E-Paper PDF 21th November (ISB)

CMYK

Thursday, 21 November, 2019 I 23 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 141 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

CJP Chides PM for blaMing JudiCiary over nawaz’s exit g

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staff report

hief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa on Wednesday said that Prime Minister imran Khan’s government itself allowed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to leave the country on account of medical treatment as he responded to the premier’s remarks on the disparity of laws in the country.

Prime Minister imran had asked Chief Justice Khosa and puisine judge of the Supreme Court (SC), Justice Gulzar Ahmed to come forward and restore public confidence in the judiciary. in his address, the premier had also said that speedy and quick justice for all would lay the foundation of the country’s new system based on the principles of ‘Riasat-e-Madina’.

The PM said there was a perceived disparity in how the powerful and common people were treated in the country’s judicial system. he said he was ready to support the judiciary to change the perception and restore public confidence in the institutions.

These remarks didn’t go down well

with the chief justice, who urged the prime minister to refrain from blaming the judiciary, as the Lahore high Court (LhC) only set modalities after the government allowed the ex-premier to exit Pakistan on account of failing health.

The CJP said that the prime minister should refrain from issuing such statements as he is the chief executive of the government.

“The particular case that the respected prime minister referred to, i do not want to comment on that. But he [PM imran] should know that they themselves allowed somebody [Nawaz Sharif] to go abroad. The debate in the high court was only over modalities. Please be careful [with statements].”

“Do not taunt us regarding the powerful,” the chief justice said, adding that everyone is equal before the law.

“Do you not remember that we convicted a prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] and disqualified another prime minister [Yousuf Raza Gilani]?” Chief Justice Khosa said. he said a case concerning former army chief Gen Musharraf is going to be decided soon.

The CJP said that the current judiciary should not be compared to that of 2009 as it is free now.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

Nawaz admitted at Harley Street clinic

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Opp seeks daily hearing of PTI's foreign funding case ECP summons PPP, PML-N reps on 26th STORIES ON BACK PAGE & 02

Treason case registered against students for demanding water STORY ON BACK PAGE

juSTICE KHoSa SayS govT ITSELf aLLowEd forMEr PM To LEavE CouNTry, LHC Had SET ModaLITIES oNLy

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TELLS IMraN To rECaLL TIMES wHEN judICIary SENT a PrIME MINISTEr HoME aNd dISquaLIfIEd aNoTHEr

CMYK Thursday, 21 November, 2019

02 ISLAMABAD

opp seeKs daIlY HearINg of pTI’s foreIgN fuNdINg Case iSLamaBad

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STAFF REPORT

day after the opposition’s Rehbar Committee put an end to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s plan of ending blockades of highways across the country, the Committee on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) demanding that the case regarding the scrutiny of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) foreign funds be heard on a daily basis.

The memorandum was submitted following a meeting of the opposition committee with the ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob.

PTI’s founding member Akbar

S. Babar had filed the case in 2014, alleging that nearly $3 million in illegal foreign funds were collected through two offshore companies and that money was sent through illegal ‘hundi’ channels from the Middle East to accounts of ‘PTI employees’. He had also alleged that the foreign accounts used to collect funds were concealed from the annual audit reports submitted to the ECP. In March last year, a scrutiny committee was formed to complete an audit of PTI’s funding sources in one month. Its mandate was later extended for an indefinite period of time.

Later in October, the ECP had rejected four applications filed by PTI seeking secrecy during the scrutiny of its foreign funding

pm’s media adviser Yousaf Baig mirza steps down Special Assistant to the PM on Media Affairs Yousaf Baig Mirza has stepped down from his post, he confirmed on Wednesday.

Talking to a private media outlet, Mirza said that he decided to leave his office to return to the media industry. Before his appointment as SAPM over a year ago, Mirza had served as managing director of the state-run PTV during the governments under prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Gen Pervez Musharraf and President Asif Ali Zardari. Mirza had also worked with private media channels. According to the report, Mirza said that he had served Prime Minister Imran Khan with “full commitment and dedication” but now he wanted to return to the media. According to Mirza, he was working as the SAPM on an honorary basis without getting any salary and perks or privileges. The prime minister in a recent cabinet meeting had constituted a committee to ascertain the performance of his official media team. Nadeem Afzal Chan, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Iftikhar Durrani and others are part of the premier’s media team. NEWS DESK

awan takes jibe at ‘empty-handed’ fazl ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman created a ruckus for nothing and left emptyhanded at the end. Taking to Twitter, Awan said that Fazl came with nothing to Islamabad and has left the same way. She added that the failed protest was uprooted by the general public who showed a lack of trust and support towards the religious cleric. SAPM Awan also said that it is apparent as to who walked away and who remained standing. The opposition’s Rehbar Committee announced yesterday that they were putting an end to antigovernment sit-ins being staged in various parts of the country, directing JUI-F workers to open all blocked roads.

Addressing a press conference, JUI-F leader Akram Durrani, who is the convener of the committee, unveiled ‘Plan C’ under which the opposition will hold joint public rallies at the district level. Last Wednesday, Fazl called off the sit-in in Islamabad after 13 days and announced to block highways. INP

sources. Prior to submitting the memorandum today, the Rehbar Committee held an informal meeting at Parliament House after which they staged a protest outside the ECP. Various opposition leaders including JUI-F leader Akram Durrani, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, PPP leaders Farhatullah Babar and Nayyar Bukhari participated in the meeting as well as the protest that followed.

‘CASE VERDICT WILL OUST PTI GOVT’: Speaking to media outside the ECP after the meeting, JUI-F’s Akram Durrani said: “Our demand is that the case be heard on a daily basis so that there isn’t a delay in it.” He said that once the case is concluded, neither PTI nor the current gov-

ernment would remain [in power].

“All parties are concerned why this case is pending,” he said.

“Some cases are heard day-to-day, the National Accountability Bureau calls us three times a week […] but the delay, in this case, will damage the country.”

Durrani announced that they were going to submit a written memorandum to the ECP signed by all Rehbar Committee parties.

He also urged the media to discuss the PTI foreign funding case on a daily basis.

Addressing the press conference, PPP leader Bukhari said that the case has been pending for five years because PTI lawyers were constantly submitting new petitions pertaining to the case.

Meanwhile, PML-N’s Iqbal

IHC adjourNs pTI’s appeal agaINsT eCp’s deCIsIoN IN foreIgN fuNdINg Case ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s petition against the ECP decision on the foreign funding case till the first week of December. Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani of IHC conducted the hearing on a petition filed by PTI regarding the matter. During the course of the proceeding, the petitioner’s lawyer Advocate Shah Khawar prayed the court to adjourn the case for as short time as the senior lawyer was busy in Supreme Court to which the bench remarked that it couldn’t wait for long. The junior counsel then requested court to adjourn hearing of the case for some days. After which the bench adjourned the hearing. Earlier on November 7, PTI had filed a petition in the High Court to challenge the ECP’s October 10 decision which had rejected the party’s applications against an audit of its foreign funding. PTI had requested the court to restrain the scrutiny committee, formed by the election commission, from probing the party’s foreign funding. On October 10, ECP rejected petitions filed by PTI, seeking secrecy in the scrutiny of the foreign funding case against the party. STAFF REPORT said: “This is the biggest corruption scandal in Pakistani politics.” He said that it was the duty of the chief election commissioner to resolve

Cjp chides pm for blaming judiciary over Nawaz’s exit

NA accepts Shehbaz’s resignation from PAC chairmanship iSLamaBad STAFF REPORT

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser on Wednesday approved the resignation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif from the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). A notification was issued in this regard, wherein it was mentioned that Shehbaz’s resignation would be effective from November 20. While the opposition leader is often chosen to head the premier NA body, PML-N leader Rana Tanveer Hussain will replace Shehbaz, who is said to have resigned due to personal engagements.

On June 29, Shehbaz had announced his decision to resign from the post while calling for fresh elections. Talking to reporters after a meeting of PML-N’s parliamentary party in Parliament House, Shehbaz had said the party has decided that Hussain would be next chairman of PAC, and he was bound to follow the

party’s decision.

Shehbaz had said that his party intended to be the voice of the public and vowed to speak for their rights after the “anti-people” budget was passed in the House. Claiming that he had “never seen such an anti-public and oppressive budget in the history of Pakistan before”.

He had also said that PML-N had decided to resign from the parliamentary committee formed to probe election rigging. “The rigging committee has not convened for four months therefore we have decided to quit it,” he had said.

On May 2, in a statement, PMLN had said that the party president “was never keen to become the PAC chairman and only accepted the position on the insistence of joint opposition and parliamentary advisory group”. The statement had shied away from giving any reason for Shehbaz’s decision to quit the post.

Tanveer’s appointment was made following approval from Shehbaz himself. The PML-N’s media cell

had elaborated that “Shehbaz made the decision [to relinquish the PAC and parliamentary leader’s roles] after consultation with party supremo Nawaz Sharif”.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had said that the former Punjab chief minister will continue to be the opposition leader. Marriyum had said that “the joint opposition, under Shehbaz’s leadership, will keep on playing its role in exposing the government’s inability and inefficiency”.

Shehbaz became the chairman of the apex accountability committee in December last year after a monthslong tussle between the government and opposition lawmakers.

The PML-N had refused to nominate another member from the party to head the PAC, arguing that according to parliamentary tradition, the leader of the opposition should become chairman of this committee.

Eventually, the PTI caved in and agreed to appoint Shehbaz as the PAC head.

Tremors jolT parTs of Kp PESHAWAR: Earthquake tremors were felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand region along with Swat, and adjoining areas on Wednesday morning. No loss of life or damage to property was reported. Earlier on Nov 14, Earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other parts of the country. According to the reports, the tremors were also reported in Swat, Upper-Dir, Kohat, Abbottabad, Mansehra. According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the intensity of the earthquake was recorded 5.4 while its depth was 96 kilometers and its epicenter was border area of Tajikstan and Afghanistan. INP

the case during his tenure, adding that that the PML-N has always said that all cases against its leadership should be heard in open trials.

continued from page 01 The top judge lamented that the judiciary is working without proper resources and only above 3000 judges gave verdicts in hundreds of thousands of cases last year. “If one high-profile case gets highlighted by media then it does not mean the 3.6 million cases by a mere 3,100 judges should lay forgotten.” He emphasised that the dedication and impartiality of the institution should be respected, saying: “Nobody is perfect. No institution, no human being is perfect. But if some people are working with such dedication, please encourage and facilitate them.”

LHC VERDICT: In a major setback to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the LHC on Saturday had allowed the former premier to travel abroad for four weeks without having to sign the indemnity bond suggested by the federal government, saying the duration could be extended on doctors’ recommendation. As the government and Sharif brothers remained at an impasse over the terms of Nawaz’s travel abroad — specifically his return to Pakistan — the LHC had said that it would draft its own undertaking for the former premier’s travel and give to lawyers of both sides. Following the court’s directions, the PML-N legal team had submitted a handwritten draft of the undertaking by Nawaz, which stated: “I do hereby undertake to return to Pakistan […] to face the process of law and justice as soon as I am declared healthy and fit to travel to Pakistan by my doctors.” A separate undertaking was submitted by Shehbaz in which he had stated, “I undertake to facilitate the return of my brother on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return to Pakistan.”

KP govt planning forensic audit of Peshawar BRT The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to approach the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a forensic audit of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project which has fallen massively short on its development targets, achieving only mere six per cent progress in the past six months.

The ADB will decide who is responsible for the repeated delays in completing the project and carrying

out low standard work. Once the bank gets hold of the forensic audit, the government will take legal action against the responsible elements.

According to a local media channel, the ADB would determine who among the contractor, consultant, engineer or PDA is dishonest and unprofessional. According to the additional chief secretary, only one per cent work had been conducted in the past six months

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on the project whereas the secretary was also quoted as saying that the project would not be completed within the expected time. KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai while speaking to the media said that a lot of work had been done on the project and it would be completed soon, adding that there was no need to make a hue and cry over the additional amount that had been added to the cost of the project. NEWS DESK

CMYK Thursday, 21 November, 2019

NEWS

allowed Nawaz To leave oN ‘HumaNITarIaN grouNds’, saYs ImraN afTer Cjp’s sNuB iSLamaBad

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STAFF REPORT

OURS after the chief justice of Pakistan chided the prime minister for accusing the judiciary of providing relief to ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government agreed to allow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader for medical treatment on “humanitarian grounds”.

The prime minister was presiding over a meeting of government spokespersons.

Imran refrained government spokespersons from commenting on Chief Justice Khosa’s statements.

“The government decided to send Nawaz Sharif abroad on humanitarian

grounds and after consulting doctors’ reports,” Prime Minister Imran reportedly said.

Prime Minister Imran also reportedly said that people were watching Nawaz’s activities in London.

He said that the PTI would not play politics over Nawaz’s health, but added that the Sharif family has been exposed before the nation as they could not even prove the ownership of the flat in London where Sharifs are staying.

PM said those who welcomed Nawaz in London are absconders in Pakistan. He said son of Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law are also absconders.

Talking about JUI-F, he said politics of Maulana Fazlur Rehman has ended now. The foreign funding case also came under discussion during the meeting. The premier reportedly told partic-

ipants of the meeting not to worry about the case. “No need to worry about the foreign funding case. PTI’s audit reports are there for all to see,” he was quoted as saying.

According to reports, the prime minister said that opposition parties were using the case to keep their politics alive and build a narrative against the PTI. He said that opposition parties were worried as Pakistan’s economy was improving.

“Opposition parties know that once the economy improves, their political careers are over,” he said.

Referring to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s foreign travel on medical grounds, Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan himself agreed for ‘someone’ to travel abroad,

so it should not be said that the judiciary was the sole authority in the matter.

PTI government to review development shares for Karachi, Hyderabad govt mulling complete social media ban on civil servants during office hours iSLamaBad STAFF REPORT

The federal government is considering to impose a complete ban on the use of social media by government servants during office hours. National Information Technology Board (NITB) officials informed a meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information and Technology about the proposal here on Wednesday. The officials said that not only the use of social media applications or pages including Facebook and Whatsapp would be banned during office hours but government officials would also be barred from bringing storage devices (USBs) to offices. Government employees will also be prohibited from indulging in part-time businesses, the NA body was apprised. Officials further said that the government was also looking to counter fake news pertaining to government orders and actions by establishing a central server at the NITB. E-offices will be established at every ministry, which will be interconnected, the officials said and added that all official information would be shared on the server after prior approval of federal authorities.”

This server would act as Whatsapp and official videos, audios, and photos could be shared on it after prior permission.

iSLamaBad GHULAM ABBAS

v In an apparent attempt to pacify its key coalition partner in the federal government – MQM-P – the PTI is likely to review development shares for Karachi and Hyderabad considering MQM-P’s longstanding demands related to shares of the previous octroi/zila taxes, Pakistan Today learnt on Wednesday.

Apart from the shares for the two Sindh cities, the ruling party will also speed up implementation on the promised Karachi package that was announced after the general election for the development of megacities in Sindh, reliable sources informed this scribe.

In this connection, a government team recently held a meeting with a delegation of MQM-P leaders at the ministry in Islamabad. Both sides discussed the grievances of the Karachi based party regarding funding constraints of megacities which largely voted for the ruling party in 2018.

The meeting was held at a time when MQM-P has started sharing its concerns about the future of the government and debating benefits that it has so far gained in response to extending its support to PTI’s federal government.

It may be mentioned here that conflicting statements and remarks from other allies, including PML-Q and GDA, have alarmed the ruling party which is already facing protests led by JUI-F with the support of other opposition parties. Insiders

claim that during the meeting that held a few days ago, MQM-P’s delegation was informed that the federal government would fulfil all its commitments regarding the Karachi package.

The party was also informed that supervision of Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project was shifted to Cabinet Division from the Ministry of Communication to speed up the process of execution.

During the meeting, MQM-P’s major demand regarding due shares of abolished municipal/city taxes including “octroi and zila” was also discussed in detail. The Octroi and Zilla Tax were used to apply to goods entering a city or zila. Local governments would thus earn revenue from taxing goods entering their cities but the tax was abolished in 1999 so, the central government decided to compensate for the loss by raising sales tax from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent.

Afterwards, it was the provincial government’s responsibility to give Karachi and Hyderabad their due share as compensation of the old taxes. The Sindh government gives all of the province’s 23 districts money to pay for their ‘development’.

In Karachi, it has to give money to the KMC and the city’s smaller six district municipal corporations: Central, South, West, East, Korangi, Malir. Yet the local governments, mainly ruled by MQM-P, have always been crying over lack of resources/funding and due share from the provincial government.

The meeting at finance ministry was informed that after the abolition of the OZT a mechanism was chalked out for the provision of OZT Grant in the centre in 1999. The addition of 2.5 per cent or 1/6th of sales tax) was to be utilised to offset the losses on account of abolition of OZT. As per the same mechanism it was decided to transfer the entire proceeds of 1/6th of GST to provinces in 2000.

The MQM-P delegation was informed that around Rs20 were invested for over 20 federal government-funded projects in Karachi and Hyderabad during the past 10 years.

Interestingly, no provision was made in the 7th NFC Award regarding the similar mechanism and under the NFC all provinces were to finance the local governments out of their share in the divisible pool taxes.

In the case of Sindh, it was provided that an additional grant from the federal government equivalent to 0.66 per cent of a provincial share shall be provided.

According to sources in the finance ministry, over Rs450 billion were transferred to Sindh under the distribution mechanisms since the abolition of OZT in 1999 to 2018-19.

Furthermore, finance ministry officials also assured MQM-P leaders that the issue would be reviewed and meet reservations of the local government in Sindh. While concluding, it was decided that MQMP’s demands would also be taken up at the highest forums and discussed with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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marriyum challenges Imran to appear in foreign funding case iSLamaBad STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday challenged Prime Minister Imran Khan to appear before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the foreign funding case and to declare his tax record and assets of his family. In a statement, she said that during the past 37 years, Imran has lived a lavish lifestyle but has paid only Rs4.7 million in taxes. “He calls other the thief but he is actually the biggest thief himself,” she said, adding that if the premier is innocent, he should declare his tax record and asset details of his family.

She also said that Imran talks about the difference in rules and laws for the rich and poor but he himself enjoys exemption from those laws. “He must tell the nation why did not declare the foreign accounts and assets maintained under the name of Jamima Goldsmith, Roehampton Khan and Bushra Bibi and his children. He hides his own assets but investigates three generations of the Sharif family over their assets,” she added. She further accused the premier of incompetence and said that he must inform the nation about his “23 secret bank accounts”. “It is now time for him to be held accountable,” she concluded.

former pm gilani flies to Cambodia despite being on no-fly list

neWS deSK Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, despite being on the Exit Control List, left for Cambodia to attend an international summit on Monday night, a private news channel reported on Wednesday.

According to Geo News, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen exclusively invited Gilani to deliver a lecture at the Asia Pacific Cambodia Conference 2019.

The Interior Ministry had earlier put Gilani on the ECL in the TDAP scam.

Family sources told the news channel that Gilani left for Cambodia along with his son MPA Ali Haider Gilani with permission from the Interior Ministry. However, his name would remain on the ECL. The ministry has taken the stance that Gillani is allowed to travel abroad for one time only. The former prime minister has been allowed to travel abroad for 15 days.

Nearly 2,000 people including 800 delegates from 48 countries will attend the conference. Many prominent world leaders scheduled to address the conference.

These include Myanmar Vice President Henry Van Thio, Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch, former Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla and former Timor Leste President Xanana Gusmão.

Kashmir dispute continues to put future of one-fifth of humanity at risk: FM anKara AGENCIES

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that the Indian government’s illegal and unilateral steps taken in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 have brought the entire region to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

“The decades-old Kashmir dispute continues to cast an ominous shadow over the future of nearly one-fifth of humanity, and without doubt, poses one of the most serious challenges to regional and international peace and security today,” he said while addressing a twoday conference titled, “Kashmir Turmoil:

Emerging Threats to Peace and the Role of the International Community” in Ankara, Turkey.

The conference is organised by Lahore Center for Peace Research in collaboration with Turkish Think Tank “Institute of Strategic Thinking” (SDE).

Qureshi said the grave human rights violations are being perpetrated by India to muzzle the voice of the Kashmiris, and change the demographic composition of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said despite international out-cry and condemnation, physical blockade of over eight million Kashmiris as well as communication and media blackout have now entered into their fourth consecutive month.

“Kashmiri political leaders remain under detention… reports of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, extra-judicial killings, denial of basic religious freedoms as well as disproportion use of force against civilians, including the use of notorious ‘pellet-guns’ remain endemic,” he added.

The foreign minister said that at the same time, another threat to peace and security in South Asia is germinating inside India.

Fanned by a vitriolic and extremist ideology, Islamophobia continues to grip India in its stranglehold, and is manifested in the growing incidents of discrimination, victimisation, targeting and lynching of Muslims, he said.

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The minorities’ rights to life, liberty and fundamental freedoms are being held hostage to the nefarious designs of the Hindutva ideologues, said the minister.

“Sadly, the entire Indian state apparatus is being used to shield and protect those who preach and practice this divisive ideology. A systematic campaign of incitement to hatred against Muslims as well as Pakistan is underway to swell the rank and file of hate mongers.”

The minister said the recent verdict by the Indian Supreme Court regarding the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid by adherents of the same ideology has once again laid bare the reality of India’s secularism and the status of its vulnerable minorities.

Qureshi said Pakistan is desirous of peace and stability in South Asia through the resolution of all outstanding disputes, in particular the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through dialogue and in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The minister regretted that all peace overtures by Pakistan had not only been rebuffed, but responded to by further escalation by India. “Under these circumstances, the role of the international community has never been more important,” he maintained.

Qureshi also expressed deep gratitude to the people and government of Turkey for their principled and courageous stand on the issue.

04 LAHORE

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

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PLRA ‘dhARnA’ continueS deSPite Govt ASSuRAnceS e LAHORE

SHAHAB OMER

MPloyEES of the Punjab land Record Employees (PlRA) continued their protest for the tenth consecutive day in front of the provincial assembly on Wednesday despite government assurances that their demands will be addressed shortly.

In the meantime, Mall Road witnessed a massive traffic jam as all routes leading up to Faisal chowk remained clogged with traffic. Barricades were placed and City Traffic Police (CTP) personnel were deployed at Mall road, Davis road, lawrence road, Regal chowk, and Faisal chowk. on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) MPA Shaheen Raza Cheema assured protestors that the government had taken notice of their grievances and was making efforts to having them addressed. The protestors, however, complained that such promised had earlier been made by government representatives but no tangible action had been taken.

PlRA officials have been calling for the establishment of a proper service structure and increment in their salaries which they say have not increased for the past three years.

As a result of the protest, over 152 Arazi Record Centres (ARC) across the

province have been shut down, rendering the land authority virtually dysfunctional. According to a PlRA official, “only people who have availed the service before are being issued Fards while transaction Fards are not being issued because the substitute staff placed temporarily by the authority is untrained and therefore unable to deal with such matters.”

“In addition to that, overseas Pakistanis are also having to face problems since they don’t have much time on their hands to have their transaction Fard and Fard for records issued as many of them have not used PlRA services before,” he said. “With the arrival of the harvest season, farmers are

also in dire need of government loans which they are unable to obtain due to the continuing protest which is not allowing them to access their land records,” he added. According to another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, “Termination letters of five Arazi Record Centre Union Punjab (ARCUP) members were issued amidst the protest in the early hours of Wednesday which include names of leading union members Bilal Hassan, Hassan Bilal Mir, Mian Shahid, Zain ul Abideen and Qamar Ibrahim while show-cause notices were issued for 25 others.” on Tuesday, an First Information Report (FIR) was also lodged against eight ARCUP members which included

names of Action Committee President Ateeuq ur Rehman Randhawa along with leading members Asim Ishaq, Jahanzeb Bara, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Hassan Mir, Qamar Siddique, Qamar Ibrahim and Zain ul Abideen for violating the Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Act 2015 and the Punjab Maintenance of Public order ordinance 1960.

The source also added that the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting that took place over 20 days ago also sent its recommendations to the provincial finance department in regard to meeting the protestors’ demands. Despite having received the BoG’s recommendations there has been no development on part of the finance department regarding the demands of the protesting PlRA employees. According to PlRA Director- General (DG) Hafiz Shaukat, “We are making every effort to ensure that ARCs function as before; we have installed substitute staff to work temporarily so as not to disrupt the ARC’s work,” he said.

“People can now have their Fards issued at NADRA e-centres whereas all banks have also been given access to land records so they can grant loans to farmers; we have also established a service counter at PlRA Head Quarters where people from across the province will be able to access their (land) records,” he added.

Punjab Assembly approves nine bills LAHORE APP

The Punjab Assembly (PA) on Wednesday approved nine bills with Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the chair. The bills approved in Wednesday’s session include Social Security for Provincial Employees, Water Bill Punjab 2019, Regularization of Services Punjab, Workers Welfare Fund Punjab, Aab Pak Authority Bill, including one for the Rawalpindi Women Uni-

versity 2019 and others.

The local Government Punjab (Amendment) ordinance was also introduced, whereas, the annual report of post-elections 2018 was also presented in the house. The government and opposition benches agreed upon increasing the number of telephone booths in the Camp Jail as there were only 20 booths and due to which the inmates have to face difficulties. Through their respective production orders, opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif and MPA Khawaja Salman Rafique also participated in the session. opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif said that everyone

should learn to respect humanity, adding that no one should criticise the health situation of anybody.

Punjab Minister for law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over medical facilities in the Services hospital, asserting that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was providing the same medical facilities to the common man.

Raja Basharat also said the PMl-N had ruled in the province for the last 10 years but it did not ensure medical facilities for people, adding that the Trauma Center remained non-functional after the passage of ten years.

Pervaiz Elahi directed Raja Basharat to listen to issues of employees of the Punjab land Record Authority (PlRA), protesting for their demands. later, Elahi, on completion of agenda, adjourned the session till Thursday at 3:00 pm.

MAn AxeS wife to deAth oveR doMeStic diSPute in fAiSALAbAd FAISALABAD STAFF REPORT

A man axed his wife to death over a petty domestic dispute and fled the scene here on Wednesday.

Police said that accused Shakil Masih, hailing from Samundari area of Faisalabad entered in love marriage with Seemi a few months ago. However, differences emerged among the couple soon after the wedding and Shakil was unwilling to solve them amicably.

Instead, opting to murder his wife.

The body was shifted to Allied Hospital for postmortem and the police after registering a case against the culprit at largely started raids for his arrest.

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Smog grips Lahore again LAHORE: Polluted air in the shape of smog hit the provincial metropolis once again on Wednesday forcing residents to cut down their outdoor activities and stay indoors as much as possible. The city’s Air Quality Index was recorded below 170 while in some areas it was recorded as high as 350 in the morning, which later reduced around noon. A spokesman of WWF-Pakistan, a nongovernmental organisation working to conserve the environment, while talking to APP said that environmental issues in Punjab were not only affecting routine life but also causing respiratory diseases among residents.

He said that around 1000 bricks baked in coal-fired kilns pollute at least an area of two kilometres with toxic smoke. However, he added that by using zig-zag technology this pollution could be reduced up to 40 per cent.

According to the Environment Protection Department (EPD), besides awareness campaigns steps were being taken to overcome smog and EPD teams raided and sealed brick-kilns operating with outdated technology causing environmental pollution.

Multiple factors such as smoke from brick kilns, burning of stubs of crops, smoke emitting vehicles, factory emissions etc. are some of the main factors that have given impetus to smog currently. APP

Govt supports transparent accountability, says governor LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said on Wednesday that the government supporting National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for taking action across the board against corrupt and its transparent accountability process.Talking to the media after addressing a function related to Information Technology here at Governor House, he said that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was working actively and "We both have complete confidence of Prime Minister".The Governor said that Imran Khan, who struggled for 22 years and his companions had formed Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf. All the allies including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi were very much with the government.

As per business plan, Governor House will bear its expenditures by holding commercial activities at the house and through other resources. Giving remarks about Nawaz depature from country, he said the court has permitted Nawaz Sharif to go abroad and it is hoped that he would come back to Pakistan after his recovery. APP

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

NEWS

Gates foundation to continue working with pakistan: bill Gates ABU DHABI: Lauding the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) government for its efforts against polio, Gates Foundation’s Co-chairman Bill Gates vowed to continue bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in the field of health. Talking to Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, who called on him in Abu Dhabi, Gates said that polio-free Pakistan was his top priority. Mirza thanked the Microsoft founder for his cooperation and said that his foundation’s efforts for combating disease were commendable. He said that Pakistan was committed for a better future. The special assistant also briefed Bill Gates about the polio vaccination program and ongoing anti-polio drive in the country.

Earlier on Sept 27, Gates had admired the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan in developing an anti-poverty strategy under the government’s flagship Ehsaas program.

In a tweet, he had said ending poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a whole-of-government approach that is being fulfilled by Pakistan’s government. Staff report

Un adopts pakistan’s resolution on right to self-determination NEW YORK

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Global polio watchdoG terms 2019 as ‘horrible year’ for pakistan

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ERMING 2019 as a horrible year for Pakistan’s polio programme and ‘a year of triumph for the poliovirus,’ the 17th report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has urged Pakistan to urgently achieve political neutrality and cross-party support for polio vaccination and better synergy between federal and provincial levels—politically and operationally.

Titled ‘The Art of Survival: The Polio Virus Continues to Exploit Human Frailties,’ the report offers an independent assessment of progress being made by GPEI in the detection and interruption of polio-virus transmission globally. It recommends 16 actions for eradication at the global, regional, country, and local levels so that the world achieves the level of excellence required to permanently interrupt virus circulation.

In terms of what Pakistan needs to do, the IMB has called upon the government to depoliticise the polio programme and to conduct a nationally coordinated listening exercise with polio-affected communities and various stakeholders to build trust through

innovative strategies.

“Polio cannot be eradicated with a vaccine that is politically and socially toxic. In Pakistan, there has been a serious controversy about the polio programme, and, perhaps for the first time, there is a risk that polio eradication may come to be seen as a partisan, rather than national issue. It is very important that clarity of leadership is in place with a revitalised and re-energised restoration of control over poliovirus by the end of the year. The polio programme in Pakistan needs to raise its game and come up with more transformative solutions,” the IMB observes.

The report states that in early 2018, Pakistan believed it was on the brink of interrupting poliovirus transmission, but just over a year later, the epidemiological picture represented a massive reversal of the trajectory because of five key reasons. These are, firstly, an overconfident assessment of the programme’s performance moving through last year; secondly, absence of transformative strategies to address deep-seated factors including the negative attitudes communities; thirdly, loss of political consensus on importance of eradicating polio and main-

taining high-quality programmatic performance due to divisive working relationships within and between the government’s polio team arrangements and those of UN agencies; fourthly, increase in refusal rates due to rumours and deliberate social media seeding of misinformation about polio vaccine; and lastly, reduced acceptance of polio vaccine by communities due to organised boycotts of the polio programme to gain political concessions.

Offering a comparative analysis of 2018-19, the report traces the resurgence of polio in Pakistan to the third quarter of 2018, and its devastating intensification to the second quarter of 2019 during which a record 38 cases were confirmed, followed by 30 cases in the third quarter. Major outbreaks have occurred across North and South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and there was also intense virus circulation in parts of Punjab such as Lahore where 88 per cent of the environmental samples and three out of five sampling sites were 100 per cent positive (as of October 19, 2019); Sindh such as Karachi, where 11 sampling sites were positive; as well as Balochistan.

“The pattern of poliovirus-positive environmental samples is another in-

dication of the depth of the problem, the report says,” adding that within the core reservoirs of Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta block, 69 per cent of samples were positive as of October 19, 2019, compared to only 29 per cent at the end of 2018.

The report also flags increased geographical dispersal of the virus: 25 districts have reported polio cases so far in 2019 compared to just 5 in 2018.

The number of infected districts, having either polio cases or positive environmental samples, has almost doubled: 51 (as of November 2, 2019), compared to 27 this time last year, the report informs. “Independently assessed technical performance (LQAS) of the programme has gone from bad to worse: the most recent vaccine rounds in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh scored 44 per cent, 64 per cent, 56 per cent against a benchmark of 90 per cent,” it informs.

In recommending joint actions for Pakistan and Afghanistan, the IMB has urged the two countries to follow Nigeria’s example and build a cadre of community, religious and tribal leaders to become champions of polio vaccination to build community trust. NeWS DeSK

app

A key committee of the United Nations’ General Assembly has unanimously passed a Pakistan’s resolution reaffirming the right to self-determination for peoples who are subjected to the colonial, foreign and alien occupation. Co-sponsored by 81 countries, the resolution serves to focus the world’s attention on the struggle by peoples for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Kashmir and Palestine. Presenting the draft, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram highlighted the importance of the right to self-determination that enjoys primacy in international law. The briefing was made in a reference to India’s annexation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 when the valley was placed under a continuous repressive lockdown with internet and phone communications cutoff. Akram said curfew and blackout, the lockdown of the civilian population, to suppress their ability to express their demand for freedom and self-determination is obviously a gross violation of human rights.

Naval chief visits UK to discuss ways to boost maritime cooperation ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi held talks with his British counterpart Admiral Tony Radakin and other Naval officials during his visit to the United Kingdom. During the meetings, Admiral Abbasi discussed matters pertaining to expanding cooperation between the two forces. During the visit, Abbasi was conferred with Dartmouth Royal Naval College, His Majesty the King’s Medal. He also attended a conference and visited the National Maritime Information Center. INp

LWMC's ex-MD remanded to NAB custody LAHORE Staff report

An accountability court on Wednesday handed over Lahore Waste Management Company’s (LWMC) former managing director Waseem Ajmal to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a 10-day physical remand in Rs 1 billion LWMC scam.

Accountability Court Judge Ameer Muhammad Khan conducted the case proceedings wherein Waseem Ajmal was also produced.

The NAB prosecutor submitted that the accused was a grade-20 officer and he had served as LWMC managing director.

He submitted that the accused had been arrested on the charges of embezzling over Rs 1 billion in the LWMC project. He requested with the court for granting 15-day remand of the accused of investigation.

However, the defence counsel opposed the remand plea and arrest of his client in the case. He submitted that Waseem Ajmal would be promoted to Grade-21 after three months course.

The NAB prosecutor submitted that NAB Chairman permission was sought for the arrest of Grade-17 and above officers, in response to a court query.

Waseem Ajmal told the court that he remained under NAB custody for 48 days in Saaf Pani case but he was not investigated for more than two hours. He further submitted that all charges levelled against him were

baseless in the LWMC case.

Subsequently, the court handed over Waseem Ajmal to the Bureau on 10-day physical remand and directed for producing him on November 30.

According to the NAB, the contract for preparation of consultancy services was awarded to the LWMC by the city district government, Rawalpindi in 2012. As per terms of reference of the contract, the consultants were supposed to prepare the cost estimates and pre-qualification criteria.

The bidding documents included draft agreements for the outsourcing of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) services whereas, the core team of the collective consultancy team comprised the members who were associated with preparation of cost estimates, bidding documents etc — LWMC MD Waseem Ajmal, CFO Rana Muhammad Arif, GM Procurement retired Col Muhammad Tahir and GM Legal Operations Khalid Majeed.

It said being former MD and team leader of the LWMC, Waseem Ajmal held a meeting on April 26, 2014, in which he intentionally concealed the details from the other board members of the meeting, it said.

The suspect intentionally concealed the fact that the initial cost estimate regarding the project’s labour cost of M/s Albirak which was already included in the initial cost estimates was got re-issued during the bidding process. The act on part of Waseem Ajmal caused a loss of Rs 1.27 billion to the exchequer.

American archbishop lauds CoP for uniting church leaders LAHORE: Anglican Archbishop of North America Most Reverend Dr Foley Beach, who is on a week-long visit to Pakistan, on Wednesday said that he was pleased to be with the bishops of the Church of Pakistan and the participants of Pastors and Christian Workers Conference. Addressing participants of the conference, Archbishop Dr Foley said that when Church of Pakistan Moderator and Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Peters visited the United States some years ago, he had expressed his interest in gathering Christian leaders from Pakistan. “Last year we had a conference in Dubai but I am very happy to be part of this gathering in Lahore which is interdenominational and well attended by church leaders from across the country,” said the senior American bishop. He lauded National Council of Churches in Pakistan President and Bishop of Raiwind Dr Azad Marshall’s vision of uniting the Pakistani pastoral leadership on a united platform to defend the orthodox biblical faith against the onslaught of heretical and liberal teachings. Staff report

WCLA to discuss re-adaptive use of heritage sites in first workshop of its kind LAHORE Staff report

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is organising the 1st National Heritage and Tourism Workshop at Barood Khana inside Lahore Fort from November 22nd to 24th whereas the main theme of the workshop would revolve around discussing the re-adaptive use of conserved heritage site along with business models for sustainable tourism, Pakistan Today learnt on Wednesday.

It was further learnt that the three day workshop would have participants will from all provinces of Pakistan including Archaeologist Kalim Ullah Lashari, Lok Virsa ex-executive director Dr Fauzia Saeed, Rawalpindi Army Museum Direc-

tor Brig Dr Adnan Salim, Army Heritage Foundation Director General Brig Zaman Nasarullah Khan Niazi, Senior Architect Yasmin Lari, State Bank Museum Director Dr Asma Ibrahim, Khyber Pakhtukhwa (KP) Museums Director Archaeology Dr Abdul Samad, Punjab Arts Council (PAC) Director Mian Attique Ahmad, Senior Architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz, Aga Khan Culture Services Pakistan (AKCSP) CEO Salman Beg, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) President Dr Fauziah Qureshi, Institute of Art and Culture (IAC) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Sajida Vandal, WCLA Chairman and socialite Yousaf Salahuddin, Senior Architect and WCLA Heritage Conservation Board member Sajjad Kausar, Jamshoro University of Art and Culture VC Dr

Jaevria Manzoor Sheikh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Archaeology Department Director Irshad Ahmad Pirzada, Archaeology Department Secretary Midhat Shahzad, creative head of different media houses Shahzad Nawaz, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Cultural Expert Aziz Alidad, Balochistan Archaeology Secretary Zafar Buledi, Punjab Curator Archaeology Dr Rustam Khan and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Associate Professor Dr Nadhra Shahbaz.

Further, WCLA will also be organising guided tours of the Walled City of Lahore for the participants whereas the day long sessions would revolve around academic and interactive discussions on topics, a few of which are ‘Changing perspectives in heritage researches: case study of KP’,

CMYK

‘Evolution of Walled cities in Lahore from past to present’, ‘Sustainable Development and Regional History Museums – a case study of Layalpur and Montgomery Museum’, ‘Harnessing Heritage for Community and Socioeconomic Development’, ‘Capitalising Built Heritage for Tourism’ and ‘Conservation of Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim at Makli World Heritage Site’.

WCLA Deputy Director Media and Marketing Tania Qureshi said, “The WCLA planned to gather government and semi-government bodies in Pakistan on one platform where everybody could share their experiences with each other.

This is a first of its kind workshop where participants from all provinces have been invited to display their work and case studies. The workshop will focus on top-

ics related to heritage conservation, preservation, tourism and culture”.

WCLA Director General (DG) Kamran Lashari said, “The purpose of holding this three day workshop is to gain knowledge by sharing experiences in the fields of heritage, tourism and culture. We will also be focusing on the re-adaptive use of conserved heritage sites and a business model for sustainable tourism as we want to explore the opportunities of highlighting and prioritising heritage and tourism in Pakistan so that the heritage we have is marketed worldwide”.

“We would be discussing the lessons learnt from our projects and how sustainable tourism can be made a part of heritage sites. I think each participant will learn a lot from the experiences of the esteemed speakers,” he concluded.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Leaked IranIan InteLLIgence reports THE ROUGHLY 700 PAGES OF LEAKED REPORTS WERE SENT ANONYMOUSLY TO THE INTERCEPT, WHICH TRANSLATED THEM FROM PERSIAN TO ENGLISH AND SHARED THEM WITH THE TIMES. THE INTERCEPT AND THE TIMES VERIFIED THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE DOCUMENTS BUT DO NOT KNOW WHO LEAKED THEM Intercept In partnershIp wIth new York tImes James Risen, Tim aRango, FaRnaz Fassihi, muRTaza hussain and Ronen BeRgman

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n mid-October, with unrest swirling in Baghdad, a familiar visitor slipped quietly into the Iraqi capital. The city had been under siege for weeks, as protesters marched in the streets, demanding an end to corruption and calling for the ouster of the prime minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi. In particular, they denounced the outsize influence of their neighbor Iran in Iraqi politics, burning Iranian flags and attacking an Iranian consulate.

The visitor was there to restore order, but his presence highlighted the protesters’ biggest grievance: He was Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, head of Iran’s powerful Quds Force, and he had come to persuade an ally in the Iraqi Parliament to help the prime minister hold on to his job.

It was not the first time Suleimani had been dispatched to Baghdad to do damage control. Tehran’s efforts to prop up AbdulMahdi are part of its long campaign to maintain Iraq as a pliable client state. now leaked Iranian documents offer a detailed portrait of just how aggressively Tehran has worked to embed itself into Iraqi affairs, and of the unique role of Suleimani. The documents are contained in an archive of secret Iranian intelligence cables obtained by The Intercept and shared with the new York Times for this article, which is being published simultaneously by both news organizations.

The unprecedented leak exposes Tehran’s vast influence in Iraq, detailing years of painstaking work by Iranian spies to co-opt the country’s leaders, pay Iraqi agents working for the Americans to switch sides, and infiltrate every aspect of Iraq’s political, economic, and religious life.

Many of the cables describe real-life espionage capers that feel torn from the pages of a spy thriller. Meetings are arranged in dark alleyways and shopping malls or under the cover of a hunting excursion or a birthday party. Informants lurk at the Baghdad airport, snapping pictures of American soldiers and keeping tabs on coalition military flights. Agents drive meandering routes to meetings to evade surveillance. Sources are plied with gifts of pistachios, cologne, and saffron.

Iraqi officials, if necessary, are offered

bribes. The archive even contains expense reports from intelligence ministry officers in Iraq, including one totaling 87.5 euros spent on gifts for a Kurdish commander.

According to one of the leaked Iranian intelligence cables, Abdul-Mahdi, who in exile worked closely with Iran while Saddam Hussein was in power in Iraq, had a “special relationship with the IRI” — the Islamic Republic of Iran — when he was Iraq’s oil minister in 2014.

The exact nature of that relationship is not detailed in the cable, and, as one former senior U.S. official cautioned, a “special relationship could mean a lot of things — it doesn’t mean he is an agent of the Iranian government.” But no Iraqi politician can become prime minister without Iran’s blessing, and Abdul-Mahdi, when he secured the premiership in 2018, was seen as a compromise candidate acceptable to both Iran and the United States.

The leaked cables offer an extraordinary glimpse inside the secretive Iranian regime. They also detail the extent to which Iraq has fallen under Iranian influence since the American invasion in 2003, which transformed Iraq into a gateway for Iranian power, connecting the Islamic Republic’s geography of dominance from the shores of the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. The trove of leaked Iranian intelligence reports largely confirms what was already known about Iran’s firm grip on Iraqi politics. But the reports reveal far more than was previously understood about the extent to which Iran and the United States have used Iraq as a staging area for their spy games. They also shed new light on the complex internal politics of the Iranian government, where competing factions are grappling with many of the same challenges faced by American occupying forces as they struggled to stabilize Iraq after the United States invasion.

And the documents show how Iran, at nearly every turn, has outmaneuvered the United States in the contest for influence.

The archive is made up of hundreds of reports and cables written mainly in 2014 and 2015 by officers of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, or MOIS, who were serving in the field in Iraq. The intelligence ministry, Iran’s version of the CIA, has a reputation as an analytical and professional agency, but it is

overshadowed and often overruled by its more ideological counterpart, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was formally established as an independent entity in 2009 at the order of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, which Iran considers crucial to its national security, the Revolutionary Guards — and in particular its elite Quds Force, led by Suleimani — determine Iran’s policies.

Ambassadors to those countries are appointed from the senior ranks of the Guards, not the foreign ministry, which oversees the intelligence ministry, according to several advisers to current and past Iranian administrations. Officers from the intelligence ministry and from the Revolutionary Guards in Iraq worked parallel to one another, said these sources. They reported their findings back to their respective headquarters in Tehran, which in turn organized them into reports for the Supreme Council of national Security.

Cultivating Iraqi officials was a key part of their job, and it was made easier by the alliances many Iraqi leaders forged with Iran when they belonged to opposition groups fighting Saddam. Many of Iraq’s foremost political, military, and security officials have had secret relationships with Tehran, according to the documents. The same 2014 cable that described Abdul-Mahdi’s “special relationship” also named several other key members of the cabinet of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as having close ties with Iran.

A political analyst and adviser on Iraq to Iran’s government, Gheis Ghoreishi, confirmed that Iran has focused on cultivating high-level officials in Iraq. “We have a good number of allies among Iraqi leaders who we can trust with our eyes closed,” he said.

Three Iranian officials were asked to comment for this article, in queries that described the existence of the leaked cables and reports. Alireza Miryusefi, a spokesperson for Iran’s United nations mission, said he was away until later this month. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s U.n. ambassador, did not respond to a written request that was hand-delivered to his official residence. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif did not respond to an emailed request.

When reached by telephone, Hassan

Danaiefar, Iran’s ambassador to Iraq from 2010 to 2017 and a former deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces, declined to directly address the existence of the cables or their release, but he did suggest that Iran had the upper hand in information gathering in Iraq. “Yes, we have a lot of information from Iraq on multiple issues, especially about what America was doing there,” he said. “There is a wide gap between the reality and perception of U.S. actions in Iraq. I have many stories to tell.” He declined to elaborate.

According to the reports, after the American troop withdrawal in 2011, Iran moved quickly to add former CIA informants to its payroll. One undated section of an intelligence ministry cable shows that Iran began the process of recruiting a spy inside the State Department. It is unclear what came of the recruitment effort, but according to the files, Iran had started meeting with the source, and offered to reward the potential asset with a salary, gold coins, and other gifts. The State Department official is not named in the cable, but the person is described as someone who would be able to provide “intelligence insights into the U.S. government’s plans in Iraq, whether it is for dealing with ISIS or any other covert operations.” “The subject’s incentive in collaborating will be financial,” the report said. The State Department declined to comment on the matter.

In interviews, Iranian officials acknowledged that Iran viewed surveillance of American activity in Iraq after the United States invasion as critical to its survival and national security. When American forces toppled Saddam, Iran swiftly moved some of its best officers from both the intelligence ministry and from the Intelligence Organization of the Revolutionary Guards to Iraq, according to the Iranian government advisers and a person affiliated with the Guards. President George W. Bush had declared Iran to be part of an “axis of evil,” and Iranian leaders believed that Tehran would be next on Washington’s list of regimechange capitals after Kabul and Baghdad.

Around the world, governments have had to contend with the occasional leak of secret communiqués or personal emails as a fact of modern life. not so in Iran, where information is tightly controlled and the security services are

The coming nuclear crisis NUCLEAR COMPETITION OR EVEN USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS COULD AGAIN BECOME THE GREATEST THREAT TO GLOBAL STABILITY project sYndIcate RichaRd n haass

Until just a few years ago, it looked as if the problem posed by nuclear weapons had been successfully managed, if not solved. American and Russian nuclear stockpiles had been reduced substantially from their Cold War highs, and arms-control agreements were in place that limited both intermediate- and long-range systems. But all of that could now come undone.

Progress over the last generation wasn’t limited to the United States and Russia. Libya was persuaded to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Israel thwarted Iraqi and Syrian nuclear development, and South Africa relinquished its small nuclear arsenal. Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which constrained its ability to acquire many of the essential prerequisites of nuclear weapons. Most recently, the Un Security Council imposed tough sanctions aimed at persuading north Korea to give up its still modest and comparatively primitive nuclear-weapons program, clearing the way for high-level talks between north Korean and US officials. And, of course, no nuclear weapon has been used in combat for three-quarters of a century, since the US dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan to hasten the end of World War II. This past summer, however, the US withdrew

from the 1987 Intermediate-Range nuclear Forces Treaty after it concluded Russia had violated the InF’s terms. The treaty limiting longer-range US and Russian nuclear weapons will expire in 2021 unless it is extended, and it’s not clear that it will be: both countries are committing substantial resources to modernise their arsenals.

Moreover, by exiting the JCPOA the US has heightened the risks stemming from Iran. The accord, concluded in 2015, was imperfect. In particular, many of its most significant constraints would last only 10 to 15 years, and the agreement didn’t limit Iran’s ballistic-missile development. But it did place a ceiling on Iranian nuclear activity and allowed for international inspections. By all accounts, Iran was honouring its provisions. now, however, Iran has begun a slow but steady process of getting out from under many of the agreement’s limits. It may be doing this to persuade the US and Europe to ease economic sanctions. It may also be calculating that these steps could dramatically reduce the time it would need to produce nuclear weapons without being attacked. But it’s at least as likely that Iran’s actions will lead the US, or more probably Israel, to undertake a preventive strike designed to destroy a significant part of its program.

Such a strike could lead several other regional powers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to develop or acquire nuclear weapons of their own.

Turkey, increasingly estranged from many of its allies, has suggested that it may choose to develop nuclear weapons regardless of what Iran does. north Korea is far ahead of Iran: it already has several dozen nuclear weapons and missiles, has tested missiles that can reach the US, and is developing submarine-launched nuclear weapons. The notion that north Korea will agree to give up its weapons and ‘denuclearise’ is fanciful. Its leader, Kim Jong-un, believes that only nuclear weapons can ensure his regime’s survival, a belief understandably strengthened by the experience of Ukraine, which accepted security guarantees in exchange for giving up the nuclear weapons it inherited from the Soviet Union, only to be invaded by Russia 25 years later.

One risk is that north Korea will over the next few years come to possess a significant arsenal that will pose a meaningful threat to the US. Another is that north Korea’s neighbours, including South Korea and Japan, will determine that they, too, need nuclear weapons given the north Korean threat and their diminished confidence in the reliability of the US and its guarantees to protect them with its nuclear forces.

The danger in both regions is that a race to acquire nuclear weapons could trigger a preventive war.

Even if such a war were avoided, the presence of multiple nuclear arsenals would increase the temptation for one or more countries to strike first in a crisis.

‘Use them or lose them’ has the potential to become

widely feared.

The roughly 700 pages of leaked reports were sent anonymously to The Intercept, which translated them from Persian to English and shared them with the Times. The Intercept and the Times verified the authenticity of the documents but do not know who leaked them. The Intercept communicated over encrypted channels with the source, who declined to meet with a reporter. In these anonymous messages, the source said that they wanted to “let the world know what Iran is doing in my country Iraq.”

Like the internal communications of any spy service, some of the reports contain raw intelligence whose accuracy is questionable, while others appear to represent the views of intelligence officers and sources with their own agendas.

Some of the cables show bumbling and comical ineptitude, like one that describes the Iranian spies who broke into a German cultural institute in Iraq only to find they had the wrong codes and could not unlock the safes. Other officers were browbeaten by their superiors in Tehran for laziness, and for sending back to headquarters reports that relied only on news accounts.

But by and large, the intelligence ministry operatives portrayed in the documents appear patient, professional, and pragmatic. Their main tasks are to keep Iraq from falling apart; from breeding Sunni militants on the Iranian border; from descending into sectarian warfare that might make Shia Muslims the targets of violence; and from spinning off an independent Kurdistan that would threaten regional stability and Iranian territorial integrity. The Revolutionary Guards and Suleimani have also worked to eradicate the Islamic State, but with a greater focus on maintaining Iraq as a client state of Iran and making sure that political factions loyal to Tehran remain in power.

This portrait is all the more striking at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions, the White House has rushed ships to the Persian Gulf and reviewed military plans for war with Iran. In October, the Trump administration promised to send American troops to Saudi Arabia following attacks on oil facilities there for which Iran was widely blamed.

a recipe for instability and conflict when capabilities aren’t sufficiently robust to absorb an attack and still be able to mete out the sort of devastating retaliation essential for effective deterrence.

As if all this were not enough, India and Pakistan, two countries with a long history of bilateral conflict, are both nuclear powers. nuclear deterrence cannot be assumed. It is all too easy to imagine a terrorist attack leading to Indian retaliation, which in turn could prompt Pakistan to threaten using nuclear weapons, because its conventional military forces cannot compete with those of India. There is also the possibility that the command and control of weapons will break down and one or more devices will find their way into the hands of terrorists.

It is close to 60 years since a young presidential candidate named John F. Kennedy predicted that as many as 20 countries could achieve nuclear-weapons capability by the end of 1964. Fortunately, Kennedy was proved wrong, and the number of countries with nuclear weapons is still nine. The 1968 nuclear nonProliferation Treaty has proved to be quite robust, in part because it is buttressed by efforts to prevent the export of critical technologies and by arms control, sanctions and the strength of alliances, which reduces the need for countries to become self-reliant.

But with nuclear technology increasingly available, arms control unravelling amid renewed greatpower rivalry, weakened alliances as the US pulls back from the world, and fading memories of Hiroshima and nagasaki, we are entering a new and dangerous period. nuclear competition or even use of nuclear weapons could again become the greatest threat to global stability. Less certain is whether today’s leaders are up to meeting this emerging challenge.

Richard N. Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of A world in disarray.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

iRan's Rouhani claims victoRy oveR unRest he blames on foReigneRs TEHRAN

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AGENCIES

RANIAN President Rouhani on Wednesday claimed victory over unrest he blamed on Iran’s foreign enemies, according to state media, after protests over an increase in gasoline prices last week that have shaken the country.

“The Iranian people have again succeeded at an historic test and shown that they will not let enemies benefit from the situation, even though they might have complaints about the country’s management,” Rouhani said in remarks carried by the state broadcaster IRIB on its website.

“The spontaneous (pro-government) demonstrations which you see is the greatest sign of the power of the Iranian

people,” Rouhani said.

Thousands of Iranians joined pro-government rallies in several cities on Wednesday, Iran’s state media reported, after Amnesty International said more than 100 protesters had been killed in the unrest.

State television showed rallies in the northern city of Rasht, in Gorgan in the northeast and in Shahryar south of the capital, Tehran, where a member of the security forces had been killed in the unrest.

State media carried pictures of Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s top security body, marching in Shahryar behind a banner that read “Death to America and Israel’s deception!”

Iran has blamed “thugs” linked to exiles and foreign enemies — the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia — for the protests. The unrest began on Friday after

gasoline prices were raised at least 50% and rationing imposed. They quickly turned political.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday the protests had been a security matter, not a popular movement, and had been dealt with successfully.

Amnesty International said at least 106 protesters in 21 cities had been killed, according to witness reports, verified videos and information from human rights activists. Iran’s mission to the United Nations called Amnesty’s report “baseless allegations and fabricated figures”.

Iran has restricted access to the internet, making it nearly impossible for protesters to post social media videos of demonstrations.

Khamenei says enemy 'repelled' in protest-hit Iran TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the enemy had been “repelled” in the country where dozens are thought to have died in violent protests sparked by a petrol price hike. Demonstrations broke out in the sanctions-hit Islamic republic on Friday after it was announced the price of petrol would be raised by as much as 200 per cent. “We have pushed back the enemy in the military arena. We have pushed back the enemy in the political war,” Khamenei said in a speech aired on state television late on Tuesday. “We have repelled the enemy in the arena of security warfare […] in recent days,” he said, adding that the unrest had not been the result of a popular movement. “The recent actions were security issues, not from the people,” he said. “We have repelled the enemy.” State television, which rarely shows any signs of dissent in Iran, has aired footage of masked young men appearing to clash with security forces. The United Nations called for restraint on Tuesday and voiced alarm at reports dozens may have been killed in the violence. AGENCIES

UN 'alarmed' dozens may be dead in Iran protests NEW YORK AGENCIES

Former UK consulate worker says Chinese police tortured him LONDON: A former employee of Britain’s consulate in Hong Kong said Wednesday that Chinese secret police tortured and interrogated him about London’s role in protests in the semi-autonomous city.

Simon Cheng, a Hong Kong citizen, claimed he was shackled to a steel “tiger chair”, hung spread-eagled on a “steep X-Cross” and beaten while he was detained for 15 days in August. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Cheng’s allegations are credible and that the treatment “amounts to torture”. Raab told BBC radio that he summoned the Chinese ambassador to denounce the “disgraceful” and “outrageous behaviour from the authorities in China” which violate international law. Cheng was placed in administrative detention after visiting the neighbouring southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in August. He said in a statement on Facebook that he had taken a highspeed train to Hong Kong’s West Kowloon station, where he was stopped by mainland police and sent back to Shenzhen. Cheng said police tied him to a steel “tiger chair,” accused him of being a British spy and forced to do “extreme strength exercise” for hours, beating him whenever he failed to complete it. He was also shackled to an Xshaped frame that kept his hands aloft for “hours after hours,” Cheng wrote. “It felt extremely painful.” Cheng said he was asked if he knew anyone who worked for British intelligence agencies, what part he had played in protests and what he knew about mainland citizens who had joined the demonstrations. China has repeatedly accused Washington and London of condoning violence in Hong Kong. The former British colony was handed back to Beijing in 1997 under a 50year agreement that gave Hong Kong special rights unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and an independent judiciary.

The protests started as a response to a now-scrapped extradition bill but has since expanded to include broader demands for democracy and investigations into police violence. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Wednesday said that Shenzhen police had “guaranteed” Cheng’s “legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law.” Geng said that he was unaware of any statements from London on Cheng’s situation, but that China expressed “strong indignation at the recent series mistakes and deeds of the British side on the Hong Kong issue.” Police in Shenzhen declined to comment on Cheng’s statement when contacted by AFP. Cheng said he had monitored the protests as part of his work at the British consulate in Hong Kong, “in order to evaluate travel alerts” and whether British citizens were involved. Outside of work, he supported the movement and had joined the protests. The longest round of interrogations by a team of police officers lasted 48 hours with no break, Cheng said. Police expected Cheng to confess that the “UK instigates the riots in Hong Kong by donating money, materials and equipment,” and that he was paying the bail for mainlanders arrested by Hong Kong police using money from the UK government, Cheng said. Shenzhen police had said in August that Cheng was detained for “violating the law of the People’s Republic of China on public safety management.” The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, said cited police as saying that Cheng had been held for “soliciting prostitutes”. AGENCIES

The United Nations voiced alarm Tuesday at reports dozens may have been killed in Iranian demonstrations, as the Islamic republic said it will unblock the internet only once calm has been restored.

Iran’s shock decision to impose petrol price hikes last Friday sparked the protests in which at least five people are confirmed to have been killed, three of them security personnel officials say were stabbed to death by “rioters”.

The UN rights office said it was alarmed by reports live ammunition was used against protesters and had caused a “significant number of deaths across the country”.

But its spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva that casualty details were hard to verify, in part because of the internet shutdown now in its third day.

“Iranian media and a number of other sources suggest dozens of people may have been killed and many people injured during protests in at least eight different provinces, with over 1,000 protesters arrested,” he said.

“We urge the Iranian authorities and security forces to avoid the use of force to disperse peaceful assemblies.”

Colville also called on protesters to demonstrate peacefully, “without resorting to physical violence or destruction of property”.

AFP journalists saw two petrol stations in Tehran gutted by fire and damage to infrastructure, including a police station.

They were prevented from filming as hundreds of riot police guarded squares with armoured vehicles and water cannon.

State television showed footage of rallies against “rioting” held in the northwestern city of Tariz and Shahr-e Qods, west of Tehran.

“Protesting is the people’s right, rioting is the work of enemies,” they chanted in Tabriz, according to Fars news agency.

KNIVES AND MACHETES: When the demonstrations began on Friday, drivers stopped on major thoroughfares in Tehran to block traffic.

The protests soon turned violent and spread to more than 40 cities and towns, with banks, petrol stations and other public property set ablaze and shops looted.

The demonstrations erupted after it was

announced the price of petrol would be raised by 50 per cent for the first 60 litres purchased over a month and 200 per cent for any extra fuel after that.

Iran’s economy has been battered since May last year when the United States unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions.

Footage of masked young men clashing with security forces has been broadcast on state television, which rarely shows any signs of dissent.

In a video aired Monday night, a man can be seen firing what appears to be an assault rifle as others hurl stones apparently at security forces in the western city of Andimeshk.

In the latest bloodshed, assailants wielding knives and machetes ambushed and killed three security personnel west of Tehran, news agencies reported late Monday.

One was Morteza Ebrahimi, a commander of the Revolutionary Guards and father of a newborn child, according to Fars.

The others were Majid Sheikhi, 22, and Mostafa Rezaie, 33. Both served in the Basij militia, a volunteer force loyal to the establishment.

Fake news amplifies fear and confusion in Hong Kong HONG KONG AGENCIES

Murder disguised as suicide. A secret massacre at a subway station. Impending ‘terrorist’ attacks: false news online is amplifying fear and confusion in Hong Kong as months of pro-democracy unrest turns increasingly violent in the real world.

Using half-truths, carefully-edited video, and selective reporting, both the pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps push their own protest narrative — and even fact checking doesn’t always help people understand what’s going on.

“I just assume everything is fake until I have seen sources from both sides and more than two news agencies I trust are reporting the same,” Hong Kong resident Michael Wu, 27, told AFP. Opposing camps are locked in “echochambers” of misinformation online, said Wu, with genuine, neutral news sources were being drowned out online “People on each camp only ‘fact check’ sources within their own echochamber,” Wu said. “Even when the truth is out, people are also ready to believe in whatever fake news that would advance their cause or ideology.”

Local fact checking Facebook page Kauyim Media, which has more than 140,000 followers and posts quick, real-time debunks of viral disinformation, said fake news was “amplifying the fear, hatred and confusion among Hong Kong residents”.

“The damage has been done and will take a long time to rectify,” Kauyim told AFP. Disinformation affects Hong Kongers in real ways, said Masato Kajimoto, a fake news expert at the University of Hong Kong, pointing to a recent false press release on school cancellations.

The Education Bureau said the purported release was “entirely a fabrication” but Kajimoto said that even so, “this type of false information is confusing and has a direct impact on how people plan their daily lives”.

DEEP MISTRUST:A deep distrust of police and authorities may fuel the spread of rumours among protesters, with outlandish claims and conspiracies taking root, despite repeated official denials.

This is partly because, one protester told AFP, people see videos of police or suspected triads attacking protesters online but no disciplinary actions or prosecutions, further undermining trust. “Police are the law now,” they said.

In this febrile atmosphere, people seem more inclined to uncritically accept information they see that supports their viewpoint and “fake news passed on from person to person” can take on a life of its own.

“As violent action on both sides escalates and people become more galvanised in their beliefs… disinformation that confirms previous beliefs (is) widely shared,” Nathan Ruser, a researcher with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s International Cyber Policy Centre, told AFP. When the naked body of a 15-year-old girl was pulled from Hong Kong harbour, it triggered a frenzy of online speculation that her death was connected to the protests — despite police ruling the death “not suspicious” and the girl’s mother saying it was suicide.

In November, the death of Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student, triggered a major escalation of protests as online rumours — including tweets from politicians — claimed Chow had been pushed from a car park by police, despite official denials that officers were in the area at the time.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

08 COMMENT

Kashmir and Azadi March

The opposition in its labyrinths Rahbar Committee shows a way out

How the Azadi March distracted from Kashmir

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AULAnA fazlur rehman was at his wits’ end on how to wriggle out of the widely condemned blocking of the highways. now he can maintain that he had called off the activity at the direction of the rahbar Committee. the Committee’s decision to hold joint public meetings instead, suits those parties also who want to go slow but are keen to keep the government on its toes. On Wednesday the rahbar Committee leaders staged a protest outside the eCP premises demanding that a case regarding the scrutiny of Pti’s foreign funds be heard on a daily basis. the opposition remains united. But the opposition also has differences. neither the PML-n nor the PPP is happy over the leading role assumed by Maulana fazlur rehman. All opposition parties supported the Azadi March, but most were unwilling to join the JUi-f’s sit-in.

Both the PPP and the PML-n disagreed with the call to block the country’s highways. the PPP’s Sindh government in fact registered cases against the JUi-f’s local leaders who led the campaign in the province. Again the JUi-f chief did not share with other parties what transpired between him and Ch Pervaiz elahi but the opposition parties didn’t insist on the point to maintain unity. the new plan of jointly holding public meetings formulated by the rehbar Committee suits the entire opposition as it provides them more time to resolve their problems.

With party chief Shahbaz Sharif accompanying elder brother nawaz to London, the PML-n faces a leadership crisis. According to an ‘unofficial’ announcement, a committee comprising party bigwigs would lead the PML-n in the absence of the Sharif brothers. it remains to be seen if the collective leadership arrangement works. the PPP has by and large been confined to rural Sind and here too it is facing challenges. the loss of Larkana seat to GDA is one indicator. the province faces colossal problems. Unless the party is able to deliver, it may find that the going is tough. for this the PPP has to ensure that its government remains in power till the next election. the PPP will hesitate to provide the federal government a credible excuse to remove its administration in Sindh.

Case against students Can campuses be invaded by law enforcing agencies?

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he registration of cases of sedition, rebellion, and rioting by the Jamshoro police against 15 students of Sind University raises many troubling questions. there is a well recognised convention that law enforcing agencies, particularly the police, do not enter the campuses of educational institutions without permission from their heads. this appears to have been badly violated in this case, because the college administration claims that there was no such permission granted. this contradicts the belief of some students that they were being penalised for having been in the forefront of other students, for the more mundane issue of a severe shortage of drinking water in the hostels. that shortage had led to a protest, and some elements are suggesting that the University administration is behind the case. the fact that the case has been registered on november 18, 18 days after the incident occurred, on October 31, indicates that there is more to the matter than meets the eye. there is also the possibility that the accusations may be a fabrication suggested by the University of Sind’s reputation as a hotbed of Sindhi nationalism. this is not as reprehensible as it sounds, for the Sindhi nationalist parties have joined the mainstream of national politics, and Sindhi nationalism is more a sign of adolescent rebellion than of serious politics. the university administration can be assumed to be conversant with such sentiments, and to know how far any individual might be able to go beyond posturing. this is why university administrations must be involved in criminal cases of any kind occurring on campus. things seem to have got out of hand at Jamshoro, for the talk of ‘convincing’ video evidence indicates that somebody was able to shoot a video there, apparently with immunity. the case against the Sind University students should be discharged unless the University administration wants the charges pursued. there should also be appropriate legislation, which would make the university administration formally responsible for all such criminal charges, and for the operations of law enforcers there, and their organisations. that would prevent such a situation as that at Jamshoro arising again.

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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the Azadi March ter of Pakistan during his led by Maulana fazalur speech was focused rehman reached islammainly on islamophobia he rSS-backed BJP government uni- and the occupation of on October 31, the Pakistan is incomplete without abad laterally decided to abrogate Article Jammu and Kashmir .he day Kashmir was 370 of the indian Constitution and took exposed the indian govKashmir and Pakistan must set mourning for the stateaway the special status of the state of ernment, and especially hood of Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. the the Prime Minister aside local issues and fully focus Kashmir. the Pakistan whole of Kashmir was under strict curfew when narendra Modi of being on Kashmir as India has stabbed government remained the future of the Kashmiri people was decided. a lifetime member of the confused with the interPakistan a second time, first the curfew is still in place after over 100 days, fascist rSS, an extremist nal matters and india but nowadays it is more like civil disobedience. hindu organization. done its homework.

Bangladesh and now the jugular had the More than 15,000 people have been detained, media and jourthe government of which include mainstream politicians, lawyers, Pakistan decided to obvein, Kashmir. Pakistan has to nalists played an imporacademicians and innocent civilians, fearing a serve a Solidarity hour tant role in highlighting develop consciousness about the Kashmir issue but dissent against the unconstitutional act of the every friday in support government of india, which has also suspended of the Kashmiri people the senior Kashmir positively or the fight unfortunately internet services– a commonplace tactic to pre- living under brutal occujournalists and analysts we Kashmiris are fighting in vent anti-india demonstrations from being organ- pation of india. All over were busy on local isized and to stop the dissemination of news. the Pakistan, rallies were sues like censorship and Kashmir and stopping the security personnel before August 5 was increased conducted and a million Azadi March. the parin what was already one of the most militarized march was held recently ticipation of opposition Akhand Bharat agenda, zones in the world. leaders and senior jourin which the largest flag otherwise will be fought in the nalists in the dharna is the bil,l under the name Jammu and Kashmir of Kashmir was hoisted. reorganization Act 2019, was introduced by init was the first time streets of Lahore and Rawalpindi adding insult to injury dian home Minister Amit Shah in the rajya in history that Kashmir for the Kashmiris. PakSabha on August 5. the same day the bill was was on international and istan’s Ministry of forpassed and in the Lok Sabha it was passed on Au- national media headeign Affairs even issued gust 6. it received the President’s assent on August lines. then the Azadi a statement rejecting the 9. this Act contains a provision to reconstitute the March happened! it changed the direction of the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union terri- policies of Pakistan. the date of the Azadi March eight hours after it happened. Pakistan, which tories, one Jammu and Kashmir, and the other was also suspicious. 31 October was the day india claims to be supporting Kashmir morally and Ladakh, on 31 October. officially annexed diplomatically was surprised by the bold decision Pakistan rejects the anand bifurcated the of india. Kashmiri people were expecting a nexation of the occupied state of Jammu and tougher stand from Pakistan, but the Azadi March Jammu and Kashmir, and Kashmir into two shattered their hopes and dreams. the Kashmiri The date of the Azadi March called the move to abolish union territories, by- people who prefer to die for the betterment of Pakwas also suspicious. October passing all Un reso- istan were buried under the occupation of india.

Kashmir’s special status illegal, insisting it was interand bilateral rubbing salt into their wounds, the leaders and 31 was the day India officially lutions nationally recognized as a agreements. the journalists who were talking about liberating disputed territory. the GovAzadi March started Kashmir were celebrating on October 31. the annexed and bifurcated the ernment of Pakistan reon 27 October– an- media, which is considered the fourth pillar of state of Jammu and Kashmir quested a meeting of the other black day when state, was on containers. i, as a Kashmiri, think Un Security Council, and in 1947 indian secu- that Azadi March is biggest betrayal of the people into two union territories, China (one of the permarity forces landed on of Kashmir. i also assure you that next year Octobypassing all UN resolutions nent members of the SecuKashmir, the leaders ber 31 will be observed as a Black Day in Pakistan rity Council) stepped in to in Pakistan were and journalists and leaders who are on containers and bilateral agreements. help out. Un, Amnesty inbusy in local prob- will be speaking about and discussing the liberaternational, the european lems. however op- tion of Kashmir from india. this October 31 adds The Azadi March started on Union and other internaposition leader one more day for the list of black days for Kashtional fora have urged india October 27 – another black day Shehbaz Sharif made mir. i must say Pakistan is incomplete without to lift the curfew and intera stunning statement, Kashmir and Pakistan must set aside local issues when in 1947 Indian security net clampdown in occupied that a nawaz-Sharif- and fully focus on Kashmir as india has stabbed forces landed on Kashmir, the led government Pakistan a second time, first Bangladesh and now Jammu and Kashmir. the international media took seliberate the the jugular vein, Kashmir. Pakistan has to develop leaders in Pakistan were busy would rious note of the grave occupied Kashmir. consciousness about Kashmir positively or the human rights violations the Pakistan’s gov- fight we Kashmiris are fighting in Kashmir and in local problems happening in Kashmir. ernment had decided stopping the Akhand Bharat agenda, otherwise in the 72nd Un General on October 27 as a will be fought in the streets of Lahore and Assembly, the Prime Minisrawalpindi (God forbid). solidarity day.

muhammad umar Bhat

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English rules our education The English trap existed from before Independence NumaN Bacha

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ifferent regimes have been heard with tall promises of bringing true reforms in the education system of Pakistan. But reforms in our education system have always been one step forward and two steps backward. in 2013, when the Pti came into power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it introduced the english medium in almost all state-run schools. All the text books of the lower classes were converted from Urdu to english. the decision was, no doubt, taken with the aim to make the state-run schools’ environment parallel to the private ones. Why? Because in Pakistan, there is a catastrophe that english is regarded as the yardstick of measuring the mental capacity of a student. in our education system, there are several factors that have been affecting the studies of students of almost all levels, among which curriculum courses being in english is on the top of the list. there is only one way to ensure quality education, that is to impart knowledge to students in their mother tongue. Of course, this is an undeniable fact and has been widely acknowledged that any country cannot move ahead until imparting education in mother tongue is ensured in it. it is also said that true learning and inculcating something is possible in one’s own mother tongue. if we take the example of China, it had gained its freedom later two years than our

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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country but it is years ahead of us in different to focus on learning english, and only then he or walks of life. One of the factors behind their she may learn something further. A report said success is that they are not producing philolo- that Pakistani students of specifically state-run gists but there the students are taught in their schools can barely read a sentence. the reason mother tongue. Also, not a single example can behind this is nothing else but the english lanbe provided of developed countries where other guage, that has been made mandatory and all the languages are that much preferred as in our courses of primary level are in english which country. Also, in the USA students do learn students find difficult to learn and is like an obstacle between the students french and Latin as well as and true learning. other foreign languages, if quality education and but there whole curriculum real learning are needed, courses are never converted We cannot ignore then students must be iminto Latin and french or parted knowledge in their other foreign languages. the scope and reach mother tongue. Students Contrary to this, reof the English language don’t gain the exact idea or viewing the system of Pakknowledge in the right way istan’s education, before the as it is an international as the way they may gain it independence the people of language, but in their mother tongue. the Subcontinent suffered at there is nothing bad in the hands of the British, and promoting the idea of english, nor do i oppose it, after independence their as i myself had english as language (english) has been education in mother my major subject in my acruling on us despite seven tongue is the need ademics, but how can this decades elapsed of the indefact be brushed aside that pendence of the Pakistan. of the hour true learning is only possithere have a number of ble in one’s mother tongue. movements been run by is the high priority many people in order to given to the english lanalter this system and to promote the idea of imparting education in mother guage in our country aimed to keep the students away from quality education or just to limit the tongue, but by bad luck all they went waste.

We have been hearing this phrase for many learning of students to learning english?

We cannot ignore the scope and reach of the years that thousands of kids are out of school, but it wonders that why nobody dare to say that those english language as it is an international lanwho are in schools; they suffer from the effects guage, but promoting the idea of education in of a broken education system. A student first has mother tongue is the need of the hour.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Thursday, 21 November, 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

Treating our teachers better teACherS are supposed to be spinal cord of a nation in terms of socio-economic and cultural development of a country. in pakistan,especially in sindh teachers are treated badly.

Yesterday, on november 6, there was called a well managed and peaceful protest in front of CM house by the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA)for their time scale and promotion.Meanwhile,police contingent reached there and arrested many of teachers including female professors.

Perhaps,government is unaware that potest is a democratic right of every citizen. Moreover, college teaching staff from all over of sindh has said they will remain in peaceful protest until their resolution of time-scale,and furthers it was explained that colleges will be closed till to meet their demands.On the other hand,by closing of colleges the already lowest rate of literacy in Sindh is going to be in a worst condition if demands are not meet.the protestors reminded the government that summary of time scale had been sent to the secretariat on 2010,but perhaps it has not yet been pursued.Surprisingly, all other provinces have resolved its time scale issue of the college education.

ZAkIR HuSSAIN Wahi Pandhi

Justice for Nimrita

Losing ground to the western psyche But India can learn from Israel years in india, and that is not enough for under- Pratap, rani Lakshmibai etc, knowing that standing a country which is so vast, diverse and hindus would not react not to speak of protestalso contradictory. More precisely, Delhi is very ing,” he commented. hence Gautier believes that the indian hisfar from southern or eastern india. tory should be rewritShockingly, the innDiA, even though it won freedom from ten and he has reasons the British colonial power decades back, dian journalists who to explain. for over still perceives the western concept of regularly write for seven decades, the inlifestyles and its millions of residents feel western media outlets Today the Hebrew dian establishment safe with the western medicinal practices. normally follow the language has unified Israel comprising people But india has the most ancient medical system guidelines of their edifrom nehruvian-Marxin the world and Ayurveda (Unnani/Siddha) is tors and very often they like nothing else, which ist and pseudo-secular don’t hesitate to paint a still in practice across the vast country. should inspire India to revive ideology used to influfrancois Gautier, an india-based senior negative image of their ence everything from french journalist, while interacting with a own country, exSanskrit. The government school curriculum to group of scribes at Guwahati Press Club last claimed Gautier. howmonth through video-conferencing, revealed ever, he feels that the should invite some dedicated public policy to history writing. this built up a media that ancient indian scholars realized the impor- alternate linguists to sit down with false narrative that systance of plants & minerals in treatments long has provided space for condemned before the discovery of western medicines. many indians, includSanskrit scholars for devising tematically india’s civilizational Moreover, many diseases have a psychosomatic ing qualified journaljourney. Since the a way of simplifying and origin and that should be taken into considera- ists, to speak on overwhelming majortion for treating those patients. But most of the various issues they modernising the ancient ity of the people here indian schools and universities still today teach deem fit for exposure. “india is never in western concepts and thus produce some exlanguage. I am sure, it would remain hindus, the establishment tried its port-worthy youths for Western countries. So the news in the West energise and revitalise the best to turn itself antithe greatest brain drain in the world can be seen unless there is some hindu. it encouraged among the hindus, who leave their country to major catastrophe or whole Indian culture people to negate anyenrich research centres, academic faculties, huge elections. thus, if thing associated with medical & engineering groups all over the anyone wants to write hinduism. the tenworld, particularly in the USA, Canada and the for those publications, dency extended up to UK. Most indians go abroad and eventually set- he or she has to find tle down there and finally their successors are stories that might often border on the sensa- denigrating the Vedas, Upanisad, Bhagavad tional, marginal and even misleading,” com- Gita, ramayana, Mahabharata and also the lost forever for their country of origin.

Otherwise, hindus are descendants an an- mented the outspoken journalist, who has been mother of all indian languages Sanskrit.

Making reference to hebrew, the ancient cient civilization in human history and hin- living in india for many decades now.

Speaking about hindu tolerance, Gautier language of israel, Gautier pointed out that isduism is the only religion that accepts and respects all the other religious faiths, but there opined that it has been an one-way traffic for raeli people after getting a part of their holy land are many western journalists and correspon- the hindus as they experienced cruel genocides in 1948 started welcoming Jews from various dents who are still biased against india. the in the sad history of humanity. But hindus have parts of the world. As they came back to live in Paris-born author asserted that the western shown extreme tolerance and hinduism is the israel a major problem was aroused because media should at least respect the country with only religion that never tried to convert others. they spoke different languages. the israeli auhowever many indian thorities asked their scholars to revive hebrew, such a wise past and intellectuals claim that which had fallen in decrepitude, so that everywhich still gives birth hindus are intolerant, body could speak hebrew. to humans with won“today the hebrew language has unified isfanatic or fundamentalderful qualities.

Shockingly, the Indian ists. india’s first Prime rael like nothing else, which should inspire “But most of the Jawaharlal india to revive Sanskrit. the government western correspondents journalists who regularly write Minister nehru was a great ad- should invite some dedicated linguists to sit posted in new Delhi mirer ofenglish social- down with Sanskrit scholars for devising a way take little notice about for western media outlets ism and he adopted of simplifying and modernizing the ancient lanthe uniqueness of normally follow the guidelines British constitutional, guage. i am sure, it would energize and revitalindia, paying almost no and even edu- ize the whole indian culture,” stated the author respect to the billionof their editors and very often judicial cation systems without of India’s Self Denial, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a plus nation even 70 they don’t hesitate to paint a considering the excep- Guru of Joy, A New History of India, A History years after its indetional indian socio-cul- of India As It Happened, and more. pendence. they are negative image of their own Married to an indian woman, Gautier also tural and traditional supposed to report honvalues. nehru had to argued that india and israel share so much in estly about india so country, exclaimed Gautier nurture the sentiment common and both can learn a lot from each that their readers, many of a sizable Muslim other! hindus and Jews, far from being the perof whom are ignorant population that did not secutors of minorities have been persecuted for about the great nation, join Pakistan (west or nearly two thousand years and have been the get enlightened,” said victims of the worst genocides in history. While east) and continued to live in india.

Gautier. “for these reasons, nehru asked historians the German dictator Adolf hitler murdered six himself a regular contributor to various international publications including a few from to show esteem to Muslim rulers like Akbar or million Jews in his gas chambers, Gautier refrance, Gautier argued that the foreign corre- Aurangzeb and ignore the greatness of hindu vealed 80 million hindus had to die at the hands spondents are normally assigned for four to five warriors like Chatrapati Shivaji, Maharana of Muslim invaders.

Nava thakuria

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LASt month, on 16th September, a girl medical student named nimrita Kumari was found dead in her hostel room. According to the reports she had committed suicide. the hindus and her family members were not trusting that she commited suicide. in current reports, in her body male DnA was found and she was raped by someone before her death. So, the one who has raped her he should be caught as soon as possible.

ZAHEER AHmED Turbat

Winter rain WeLCOMe to the first heavy spell of the winter rain. though it may be a cause of little concern for cotton growers, it is mostly good news for everyone in the country. hopefully, it will help fight the gravely dangerous issue of smog in Lahore. heavy rain in the twin cities of islamabad and rawalpindi has ended the dry spell causing health issues for people. now the air will be free from pollution and dust and dirt will be washed away from roads. the agricultural land in the Pothohar region is arid, which primarily depends on rains for irrigation. these rains will be a blessing for farmers in the Pothohar region as it will benefit them preparing their land for the rabi crop. the government needs to supply better quality seed to farmers to enable them to increase agriculture production. the farmers must put in extra efforts to preserve water any way they can for use during dry days. Similarly, the citizens should avoid wasting water and littering as that chokes drains and cause problems. even a step further, they take small steps such as growing vegetables in their lawns and backyards to bring about a change. this would not only be a healthy activity but also will help fend off the adverse effects of exorbitant prices of daily use vegetables on their budgets. Overall, a small effort by everyone can help bring about a big change.

RAJA SHAFAATuLLAH Islamabad

Our battle PAKiStAn is among 10 countries affected most by climate change,Pakistan is in a geographic location where average temperature is predicted to rise faster than elsewhere increasing 7.2 degrees fahrenheit. Pakistan has faced catastrophic floods,droughts and cyclones in recent years that have killed and destroyed livelihoods and damaged infrastructure. Climatic changes are expected to have wide ranging impacts on Pakistan,reduced agricultural productivity,increased variability of water,increased coastal erosion and seawater incursion.in the last 50 years the annual mean temperature has increased by roughly 0.5 degrees Centigrade. the number of heat waves days per years has increased nearly fivefold in the last 30 years.Sea level along the Karachi coast has risen to approximately 10 centimeters in last century. By the end of this century, the annual temperature in Pakistan is expected rise by 3 degrees fahrenheit to 5 degrees fahrenheit. Pakistan is expected to experience increased variability of river flows due to increased the melting of glaciers. Deforestation and increase in the use of chemicals in domestic and agricultural life are the main cause of climate change in Pakistan.

RAFIA kHALID Islamabad

The Molana’s Azadi reCentLY Molana fazal ur rehman has announced a protest and a sit in in islamabad calling it as the “Azadi March”. however it is still unclear what the ultimate motive of this azadi march is, whether it is to show solidarity with the Kashmiris against the indian aggression in indian Occupied Kashmir or it is merely to topple the government of imran Khan. But one thing is crystal clear that the azadi march is going to create an environment of chaos and conflict in the capital which will not just be the ultimate challenge for the government but it will not be in the greater national interest of Pakistan. A protest and march against the government at this time when geopolitics is very active in the region and Kashmir issue is at its peak of either exploding or dissolving, although protest is their democratic right but the opposition must reconsider it for the sake of national issues and national interests. muHAmmAD ASIm kHAN Islamabad

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Republicans taRget militaRy witness in tRump impeachment pRobe

WASHINGTON

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AGENCIES

US Army officer and key impeachment witness saw his loyalty called into question by Republicans on Tuesday, as he testified that President Donald Trump made inappropriate demands on his Ukrainian counterpart for dirt on rival Democrats.

Straining to fight back on abuse-ofpower allegations against Trump, Republicans in Congress took aim at Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a respected member of the White House National Security Council, suggesting the Kiev-born immigrant’s allegiance is not to the United States and so his testimony is dubious.

Testifying in the second week of tele-

vised impeachment hearings, Vindman steadfastly defended his patriotism, saying he had reported alarming pressure by Trump for Ukraine to investigate potential 2020 rival Joe Biden “out of a sense of duty.”

Other witnesses before the House Intelligence Committee supported Vindman’s account that Trump and his envoys held up aid to Ukraine to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky to help the US leader’s re-election chances, which Democrats say is a gross and impeachable abuse of power.

“It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent,” Vindman told the hearing.

He called Trump’s July 25 phone call with Zelensky — seeking a “favor” to investigate Biden as well as vague claims of

Ukraine support for US Democrats in 2016 — “inappropriate,” “improper” and a “partisan play.”

“Frankly I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Vindman said of the phone call.

“There was an element of shock.”

In nearly more than seven hours of testimony, four witnesses described the months-long push for the Ukraine investigations by Trump and aides, particularly his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the European Union.

Sitting next to Vindman, Jennifer Williams, a foreign policy advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, said she too had doubts about the July 25 phone call, which they both monitored from a separate room.

She said the call was “unusual” in the way Trump raised the investigations.

“The references to specific individuals and investigations such as former vice president Biden and his son, struck me as political in nature, given that the former vice president is a political opponent of the president,” she told the panel.

Two other witnesses in a second session, former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and National Security Council aide Tim Morrison, supported allegations the White House sought the political assistance.

But both assigned more blame to an “irregular” diplomatic track in the hands of Giuliani and Sondland, while not attributing the policy directly to Trump.

Volker also underscored repeatedly that Trump’s allegations Biden may have acted corruptly in Ukraine — Biden’s son served on the board of a controversial energy company Bursima — were “not credible”.

Planned fossil fuel output swamps Paris climate goals PARIS AGENCIES

Oil, gas and coal output already planned or in the pipeline will overwhelm efforts to cap global warming at levels consistent with a liveable planet, the UN and leading research groups warned Wednesday.

The world is on track to produce 50 per cent more fossil fuels than could be burned without increasing Earth’s surface by more than two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, they said in a major report.

If temperature rise is to be limited to 1.5C, planned fossil fuel production is more than double what can be tolerated.

The 2015 Paris Agreement calls for blocking global warming at well below 2C, and 1.5C if possible.

With only 1C of warming to date, the world has seen a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, flooding, and superstorms made more destructive by accelerating sea level rise.

“Over-investment” in coal, oil and gas supply locks in infrastructure that clashes head-on with the need to slash greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, the re-

searchers cautioned.

A major UN report last year concluded that global CO2 emissions must drop 45 per cent by 2030 — and reach “net zero” by 2050 — to cap temperature rise at 1.5C. “We show for the first time just how big the disconnect is between Paris temperature goals and countries’ plans and policies for coal, oil and gas production,” said lead author Michael Lazarus, director of the Stockholm Environment Institute’s US Center.

This “production gap” — between output in the pipeline and the Paris climate goals — is largest for coal, according to the report, a joint project by the UN Environment Programme and four climate change research centres. Countries plan to produce 150 per cent more coal by 2030 than would be consistent with a 2C world, and 280 per cent more than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5C. China is the world’s largest coal producer, accounting for more than 40 percent of global output in 2017. Domestic production doubled from 2000 to 2013, dropping briefly before resuming an upward trend.

For oil and gas, nations are on track to produce a 40 to 50 percent surplus in 2040.

The United States generated more of both fossil fuels than any other nation last year, and is the world’s number two producer of coal.

The Trump administration, which notified the UN earlier this month that the US will pull out of the Paris treaty, has taken steps to boost fossil fuel production, including subsidies for technology to capture CO2 emissions from power plants.

Many oil and gas projects approved by major fossil fuel companies in 2018 and the first 10 months of this year appear to assume that global temperatures will rise well beyond the 2C threshold, according to research published last month.

Eighteen major investments over this period, totalling $50 billion, would only become profitable if the world exceeded the Paris targets.

The new report points to several ways the fossil fuel “production gap” could be narrowed, but change has proven difficult to achieve.

One is reducing subsidies. Direct handouts to oil, gas and coal production worldwide run into the tens of billions of dollars each year.

2 US service members killed in chopper crash in Afghanistan KABUL: The United States forces in Afghanistan in a statement says that two US service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however preliminary reports do not indicate it was caused by enemy fire, the statement said on Wednesday. It added further that in accordance with US Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action are being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete. AGENCIES

Twitter accuses UK of misleading public in election row LONDON: Twitter accused Britain’s governing Conservatives on Wednesday of misleading the public by rebranding themselves as factcheckers during a live TV election debate, fuelling concerns about trust in politics. The Tories also drew complaints from rival parties after renaming their press office Twitter account “factcheckUK” during Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s clash with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday night. The account fired off real-time rebuttals during the prime-time debate in what the Conservative party argued was a necessary corrective to Labour’s “nonsense” claims. But a Twitter spokeswoman warned that rules were in place to “prohibit behaviour that can mislead people, including those with verified accounts”. “Any further attempts to mislead people by editing verified profile information — in a manner seen during the UK election debate — will result in decisive corrective action,” she said. As in other countries, social media is proving to be one of the key battlegrounds in Britain ahead of the December 12 election, but it can also be a conduit for rumour, misdirection and “fake news”. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on Wednesday warned that “we all have a responsibility to speak accurately, to challenge falsehoods when we hear them, and to be careful to separate facts from opinion”. There are particular concerns in Britain after years of misleading claims, broken promises and toxic arguments about the country’s tortuous exit from the European Union. The government has yet to publish a report into concerns of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum vote, despite its completion months ago. And Johnson himself has a history of lying, including in the 2016 campaign. He also drew criticism for refusing to acknowledge he would have to delay Brexit beyond October 31 for long after it became obvious. For his part, Corbyn is accused of hiding his true views on Brexit and of betraying party members who accuse him of not doing enough to address anti-Semitism. In a sign of the times, the studio audience in Tuesday’s debate laughed at Corbyn when he said his Brexit position was clear, and also at Johnson when he insisted that the truth was important. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab played down the move to rebrand the @CCHQPress account during Tuesday’s debate, saying it was part of the “cut and thrust” of social media. “We’ve had all sort of nonsense thrown at the Conservatives, we’re going to be in the process… of having a really good instant rebuttal,” he told the BBC. He noted that the words CCHQ were underneath the factcheckUK brand, and insisted: “Noone who looked at it for more than a split second would have been fooled.” Asked about whether voters would be concerned, Raab said he had been out campaigning and “no-one gives a toss about the social media cut and thrust”. But an independent fact-checking charity Full Fact said it was “inappropriate and misleading” for a party press office to take on the moniker of a fact-checking site. “They weren’t putting out accurate information, they were putting out party lines, unlike a serious fact-checker giving sources,” chief executive Will Moy told BBC radio. Tom Brake, an MP with the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats, said the tactic was “straight out of Donald Trump or Putin’s playbook”. AGENCIES

Pope lands in Thailand to kick off two-country Asian tour BANGKOK AGENCIES

Pope Francis arrived in Thailand on Wednesday greeted by cheering faithful, on the first leg of an Asian tour that will sweep in Japan and carry a message of interreligious dialogue and nuclear disarmament. The pontiff landed just after midday (0500 GMT) at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, where he stepped off the plane and was met by his missionary cousin Sister Ana Rosa, who has lived in Thailand for decades.

“I am happy to see you and that you are able to be my translator,” he told her, as dozens waved Thai and Vatican flags.

The welcome party included Thai-

land’s deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak and children in traditional ethnic minority dress, one of whom Francis stopped to hug. This will be the pope’s third trip to Asia — and his 32nd abroad — taking him to two Buddhist-majority countries with minority Catholic populations both evangelised by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.

Francis is the first pontiff in nearly four decades to visit Thailand where the nearly 400,000-strong Catholic community makes up a little more than 0.5 percent of the population.

The last visit from a pontiff came in 1984 by Pope John Paul II. Before his departure, Francis praised the Southeast Asian country as a “multi-

ethnic nation”, and hoped his trip would strengthen the Catholic community’s

bonds of friendship with “many Buddhist brothers and sisters”.

“I trust that my visit will help to highlight the importance of inter-religious dialogue, mutual understanding and fraternal cooperation,” the Pope said in the video marking his November 20-23 visit. Francis’ visit has stirred excitement among Thailand’s Catholic community, who made a strong show of force on Wednesday waiting for his motorcade near the Vatican City embassy in Bangkok. They included a costumed mascot made to resemble Francis and children yelling “Sawadee Pa! (Hello Father)”.

Sister Ana Rosa told AFP she did not have time to catch up with her cousin after his arrival as the 82-year-old pontiff was resting following the long overnight flight from Rome.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

BUSINESS 11

‘Govt will tRy its bEst to kEEP GsP-Plus fACility iNtACt’

CORPORATE CORNER

MULTAN: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has partnered with the Women Economic Empowerment Network for the WEEN Summit 2019. PReSS ReleASe

DAWOOD TERMS HUMAN AND LABOUR RIGHTS’ ISSUES AS HURDLES IN WAY OF GSP+ STATUS ISLAMABAD

P

KARACHI: A K-Electric delegation, headed by CEO Moonis Alvi, met with the Federal B Area Association of Trade & Industry (FBATI) as part of the power utility’s drive to further improve industry facilitation through closer coordination. PRe S S R e l e A S e

ISLAMABAD: Jubilee Life Insurance and Roche Pakistan collaborate to introduce Pakistan’s first ever cancer protection plan. PReSS R e l e A S e

Promotion of tax culture imperative for long-term stability: PM ISLAMABAD INP

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the efforts were underway to promote tax culture in the country, adding that the government's policies would bring long-term stability in the country. Addressing the sales and income tax refund cheques distributing ceremony in Islamabad, he said that the country was facing $19 billion current account deficit when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came into power but today Pakistan's current account turned into a surplus.

The PM noted that the local currency was stabilising while the stock market was also flourishing, saying that the increasing confidence of investors was welcoming. Imran Khan said that China managed to lift millions living under the poverty line owing to its long-term policy, adding that "not only India but Bangladesh has also left us behind in GDP growth". "No one has ever stressed over long-term policy in Pakistan but the PTI government is devising it to bring economic stability in the country," he said. "We have gone through a very difficult period where we had to bring stability. Now you will see our long-term policies on trade, investment, different textile, e-commerce and various other areas." He said that the government was employing all its efforts in supporting and promoting the business community, specifically to promote industrialisation. The premier said that the country cannot run without taxes and the business community should pay taxes otherwise Pakistan won't be able to compete in the world. "Raising the living standard of the poor people is only possible through tax collection," PM Imran said, adding that China was an example for Pakistan, as their policies have vision, clarity and certainty. The prime minister said, "Those who think that the country will work without payment of taxes, let me tell you, this might be possible in fairy tales but not in real life.

GHUlAM ABBAS

AKISTAN would have lure the European Union (EU) into extending the GSP+ facility, which has helped Pakistan increase its exports to Europe by 50pc.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, while speaking at a national multi-stakeholder consultation on GSP+ organised by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research on Wednesday, said that Pakistan would try its best to keep the facility intact. He, however, agreed that issues such as outof-school children, child labour, occupational health & safety and other human rights stand out as key concerns.

He shared the incumbent government's commitment for compliance to the 27 GSP+ conventions, particularly those related to human rights and labour rights.

"We see civil society as partners in this journey, and we all have to collectively work to improve the rights' situation in the country," he remarked.

He said that the successive reports on GSP+ indicated that Pakistan was moving in a direction towards improved compliance of GSP+ treaties.

"We have a long way to go. However, there is acknowledgement from all quarters, especially the government, that we must continue working on facilitating rights through legislation, institutional

EU ENVOY SAYS OVER 3M PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING UNDER ‘MODERN SLAVERY’ IN PAKISTAN WHILE OVER 2M CHILDREN ARE WORKING AS CHILD LABOURERS measures, implementation mechanisms and an enabling pro-rights environment," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, EU Ambassador in Pakistan Androulla Kaminara said the next two-year report would be presented in the EU Parliament in January. She pointed out that currently, eight countries were enjoying the GSP+ facility extended by the EU. "Pakistan has been benefitting from the GSP Plus scheme since 2014, which has resulted in an increase in its exports to European countries by over 50pc," she noted.

The envoy said that the textile sector was the main beneficiary of this scheme. However, she added, the situation of labour and human rights has not improved much.

For example, she said over 3 million people were still living under "modern slavery" in Pakistan while over two million children were working as "child labourers".

"Similarly, the unionisation rate of workers is very low at under 5pc."

She assured that there would be no backtracking in GSP Plus and that the EU would continue supporting Pakistan. She also acknowledged the role of business associations in the country.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director Ingrid Christensen on the oc-

Govt to review development shares for Karachi, Hyderabad ISLAMABAD: In an apparent attempt to pacify its key coalition partner in the federal government – Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is likely to review the development shares for Karachi and Hyderabad.

Apart from the shares for Karachi and Hyderabad, the ruling party would also speed up the implementation on the promised Karachi package announced after the general election, reliable sources informed Pakistan Today.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh recently held a meeting with a delegation of MQM leaders in Islamabad to discuss the grievances of the Karachi-based party regarding funding constraints in the megacity, which had voted for the ruling party in 2018.

The meeting was held at a time when MQM was beginning to raise concerns over the government's future, besides debating the benefits that MQM had so far gained in re-

sponse to extending its support to the PTI government.

It may be noted that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) – allies of the federal government – had already expressed their annoyance with the ruling party during the sit-in days of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

During the meeting held a few days ago, insiders claim the MQM delegation was informed that the federal government would fulfil all its commitments regarding the Karachi Package. It was also informed that the execution of Karachi Bus Rapid Transit project would be expedited and that the project was being shifted to the Cabinet Division from the Ministry of Communication.

"The Cabinet Division will now supervise the execution of the mega transport project in Karachi," sources said.

During the meeting, MQM's major demand was regarding the reinstitution of the abolished municipal/city taxes including 'Octroi and Zila' taxes.

The Octroi and Zilla Tax (OZT) were used to apply to goods entering a city or a district. Local governments would thus earn revenue from goods entering their cities. But the tax was abolished in 1999. The central government had then decided to compensate for the loss by raising the sales tax from 12.5pc to 15pc.

After the abolition of the taxes, it was the responsibility of the Sindh government to give the due share to Karachi and Hyderabad as compensation of the old taxes. But the local governments, mainly under MQM, have always cried over lack of resources/funding and due share from the provincial government. The finance ministry officials assured the MQM leaders that the issue would be reviewed so that the reservations of the local government could be addressed.

According to sources in the finance ministry, over Rs450 billion was transferred to Sindh under the distribution mechanisms since the abolition of OZT in 1999. GHUlAM ABBAS

PIA caused Rs321m loss to national exchequer: audit ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) has drowned Rs321 million of the national exchequer as the airline failed to recover the money from 46 foreign agents, audit report of 2012-13 submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed on Wednesday.

The report said during the audit of the accounts of PIAC in 2010, it was found that a heavy amount of Rs321 million was recoverable against 46 foreignbased international passenger agents pertaining to the period from 1993-2010.

Moreover, an amount of Rs36.78 million was out-

standing against foreign cargo agents pertaining to the period from 1997 to 1998.

The report said neither the steps were taken by the management of PIAC to recover the dues from the defaulting agents nor the management had obtained security or bank guarantee from the agents to secure the credit.

Audit informed the committee that the management was directed to provide all the documents/record like bank statements, recovery ledgers, crediting receipts, written off details, adjustment details of the amount and approvals of the competent authority to audit for verification but the management of PIAC failed to comply with any of the directions.

This is a responsibility of Principle Accounting Officer (PAO) to conduct Departmental Accounts Com-

mittee (DAC) meetings before appearing at the highest forum of PAC, audit officials commented which annoyed the secretary aviation Shahrukh Nusrat.

“This is unfair on part of the audit to hold responsible for everything, I wasn’t here 10 years back,” the secretary said.

Hina Rabbani Khar, the convener of the committee, remarked that the directions were given to the secretary aviation without looking that who is holding the office.

She insisted to give a time for collection of all the record because without verification of the record the audit could not be settled.

The secretary ensured the committee by December 10, all the record pertaining to the audit para will be provided to the audit department.

ILO OFFICIAL SAYS HER ORGANISATION IS WORKING WITH PAKISTAN ON CONDUCTING A 'CHILD LABOUR SURVEY', WHICH WAS LAST CONDUCTED IN 1996 casion said that the ILO was working with the Pakistani government on conducting a 'child labour survey' as it was not done for many years.

The last child labour survey was conducted in 1996 in Pakistan.

"Child labour is rampant in Pakistan as we have found everywhere that children are selling flowers and books on streets. Trade unions are facing interference in registration and there is a lack of monitoring. Another concern is the lack of collective bargaining and dispute resolution mechanism in Pakistan."

She appreciated the government for the enactment of many simplified labour laws. However, she pointed out that the implementation of labour laws was a major challenge.

"In some provinces, the governments have abolished the labour inspection for which the respective governments need to clarify their positions," she added.

The ILO official pointed out that in Balochistan, the high court has abolished many trade unions and there was a lack of capacity in labour department.

Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights MNA Lal Chand Malhi said that the present government was paying special attention on the welfare of minorities. He especially referred the opening up of Kartarpur Corridor.

China lauds Pakistan’s CPEC security ISLAMABAD: China has appreciated Pakistan on providing dedicated security to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. As per the documents available with this scribe, the Chinese officials, in a recent meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee held in Islamabad, appreciated Pakistan on providing state-of-the-art security to CPEC projects. The Chinese side agreed that an increase in the personnel of the Special Security Division (SSD North and South) has further enhanced the security of CPEC. In addition, the two sides reaffirmed that security was of utmost importance for the development of CPEC. They agreed that the countries should remain highly vigilant to the threats of terrorist attacks. The Pakistani side assured that the country would take all necessary measures to ensure the security of Chinese personnel, while the Chinese side said that it would work with Pakistan to mitigate all threats to CPEC. SHAHZAD PARACHA

NA body recommends wheat support price at Rs1,400 ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee of the National Assembly Special Committee on Agricultural Products, after detailed deliberations, unanimously urged the government to set the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat for the year 201920 at Rs1,400 per 40kg. The members of the committee emphatically stressed that the MSP should be in line with price hike in agricultural inputs particularly fertilizers, fuel, and pesticides. They contended that the government’s recommended MSP at Rs1,350 should be revised. The meeting, held at the Parliament House on Wednesday, was chaired by Sub-Committee Convener Syed Fakhar Imam. The meeting was held on the directions of the National Assembly speaker who referred the business to the sub-committee after several MNAs complained regarding the support price for wheat, minimum indicative price for sugarcane, negative growth of cotton, outstanding power bills against the farmers and increase in farmers electricity bills. INP

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

12 BUSINESS

PM uNdERsCoREs NEEd to stREAMliNE PAk-AfGhAN tRANsit tRAdE ISLAMABAD

share of clean energy to be enhanced to 65pc by 2030: minister OMAR AYUB SAYS AROUND 20,000MW CLEAN, ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY AND CHEAP RENEWABLE ENERGY WILL BE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM BY 2030 ISLAMABAD APP

Power Division Minister Omar Ayub Khan said on Wednesday that around 8,000MW and 20,000MW clean, environment-friendly and cheap renewable energy (RE) would be added to the system by 2025 and 2030, respectively, under the new Alternative Renewable Energy Policy 2019 approved by the federal cabinet. Addressing at a press conference flanked by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, the minister said that share of clean and green energy would be enhanced to 6065 per cent of the total energy mix by 2030. "The policy aims to substantively reduce electricity prices in the future," he added. The minister said that the RE sector alone offers up to $40 billion worth of investment opportunities, adding that $700 million investment has already been made in 12 wind energy projects. “Besides reducing electricity prices, the government initiatives are also aimed at boosting industrial activities, which would help increase the country's exports as well as create employment opportunities,” he maintained. Omar Ayub said that under the policy, solar panels and wind turbine would be manufactured in the country and in this regard, negotiations were already underway with foreign companies. He blamed the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government for killing all RE projects in order to pave way for expensive LNG projects. Regarding power sector performance, the minister said, the power sector revenue has jumped to record Rs229 billion. Giving the breakup, he said out of the total, Rs111 billion was collected through crackdown against power theft while the remaining Rs118 billion was received through tariff determination. Speaking on the occasion, Nadeem Babar said for the first time in the country's history, a RE policy draft was prepared after consultation with all stakeholders, including public sector, experts, provinces and international agencies. “It would be one of the best RE policies as costs and tariffs etc. have completely been eliminated,” he said, adding that contracts would be awarded through open and transparent bidding processes. He said special focus [in the policy] was given to the local manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines.

“As many as three companies, including a Danish company, has shown interest in manufacturing wind turbines in Pakistan,” he added. To a question, Minister Omar Ayub said the RE policy would be sent to the Council of Common Interest for endorsement. To another question, he said around 80 per cent feeders have been cleared from power pilferage while work on the remaining feeders was underway. He reiterated that no amount was paid in the settlement of Karkey power plant case, adding that the dispute was resolved with the help of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

P

PPI

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review issues related to PakAfghan Transit Trade and the way forward towards streamlining the trade mechanism to ensure optimum and mutually beneficial utilisation of the arrangement.

The meeting was attended by IT Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddique, Maritime Affairs Minister Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, SAPM for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Raza Baqir, Commerce Secretary Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood.

The commerce secretary on the occasion gave a detailed briefing on the existing set-up under Pak-

Afghan Transit Trade Agreement and various issues being encountered at the operational level, including the issue of smuggling back of goods into Pakistani markets that adversely affect the industry of the country.

The prime minister in his remarks stated that in view of the positive impact of socio-economic development of Afghanistan, the Pakistan government was committed to facilitating transit trade of the landlocked neighbouring country.

However, the PM directed to ensure that the arrangement was not misused and does not hamper the growth of the Pakistani industry.

Reiterating that the growth of industry and increase in exports were among the key priorities for the government, the prime minister underscored the need to streamline Pak-Afghan Transit Trade arrangement, in coordination with Afghan authorities, so as to create a mutually beneficial situation for the two countries and the region.

He also underlined the need for

employing technology to preclude misuse of the arrangement by vested interests.

He directed the Ministry of Commerce to present a comprehensive plan, within three days,

considering all operational aspects and identifying the required administrative measures, to ensure a transparent and corruption-free arrangement capable of serving the intended purpose.

‘Agri development among top govt priorities’ BUSINESS DESK: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that uplift of the agriculture sector was among the top priorities of the government. Talking to National Food Security and Research Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, PM Imran said, “The share of agriculture in the GDP and the fact that 50 per cent workforce is connected with it reflects the sector’s importance to the country’s economy.” The prime minister said that agriculture has been made part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and that the government was striving to take full benefit from the Chinese expertise by introducing the latest technology and farming techniques in the sector. This, he said, would help improve the productivity of the agriculture sector. The PM expressed confidence that Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, who has recently been given the portfolio of the Ministry of National Food Security, would fully devote his energy for the development of the agriculture sector.

MARKET DAILY

Int’l ride hailing app ‘Grab’ is launching in Pakistan. Well, not quite

bourse turns bearish, sheds 526 points

providers.

According to Grab, users will be able to pay for rides using GrabPay credits and earn GrabRewards points, similar to Careem Wallet. The app will also be in the consumers’ preferred language for easier navigation.

Careem, which was acquired by Uber earlier this year for$3.1 billion, has more than 1 million drivers in the Middle East. JapanTaxi operates a fleet of around 70,000 cars.

Apart from Pakistan and Japan, Grab will also offer services in Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon and Kuwait. Grab already offers services via Splyt in eight Southeast Asian countries.

Grab’s latest expansion, and its investment in Splyt, is part of the company's belief that Southeast Asians are now travelling more to new countries. Instead of a tourist downloading a new ride-hailing app for each country, a tourist can now book rides on their Grab app, and have them facilitated by Splyt’s partners, like Careem.

KARACHI: It was a tough day for the investors who saw the indices crumble at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) after two positive sessions. The benchmark KSE-100 Index slid below the 38,000mark intraday, while volumes fell slightly from the previous session. Foreign investors ended as net buyers for the second successive session on Tuesday with a net inflow of $3.96 million. The KSE-100 Index breached 38,000-mark and recorded its intraday low at 37,977.63. It settled lower by 526.69 points at 38,037.68. The KMI-30 Index was down by 1,049.49 points or -1.67pc to close at 61,690.51, while the KSE All Share Index depreciated by 330.13 points, ending at 26,896.80.

Out of the total traded shares, 119 advanced and 211 declined. The overall trading volumes declined by 15pc and were recorded at 327.64 million.

Worldcall Telecom (WTL +0.63pc) turned out to be the volume leader, followed by The Bank of Punjab (BOP -2.98pc) and Pak Elektron Limited (PAEL +1.82pc). The scripts had exchanged 28.33 million, 17.10 million and 15.08 million shares, respectively. Sectors that pulled the KSE-100 Index lower included banking (-202.50 points), oil and gas exploration (-112.58 points) and cement (48.98 points). Among the companies, Habib Bank Limited (HBL -63.31 points), Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO -48.94 points) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC -34.50 points) dented the index the most. The banking sector lost 1.91pc from its cumulative market capitalization ahead of the monetary policy announcement (due on Friday). Big players Habib Bank Limited (HBL -2.76pc), MCB Bank Limited (MCB -1.85pc) and United Bank Limited (UBL 2.04pc) closed in the red zone. STAFF RePORT

GRAB USERS IN PAKISTAN CAN NOW HAIL RIDES USING CAREEM MEIRYUM ALI Singapore-based ride-hailing giant Grab announced it will offer its services in Pakistan from the first quarter of 2020, via the existing ride-sharing app Careem. It will also expand its services in 13 other countries.

According to a company statement, rides in Pakistan and in the Middle East will be facilitated through the Careem app, while bookings in Japan would be fulfilled by JapanTaxi.

In Pakistan, Grab will offer its services in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Abbottabad, Sargodha, Mardan, Sukkur, Quetta and Bahawalpur, the company’s press release said.

This new expansion has been made possible because of Grab’s existing partnership with Splyt, a London-based company that Grab had invested in earlier this year.

Splyt is a global mobility marketplace that connects existing ride-hailing services.

Industry insiders explained that Splyt functions as a backend technology that allows ‘roaming-like’ services between different operators like Careem and Grab, which both use the platform.

In this case, Grab is not setting up separate operations in Pakistan, but instead is using Careem’s existing inventory. This means users who already use the Grab app can now access services like Careem without having to download another app.

It is unclear what impact Grab’s expansion in Pakistan will have, since the news essentially helps only Grab users visiting Pakistan.

Sources within the industry have called it ‘negligible’, and akin to Singtel [Singapore’s largest mobile network provider] announcing a roaming partnership with any one of Pakistan’s mobile network

All federal govt departments to be automated by June 2020, NA body told ISLAMABAD SYeDA MASOOMA

National Information Technology Board (NITB) Director-General Faisal Iqbal Ratyal on Wednesday briefed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication about NITB's current and upcoming projects.

According to the NITB official, the board plans to convert all federal government offices into "e-offices" by June 2020.

"As of now, the Finance Division, Privatization Division, IT and Telecom Division along with 10 other departments have achieved almost 100pc automation," the DG stated. "These ministries are at 'Level-4' [of automation] which means that there is only 10pc paperwork and that too in case of highly classified documents. Everything else is electronic."

Next to these, at 'Level-3' are Aviation Division, Defence Production Division and Power Division, he said.

NITB OFFICIAL SAYS FINANCE, PRIVATISATION AND IT DIVISIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONVERTED INTO 'E-OFFICES' "There are 15 departments at 'Level2' including Information and Broadcasting Division, Foreign Affairs Division and Law and Justice Division. Until these divisions are fully automated, the systems and infrastructure already owned by the departments are being utilised while the automation process is underway."

He said only one department, the Industries and Production Division, is at ‘Level-1’, while there are several at 'Level-00' including Human Rights Division, Railways Division, Climate Change Division and Water Resources Division.

"These departments don't even have the equipment or other related technical capabilities required for automation.”

The parliament members in attendance expressed concerns over lack of modern technological equipment in many

significant departments. The NITB DG assured that the board is focusing on these departments as a priority.

In addition to this flagship project of NITB, Faisal told the committee that NITB is also in the process of launching a Whatsapp-like software, besides an alternative to the commercial emailing systems.

He said that once such a system is operational, NITB would be able to control the flow and security of federal government's data from National Telecommunication Corporation headquarters instead of having to go to individual offices and tell government employees not to use USBs or any other form of technology that can leak data.

"If someone leaks any document from their computer directly, we will also be able to trace that," he added.

He continued that NITB is also in the process of establishing a Data Nervous System (DNS) which would be linked to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), NADRA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), taxes departments and public health departments.

"The board is preparing a software to control money laundering and fake news, besides ensuring streamlining of Kamyab Jawan programme, Ehsaas programme, as well as eProcurement for Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)," he added.

Faisal noted that these programmes are all aimed at making day-to-day operations easier and more secure, and to ensure that no federal data leaves sight or control of NITB. The committee also pondered over the progress of IT parks in Abbottabad and Peshawar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) Deputy Director Asim Ishaq told the

committee that feasibility reports are needed for these two projects, adding that revenue clearance for the reports has already been received.

"The report pertaining to Abbottabad IT Park is in process and will be ready for submission within three months, after which we will submit the PC-1 to the ministry," he said, adding "the report for Peshawar IT Park is yet to be prepared".

KPITB MD Dr Shahbaz Khan also shared the department’s plans for Pakistan Digital City (PDC), which is to be situated in Haripur near the Khanpur Dam Road. He also requested the committee to put forward a request to make PDC into a Special Economic Zone.

In response to this, Additional Secretary (IT & Telecom) Jawad Paul said that even though such a suggestion had not been formerly included in the agenda of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), it has already been suggested and included as a discussion topic for the upcoming Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting.

Finding Solace at a RoadSide eateRy

WITH DRIPPING INNOCENCE; NATALIA AWAIS IS THE NEW FACE OF ACTING

1

What acting style would explain you the best? Is it just one?? Or you are open to negative roles as well in future?

I am open to any role with a character arc, it should be realistic and relatable in general!

2 3

When did you realise you wanted to be an actor?

How did it all start?

I always wanted to act. It all started from a school play I did.

By Rohama Riaz

W

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

e have become addicted to fine dines so much that we cannot digest the calories that we may eat on roadside cafes, golgappa cart or an average looking restaurant. Lahore, that was once, known for great food has now limited its glory to a good ambiance and expensive rates. We immediately start doubting the food that we get at a comparatively low price. This custom was broken by Jay Bee’s when they started selling the most delicious ice cream with a price starting from 100.

Such places give us hope that you can find good food at a cheap price as well. This does not have to have a tag of being so costly. The restaurants have stopped putting extra effort while still keeping the rates low for the general public. Instead of improving their qualities, they have started using techniques to put them in limelight. Instead of providing good food, the only purpose is to make double money.

They have started relying on activities like “live music”, a food challenge or a stand-up comedy. No doubt, these activities put an extra oomph to the overall experience of a

restaurant, nevertheless, they cannot compensate for bad food.

All my assumptions were smashed when I tried this delicious Sajji by a roadside restaurant with the name “Akram Tikka Shop”.

To my surprise, they were serving hot food with exceptionally great customer service. The way they were greeting their customers broke the record of any good high priced restaurant. Not just this, their freshly made tikka was so appetizing that we couldn’t stop ourselves from overeating. If you want to check how involved the restaurant is to provide you with fresh and hygienic food, you should check their salads. Raw food is the best way to check the common practices of a restaurant. This eatery did not disappoint us even with the salad and raita.

The warm breast piece tucked away in a heap of scrumptiously made rice only under Rs. 200 is not less than a heavenly experience.

Their customer-focused service makes the whole experience a treat to the buds.

If you ever go to Mehmood Kasuri road, do not forget to stop by at Akram Tikka Shop for great and hygienic food service.

What drama (especially) from the past you would have loved doing?

Ahh!! There are so many, but yeah Ashfaq Ahmed’s Aik Mohabbat So Afsanay! Would have loved to be a part of it!

4

How is Natalia in real life?

An introvert!!

5

Weirdest fan moment up till now?

There hasn’t been any weird moments, but I always feel overwhelmed when someone appreciates my acting! I love it!

6 7

What do you do when you are not working?

Then, i will be with my family, dogs and a good book.

What have you learned about yourself since you became an actor?

That if I really try, I can exceed my expectations, hence talent can be learnt!

By Rohama Riaz

8

What’s your take on feminism?

A feminist, always!

I’d just like to say, that for those who criticise this movement, they need to check the real definition

of feminism.

Ps. We don’t hate men, we hate any sort of oppression. In fact, my dad is a feminist!

9 10

Has your life changed after being an actor?

Not really, yes I enjoy my work a lot.

But my personal life has been how it should be!

What do you enjoy the most? The limelight or the ordinary life you had before getting into this career?

What I enjoy the most is a challenging character, a camera in front of me, and the director’s look after i portray the character as guided.

The rest doesn’t matter. I still lead an ordinary life!

There are around 4 quadrillion quadrillion bacteria on Earth: Not all bacteria are bad. In fact, some of those itty-bitty biological cells are actually good for us and aide the world in various and complex ways.

And that's nice to know, considering there are around 4 quadrillion quadrillion individual bacteria on our planet, according to NPR.

11

Would you like to comment on “Harassment at workplace”? Have you ever encountered such a thing or has it made you uncomfortable at any point till now since you have started your career?

That’s why we do need the feminist movement, at least now people do think twice before harassing! And yes, I really pray that there are better and strict laws and regulations against harassment. Rather than judging a person by the clothes they wear, there should be effective laws against the harasser! And, no, I haven’t had any such experience yet, but if god forbid I do, I won’t be quiet about it, because this is nothing to hide.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Henry Cavill Fighting For Superman Role: Reveals General Pryde, Images Footage 'Not Giving Up' The latest issue of entertainment Weekly sports three cool Star Wars covers as well as a batch of preview images for The Rise of Skywalker including Richard e. Grant as First Order Allegiant General Pryde.

The pics also feature Daisey Ridley as Rey practicing with a training remote (perhaps with Luke training her), Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn with newcomer Naomi Ackie as Jannah, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron with Finn and Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Stormtroopers, Finn, Chewbacca, Rey, and Poe, Chewie, Poe, and Finn in the Millennium Falcon, and the covers revealed for the issue. Ridley also talked about Rey's lineage (via eW).

"The parents thing is not satisfied — for her and for the audience,” she said. “That’s something she’s still trying to figure out — where does she come from?”

Ridley also touched upon The Last Jedi that basically said she is a nobody. “It’s not that she doesn’t believe it,” Ridley offered, “but she feels there’s more to the story. And she needs to figure out what’s come before so she can figure out what to do next…”

Japan is the world's most earthquake-prone country: Earthquakes can range from minor tremors that are barely noticeable to building-toppling groundshakers that cause massive destruction. But it's an inevitable part of life for those who live in countries such as China, Indonesia, Iran, and Turkey, which are some of the most earthquake-prone places on the planet.

However, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Japan records the most earthquakes in the world.

Henry Cavill speaks out about what is going on with Superman and says in typical Man of Steel fashion that he is going to fight for the role.

“The cape is in the closet,” Cavill tells Men’s Health. “It’s still mine. I’m not going to sit quietly in the dark as all the stuff is going on. I’ve not given up on the role. There’s a lot I have to give for Superman yet. A lot of storytelling to do. A lot of real, true depths to the honest of the character I wasn’t to get into. I want to reflect the comic books. That’s important to me. There’s a lot of justice to be done for Superman. The status is: You’ll see.”

Henry also offered his thoughts on his three DC flicks. "[Man of Steel?] A great starting point. If I were to go back, I don’t think I’d change anything. [Batman v Superman?] Very much a Batman movie. And I think that realm of darkness is great for a Batman movie. [Justice League?] It didn’t work," he said.

Regarding "all the stuff that is going on," back this Summer while at Comic-Con, DC insiders filled me in that J.J. Abrams is going to be taking on both Superman and Green Lantern.

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People who are currently alive represent about 7 percent of the total number of people who have ever lived: Here's another world fact to keep in the back of your mind: According to the Population Reference Bureau, since the time Homo sapiens first hit the scene 50,000 years ago, more than 108 billion members of our species have been born.

BHU protests: Paresh Rawal supports Muslim Sanskrit professor, appeals to students to not engage in ‘idiocy’ Actor and former BJP MP Paresh Rawal says he is “stunned” by the protests against the Muslim professor Firoz Khan in the Sanskrit faculty of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who is facing opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

By this logic, he said, neither the legendary Mohammed Rafi nor music composer Naushad should have collaborated on bhajans (devotional songs).

The Banaras Hindu University has been in the headlines for the ABVP and many of its students protesting against the appointment of Firoz Khan as assistant professor in the Sahitya department of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnan (SVDV).

Pointing out that language had no correlation with religion, Rawal appealed to the students to not engage in “idiocy”.

“Stunned by the protest against professor Feroz Khan! what language has to do with Religion!?!?!?

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

14 SPORTS

Rafael Nadal hails 'amaziNg atmospheRe' as spaiN beat Russia at davis Cup

MADRID

R

AGENCIES

AFAEL Nadal instigated a Spanish comeback against Russia in the Davis Cup on Tuesday by capitalising on a raucous home crowd to beat Karen Khachanov in straight sets.

Nadal, who will finish the year as world number one, came through a second-set tie-break to defeat Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) and level the Group B match in Madrid.

Marcel Granollers and Feliciano Lopez then won the deciding doubles rubber 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) against Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, who had earlier given Russia the lead with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

A new format this year means the Davis Cup takes place in one venue, across a single week, with organisers - among them Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique -- hoping a tighter schedule will revitalise the prestigious trophy. The three stadiums at the Caja Magica were all far from full for Tuesday's early matches but Nadal enjoyed a bumper crowd of local fans for his

hard-fought contest in the evening.

"The atmosphere was amazing," said Nadal. Asked about the success of the competition so far, he added: "It is difficult to answer today. Let me wait until the tournament is over to have a clear and better opinion."

The last doubles match finished at just before 2:00 am, with Spain due to be back in action against Croatia on Wednesday afternoon.

"The only negative in my opinion is we are just starting the last match and it's 12.45am," Nadal said ahead of the doubles. "That means big trouble for us the players and also for the people who have come to the stadium too, because tomorrow is a workday. It makes everything difficult."

Australia's Nick Kyrgios said he was ready to lead Australia to glory in the tournament after they overcame Colombia.

Kyrgios battled past Alejandro Gonzalez 6-4, 6-4 and Alex de Minaur defeated Daniel Galan 6-4, 6-3 before John Peers and Jordan Thompson also won the doubles. Australia could seal their place in the last eight by beating Belgium on Wednesday and Kyrgios, who has returned from a two-month

break to play in Madrid, was feeling bullish after his win.

"I haven't played that much in the past couple of months but I took time off to get ready for this event," Kyrgios said afterwards.

"I think we can win it for sure. The way that Alex is playing and I know I can beat every single person in this competition."

Canada are through after Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov won singles ties against Reilly Opelka and Taylor Fritz respectively to secure victory over the United States while France had earlier survived a scare, the tournament's top seeds needing to win a decisive doubles rubber to beat Japan.

Even without their injured star Kei Nishikori, Japan came close to recording a major upset before experienced French duo Nicolas Mahut and PierreHugues Herbert pulled the 10-time champions over the line.

Their 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 victory against Ben McLachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama was enough after Gael Monfils slipped to a surprise 7-5, 6-2 singles loss to world number 73 Yoshihito Nishioka.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had opened with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Uchiyama.

France, on their 100th appearance in the Davis Cup, are one of the favourites this week even if they have been sceptical of the controversial changes to the 119-year-old competition. "I have to say, it is a strange feeling," said Mahut. "When you play Davis Cup, usually the stadium is full."

"Actually, it was pretty special because it was the first time I hear myself singing the Marseillaise," added Herbert. Elsewhere, Argentina beat Chile 3-0 and Kazakhstan prevailed 2-1 against the Netherlands.

Kazakhstan, who will face Andy Murray and Great Britain in Group E on Wednesday, needed Mikhail Kukushkin and Alexander Bublik to win the doubles rubber 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) against Dutch pair Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer.

Ramsey fires Wales to Euro 2020, rounds off main qualifying phase PARIS AGENCIES

Aaron Ramsey sent Wales to Euro 2020 with a brace to give them a 2-0 win over Hungary and a spot in next summer's finals, while Belgium completed their perfect qualifying campaign with a mauling of Cyprus.

Juventus midfielder Ramsey hit his decisive double either side of half-time at the Cardiff City Stadium to ensure that Ryan Giggs's side leapfrogged Tuesday's opponents into second place in Group E to snatch a spot at the multi-host tournament.

Wales also held off Slovakia, who beat Azerbaijan 2-0 but finished a point behind in third thanks to their defeat at group winners Croatia in the previous round of matches. Ramsey's match-winning display came in his first start of qualifying and capped a superb performance that belied a characteristically injury-dogged season that term in Serie A."I missed a lot of this campaign but it was all worthwhile to chip in with a couple of goals tonight," Ramsey told Sky Sports."We had the time of our lives in France (at Euro 2016). We inspired a nation last time out so we wanted to do it again."

The 28-year-old, who played 30 minutes as a substitute in Saturday's win in Azerbaijan, made an immediate impact by charging into the box to meet Gareth Bale's inch-perfect cross to settle the home side's nerves on 15 minutes.

There was no way back for the visitors once Ramsey controlled Kieffer Moore's knockdown to smash home from close range two minutes into the second half.

However Wales also had to thank goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for keeping the scores level just before the break after an incredible double save to deny first Dominik Szoboszlai and then Roland Sallai as the home fans held their breath.

The win gave Wales the final automatic place, with 20 teams ready to contest the finals and another four spots set to be

decided via the playoffs in March next year. One of the favourites for the tournament which kicks off in Rome on June 12, Belgium, made it a perfect 10 wins from 10 with a 6-1 thrashing of Cyprus that saw Christian Benteke score twice.

The Crystal Palace forward is yet to score in the Premier League but opened Belgium's account in the 16th minute with a tap-in two minutes after Nicholas Ioannou stunned the Group I winners with a superb run and shot.

He rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute when he collected a neat through ball from Kevin De Bruyne -- who also scored twice -- and slotted past Neofytos Michael. Tuesday's stroll means Roberto Martinez's side finish the qualifying phase as top scorers with a whopping 40 goals, with an average of four goals a game.

Russia, who finished two points behind Belgium, thumped San Marino 5-0 in one of a host of dead rubbers.

Germany and the Netherlands thumped Northern Ireland and Belarus to close their campaigns in style. Serge Gnabry said Germany were heading to the Euros in a positive mood after hitting a hat-trick that sank the Northern Irish 6-1 and gave them top spot in Group C. "We are playing some very, very good football," said Gnabry, who came off to a standing ovation on 80 minutes. "We are going to the finals confident and with a good run behind us. The team is young, but we're all having a lot of fun."

Georginio Wijnaldum meanwhile made another stand against racism as he also scored three times in the Netherlands' 5-0 crushing of Belarus.

Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum was angered at Excelsior striker Ahmad Mendes Moreira being subjected to racist chanting by FC Den Bosch fans during a Dutch second division match. And after opening the scoring in the sixth minute he and Frenkie de Jong joined on the sidelines to bring their arms together to draw attention to their different skin colour.

'Special one' Mourinho named Spurs boss after Pochettino sacking PARIS AGENCIES

Jose Mourinho, one of European football's most successful managers, was appointed Wednesday to replace the sacked Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, with a brief to revive the fortunes of a club languishing in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

The Portuguese former Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager signed a contract until the end of the 2022/23 season, the north London club said in a statement.

"I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters," said Mourinho, who has won domestic league titles in four different countries -- Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

"The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me."

Argentine Pochettino was sacked on Tuesday, with Tottenham struggling in the league after picking up just three wins from their opening 12 games.

The 47-year-old had transformed Spurs' fortunes after arriving from Southampton in 2014, and although he failed to win a trophy he took the club to

the Champions League final for the first time in their history just six months ago.

This season they were knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Colchester United and suffered an embarrassing 7-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Mourinho, never shy of speaking his mind, famously said "I am a special one" when he first arrived in the Premier League to manage Chelsea in 2004.

Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy said: "In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football. He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician.

"He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room."

Mourinho won Champions League titles at home with Porto and then in Italy with Inter Milan.

The 56-year-old also won three Premier League titles over two spells in charge of Chelsea, and returned to England to manage Manchester United in 2016. He was sacked last December following a poor run and has been without a club since, most recently working as a TV pundit.

His first match in charge will be the London derby at West Ham on Saturday.

Former Tottenham captain Gary

Mabbutt told the BBC that Spurs wwere forced to act after a poor run.

"I think everyone at the club will always have great affection for Mauricio, but as a board of directors you have to look at the way things are going and the board had to make a decision."

Despite their recent bad results, Tottenham thrived under Pochettino's leadership. They qualified for the Champions

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League four times, culminating in a dramatic run to the club's first-ever European Cup final in June, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid. However, domestic results had been on the decline since February, with Spurs clinging on to a top-four finish last season despite winning just three of their final 12 league games.

That form has continued at the start of this season and Mourinho arrives with

the club 11 points outside the Premier League top four, 20 behind leaders Liverpool and just six points above the relegation zone, though they are well-placed to reach the last 16 of the Champions League despite the Bayern humiliation.

Levy said the club had been "extremely reluctant" to make the change, pointing at the poor domestic results.

The job done by Pochettino was all the more remarkable given the tight budget he was afforded by Levy for transfers and wages in comparison with Tottenham's Premier League rivals, as the club built a new stadium at a cost of more than ÂŁ1 billion ($1.3 billion).

Instead, much of Pochettino's success came from nurturing a squad of young players into household names such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen. Spurs and England forward Harry Kane paid a warm tribute to Pochettino.

"Gaffer. I'll be forever thankful to you for helping me achieve my dreams," the England captain tweeted.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust questioned Levy's role in the diminishing results on the pitch. "Is the manager solely accountable? How much has the board's line on wages and transfers contributed to player unrest and disaffection?" THST said in a statement.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

SPORTS 15

sChoolboy Naseem shah set to make debut as pakistaN faCe dauNtiNg ChalleNge

maliNga iNdiCates he may play oN beyoNd t20 WoRld Cup

BRISBANE

a

AGENCIES

FTER two one-sided T20I series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the opening Test of Australia's home season promises much. Fingers crossed it delivers. Australia are looking to build on after retaining the Ashes in a drawn series while for Pakistan, it is their first assignment of the World Test Championship - in a country where they have never won a series and have not won a Test since 1995.

With that record, it's tempting to suggest it should be a walkover for the home side - and it may yet turn out that way - but it's the more competitive possibilities that are mouthwatering. Pakistan have brought three teenage quicks, with 16-yearold Naseem Shah all set to debut after he decided to remain on tour

after his mother died last week, and there has been no shortage of talking them up. The batting also looks strong with new captain Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq having good personal memories of the last tour here in 2016-17 and Babar Azam appearing primed to kick on his Test career.

"We've prepared for all of them. That's the thing with Pakistan, they have a lot of different options, a lot of skill and by the looks of it a fair bit of pace," said Tim Paine. "So we've made sure we've looked at as much footage as possible of their pace attack, and their batters.” "What we don't want is to go out there tomorrow at some stage and be surprised by something we see, whether that's their spinner, their quicks or their batsmen. So we've done our research."

From Australia's point of view, it's a summer with most things back to normal compared to the fraught atmosphere of 12 months ago.

Steven Smith and David Warner are back, one looking to continue Bradman-esque form and the other hoping to re-establish his Test credentials having been dominated

by Stuart Broad in England.

However, it has not been a seamless build-up for Australia. The batoff in Perth turned into more of a collapse-off, the end result is Cameron Bancroft - with a first-class average of 11 this season - is back in the Test squad. Then there was James Pattinson and his obscene language meaning he is out of this match. But quick bowlers is one thing Australia are not short of. In home conditions, the trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc could be the deciding factor.

It is an important match for the ground itself, too, with the Gabba coming under increasing pressure for its status as one of the premier Test venues in the country. It has been guaranteed the opening Test of the

2021-22 Ashes but didn't host India last year and it is yet to be confirmed if it will host a Test next year. There is an investment on the way, but there will be interest in the crowd figures over the next few days.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS: The Gabba is back in its traditional slot of hosting the opening Test of the season - after being pushed down the pecking order last season - and it should be a typical surface which is one of the better ones for Test cricket in the world: pace and carry for quicks, trueness the batsmen can trust and maybe some spin if the game goes deep. There was a tinge of green on match-eve, but that was enhanced by rolling in grass clippings. "I had never heard it described like this before from the curator," Justin Langer said. "He said that 'today we've got the makeup on' and I think he meant grass clippings, and tomorrow it will probably look a bit greener than it does today.

Sana Mir announces break from international cricket SPORTS DESK Off-spinner Sana Mir has announced she is taking a break from international cricket to "reset her future objections".

Despite unclear reasons, Mir has extended her support and well wishes to her fraternity and shared that she wants to "reset my future objec-

tions". "I have decided to take a break from international cricket and, as such, will not be available for selection for next month’s series against England. I will utilise this time to plan and reset my future objectives and targets," Mir said in a statement.

"My best wishes will remain with the Pakistan national women’s team in the series against

England and I am sure they’ll produce great results," the 33-year-old added.

The 20-probable training camp for the ODIs and T20I series will commence at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi from November 21, while the squads will be announced on November 27. The team will depart for Kuala Lumpur on November 30.

COLOMBO: Lasith Malinga has his sights set on captaining his country at the T20 World Cup in Australia next year, and possibly beyond, firm in the belief that his body has two more years of cricket left in the tank. It is somewhat of a change in tune from the 36-year-old, who previously stated that he would retire after next year's tournament. Malinga, who stepped into the role for a second time when Sri Lanka left both former captain Angelo Mathews and the experienced Thisara Perera out of a youthful squad that took on New Zealand in September, seems to have been rejuvenated by leading the inexperienced side. But without official sign-off from SLC on his role at the 2020 event, Malinga is certainly not counting his chickens. "[SLC] said for the World Cup I have to be lead there but you never know in Sri Lanka," Malinga told ESPNcricinfo. "T20 is four overs and I feel with my skill, I can manage T20 as a bowler. As a captain, because I've played so many T20s around the world that I feel I can manage that period for maybe another two years." And Malinga, the only man to 100 T20I wickets and first in history to reach a century of scalps in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, still believes he is more than capable of leading a youthful Sri Lanka team's transition into a new era. "Sri Lanka are lacking that skillful bowler, they lack those consistencies. We can't get one year, one and a half years, all fixed, it might be that we need to get patience, maybe two or three years," he said. "Consistency is very important. I feel whoever is doing the next selection have to understand that [for] people [to learn], they have to be there. If he's on the bench, nobody can learn. "If I believe I can give something for the youngsters, then I need to be there. I can tell, but now I can show them 'this is the way how you do it.' But if I don't play then I can't do that." Since Malinga's return as captain, Sri Lanka have won one, tied one, and lost eight of their ten T20Is under him. Malinga, though, showed he is still more than capable of leading by example in his side's sole victory during that spell.

Malinga took 5 for 6 in the third and final T20I of the New Zealand series, taking four wickets in four balls for the second time in his career en route to his best ever T20I figures. It was an astonishing spell, littered with the late swing, dipping yorkers, devious cutters and menacing bouncers that have made him one of the premier bowlers of his generation. Malinga's toolkit is as well stocked as ever, currently being sharpened at the Abu Dhabi T10 where he believes bowlers require all the tricks of the trade to succeed. "We need skills on the spot, otherwise I don't think anyone can survive this game," said Malinga, who represents Maratha Arabians in the 10-over competition. "This is the format, I feel, that tests the skill of all the bowlers." Malinga has done it all in franchise cricket and earlier this year provided further evidence that while he may be in the twilight of his career, he is still one of the best in the world. His defence of just eight in the final over of this year's IPL final made him a fourtime winner with Mumbai Indians. AGENCIES

PCB files damages claim against IMG-Reliance for PSL pull-out LAHORE AGENCIES

broadcast on television; this would have severely damaged the standing and reputation of the PSL."

The abrupt decision by IMG Reliance left the PCB at the time scrambling to find another broadcaster. And

The PCB has filed a claim for damages against IMG Reliance, in relation to its decision to pull out of a deal to produce television coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year. IMG Reliance pulled out days after a terrorist attack killed 44 Indian paramilitary troopers on February 14, heightening tensions between India and Pakistan. The claim is to be heard at the London Court of International Arbitration.

According to the PCB, IMG Reliance were sent a legal notice on October 21st, seeking compensation from the broadcaster for the loss the PCB incurred because of the pull-out. The PCB received no reply, prompting them to take the matter to court.

In a PCB meeting set to take place on Friday, Chairman Ehsan Mani will brief the Board of Governors about the move.

The PCB is set to state that the "breach of contract by IMGR could have resulted in the remaining PSL matches not being

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because of the compromised position it left the PCB in, revenues took a hit because of the new deal. It took two days

for the PCB to strike a deal with Blitz and Trans Group, who bought the rights to arrange television broadcasts for the PSL for approximately USD 36 million, with this deal set to run till the end of the 2022 season.

The PCB's relations with IMG Reliance soured thereafter. For the fivematch ODI series against Australia in March, and the recently concluded limited-overs internationals against Sri Lanka in Pakistan, the PCB had stipulated to Blitz and Trans Group that IMG Reliance would not be involved with the process in any way, and that the PCB had blacklisted them.

The fallout of the attack on Indian paramilitary troopers continued to afflict the PSL beyond its TV coverage. Military tensions between India and Pakistan necessitated much of Pakistan's airspace to be closed, and meant the three fixtures of the PSL scheduled to take place in Lahore had to be moved to Karachi. For a time, the India-Pakistan game at the World Cup was under threat, though it did eventually go ahead.

Thursday, 21 November, 2019

NEWS

Nawaz sHaRIF admItted at HaRley stReet clINIc

F

ORMER prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been admitted to the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust at Harley Street where he will undergo a detailed medical check-up.

The sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, and his personal physician Dr Adnan also accompanied him. Nawaz’s various medical tests – including blood, sugar levels, heart, and kidneys were conducted.

According to Dr Adnan, the condition of Nawaz Sharif has improved.

“After we get his reports, it will be decided whether Nawaz Sharif should be transferred to the United States for treatment or not,” he added.

Shehbaz Sharif told media that Nawaz Sharif has arrived in London because of the nation’s prayers. Hussain Nawaz said that they will refrain from saying anything political as the former premier’s treatment is their foremost priority. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif reached London on Tuesday night for medical treatment in a “high-end air ambulance” which was equipped with an intensive care unit and an operation theatre a day after his name was removed from the no-fly list on the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Former prime minister Nawaz

DR ADNAN SAYS CONDITION OF FORMER PM HAS ‘SLIGHTLY IMPROVED’

reached London on Tuesday night for medical treatment in a “high-end air ambulance” which was equipped with an intensive care unit and an operation theatre a day after his name was removed from the no-fly list on the orders of the

Lahore High Court (LHC).

Nawaz was accompanied by Shehbaz and personal physician Dr Adnan Khan. A team of doctors and paramedics were also on board to cope with any emergency situation. As soon as Nawaz

exited through the VVIP gate at Heathrow in London, he was welcomed by a convoy of party loyalists who took him home.

In a statement, PML-N Spokesperson had said that Nawaz had safely London and thankfully he did not face any medical complications during his flight. She had also asked the nation to pray for Nawaz.

Earlier on Tuesday, a senior aide of the former premier had confirmed that he will be travelling to Boston for further treatment. “Nawaz will go to Boston after going through a detailed checkup in London. During his travel, he will stay in Doha for two hours,” Pervaiz Rashid had told Reuters.

Before former premier’s departure, Marriyum had said that doctors had conducted a medical test in the morning and took measures to keep his condition stable during the journey.

“If Nawaz Sharif had left 15 days earlier, then his treatment would have already started by now,” Marriyum had said, confirming that the PML-N supreme leader will be taken to the US for treatment.

Marriyum had further said that in the absence of Nawaz and Shehbaz, party affairs will be handled by the senior leadership of the PML-N through an advisory board.

Treason case registered against students for demanding water JAMSHOROO AGENCIES

Jamshoroo police have lodged a treason case against as many as 17 students of Sindh University for allegedly chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and for being involved in wall chalking against the state, it emerged on Wednesday.

The case was lodged under Section 120-A (definition of criminal conspiracy), 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 123-A (condemnation of the creation of the state, and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 124 (assaulting president, governor, etc. with intention to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power) and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Pakistan Penal

Code on the complaint of Inspector Ghulam Qadir Panhwar, the security head of the campus.

The complainant said that on Oct 31 the hostel in-charge Qamar Lashari, Niaz Buledi, and provost Shahab Ahmed Soomro had informed him that around 17 to 18 students of the Jeay Sindh group had raised slogans against Pakistan as well as against the government of the country and had been involved in wall chalking outside the boys’ hostel’s main gate.

Inspector Panhwar said he was informed that the students were creating lawlessness in the institution. He claimed that after receiving the information, he reached the site of the incident and found that the students were carrying flags of Jeay Sindh, were raising slo-

gans against Pakistan, and were engaging in wall chalking against the state.

According to Panhwar, after seeing the police, the students moved towards the hostel while continuing to chant slogans such as “Sindhu Desh, Na Khapey Na Khapey Pakistan, we will break Pakistan”.

The complainant said he himself and the hostel in-charge clearly identified the students involved.

The students, booked in the case, rejected the allegations and said that they had staged the protest against water shortage in the hostel. They denied the allegations that they were carrying Jeay Sindh flags, raising anti-Pakistan slogans or wall chalking against the country.

The students said their semester examinations are going to begin on Dec 2

and by bringing out such a case against them, the administration was harassing them and toying with their future. They accused the university administration of resorting to vindictive actions against them and said they didn’t believe they would get justice from the courts.

Meanwhile, Sindh University ViceChancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat said that the university administration had not been consulted before the First Information Report (FIR) was registered. Burfat said that on Oct 31, the concerned students had held a protest against a water shortage but they had not raised anti-Pakistan slogans nor were they carrying Jeay Sindh flags.

Burfat said he will speak to the police and investigate how such an FIR was registered.

ecP summons PPP, Pml-N reps on 26th The Election Commission of Pakistan has sent notices to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to send their representatives before the watchdog’s scrutiny committee on Nov 26 in a foreign fund case. The case was filed by a member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) who had urged the commission to initiate proceedings against both parties for allegedly receiving illegal funds from the United States and the United Kingdom. On the petition, the PTI member, Farrukh Habib, said the PPP and the PML-N should worry about accounting for the funds they allegedly received from the US and the UK. Habib said that both parties were not willing to discuss facts about their funding. He said that the PML-N had used party funds to launder money. “As the petitioner in this case, I will not let the PPP or the PML-N flee,” he said. In Oct last year, the PTI moved the ECP against the opposition parties seeking detailed scrutiny of funding records for years 2013-2015. In two separate ‘complaints’ filed with the ECP, Farrukh Habib, a central leader of the PTI, accused the PML-N and the PPP of concealing their sources of funds and companies registered by them in the UK and the US, respectively, and sought cancellation of election symbols allocated to them “for their failure to meet legal requirements for eligibility to obtain the symbols”. NEWS DESK

Suu Kyi to contest Rohingya genocide case at world court YANGON: Aung San Suu Kyi will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to contest a case filed by Gambia accusing Myanmar of genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority, her government said on Wednesday. More than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since a 2017 crackdown by Myanmar’s military, which U.N. investigators say was carried out with “genocidal intent”. Buddhist majority Myanmar denies accusations of genocide. Gambia, a tiny, mainly Muslim West African nation, lodged its lawsuit after winning the support of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has 57 member states. Only a state can file a case against another state at the ICJ. “Myanmar has retained prominent international lawyers to contest the case submitted by Gambia,” the ministry for state counselor Suu Kyi’s office said in a Facebook post. “The State Counselor, in her capacity as Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, will lead a team to the Hague, Netherlands, to defend the national interest of Myanmar at the ICJ,” it said, giving no further details. AGENCIES

'Wide-scale' Israeli strikes kill 11 fighters in Syria TEL AVIV AGENCIES

Israeli warplanes carried out a “widescale” attack against Iranian forces and Syrian army targets in Syria Wednesday, killing at least 11 fighters, the Israeli army and a monitoring group said.

In a rare confirmation of their operations in Syria, the Israeli army said they had carried out dozens of strikes against the Iranian elite Quds Force and the Syrian military, in response to four rockets fired at Israel a day before.

At least eleven “fighters” were killed in the strikes, said Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Seven were foreigners, the group’s head Rami Abdel Rahman said, though he could not confirm whether they were all Iranian. Four civilians were also wounded, he added.

Iran has fought alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the

country’s eight-year civil war, heightening Israeli concern over the presence of its arch foe along its border.

“Whoever hurts us, we will hurt him,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

“This is what we did overnight visa-vis military targets of the Iranian Quds Force and Syrian military targets in Syria after a barrage of rockets was launched at Israel.” The Israeli army said they had targeted about a dozen military sites, including warehouses and military command centres.

“It was very intense,” spokesman Jonathan Conricus told AFP. The most important target, he said, was a control facility at the main international airport in Damascus.

“It is the main building that serves the (Iranian) Revolutionary Guards… for coordinating the logistic facilities of transport of military hardware from Iran to Syria and from Syria onwards,” he said.

Israel has carried out frequent air and missile strikes against Iranian targets inside Syria since the country descended into civil war in 2011, but rarely comments on them.

On Tuesday, four rockets were fired at Israel from Syria, with the army blaming an “Iranian force”.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted the rockets.

Conricus said it was the sixth time Iranian forces had attacked Israel directly in recent years, most recently in August.

The Israeli attack Wednesday began in the early hours, with a series of large explosions rocking Damascus, an AFP correspondent in the city said.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said Syrian anti-aircraft defences responded to a “heavy attack” by Israeli warplanes over the capital.

The Israeli army confirmed missiles were fired towards its jets but denied any were hit.

In response to the fire, it said, “a

number of Syrian aerial defence batteries were destroyed”.

“We hold the Syrian regime responsible for the actions that take place in Syrian territory and warn them against allowing further attacks against Israel,” the army said.

SANA added that the strikes were carried out from “Lebanese and Palestinian territories”. Israel sometimes launches attacks on Syria from planes flying over neighbouring Lebanon.

Syria’s civil war has been complicated by the involvement of multiple foreign powers, with Russian, Iranian and US forces on the ground backing various parties.

Russia, which has backed Assad’s regime militarily, condemned the Israeli attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying the operation “totally contradicts international law”.

“We are going to examine the circum-

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

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stances, all this is very bad,” he added.

The SOHR monitoring group said Tuesday’s rockets were fired from positions around the Syrian capital held by groups loyal to the Damascus government.

The flare-up follows a major escalation in and around Gaza last week when Israel killed a top commander of Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which is allied with Damascus.

The killing was accompanied by a second strike, unconfirmed by Israel, on an Islamic Jihad leader in Damascus that killed his son and another person.

The hundreds of strikes Israel has carried out in Syria have mostly been against Iranian targets or positions of Iran’s Lebanese ally, Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

Both are sworn enemies of the Jewish state and have backed the Syrian president’s forces with advisers and fighters.

The war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions.