E-Paper PDF 26 October (LHR)

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Saturday, 26 October, 2019 I 26 Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 116 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

Nawaz geTs bail oN medical grouNds g

ihC SayS will take up NawaZ’S plea SeekiNg SuSpeNSioN of CoNviCtioN iN al-aZiZia CaSe oN tueSDay

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DoCtor SayS NawaZ Sharif’S CoNDitioN DaNgerouS, CoulD get out of haND if Not treateD properly

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Court extends Maryam’s remand till Nov 8

staff report

he Lahore high Court (LhC) on Friday granted bail to critically ill former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills on medical grounds, but the ex-PM has not been released yet as his application pertaining to suspension of conviction in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case is still pending in the Islamabad high Court, which is slated to take up the plea on Tuesday.

A two-member LhC bench, headed by Justice Baqar Najafi, granted Nawaz bail in the CSM case after an appeal was filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, seeking his elder brother’s release, who is detained by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the short order, the former premier will have to submit two surety bonds worth Rs10 million each for his release.

“We applied for bail on the grounds that his health condition was deteriorating and that he needs better treatment,” his lawyer, Azam Nazir Tarar, told Reuters after the ruling.

Meanwhile, the former prime minister’s health continues to deteriorate. Though there have been reports of a steady rise in the exPM’s platelets, doctors have started giving him “blood-thinning medicines” after he complained of heart pain.

It is yet to be seen whether Nawaz Sharif would be moved to another hospital or allowed to go abroad for treatment as his lawyer had requested.

During the hearing, a NAB prosecutor told the court that “every life, including that of Nawaz Sharif, is precious” and claimed the former premier’s condition was “treatable”. however, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) Principal Dr Mahmood Ayaz informed the court that the former premier’s condition was “extremely serious”, as he submitted a detailed medical report of the PMLN supreme leader. he told the court that a medical board,

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which also includes Nawaz’s personal physician, meets twice every day to discuss Nawaz’s condition. The former prime minister has been diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a disease that causes the breakdown of blood cells. however, the doctors have said that the disease is “treatable” in Pakistan. Dr Ayaz told the court that Nawaz’s platelet count was constantly reducing, adding that the hospital had conducted tests to see if Nawaz was suffering from dengue.

“We inject platelets every day but they destruct every day,” Dr Ayaz said and added: “Something or the other is destroying Nawaz Sharif’s platelets.” he said that steroids will have to be injected in order to treat Nawaz. “We have to conduct a bone marrow test but we cannot inject a needle in Nawaz Sharif’s bone,” he said.

Dr Ayaz informed the court that Nawaz is a diabetes patient and is suffering from several other ailments as well.

The bench told the doctor to inform the court about Nawaz’s recent condition by 12pm and ad-

journed the hearing until 12:30pm. Subsequently, the hearing was resumed after 3:30 pm.

An accountability court had earlier this month granted NAB a 14-day physical remand of Nawaz in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. As the remand expired today, the accountability sought the former PM’s medical report in the case.

VERDICT: The petitioner has severe external existent comorbid conditions like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, hyperuraecaemia, chronic renal disease and ischaemic heart disease, said the court in a detailed verdict, alluding to the medical report submitted by the board.

Sahiwal encounter: PM tells Punjab govt to challenge ATC ruling STORY ON BACK PAGE

Zardari must not be discharged before Sat, doctors say

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Nawaz ‘satisfied’ with medical treatment, says yasmin

Deadlock persists in govt-Opp talks g

Maryam in hospital to meet father, undergo tests

firSt Day of talkS betweeN govt, opp eNDS without CoNCluSioN aS both SiDeS fail to reaCh agreeMeNt over proteSt veNue

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STORY ON PAGE 02

Scotland yard grants relief to altaf hussain STORY ON PAGE 03

US prosecutors probing Abraaj founder over alleged bribery STORY ON BACK PAGE

STORY ON PAGE 12

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02 newS Nawaz gets bail on medical grounds “The condition of the patient is critical and the current scenario of very low platelet count has added to the seriousness of nature of disease is visible.” The board, in its report to the court, had also said that Nawaz’s “anti-platelet therapy can be resumed once platelets improve to thirty thousand and that travel may be considered once platelets improve to beyond fifty thousands and his cardiac status allows”. The court, in its judgement also observed that during the night between October 24 and 25, “the petitioner experienced episode of central chest pain radiating to both arms which was relieved with sublingual nitroglycerine spray”.

According to the judgement, the head of the medical board Prof Dr Mahmood Ayaz, also apprised the court of the main risk which is the “rapid decline of platelets to 6,000 per microliter”. Dr Ayaz said that further investigation “will be possible only if the number of platelets have been increased to 20,000 per microliter” and that the board is “trying its best” in this regard. Given the aforementioned observations, the court ruled that Nawaz’s condition “is very precarious and critical, as at present there is no sign of further improvement in platelets despite the best available treatment being extended to him in the last few days”. “We consider it as a human right case as an ailing patient is entitled to the best treatment available on earth but within his reach. The petitioner is obviously sick and a senior citizen. “The medical reports have remained unchallenged by the prosecution.

The petitioner appears to be physically handicapped and his medical reports suggest the seriousness of his disease which can be fatal to his life. The condition of the petitioner is undoubtedly serious and as such he needs the treatment in conducive condition free from any kind of pressure with full peace of mind,” ruled the court. “Obviously, the purpose of bail on medical ground is to ensure that an under-trial prisoner was allowed to avail medical treatment and, or, surgical intervention, if need be, in hospital of his choice in the country or outside the country,” the court further stated in its judgment.

IHC DISCUSSES NAWAZ’S HEALTH: Separately, a two-member IHC bench, comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heard Shehbaz’s petition seeking the suspension of Nawaz’s sentence in the Al-Azizia case and release on bail. During the proceedings, Services Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Saleem Cheema, who is a member of the medical board, said that Nawaz’s condition was dangerous. The judge pointed out that the situation was not described as dangerous in the report. Dr Cheema, however, clarified that it had been mentioned towards the end of the report, which was submitted in the court. The doctor said that the former premier’s ailment had not yet been diagnosed, adding that while platelets were being formed, the levels were also falling. He said that they have to conduct some tests but can only do so once Nawaz’s health improves. Justice Kayani asked if the former premier was being provided with the best treatment, to which the doctor replied in the affirmative. The IHC judge asked if there was a threat to the former premier’s life, in response to which Dr Cheema said: “If he doesn’t receive immediate treatment, his life is in danger.” He added that Nawaz’s personal physician Dr Adnan Khan was aware of the situation. “Is there any risk factor? Is this a fatal disease?” asked Justice Kayani, to which Dr Cheema responded: “If it is not treated.”

Justice Farooq said that doctors are the best judges in this situation and they can provide the correct information regarding the medical treatment. The IHC bench asked Nawaz’s personal physician to submit his concerns to the court, adjourning the case till Tuesday.

Concluding the proceedings, Justice Kayani said that they were not medical experts and the doctors would have to explain whether there was a threat to Nawaz’s life. He said that Nawaz could not be granted bail on a legal basis; however, the court was looking at the petition on the basis of the former premier’s medical condition. –cOnTinuEd FROm PAgE 01

MaryaM IN hoSPItal to Meet father, UNdergo teStS LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz will undergo medical tests at Services Hospital after she was moved to the facility on Friday, reported a local media outlet.

The PML-N VP will also meet her father, who is critically ill and is admitted to the same hospital.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, meanwhile, has directed Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to ensure Maryam is provided medical care and allowed to see the former premier as well.

On Thursday, Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar announced that Prime Minister Imran had issued directives to keep Maryam Nawaz with her father in the same hospital.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam

MaryaM’S reMaNd exteNded tIll NoveMber 8 LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Friday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her cousin Yousaf Abbas Sharif till Nov 8 in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. During the hearing, Maryam broke into tears while talking about the health of her father, Nawaz Sharif, who is under treatment at Services Hospital after his platelet count significantly dropped late Monday night. Later on, the court directed concerned authorities to submit fresh medical reports of Nawaz till 1 pm for further process. A day earlier, Maryam had filed a bail plea in Lahore High Court (LHC) in the said case, requesting the court to release her on bail as her father is unwell and undergoing medical treatment at the hospital. Earlier on Oct 15, a combined NAB investigation team had interrogated former premier Nawaz Sharif in Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption case. However, the Bureau said that he was unable to satisfy the team. inP Nawaz, who is a nominee in the ongoing Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) reference, was also admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night after a meeting with her ailing father. However, she

was moved back to Kot Lakhpat jail the same day after spending a few hours at SIMS. Earlier in the day, the Lahore High Court (LHC) deferred a bail plea filed

Zardari must not be discharged before Saturday, doctors say NEWS DESK A four-member medical board formed to examine former president Asif Ali Zardari has recommended keeping the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman in the hospital for another two days. A four-member medical board headed by Professor Shajee Siddiqui examined the PPP leader at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS)

and advised against discharging him from the medical facility.

Zardari would receive further medical treatment for two days until Saturday. According to sources, the sugar level of Asif Ali Zardari could not be restored to normal, whereas the neck and backaches persist as well.

Yesterday, the medical board advised Zardari to refrain from standing for a long time, in addition to using a

soft pillow for his neck ache.

Doctors further instructed the cochairman of Pakistan Peoples Party to reduce the use of salt and oily food. The medical board allowed the former president to eat fish and chicken, in small quantity. Meanwhile, in a statement, Sindh’s Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Friday said former president Asif Ali Zardari “desperately needs treatment for his spinal cord pain” as he

Nawaz ‘satisfied' with medical treatment: Yasmin LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Friday said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was “now responding to the treatment and had personally told her he is satisfied with the medical care that was being provided to him”. “I personally visited him and asked him: ‘are you satisfied with the treatment?'” she said during a press conference held at Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR).

“I discussed everything with him,” she said, adding: “I will never lie to you; had he not expressed his satisfaction, I would not have said this to you.” “We told him that if he wanted us to call a doctor from

abroad, the chief minister has a plane ready and we will bring the doctor to Pakistan […] We are sharing all his reports with his personal physician,” Rashid said. Nawaz, who is currently serving a 7-year sentence in Al-Azizia Steel Mills case, was taken to the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) late Monday night after health deteriorated significantly in NAB custody. Following a number of medical tests concluded for three days, a sixmember medical board, headed by Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) Principal Dr Ayaz Mahmood, had on Thursday diagnosed the reason for Nawaz’s declining health.

“It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system

destroys platelets,” a board member had said on Thursday. “We are hopeful that his condition will improve in a few days.” Rashid, in today’s press conference, explained that earlier when doctors injected platelets in Nawaz’s body, they would be destroyed, which was reflected in the constant fluctuation in the platelet count. Now, however, the PML-N supremo was responding to the treatment, she said.

“The latest platelet count is 22,000, which means he is now responding to the treatment. I have been working with blood disorders all my life I am very hopeful that this problem will be resolved.” She said that the reason she had called a press conference was to pass on a message by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, seeking her immediate bail on the basis of basic rights and humanity.

A day earlier, Maryam had filed the petition seeking immediate bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, following which the court had issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In its response submitted the following day, the accountability watchdog sought time to submit its reply to the petition. The court accepted the plea and directed NAB to submit a formal reply by Monday. Maryam, who is a nominee in the on-going Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) reference, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night after a meeting with her ailing father. Following the meeting, Maryam suffered an anxiety attack and she was admitted to the VVIP II room, next to her father’s room in the hospital.

On Thursday, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar announced that Prime Minister Imran has issued directives to keep the PML-N VP with her father at the same hospital, hours after the Bureau had shifted her back to Kot Lakhpat jail from Services Hospital.

has recently developed an ailment affecting his spinal cord.

“There are no experts that can perform spinal cord surgery on him in Pakistan. The pain in Zardari’s spinal cord is also worsening as he is transported in armoured personnel carriers on days of his court appearance,” claimed the health minister. In June, Zardari was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the fake bank accounts case. Earlier, Zardari had undergone medical tests at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS).

The PPP co-chairman was transferred to the PIMS Hospital on Tuesday in view of his “deteriorating health” following a recommendation by a medical board.

He was shifted from an accountability court to the hospital amid tight security.

US welcomes Kartarpur Corridor agreement between Pakistan, India WASHINGTON: US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells on Friday welcomed the agreement between Pakistan and India on the Kartarpur Corridor. “Welcome news of a finalized agreement that paves the way for a corridor between India and Pakistan, allowing Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. We look forward to the formal opening in November. Building people-to-people ties between neighbors is good news,” Wells wrote on Twitter. STAFF REPORT

Pakistan chides Indian envoy over LoC firing ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday summoned Indian Charge d’ Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia to lodge a protest for targeting civilians in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) that had resulted in the martyrdom of three civilians in Neelum Valley. FO Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal condemned the unpro-

voked ceasefire violations by the Indian troops in Shahkot and Khuiratta Sectors.

Civilians, Ilm Din, s/o Zulfiqar, Gul Zarin, s/o Ilm Din and Sultan, s/o Gul Zarin, residents of village Lala, Tehsil Athmaqam, District Neelum, were martyred, while one child, Iqra d/o Muhammad Aftab, age 4 years, resident of village Jugulpur, Tehsil & District Khuiratta, sustained serious injuries.

An official press release on the mat-

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ter issued by the Foreign Office read: “The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and Working Boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.”

“The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.”

Dr Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and Working Boundary.

CMYK Saturday, 26 October, 2019

SCotlaNd yard graNtS relIef to altaf hUSSaIN MQM fouNder allowed to coMMuNicate with partY workerS through Social Media

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NEWS DESK

UTTAHIDA Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has been granted some relief by the Scotland Yard as he can now contact his party workers and use social media as long as he refrains from discussing his case, a local media outlet reported on Friday.

This relaxation in bail conditions comes two weeks after a UK court imposed strict conditions on the MQM founder after he was changer under a terrorism section. This development was further confirmed by his tweet,

which he posted soon after being allowed to do so.

Reportedly, after Altaf’s lawyers assured the police that their client would abide by the conditions, the police also took away the tag which was tied to his ankles to track his movement. In case the MQM founder fails to comply, tough bail conditions will be restored.

On October 10, the MQM founder was charged with a terrorism offence in a case related to his incendiary speech relayed from the United Kingdom (UK) to his followers in Pakistan on August 22, 2016. The MQM founder was taken into police custody and was produced before the Westminster Magistrates’

Shehbaz thankful after brother gets bail President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expresses gratitude over approval of bail to his elder brother and ex-premier Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to media persons outside the Lahore High Court (LHC), he said that the court approved the bail of Nawaz Sharif as a result of nation’s prayers. He thanked the PML-N’s legal team for assistance in the case and added that the bail of Nawaz Sharif was the “guarantee of happiness for the nation”. He informed that the medical board formed for the treatment of Nawaz Sharif could not “diagnose the illness of Nawaz Sharif” as he requested the masses to pray for the health of Nawaz Sharif. It may be mentioned here that the PML-N supreme leader, Nawaz Sharif, is battling for life at Lahore’s Services Hospital. nEWS dESK

british doctors term Nawaz’s condition ‘critical’ LAHORE: British doctors have termed former premier Nawaz Sharif’s condition ‘critical’ and recommended to immediately shift him abroad for better medical treatment.

According to details, the former premier health worsened again on Thursday as platelet count has dropped from 20,000 to 6,000. Nawaz is currently being treated at Services Hospital, Lahore where he was admitted four days ago. The medical board, formed to investigate Nawaz’s case, has included another four doctors to its ranks, including his personal physician Dr Adnan and Karachi-based haematologist Dr Tahir Shamsi. Nawaz Sharif has been diagnosed with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting, according to medics. inP

Court. Hussain had appeared before Judge Emma Arbuthnot wearing dark glasses and holding a paper, as the charge against him was read out. He had pleaded not guilty.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had asked for Hussain to be granted conditional bail. The conditions sought had included a restriction on Hussain not to broadcast any message, either video or audio, via social media, radio, TV, or internet to people in the UK or overseas concerning this case or comment on the political situation in Pakistan.

Hussain’s lawyer Kate Goold had informed the judge that her client was “gravely unwell”.

After he was informed of the bail conditions, Hussain while addressing the judge, had said, “It is a daily routine to arrest my MQM workers […] thou-

sands of my workers have been disappeared and killed and you are putting a condition; if people are killed how can I keep quiet?”

Later in the day, Hussain was granted conditional bail.

The judge imposed a night curfew on him, which means he was not allowed to leave his premises at night without informing the police. He had also been restrained from making speeches to the media or using social media. The MQM founder was also restricted from applying for travel permit and his passport remained in custody.

Night curfew as a condition is applied to serious offenders and those under investigation for serious offences. Electronic tagging is also done to ensure compliance. The next hearing of the case will be held at the central criminal court on November 1.

Fazl says govt’s actions against JUI-F will fail talks with joint Opp LARKANA STAFF REPORT

Jamait Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the ‘Azadi March’ will take place on its schedule as already announced.

Talking to media on Friday, Fazl said the arrest of our workers will have no effect on the Azadi March, adding that talks with the government under present circumstances will not be successful.

He said the federal government is shutting down petrol pumps, ration shops, stopping traffic and one organisation of JUI-F has also been banned, which prove the undemocratic intentions of the regime.

The JUI-F chief said when their several million marches, including the Peshawar Million March have already been held peacefully, then why is the government

banning it today. He said Pakistan has become isolated in the world due to failed foreign policy of the sitting government. He said according to one report, one-year corruption of the present government has broken record of all previous governments.

He said threats of suicide attacks are being given after banning Ansarul Islam. He warned that if anything happened to any opposition supporter, the Imran government will be held responsible.

He said this “fake assembly and the fake government will not be tolerated anymore”. He said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also assured him of full support to the Azadi March.

Meanwhile, JUI-F Larkana District President Maulana Nasir Mahmood Soomro said that hunger, massive price hike, taxes and unemployment are the gifts of PTI government.

He was addressing party workers meeting and said that the Niazi government is a curse on this nation and the country.

He alleged that ‘Niazi’ is the agent of Jews who wants to amend the constitution, rollback democracy and destroy the country. He said Azadi March will prove the end of this ‘puppet’ government after which people of Pakistan will take a sigh of relief. He said millions of people are ready to take to streets to participate in the Azadi March to get rid of the present rulers.

Maulana Soomro said in the name of justice, Niazi government has thrown bombs of injustices through drones on the masses. He said Nawaz Sharif has been deprived of basic human rights, and we condemn inhuman treatment meted out to Mian Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

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Indian army chief has ‘blood of innocents on hands’: ISPr NEWS DESK The Pakistan Army chief spokesperson on Friday censured Indian army chief for his warmongering rhetoric which is endangering regional peace. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter that the Indian army chief was repeatedly provoking war through his irresponsible statements for electioneering of political masters. In a string of tweets, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Indian army chief has achieved nothing other than turning his military into a rogue force.

“From fake surgical strike to date his only success has been to turn Indian Army into a rogue force and getting them killed,” he said. In another tweet, he said: “Indian Army Chief’s statements coupled with blood of innocents on hand, losses to Indian forces at the hands of Pakistan Armed Forces, heli crashes due to so called tech fault cum fratricide just to become Indian CDS is actually at the cost of professional military ethos”. The ISPR chief’s remarks come just four days after his challenge to the Indian army to share locations of the alleged terror camps the latter had claimed to have targeted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Imran to visit lahore on Monday ISLAMABAD inP

Prime Minister Imran Khan will arrive in Lahore on a day-long visit on Monday (Oct 28). According to his schedule, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will call upon the prime minister during the visit. The chief minister is expected to brief the premier on provincial matters, including the progress on development projects and party related issues. The prime minister will also chair a session on the law and order situation in the province as well as the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, the flagship affordable housing project of the PTI government.

During his last visit to the provincial capital in September, Prime Minister Imran had chaired a high-level session to review the performance of the provincial cabinet.

Govt starts registration of seminaries across the country ISLAMABAD AHmAd AHmAdAni

The government has started the registration of religious seminaries and for this purpose it has appointed officers of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) in 16 regional offices of the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE).

In this regard, a notification was issued by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, which stated that the posting or transfer of officers from BECS and NCHD has been made on attachment basis to operationalise the DGRE and its 16 regional offices all over the country with immediate effect.

“The officers are directed to report their respective place of posting with immediate effect,” the notification stated.

All officers of the BECS and the NCHD have been posted as directors while the new directorate [DGRE] has been established in Islamabad’s G-8 Sector and regional offices have been established in Rawalpindi (office in Islamabad), Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), Swat, Quetta, Khuzdar, Loralai, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Gilgit, and Skardu.

According to sources in the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the government has allocated Rs580 million for DGRE and its 16 regional offices. They said that the government will soon announce a deadline for

the registration of seminaries with the DGRE. The seminaries found to be promoting hatred and sectarianism will not to be allowed to operate, sources added.

The sources also said that the Education Ministry would also help seminary students appear for examinations in compulsory subjects which would be conducted by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), Islamabad, so that they could also get a chance to compete with the students of other schools and colleges.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government has already approved ‘Deeni Madaris Reforms’ to streamline religious seminaries and keep a check on their finances in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) objectives.

Under the approved reforms, all the

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seminaries have to register themselves with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the ministry is mandated to facilitate the said seminaries in the opening of bank accounts at the designated branches.

If the seminaries fail to comply with the terms of conditions of the ministry, their registration will be cancelled and if they fail to register with the ministry, they will be sealed.

The registered seminaries will be allowed to enroll foreign students and the Education Ministry will facilitate them in obtaining Pakistani visas for a maximum period of nine years in line with prevalent rules and regulations.

According to documents, the federal cabinet had considered the summary titled ‘Deeni Madaris Reforms’ dated Sep-

tember 1, 2019, submitted by the Education Ministry and approved it in principle.

The interior ministry opposed the reforms; however, the cabinet gave goahead on a condition that the ministry would also take all stakeholders on board.

The incumbent government had earlier tasked Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to introduce ‘Deeni Madaris Reforms’. In order to develop consensus, the ministry had held a number of meetings with the representatives of Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Pakistan (ITMP) under the chairmanship of federal minister for federal education and professional training.

After detailed deliberations on the objectives and issues of reformation of seminaries, a final agreement was unanimously signed on August 29, 2019.

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BJP-led IndIa an equal ThreaT To ChrIsTIans, MuslIMs: BIshoP dr azad RAIWIND BISHOP SAYS 1,400 INCIDENTS OF PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS DEMAND CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION REPORTED SINCE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF CURFEW BJP GOVT TOOK POWER IN INDIA AND LOCKDOWN IN KASHMIR

APPEALS PM IMRAN TO RETURN CONTROL OF PESHAWAR’S EDWARDES COLLEGE TO CHURCH

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sHaHaB OMer

HE senior most Pakistani bishop on Friday lashed out at the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “actively promoting persecution and violence against other religious minorities, including Christians,” as well as oppressing the Muslim community.

“It’s high time the world takes notice of the brutal violence being perpetrated against the Kashmiris and other religious minorities in the name of Hindu nationalism,” said Rt Reverend Bishop Dr Azad Marshall of the Church of Pakistan in a presser at the Raiwind Diocese head office here.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rise to power, the attack on minority communities witnessed a significant rise. “Over 1,400 incidents of persecution against Christians, that include rapes, communal violence, forced conversions, have been reported,” the bishop said, adding that such occurrences are becoming common day by day due to the hateful BJP rhetoric. “No one, but Hindus feel

safe in India due to the intolerant Hindutva ideology and hijacking of Indian state by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” Dr Azad added.

“Indians can only be Hindu, so goes this extreme form of nationalism.”

He added that every month of 2019 saw more incidents of persecution against Christians in India than they did in 2018.

“Pakistani Christians demand the international community to press India to immediately lift the curfew and lockdown in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir region and allow Kashmiris and other religious minorities living in other parts of the country to live in peace,” he said.

He said Pakistani Christians were standing firmly behind the armed forces and fully support the government’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue on global forums.

CHALLENGES FACING PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS: The second part of the bishop’s press conference dealt with the issues faced by the Pakistani Christian community. Bishop Azad admitted that the church has not played its due role in effectively addressing the religious and social issues of their congregations. “Crucial issues such as proposed amendments to the Christian Marriage and Divorce Act and the recent ruling of

Coaching session for govt teachers on 29th LAHORE: Roshan Rahain, a non-profit organization in collaboration with Punjab Council of Arts with patronage from the School Education Department is going to organize first of-its-kind training and coaching session for Government School teachers through an original concept ‘Art Integration and Teaching Practices’ on 29th October at Alhamrah Art Centre, Hall No. 3, Mall Road Lahore. Punjab Council of the Arts is of the view that art in education is vital and for that purpose it is imperative that teachers from public sector schools be trained in art and creativity. This will be an ongoing project by Punjab Council of Arts and School Education Department. Press release

the Peshawar High Court allowing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government to take over the church-owned historical Edwardes College call for unified and concerted efforts by the church, political leadership and the community at large,” he said.

“In the light of the recent issues, I have decided to reach out to all mainstream churches and masses to persuade them to sit together in the larger interest of the community,” he added.

Dr Azad said the Christian community in the country needed to put its own house in order in order to address the broader challenges it faces.

“The first step towards reformation of the church is realization of the internal problems we are facing. I’m confident that all church leaders will rise beyond our differences and work together for the uplift and empowerment of our people,” he added.

The Raiwind bishop said that he was optimistic that the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan will personally look into the Edwardes College issue and hand over its control back to the church.

“Edwardes College has been the

pride of the Pakistani Christian community. We hope that the prime minister will consider the services of our people in the education sector and help us in restoring the lost glory of the institute. I believe the church can turnaround Edwardes College into another great institution like the Forman Christian College (FCC) in Lahore,” he said, adding that it would also help in boosting the confidence of the Christian community in the Pakistani state.

Bishop Azad hoped coordinated efforts with the government could also help in resolving other challenges facing the Pakistani Christians, such as quality education, better healthcare facilities, unemployment, forced conversions, and provision of fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution.

“Remaining in isolation or shifting responsibility on each other will not solve any problem, therefore we must positively engage with the state,” he said.

The bishop also extended its support to the government over the Azadi March.

He said that the Church of Pakistan would not support any effort to destabilize the government at this critical juncture in Pakistan’s history. “I urge Maulana Fazlur Rehman and all other political leaders to resolve their issues through dialogue and desist from any sort of violence. Any political upheaval at this time will only damage the Kashmir cause and destabilize efforts to turnaround Pakistan’s economic situation,” he concluded.

Students express solidarity with Kashmiris LAHORE sTaFF rePOrT

Students from different universities across Lahore staged a protest demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club to express solidarity with the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) who have been living under curfew imposed by the Indian government on August 5.

Organized by the Jammu Kashmir Student Council, demonstrators called on the international community to help resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Addressing protestors, student leaders said that the world must ensure that Kashmiris are given their basic right of self-determination as stated under numerous UN resolutions.

A large number of Kashmiri students also participated in the demonstration.

IOK has been under curfew with complete media and communication blackouts since the Indian government unconstitutionally revoked its special autonomous status through a presidential order on August 5. Addressing the gathering, Kashmir Student Council president Mansoor Kataria said that the state under Indian occupation had been converted into prison since August 5, 2019.

He called on the United Nations to send fact finding missions in the occupied territory to investigate violations. He said the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has an obligation to ensure full implementation of its relevant resolutions,

stipulating a free and fair plebiscite, and enabling the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination. Mansoor Kataria said that the purpose of such demonstrations was to awaken the world’s conscience about atrocities being committed by the Indian forces against unarmed Kashmiri civilians.

He said that the situation in Kashmir is a human rights issue and everyone must unite to give voice to Kashmiris.

In a statement, the Student Council said that the international community had the moral and political responsibility to immediately bring to an end the humanitarian nightmare in IOK where people are suffering due to continuous denial of their fundamental rights.

Pakistan to be polio-free soon, believes Dr Yasmin LAHORE aPP

An awareness walk was held from DG Health Services Office to Punjab Assembly in connection with World Polio Day observance.

Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, while addressing the participants, expressed her optimism that Punjab as well as entire Pakistan would become poliofree soon.

Deputy Commissioner Lahore Danish Afzaal, Director General Health Services Dr Haroon Jehangir, Chief Executive Health Lahore Dr Shoaib-ur-Rehman

Gurmani, Project Director Dr Shahnaz, Dr Yadullah, Dr Khalid Mehmood, Dr Aqeel and other officers as well as employees of the Health Department participated in the walk.

Dr Yasmin said that the basic purpose of the walk was to educate general public about polio prevention.

She said, "Administering timely vaccine is the only way to protect our future generation from this disease."

Anti-polio campaign was being carried out successfully throughout the province with the collaboration of WHO. A comprehen-

sive anti-polio campaign had already been launched across the province to eradicate polio, she added.

She said that administering polio vaccine under EPI programme at least three to four times to children of five months old was utmost necessary. Polio teams besides creating awareness among masses went door to door for administering polio vaccine to the children under five years of age, she added. Dr Yasmin Rashid also appreciated DG Health Services Dr Haroon Jehangir and his team for holding such successful awareness walks on important world polio day.

CMYK Saturday, 26 October, 2019

NEWS

iT’S TiMe To reSolve KaShMir diSPuTe juSTly, PreSideNT alvi TellS NaM SuMMiT BAKU

P

STAFF REPORT

ReSIDeNT Dr Arif Alvi Friday while calling Indian unilateral actions in Jammu and Kashmir ‘illegal, immoral and unethical’ said that it was time to resolve the internationally recognized Kashmir dispute justly and peacefully.

Addressing the 18th Summit of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement here, the president said that the Indian actions of August 5, 2019 designed to alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and change its demographical composition and identity constituted to a willful violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions and international law.

Started on Friday, the two-day summit is being attended by the dignitaries from around 60 countries, including Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Cuba, Afghanistan and several African countries, besides the representatives from international organizations. The NAM

covers 55 percent of the world’s population.

The president told the international gathering that the people of Jammu and Kashmir remained subjected to the foreign occupation for over seven decades.

He said the Indian actions in Jammu and Kashmir represented a direct assault on the Kashmir’s right to self determination which were illegal, immoral and unethical. He said such draconian measures found no parallel in this age and time.

The president said that the denial of Kashmiris’ right to self determination and mischievous attempt to associate their legitimate struggle with terrorism had run their course.

He believed that the self-serving tactics could not weaken the resolve of Kashmiri people to continue their struggle for inalienable rights guaranteed under international laws and consistently reaffirmed by the movement.

The president said that the last-

ing peace in the region could only be achieved through the resolution of outstanding disputes which also hindered the growth and realization of countries’ true economic potential. He said the sustainable development was linked to peace and security and Pakistan had been an advocate and practitioner of this integrated approach.

He said that consistent with its vision for Naya Pakistan, the government had fully integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development plans.

He said the government had launched ehsaas Program designed to provide social security nets, alleviate poverty, enhance investments in universal health and education without which no country could prosper.

The president said the endeavors to achieve the SDGs would fail unless the structural causes of poverty were also addressed among and within the countries.

He said it was imperative that

international trade was free and fair for all the nations, investment should be made profitable for all partners and weak and disadvantaged nations and communities must be supported to eradicate poverty.

While reiterating Pakistan’s policy of peaceful neighborhood, the president said that the government’s vision of peaceful development would continue to guide its efforts to help create an environment that fostered cooperation and development.

He said Pakistan had demonstrated this commitment by facilitating political settlement in Afghanistan by supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

He said Pakistan remained concerned about the evolving developments in the Middle east and Gulf region and was endeavoring to facilitate a process to help ease tension and resolve differences through political and diplomatic means.

Pakistan to earn $365,00,000 annually from Kartarpur pilgrims Naval chief visits maritime installations KARACHI INP

The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi on Friday visited installations of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and Pakistan Navy Karachi. A ceremonial guard of honour was presented to Admiral Abbasi upon his arrival at the PMSA headquarters. The naval chief laid a wreath at Yadgar-i-Shuhada and offered prayers, a spokesperson said. During the visit, the naval chief was briefed over the role and responsibility of PMSA. Later, Admiral Abbasi paid a visit to the newly-constructed training centre of the navy. He also reviewed the operational preparedness of Pakistan Navy’s fleet and praised the operational readiness of the PMSA. A day earlier, Admiral Abbasi visited Pakistan Navy’s coastal installations and forward posts of units along Makran Coast to review the operational preparedness. According to a press release by Pak Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff also performed groundbreaking of various operational and administrative projects at Gwadar and Ormara. During the visit, the Chief was briefed about the ongoing operational activities, special measures being employed to maintain the operational readiness of Pakistan Navy Fleet Units at optimum level and on achievements of Task Force-88 for ensuring maritime security of CPeC/ Gwadar Port. Abbasi inspected the forward posts at coastal installations, interacted with the deployed troops and commended officers for their high morale, commitment and spirit of sacrifice. The chief expressed satisfaction over operational preparedness of the Pakistan Navy in undertaking the sacred task of defence of the motherland and reaffirmed the resolve that any misadventure by the enemy shall be thwarted with an iron fist. During the visit, Chairman China Overseas Ports Holding Company, Mr Zhang Baozhong also called on Chief of the Naval Staff at Gwadar. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including the security of CPeC and Gwadar Port were discussed.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Since 5,000 pilgrims are allowed to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Pakistan, by charging $20 service fee per pilgrim, will earn $1,00,000 (approximately Rs7.1 million) every day.The service fee from the pilgrims – Indian Rs259 crore per annum and about Pakistani Rs555 crore – will be another source of foreign currency generation for Pakistan, which is already reeling under severe financial crisis, a government official said.

As the rate of Pakistani currency is Rs155.74 for one dollar, the daily earning will be Rs1.55 crore (Pakistani rupees). Since the pilgrimage will be allowed all

365 days a year, Pakistan will earn $3,65,00,000.Though India signed the pact with Pakistan for ensuring smooth travel of pilgrims through the Kartarpur Corridor, it has asked Islamabad to review the decision to charge the fee in future. For the registration of pilgrims, online portal (prakashpurb550.mha.gov .in) went live on Thursday.

The pilgrims will have to register themselves online through this portal and exercise their choice to travel on any day.

The pilgrims will be informed by SMS and email of the confirmation of registration three to four days prior to the date of travel. An electronic Travel Authorisation will also be generated. The pilgrims need to carry electronic Travel Autho-

risation, along with their passports when they arrive at the Passenger Terminal Building. India and Pakistan on Thursday signed a landmark agreement to operationalise the historic Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, notwithstanding a chill in bilateral ties. Last month, India and Pakistan agreed on visa-free travel of Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib using the Kartarpur Corridor.

Pilgrims will only have to carry their passports to visit the revered Gurdwara in Pakistan.

Persons of Indian origin holding OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card can also visit the Gurdwara using the Kartarpur Corridor. It was also decided that 5,000 pilgrims can visit the shrine everyday and additional pilgrims will be allowed on special occasions, subject to capacity expansion of facilities by the Pakistani side. India and Pakistan have also decided that the corridor will be operational throughout the year and seven days a week and pilgrims will have a choice to visit as individuals or in groups.

05

Shah MehMood QureShi’S SiSTer PaSSeS away LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The sister of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi passed away in Lahore on Friday. The news was broke by Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal through an early morning tweet. The deceased, who was suffering from cancer and was under treatment at a private hospital in Lahore, breathed her last in the wee hours of Friday. She is survived by her son Pir Zahoor Hussain Qureshi who is a member of the National Assembly. The funeral will be held today at her native village Chak 15L/44, Mian Channu Tehsil of Khanewal District at 4:30 pm. President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have expressed grief over her demise.

Patients suffer as doctors’ strike enters 16th day

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Doctors associated with the Grand Health Alliance (GHA) on Thursday continued their 16th day of protest against the newly introduced Medical Teaching Institute Ordinance (MTI). GHA considers the MTI project as a bid by the government to privatize the health sector as it believes it would end their status as government employees as well as make treatment expensive for the public. Protestors staged sit-ins on Jail Road, Mall Road, Ferozpur Road, Canal Road and Queens Road, which resulted in massive traffic jams. The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) which consists of young doctors, young consultants, nurses, paramedical staff, allied health professionals and all healthcare associations had called a strike against the ordinance and refused to perform their duties including outdoor, operation theatres, radiological and pathological services in major teaching institutions including Mayo Hospital, Services, Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Lahore General Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore, Rawalpindi and other districts of Punjab. Poor patients dependent upon public-healthcare service, in the meanwhile, are suffering due to non-operational operation theatres (OTs) in hospitals and are having to bear extra financial burden to seek treatment in private hospitals.

Taseer Family denies illegal possession of state owned land LAHORE STAFF REPORT

In respect of a news piece that appeared in daily “The News” regarding retrieval of state owned land from Mrs Aamna Taseer and her sons, the legal heirs of late Salmaan Taseer, it is clarified that the Taseer family was never in possession of any government owned land. It has been further clarified that an operation was conducted on October 23, 2019, in Mouzas Saraich, Asu of Model Town Tehsil, and certain government open land which is adjacent to the land owned by the Taseer family and has been possessed. The Taseer family land has a wall built around it and this land falls outside their boundaries, therefore the family never laid a claim or possession of any such government land. Moreover, the anti-encroachment operation is being conducted in Punjab for more than one year, and at no point has the family been informed about any illegal occupation by them of any state owned land.

Senate committee to visit Balochistan University over harassment scandal The Senate Committee on Human Rights on Friday decided that its members would visit the University of Balochistan, Quetta, to investigate the 'surveillance scandal'. Last week, Balochistan University Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Iqbal had agreed to step down to give way for an impartial inquiry into the allegations that administration officials used surveillance videos to blackmail students.

Speaking in the Parliament House, the committee's chairperson, Pakistan People's Party leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, said its members would soon

visit the university to see if surveillance cameras were being used for security or something else.

The acting head of Balochistan University, Professor Anwar, informed the committee that camera surveillance scandal surfaced during a hearing of two university employees' promotion case at the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and that Dr Iqbal was consequently asked to step down.

Once the matter came up, the BHC order the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe the issue, the results of which would be presented in the next hearing.

During the meeting, the committee was told that according to the university's records, a total of 92 cameras had been installed at the campus but that six additional cameras — not in records — were identified and subsequently taken down.

Two students of the Balochistan University, who were also present during the meeting, told the committee that the scandal had forced many of their fellow women peers to halt or leave their studies.

They demanded the committee to only have armed security officials at the gate and to resume student unions. NEWS DESK

CMYK

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Brazil’s supreme Court is out of Control THE ECONOMY IS HURT BY CELEBRITY JUDGES AND AN OVERTAXED COURT THAT CAN’T ISSUE DURABLE RULINGS

BloomBerg

n

mac margolis

O one denies that Latin America economies are hurting, with regional growth predicted to reach barely half the global average next year. And there’s little quarrel about one big reason for the slump. The absence of clear rules and a reliable legal system discourages investment and effective business management.

So why is Brazil’s highest court revising a keystone of the country’s penal code, a move that could free thousands of convicted criminals, trigger partisan discord and throw a cloud over the anticorruption drive that has rid public office of freebooters?

The question before Brazil’s Supreme Court sounds prosaic:

When should a convicted criminal go to prison? Current law says the court may jail any defendant whose conviction is upheld on appeal. It is a reasonable standard for a land where wealthy miscreants deploy clever lawyers to blitz the courts with writs and motions in an effort to keep out of prison indefinitely.

However, that law offends legal formalists who argue that no one should be incarcerated until every possible recourse has been exhausted. They cite the Brazilian constitution, which lawmakers packed with well-intentioned, if sometimes impractical, safeguards after a long period of military fiat.

It might sound like legal hairsplitting were it not for one looming presence: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former Brazilian president who was convicted twice, in 2017 and on appeal last year, for taking bribes and sentenced to 12 years in jail. He was the biggest catch in the storied Operation Carwash corruption probe of

elected officials accused of looting public companies.

Lula’s devotees, who are legion, never swallowed that verdict, claiming he was railroaded by a partisan hanging judge.

(Hacked text messages between Carwash prosecutors and presiding Judge Sergio Moro seemed to provide evidence that Moro may have played fast and loose with some rules.) One way or another, Lula’s loyalists say, he ought to go free. But the worst way to deal with that dispute is for the nation’s top court to change the legal ground rules for everyone.

Laws ought not be set in stone, of course, any more than they should be used as weather vanes.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has changed its position on the same jail-on-second-conviction rule twice in the last decade. If a majority of the judges flip again, which is likely, Lula may be sent home for now (he still faces trial in seven other cases) — along with 4,895 other convicted criminals.

Whatever the legal merits, such inconstancy is troubling for a court of last resort in a country where much of the political class and its corporate enablers were caught raiding public coffers for profit and political glory.

The Supreme Court’s tentacles reach in many directions: It serves as a constitutional court, a final court of appeals and a trial court for elected officials with immunity in common courts. Thanks to the minutely detailed and expansive Brazilian constitution, almost any matter, from domestic violence to graft, can land on its docket.

Last year, the court received more than 100,000 cases. The only way to deal with such an impossible mandate is to give discretion to each of the court’s 11 justices. Some 95% of cases are typically decided by a single judge (frequently by copying and pasting prior rulings). Rulings by 11 different judges assure widely divergent verdicts. ”Divergence leads to the inabil-

STORY OF A SPY THE CIA AGENT WHO WAS IMPRISONED AFTER BRINGING A RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST THE AGENCY HAS WRITTEN A GRIPPING DAVID-AND-GOLIATH ACCOUNT OF BEING GREATLY WRONGED AND COMING OUT STRONGER ON THE OTHER SIDE Consortium news John KiriaKou

I had the pleasure this week of introducing CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling upon the launch of his new book, “Unwanted Spy” at an independent bookstore in Washington, D.C. Sterling was released from prison last year after spending three years there following his unjust conviction on seven espionage charges, ostensibly for leaking classified information to former New York Times reporter James Risen.

Sterling steadfastly maintained his innocence, refusing to ever consider a plea bargain.

He believed that as soon as he could get in front of a jury (in the notorious Eastern District of Virginia, and in front of the notorious Judge Leonie Brinkema) they would see how ridiculous the charges were and would acquit him. But he was wrong. The fix was in.

Last July, Sterling’s publisher sent me an advance copy of “Unwanted Spy” and asked for a blurb. I took it with me on a flight to Greece and, having missed a connection in Athens, sat down to read it.

I’ve known Jeffrey Sterling for years. He was a highly-regarded CIA case officer and Iran expert who was also fluent in Farsi. He was supposed to be sent to the Middle East to recruit spies to steal secrets, but at the last minute — after his personal effects were put on a ship and sent to his would-be post — his position was withdrawn and he was instead offered a dead-end job in Africa. He went to his boss to complain. His talents would go to waste in Africa, he said. His boss’s response would change the course of Sterling’s life. “We think a big black guy speaking Farsi

would look strange.” “When did you realize I was black?” was Sterling’s response.

Sterling went on to file a racial discrimination suit against the CIA, and Jim Risen was interested in the story for The New York Times. That’s how Sterling and Risen met. But the CIA and the Justice Department would later accuse Sterling of revealing top-secret information related to a botched attempt to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, something called “Operation Merlin,” to Risen. The government’s case that these conversations were about Iran and not about a racial discrimination suit was based entirely on metadata.

Sterling and Risen held dozens of phone calls over 18 months, the Justice Department said, alleging that the calls were for Sterling to pass Risen classified information. There was no proof, however, that any such conversations had ever taken place. And indeed, an early target of the Justice Department’s investigation into the leak, a House Intelligence Committee staff member, was fired during the same period.

Why? For having unauthorized contact with James Risen. Given the existence of other legitimate suspects in the leak, why then did the FBI focus solely on Sterling? It was because he had aired the CIA’s dirty laundry. He had revealed the secret. The CIA has a history of racism. There was still discrimination against African-Americans.

The government did what it does well. It chose a target, a victim, and set out to ruin him.

That was Jeffrey Sterling. As in the cases of NSA whistleblowers Tom Drake, Bill Binney, and Kirk Weibe, and in my own whistleblowing case, the

purpose was not necessarily to send Sterling to prison for the rest of his life, or even for a long time. It was to frighten any other would-be whistleblower, anybody considering bringing to light evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, illegality, or threats to the public health or public safety. Scott Shane, a reporter for The New York Times, said that on the day of my arrest, for example, every one of the Times’s national security sources went completely silent. That was the goal.

But Jeffrey Sterling would not remain silent. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true: They thought they could break him and they failed. It was Sterling and his whistleblowing who inspired Terry Albury, the FBI agent who went to The Intercept with evidence of racial discrimination at the FBI. It was Sterling who showed the country that the CIA had a history of racial discrimination that it continues to deny. It was Sterling who refused to be bowed by the weight of the CIA and the FBI coming down on his head. He won’t just go away quietly.

“Unwanted Spy” is a gripping and eminently readable David and Goliath account of a man being wronged by the government, by the “deep state,” and coming out stronger on the other side.

John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. John became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act—a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of his attempts to oppose the Bush administration’s torture program.

ity to establish strong jurisprudence, the lack of which will only lead to more cases,” says Matthew Taylor, an American University professor who has studied the Brazilian courts. “It’s a vicious circle.”

The decision on when to send convicts to prison won’t directly affect business and investment.

The mercurial rule at the top of the judiciary will. Of the many obstacles Brazilian companies face, the constantly shifting rules and laws that beget more laws are among the most harrowing. Brazil issued a total of 5.7 million new tax norms in 2017, compared with 3.3 million in 2003, according to the Brazilian Tax Planning Institute.

No wonder Brazilian companies spend 1,958 hours preparing taxes, more than in any other nation (the world average is 237 hours). “Who’s to say that the Supreme Court won’t change tax laws a year or two from now?” said Mailson da Nobrega, a former Brazilian finance minister. Yet judicial overreach appears to suit the

current bench, whose headline decisions and oratory are streamed over the web, turning judges into “politicians in robes,” says University of Rio de Janeiro political analyst Christian Edward Lynch.

Brazilians don’t need celebrities in robes or a court so overtaxed it can’t render durable rulings. They need judicial stability, circumspection and a bench that interprets, instead of reinvents, the nation’s highest laws.

One way to achieve that would be to turn the Supreme Court into a constitutional tribunal, leaving appeals, criminal cases and political trials to lower courts. “Brazil needs to transform the Supreme Court into an invisible bench, where judges rule but don’t pontificate,” Lynch said.

Brazilian lawmakers, constitutional jurists and society will have to make that call, most likely through a major reform of the judicial system. That’s one verdict Brazil’s overreaching judges aren’t qualified to make.

Mahathir’s window for reforms is closing faster than he thinks MALAYSIA NEEDS TO ABANDON ETHNIC PREFERENCE AND FIX POLITICAL TRUST nikkei AsiAn review William PeseK

What does Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad know that other Asian leaders do not? It is a live question: the prime minister’s government is refraining from stimulus even as most peers cut interest rates in the face of the U.S.-China trade war.

Singapore just loosened its monetary policy for the first time in three and a half years.

What is more, Malaysia is even forecasting slightly faster growth in its 2020 budget, published earlier in October: Mahathir’s government predicts 4.8% growth next year from a targeted 4.7% this year. That comes as Singapore, South Korea and Japan skirt recessions. Over the last 12 months, this has turned Malaysia into a self-proclaimed safe haven.

Only time will tell if Mahathir is right or dabbling in hubris. The details of the budget, though, raise another concern: a lack of bold steps to restructure an uncompetitive economy.

This budget is not devoid of new ideas. One is tax exemptions to promote high-value-added advances in electronics, a bid to entice companies looking to diversify operations from China. Another is $5.2 billion to develop high-speed internet nationwide, including a fifthgeneration, or 5G, ecosystem.

Unfortunately, plans for 2020 all but ignore the biggest challenge: affirmative action policies that stymie innovation and productivity and turn off foreign investors.

Since the early 1970s, the ethnic Malay majority has enjoyed preferential access to education, jobs, government contracts, housing and investment. It means three-fifths of Malaysians have significant advantages over less-affluent ethnic Chinese and Indian citizens.

It is a recipe for mediocrity and holds back the broader economy, undermining competitiveness.

These antiquated policies also mean the household income of Bumiputras — ethnic Malays — has grown faster than minority communities, deepening social divides. That re-

duces Malaysia’s appeal with multinationals.

Mahathir has demurred on the problem, yet a key reason investors gave him the benefit of the doubt was his pledge to make the economy work for all Malaysians, not just the ethnic Malay majority and the wealthy. It is a recipe for structural income inequality.

Mahathir is indeed excelling in some ways, notably in restoring trust in government after predecessor Najib Razak’s nine years at the helm. Aside from deepening protections of ethnic Malays, Najib found himself at the center of a massive global corruption enquiry.

He was arrested in September 2018 in connection with billions of dollars of funds that went missing from 1MDB, a state fund he created in 2009; he denies all charges. The controversy spawned investigations from Washington to Zurich and even had a supporting role from actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in a movie allegedly financed with money siphoned off 1MDB. In May 2018, voters turned to Mahathir, the father of modern Malaysia as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, and he has taken hard steps to bolster trust in his government.

One he made early on — admitting that Malaysia’s debt exceeded what the previous government said — afforded some reformist street cred. Ditto for speaking bluntly about China’s protectionism and India having, in his words, “invaded and occupied” Kashmir.

His tenure also turned capital Kuala Lumpur from a tropical backwater into one of Southeast Asia’s premier metropolises with a worldclass skyline. The trouble is that Malaysia’s political infrastructure has been slower to change, which makes Mahathir’s 2020 vision so underwhelming.

Leaders have a brief window of opportunity to enact sweeping changes. While taking on powerful vested interests, it is best to act fast, while approval ratings are buoyant and the public is more amendable to disruption. Leaders from Japan’s Shinzo Abe to India’s Narendra

Modi must harbor their own regrets for slow-walking big reforms.

In Mahathir’s case, that window may close faster than he thought.

The 94-year-old pledged to serve a couple of years and then hand the reins to Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the governing coalition and Mahathir’s de facto deputy.

The two share a complicated history, including Mahathir’s government arresting Anwar 21 years ago on charges ranging from corruption to sodomy. It is still unclear when Mahathir will step aside and if Anwar, a man with some serious baggage — including jail time — will indeed get the top job. That is all the more reason to harness today’s stable growth to push through some meaningful changes.

They could include paring back ethnic Malay precedence for government contracts, jobs, university slots and housing. These warp incentives, damaging competitiveness and limiting investment from multinationals. Malaysia’s score in the World Bank’s Global Competitiveness Index is essentially unchanged since the year Najib took office —24th in 2009, 25th now.

Granted, the trade war is not making it easy. The headwinds complicate Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s efforts to reduce Malaysia’s fiscal deficit to 3% from around 3.4% now.

Yet Malaysia is caught in a Catch-22. It must change to keep up with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, but doing so threatens Mahathir’s powerful voting blocks and benefactors. Mahathir risks overplaying his hand and returning Najib’s party to power.

Even so, it is incumbent upon Mahathir, as a cagey elder statesmen, to take some hard steps.

Malaysia’s vested interests need a jolt of Mahathir’s truth-telling. Mahathir has enough gravitas from his career to forge a brighter future.

William Pesek is an award-winning Tokyo-based journalist and author of “Japanization: What the World Can Learn from Japan’s Lost Decades.

saturday, 26 october, 2019

foreign news 07

IRaqI polIce fIRe lIve shots, teaR gas at Baghdad pRotesteRs BAGHDAD

I

AGENCIES

RAqI police fired live shots into the air as well as rubber bullets and dozens of tear gas canisters on Friday to disperse thousands of protesters on the streets of Baghdad, sending young demonstrators running for cover and enveloping a main bridge in the capital with thick white smoke. One protester was killed and dozens were injured in the first hours of the protest, security officials said.

The confrontations began early in the morning after anti-government demonstrations resumed, following a three-week hiatus. The protests began Oct. 1 over corruption, unemployment and lack of basic services but quickly turned deadly as security forces cracked down, using live ammunition for days.

The protests then spread to several, mainly Shiite-populated southern provinces and authorities imposed a curfew and shut down the internet for days in an effort to quell the unrest.

After a week of violence in the capital and the country’s southern provinces, a government-appointed enquiry into the protests determined that security forces had used excessive force, killing 149 people and wounding over 3,000. It also recommended the firing of security chiefs in Baghdad and the south. Eight members of the

security forces were also killed.

The protests are similar to those that have engulfed Lebanon in recent days in that they are economically-driven, largely leaderless and spontaneous against a sectarian-based system and a corrupt political class that has ruled for decades and driven the two countries to the brink of economic disaster.

The protests in Iraq threaten to plunge the country into a new cycle of instability that potentially could be the most dangerous this conflict-scarred nation has faced, barely two years after declaring victory over the Islamic State group.

“They (leaders) have eaten away at the country like cancer,” said Abu Ali al-Majidi, 55, pointing in the direction of the Green Zone. “They are all cor-

rupt thieves,” he added, surrounded by his four sons who had come along for the protest.

Subsequently, Iraqi security forces and government officials vowed to avoid further deadly violence and deployed heavily on the streets of Baghdad in anticipation of Friday’s protests.

Thousands of people began converging to Baghdad’s central Tahrir Square as of early Friday, carrying Iraqi flags and posters calling for change and reform.

However, after thousands of protesters removed metal security barriers and crossed the Jumhuriyya Bridge leading to Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government offices,

soldiers fired tear gas to disperse them.

After they tried to remove concrete barriers near the entrance of the Green Zone, they fired live rounds to push the protesters back. “Baghdad hurra hurra, fasad barra barra!” the demonstrators chanted, Arabic for “Baghdad is free, corruption is out.”

Riot police in full gear and armed soldiers lined the bridge. Ambulances and tuk-tuks zipped back and forth, ferrying the injured to hospitals. A reporter for Iraq’s Sumariyya TV channel was among the injured.

The semi-official High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq reported the death, as did two security officials.

The officials said the man, in his early 30s, was shot near the Green Zone.

The commission said 224 people were taken to hospitals, many with shortness of breath from the tear gas.

Protests spread to the southern provinces later Friday, including the flashpoint city of Basra where some 4,000 people gathered near the provincial government building.

The current round of protests has been endorsed by Iraq’s nationalist Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, who has a popular Shiite support base and the largest number of seats in parliament.

He has called on the government to resign and suspended his bloc’s participation in the government until it comes up with a reform program.

Russian soldier has nervous breakdown, shoots eight dead MOSCOW AGENCIES

A Russian conscript serving in the far east of the country shot dead eight other soldiers and badly injured two others on Friday after having a nervous breakdown, the Defense Ministry said, the Interfax news agency reported. The conscript has been detained, the ministry said, and the two injured troops are being treated in a military hospital. Their lives are not in danger.

The incident occurred at a military facility in the far east of the country in the Zabaikalsk region. The Defense Ministry statement reported by Interfax did not say why the conscript had suffered a nervous breakdown but said the shooting had occurred at a time when the guard was being changed at the base.

Authorities arrest 2 more in UK’s gruesome truck deaths case LONDON AGENCIES

British police arrested two more people Friday in connection with the deaths of 39 others found in the back of a container truck in southeastern England as the investigation into one of the country’s worst human smuggling cases geared up.

Police said the man and the woman, both 38 and from Warrington, a town in northwestern England, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. The 25-year-old driver of the truck remains in custody on suspicion of murder.

The new arrests came as police began the grim process of conducting post-mortem examinations of the dead. The remains of 11 people from the truck were transported by ambulance from the Port of Tilbury under police escort on Thursday.

Essex Police said 31 men and eight women were found dead in the truck early Wednesday at an industrial park in Grays, a town 25 miles (40 kilometres) east of London.

Although U.K. police said they believed the dead were Chinese citizens, Chinese officials told reporters in Beijing that the nationalities and identities of the victims had not yet been confirmed.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was working in cooperation with local authorities.

“No matter where these victims come from, this is a great tragedy which drew the attention of

the international community to the issue of illegal immigration,” she said. “The international community should further strengthen cooperation in this area, strengthen sharing of information and intelligence … to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

Hua said Chinese authorities were also seeking information from police in Belgium, since the shipping container in which the bodies were found was sent to England from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

Human smuggling from China is believed to have fallen drastically in recent years amid the country’s rapidly growing domestic economy. However, some Chinese, particularly those with lesser education, continue to be drawn to Europe and North America by the promise of much higher wages than they can earn at home, despite the considerable risks involved.

Parts of China, especially the southeastern province of Fujian, have long histories of sending migrants abroad.

The issue is a difficult one for China’s ruling Communist Party, which is intensely sensitive about China’s international image and has staked much of its legitimacy to rule on improving living standards for the bulk of China’s 1.4 billion people.

In an editorial Friday, the party newspaper Global Times said authorities in Britain and elsewhere hadn’t done enough to crack down on people smuggling.

“Such a serious humanitarian disaster occurred

under the eyes of the British and Europeans,” the newspaper said. “Britain and the related European countries have not met their responsibility for protecting these people from dying in such a manner.”

British police believe the truck and container took separate journeys before ending up at the industrial park. They say the container traveled by ferry from Zeebrugge to Purfleet, England, where it arrived early Wednesday and was picked up by the truck driver and driven the few miles to Grays.

The truck cab, which is registered in Bulgaria to a company owned by an Irish woman, is believed to have traveled from Northern Ireland to Dublin, where it caught a ferry to Wales, then drove across Britain to pick up the container.

Global Trailer Rentals Ltd told Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE the trailer it owns was leased Oct. 15 in County Monaghan, in Ireland, at a rate of 275 euros ($299) per week. The Dublin-based company said it will make the data from its tracking system available to investigators.

The company’s directors told RTE it was “shellshocked” at the news.

Groups of migrants have repeatedly landed on English shores using small boats to make the risky Channel crossing, and migrants are sometimes found in the back of cars and trucks that disembark from the massive ferries that link France and England.

But Wednesday’s macabre find in an industrial park was a reminder that criminal gangs are still profiting from large-scale trafficking.

The tragedy recalls the deaths of 58 Chinese migrants who suffocated in a truck in Dover, England, in 2000 after a perilous, months-long journey from China’s southern Fujian province. They were found stowed with a cargo of tomatoes after a ferry ride from Zeebrugge, the same Belgian port that featured in the latest tragedy.

In February 2004, 21 Chinese migrants — also from Fujian — who were working as cockle-pickers in Britain drowned when they were caught by treacherous tides in Morecambe Bay in northwest England.

CHINESE EMBASSY SAYS NATIONALITIES NOT CONFIRMED LONDON: The Chinese Embassy in London says the nationalities of the 39 people found dead in a container truck in England have not been confirmed, appearing to contradict a police statement that they were Chinese. A statement dated Friday on the embassy website said police are verifying the identity of the victims and their nationality still cannot be confirmed. The bodies of 31 men and eight women were found Wednesday in a truck near a port in southeastern England. British police said they were Chinese. The Chinese embassy said it had sent a team to the site and that the officials had met with local police. AGENCIES

israel, Jordan mark 25 years of imperfect peace NAHARAYIM PARK AGENCIES

The Naharayim park was established 25 years ago as a symbol of the landmark peace agreement between Israel and Jordan.

Now, as the two countries mark a quartercentury of official relations, the park and its “Island of Peace” are being shuttered.

It is a fitting reflection of the IsraeliJordanian relationship — one that began with great promise, but which has been plagued by mistrust, disappointment and missed opportunities. While the peace agreement remains intact, there is a sense on both sides that it should have delivered much bigger dividends.

“I am not certain that we gave it our full attention,” said retired Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, who was Israel’s chief negotiator for the peace deal.

Speaking on Israeli public radio, Rubinstein said there were things Israel could do “to lend a better atmosphere” and suggested Israel show more “respect”

for its eastern neighbour. He declined to elaborate.

It is a far cry from the heady times of the peace agreement, signed at an emotional ceremony on Oct. 26, 1994, attended by Israel’s then-prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, the late King Hussein and President Bill Clinton.

Following up on a historic interim peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians a year earlier, all three leaders delivered moving speeches promising warm relations and a better future.

“This is our gift to our peoples and the generations to come,” said Hussein, who died in 1999. “It will not be simply a piece of paper ratified by those responsible, blessed by the world. It will be real, as we open our hearts and minds to each other.”

Twenty-five years later, the peace agreement remains a vital strategic asset for both countries.

The deal has brought Israel muchneeded quiet and a valuable partner along its longest border while buttressing Jor-

dan’s position as a crucial ally of the West in one of the world’s most volatile areas.

The two countries maintain close, covert security relations. Israel, a world leader in desalination, provides large quantities of water to Jordan, one of the driest countries on earth, and has agreed to sell natural gas to Jordan as well.

But the warm relations envisioned at that signing ceremony remain elusive, and in Jordan, there is little public support for the agreement.

Jordan has a long list of complaints — beginning with the deep freeze in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Israel captured the West Bank and

East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Although Jordan has renounced any claims to these territories, which the Palestinians seek as parts of a future state, it retains deep connections.

A majority of Jordan’s population is believed to have Palestinian roots, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. Without progress on the Palestinian front, Abdullah is unable — and unwilling — to warmly embrace Israel.

Israel’s policies at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site — a hilltop compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary — have also put pressure on the king.

Jordan serves as custodian of the site’s Muslim shrines. During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s term, visits to the compound by right-wing Jewish groups that want to alter its status have increased, igniting clashes with Muslim worshippers and straining relations with Jordan.

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

08 COMMENT

India’s ‘Achilles heel’ in Central Asia?

Playing with a political opponent’s life

Afghanistan will be pivotal for all, but especially India

Samiullah DooranDeSh

Setting a bad precedent

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here is little change in the PTI government’s vengeful attitude towards former PM Nawaz Sharif who is currently under treatment in Lahore Services hospital. Despite complaints by the PML-N that proper treatment was not being provided to Mr Sharif in jail, he was taken by NAB into custody resulting in his lack of communication with outside world. he was taken to hospital only when his health deteriorated badly. In a display of callousness, PTI ministers initiated a campaign to make fun of the former PM’s illness, with PM’s Information Adviser Firdous Ashiq Awan claiming that the PML-N leader was feigning illness despite being able to walk.

Three days later, when it was no more possible to deny the seriousness of his condition, Prime Minister Imran Khan grudgingly tweeted that political differences apart he prayed sincerely for Mr Sharif’s health.

Meanwhile, PTI ministers, including Firdous Ashiq Awan and Sheikh rasheed Ahmad, continued to make fun of the illness as before. Punjab health Minister Yasmeen rashid insisted that there were signs of improvement in the former PM’s condition and as treatment for his ailments was available in Pakistan, there was no need to fly him out of the country.

Two petitions seeking bail for the former PM on medical grounds were filed, one in LhC and the other in IhC. The LhC, which has been hearing the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, has granted him bail.

The IhC had sentenced Mr Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference and had rejected an earlier appeal for bail filed on medical grounds. Keeping in view the doctors’ report regarding Mr Nawaz’s serious condition and the hope that the new treatment might work, the court adjourned the hearing till Tuesday when it would take a decision on the basis of the latest health report.

Any relief in the form of bail will only allow Mr Sharif to meet the people. he can travel out of the country for treatment only if allowed by the court. While some in the PML-N and certain other circles would prefer the former PM to go abroad, Nawaz Sharif may refuse to leave Pakistan if treatment is available here while fighting the case to get the sentence waived.

Getting away with murder The case once again is rendered ‘unsolved’

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he accused in the Sahiwal shooting, in which the Counter-Terrorism Department officials were accused of having shot an entire family in cold blood, have been acquitted by a Lahore court. The accused have been given the benefit of doubt, a doubt created by two major lacunae: the failure of any of the survivors, who were also minor children, to identify the accused, and because the ballistic evidence showed that an official claimed that the weapons issued to the accused had been returned, and that all bullets had been accounted for. Yet, as was observed in the judgement, the medical evidence, while it may have shown that the victims had been shot, it did not show who had shot them.

It should be observed that the court could only decide according to the evidence adduced by the prosecution and defence. It could only be as just as the case made before it. If the ballistic evidence had been muddled, rather than the court, the investigating agency, the police, is to blame, not the court. In this case, it was not incompetence at work, but rather the desire to ensure that policemen were acquitted. It was also allowed as a sop to public opinion for the trial to have taken place, in a case where the murders by police personnel had been captured on video. That is shown by the fact that the January 19 incident has been decided by the initial trial court the same year.

The federal government has directed the Punjab government to appeal the result. That may be a little like asking, as the Urdu saying foes, to ask the cat to guard scraps of meat. After all, the accused are Punjab government employees, and it is possible that the case may be botched. It should be noted that the acquittals mean that the case is once again on the books of the police as an unsolved crime. The Punjab government must ensure that there is a proper investigation this time, because those with even a passing acquaintance of the criminal law know, getting a trial court’s decision reversed is very difficult. That may well be the greatest reason to celebrate for the accused in the case.

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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fgHANistAN, a kryptonite in india’s Central Asia Policy, after decades of economic stagnancy has started to return to the path of development amidst the perennial impediments of insecurity, insurgency, and corruption. the establishment of infrastructural connectivity to reach the regional and international markets, since the ascendance of Ashraf ghani to power in 2014, is promising for regional connectivity.

Afghanistan, contrary to the popular perception as an “Achilles Heel”, will be playing a seminal role in indian Central Asian policy.

The grown geopolitical and geostrategic stature of Central Asia has forced the policymakers in Delhi, penitent of previous apathy, to recalibrate its Central Asia policy to ensure maximisation of its interests and a stronger foothold in the ongoing strategic competition for access to the abundant natural resources. The policymakers of India have been experimenting with different policy schemes, ranging from the “Look North Policy” to the “Look South Policy” and the ultimate framework of “Connect Central Asia Policy“. however, it should be noted that the success of Indian policies in Central Asia greatly depends on Afghanistan which has been torn apart by conflicts for the past four decades. Analysts in general and Indians in particular realise that for the most aspects of these policy frameworks, throughout the years, India has been successful in achieving what they have always desired: Indian culture has extensively penetrated the Central Asian region and has greater resemblance to the local culture due to the historical cultural connectivity. Indian cinema has been a leading tool in ensuring a positive image. however, India is having a hard time in materialising the land connectivity aspect due to its dependence on volatile Afghanistan. Afghanistan, believe most Indian thinkers, has been India’s “Achilles heel” in Central Asia. Nevertheless, the realisation of regional connectivity and prevalence of peace and stability largely linked to the successful peace process with Taliban, can enormously turn the tide in favour of India. Therefore, historically an “Achilles heel”, Afghanistan can be a blessing in disguise for the future Indian ambitions in Central Asia.

The “New Great Game” in Central Asia fea-

tures China as a contender, exacerbating problems not only for India but also for the USA, russia, Iran, and Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan.

This has further complicated the ongoing economic and political rivalry. The russians and Chinese want a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan which will reduce US influence in the region. however, the USA has been pragmatically ambivalent to reach a concrete decision about exiting from the strategic landscape, fearing a political vacuum which might create an opportunity for any of its rivals, especially, China and russia—to augment their regional power status. China with its ambitious economic megaproject, the “Belt and road Initiative“, is eyeing greater strategic cooperation with the Central Asian republics which will not only challenge Indian influence but also secure unhindered access to gas and oil resources, estimated about 300 trillion cubic feet of gas and 90 to 200 billion barrels of oil.

Despite being characterised as a kryptonite, Afghanistan is a pronounced factor in India’s outreach towards Central Asia. The decades-long conflict in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on the Indian policy ambitions. The TAPI and CASA1000 projects have not yet been completed, taking off only after long discussions on planning and operational issues due to existential threats from terrorist groups controlling the transmission routes.

The strategic geopolitical location of Afghanistan is central and conducive to greater regional cooperation and connectivity. Indian trade with Central Asia passes through Afghan ports. The Chabahar port, is monumental not only for India but also Afghanistan. The volatile security situation dictates that the near future be judged full of uncertainty. however, despite the bitter realities of the present, recent developments indicate Afghanistan will not be strangulated by war forever.

Afghanistan is walking through the storm to embark on the task of realising its claim of being “the heart of Asia”. Afghanistan being the shortest route for energy transmission, not only connects South Asia and Central Asia, but can also establish interacting points among the Central Asian states, especially Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Afghanistan presents a viable opportunity for the TurkmenistanTajikistan gas transmission project, because the alternative via Uzbekistan is less feasible. Moreover,

the 480km fibreoptic cable project, part of the digital silk route, connecting Afghanistan to the Chinese fibre network through Wakhan, is nearly finished.

Despite the insecurity and lack of infrastructural and logistical facilities, the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was successful in convincing, after talks for three years, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, to ink the historical Lapis Lazuli trade and transit corridor in October 2017. In February 2019, a convoy of nine trucks, for the first time, went from Afghanistan to Turkey and back.

Another significant development is the ‘ChinaAfghanistan railway Freight’. A modest 75km railway track already connected Afghanistan with Uzbekistan. On September 5, the inaugural railway freight set off to China, entering Uzbekistan through the historical Soviet-constructed bridge over the Amu Darya. Afghanistan has, for a long time, endeavoured to reach the Chinese markets.

The Afghan government had desired inclusion in the BrI project to which China complied after contemplation. Pakistan has already initiated discussions on operational issues in inaugurating trade, through rail, from Karachi port to Torkham.

The Five Nations railway Project is another proposed flagship project for regional connectivity, involving China, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It traverses 902 km inside Afghanistan.

The feasibility studies have already been completed.

The Khaf-herat railway line will be inaugurated

by March and will allow Afghanistan to access the Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports. Moreover, on February 21, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed an MoU with the Turkmen President, for 30km railway from Aqina port to Andkhoy. On July 26, the construction work was initiated. The proposed railways will greatly enhance regional connectivity, transforming Afghanistan into strategic hub.

In summation, Afghanistan, after decades of economic stagnancy has started to stroll back on the path of development amidst the perennial impediments of insecurity, insurgency, and corruption.

The establishment of infrastructural connectivity since the ascent of Ashraf Ghani to power in 2014, is promising, not only for the stature of Afghanistan but also, for regional connectivity. Afghanistan, contrary to the perception of its being an “Achilles heel”, will be playing a seminal role in Indian policies towards Central Asia.

A major stumbling block for justice Perjury eats away at the criminal justice system

abDul raSool SyeD

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erJUrY is the intentional act of swearing a false oath or of falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to an official proceeding. It is the one of key impediments in the dispensation of justice in our country. It is so dangerous that it alters the whole course of justice by rendering the guilty innocent and the innocent guilty. This is against the spirit of executing justice and amounts to mocking justice. It provides people a reason to point fingers at the credibility of the judicial system. realising the gravity of situation, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has embarked on ridding the justice system of false testimony. In an address on to the malaise of perjury, remarked that the people of the Indian subcontinent are such pathological liars that even on the deathbed, they lie; therefore, the validity of a “dying declaration” in such a milieu of prevarication becomes questionable.

The Supreme Court recently released its detailed judgment on the legal status of false testimony, ordering legal proceedings under perjury against any witness found to have resorted to deliberate falsehood.

The order, penned by Chief Justice Khosa, rejects false testimony by a witness and declares that the rule falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (false in one thing, false in everything) will henceforth be an integral part of jurisprudence in criminal cases. The judgment ordered courts not to allow any leniency against those resorting to false testimonies and to reject testimonies if even part of them were based on lies. “… A judicial system which permits deliberate falsehood is Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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doomed to fail and a society which tolerates it is destined to self-destruct. Truth is the foundation of the criminal justice system and justice is the core and bedrock of a civilised society and, thus, any compromise on truth amounts to a compromise on a society’s future as a just, fair and civilised society,” the order read.

“Therefore, we declare that the rule falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus shall henceforth be an integral part of our jurisprudence in criminal cases and the same shall be given effect to, followed and applied by all the courts in the country.”

The judgment further stated, “It is also directed that a witness found by a court to have resorted to a deliberate falsehood on a material aspect shall, without any latitude, invariably be proceeded against for committing perjury.”

Testifying falsehood is indeed a colossal crime and theologically a great sin. Virtually every religion shows humongous aversion to. Prohibition of perjury is one of the Ten Commandments. In the Old Testament, we read: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.” (Exodus 20:16) The New Testament tells us that Jesus prohibited perjury. In the New Testament, we read the following: “he said to him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness.’” (Matthew 19:18) The Quran orders Muslims to avoid perjury. In the Qur’an is the following verse: …therefore avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false words. (Al-Hajj 22:30) The Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon him) considered perjury one of the worst sins. Abu Bakrah

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Nufai’ bin Al-harith reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the major sins?” The Messenger of Allah asked this question thrice. People said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” he said, “Ascribing partners to Allah, and to be undutiful to your parents”.

The Messenger of Allah sat up from his reclining position and said, “And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false testimony; I warn you against giving forged statement and a false testimony.” The Messenger of Allah kept repeating that warning till we wished he would stop. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Prophet Muhammad also indicated that perjury renders fasting valueless. he once said: “Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, and then Allah does not care if he leaves his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari) Furthermore, giving false evidence is a criminal offence under PPC (Pakistan penal code), punishable with life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. however, laws convicting those found to be perpetrators of perjury are hardly ever applied and therefore, the perjurers go scot-free in our courts. In a telling statement on judicial reforms, the Sindh high Court’s (ShC) registrar submitted a reply last year that “the ShC and its subordinate courts have not prosecuted even a single individual over the past three years for perjury under Sections 193-196 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).” resorting to mendacity in court is a grave criminal offence because it undermines the very purpose of the justice system that is to deliver justice to the people without creating iota of doubt on its integrity and credibility.

The Supreme Court in a case re-

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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ported as PLD 1984 Supreme Court Page 44 observed that perjury is one of the most heinous social and moral offences. It is not only an offence punishable under the law, as stipulated under Section 194 PPC but also is against the injunctions of holy Qur’an (Sura Al-Nisa: 135). It is an evil which tends to disrupt the very basis of social order and make a mockery of the judicial system, be it Islamic or otherwise. Any person who deliberately tells a lie during solemn proceedings of a Court of Law, knowing fully well that he is thereby likely to ruin the life or reputation of an innocent person or put his liberty into jeopardy by falsely involving him in a criminal case, does not deserve any leniency and ought never to be let off lightly.

Additionally, Perjury also fosters corruption, giving rise to a malady eating away at the very substance of a State, its institutions and its people.

Those rich and mighty who amass wealth through illegal means, rest assured that they would remain untouched by the law; are cocksure about easily finding false testifiers who for minuscule pecuniary gains, would lend them a helping hand in papering over their crime.

Those committing perjury, including distorting and destroying of evidence by the law enforcement agencies, must be punished by stiff imprisonment and heavy fines. The punishment should be exactly what the accused would have got if the evidence had been held to be correct. If based on the statements of the witnesses committing perjury, the accused would go to the gallows, shouldn’t those giving false evidence also face the gallows themselves?

Judges must come down with a heavy hand against perjurers as well as their manipulators and abettors; failing in doing so would ultimately result in loss of the judiciary’s credibility.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-shaarey fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Kashmir crisis

In the wake of Trump’s broken promises The need for an Arab strategy

Washington Watch Dr JameS J Zogby

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heN Donald Trump was first elected, I warned Arab friends to be careful not to put their all of their eggs in a basket that I had every reason to believe would soon unravel. Back then, many Arabs, having felt let down by the initial hope they had in the Obama Administration, were keen to believe that Trump would develop a firm policy on Syria and Iran and deliver on his pledge to craft the “Deal of the Century,” bringing a just end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In fact, in polling we conducted in the fall of 2017, we found that Arab respondents in some countries– including at least a third of those in egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAe– had at least some expectation of positive change from the Administration on some of these concerns. Two and a half years later, these hopes have come crashing down to earth.

Trump did end the Iran nuclear deal and impose new tough sanctions on Iran– which our polling showed Arabs hoped might rein in in Iran’s regional ambitions. But the Islamic republic, despite the economic hardships that resulted from these sanctions, has appeared to become further emboldened and aggressive.

Their position in Iraq was somewhat strengthened by the role their allied militias played in the war against the “Islamic State.” Iran remains deeply entrenched in Syria, supported by sectarian armed units from Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan they brought in, armed, and trained. And their support for the houthi rebellion in Yemen has continued to consume the Saudi-led coalition’s resources and attention.

In response to the US sanctions, Iran has demonstrated its capacity to respond by creating mischief in the Gulf, including a tit-for-tat threat to interrupt oil tanker traffic and a “mysterious” devastating attack on Saudi oil fields.

In Syria, as in Iraq, Trump’s policy did not significantly deviate from Obama’s approach. he provided tactical and material support, as well as air power, to an US-trained, largely Kurdish army, in the effort to defeat the “Islamic State.” Despite repeated verbal threats to stop the Syrian government’s attacks on civil-

ians, Trump made do with a single air strike on an air base– but only after signalling his intention 24 hours in advance, which had the result of minimising the loss of life and military assets. Meanwhile, the rest of Syria was left to Syrian government forces, russia, and Iran.

As for the “Deal of the Century,” two and one-half years later, the region is still waiting for its release. Despite the continued delay, Trump Administration policies have made clear its outlines. They have, in essence, “given away the store” to Israel. Trump famously “took Jerusalem off the table,” and followed by making it clear that they were taking away the rights of refugees (they no longer consider them refugees) and the status of Israeli settlements (these remained uncontested).

If there remained any confusion as to whether the initial hope some had placed in the Trump Administration was mistaken, events the past month sealed the deal. Despite tough talk about Iran, the USA showed its bark was bigger than its bite. The best they could do to respond to the attack on Saudi oil fields was to offer to send an additional 1000 troops there. The US Ambassador to Israel, in public remarks, made clear that the USA had no intention to see any Israeli settlements removed from occupied Palestinian lands. And, for many, the coup de grâce was the President’s decision to pull US forces back from Syria’s northern border, abandoning its Kurdish allies. This US withdrawal allowed the Turkish army to enter Syria, creating “a safe zone” into which they hope to forcibly “repatriate” Syrians who had sought refuge in Turkey.

Abandonment by the USA also forced the Kurds to make a pact with the Syrian government, effectively ceding control over what they hoped might become an autonomous Kurdish area.

The winners in all of this have been Iran and russia. The losers are the Kurds, the Palestinians, and Arabs who hoped that the Trump Administration might represent any constructive change in US policy.

The sad truth is that the US role in the region has been in a tailspin since the George W Bush Administration decided to invade Iraq and remove Saddam hussein’s regime. Despite Bush’s projections that the US occupation would be welcomed, that democracy would bloom in Iraq and spread throughout the Middle east, and the USA would establish itself as the hegemonic power for the 21st century, the opposite happened. Instead, the USA found itself ground down in a long war it could not win, Iraq descended into bloody sectarian civil conflict, Iran was emboldened and unleashed, finding a foothold not only in Iraq, but across

the region, and the USA emerged less respected with its military weakened and demoralised.

In an effort to stop the haemorrhaging, the Obama Administration was determined to leave Iraq, which it did. But the US departure left Iran as the ascendant power in a country with a government that pursued sectarian policies leading to the emergence of the Islamic State.

When the Arab Spring erupted, the Obama Administration was unsure how to respond.

This forced Arabs to take matters into their own hands in an effort to restore the old order.

Conflicts in Syria, then Libya, and then Yemen followed soon after– each in turn involving a number of competing regional and global powers seeking to shape the outcome and secure their advantage. In each, the US role was reduced to a supportive one, at best.

It was this sad state of affairs that led some Arabs to find hope in Trump’s pledge to work more closely with their governments and to provide US leadership to help resolve some of the region’s pressing concerns, namely an end to the bloodshed in Syria, pressure on Iran to end its meddling in several Arab countries, and a determined effort to achieve a just resolution to the long IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Two and one-half years later, the blush is off the rose. As the dust settles on the broken promises, realisation is dawning that the region will be left to its own to solve its pressing problems. Signs of this are everywhere: the welcome given to the russian leader in the Arab Gulf countries; the tentative outreach by some countries to Iran; recognition that, despite deep reservations, the Assad government will need to be engaged; renewed efforts to negotiate a solution to Yemen; and even some initial efforts at overtures to Israel – to name a few.

In the end, the Arab World is in greater need, not just of unity, but real operational unity, if it is to address the many challenges it now faces.

There is an need for the Arab states to create regional mechanisms to address conflicts, to implement the Arab Peace Initiative, to address the region’s refugee crisis, and to develop an investment strategy creating jobs, improving education and expanding health care– all of which will help to promote the progress, security, and stability the region needs. In all of these areas, the USA can help, as can other global powers. But the Arab World should never again be dependent on the promise of any outside power to provide what it should be able to do for itself.

The Arab World should never again be dependent on the promise of any outside power to provide what it should be able to do for itself

Dr James J Zogby is President of the Arab American institute.

The 74th annual session of the UN General Assembly is going to held from September 17 to 27, 2019. This is an opportunity for Islamic republic of Pakistan to present Kashmir issue in UNGA, as an independent participation with the help of P.5-countries (USA, russia, UK, France and China) and UFC-Coffee Club (Pakistan’s UN-group).

The purpose of the United Nations (UN) is the maintenance of international peace and security. It has mixed records. The UN has been successful in socio-economic field. But it is failure in political domain which overshadowed its social services. however, to analyse UN’s Policy and its mission and vision on Kashmir issue. One can say UN is failed in political arena to maintain peace in the World. There are many solutions. To present solutions of Kashmir issue, one ought to know current situation.

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

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

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

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

But at least some members of the federal cabinet are reportedly doing contrary to what the PTI government claims and promoting nepotism and favouritism right under the nose of PM Imran Khan. Federal education Minister Shafqat Mahmood who hails from Lahore according to some reports is promoting nepotism in the National history and Literary heritage Division of which he holds additional charge. While he has not been able to show impressive performance as the federal education Minister all these months, still he holds the additional charge. Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) falls under the National history and Literary heritage Division which has announced vacancy on its website for senior position of the Director General PNCA though the same has not yet been advertised in the national dailies so far.

The Minister incharge is reported to be interested in inducting an elderly woman relative from Lahore to the top slot of the PNCA by hook or crook belying the federal government claims of transparency and no nepotism. his lady relative is already 77-year-old whereas the maximum age limit for the vacancy announced by the PNCA is 63 years.

The Prime Minister is requested to take some time off his otherwise very heavy internal and external commitments and engagements and order an inquiry in the PNCA affairs to ensure no nepotism is promoted, transparency prevails and the Minister incharge is not able to induct his cousin as DG PNCA by misusing his power, please.

OsAMA BiN AsiM Rawalpindi

Increasing tax revenues The present government has set an ambitious target for this fiscal year in terms of tax collection – rs5.5 trillion – to tide over its financial woes. It is commendable for Pakistan’s financial and tax managers to realise that the country must drastically enhance its tax collection system and bring those sections of society in the tax net that have evaded payment of taxes so far though they have been reaping high profits.

The tobacco and soft drinks sectors are the ones that make big profits. Among others, the government’s revenue collection machinery must focus on these sectors to achieve the new revenue collection targets. The government has already adopted various new means to increase its tax revenues. however, it is imperative for the tax managers to immediately introduce more innovative ways and means by which tax revenues can be further enhanced.

In this regard, the PTI government must not waste time re-inventing the wheel and instead follow the most developed and efficient tracking systems prevalent both in the developed and developing economies to further expand the tax net through its own initiatives. It must take on board entities that meet international standards and regulations so that they can help it achieve its revenue targets through the use of technology, especially in those sectors that have a history of tax evasion.

The government can then channelise these additional revenues into a genuine national development regime. syED OvAis AkHtAR karachi

saturday, 26 october, 2019

10 foreign news

Us shoUld look at Its own pRoBlems, chIna says afteR pence speech touched on an array of disputes ahead of talks with Beijing to ease a trade war, Pence said the United States does not seek confrontation or to “de-couple” from its main economic rival.

But he pulled no punches when addressing some of the political rifts between the two countries, praising Chinese-claimed Taiwan as a beacon of democracy and criticizing China for its treatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pence’s speech was full of lies and prejudice, and that it had made China “strongly indignant”.

China is resolute in defending its sov-

BEIJING

t

AGENCIES

HE United States would do better to look at its own domestic problems like gun violence rather than turning its ire on China, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday, lambasting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence for a critical speech on China.

Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing “rights and liberties” in Hong Kong and blasted U.S. company Nike and the National Basketball Association for falling in line with Beijing in a disagreement over free speech.

In a policy speech on China that

LONDON

ination to the gap between the rich and the poor that is obvious at a glance, from sanctions against other countries, arbitrary withdrawal from international agreements, treaties, and misconduct, morality and trust have long since disappeared.”

Certain people in the United States need to take a good long look at themselves in the mirror, recognize their own problems and manage their own affairs properly, Hua said.

Despite the ministry’s harsh tone, in-

EU envoys agree that Brexit extension is needed, no date set

AGENCIES

European Union ambassadors agreed Friday that the bloc should grant Britain’s request for another extension to the Brexit deadline but they have not yet figured out how long that delay should be.

Speaking Friday in Brussels after EU ambassadors met with the EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said ambassadors from the EU’s 27 other nations accepted the terms of an extension and their “work will continue in the coming days.”

Two European diplomats said the ambassadors would meet again early next week. Andreeva hinted that the EU would not hold a special summit on Brexit to approve the extension, saying the decision will likely be made in a statement.

“We are not very far, and there is no doubt we will find a deal early next week,” one diplomat said. The person, who asked not be identified because talks are continuing, added that the ongoing debate in Britain over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request for a general election could have an impact on the length of the delay.

Britain is scheduled to leave the 28-

ereignty and security, and will never allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs over Hong Kong, Taiwan or Xinjiang, she added.

“A handful of politicians with Pence at their head have confused black with white on these issues, making irresponsible remarks and creating rumors to slander others,” Hua said.

Pence is “easily arrogant” about other countries, and yet turns a blind eye to the ills of his own country, instead of trying to shift the focus of the American public onto other nations, she added.

“From the large-scale monitoring of the ‘Prismgate’ to frequent and serious shootings, from ubiquitous racial discrim-

nation bloc on Oct. 31 but has asked for a three-month extension to that deadline as Johnson struggles to get lawmakers to pass his Brexit divorce deal. Economists say a no-deal departure would hurt both the U.K. and the EU economies.

France, among other EU nations, has been reluctant to approve a long Brexit extension, saying Britain must present “a clear scenario” for progress before another Brexit delay is granted.

“Our position is that simply giving more time, without political change, without ratification, without an election, would be useless,” Amelie de Montchalin, France’s European affairs minister, told RTL radio Thursday night.

Those comments followed Johnson’s decision Thursday to push for an early election to break the stalemate in Parliament that has blocked a Brexit deal. Johnson said he would ask lawmakers to vote Monday on calling a general election on Dec. 12.

To call an election, Johnson, who leads a minority government, must win support from two-thirds of the House of Commons. But opposition parties say they won’t vote for an early election until the government secures an extension of the Brexit deadline.

Britain’s biggest opposition party has gone a step further, saying it will block plans for an early election unless Johnson eliminates the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal.

Diane Abbott, of the Labour Party, told the BBC her party wants an “explicit commitment” that there won’t be a no-deal Brexit, “because we don’t trust Boris Johnson.”

“We want to know that by some mischance we won’t crash out of the EU without a deal, because we’ve said for some time that coming out of the EU without a deal would be absolutely disastrous,” she said.

Until recently, Johnson vowed that

Britain would leave the EU on Oct. 31 no matter what, with or without a deal, saying this was the only way to put pressure on European officials to make concessions.

Johnson insisted on Friday that British lawmakers need to commit to the Dec. 12 date for the election “to have any credibility about delivering Brexit.”

“So that’s what we’re pushing for,” he said.

Johnson last week secured a new deal with EU leaders, but British lawmakers refused to approve it before an Oct. 19 deadline imposed by Parliament.

That forced him to ask the EU to extend the Brexit deadline to the end of January.

Sajid Javid, Britain’s treasury chief, said he believes the EU will ultimately approve a three-month extension. He said the only way to break the country’s political logjam was to call a new election and get rid of what he called the current “zombie Parliament.”

Us senators call for security probe of tiktok

Tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires rage in California

WASHINTON: Two senior US senators called for the government to study national security risks possibly posed by Chineseowned video app TikTok, saying it could leave American users vulnerable to Beijing’s spying. With 500 million users worldwide, TikTok has exploded in popularity in the past two years, offering a platform to produce and publish up to 60 seconds long music-synced videos. In a letter to acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Tom Cotton suggested that TikTok’s owner ByteDance could be forced to share user information with Chinese intelligence. It could also conceivably offer Beijing’s spies a backdoor into users’ smartphones and computers, similar to allegations against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

“With over 110 million downloads in the US alone, TikTok is a potential counterintelligence threat we cannot ignore,” they wrote, urging the intelligence community to “conduct an assessment of the national security risks” posed by the app. Chinese laws could compel the company “to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,” the senators said.

They noted that TikTok collects substantial personal data from users, making it a security risk. In a statement posted on its website, TikTok sought to distance itself from China, saying “we are not influenced by any foreign government, including the Chinese government.” The company’s data centres are located outside China and “none of our data is subject to Chinese law,” it said. AGENCIES

Some 50,000 people were ordered to flee their homes north of Los Angeles on Thursday as a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds erupted and raged out of control.

The so-called Tick Fire near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, broke out in the early afternoon and quickly consumed 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares), fire officials said.

The blaze burned several homes and structures and forced the closure of a major highway and a number of roads, as some 500 firefighters backed by air tankers and helicopters battled the flames.

There were no immediate reports of injury.

“We are urging everybody to evacuate at this time,” a spokesman for the fire department said.

The fire erupted as much of the state was under a red flag warning because of gusty winds, high temperatures and low humidity which make for perfect conditions for wildfires.

In northern California wine country, some 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a brush fire erupted late Wednesday, quickly growing from a blaze of a few hundred acres into a 16,000-acre inferno, California fire officials said.

About 500 responders battled the fire fed by wind gusts topping 70 miles per hour (113 kilometers per hour). Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the community of Geyserville and nearby vineyards after the fire started in a mountainous area and quickly spread, crossing a highway and moving toward homes, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.

“If you’re in Geyserville, leave now,” the sheriff’s office advised, citing an extraordinary threat to life and property.

Winds out of the north were driving the fire as firefighters struggled to save homes.

By early evening, the fire was five percent contained and several structures had burned, fire officials said.

The blaze — 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of San Francisco — came amid official warnings that much of northern California and parts of the south were under imminent threat of fires into Friday because of blustery, dry weather and high temperatures.

Another brush fire in San Bernardino County, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, also prompted evacuation orders as it quickly burned 75 acres.

HURRIED DEPARTURES: Power was cut to some 180,000 customers in the northern part of the state Thursday and similar preemptive shutoffs affected thousands of customers further south due to conditions that are ripe for wildfires.

Power companies warned that additional power cuts could be ordered to reduce the risk of accidental fires.

The strong winds in the north were expected to subside Friday but are forecast to pick up again on Sunday, the National Weather Service warned.

Many residents of Geyserville said they barely had time to gather their belongings as the monster fire quickly approached the town, with embers igniting fires throughout the region.

“We thought we were a couple of miles from the fire,” Dwight Monson, 68, told the Los Angeles Times.

“But guess what — the winds.” He said by the time his family got in their cars and escaped to the valley below, the flames were on the edge of their ranch.

PG&E, the state’s biggest utility, said in a statement that it had informed regulators that a jumper on a transmission tower near where officials said the fire had started was broken.

The company — which has been held responsible for numerous wildfires in the state — said that even though the power to nearly 28,000 customers in Sonoma County, including Geyserville, had been shut down on Wednesday, some of the high-voltage transmission lines were still operating when the fire broke out. AGENCIES

CMYK

fluential Chinese state-backed newspaper the Global Times said in an editorial that while Pence reiterated many of his previous criticisms, there was still “room for optimism”.

“He emphasized the U.S. does not want to ‘decouple’ and repeated how U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to start a new future with China,” it said.

“He also underlined the friendship between Chinese President Xi and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.”

Russian agent Butina to be freed from Us prison, awaits deportation WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Convicted Russian agent Maria Butina is set to be released from a Florida prison on Friday after serving most of her 18-month sentence for conspiring to influence U.S. conservative activists and infiltrate the National Rifle Association, and is expected to be quickly deported to her native country.

Butina, 31, had been scheduled for release from the low-security prison in Tallahassee in early November, but a change in federal law moved up her release date based on credit for good behaviour, her attorney Robert Driscoll said. She is expected to be taken into custody by U.S immigration authorities immediately after being released to be deported, Driscoll added. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed “outrage” over Butina’s prison sentence and said she did not carry out any orders from Russian security services.

Butina, a former graduate student at American University in Washington who publicly advocated for gun rights, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiring to act as a foreign agent and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The Siberia native admitted to conspiring with a Russian official and two Americans to infiltrate the NRA, the powerful gun-rights group closely aligned with U.S. conservatives and Republican politicians including President Donald Trump, and create unofficial lines of communication to try to shape Washington’s policy toward Moscow. Her 18-month sentence included nine months she spent incarcerated after her July 2018 arrest. Butina’s case was separated from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, which detailed numerous contacts between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Her activities occurred during the same period as the contacts investigated by Mueller. The Russian official with whom Butina conspired was later identified as Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia’s central bank. He was never charged in the case but was hit with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department. One of the two Americans referenced in her case was conservative political activist Paul Erickson, her boyfriend. Erickson was not charged for his links to Butina, but was indicted on unrelated wire fraud and money laundering charges in South Dakota. The case against Erickson is still pending. In addition, Overstock.com (OSTK.O) Chief Executive Officer Patrick Byrne resigned in August after confirming a report by Fox News contributor Sara Carter that he also had an intimate relationship with Butina. Butina in 2015 appeared at a Trump campaign event and asked him a question about whether he wanted better relations with Russia. Trump responded by telling Butina that he would “get along very nicely with Putin.”

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

BUSINESS 11 Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, other projects given go ahead

PM urges nation to Pay taxes to build Pakistan

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD

P

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged citizens to play their role in the country’s progress and development by paying due taxes.

Speaking to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) chairpersons, the premier emphasised the need for broadening the country’s tax base in order to provide the masses the best facilities.

“Expanding the tax base will help cut the burden of additional taxes and provide educational, health and basic facilities in far-flung areas,” Prime Minister Khan said, calling the tax payment a national duty.

He said it is vital to restore taxpayers’ trust in the tax authority, calling for making the tax system transparent.

At the meeting, the prime minister and the FBR and NADRA chiefs discussed tax measures to widen the tax net.

Earlier, on Oct 22, PM Khan had said

the country’s economy was on the path of stability following the concrete steps taken by the incumbent government.

He was chairing a meeting of the government’s spokespersons in the federal

capital to discuss government narrative in view of the current political situation.

PM Khan said Pakistan’s economy is strengthening at a fast pace but some elements are unhappy with the progress.

The 2nd Board of Directors Meeting of Public Private Partnership Authority, held under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar in Islamabad on Friday, gave go ahead to implementing agencies for development of three infrastructure projects namely Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, Northern Bypass & NUST Teaching & Research Hospital.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, senior officials of the ministry and members of Bard of Directors were also present in the meeting.

The Minister stated that private sector has an important role to play in the sustained development of the country. Talking about NUST Teaching & Research Hospital, the Minister said that the proposed 500 bed medical facility will provide new health service and cater to healthcare needs of the public besides enhanc-

ing research and innovation practices in the medical field.

It is pertinent to mention here that the implementing agencies will commence work on projects preparation which once prepared will be placed before the Board for its approval.

The meeting was apprised that under section 3 of PPPA Act, IPDF was transformed into PPP Authority in June 2018 and its primary objective is to facilitate ministries and government agencies in developing and procuring infrastructure projects on PPP basis.

Various other agenda items came under deliberation during the meeting. The meeting agreed to co-opt members from the private sector for detailed commercial, technical and financial analysis as well as to assess viability of the projects.

The Board also approved appointment of external auditors of the Authority. Regarding the approval of procedural rules of the Authority, it was decided to defer the matter till next meeting for detailed scrutiny.

Pakistan did nothing in judicial reforms for improving ease of doing business ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

While the government is praising the authorities concerned for their role played in improvement of Pakistan’s rank in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index (EoDBI) 2020, it has completely failed to show any progress in judicial reforms, a major task under the reforms program.

Chairman Board of Investment (BoI) Zubair Gilani admitted that nothing was done in the judicial reforms, which needed to facilitate the business.

Under the existing judicial system commercial disputes and cases remain in pending for many years.

During a press conference, the BoI chairman said that the board along with other ministries concerned are working to introduce basic reforms in judiciary by April 2020 after which commercial and trade disputes would be resolved within a time frame of one year. The government, according to officials, the reforms agendas in judicial system of the country included, minimizing cost required to enforce a contract through the courts, reduction in average attorney fees/court costs/ enforcement costs and steps related to case management, court automation,

and alternative dispute resolution.

According to the officials, three major initiatives including reduction of judicial cost, and duration of cases and quality and transparency in decisions would be targeted in the next one year.

According to them special courts would be setup for early resolution of commercial disputes along with alternative case resolution mechanisms.

BoI chairman claims that the BoI would be successful in at least introducing basic reforms in the judicial system

by April 30 next year, the target set for the task. He admitted that the judicial side has been neglected previously.

As per the World Bank’s EoDBI changes in laws and regulations that have any impact on the economy’s score on the quality of judicial processes index are classified as reforms. Examples of reforms impacting the quality of judi¬cial processes index include measures to introduce electronic filing of the initial complaint, the creation of a commercial court or division, or the introduction of dedicated systems to resolve small claims. Changes affecting the quality of judicial processes index can be different in magnitude and scope and still be considered a reform. For example, imple-

menting a new electronic case management system for the use of judges and lawyers represents a reform with a 2point increase in the index, while introducing incentives for the parties to use mediation represents a reform with a 0.5point increase in the index.

Meanwhile during the press conference, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Industries and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said that improvement of country’s ranking in EODB would pave way to create a conducive business environment to attract more foreign investment.

Accompanied by Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Zubair Gilani here, the commerce adviser said after this huge achievement of higher ranking, Pakistan’s economy would be more integrated to the global economy and this linkage would bring foreign investment to the country.

The World Bank (WB) improved its “Ease of Doing Business” ranking 2020 for Pakistan by 28 points, placing the country among top ten countries that had made reforms and improved their business environment at fast pace. He said that Pakistan had been ranked among 6th top reformers of the world and first in South

Shaan foods denies Unilever acquisition rumours, leaves future open to speculation LAHORE ABDULLAH NIAZI

Shaan foods has denied that they have been bought out by consumer goods giant Unilever, or that they are even in talks with them for an acquisition, while at the same time not denying that they are on the market.

Shaan foods CEO Sikandar Tivana told Profit that no such deal was on the table as of yet, and that they would themselves let the public know if negotiations for an acquisition were ever on the table.

A recent tweet had gone viral, in which it had been claimed that Unilever was buying 51% stakes in Shaan foods for a staggering $1.2 billion. However, the Shaan CEO denied completely not just the figure, but any deal with Unilever.

“This is all social media hogwash, there is no deal to buy us out with anyone, and the number being passed around is a complete lie,” he said.

However, he also did not deny that Shaan foods is on the market, and went so far as to say that as a responsible company, Shan would inform the public of any deals that may be on the negotiating table.

“In the course of business, you enter these kinds of conversations with many parties. There are always rumours, some more substantial and others not, but we will let the public knows as soon as anything of the sort is happening” he said.

The move could be part of Shan’s recent plans to expand, with them announcing that they were looking for an initial public offering (IPO) back in May last year. They have been looking around under the shadows for some time now, attending the 2014 Pakistan IPO summit. While Shan had not been forthcoming with when they would go for the IPO, saying back then that they were just looking around, their expansion plan indicated that it would be around 2020. Furthermore, $1.2 billion amount for the 51% acquisition being circulated at present seems exorbitant. “This is how things go in Pakistan. Companies deny until the very end and then conveniently announce it when everything is final.

The same thing happened with Daraz,” a leading M&A professional told Profit.

“But no matter what the case is, the value can never be USD 1.2bn. Especially if Shan foods is only selling 51% of the stake” they ended.

Asia. Besides Pakistan, other countries in the top ten list included Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Nigeria, India, China, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Togo. Razak Dawood said the improvement in EODB report 2020 was an unprecedented positive jump in the country’s business environment, which he said would enhance the overall image of the country at world level and help promote investment to the country.

The adviser said that under the visionary leadership Prime Minster Imran Khan, the economic team proved its worth through the improvement in WB, EODB ranking of Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan’s DB score formerly known as distance to frontier improved from 55.31 to 61. He said the report highlighted that the country was consistently closing the gap between its regulatory environment and global good practices. The adviser said that Pakistan’s EODB score improved in seven indicators including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, protecting minority investors, paying taxes and trading across borders.

He said that improvement in Pakistan position in WB, EODB ranking was achieved due to the coordinated efforts of

two provinces including Sindh and Punjab and all national institutions.

He said that in WB, EODB raking 2020 enclosed only two main cities of Karachi and Lahore but “We shall go to provide conducive business environment in all four province for providing equal business opportunities at all over the country,” he said.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK) and Balochistan were also in priority list to provide more facilities to improve business environment in these two provinces, adding that a lot of foreign investment could pour in these provinces.

Razak said the government was committed to facilitating the business in these two cities as well as rural areas. “We are working on model to improve the business at district level,” he added.

Later, talking to reporters, Razak Dawood said that the government would continue its work on further improving the ranking. “We need to improve more for providing conducive business environment to foreign investors,” he said. Razak Dawood said the government had set ambitious target for improving the WB and wanted to achieve ranking up to 70th and 80th position within couple of years.

Centre, Sindh at loggerheads on procurement of wheat ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal and Sindh government is at loggerhead on procurement as well as releasing of wheat in the local market. Documents state that Sindh government did not procure wheat in the current year and also not release against the available 0.804 million tons stock into the local market, despite repeated request made by the ministry of National Food Security and research.

Documents state that governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have approached Ministry of National Food Security and Research for provision of 0.4 and 0.2 million tons wheat and their requests were submitted to the ECC of the ECC of Cabinet in first week of October subsequently ECC allowed 0.250 million tons (0.10 million tons for Sindh and 0.150 million tons for KP) on equal contribution to the flour-mills of two provinces.

Sources told that federal government given the orders to release 0.10 million tons of wheat to Sindh in order to control the mounting prices in the local market as central government has infor-

mation that PPP government is not releasing the wheat to local market as they do not have surplus wheat despite the 0.804 million tons stock.

Sources claimed that Center has suspicion that Sindh government has not the required wheat stock and their statistics are not correct so that’s why federal government has summoned the report regarding the stock of wheat in the warehouses.

Sources told that this food year started with the leftover stock of wheat at the tune of 3.778 million tons. Provincial Crop Reporting Centers had reported intially the production of wheat crop 201819 at the level of 25.471 million tons as compared to the production of 25.51 million tons of the corresponding period of last year. Therefore, the total avaialbilty of wheat during current year was estimated to be 29.249 million tons, which is sufficient to cater the requirement of 26.91 million tons for population of 212.7 million of the country. On the other hand, the total tune of the procurement made by the public sector was 4.034 (3.316 million tons

by Punjab and 0.681 million tons by the PASSCO) against the assigned target of 6.250 million tons, showing a decline of more than 35 percent .

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

12 BUSINESS SITE industrialists concerned over delay in sales tax refunds KARACHI PPI

Suleman Chawla, President of SITE Association of Industry, while expressing deep concerns over poor performance of the recently launched Fully Automated Sales Tax e-Refunds (FASTER) module, stated that FBR claimed of processing payments of Sales Tax Refunds within 72 hours through FASTER module but the ground reality was totally contrary to this claim as many exporters have not received anything. He pointed out that many exporters have not received outstanding refunds for July 2019 which was really worrisome and too disappointing for the Business and Industrial Community as the FASTER module was launched with a commitment to release refunds within 72 hours but it was not happening at all, which has intensified the hardships for exporters who are finding it almost impossible to stay afloat due to delays in release of refund claims and rescission of SRO 1125(I)/2011 dated 31.12.2011, which allowed zero-rating of inputs of five export-oriented sectors. “It was a matter of grave concern that a system titled FASTER for processing refund claims within 72 hours, has actually made the entire process too messy and cumbersome while the FBR officers in Islamabad were also totally unaware and confused because of the so-called FASTER system hence, it should be remained as SLOWER”, he criticized. President SAI said that it has been a month since the first tranche was processed via FASTER module but many exporters have not received funds, creating severe liquidity crunch for the exporters from five export-oriented industries which clearly indicates that FASTER system has failed miserably to improve the situation in fact it has made the refunds process more cumbersome and slower. He was fairly optimistic that keeping in view the government’s resolve towards ensuring the Ease of Doing Business, the decision makers would pay attention to this serious issue and order the concerned department to improve FASTER’s performance which would certainly be warmly welcomed by business community of Karachi but also by all other stakeholders from across the country. He appealed to the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Chairman, FBR to personally intervene for immediate release of pending claims so that exporters could meet their export contracts.

USTR says close to finalising parts of trade deal with China WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The United States and China are close to finalizing some sections of a trade agreement after a phone call between top negotiators, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday. “They made headway on specific issues and the two sides are close to finalizing some sections of the agreement,” USTR said after a phone call on the initial phase of the agreement between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Discussions will go on continuously at the deputy level, and the principals will have another call in the near future.”

CHICAGO/TOKYO AGENCIES

The time may not be far off when more adults need diapers than babies as the population grows older, potentially a huge opportunity for manufacturers of incontinence products – if they can lift the stigma that has long constrained sales.

The market for adult diapers, disposable underwear and absorbent pads is growing fast, up 9% last year to $9 billion, having doubled in the last decade, according to Euromonitor.

But manufacturers like market leaders Essity and Kimberly-Clark reckon only half of the more than 400 million adults likely to be affected by weak bladders, are buying the right products, because they are too embarrassed.

Companies are trying various methods to change attitudes, including making products more discreet, avoiding terms like diapers or nappies, and placing items in the personal care aisle, next to deodorants and menstrual pads, rather than in the baby products section. They are also trying to normalize discussions around the subject through advertising.

In Japan, where adult incontinence products have outsold baby diaper sales since around 2013 due to a rapidly ageing population, market leader

us investigating whether Private-equity chief bribed Pakistani Politicians

U.S. prosecutors are investigating whether the founder of the bankrupt private-equity firm Abraaj Group bribed senior politicians in Pakistan, according to people familiar with the matter.

Arif Naqvi was arrested by U.K. police in London in April after U.S. prosecutors indicted him on charges of fraud. Dubai-based Abraaj was the largest private-equity firm based in emerging markets before it collapsed in 2018. Mr. Naqvi was freed on bail and placed under a 24-hour curfew in his London apartment awaiting a trial to decide whether to extradite him to the U.S. U.S. prosecutors have since indicted Mr. Naqvi for racketeering and accused him of paying bribes to Pakistani politicians. Part of their current investigation focuses on a bribe allegedly paid via an intermediary to former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz in 2016, the people said. Mr. Sharif was prime minister at the time and Mr. Naqvi was seeking government approval for the sale of Abraaj’s stake in the power distributor K-Electric Ltd. to a Chinese company. Shehbaz Sharif now leads the opposition in Pakistan’s parliament.

Mr. Naqvi founded Abraaj in 2002 and expanded the firm across Asia, Africa and Latin America to manage almost $14 billion, making Mr. Naqvi one of the most influential Pakistanis in the world. He was on the board of the fundraising foundation of Interpol, the global police agency, and his investors included the U.S., British and French governments, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Bank of America Corp.

Mr. Naqvi has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

A lawyer for the Sharif brothers said that they haven’t had any financial dealings of any kind with Mr. Naqvi or Abraaj and that they haven’t been contacted by U.S. prosecutors.

The financier cultivated contacts with politicians from various

US PROSECUTORS PROBING ABRAAJ GROUP’S FOUNDER ARIF NAQVI OVER ALLEGED BRIBERY Pakistani parties, including current Prime Minister Imran Khan, who won power in 2018. When Mr. Naqvi was arrested in April, he gave British police a list of telephone numbers of people he was close to, including Mr. Khan, lawyers representing the U.S. government wrote in a court filing. Mr. Naqvi described Mr. Khan as a “very old friend” with whom he “goes back a long way,” the filing said.

Reham Khan, the divorced second wife of the prime minister, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Mr. Naqvi was a donor to Mr. Khan’s unsuccessful attempt to become prime minister in 2013. She wrote in her autobiography that Mr. Khan told her Mr. Naqvi funded two-thirds of the 2013 campaign.

A spokesman for Mr. Khan declined to comment on Mr. Naqvi and said he wouldn’t comment on Ms. Khan as a matter of policy.

Pakistan’s electoral commission is investigating whether Mr. Khan’s political party received illegal funding from overseas. Mr. Khan’s spokesman said the party raised funds according to the law.

He declined to comment on the investigation because it is continuing.

“Pakistan suffers an endemic leadership crisis,” said Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of Mr. Khan’s party whose petition to the electoral commission about alleged illegal overseas funding prompted the investigation. “Most political parties are run as individual or family fiefdoms.”

Abraaj’s most significant investment in Pakistan was the purchase in 2008 of a controlling stake in K-Electric, which distributes electricity to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. In 2016, Abraaj announced the sale of the stake to China’s state-controlled Shanghai Electric Power Co. for $1.77 bil-

lion. However, completion of the sale was delayed by regulatory hurdles and still hasn’t completed.

In an updated indictment in June, U.S. prosecutors accused Mr. Naqvi of racketeering and using bribery, alleging that in 2016 he authorized a $20 million payment to an official in Pakistan with connections to “two senior elected officials.” Those officials were the Sharif brothers, according to Abraaj documents reviewed by the Journal.

The purpose of the payment was to gain government approval for the sale of Abraaj’s stake in K-Electric, according to the indictment.

“This document is explosive in the wrong hands,” Mr. Naqvi wrote about the contract for the $20 million payment in an email to an Abraaj executive in June 2016.

Abraaj had “executed the agreement to retain a particular entity as an adviser” on the K-Electric transaction in exchange for the $20 million payment by September 2016, according to the indictment. The intermediary between Mr. Naqvi and the Sharif brothers was Pakistani businessman Navaid Malik, according to documents reviewed by the Journal. Mr. Malik didn’t respond to requests for comment.

According to an email from an Abraaj executive to Mr. Naqvi, Mr. Malik said he would find out how the brothers wanted to use the money, such as “a portion to charity” or “a portion to the election fund kitty,” according to the June indictment and emails reviewed by the Journal.

Mr. Naqvi also arranged employment for a relative of “Politician-2,” according to the indictment. Politician-2 is one of the Sharif brothers, according to documents reviewed by the Journal.

Politician-2 “is a friend (and we ‘look’ after him from time to time),” Mr. Naqvi wrote in a 2016 email to

Diaper rush: conquering a $9 billion market Unicharm Corp (8113.T) has adopted the phrase “choi more” in its advertising, which translates as “lil’ dribble”, to make light of the problem.

“What we are doing is trying to let people know that incontinence, even among young people, is normal,” said Unicharm spokesman Hitoshi Watanabe.

The company is focusing particularly on people with mild bladder issues where

make them more acceptable.

The changes are just the latest in a decade-long attempt to win over consumers, which started with manufacturers dropping the ‘diaper’ label, to loosen the association older customers might have with a loss of control in their life.

Yet it is still difficult for companies to persuade people they should buy specially made incon-

Manufacturers have been particularly keen to win over women, who are more than twice as likely as men to experience bladder weakness, due to childbirth.

Kimberly-Clark has reached out to them directly over the years in lighthearted ad campaigns featuring actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Kirstie Alley.

SECRET’S OUT: Kimberly-Clark’s Poise brand is aimed at younger women like Ellie Foster, a 31-yearold from Maine,

it sees the biggest growth as people lead more active lives. Unicharm’s sales of absorbent pads and liners that target this market were up 8% last year.

In the U.S., market leader KimberlyClark has this year given its 35-year-old Depend brand a makeover, introducing thinner, softer and more fitted products that can be worn discreetly, in an effort to

tinence products.

“People keep the fact that they have incontinence secret from their loved ones, from their husbands, brothers and sisters – this is a deep secret for many consumers and yet it’s just a fact of life, it’s a physiological reality,” said Fiona Tomlin, who leads Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care division.

who has struggled with leaks since having her first child a year-and-a-half ago but is too embarrassed to buy products that might help her.

“At first I did, but it was definitely weird picking out adult diapers to wear,” said Foster. “You feel like you’re in the old lady section.”

Sweden’s Essity, the global industry

a colleague, according to the June indictment.

In January 2017, Mr. Naqvi hosted a dinner for Nawaz Sharif at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “The single point of pride that I have more than anything else in what I do is that I am a Pakistani,” Mr. Naqvi said as he introduced Mr. Sharif. Mr. Malik helped organize the dinner, which cost Abraaj more than $348,000, according to a document reviewed by the Journal.

Abraaj was a trusted partner of Western governments and investors partly because of Mr. Naqvi’s selfproclaimed policy of zero-tolerance for corruption. When Mr. Naqvi discussed corruption during a 2017 debate, he said he “did everything by the book” when he invested in K-Electric in Pakistan. “We avoided every single point where you would have had to come into contact with the government, even though you were a utility, and have to pay someone something.”

U.S. prosecutors wrote in the June indictment that Mr. Naqvi used Abraaj funds to bribe and “to cover certain dining and travel expenses” for another Pakistani elected official referred to as Politician-4. The identity of this politician couldn’t be determined by the Journal.

U.S. prosecutors accused Mr. Naqvi in the June indictment of taking hundreds of millions of dollars from Abraaj for personal gain. They are investigating where the money went, one of the people familiar with the matter said.

Abraaj’s liquidators accused Mr. Naqvi of transferring $199.5 million from Abraaj to Silverline Holdings Ltd., a Cayman Islandsbased company Mr. Naqvi owned, according to a document filed at the Cayman Islands court earlier this month. Neither Silverline nor Mr. Naqvi “had any entitlement” to the money and the liquidators want it back, according to the court filing.

A spokesman for Mr. Naqvi declined to comment. AGENCIES

leader, is also trying to reach a younger audience with its TENA brand and a new line of black, low-rise disposable underwear called Silhouette Noir.

The advert’s tagline reads: ‘secret’s out: 1 in 3 women have incontinence’.

Around 12% of all women and 5% of men experience some form of urinary incontinence, although conditions vary from mild and temporary to serious and chronic, according to the Global Forum on Incontinence, which is backed by Essity. Essity said it tries to package and market its products in a way that avoids associations with ageing.

“Designing products and packaging it as feminine and discreet as possible for females and as masculine and discreet as possible for men helps,” said Ulrika Kolsrud, president of Essity’s health and medical solutions.

Getting the message across to potential customers can sometimes be a tricky path to tread. A few years ago, SCA – from which Essity was spun off in 2017 – mailed samples of its products to Swedish men above 55, only to receive a barrage of complaints.

But efforts are starting to pay off.

Five years ago, adult incontinence products were used by around 13% of the target adult female audience in France and the UK and that is now closer to 20%, according to research firm Kantar.

WhAt does Body Positivity ActuAlly MeAN?

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By Rimsha amin

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

o body is the same, but every body deserves love, respect, and acceptance.

The term Body Positivity means to cherish every inch, curve, and speck of your body and the changes it will endure as you age. Body positivity was made in the hopes of “reducing potential disordered eating and distorted body image triggers, while reducing the oppressive language that excludes fat people from access to resources.”

Many oppose the movement declaring body positivity is ignoring nutritional and medical facts as those overweight aren’t by typical standards “healthy,” but that is between them and their doctor, not me or you or anyone else. We are all made uniquely and what is healthy for you may not be what’s beneficial for another human being. The phrase ‘healthy at every size’ isn’t, unlike popular opinion, praising obesity. Instead, the campaign hopes to generate “positive changes made for the sake of being healthier” by getting rid of the guilt, humiliation, and misery that comes with not having a socalled “perfect” body.

Everyone has their off days like many others; I too have struggled with body image growing up. I’ve also been one of those who do face a plethora of body-judgment–both from themselves and others. But I have learnt it the very hard way that there is no need for fat-shaming. It doesn’t help people get to a better, more beneficial place in their life and in fact in reality, the stress and pressure results in greatly reduced chances of weight loss and instead, a tendency to gain weight and become obese by creating eating disorders and unhealthy lifestyle habits.

As a fitness enthusiast, I’m happy to say that the goal of exercising for me is not to get skinny anymore. Having a healthy lifestyle is about being confident, eating foods that make you feel good, and doing activities that help your body achieve what you never thought it could achieve, it’s about having a healthy relationship with your own body, where you listen to your body and your body listens and responds to you. These are all individualized subjects that do not require anyone’s outside judgment.

Moreover, attaching the statement “body positivity” to workout videos and articles promising to make you miraculously have a modelesque body or lose all that extra fat is not, in fact, body positive. The way you are is beautiful and taking different actions is not to become beautiful or happy or confident, you already are. Instead, fitness is a way to learn more about your body and the challenges it can endure.

Body positivity has become a safe space for people who have struggled with their body image, allowing them the space to accept their bodies as they are and work on loving themselves even if they have rolls or cellulite. I think this is a necessary cushion and community of people that celebrate all types of bodies in order for us to feel confident and truly ourselves. Body positivity has helped many people with eating disorders go into recovery, as well as exposing the vast amount of photoshopping that goes into ad campaigns that present women as stick thin with perfect skin. Jameela Jamil, along with many other famous women like Ashley Graham, Chrissy Teigen, Selena Gomez, has used her platform and fame to spread the message of body positivity.

Amar Khan is Going to Make Her Big Screen Debut Alongside Imran Ashraf with “Dum Mastam”

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CTrESS and writer Amar Khan is all set to rock the big screen for the first time with the feature film “Dum Mastam”, which is also written by the fast-rising star herself.

Starring as the lead protagonist alongside the ranjha ranjha Kardi famed Imran Ashraf, the film is a romantic comedy that follows the story of the two love birds, as they experience a roller coaster ride of love, drama, and fun. The film is produced by Adnan Siddiqui under the banner of Cereal Entertainment, and helmed by the talented Ehteshamuddin, who last directed Eid-ul-Azha hit Superstar and has some hit dramas under his belt including Udaari and Sadqay Tumhare.

“I have been working on this script for the past two years so it goes without saying that I am so thrilled to be finally putting it out there. Dum Mastam would be a refreshing new watch for the audience, and I am so excited to be working with all these talented people,” said the excited Amar Khan.

Dum Mastam is all set to release in cinemas across Pakistan in 2020. The film stars some very famous names of our entertainment world including Sohail Ahmed,

Saleem Mairaj and Adnan Shah Tipu and the famous vlogger Momin Saqib.

This won’t be the first time Amar Khan would be stepping into the role of the writer, she made her acting debut opposite Ahsan Khan with the critically acclaimed Chashm-e-Noor, helmed and written by the talented actress.

The versatile actress and filmmaker made her mark in a short period of time with her choices of unconventional roles and promising story lines. She can currently be seen on screen in “Dil-eGumshuda”, that has been garnering rave reviews from the audience.

Bananas grow upside-down Or technically, we peel them upside-down. These random facts will have you eating fruit differently.

Naturally, they grow outward from their stems, but that means their bottoms actually face the sky. As they get bigger, the fruits turn toward the sun, forming that distinctive curve. Check out these 21 food myths that are totally untrue.

There were active volcanoes on the moon when dinosaurs were alive Most of the volcanoes probably stopped one billion years ago, but new NASA findings suggest there might still have been active lava flow 100 million years ago, when dinosaurs were still roaming.

Dogs sniff good smells with their left nostril Dogs normally start sniffing with their right nostril, then keep it there if the smell could signal danger, but they’ll shift to the left side for something pleasant, like food or a mating partner. Learn the real reason dogs follow you everywhere.

The Batman Theme Already Done Says Richard Rider Nova Was Originally A Part Composer Michael Giacchino of Avengers: Endgame

Saand Ki Aankh made tax-free in Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal hails the ‘power of a dream’

Just last week saw it confirmed that composer Michael Giacchino will be scoring the music for The Batman, and now it is learned the theme is already finished.

Giacchino spoke with the Preston & Steve Show on 93.3 WMMr offering, "In fact, I have already written what will be the theme for the movie because I was so excited about doing it, I just sat down and did it already. So Matt has that in his back pocket right now and is using it just to inspire him as he is finishing writing and doing the things he has to do to prepare for directing. It's not often that I do that. I was just so psyched to be a part of this. I was like, 'I just want to start working on this now,' because I am not really going to be recording it until 2021."

Giacchino also offers his thought process behind scoring The Batman and other movies. "You were asking about thematics and coming up with them. I want to ask you, 'Have you ever sort of closed your eyes, and I know you have, ever closed your eyes and said I'm Batman?'" And just imagined what would it be like to be Batman. right. You've done that.," Giacchino said.

After Uttar Pradesh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has declared Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar starrer Saand Ki Aankh tax-free in the state. The film is one of the big three Diwali releases and clashed at the box office with Akshay Kumar’s multi-starrer comedy Housefull 4 and rajkummar rao and Mouni roy’s Made In China.

Making the announcement, Kejriwal wrote on Twitter, “Delhi govt. gives tax-free status to the @taapsee & @bhumipednekar starrer #SaandKiAankh in Delhi. The message of the movie should reach to people of every age, gender & background―The power of a dream, & the power derived from it to achieve it, despite any socio-cultural blocks.” Soon after, Taapsee replied to him on Twitter, “Thank you.” Bhumi had earlier thanked Kejriwal for attending the special screening of the film. The chief minister along with his family and education minister Manish Sisodia had attended the special screening of the film in Delhi. Saand Ki Aankh, which got a positive response from the critics, is expected to record an opening of rs 3-5 crore.

What many cosmic fans thought could have been following Infinity War turns out to be true as the writers behind The Avengers: Endgame confirm that originally they had an idea to use richard rider Nova in the movie.

The start of Infinity War saw Thanos and the Black order destroy Xandar, the home of the Nova Corps, to acquire the Power Stone; Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely reveal that it would have led to the debut of Nova in the MCU. Markus admits that "it would've been amazing," but McFeely notes that the idea behind Avengers: Endgame was to say goodbye to characters and not introduce new ones.

"But you're introducing a whole new character when we're trying to say goodbye to all the ones that you know," McFeely said. regarding Nova coming to Earth, he did so in Nova #2 and #3 (2007) that saw Iron Man give him an ultimatum about joing The Initiative, which led to Nova flying back out into space and leaving Earth behind.

CMYK

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

14 SPORTS

pepe rescues arsenal as united eke out rare away win LONDON

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AGENCIES

ICOLAS Pepe came off the bench to rescue Arsenal at home against Vitoria Guimaraes with two late free kicks in the Europa League.

Arsenal came from behind to win 3-2 and stay perfect in Group F. They are one of only two teams on nine points from three games, along with Sevilla, who beat Dudelange of Luxembourg 3-0 in Group A. Manchester United are one of the teams on seven points and need just one more win to ensure they qualify from Group L after eking out a 1-0 win against Partizan on an emotional day in Belgrade. Celtic came from a goal down to beat Lazio 2-1 in Glasgow and remain top of Group E. PSV Eindhoven were held 0-0 at home by Linz but still lead Group D Rangers drew 1-1 in Porto in Group G while Wolves beat Slovan 2-1 in Bratislava in Group K and both are in contention.

At the Emirates, Arsenal made 10 changes from the team that lost at Sheffield United on Monday in the Premier League. For much of the match, they looked even worse.

Arsenal dominated possession but were outshot 14-11. They made the worst possible start, falling behind after nine minutes to a goal by a former Tottenham player.

In the ninth minute, Marcus Edwards, once compared by Spurs man-

ager Mauricio Pochettino to a young Lionel Messi, fired a shot under Emiliano Martinez.

Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli replied with a header but Vitoria regained the lead before half time with a goal from Bruno Duarte.

With Arsenal’s young strikers struggling, Pepe, who had not yet scored a goal from open play for the Gunners, came on in the 64th minute.

After 80 minutes he curled a freekick inside the far post. He repeated the trick three minutes into added time to secure the victory.

“It’s important for Pepe,” said Arsenal manager Unai Emery of his big summer signing. “He can gain confidence from tonight. When he scores it’s good for him and the team.”

In Belgrade, Manchester United held a ceremony to remember the ‘Busby Babes’, and then won away for the first time since March Anthony Martial scored the only goal with a penalty kick after 43 minutes, but the hosts had eight strikes on target to just three by United.

The game marked the return to the ground where Matt Busby’s famous team of youngsters played their last game, a European Cup quarter-final against Red Star in February 1958.

Their plane crashed in Munich on the way home and seven United players were among the 23 who died. United had only played in Belgrade once since then, when they lost a European Cup semi-final to Partizan in 1966.

‘HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT’: On

Thursday afternoon, United held a commemoration ceremony where former players Bryan Robson and Mickey Thomas laid a wreath on the pitch at the Partizan Stadium and vice-chairman Ed Woodward gave a speech.

“As soon as the draw happened, our attention turned to wanting to remember those who lost their lives in 1958,” he said. “This was the last place, on this very ground, against Red Star Belgrade, when they played as a team together.”

For the match, United made eight changes from the team that drew at home with Liverpool on Sunday.

Teenagers Brandon Williams and James Garner came into the team.

In the 43rd minute, Williams burst into the Partizan box and drew wild tackles from two home defenders. Martial rolled the penalty into the corner of the goal. “We expected a hostile environment but we got the win,” said United defender Phil Jones. “I thought Garner and Williams were outstanding.”

In a game in Bratislava, played in an unusual atmosphere after Slovan side-stepped a stadium ban for racism by giving 21,000 tickets to children, Wolves fought back from a goal down to win 2-1. Andraz Sporar gave the home team an 11th-minute lead.

Romain Saiss levelled in the 58th minute with a low shot that bobbled through goalie Dominik Greif’s legs Six minutes later, Vernon DeMarco gave Raul Jimenez a shove in front of goal and the Wolves striker scored the winner from the resulting penalty.

Atletico hope Simeone has answers after familiar frustrations return MADRID AGENCIES

Atletico Madrid may need time to adjust after a summer of change but even this early in the season old problems are casting doubts over their Spanish title challenge.

After 77 attritional minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday, Alvaro Morata darted to the near post and headed in Renan Lodi’s cross for a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League that all but secured qualification. After the game, Morata delivered a firm response to those criticising the team and their coach, Diego Simeone.

“People on the outside say we are going through a bad time,” said Morata, who arrived on loan in the summer.

“But in La Liga we are three points off the top and in the Champions League we have seven points from three games.

If this is a bad time, I wish all the bad times were like this.”

Yet there was enough in Morata’s celebration, a raging run down the sideline to the bench, where he hugged Koke, who had just been whistled by the frustrated home fans, to suggest this was a win the players needed too.

Simeone is almost beyond reproach at Atletico, a club he led to the title in 2014 and where he has performed miracles on a budget roughly half that of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

When Koke was jeered as he trudged off, Simeone flapped his arms in disgust, demanding the fans applaud instead. Most duly did.

Before kick-off when the names of the players and their coach were read out to AC/DC’s booming anthem ‘Thunderstruck’, Simeone’s name, as always, received the loudest cheer.

“Everyone has their opinion but it isn’t necessary for me to explain what

Simeone means to the players, to the club and to the fans,” said Morata. “In the end we have to use that and focus on the group, which is our strength, and follow him.”

Simeone knows this Aletico team is only three points behind Barcelona in La Liga, more due to the bumpy form of their rivals than their own consistency. Eight goals in nine matches is not title winning form, still less four draws and one defeat.

When the transfer window closed in August, Atletico had signed nine players, including teenage sensation Joao Felix from Benfica and Kieran Trippier and let 16 go, among them top scorer Antoine Griezmann and captain Diego Godin.

Simeone’s attitude, strategy and work ethic perhaps take time to absorb.

After their 1-1 draw against Valencia on Saturday, Simeone said: “There are some who look to blame others and

some that want to work. Only the latter will get on with me.”

‘TALENTED PLAYERS’: The need to adjust is unlikely to appease those fans who had hoped for a more expansive Atletico Madrid this season but instead have seen only more of the same.

Half of their 12 matches in all competitions have been either goalless or settled by a single goal.

Morata changed the game in midweek, and showed intensity and fervour in his 20 minutes off the bench.

Vinales upstages champion marquez in australia practice SYDNEY: Maverick Vinales upstaged world champion Marc Marquez by setting the quickest time during Friday practice for the Australian MotoGP, as French rookie Fabio Quartararo sat out the second session after a spectacular crash. The Monster Yamaha rider won at Phillip Island last year — his team’s only victory of the season — and he revisited that form on a sunny afternoon after wet conditions in the morning caused havoc. Vinales clocked a best lap of 1:28.824, half a second clear of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso with Honda’s Cal Crutchlow, who suffered serious ankle injuries at the track a year ago, in third. Marquez, who won in Japan last weekend, could only manage sixth, one clear of veteran Italian Valentino Rossi, who will race in his 400th Grand Prix on Sunday. Vinales traded fastest times with Marquez during the dry afternoon session, but on fresh soft tyres put first place beyond doubt as his fellow Spaniard was held up on his final lap as he made a late charge. It was a dominant display by Vinales, who also topped the time-sheets in FP1, where conditions were treacherous after morning rain. They proved too much for rookie-of-the-year Quartararo, who was stretchered from the scene after coming off his Petronas Yamaha. The 20-year-old, who was second in Japan, was thrown over his handlebars on turn six and there were fears he had fractured his left ankle.

While his team said x-rays gave the allclear, he underwent further treatment to a haematoma and was ruled out of the second practice due to the painkillers he was given. “If I can ride then good,” Quartararo said of taking part on Saturday. “If not, we won’t take any risks.” The morning conditions were notably hard for Moto2 riders, with Marquez’s brother Alex, the championship leader, among those who came off their bikes. No serious injuries were reported.

FREE PRACTICE TIMES: 1.

Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 1min 28.824, 2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.496, 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 0.501, 4. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 0.503, 5. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 0.520, 6. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.597, 7.

Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.612, 8.Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.648, 9.

Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.894, 10. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 0.967. AGENCIES

US Open champ Woodland sends Presidents Cup message to Woods TOKYO AGENCIES

Gary Woodland has made a huge claim for a Presidents Cup wildcard after stringing together rounds of 65, 66 and 64 in Asia, but the US Open champion is taking nothing for granted.

On Thursday he matched US team captain Tiger Woods’s superb six-underpar opening-round to share the lead at the inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan.

That came straight after a stunning weekend at the CJ Cup in South Korea where Woodland backed up a third-round seven-under-par 65 with Sunday’s 66 to grab a share of third place. Woods will decide his four captain’s picks, which could include himself, straight after next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

And the 15-time major winner does not even have to look down the leaderboard in Japan for a prime, in-form candidate.

Woodland has shot 19-under par with just one bogey in his last 54 holes and is

guaranteed to share the lead with Woods for at least another 24 hours after Friday’s play was washed out at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

“Right now I’m just trying to continue the golf tournament, give myself a chance on Sunday,” Woodland said after his flawless opening round Thursday.

“I’m off next week, so I can think about it next week,” Woodland added.

“I’ve talked to Tiger, I’ve spent a little time with him. He’s made it clear he wants the guys out playing and he wants guys playing well. “He knows how much I want to be on that team. So for me, I’ll just go out and play well and everything will take care of itself.”

‘HAD A LOT GOING ON’: The 35year-old Woodland missed two cuts after the US Open, where he beat world number one Brooks Koepka by three strokes at Pebble Beach. Despite winning his first major, the form dip meant Woodland was 10th on the Presidents Cup points list with only the top eight gaining automatic

selection for the matchplay event that will pit the US against the Internationals in Melbourne in December.

World number 18 Woodland enjoyed an extended break after the season-ending Tour Championship and said it was just what he needed after the demands of being a major winner. Not only that, wife Gabby gave birth to twin girls in August, and the couple already have a two-year-old son.

“Obviously winning (a major) was huge, but we had a couple of babies as well, so I had a lot going on,” he said.

Woodland opened his 2019-20 season in Las Vegas three weeks ago. He finished tied 55th but claimed his play had been better than his score reflected, a view borne out by his form in Asia which is making a big case for a ticket to Australia.

“After Vegas, I put a lot of work in,” said Woodland. “The ball-striking’s coming back where I want it. I’ve got to rely on that. And when I putt it well, good things will happen. I started to hit it well last weekend and I hit it great again today.”

CMYK

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

SPORTS 15

smith, warner return to aussie t20 side as world cup looms BRISBANE

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AGENCIES

TEVE Smith and David Warner return to the short format Sunday in the first of Australia’s three games against a buoyant Sri Lanka, with both tipped for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup at home.

The star batsmen were both banned for a year for their roles in a ball-tampering scandal but have rejoined their country’s Test, one-day and now T20 sides.

Despite their success in other formats, Australia have never won a T20 World Cup, with a 2010 final appearance their best showing.

The competition gets underway Down Under next October and selectors are banking on the same 14 picked to play Sri Lanka forming the bulk of their side.

“We have looked to put a squad together that we think can take us through to that tournament,” said national selector Trevor Hohns. “The squad we have selected is quite role specific and we believe it gives us the flexibility to thrive in all match conditions.”

Aaron Finch retains the captaincy, with Smith still barred from holding any leadership role until the end of March for his part on trying to alter the ball with sandpaper in South Africa last year.

Australia will be heavily relying on the widely acclaimed batsman after his in-

credible exploits on his return to the game in the recent Ashes series against England.

Warner flopped in the those five Tests but is Australia’s highest ever T20 run-scorer.

He is set to open the innings with Finch, before Smith comes in at first drop.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc spearhead the bowling attack, backed up

by Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Billy Stanlake.

‘IT WILL BODE WELL’: They will have their work cut out against a Sri Lankan side full of confidence after a stunning three-match T20 series sweep against Pakistan earlier this month.

Pakistan, who fired Sarafraz Ahmed as T20 and Test skipper in the aftermath, head to Australia for three games imme-

DHAKA

Cricketer Sana Mir honored with Asia Society’s top award

AGENCIES

ISLAMABAD APP

Cricketer Sana Mir and six other trailblazing women from Asian countries were honoured with the 2019 Asia Society Game Changers award at a glittering ceremony in New York on Thursday night in recognition of their transformative impact in Asia and beyond.

“Sana Mir is first and foremost a true champion in her field, she’s also a champion for millions of girls and young women on the field and off,” Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Asia Society Co-Chairperson, said while presenting her with the award.

“As a child growing up in Pakistan, Sana Mir saw few other girls — and even fewer women — playing the national sport: cricket.

Refusing to let that stop her, Sana joined the country’s fledgeling women’s cricket team and went on to become its captain and eventually the top female cricketers in the world,” Ambassador Chan told large and distinguished guests at a top hotel.

Sana Mir, who is also an Asia 21 Young Leader, dedicated her award to those standing up for climate change, to women helping each other, and, particularly, to children of war-torn nations. “My prayer today is that the leaders of today and tomorrow see the world through the lens of the child, the way the child sees the world, so we can safeguard their rights without regard to the colour of their skin, race, religion, or nationality,” she said.

“Alhamdolillah! I’m truly humbled and honoured to receive this award alongside amazing world leaders,’ Sana Mir told APP afterwards. “I’m super proud to represent my country and the sport of cricket.”

The other awardees include Japan’s Yuriko Koike, the current and first female governor of Tokyo, China’s Jane Jie Sun, the leader of Ctrip, a 25-billion dollar travel company in China, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a pioneer in the art-world who has promoted greater cultural understanding and exchange in the Middle East and around the world, and

diately after Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankans sent a second-string team for the one-day and T20 series against their South Asian neighbours due to withdrawals over security concerns.

But their squad for Australia, led by fast bowler Lasith Malinga, includes a

Chhaya Sharma, a senior Indian police officer who leads a team of investigators to solve some of New Delhi’s toughest crimes.

The Kung Fu Nuns, a group of Buddhist nuns who have harnessed their mastery of martial arts and are also widely known for their social activism and humanitarian work are also among those chosen for the award.

The Asia Society is the leading educational organisation dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among people, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. It’s Game Changers award identifies and honours true leaders who are making a positive contribution to the future of Asia. It was the first time that all the awardees are women since the awards were launched in 2014. Former Asia Game Changers include Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, internet entrepreneur Jack Ma, actor and activist Dev Patel, Aga Khan, and other inspirational figures spanning the realms of policy, business, science, arts and culture, education and technology. Earlier, at a panel discussion, conducted by Tom Nagorski, executive vice president of the Asia Society, Sana Mir spoke about how her parents supported her as she pursued her interest in cricket under difficult circumstances at a time when the infrastructure for women to play the game was practically non-existent. “My father and mother stood by me,” she said.

Bangladesh all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of next month s T20 series against India due to a persistent back injury, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said.

Saifuddin has a long history of a back injury which forced him to miss several big matches, including Bangladesh s crucial World Cup match against Australia at Nottingham during the recent World Cup. He also missed the following three-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka before returning for a tri-series T20 tournament against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in September. However, the 22-year allrounder has not played any competitive match since the tournament final on September 24.

Multiple scans have suggested his recovery would take more time, the BCB said. “Due to a reoccurring back injury Saifuddin will be rested from the India tour this year giving him an opportunity to consolidate his recovery over a longer period of time,” na-

host of returning senior players, including Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dikwella.

Two of the standout new faces from the Pakistan upset, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Oshada Fernando, have been retained and will get an opportunity to shine in Australia.

Bangladesh's Saifuddin ruled out of India T20s

tional team physiotherapist Julian Calefato said in a statement.

“He now will also have the opportunity to spend more time strengthening his body and his situation will be reviewed by the medical team again in the upcoming weeks for further up-

dates,” he added.

Selector Habibul Bashar said there was no decision on a replacement for the all-rounder. “If the team management wants, we will send a replacement. Since India is a neighbouring country we can send replacement anytime,” Bashar said.

Bangladesh is expected to leave for India on October 30 with the first of three Twenty20 internationals scheduled to be held in Delhi on November 3. The fate of the series was hanging in the balance after Bangladesh players on Monday called a strike seeking better pay and benefits.

They called off their action late Wednesday as the cricket board accepted most of their demands.

The visitors will also play two Tests in India — their first-ever series in the country involving more than one Test.

Tokyo 2020 marathon move decision final, says IOC's Coates TOKYO AGENCIES

The decision to move the Tokyo 2020 marathon and racewalking events to northern Japan overheat concerns is final, the International Olympic Committee’s John Coates said Friday despite opposition from local officials.

Coates said he recognised the “great disappointment” of people in Tokyo, but that the decision was final, even if city officials insist they still want to host the events.

“It’s not a matter of if the Tokyo government insists, the decision has been taken,” said Coates, answering “no” when asked if there was any chance the events could still be staged in Tokyo. “The IOC executive board is the competent authority to take a decision such as this and the IOC has a responsibility under the Olympic charter to always put the health of athletes first,” he added.

Coates, chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission, said the decision was made after the world championships in Doha, which saw dozens of athletes receive medical attention in hot and humid conditions.

“The IOC was shocked by what we saw in Doha in very similar conditions in terms of temperature and humidity to what’s expected here in Tokyo,” he said, adding that the IOC had the “health and welfare of the athletes” in mind. Coates met Friday with Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike, who earlier in the day said she was opposed to the plan to move the events to the city of Sapporo and described it as a “bolt from the blue”.

Worries about Tokyo’s notoriously hot and humid summer weather have dogged preparations for the Games, with the organisers investing significantly in measures including a special heat-mitigating coating on the roads earmarked for the marathon. Coates said other options that have been mooted, including starting the events as early as 3:00 am, were impractical because of transportation issues and the difficulty of filming in the dark.

‘FINANCIAL IMPACT’: He said the IOC would propose holding the medal ceremonies for the events in Tokyo, as well as a parade through the city’s streets featuring athletes.

There would also be discussions about the economic losses incurred as a result of the decision, he added.

Australia look to make statement a year ahead of T20 World Cup MELBOURNE AGENCIES

With the T20 World Cup the only piece of major silverware missing in Australia’s bursting trophy cabinet, Aaron Finch’s team will look to make a statement in the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan a year before hosting the global tournament.

Australia kicks off their home summer at Adelaide Oval on Sunday with the first of three Twenty20 internationals against 2014 world champions Sri Lanka, with matches to follow in Brisbane (Oct. 30) and Melbourne (Nov. 1). The hosts then turn their attention to the 2009 champions Pakistan in another three-match series starting in Sydney on Nov. 3.

The series will give the teams a preview of playing conditions ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia and a chance for new players to push their credentials.

Australia fast bowler Kane Richardson will be among the fringe players looking to impress in front of his hometown crowd in Adelaide on Sunday.

“I don’t think there has been so much T20 in a calendar year with a lead-up to the (one-day) World Cup and another one close by,” 28-year-old Richardson told re-

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porters in Adelaide on Thursday.

“I am ready to go.”

Richardson, who played the last of his nine T20Is against England over a year ago, is competing against Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Billy Stanlake and Andrew Tye for one of the fast bowling slots. The series will give locals the first glimpse of former captain Steve Smith and David Warner playing a full international on home pitches since their balltampering bans.

Smith, fresh from a brilliant Ashes with the bat in England, is set for his first T20I in three-and-a-half years, while the hard-hitting Warner will pad up for his first since February 2018, a month before the Newlands scandal erupted.

The world’s top-ranked batsman in tests, Smith shelved T20Is in 2016 to ease his load but was busy during his 12month international ban playing the shortest format in overseas competitions.

“Hopefully I can get the tempo of the game straight away and have a good few weeks with the Australian team,” he said earlier this week. Opener Warner will also have something to prove in the wake of a miserable Ashes where he averaged 9.50 with the bat in the drawn series.

However, his Ashes struggles came after his stellar form in T20 cricket at the Indian Premier League and during Australia’s semi-finals run at the 50-over World Cup in England.

He will look to build confidence with runs in the T20Is before next month’s two-match test series against Pakistan starts in Brisbane.

“Obviously it’s the first time in my career I have been under a bit of pressure and I hadn’t scored runs,” Warner told broadcaster Fox Sports’ season launch on Thursday. “I play all three formats and I have to put my best foot forward to what I do.”

Saturday, 26 October, 2019

NEWS

DeaDlock PersIsts In Govt-oPP talks FIRST DAY OF TALKS BETWEEN GOVT, OPP ENDS WITHOUT CONCLUSION AS BOTH SIDES FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT OVER PROTEST VENUE ISLAMABAD

t

STAFF REPORT

HE first formal meeting between the government and opposition for negotiations over the upcoming Azadi March ended in a deadlock persisting between both sides as they could not agree on a single point.

The meeting was held at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Akram Durrani in the federal capital where the opposition’s Rahbar Committee presented its four-point charter of demands to the government committee. The opposition asked for the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, new elections without deployment of army troops at the polling stations, protection of Islamic clauses in the constitution and supremacy of civilian institutions.

The venue of the protest remained a sticking point in the first round of discussion, with the government refusing

RAHBAR COMMITTEE ASKS FOR PM'S RESIGNATION, FRESH ELECTIONS SANS TROOPS’ DEPLOYMENT, PROTECTION OF ISLAMIC CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSES AND CIVILIAN SUPREMACY

to grant permission for it to be held at D-Chowk and instead offering that it may be held at Parade Ground. The opposition did not agree to the government's offer.

After holding talks for two hours in the evening, the government committee took leave briefly to seek time to take into confidence top government leadership and resumed talks at 10:30pm.

According to the government team, the opposition presented them with a written proposal of the demands. These were discussed with the prime minister before talks resumed.

Following the conclusion of the talks, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, who led the government side, said that no important conclusion could be brought about even after much discussion but the talks would continue.

Jamiat Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Akram Khan Durrani also said that no conclusion could be reached.

From the government's side, the

India's ruling BJP wins in big western state, scouts for ally in other MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party retained its control over a big western state and was left scouting for an ally to keep hold of a northern state, after the two election races turned out to be closer than forecast. Political leaders and analysts said the broad trends from Maharashtra, home to financial capital Mumbai, and the northern state of Haryana showed that while Modi remained the most popular leader, there were pockets of resistance emerging to his dominance. The state elections were the first since he swept to power in the national polls over the summer riding a wave of nationalism focused against arch-rival Pakistan and their central dispute over Kashmir. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a regional ally sewed up a comfortable win in Maharashtra, winning 161 of the state assembly’s 288 seats, according to the Election Commission of India. That’s more than the simple majority required to rule one of India’s richest states.

In Haryana, the BJP won 40 seats, with the main opposition Congress party cornering 31 seats. The state has a 90-member assembly, meaning either party will need an ally to form a government. Jannayak Janta Party, a regional party that has emerged a likely kingmaker in the state with 10 seats, has not announced who it will side with.

“The keys to the Haryana assembly will be with the Jannayak Janta Party,” party leader Dushyant Chautala told reporters on Thursday. AGENCIES

KHATTAK SAYS PM IMRAN’S RESIGNATION IS ‘OFF THE TABLE’, SANJRANI HOPES ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE

seven-member negotiation committee comprised of Khattak, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sanjrani, MNA Asad Umar, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, and Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

The opposition committee members included Durrani, Jamiat Ulema-ePakistan’s (JUP) Awais Noorani, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Nayyar Bukhari and Farhatullah Babar, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PMLN) Ahsan Iqbal, former NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Awami National Party’s (ANP) Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Qaumi Watan Party's (QWP) Hashim Babar and National Party's (NP) Tahir Bizenjo.

It is worth mentioning here that the top leadership of the main opposition parties including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief

Maulana Fazlur Rehman were not present in the meeting.

Prior to the meeting with the government, the Rehbar Committee members had gathered for a discussion between themselves.

When asked by a journalist if the government team had brought with them the prime minister's resignation — as demanded by the JUI-F chief a day earlier — Khattak said talks about the resignation are "off the table".

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani suggested that dialogue should be continued between the government and the opposition as it is the beauty of democracy. He also hoped that the issues between both sides would ultimately be resolved through talks.

Meanwhile, JUP's Awais Noorani, in a casual conversation with reporters, said that the opposition were standing by their demands. "If they have not brought in the resignation today, they will have to one day."

Sahiwal encounter: PM tells Punjab government to challenge ATC ruling

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A day after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitted all suspects in the Sahiwal encounter case for “lack of evidence”, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on said the prime minister has directed the Punjab government to challenge the ruling.

In a post shared on Twitter, Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan also “instructed the authorities to investigate weaknesses and loopholes in the case presented by the

complainant pleading the case”.

In a subsequent tweet, the special assistant to the premier said that the whole country had seen the video of the parents being shot in front of their children.

“The government is committed to providing justice to [these] innocent children. If their family doesn’t become the plaintiff, then the state will act as the plaintiff in the case.”

On Thursday, the ATC in question had acquitted all six personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the charge of killing four persons in an alleged encounter in January.

In a subsequent tweet, the special assistant to the premier today said that the whole country had seen the video of the parents being shot in front of their children.

“The government is committed to providing justice to [these] innocent children. If their family doesn’t become the plaintiff, then the state will act as the plaintiff in the case.”

In January, Mohammad Khalil, his wife and their three children were traveling in a car, with their neighbor Zeeshan behind the steering wheel, when Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel stopped the vehicle and opened fire on the passengers suspecting them to be terrorists. Khalil’s three children Umair, Muneeba and Jaziba had survived the attack.

The suspects said that they had information that Zeeshan had links with a terrorist outfit. They also claimed that all the victims were killed in an ‘encounter’ which turned out to be false after the two minor children narrated facts of the incident to the public.

While the CTD dubbed it an ‘encounter’, the victims’ family maintained that they were going to attend a wedding. The family’s claim proved true as it later transpired that except for Zeeshan, all other occupants of the car were innocent.

Gulalai's father sent to jail on 14-day remand US State Dept concerned over abduction, encourages ‘Pakistan to uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, expression’ NEWS DESK Rights activist Gulalai Ismail’s father, Professor Muhammad Ismail, was sent on a 14-day remand a day after he was reportedly abducted by the law enforcement agencies outside the Peshawar High Court. His counsel Fazl Khan told a local media outlet that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Peshawar had arrested his client after registering a First Information Report (FIR) against him under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016. Khan said the FIA produced Prof Ismail before judicial magistrate Naveedullah, seeking physical remand in the case. However, the magistrate sent him on a 14-day judicial remand, rejecting the FIA request. He added that they would soon file a bail application.

Earlier on Friday, Gulalai via Twitter said she had received information that her father had been brought to the court premises.

Earlier in the day, the US State Department had expressed concern over “reports of the continued harassment” of rights activist Gulalai Ismail’s family and her father’s alleged detention. Assistant Secretary of State Alice G. Wells, who is also the incharge of South Asia affairs at the US State Department, took to Twitter to “encourage Pakistan to uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and due process”. On Thursday, Ismail tweeted that her father had been picked up from outside the Peshawar High Court (PHC) by “men wearing Malitia dress”. In a follow-up post shared today, Ismail criticised the “silence” of the mainstream Pakistani media following her father’s alleged abduction from the premises of the PHC. “I’ve run out of words to condemn the criminal silence of media; it has become an ally of [the] military in imposing unannounced martial law,” she said. In September, Ismail – who is also a leader of an ethnic movement, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) – fled to the US, the New York Times had reported at the time. “She is now staying with her sister in Brooklyn and has applied for political asylum in the United States,” the report had said. However, the circumstances under which Ismail escaped the country remain mysterious to date as her passport had been confiscated by the interior ministry earlier in March this year after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) permitted it to do so, based on the recommendations by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Russia says it has sent hundreds of additional troops to Syria MOSCOW AGENCIES

Russia has sent hundreds of additional troops to Syria to help patrol the country’s Turkey-Syria border after a deal between Moscow and Ankara, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

The ministry said about 300 military police have arrived in Syria to patrol the northeastern areas along the border with Turkey and oversee the pullout of Syrian Kurdish fighters from there. Military cargo planes also airlifted 20 armored vehicles for the mission, it added. After Turkey invaded northeastern Syria this month, an offensive enabled by President Donald Trump’s abrupt pullout of U.S. troops, Moscow and Ankara struck a deal splitting control of northeastern Syria.

The new Russian troops sent in — as American soldiers pull out — further underscore how the situation on the

ground in Syria has dramatically changed with Turkey’s invasion and subsequent developments.

Turkey has now been allowed to keep control over a significant chunk of northeastern Syria, a belt of land on its border in the northeast that it invaded on Oct. 9, along with a larger piece of the border in the northwest that Turkey already holds, captured in previous incursions.

Russia said Friday the additional battalion of military police dispatched to Syria comes from Chechnya, a Russian region that saw two devastating separatist wars in the late 1990s and the early 2000s before Moscow regained control. Troops from Chechnya, known for their fierce warrior spirit, have regularly been sent to Syria on rotation bases in recent years.

The Russian military does not release the total number of its contingent in Syria, and it did not say on Friday how many troops will be involved in the patrol mis-

sion on the Turkish border.

Under the Moscow-Ankara deal, Turkey is to keep sole control of a large section in the centre of the border area, most of which was captured in its invasion this month, aimed at driving the

U.S.-allied Kurdish forces out of a “safe zone” along the border.

The Syrian government and Russian military police are to control the rest of the 440-kilometre (273-mile) Syria-Turkey border. They are to ensure that Syrian

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Kurdish fighters, who were U.S. allies in the fight against the Islamic State group and who freed most of the region of IS, pull 30 kilometres (19 miles) away from the frontier. After that, Russia and Turkey are to begin joint patrols along a narrower strip directly on the Turkish-Syrian border. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian military has been in close contact with the Syrian Kurdish fighters, doing a “delicate job” of coordinating their pullout from the border areas. He noted that the Kurds have pledged to abide by the deal, adding that the failure to do so would put them in trouble.

“If the Kurdish units with their weapons aren’t pulled back from that zone, they will regrettably be left face to face with the Turkish military because (Syrian) border guards and Russian military police wouldn’t stand between them,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.