fatima Asad and Affan-ul-Haq. And cinematography is done by Rashid Raja.

While the script is entertaining and engaging, the production quality is low as compared to what KahaniSaaz has given to us so far (beautiful cinematography and crisp editing).

Something not to be expected of them but the production flaws can be overlooked easily because of the promising script that keeps us hooked till the end.

The film starts with Gazal having a video chat with her friend Sharmeen, while her husband Ahmer is just loitering around. Sometimes he is fixing something in the house, sometimes watching TV, just to pass his time.

While Gazal is immersed in conversation with Sharmeen, Ahmer goes to the kitchen and spots a slice of cake in the fridge. Then what?

He satisfies his sweet tooth unaware of the trouble he has gotten himself into.

Who would have thought that eating a small piece of cake could bring somebody into a battlefield? And this is precisely what happens when Gazal finds out that her cake is missing from the refrigerator. And so begins the battle started by the infuriated wife who is not ready to forgive her husband over a slice

of cake.

And what makes the story more hilarious, entertaining and fun to watch is the character of Sharmeen. She is watching the entire conversation from her computer screen and fueling the fight. We all have a Sharmeen in our lives.

So if you are hungry or want to satisfy your sweet tooth, go ahead and satisfy your cravings. But don’t you dare eat your wife’s food.

It’s a trap! Don’t eat it! And if you still want to, beware of the consequences. Just like Adam was lulled into eating the forbidden apple, and faced the consequences, so can you. If you dare do, she would come running after you with the plate, ready to smash it on your face.

Cats have fewer toes on their back paws Like most four-legged mammals, they have five toes on the front, but their back paws only have four toes.

Scientists think the four-toe back paws might help them run faster. Do you know any other fun facts about cats?

Kleenex tissues were originally intended for gas masks When there was a cotton shortage during World War I, Kimberly-Clark developed a thin, flat cotton substitute that the army tried to use as a filter in gas masks. The war ended before scientists perfected the material for gas masks, so the company redeveloped it to be smoother and softer, then marketed Kleenex as facial tissue instead.

Aquaman 2 Films Next Year; WB Loved Jason Momoa's Pitch

The Batman: Seinfeld's Jason Alexander Wants To Play Penguin

Indian 2 crew heads to Bhopal, Rs 40 crore action sequence to be shot

Warner Bros. is gearing up Aquaman 2 to film next year where Jason Momoa offers the studio loved his pitch for the sequel.

Esquire offers that Momoa will start filming on Aquaman 2 some time next year which will see the actor more actively involved with the creative team that is in development on the movie.

“I came in with a big pitch,” he said. “I came in with the whole thing mapped out, and they loved it.”

It's also revealed that Jason Momoa signed a four-picture deal, as Momoa was excited to be tackling a superhero who defends the oceans.

“I signed that, what, five years ago? And they’re like, ‘You’re not doing anything? We’re going to make you sign a four-picture deal,’” Momoa said. “Like, you’re going to do all of those and they get you. You know what I mean?”

Momoa actually first pitched his vision for the sequel while filming the first movie as he told Total Film: "I definitely have an opinion. Even when we were shooting Aquaman, I have the opening of Aquaman 2 ready."

With Jonah Hill no longer in talks for a villain role in The Batman, Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander says he wants to play Penguin.

"Ok, Jonah Hill passed. Clearly the next move for Penguin has to be someone familiar with marine biology. Ahem," The 60-year-old actor tweeted.

Jason Alexander is referencing the classic Seinfeld episode, "The Marine Biologist," which sees his character, George Costanza, pretend to be a marine biologist in order to impress and woo a woman. While at the beach George is called upon to save a beached whale, which he does by clearing an obstruction - Kramer's golfball - from its blowhole. Upon confessing to the woman he really isn't a marine biologist, she dumps him.

Earlier also saw the news that following Jonah Hill no longer being in talks for a villain role in The Batman that director Matt Reeves has cast Paul Dano as Riddler. Reportedly, Hill was in talks for either Penguin or the Riddler, so now just Penguin needs to be cast, which looks to happen soon as it has been said Reeves is already looking at actors.

The shoot of Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 has now shifted to Bhopal where the makers are all set to shoot a massive action sequence on a budget of Rs 40 crore, reliable sources have said.

National award-winning Peter Hein, who has previously worked with filmmaker Shankar in Enthiran and I, has been brought on board to oversee this action sequence. “It’s going to be a massive action sequence. The team has roped in 2000 junior artistes for this major sequence and Peter Hein has been brought on board to oversee and execute the action scene.

Kamal Haasan is expected to join the sets shortly to begin shooting for this sequence. This schedule will last for 25 days, a source from the film’s unit told Hindustan Times.

Indian 2, a sequel to 1992 Tamil blockbuster Indian, marks the reunion of Haasan and Shankar after two decades. It also stars also stars Siddharth, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh and Priya Bhavani Shankar among others.

Recently, reports emerged that Anil Kapoor has been signed as the antagonist. An official announcement is yet awaited.

CMYK

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

14 SpOrtS

LiverpooL eye More MiSery For MAn Utd AS MAn City, SpUrS Seek FreSh StArt LONDON

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Agencies

IVERPOOL can rub more salt into Manchester United wounds with a first victory at Old Trafford in five years on Sunday, while Manchester City will try to haul themselves back onto the leader’s coattails with victory at Crystal Palace.

Just eight games into the season, 15 points separates Liverpool at the top of the table from United down in 12th.

The European champions have shot into an eight-point lead even over their closest challengers in City, thanks to a run of 17 straight Premier League wins stretching back to last season.

By contrast, United have won just two of their last 13 league games.

Injury problems that have contributed to the Red Devils’ early season struggles have struck again with influential duo Paul Pogba and David de Gea absent.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on his players to rise to the occasion of a clash between the two most successful sides in English football history.

“I always look at the next game as a chance. The Liverpool game is a great chance for us to go the other way,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“It’s in my nature to think of the best-case scenario. I know the fans

and the players will be up for it.

“We need to step up to the plate, and these are the big games that you sign up for at Man United – you have to show your quality.”

Jurgen Klopp celebrated his fourth anniversary at Anfield earlier this week, but for all the German’s achievements in transforming Liverpool’s fortunes, he his yet to taste victory at Old Trafford.

Liverpool have not won on their past six visits to United and left-back Andy Robertson warned that form will not count for much given the historical rivalry between the sides.

“I don’t think it matters what your form is like in these games. It doesn’t matter that we’ve won eight on the bounce and they’re struggling.

It’s Man Utd v Liverpool,” said the Scotland captain.

“It’s genuinely a different atmosphere when you play against them.”

In contrast to United’s misfortune, Liverpool have been handed an injury boost with the news Joel Matip is fit to return at centre-back, but Mohamed Salah remains a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in a 21 win over Leicester before the international break.

DE BRUyNE BOOSt fOR City: City must bounce back to winning ways after a shock 2-0 home defeat to Wolves two weeks ago to at least apply some pressure on Liverpool when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The champions badly missed

Kevin de Bruyne a fortnight ago and should have the Belgian international back from a groin strain as they look to become the first visiting side to win at Selhurst Park this season.

City have scored 25 goals in the six Premier League games De Bruyne has started this season, but been beaten in two matches he has not.

Palace have confounded pre-season predictions to sit level with fourth-placed Leicester and Chelsea on 14 points.

Tottenham happy to welcome Watford The international break may have come at the right time for Tottenham after a 3-0 thrashing at Brighton followed a humiliating 7-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Spurs have won just three of their opening 11 games in all competitions, but the visit of Watford this weekend could offer some blessed relief for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

The Hornets are the only side yet to win in the league this season and sit rock bottom of the table having conceded 20 goals in their opening eight games.

“We need to start believing in ourselves again. We have the quality in the squad and can fight for everything,” said Pochettino.

“We are still there, we have one point more than last season in the Champions League and we are three points from the top four.”

Barcelona, Madrid Clasico postponed over Catalonia protests MADRID Agencies

The Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Spain’s biggest football match, has been postponed due to protests in Catalonia, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Friday.

The two clubs have until 10:00am (0800 GMT) on Monday to find a new date, which will be decided by the RFEF if they cannot reach an agreement.

The original fixture was due to take place at Barca’s Camp Nou on October 26.

“FC Barcelona and Real Madrid must agree on the new date of the meeting before October 21,” an RFEF statement read.

“In case of not reaching an agreement, the Competition Committee will be responsible for determining the date of the meeting.”

Two dates reportedly being considered are Wednesday, December 18, when other Spanish teams are involved in the Copa del Rey, and Saturday, December 7.

The Clasico was set to be Barcelona’s first home game since nine pro-independence leaders were sentenced to imprisonment on Monday for their role in the illegal referendum over Catalan independence in 2017.

The ruling has sparked violent demonstrations across the city and there were fears protestors would use the match against Madrid to stage further acts of unrest.

Barcelona’s football club, which is regarded as a symbol of Catalanism, responded on Monday with a statement insisting “prison sentences are not the solution”.

La Liga then proposed to the RFEF that the venue of the Clasico be changed from Camp Nou to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu but neither club were keen to accept the switch.

“The RFEF agrees to dismiss the request made by La Liga in relation to reversing the order of the matches played between Barcelona and Real Madrid,” the statement added.

Instead, it has been decided that a change of date is necessary due to what the RFEF described as “exceptional circumstances”.

After the Catalan independence referendum in 2017, Barcelona played a league match against Las Palmas behind closed doors in protest, after their request for a postponement was rejected.

Barca play away at Eibar in La Liga on Saturday and planned to make the 589-kilometre journey by bus to avoid demonstrations at El Prat airport. Real Madrid also play on Saturday, away at Real Mallorca.

Champion Marquez begins 2020 build-up in Japan TOKYO Agencies

With his sixth MotoGP world title already secured, Marc Marquez will head into this weekend’s Japanese race already planning for next season where he will aim to close in on Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record of eight elite level championships. Spain’s Marquez claimed his sixth MotoGP crown in seven seasons last time out in Thailand, with four races to spare, and eighth overall. A race victory on Sunday would be his 10th of the season but the 26-year-old Honda rider is already thinking of next year where another title would take him level with Valentino Rossi, who won the last of his seven world championships in 2009, one back from Agostini, whose record eighth came in 1975. “The target now is to win the ‘Triple Crown’,” said Marquez. “The constructors championship is there but the team championship will be difficult, we’ll never give up. 2020 starts in Motegi.”

Marquez clocked the third fastest time in free practice on Friday. “Today was not the best day for us,” he said.

“But anyway we did a great job.” His focus on next year comes as a consequence of the pressure being applied by fast-improving French rookie Fabio Quartararo. The Petronas Yamaha rider has suffered two narrow defeats to the world champion in recent races with victory only decided on the closing laps. “I didn’t expect this guy,” Marquez said of Quartararo. “He will be a very tough contender next year for the championship.” The 20-yearold Frenchman, who has had four pole positions and five podium slots so far, posted Friday’s fastest lap. “I’m quite happy but for sure we have to improve,” Quartararo said, with rain forecast in the region for Saturday’s qualifying session. Quartararo’s rookie season has seen him climb to seventh in the rankings, and in the second half of the season he has emerged as Marquez’s biggest rival. Behind Marquez all riders down to Quartararo are still in with a chance of the runners up position for the 2019 season. However, Ducati’s 33-year-old Andrea Dovizioso, who won in Japan in 2017, can seal second place on Sunday. “I’m expecting to deliver a big performance, it’s a stop-start kind of course with fast acceleration key and our machine likes that even if some of the bends suit other bikes,” said Dovizioso, who was 125cc champion back in 2004 but never yet won the title in the top category.

The season wraps up with a 21st race at Valencia in midNovember after visits to Australia and Malaysia.

Former South Africa batsman gets five years in jail JOHANNESBURG: Gulam Bodi, who played three limited-overs internationals for South Africa, was sentenced to five years in jail Friday after pleading guilty to eight charges of corruption. The batsman had been banned for 20 years by national body Cricket South Africa (CSA) for his role in attempting to fix or influence matches in a 2015 domestic T20 competition.

CSA said no fixtures were affected as the plans of Bodi and other would-be conspirators were foiled. Bodi handed himself over to the police last year and was sentenced by a commercial crimes court in Pretoria after multiple postponements. He will appeal the sentence and seek an extension of his 3,000 rand ($202/182 euros) bail. Agencies

French concussion rules would have sidelined Biggar, says Brunel OITA Agencies

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar would have been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final with France under French concussion rules, Les Bleus coach Jacques Brunel said on Friday.

Brunel was speaking after Biggar was named by Warren Gatland in the Wales side to take on France in Oita on Sunday, having been declared fit after a second head injury at the tournament in Japan.

“Everyone takes their responsibilities,” said Brunel when naming his France side for the last-eight match.

“If it had been the French Top 14, sustaining two concussions automatically means three weeks out with the protocol that is applied there.

“So he wouldn’t have been able to play. That’s all I have to say about that.”

The Welsh Rugby Union had earlier stressed that Biggar was “symptom-free” and had been cleared by an independent expert after passing return-to-play protocols.

The 30-year-old failed a head injury assessment after taking a blow in Wales’s win over Australia on September, but was passed to play against Fiji 10 days later.

However, he suffered a nasty aerial collision with team-mate Liam Williams during the game in Oita and had to leave the field once again.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said Biggar “felt better after the (Fiji) game, it was clear” and the “right people” had been consulted to get him properly scanned and assessed.

“We feel that we’ve gone through that due diligence and making sure we’ve covered all the bases in terms of Dan,” Gatland said.

“He’s obviously done all the proto-

cols and been fit for three or four days in terms of having passed those so we are obviously taking all the proper precautions from our point of view.”

“He’s desperate as a player to play,” Gatland said, adding that the Wales management had previously dealt with multiple-concussion cases, including a 2015 controversy involving winger George North.

“We’ve just got to make sure if it does happen, if he gets a knock in the next few games or the next couple of months, obviously there would probably be a different course of action. But he’s very confident that he’s 100 percent,” Gatland said.

Concussion has become a major issue in several sports including rugby, and prompted a crackdown on high tackles which has resulted in a rash of red cards at the World Cup.

CMYK

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

SpOrtS 15

SArFrAz reMoved AS CAptAin AZHAR TAKES REIN OF TEST SIDE, AZAM TO LEAD IN T20

LAHORE: New skipper Azhar Ali addresses press conferece. ZubAir MAhfooZ

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SPORTS DESK

HE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Sarfaraz Ahmed as skipper in the Test and Twenty20 formats due to “drop in the overall form”, a press release issued by the cricketing body said on Friday.

Sarfraz has also been dropped from both the Test and T20 sides.

Azhar Ali will replace the wicket-keeper batsman to captain the team in the upcoming Tests against Australia as well as the World Test Championship in the 2019-20 season.

Similarly, Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in

T20 matches against Australia and until the 2020 T20 World Cup, which is a year away.

Reportedly, the decision on vice-captaincy will be made closer to the series, whilst captaincy for the ODIs will be finalised in due course as the national team’s next assignment is scheduled from 49 July 2020 against the Netherlands in Amstelveen.

Delighted with the new responsibility, Azhar Ali said, “There is no bigger honour than to captain the Pakistan national cricket team in the pinnacle format of the game”.

Azam said that he will carry forward the legacy of his predecessor under whom the team achieved the top spot and help the team evolve

into a “powerful side”.

“It is my responsibility to take forward Sarfaraz Ahmed’s accomplishments in T20Is so that we remain a consistent, attractive and powerful side,” he said.

The outgoing skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed said he was honoured to lead the side at the highest level.

He also wished the new captains well for the future assignments.

“It has been an honour to lead Pakistan at the highest level. I want to thank all my colleagues, coaches and selectors who have helped me in this journey. My good wishes are with Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team, and I hope they will continue to grow stronger and stronger,” Sarfaraz said.

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, who approved the appointments, said: “I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam on their elevations to the most coveted and prestigious jobs in cricket.

It is a reward for their continued hard work in strive for excellence and I am sure they, like their predecessors, will make the country proud with their performance, leadership and sportsmanship.

“It has been a difficult decision to drop Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has performed well as a player and a leader. But, his loss in form and confidence is visible and, in the best interest of the team, it has been decided to leave him out and provide him with the opportunity to reflect and regroup himself and try to reclaim his form away from international cricket.”

“Sarfaraz Ahmed’s contributions are second to none and being the gutsy cricketer and fighter that we all know he is, I have no doubts he will be back in Pakistan colours at some stage.”

Liverpool match can spark Man Utd revival, says Solskjaer LONDON Agencies

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the visit of rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday could help galvanize his struggling side to pull themselves out of their alarming slump.

The difference in current fortunes between English football’s two most successful clubs could not be greater, with Liverpool top of the table after eight wins out of eight.

The European champions are also on a run of 17 consecutive league victories, while United have made their worst start to a season for 30 years.

If results go against them on Saturday, United could even be teetering just above the relegation zone by the time they kick off on Sunday, but Solskjaer is bullish.

“They’re doing well in the league that’s for sure but we’re looking forward to this game,” said the Norwegian on Friday.

“This is a perfect game for the players and the fans. We’ve had a tough time and a difficult time lately but I am sure we will give them a

good game.”

United have just nine points from their first eight league matches of this season and are currently 12th in the table.

Stretching back to Solskjaer’s permanent appointment in March, they have won only five games out of 21 in all competitions.

It is far below expectations, which the manager knows, but he believes that the work going on be-

hind the scenes will pay dividends eventually.

“We have come a long way on what you call the culture and environment that we are working in. That is positive,” added Solskjaer, who said the mood around the club had changed from the final days under Jose Mourinho last season.

“At times last season I didn’t feel the players had the robustness or the mentality. But from the culture I

am seeing every day and the attitude in training, the players want to give everything.

“The staff and players know when it’s Liverpool coming up.

When you sign for Manchester United, this is the first game you look for against one of the main rivals.

“And it’s a chance as I did, a couple of times, to get in the history books.”

Solskjaer’s comments came after executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward revealed his backing for the manager.

Woodward praised Solskjaer for installing more “discipline” into the squad as well as his faith in young players.

And Solskjaer admitted that longterm improvements could mean some tough decisions in the short term.

“I speak to Ed loads of times and we do have a plan,” he said.

“We have made some decisions that in the short-term would harm us but in the long-term would benefit us and that is all part of the plan.

“Results are always the main thing and we can move forward quicker with results and performances. But I am sure we will get there.”

Five more held over racist abuse at england match in Bulgaria SOfiA: Five more Bulgarian football fans were detained for taking part in racist abuse at a Euro 2020 qualifier against England that sparked a storm of protest, the interior ministry announced Friday.

Monkey chants and apparent Nazi salutes during Monday’s match in Sofia overshadowed England’s 6-0 win, sparking indignation in the football world and leading to the resignation of Bulgaria’s football chief.

Police have now identified 16 people suspected of being involved in the racist abuse, the ministry said.

“Five more men implicated in the abusive actions were detained this morning… Police continues work to track down five more to detain them,” the ministry said. A Bulgarian teenager was already indicted Wednesday for “grave hooliganism”, risking a jail sentence of up to five years, while five others, including one who is underage, were handed fines and bans from sports events. Monday’s game was halted twice during the first half due to the abuse but England players decided to complete the match instead of walking off the pitch.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov alike condemned the incident. Under pressure from Borisov, Bulgaria’s football federation chief Borislav Mihaylov tendered his resignation, which will be discussed at an executive committee meeting of the organisation later Friday.

Bulgaria’s national team coach Krasimir Balakov, who also came under fire for his squad’s poor performace, has issued an apology to England fans. UEFA has opened disciplinary procedures against both Bulgaria and England for their fans’ behaviour during the game.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino also pressed Thursday for a worldwide ban on spectators who abuse black footballers. A total of 48 football fans have been subjected to one or two year bans from attending sports events in Bulgaria and abroad, fines and community work since the beginning of this year, the EU member’s police statistics show. stAff report

transgender cyclist defends her right to compete in women´s sport LONDON: Transgender cyclist Rachel McKinnon has defended her right to compete in women´s sport despite accepting trans athletes may retain a physical advantage over their rivals. The Canadian is aware of the reported findings of a study by Sweden´s Karolinska Institute that indicates testosterone suppression for transgender women has limited effect on reducing muscle strength.

But McKinnon, defending her sprint title at the Masters Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester this weekend, told Sky News it was a human right for transgender women to take part in competitive sport.

"All my medical records say female," she said. "My doctor treats me as a female person, my racing licence says female, but people who oppose my existence still want to think of me as male. "There´s a stereotype that men are always stronger than women, so people think there is an unfair advantage. By preventing trans women from competing or requiring them to take medication, you´re denying their human rights."

McKinnon acknowledged that it was possible that transgender women retained a physical advantage over other competitors. Agencies

South Africa's Du plessis looks to 'bat big' in final test PUNE Agencies

Skipper Faf du Plessis hopes to “bat big” as South Africa look to salvage some honour in their final game against India starting Saturday.

India outclassed the visitors in the first two Tests, sealing the series last Sunday 2-0 with a crushing victory by an innings and 137 runs inside four days.

The Proteas had to play catch-up in both games after losing the toss and allowing India to amass monster first-innings totals of 502 in Visakhapatnam and 601 in Pune.

Du Plessis, heading a young side after Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn hung up their boots, has had a respectable series with one 55 and one 64 but now wants to kick on to three figures.

“The fact that I have done it (scored 50) twice already this series, there is no reason for me not to go and get a big one,” he told reporters.

“That’s a challenge for myself because I understand that sixties is not going to win Test matches for us. I need to bat big like the Indian team has done and score big runs.”

Opening batsman Dean Elgar has been the only standout South Africa performer with his 160 in the first match.

Du Plessis said his side needed to change its mentality to compete against the hosts.

“How can the batsman be hungry for big runs? From the bowling point of view how can we get 20 wickets? We haven’t done that this series,” he said.

“If we do those things, we will compete with India.”

Despite having lost the series, du Plessis said the Ranchi game was still im-

CMYK

portant as points in the new ICC World Test Championship were still up for

grabs.

India consolidated their number one position in the championship table after collecting 80 points from their first two Test wins. The Proteas are in a lowly seventh place.

South Africa were dealt a blow ahead of the final Test after Aiden Markram was ruled out after injuring his wrist lashing out at a “solid object” in Pune.

The incident happened “in frustration” after Markram, who has apologised to the rest of the team, was out for his second duck of the second Test in Pune.

But Du Plessis was guarded on what Markram’s absence meant for the Proteas’ line-up.

“Don’t want to give away too much.

We are a making a few changes to the side. The batting order will change,” du Plessis said.

Saturday, 19 October, 2019

NEWS

PML-N to fuLLy ParticiPate iN azadi March, Shehbaz aSSureS fazL JUI-F CHIEF SAYS NO TALKS WITH GOVT UNTIL PM IMRAN RESIGNS LAHORE

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stAff RepoRt

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Friday put all rumours regarding his reluctance to join the anti-government march to rest, as he announced his party’s complete support for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Azadi March.

Speaking to media persons after

Senate body to fix responsibility for undeclared media censorship

meeting Fazl, Shehbaz said that a massive rally will be held in Islamabad on October 31 to present a joint list of demands by the opposition.

He reiterated the demand for snap elections, claiming that if elected into power, the PML-N will bring the economy on the right track within six months.

“Despite the support that [Prime Minister] Imran Khan enjoys, he has failed the country and is placing the burden of his failures on the shoulders of our institutions,” he said, adding that “if even the most far gone of governments had received just 25 per cent of the support Imran Khan has received, then Pakistan would have been soaring high in the skies of progress”.

“From Karachi to Peshawar, the entire nation is in agreement that this government should go home and as soon as

possible, fresh elections should take place,” said Shehbaz. “I have the utmost respect for Maulana […] we have received instructions for the Azadi March he has set out on, from Mian Nawaz, our quaid, in a letter.

“On October 31, we will ensure our full participation in the march and we will be there in Islamabad to welcome him. We will hold a massive rally to voice our demands and will decide on the next course of action then,” said the PML-N president.

Shehbaz said that it is not just him, but “the whole of Pakistan that stands in agreement with [Fazlur Rehman] over the fact that [under] the selected government and selected prime minister, [the country has witnessed] in the past year, the worst performance in all fields whether it is education or health”.

Speaking to media, Fazl said the JUIF has “decided to enter the federal capital on October 31 so that nearby caravans and far away caravans can both enter as one”. He said all future decisions will be made in joint consultation with the opposition parties, as he thanked for expressing their complete support for participation in this march.

The JUI-F chief reiterated his party’s stance of the incumbent government being “illegally appointed” and “incompetent”.

“This can be garnered from their conversations and mannerisms in which on the one hand they can be seen forming committees for negotiations and on the other, they bad-mouth us,” said Rehman.

“Holding talks before handing in a resignation, in our eyes, holds no meaning,” said the JUI-F chief.

Furthermore, Shehbaz said October 27 will be observed in complete solidarity with Kashmiris.

He also rejected the “oft-repeated mantra by the government” that the economy was left in dire straights by the PML-N government. “The economy was in a very healthy state when the PTI government came into power,” he insisted.

“We will work hard day and night for the elimination of unemployment, poverty and illness the way we did for a dengue outbreak, the way we installed power plants under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. The way we took Pakistan to new heights, we will do so once more.

“This is our only consideration.

This government has destroyed Pakistan and we [have what it takes] to have Pakistan up on its feet once again,” declared Shehbaz.

Pakistan denies entry to CPJ official HRCP AND AMNESTY ‘DISAPPOINTED’ BY GOVERNMENT DECISION TO DEPORT BUTLER, SEEK REVALUATION

ISLAMABAD

KARACHI

stAff RepoRt

Agencies

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Friday formed a subpanel to fix responsibility for the undeclared censorship imposed on Pakistan’s media. In the meeting, chaired by Senator Mustafa Khokar, the senators noted that there was sufficient evidence to infer that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) chairman and officials acted beyond their mandate and violated Article 19 of the Constitution. The sub-committee has been tasked to specifically investigate, fix responsibility and determine whether; (a) the PEMRA chairman is guilty of misconduct in light of Section 7 of the PEMRA Ordinance, (b) whether PEMRA officials are also guilty of misconduct and should be proceeded against for complying and implementing illegal orders. The sub-committee has been given a months’ time to submit the report. The Senate committee has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to assist the sub-committee in every way, including forensics of phone records of PEMRA officials to determine how illegal orders were received, issued, and implemented. The committee stressed that the findings should then be circulated by media organisations and journalists, along with the information that the Senate Human Rights Committee took notice and constituted a sub-committee. It added that any future harassment or illegal orders by PEMRA should be reported to the senate sub-panel immediately. The senate committee underscored that the Parliament must rise to the occasion in the present environment to address the concerns. “No true democracy can thrive or function or even be called a democracy without a free press and freedom to express one’s opinion on matters not only political in nature but also otherwise.” It noted that the framers of Pakistan’s Constitution recognised freedom of speech as a fundamental right [Article 19] with the intent to safeguard the right categorically through Article 8 – that declares void laws inconsistent with fundamental rights. Keeping the Constitution on the forefront, the Senate committee has confronted the matter of PEMRA being used as a vehicle to undermine the implementation of the Constitution. Furthermore, the human rights committee pondered writing to Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa requesting the Supreme Court’s intervention to safeguard Article 19 of the Constitution.

Noting that the top judge had also expressed concern over media censorship, the committee said CJP Khosa was of the view that “such loss of political space may not augur well for the future of the country as a constitutional democracy”.

Authorities at Lahore airport denied entry to the Asia Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), saying his name was on blacklist managed by the Ministry of Interior, a statement from the New York-based organisation said on Friday.

An immigration officer at Lahore’s international airport told Steven Butler that his journalist visa was valid, but it was voided because his name was “on a stop list of the Interior Ministry”, the CPJ statement quoted Butler as saying.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Ministry did not respond to Reuters calls seeking comment.

Butler had traveled to Lahore to

participate in the Asma Jahangir Conference–Roadmap for Human Rights in Pakistan, an event named after a Pakistani lawyer and rights activist who died last year.

Pakistan’s press has had a turbulent relationship with successive governments and the powerful military over many years. Some in the media complained of a severe crackdown in the run-up to the 2018 general election that saw Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI party sweep to power.

The CPJ has been critical of what it says are government moves to curb press freedom in Pakistan and has been issuing statement’s demanding an end to a crackdown on the media.

Airport authorities at Allama Iqbal International Airport confiscated Steven

Butler’s passport and put him on a flight to Doha, Qatar, The CPJ said. When he arrived in Doha, he was placed on a flight to Washington D.C. Butler, who communicated with the CJP while in-flight, said he was in a kind of “restricted custody”, with the flight crew in possession of his passport and boarding pass, said the CPJ.

Fighting in Kurdish-held Syrian town despite cease-fire CEYLANPINAR Agencies

Fighting continued Friday morning in a northeast Syrian border town at the center of the fight between Turkey and Kurdish forces, despite a U.S.-brokered cease-fire that went into effect overnight.

Shelling and gunfire could be heard in and around Ras al-Ayn as smoke billowed from locations near the border with Turkey and the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar. The fighting died down by mid-morning while smoke continued to rise.

Elsewhere along the border calm seemed to prevail, with no fighting heard along the border from Ras al-Ayn to Tal Abyad, a Syrian border town about 100 kilometers to the west.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported intermittent clashes in Ras al-Ayn but relative calm elsewhere since Thursday night, when Turkey and the U.S. agreed to a five-day cease-fire to halt the Turkish offensive against Kurdish-led forces in the region.

The agreement — reached after hours of negotiations in Turkey’s capital of Ankara between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence — requires the Kurdish

Turkey-led strikes kill 14 civilians ANKARA: Turkish-led bombardment on Friday killed 1 14 civilians in northeastern Syria, as Turkey’s president threatened to broaden his assault and an hours-old USbrokered deal already appeared to crumble. A war monitor said Turkish airstrikes and mortar fire by its Syrian proxies killed 14 1 civilians, appearing to dash the ceasefire announced late Thursday. That deal was meant to provide a five-day pause for the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from the battleground border town of Ras al-Ain and other areas Turkey wants to control along its border with Syria. “If the promises are kept until Tuesday evening, the safe zone issue will be resolved,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. “If it fails, the operation … will start the minute 1 120 hours are over,” he said. The suspension looked designed to help Turkey achieve its main territorial goals without fighting, but its Syrian proxies continued to clash with Kurdish fighters on Friday. Agencies

fighters to vacate a swath of territory in Syria along the Turkish border. That arrangement would largely solidify the position Turkey has gained after days of fighting.

The shelling Friday came even after the commander of Kurdish-led forces in Syria, Mazloum Abdi, told Kurdish TV late on Thursday: “We will do whatever we can for the success of the cease-fire agreement.” But one Kurdish official, Razan Hiddo, declared that the Kurdish people would refuse to live under Turkish occupation.

Kurdish fighters have already been driven out of much, but not all, of a swath of territory that stretches about 100 kilometers (60 miles) along the middle of the SyrianTurkish border, between Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad.

But Kurdish forces are still entrenched in Ras al-Ayn, where on Thursday they had been fiercely battling Turkish-backed Syrian fighters trying to take the town.

Whether the Kurdish fighters pull out of Ras al-Ayn will likely be an early test of the accord.

“The Pakistani authorities’ move to block Steven Butler from entering the country is baffling and is a slap in the face to those concerned about press freedom in the country,” said Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director, in the statement.

“Pakistani authorities should give a full explanation of their decision to bar Butler from entering and correct this error,” the statement added.

Rights organisations Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Amnesty International expressed alarm over Butler’s deportation and said that the decision should be “reevaluated” and “reversed”.

In a tweet, HRCP said that it was “disappointed by the government’s decision” to deport Butler, adding that the decision “must be reevaluated”.

“On one hand, the government claims to be building a softer image of Pakistan. On the other, it refuses entry to a reputed international journalist with a valid visa,” HRCP said in a tweet.

Blasts in Afghanistan mosque kill at least 62, wound more than 100 KAbul: Blasts in a mosque in eastern Afghanistan during Friday prayers killed at least 62 men who had gathered for worship, local officials said. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for Nangarhar province's governor, said there were multiple blasts from explosives placed inside the mosque in the Jawdara area of Haska Mena district. The roof of the mosque had completely fallen in. Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the provincial council in Nangarhar, while expecting a rise in the number of casualties, said that more than 100 others had been wounded. Malik Mohammadi Gul Shinwari, a tribal elder from the area, said that the mosque had completely collapsed. “It was a heartbreaking scene I witnessed with my eyes,” Shinwari said, adding that 32 bodies and scores of injured have been transported from the blast site. Tezab Khan, a member of the local police who was on duty in the area, said: “I could hear the Mullah who was preaching and suddenly his voice was silenced with a boom. When I arrived on the scene, people were trying to bring out the bodies and injured who were stuck under the fallen roof.” The Jawdara area is controlled by the Afghan security forces. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far. The Taliban and the militant Islamic State (IS) group fighters are actively operating in parts of Nangarhar that share a border with Pakistan in the east. A United Nations report on civilian casualties recorded 4,313 1 civilians killed and wounded in the past three months. Agencies

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