E-Paper PDF 28 September (LHR)

CMYK

Saturday, 28 September, 2019 I 28 Muharram-ul-Haram, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 88 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

imran nails it When a war starts between nuclear-armed countries, there will be consequences… it’s not a threat but a fair worry

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pRIme mInIsteR says pakIstan WIll fIght tIll the end If IndIa Imposes WaR, asks un to ‘act befoRe It’s too late’ RegRets IslamophobIa In West, says WoRld leadeRs lack seRIousness on addRessIng clImate change challenges NEW YORK

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AGENCIES

rime minister imran Khan warned the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of far reaching consequences in case of an armed conflict between india and Pakistan, as he warned india of fighting till the end if a war is imposed on Pakistan.

“When a war starts between nuclear-armed countries, there will be consequences…it’s not a threat but a fair worry,” he said in his maiden address at UNGA on Friday.

He asked the United Nations to act before it’s too late.

“This is not a time to appease but a time to action… india must lift curfew, free all political prisoners, and the world community must give Kashmiris righto self-determination,” the premier said.

He said there will be bloodbath once curfew is lifted in the occupied valley.

“There are 900,000 troops there, they haven’t come to, as Narendra modi says — for the prosperity of Kashmir…

These 900,000 troops, what are they going to do? When they come out?

There will be a bloodbath,” he said.

Under the guise of ‘islamic terrorism’ india is inflicting more cruelty on the people of Kashmir, said Pm imran.

“There is no other narrative left for india,” said the Pm, adding that there is another chance of a Pulwama-like incident to blame and ‘bomb’ Pakistan. “india must lift this inhuman curfew,” said Pm imran, further saying that ‘picked-up persons’ from the valley should be released by india.

Due to these issues, eight million people under lockdown in the valley are likely to get radicalised, he said.

“Now i must explain what rSS is. modi is a life member (of rSS). “it is an organisation inspired by Hitler and mussolini. They believe in racial purity and superiority. They believe they are an Aryan race.

“They believe in ethnic cleansing of muslims. They believe a golden age of Hindu rule was stopped by muslims and then the British occupation.

“What kind of people bring in 900,000 troops for eight million people. These are human beings,” said Prime minister imran to applause from the audience.

“What comes with Aryan superiority is arrogance and it makes people commit mistakes and do stupid cruel

things like what modi has done. “it is arrogance that has blinded modi. Has he thought about what will happen after the curfew in Kashmir is lifted? “What will he do? Does he think the people of Kashmir will quietly accept the status quo?”

“When we came into power, we swore that we would try to bring peace. We went to fight the war on terror and we faced losses of (thousands of people). “i opposed the war because in the 1980s we joined the struggle against the Soviets funded by western countries.

“The mujahideen were trained by the Pakistan Army and they waged the freedom struggle. The soviets called them terrorists and we called them freedom fighters.

CONTINUED ON BACK PAGE

no mention of kashmir lockdown in modi’s unga speech STORY ON BACK PAGE

more inside

US presses India on Kashmir rights, seeks lower tensions STORY ON BACK PAGE

afghanistan goes to polls amid tight security, allegations of rigging STORY ON PAGE 07

Pak-Afghan border fencing has cut down terrorism, says Gen Bajwa STORY ON BACK PAGE

election tribunal de-seats na deputy speaker Qasim suri STORY ON PAGE 02

Pakistan to host next SAARC summit, says Qureshi STORY ON BACK PAGE

private schools directed to collect fees as per sc’s order STORY ON BACK PAGE

Brother handed life sentence in Qandeel Baloch murder case, others acquitted STORY ON PAGE 05

CMYK Saturday, 28 September, 2019

02 NEWS

eleCtion triBUnAl de-seAts nA dePUty sPeAker QAsim sUri QUETTA

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STAFF REPORT

HE Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) election tribunal on Friday declared Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri’s election to the National Assembly as void and ordered a re-election in the NA-265 (Quetta II) constituency.

The tribunal did not announce a date for the re-election. Suri, who has been de-seated following the tribunal’s verdict, remains eligible to contest the re-election. The NA-265

result had been challenged by Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, who had filed a petition against alleged rigging in the constituency. Over the course of the case’s proceedings, the tribunal had also directed the National Database and Registration Authority to submit biometric verification of voters that were registered in the constituency. The election tribunal, headed by Justice Abdullah Baloch, had reserved its verdict in the matter earlier this month.

Raisani was one of the candidates who had contested from NA265, but had lost to Suri, who had

subsequently gone on to become the National Assembly’s deputy speaker.

The Balochistan National Party (BNP) candidate, in his petition, had contended that of a total of 114,000 votes cast during the polls in NA265, “65,000 votes were invalid”. He had argued that the election had been “rigged” since a sizeable number of votes could not be verified. According to the results announced by the ECP, Suri had received 25,979 votes while Raisani had received 20,394 votes. According to the ECP’s official results, 3,422 votes in total had been rejected in the constituency.

Addressing the media after the verdict was announced, BNP Chief Akhtar Mengal said the tribunal’s decision was a “victory of BNP as well as all democratic forces”.

“Our doubts regarding rigging in elections have proven to be true,” Mengal said. “The confidence of people, who hope for justice, has increased by this decision. “[We] hope that those who protested against election rigging after 2013 polls will accept this decision.” Mengal expressed hope that “the Supreme Court [will] order a reelection in this constituency soon following this verdict”.

Abbasi says won’t attend NA session till issuance of MPs’ production orders ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has refused to attend the National Assembly (NA) session even if his production orders are issued. Abbasi penned a letter to Upper House Speaker Asad Qaiser wherein he recalled that it has been a month

since he last sent him a letter reminding him of his obligation to issue production orders for parliamentarians incarcerated in corruption cases. “I regret that I have not received a response to my letter,” he wrote. Abbasi, who has been in NAB custody since July 18, said production orders were neither issued for the joint parliamentary address by the president

Alvi lauds Chinese support for Pakistan during ‘hard times’ ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi lauded the “unflinching and firm Chinese support for Pakistan” over the issue of Kashmir, including at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that China is a true friend and a trusted ally of Pakistan. President Alvi said this during celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China held at the Chines embassy. The reception was attended among others by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, federal ministers, members of National Assembly (MNAs), diplomats, and senior civil and military officials. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan also attended the reception. President Alvi said as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) enters its second phase, the historic friendship between the two countries was rapidly gaining strength through increased cooperation in a diverse set of areas. President Alvi expressed his admiration for the Chinese development model which he said had lifted 800 million people out of poverty over the past 40 years and said that the prudent economic policies of the Chinese government were also highlighted by the Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to Washington. Referring to the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), the president urged the international community to help address the issue through the implementation of 11 resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). President Alvi added that while Pakistan’s government was committed to eradicating poverty in the country and in the region – on the lines of the Chinese model – the Indian government was more interested in establishing its hegemony over the region.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, in his welcome remarks, said that Pakistan and China stood together in economic development, promotion of regional peace and stability and eradication of poverty. He said that the success of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could be gauged by the fact that CPEC had entered its second stage and that focus was now on enhanced cooperation in Industrial and agricultural development. Ambassador Jing also spoke about the socio-economic achievements made by China over the last 70 years, especially under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. He said China has a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of around 14 trillion dollars at present was the second-largest economy in the world. STAFF REPORT

nor for the latest session of the National Assembly.

“Your inability to facilitate members of the National Assembly to discharge their constitutional duties is a violation of the basic principles of democracy and the traditions of Parliament,” he said. Abbasi said the speaker cannot be a party to the “arbitrary and discriminate denial of

access to the House”.

“The production orders must be issued to protect the sovereignty of the House, however, in order to protect the dignity of the office of the speaker from pressures exerted by the government, I will voluntarily not attend the proceedings of the House after the production orders are issued,” he said.

India trying to provoke war with Pakistan: Hammad Azhar ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Revenue Hammad Azhar said on Thursday that India is creating a climate of hostilities and trying to provoke war with Pakistan.

He said this during his keynote address at a one-day national conference titled, “Nuclearization of Indian Ocean: Implications for South Asian Strategic Stability and Environmental Safety” held here by the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University (SASSIU).

The minister said that revocation of article 370 and 35A unveiled the ugly and brutal face of the Indian government. He said that the Kashmir issue is not a bilateral dispute, as stressed by India but an international issue.

He said that India’s massive acquisition of the conventional arms adoption of offensive doctrines, expansion of the strategic assets including nuclear submarines are all indicative of India’s resolve to engage in a long-term conflict with Pakistan.

“India’s first deterrence patrol of its nuclear submarine Arihant since November 2018 is, in fact, the first actual deployment of a ready to use nuclear warheads

by India. The world should pay heed to this development,” he stressed.

Dr. Maria Sultan, Chairperson and Director General of SASSIU, said that today the South Asian regional stability is under tremendous threat due to belligerent policies pursued by India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She stated that the repeal of Kashmir’s

special autonomous status was a gross violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Geneva Convention, and UN charters over the disputed region.

“In Indian Occupied Kashmir, nearly nine million Kashmiris are held hostage under the information blackout and military power,” she added.

Dr Maria termed the imprisonment of nine million Kashmiris as “buried alive”

by India. Furthermore, she stated that any misadventure by the Indian army would be met with unflinching resolve.

“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state but that must not be taken as a gesture of weakness. Any potential false flag operation conducted by the Indian military will lead to the outbreak of large conventional war. Any act of aggression

by India will be met with an equally effective response by Islamabad”.

She said that any war between the two neighbors had the risk of nuclearizing the Indian Ocean which is an integral part of international trade and oil routes.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Zahoor Ahmed pointed out that it was India and not Pakistan which started the nuclear arms race in the region in 1974. He added that even now Pakistan was acting as a responsible nuclear state while Indian PM Modi was rapidly nuclearizing the Indian Ocean by introducing nuclear-armed submarine.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honordost said that global oil disruptions in a particular maritime domain such as the Indian Ocean would be devastating for world economy. He also called for the two countries to resolve their problems through dialogue.

CMYK

BAhriA University’s negligenCe CAUses stUdent’s deAth ISLAMABAD ABDULLAH MALIK

Bahria University made an incomplete building functional without approval from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), resulting in the death of a student who fell down from the fourth floor of the same building on Friday, Building Control Section (BCSS) of the civic agency confirmed to the Pakistan Today. Haleema Amin, a student of second semester of Bachelor of Science in Account & Finance (SAF), fell from the fourth floor and was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) where she succumbed to her injuries. According to the Building Control Section (BCS) officials, no one can make a building functional for any purpose without getting a completion certificate from the BCS section of the CDA and those who violate this rule commit a crime according to the Building Bylaws 2005, and the civic agency has the right to seal the building at any time.

While the university denied that a department was established in the under-construction building, the students, while speaking to Pakistan Today, confirmed that the department for Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (SAF) was established there some months ago and around 100-200 students were studying in department. Additionally, the official of the Building Control Section told this scribe that they had undertaken various visits to the university for monitoring different buildings but the administration did not allow them to enter into the university premises. When contacted, CDA Chairman Aamir Ali Ahmad told Pakistan Today that they had already issued notices to Bahria University for getting completion certificates. “It is mandatory upon developers to ensure that buildings are completed before occupation,” he said. Speaking to Pakistan Today, CDA Spokesman Syed Safdar Shah said that the civic agency had already issued notices to the university for getting the completion certificate after the construction has ended, but the university showed negligence in this matter and made the building functional before completion. “The responsibility for the incident lies on the shoulders of the university administration, not CDA,” he said. When contacted, Bahria University Spokesperson Mujtaba said that an inquiry committee has been formed by the university administration and they would hold a press conference upon the completion of the inquiry.

PoliCe BAton-ChArge Protesting doCtors At lrh, 10 injUred PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

At least 10 medical professionals suffered injuries on Friday after Peshawar police resorted to tear gas shelling and launched a baton charge in the premises of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in order to disperse doctors who had gathered there to protest. Among the injured was Young Doctors Association (YDA) Chairman Dr Zubair, who is reportedly in critical condition, the association’s spokesperson Dr Izhar said. YDA President Dr Rizwan Kundi’s arm was also allegedly fractured after police used force to stop the demonstration. More than 15 protesters had been arrested, including paramedics and female nurses, the spokesperson claimed. Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Zahoor Babar Afridi said that the police had resorted to force in a bid to control the situation. He said that about eight police officers had been injured by stone pelting by doctors and that 13 protesters were detained. Doctors across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been protesting for the past two days against the Regional and District Health Authorities Act, 2019 — which was passed by the provincial assembly today — which they describe as “nothing short of privatisation of government hospitals”. They had announced to gather in Peshawar today to protest against the law. Following the announcement, the district administration had imposed Article 144 in the LRH premises on the request of the hospital’s administration, forbidding more than five doctors from gathering in one place.

CMYK Saturday, 28 September, 2019

NEWS

03

let kAshmiris deCide their fUtUre, Pm imrAn Asks indiA NEW YORK

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STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan has once again urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the global community to take action against inhumane Indian steps in occupied Kashmir, where 8 million Kashmiris have been detained for over 50 days.

“The future of Kashmir should be decided by the Kashmiri people,” Imran said while addressing the Asia Society, as he called on the UNSC to implement its decades-old resolutions that gave them the option to join either India or Pakistan.

“It is their (Kashmiris) right to decide, whatever they want,” he told a cheering audience of American intellectuals, former diplomats, representatives of media and members of the Pakistani community.

“This is an open offer, why don’t India and Pakistan both allow them to decide their future,” he added. The prime minister, who was answering a question,

said India was now targeting Azad Kashmir after annexing occupied Kashmir.

“Eight million people are in an open jail,” PM Khan said. “My biggest worry is what happens once the curfew is lifted?

We fear with 900,000 soldiers there, there will be a massacre.” The United Nations, he said, has not played its part as it has not sent its observers to make an assessment of the humanitarian situation in curfew-bound Kashmir.

He said he would urge UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres to discharge his responsibility of maintaining international peace and intervene in Kashmir, warning that it was too risky to allow tensions to escalate between India and Pakistan, both of which have nuclear weapons. The PM said Kashmir was a sort of dispute that the United Nations was established to resolve and stabilize the region. “This is the UN’s job,” he said, adding, “They have to intervene, send observers there.”

PM Khan also dismissed claims by India’s army chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, that Pakistan has reactivated militant

training camps and about 500 militants are waiting to infiltrate India.

“What possible benefit is Pakistan going to have now sending in terrorists when there are 900,000 security forces there? All that would happen is that there would be more oppression on the people of Kashmir.”

The prime minister said he has apprised world leaders gathered at the UN about the dangerous situation prevailing in Kashmir. “I have tried my best,” he said.

“Unfortunately India today is governed by a racist ideology, which believes in a Hindu supremacy,” Khan said.

“You cannot reason with a racist ideology, cannot reason with arrogance.”

About President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate the Kashmir dispute, he said the United States (US), as the most powerful country, should put its weight behind the UN and push for a settlement.

He said he had explained in detail the Kashmir issue to President Trump — and that’s why he said it was a complicated and difficult issue.

Dengue cases shoot to a whopping 14,015 across Pakistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

At least 14,015 cases of dengue have been confirmed in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special assistant on national health services, regulations, and coordination, Dr Zafar Mirza, said Friday, indicating that the federal capital recorded the highest number in the past 24 hours.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Mirza said 790 cases in total were reported in the last 24 hours, with 209 from Punjab, 216 in Islamabad, 120 in Sindh, 169 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and four from Balochistan.

The special assistant said the data showed that in the past 24 hours, the maximum number of cases have been reported in twin cities. Of those, 381

cases were reported in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with a ratio of 48 percent sustaining status of being the hottest spots at the moment. Dr Mirza said 26 deaths have been confirmed so far from dengue disease throughout Pakistan but clarified that no death was reported in the last 24 hours. According to Dengue Response Unit, 42 more patients have been diagnosed with the dengue fever in Peshawar [total numbers: 1,766], 43

Responding to a question, the prime minister said he is working to help defuse the tensions in the Gulf at the request of both United States (US) President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who asked him to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

in Shangla [total numbers: 172] and 6 in Swat [total numbers: 188]. 3,298 persons have been tested positive for the disease in the province in total.

Condition in Punjab is also critical as 160 people were affected by the dengue fever in the past 24 hours in Rawalpindi. The number of sufferers has surged to 5,235 in the district and 16 persons have lost their lives.

Eight more patients suffered from the disease in Lahore where the total number has risen to 93. The dengue outbreak affected four persons in Faisalabad where 73 individuals have been reported so far.

Reportedly, 18 patients are undergoing treatment at Faisalabad’s Allied Hospital and two of them are in critical condition.

NA body wants Mufti Some relief for Muneeb sacked over Zardari and Abbasi irresponsible Yazid remarks RAWALPINDI

STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD APP

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Friday demanded the removal of Central Ruete-Hilal Committee (RHC) Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman from the coveted post owing to his irresponsible remarks about Yazid ibn Muawiya.

The meeting chaired by Maulana Asad Mehmood expressed its indignation and dismay over the remarks of Mufti Muneeb which went viral on social media.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA and committee member Shugafta Jumani strongly condemned Mufti Muneeb’s remarks and demanded strict action against him.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfiath Harmony Sahibzada Noorul Haq Qadri said that the concerns of the committee members would be con-

veyed to Mufti Muneeb.

It is worth mentioning here that a few days ago, a video clip from a television show went viral on social media, wherein Mufti Muneeb was seen defending Yazid. The cleric claimed that according to his research, Yazid did not order the killing of Imam Hussain (AS) rather it was Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, who ordered the killing on his own accord.

Meanwhile, the committee sought the details of hardship quota distributed during Hajj 2019. The committee also sought details about the distribution 2,000 pilgrims’ quota to some parliamentarians during Hajj 2019.

A sub-committee was constituted to probe the complaints of pilgrims regarding food, transport and residence in Saudi Arabia. The committee expressed concerns over non-constitution of Hajj Advisory Committee for supervising Hajj.

LHC Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi has ordered B-class facilities for former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and medical facilities for former president Asif Ali Zardari in jail as per the manual and medical board’s recommendations. According to details, LHC Justice Mazahir made a surprise visit to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Sessions Judge Rawalpindi and jail officials also accompanied him on his visit.

Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar visited Asif Zardari, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail in jail and expressed concern over the lack of B-class facilities for Pakistani Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and subsequently issued directives for their provision. He also visited Asif Zardari and Miftah Ismail.

On this occasion, the former president informed him of his

health problems. Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi ordered provision of medical facilities under the recommendations of the jail manual and the medical board.

The LHC judge heard the problems of other prisoners in Adiala Jail and issued orders for them, remarking that prisoners have rights too. He also visited the cells of minors and ordered the session judge to take immediate decision on their cases.

Justice Mazahir Ali heard the problems of the prisoners who were not released due to not being able to submit bail bonds despite being granted bail and ordered consolation for them.

Qureshi, UNGA president talk poverty alleviation NEW YORK INP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan accords high importance to its poverty alleviation agenda, as testified by the launch of “Ehsaas” program as a landmark welfare program by the PTI government. Talking to UNGA Presi-

dent Tijjani Muhammad-Bande in New York on the sidelines of the on-going 74th Session, Qureshi congratulated him on his election as the president of the world body, Radio Pakistan reported.

Qureshi further expressed hope that Bande’s presence would help bring new dynamism to the important office through his focus on poverty alleviation and conflict resolution.

He added that South Asia faced serious threats to regional peace and security owing to the nonresolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India and needed the international community’s proactive involvement in the conflict resolution process. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform process also came under discussion during the meeting.

CMYK

He said had met President Rohani and he hoped that peace would prevail in Gulf.

He also hoped that United States would resume talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the 19-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.

Pml-n’s rana Afzal khan passes away FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Afzal died of a cardiac arrest in Faisalabad on Friday. He was 70 years old. A few days ago, he suffered from angina pain and was admitted to AFIC hospital in Faisalabad. Hospitals sources said that Afzal, who had also served as the state minister during the PML-N government, was placed on ventilator after his health deteriorated but did not survive. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appointed Afzal as state minister for finance in 2017. He was elected as MNA from his hometown, NA-82, in 2013 but failed to retain his seat and lost elections to PTI’s Raja Riaz Ahmed in the general elections 2018.STAFF REPORT

04 LAHORE

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Punjab Police book dead man in theft case a LAHORE

FIDA HUSSNAIN

man on Friday sought the help of the Inspector General of Punjab Police in regard to a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him and his dead father in the Omar Kot police station, Pakistan Today has learnt.

The FIR states that Shaukat Hussain, a resident of Omar Kot, had stolen furniture from the Union Council’s (UC) office there. In addition, the FIR also names Hussain’s father Ghulam Sarwar – who has been dead for five years – as an accomplice. In his defence, Hussain said that the case against him was personally motivated

by Omar Kot UC Secretary Muhammad Ali, who had used his contacts in the police “to bring a bad name to his family”. Hussain added that he has

been living in the vicinity of the Union Council Office for over 20 years. He also said the UC office is largely dysfunctional. “Police and the local powerful people, especially Omar Kot UC Secretary Muhammad Ali, have turned my life into a living hell and I have to face serious threats from them,” said Hussain, adding that “my father died five years ago yet the police booked him in this false case.” “They disgraced my dead father,” he added.

Shaukat Hussain said Omar Kot Police raided his house and harassed his family, “Police entered into my house without warrants, thrashed my daughter and left my brother injured,” he said. The FIR No. 122/19, registered by Omar Kot police on June 4, 2019, on the complaint of Omar Kot UC Secretary Muhammad Ali, nominates Shaukat Hussain and his father Ghulam Sarwar under Section 380

(Theft) and 448 (House trespassing) of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860. “There is absolutely nothing worth looting in the UC office. It has been lying vacant for a long time and no one ever visits it,” said Shaukat, adding, “It’s my appeal to IGP and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to look into this matter.”

When contacted, Investigation Officer Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ghulam Shabbir denied Shabbir’s claim that the FIR was lodged against Ghulam Sarwar, the father of the accused, saying that “Only Shaukat Hussain who was nominated in the FIR”. “I’m not sure who is really involved in this matter as the suspect is on interim bail and he never joined the investigation,” said the IO. On the other hand, UC Secretary Muhammad Ali said Shaukat Hussain stole from and vandalized the UC office for which a case was reg-

istered against him. “Shaukat stole precious furniture and other things from there and misused the public office,” he said, adding that there was no personal grudge involved.

IGP issues standing orders on child abuse cases LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Inspector General Police Punjab Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan has issued new standing orders for the police regarding cases of child abuse.

The IGP directed CCPO Lahore, all RPOs, CPOs, and DPOs to take effective steps under their supervi-

sion to pay special attention to cases of sexual abuse and directed all CPOs, DPOs should hold a meeting with their relevant ASPs, SDPOs, DSPs Legal, SHOs, In-charge Investigation and In-charge Police Posts for briefing them about the standing order in detail. The report regarding this matter would be sent to the central police office on September 28.

The standing order states that in case of agreement between the accused and the plaintiff, section 311 would be included in the case. According to the standing order, in cases of sexual abuse, the relevant SHO or senior officer would have to reach the spot where the crime is committed.

It has further been said in the notification that the SHO will be bound to collect scientific and material evidence from the crime scene and if the affected person is found injured the SHO would take him/her to hospital for medical aid. As per the notification, after the First Information Reports is lodged, a special report case on child abuse would be sent to senior officers. Investigation officers would make a sketch of the wound of the affected child and all

hits, bruises, signs, signs of nails will be reported. Statement of the victim shall be recorded under section 164.

The police would also take DNA of the victim and the suspect if they are in police custody. The standing order further states that the victim shall not be called for their presence in the investigation but the investigation officer will himself move to the home of the affected person and will record the statements of witnesses. The investigation officer will not ask any questions which may hurt the sensibilities of the victim.

Written approval will be sought from the victim for his medical check-up if he is above 18 years whereas approval of medical examination will be sought from guardians or parents of affected person if he is below 18 years.

If the affected child is a female then the investigation will be conducted by a lady sub-inspector. If mobile phones or other electronic gadgets are recovered from the accused then these would be sent to Forensic Science Agency Lahore without delay.

Govt committed to eliminating dengue: Pm's adviser LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Friday said the government is committed to eliminating dengue and ensure free medical treatment facilities to the victims.

Chairing a meeting alongside Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid to review the dengue situation in Islamabad, Mirza said he has directed the administration of the federal capital and Rawalpindi to take effective steps for prevention and eradication of dengue virus.

He said that a dengue information cell has been established at the National Institute of Health (NIH), adding, “data of dengue patients is being collected from the entire country.”

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Police arrest man believed to be linked to child murders in Kasur KASUR: Police have arrested a suspect believed to be linked to the string of child murders in the Chunian area of Kasur. The man, named Shehzad, came to the notice of the police when his brother filed a missing person’s report on September 22. According to the police complaint, Shehzad took the family’s tractor to the market in the Chunian area and then disappeared. Police used Shehzad’s four mobile numbers to trace his location. After finding him in Rahim Yar Khan district, he was arrested and brought to Kasur for DNA testing.

Police sources suspect Shehzad may be behind the killing of four children, the first of whom went missing in June. Bodies of three of the children were found near a garbage heap earlier this month. One reason for linking Shehzad to the crime, says officials, is that when the police searched for his phone’s location, in the past few days, one of his numbers was found to be in the area from where a boy, Faizan, went missing. However, the newly-appointed district police officer (DPO) Kasur, Zahid Nawaz Marwat, said it was too early to pin the blame. “The investigation is continuing,” he told the media, “Several suspects have been picked up and questioned so far. As for Shehzad, he is also one of such suspects. He is not yet an accused yet. We will have to wait for the DNA test results.” STAFF REPORT

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

NEWS

Federal government prepares draFt oF police reForms ISLAMABAD

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AHMAD AHMADANI

HE federal government has prepared a draft of recommendations for amending the Police Order/Act in order to reform the police force. According to the proposed reforms, Provincial Police Complaints Authority will be established with legal and administrative expertise to look into cases of police misconduct. The authority will also have the power to take suo-motu notice against officials.

The proposed authority would be autonomous in nature and would be able to hold investigations directly in case of death or serious injury due to police action. The authority will have access to records for investigative purposes.

According to the draft, the authority must comprise of one director general and up to five directors at the provincial level.

It added that at least one director must be a retired police officer while the other four could be chosen from prosecutors, lawyers and civil servants with significant experience and one member may be a lay person.

“Regional Complaint Authority shall have same composition at Region Level (one director and five deputy directors) and it must have permanent staff, including professional investigators,” the draft read.

PM directs NDMA to ensure earthquake victims’ rehabilitation ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide all necessary assistance to the victims of September 24 earthquake and utilize all possible resources in this regard. He gave this direction to Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal, who briefed the Prime Minister through telephonic contact in New York and apprised him of the latest situation in the wake of Mirpur earthquake its aftershocks, a press release issued here on Friday said. The Prime Minister, while expressing grief over the loss of precious human lives, damages to the properties and suffering of the affected people, also directed that financial assistance be provided on urgent basis, particularly to the families of those who have lost lives due to the earthquake. He was also apprised of the details of loss of lives, injuries and damages to properties in the affected areas of districts Mirpur, Bhimber (AJK) and Jhelum in Punjab. The Prime Minister further directed that the assessment of the losses may be completed at the earliest possible to provide assistance to the people, restore and reconstruct communication links and services in the areas.

Govt taking measures to promote tourism: Dr Firdous ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Friday said the government, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was taking various measures to revive the tourism industry and highlight the soft image of Pakistan. She was speaking at an event here to celebrate the World Tourism Day observed every year on September 27 as an initiative of the United Nations. She said tourism was a kind of basic right of people as it let them see world with their own eyes. “Tourism is close to the heart of Prime Minister Imran Khan”, she added. The Tourism Task Force and Tourism Development Board were mandated by the government to work for promotion of industry and fund of Rs one billion was allocated to them, she informed. She said that tourism policy would be implemented in coordination with provinces while adopting the international best practices. APP

DRAFT AMENDMENTS DISCUSS WAYS OF HOLDING POLICE RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS WHILE PRESERVING THEIR AUTONOMY According to proposed police reforms, use of technology should be promoted in all facets of police and criminal justice and Safe City Authorities should be established in all provinces. “Place Special Branch would be directly under the chief minister as it will give them more autonomy and freedom of reporting about police excesses,” the draft added.

It also said that there should be a separate recruitment of qualified civilian cadre besides police officers as is the case in Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for improved efficiency. “Prosecution should be empowered and strengthened. Cabinet Sub-Committee on Law and Order would review progress for early disposal of cases. External inspectorates on similar lines of police will be established for prison and prosecution and government should be empowered to hold the police accountable while ensuring its operational autonomy,” the draft added.

About internal accountability, the draft stated that comprehensive standards on police investigations and other work will be laid down while use of technology

will be promoted in all facets of police and criminal justice system besides Forensic Science Agencies to be made functional in provinces.

“Provincial governments to allocate budgets for forensic science agencies and provide statutory cover where not already present,” the draft stated.

It added that police would ensure that all persons tasked with inspections are certified to undertake inspections and internal accountability branch to be placed under additional IGP for compliance.

Proposed police reforms also disclosed that Public Safety Commissions will be abolished and independent external inspectorates will be established by law.

“The inspectorate must comprise of a director general and up to seven chief inspectors and at least one chief inspector must be a retired police officer, while the others could be from prosecutors, lawyers, civil servants and auditors with significant experience, and one chief inspector may be a lay person. Provincial government would bring law for external inspections

by September 30,” the draft stated.

To safeguard against internal malad-

ministration, the draft stated that posting proposals should be made by an internal board of senior police officers on the basis of demonstrated performance and recommendations should be made to IG, who would then recommend a panel of three officers in order of priority, along with performance chart, to CM for approval (Only for DPO/RPO/Addl IG) and the CM shall appoint officer among panel of three officers. Move over, premature transfer can be ordered by the government with justification.

The draft also stated that only trained and certified officers should be posted in investigations and senior manager positions and certification framework to be formulated by the PPO in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and the framework will be approved by the cabinet. For this, Police Order/Act will be amended accordingly.

The draft also proposed that financial autonomy would be provided to improve performance and service delivery and, for this purpose, station house officers (SHOs) should be declared drawing and disbursing officers. Provincial government should issue detailed rules regarding items of expenditure and method of advance drawls while baselines expenditures should be determined for each police station.

Punjab CM lays foundation stone, opens several projects worth billions LAHORE APP

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday inaugurated various projects worth billions of rupees including 2.82-megawatt hydropower project in Pakpattan.

He also laid the foundation stone of different development projects.

The chief minister inspected various sections of the hydropower plant besides laying the foundation stone of the new grain market.

During his visit, Usman Buzdar also inaugurated the rehabilitation and expansion project of the 9.9-kilometre road from Dillowala bridge to 46-EB and the 13.2-kilometre road from Sanday Khan Road Rampura to the district limits of Okara.

The chief minister inaugurated expansion and rehabilitation of 8.6-kilometre road project from

Sahiwal-Pakpattan Road Pull Bahiwal to DM Road Pull Joriyan. An amount of around Rs 390 million would be spent on these projects.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Pakpattan Hydropower Project, the chief minister said that Pakistan was blessed with immense natural resources and the goal of development and progress could be achieved by rightly utilising the resources.

The PTI government has been giving priority to solar energy, hydropower and windmills projects to produce cheap and environmentfriendly electricity. It would also help reduce the import bill, he added.

Usman Buzdar said that one of the largest integrated irrigation networks was available in Punjab and expressed his satisfaction that 2.82-megawatt electricity was being generated through the power project having an annual production capacity of 21.67-gigawatt

electricity units. Revenue of Rs.180 million was also expected from the project besides creating employment opportunities as well, he added.

Around 10-megawatt electricity would also be generated through Marala Hydropower and Dek Outfall projects. Both the projects would be completed soon, he added. He said that 20 per cent of the total energy production would be generated through alternate energy resources within the next few years.

Along with it, hundreds of primary schools, BHUs and more than 50 universities would also be shifted to solar power, he said. He said that University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and The Islamia University Bahawalpur have been transferred to solar energy.

Thal, Cholistan, Koh-e-Suleman and all backward villages would be provided with electricity through solar energy.

Iran releases seized UK-flagged tanker TEHRAN AGENCIES

A British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July was released Friday and was heading toward the United Arab Emirates, the company that owns the vessel said.

Iran’s marine and port authority said the Stena Impero left Iran Friday morning. Hours earlier, the tanker had begun transmitting its location for the first time in weeks just outside the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, where it had been held since its July 19 seizure.

The head of the Swedish shipping firm Stena Bulk that owns the tanker said it “has been a long wait” for the vessel and its crew to be released.

Company president and CEO Erik Hanell said the ship’s seizure “has meant an enormous pressure for us all, especially for the crew.” The ship was headed to Dubai, where the crew would disembark and undergo medical checks. Hannel said the vessel appeared to be in good condition and “hopefully it will be on duty within a week or so,” speaking by telephone with Swedish television.

The ship tracking website MarineTraffic.com showed the Stena Impero

heading south from Iran at a speed of just over 14 mph (22 kph).

Iran seized the tanker on July 19 in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes. The raid saw commandos rappel down onto the vessel via helicopter carrying assault rifles, dramatic images later replayed on state television.

The seizure came after British marines helped take control of an Iranian supertanker on July 4. Authorities in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, seized the ship carrying $130 million in crude oil on suspicion it was breaking European Union sanctions by taking the oil to Syria. Gibraltar later released the tanker, then called the Grace 1, after it said Iran promised the ship wouldn’t go to Syria.

That ship, renamed the Adrian Darya 1, later sat off the Syrian coast, angering Britain. Iran hasn’t said who purchased its 2.1 million barrels of crude oil. On Monday, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei had told journalists the Stena Impero could leave. But the ship remained outside Bandar Abbas until Friday.

Earlier this month, Iran released seven crew members of the Stena Im-

pero. Sixteen stayed on board. Britain has responded to Iran’s release of the tanker Friday by accusing Tehran of trying to disrupt freedom of navigation.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the ship “was unlawfully seized by Iran.” He said the seizure was “part of a pattern of attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation. We are working with our international partners to protect shipping and uphold the international rule of law.”

The ship seizures come after months of heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, sparked by President Donald Trump’s decision over a year ago to unilaterally pull out of a nuclear deal with Iran. The U.S. has imposed sanctions that have kept Iran from selling its oil abroad and have crippled its economy. Iran has since begun breaking terms of the deal.

Meanwhile, there have been a series of attacks across the Middle East that the U.S. blames on Iran.

They reached their height on Sept.

14, with a missile and drone attack on the world’s largest oil processor in Saudi Arabia and an oil field, which caused oil prices to spike by the biggest percentage since the 1991 Gulf War.

05

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan celebrates his 74th birthday with friends and family.

Brother handed life sentence in Qandeel Baloch murder case, others acquitted MULTAN STAFF REPORT

A model court on Friday handed life imprisonment to Qandeel Baloch’s brother Muhammad Wasim, the prime accused in the social media icon’s murder case.

However, the rest of the suspects, who were nominated in the case, including her brother Aslam Shaheen and cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi, were acquitted by the court.

The court, in the detailed verdict, noted that the prosecution had “successfully proved its case beyond shadow of reasonable doubt through cogent, convincing and inspiring evidence against the accused for committing qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) of his sister Fouzia Ameen alias Qandeel Balouch in shape of proving his presence at the place of occurrence, in shape of judicial confession corroborated with positive results of his DNA.” “So he is held guilty of committing qatl-i-amd of his sister,” the verdict added.

Waseem will be sent to Central Jail in Multan to serve his sentence.

Earlier on Thursday, Judge Imran Shafi had reserved the verdict after the prosecution and defense completed their arguments in the case.

Wasim, Baloch’s brother, had strangled her to death in the name of honor at their house in 2016. He later confessed to have killed her because she allegedly “brought dishonor to the Baloch name” with her risqué videos and statements posted on social networking site, Facebook.

In August, Qandeel’s parents had submitted an affidavit in court, stating they had forgiven the killers, their sons, and the case should be withdrawn. However, a trial court had rejected the request.

Tortured body of youth found hanging from tree in Sargodha SARGODHA INP The tortured body of a youth was found hanging from a tree here on Friday, police said.

According to details, after being spotted by passersby, the police took into custody body of youth hanging with a tree in tehsil Sahiwal of Sargodha and shifted it to hospital.

Unknown culprits tortured to death the youth some three days earlier and hanged his body with the tree, police said.

A case was registered against unidentified murderers and investigation was in progress.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Risking life and limb to vote in afghanistan MANY AFGHANS SAY THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS TOO GREAT TO RISK COMING OUT TO THE POLLS

ForeigN policy

f

STEFANIE GLINSKI

IVE years ago, during Afghanistan’s last presidential election, Farhad Sharif narrowly escaped death when he decided at the last minute not to join his uncle at a polling station in rural Nangarhar province.

Sharif, 24, missed a mortar being fired into a crowd of voters that killed his uncle and left many injured. Back then, at age 19, he was just old enough to cast his ballot. This year, he wants to give it another try, but he’s afraid things could be even more dangerous.

“It’s our country and our future, so I want to participate, but it could be a big sacrifice,” Sharif said from his home in Ahmed Shah Baba Mena, an eastern suburb of Kabul.

Like Sharif, many Afghans are poised hesitantly at their front doors, weighing the conflicting demands of national duty and personal safety as Saturday’s presidential

election approaches, with current President Ashraf Ghani and the republic’s chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, as the top contenders.

The Afghan National Army counted 690 attacks during the April 2014 presidential election—a spike in violence even though a majority of attacks were considered smallscale. But this year the Taliban are far more powerful and threatening violence with peace talks on hold.

“It’s likely going to be more violent than in past years, unless any sudden major thing persuades the Taliban to not disrupt Saturday’s election,” said Ali Yawar Adili, an election expert working with Afghanistan Analysts Network. A United Nations observer group seemed to agree, saying: “As polling day nears, there have been increased reports of intimidation of eligible voters by insurgents threatening retaliation for persons involving themselves in the election.”

“It’s is chaotic and dangerous—and it’s gotten worse. I’m not going to risk my life to vote.”

“Afghanistan has become like a jungle. It’s chaotic and dangerous—and it’s gotten worse,” said Ramin Rahmini, a taxi driver in central Kabul. “I’m not going to risk my life to vote. We might not have all the riches and innovations that you see in Europe or America.

There, people turn 90—even

older. Here, you’re celebrated if you make it to 60. But we’re all human. We just want to be alive.”

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry says it has put extra measures in place to keep voters safe, but the population either worries or doesn’t believe in a fair, transparent, and fraud-free procedure.

“If we look at last year’s parliamentary elections, the majority of registered voters—almost twothirds—didn’t turn up. With the Taliban already stating that they plan to attack polling stations, and with their additional threats to cut off electricity, we have reason to believe that this year’s turnout could be even lower,” Adili said.

“People have lost confidence.

There was a huge mismanagement last year, and many don’t trust the election bodies anymore.”

This year, an estimated 5,373 polling stations will likely be open throughout the country for the 9.6 million people who have registered to vote, according to the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, though several hundred stations might not open after all due to high risk. During the 2018 parliamentary elections, only 3.6 million people cast their votes. Results from the 34 provinces are to be announced by Oct. 19, with the final figures available by Nov. 7, though these tentative dates could change.

The Education Ministry announced that all schools are to be closed from Thursday on, as several of them will be used as polling centers.

According to the election expert Nishank Motwani, who has monitored Afghanistan’s three previous elections, people are more cynical this year. “They believe their votes are inconsequential to the voting results due to expectations of electoral fraud,” he said.

Many fed-up voters echo that assessment. “I’ve decided against voting,” said Fezah Rezayee, a 26year-old mother of two from the central province of Bamiyan who recently graduated with a psychology degree. “I believe my city is a lot safer than many other places throughout Afghanistan. But it means that throughout the country, many will risk their lives voting in an election that could be corrupted.”

Because past elections in Afghanistan have been marred by so much violence and fraud, many observers speculated that Saturday’s vote could have been postponed had a deal been struck between the United States and Taliban that could have seen an interim government form. But U.S. President Donald Trump suspended peace talks this month— citing Taliban violence—and the Taliban have vowed to target polling stations and warned voters to stay away. U.S. President Donald Trump suspended peace talks this month—citing Taliban violence—and the Taliban have vowed to target polling stations

and warned voters to stay away.

The campaign period has seen two high-profile election-related attacks, with dozens of people killed.

On Sept. 17, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in Parwan province at an election rally for Ghani. Thirty civilians were killed and 51 injured. On July 28, 21 civilians were killed and 50 injured in an attack on the Green Trend’s main office in Kabul, with no party claiming responsibility. Defense Ministry spokesman Fawad Aman told Foreign Policy that 80,000 security forces have been mobilized in a bid to ensure people that the situation will remain “normal.”

“Over the last weeks, we have increased the number of raids and night operations, and we have gone into offense mode,” Aman said.

“People can come outside and cast their votes. We will maintain and provide security for them.” But throughout Kabul, new checkpoints and an increased army presence have worried residents more than they have reassured them.

Rusullah Monsur, a 27-yearold election aide, said he signed up to work in a polling station this Saturday for the extra cash, though he felt nervous about it. “I’ll be earning 12,000 afghanis [about $150] for the five days I’m helping out during elections,” he said.

“Of course I’m scared. We received many threats. I hope God will protect me, and I can serve my country.” His sister-in-law, who voted during the last presidential election, was shot in the chest three

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, decided this week to open a formal inquiry into the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump. The surprise move — Pelosi had long refused to take that step — followed revelations about a July phone call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, president of Ukraine, that appeared to encourage foreign intervention in U.S. elections to benefit himself, and using the resources of the United States government to pressure Zelenskiy to do so. That, in conjunction with attempts to cover up that conversation, looks like grounds for impeachment.

At present, there is little reason to think that Trump will be removed from office even if the House votes to impeach.

The Senate is controlled by Republicans and they remain steadfastly behind the president. Nevertheless, the process will have political and policy implications Progressives in the Democratic Party have been pushing Pelosi to open an impeachment inquiry since the 2018 midterm election that returned the House to their party’s control. Pelosi resisted. Her top priority is ensuring an enduring Democratic majority in the House and that meant protecting the seats of moderates — the majority of which flipped to her party in that ballot. Some hoped that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and obstruction of justice by the Trump administration might move voters to favor impeachment, but the probe fizzled and made no appreciable impact on public opinion. They also worried that such a move would animate Trump’s supporters while turning off moderates and independents.

Last week, that calculus changed with reports of a whistleblower complaint that charged Trump with pressing Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Joe Biden, the candidate leading in polls to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2020 election, and his son Hunter, who had business dealings in Ukraine, and accused the administration of covering up that effort. The allegation that Trump sought to use U.S. foreign policy — withholding military aid to Ukraine — to advance his personal interests and a subsequent systematic effort to obscure those facts tipped the balance for the speaker and many Democrats who had been on the fence.

That shift has been facilitated by the absence of any evidence to support

charges of corruption against either Biden or his son and by the fact that the president’s explanation for decisions regarding Ukraine change daily. The shift was made easier by Trump’s decision to release the memorandum of the phone call, which appeared to confirm the whistleblower’s account. In the latest tally, 223 Democrats — a majority of the House — and one independent back some form of impeachment inquiry. Significantly, that is not necessarily support for impeachment.

Pragmatists insist that impeachment is risky since the GOP has a majority in the Senate and it will protect Trump no matter what the House does. That assumes that the revelations do not get worse. The whistleblower complaint notes that other presidential conversations have also been buried, hinting of more evidence of malfeasance and cover-up.

An impeachment inquiry will intensify the ill will, chaos, confusion and anger that dominate U.S. politics. Trump, who is not known for linear thinking in the best of times, will be even more distracted. History has shown that he does not believe in contrition or apologies and when challenged he doubles down. In this atmosphere, it is hard to envision the U.S. government accomplishing anything during the remainder of his term. Every issue will become more political and more bitterly contested.

Trump will be looking for ways to rise above the morass. One possibility is another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the long-anticipated trip

by Trump to Pyongyang. A deal with China is another option, but it could be that Trump prefers the trade war to reinforce his claim that Beijing seeks his defeat because he is too tough. Both have profound implications for Japan, but Tokyo must be ready for tough fights on issues of more direct concern. Expect renewed demands from Trump on trade issues — the recently announced deal does not include a U.S. pledge to abandon tariffs on automobiles — and on host nation support for U.S. military forces in Japan, negotiations for which begin in earnest in coming months.

Trump will use those issues — and more — to argue that he is fighting hard for U.S. interests and criticism is from constituencies that have failed to defend the country from foreign predations. Far from being impeachable, he will insist his behavior justifies a second term in office. That divergence of views — wide and widening — defines U.S. politics. It is the soil in which any impeachment inquiry will proceed.

Stefanie Glinski is a journalist and photographer who reports on conflict and humanitarian crisis.

GANDHI’S LEGACY WAS BETRAYED

BY MODI

US takes fateful step towards impeachment JapaN Times

times after exiting the polling station. She survived, but—according to Monsur—she won’t be participating in this year’s election.

While the Defense Ministry says it has “learned from past elections” and the “security situation in Afghanistan has improved,” realities on the ground prove different.

“If the election goes wrong, it could badly reflect on the government’s credibility,” Adili said, adding that a failed turnout could have long-lasting consequences.

“It would create political tensions, which could cause more crisis and split the government. Yet at the same time, if things go well and conclusive results and a winner come forward, it will deliver a mandate to the next president to initiate peace negotiations.”

In the lead-up to Saturday, much of the presidential candidates’ rallying was done virtually, with the candidates addressing audiences via web call. “Let’s pick up again after the election” is an attitude echoed throughout Kabul.

Fear is widespread, with most people wishing for peace above all.

“The campaigning is ending, and we had been told by the Ministry of Interior before the campaign started that only certain venues in Kabul could be fully secured,” Adili said. “Therefore, there could be fear that not all polling centers are safe to go to vote.”

Newsweek RAJMOHAN GANDHI AND SALMAN AHMAD

The two of us writing this piece, one a Pakistani-origin practitioner of music and medicine, the other a historian from India, have practiced or taught in the U.S. for more than twenty years.

Each of us is committed to friendly relations within and between India and Pakistan, and between these two countries and the U.S. Today’s Indian Held Kashmir, locked-down and shut off from the world, isn’t what one of us saw as he and his band played in May 2008 at the edge of Srinagar’s ethereal Dal Lake. Coming from Kashmir, Lahore, Kolkata, New York and Toronto, the band’s members found a common language of compassion, freedom and unity. For that one 2008 day, guitars silenced the guns.

Kashmir’s old conflict, dating back to 1947, took a dramatic new turn on August 5 when the Indian government abruptly, probably unconstitutionally, and certainly most undemocratically eliminated Indian Held Kashmir’s special status with the Indian Union. Not a single Kashmiri was consulted as Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing the special status that reconciled popular Kashmiri leaders to joining the Indian Union, was suddenly gutted.

Among other things, that special status barred non-Kashmiris from buying land or landed property or voting in Hindumajority India’s sole Muslim-majority state, thereby preventing any deliberate alteration of its demography.

Not only was special status abolished overnight, “Jammu & Kashmir,” as the space was formally known, was removed from India’s map of states and replaced by two “union” or federal territories. Across a tense border from them sits a large portion of pre-1947 Jammu & Kashmir that Pakistan has administered for 70 years. Combined with a prolonged internet and mobile-phone shutdown still in force in parts of Indian Held Kashmir, India’s refusal thus far to let UN officials or reporters from other countries enter its Kashmir areas means that the world knows very little of what is happening to about 13 million human beings who live there.

It would appear that several thousand Kashmiris are in jails or detention, including a large number of young men. Many, it is clear, have been moved to prisons far from Indian Held Kashmir. Insisting that very few dead bodies have showed up, the Indian government claims that there is no revolt and that Kashmiris have largely welcomed the takeover. We ask the government to let international observers and journalists enter Indian Held Kashmir and find out what is happening.

While Indian Held Kashmir has been silenced, many in other parts of India have criticized the takeover. However, supporters of the annexation seem to form a large majority. This is a harsh truth that Kashmiris and people elsewhere have to

recognize. Supposedly democratic India, a nation currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth and continuing to print his face on its paper currency, seems enthusiastic and even excited about compelling millions of Kashmiris to call themselves Indians.

Leading for thirty years a nonviolent campaign for India’s liberation from British rule, Gandhi fought also for freedom of belief and speech. His uncompromising opposition to anyone being coerced to utter a particular slogan, confess a particular faith, or wear a particular symbol was in fact one reason why a group of Hindu extremists killed him in 1948.

On August 14, several eminent Indians associating themselves with what they called “the Gandhian fraternity” issued a strong statement against the takeover. But their voices have been drowned by the noise in favor of eliminating Indian Held Kashmir’s special status.

The August takeover was preceded by a sudden infusion into Indian Held Kashmir of tens of thousands of additional Indian soldiers. The Indian government does not give any figures, Indian Held Kashmir today may contain half a million or more Indian soldiers, from a range of military and para-military forces. The justification? Combating terrorism and insurgency. Today Indian Held Kashmir possibly has a higher soldier-to-civilian ratio than any other part of the world.

We urge the people and leaders of the India-Pakistan subcontinent to find non-coercive and democratic solutions to its problems, and we urge the people and leaders of the US not to ignore the profoundly troubling turn of events in Indian Held Kashmir and the region surrounding it. In these times, when almost every nation, the US not excepted, faces populist, ethno-nationalist and majoritarian pressures, the India-Pakistan situation is of course specially disquieting because of the nuclear capabilities of the two neighbors involved.

That India is being governed today by Hindu ethno-nationalists who seem to regard the country’s minorities—Muslims, Christians and other non-Hindus—as inferior, anti-national, and not deserving of protection, adds to our grave concern.

To the Kashmiris, with whose sorrows we deeply empathize, we say, “Give a thought to the strategies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Along with a resolve to find and preserve unity among Kashmiris, strategic, realistic and nonviolent noncooperation with the government of India may prove more helpful than angrier or more desperate reactions.

Salman Ahmad founded the rock band Junoon and is a UN goodwill ambassador on Polio Eradication. He is author of the book Rock & Roll Jihad. Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian, serving as Research Professor at the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

north Korea Urges trUmp to maKe Bold move to revive diplomacy

SEOUL

n

AGENCIES

ORTH Korea said Friday it wants President Donald Trump to make a “wise option and bold decision” to produce a breakthrough in stalled nuclear diplomacy, in an escalation of pressure on the U.S. ahead of an expected resumption of talks.

The statement by Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan came days after Trump said another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “could happen soon” without elaborating.

Kim Kye Gwan says he doubts another summit could make any breakthrough because of what he describes as prevailing

opinions in Washington that North Korea must first disarm before getting major concessions and that U.S.-led sanctions brought the North to a negotiating table.

He accused the U.S. of not acting to implement a joint statement issued after the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore last year. He said North Korea, for its part, made “sincere efforts” to build mutual trust and carry out the Singapore statement, citing the repatriation of three American detainees and U.S. war remains.

“But I came to know that President Trump is different from his predecessors in political sense and decision while watching his approach to the DPRK, so I would like to place my hope on President Trump’s wise option and bold decision,” Kim Kye Gwan

said, using the abbreviation of his country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“I and the DPRK Foreign Ministry will follow the future moves of the U.S.” Kim, in his mid-70s, is a veteran diplomat who led the North Korean delegation at much of the now-dormant six-nation nuclear disarmament talks held in Beijing in 20032008.

North Korea entered talks with the United States last year saying it’s willing to negotiate away its advancing nuclear arsenal in exchange of U.S. security guarantee and sanctions relief. The North wants a slow, step-by-step disarmament process, in which each of its denuclearization step is matched by a corresponding U.S. reward. The United States says sanctions on North Korea will remain in place until the country takes significant steps toward denuclearization.

During the Singapore summit, Kim Jong Un promised to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula without providing any timetable or roadmap for disarmament steps. In Singapore, Kim and Trump also agreed to establish new bilateral relations and build a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

They met again in Vietnam in February for a second summit. But that meeting abruptly fell apart after Trump rejected Kim’s request for extensive relief of sanctions in return for dismantling his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step. The two leaders held a brief, impromptu meeting at the Korean border in late June, and agreed to restart talks.

Kremlin says it hopes US wouldn’t release Trump-Putin calls MOSCOW AGENCIES

Russia voiced hope Friday that the U.S. administration wouldn’t publish private conversations between the two nations’ presidents like it did with Ukraine.

The rough transcript of Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy released by the White House Wednesday shows that Trump urged Ukraine to “look into” his Democratic political rival Joe Biden. The July 25 call is now the focus of a U.S. impeachment probe.

Asked if Moscow is worried that the White House could similarly publish transcripts of Trump’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “we would like to hope that it wouldn’t come to that in our relations, which are already troubled by a lot of problems.”

Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he emphasized that the publication of the Trump-Zelenskiy call is an internal U.S. issue, but added that it was “quite unusual” to release a confidential call between leaders.

“The materials related to conversa-

tions between heads of states are usually classified according to normal international practice,” he said.

The publication of the call, in which the presidents made critical comments about German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, has drawn acerbic comments from other Russian officials and lawmakers.

“We are waiting for the party to con-

tinue,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. “Let them publish transcripts of conversations between NATO allies. It would also be useful to publish minutes of closed meetings at the CIA, the FBI and the Pentagon. Put it all on air!”

Zakharova also scoffed at Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to open an impeachment inquiry based on the call.

FOREIGN NEWS 07

Afghanistan goes to polls amid tight security, allegations of rigging ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

All eyes are set on Afghanistan where the presidential election are set to take place on Saturday amid tight security.

While independent analysts cast doubts over the veracity of the upcoming polls, opposition leaders have also started doubting the polling mechanism and they have started staging protests against the administration of President Ashraf Ghani over allegations of rigging.

15 men will contest the presidential election, in a race among old power brokers, including sitting and former government officials, prominent technocrats, and notorious warlords. The twice-delayed September 28 election is slated to be only the second-ever democratic transition of power in the war-wracked country of 35 million people.

The candidates include some controversial figures from the last four decades of conflict in the country — former cadres of the Soviet-backed communist regime of the 1980s, Mujahedin from the civil war that erupted in the early 1990s, as well as members of the Taliban regime that ruled from 1996 until 2001.

Each candidate has entered the race on tickets that include first and second vice presidential running mates. These are often the result of political horse-trading that can forge unlikely unions. In a country where no ethnic group can dominate the political scene on its own, candidates cross ethnic lines to choose high-profile running mates who can marshal votes from specific ethnic communities. The results can defy logic and assumptions based on previous electoral alliances and coalitions.

If no candidate receives a majority in the first round of the election on September 28, a second round will be held between the top two finishers.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Former chairman of Afghanistan

Group of Newspapers, Dr HussainYasa, said that the election is already shrouded in distrust as the opposition is blaming Ghani for rigging the polls. “The electoral body has no credibility and has no system in place. There are allegations of ghost polling stations set up by the regime. There is no monitoring system and no observation of polls,” said Dr Yasa.

Dr Yasa expressed fears that any question on transparency of polls would badly destabilise Afghanistan and non-state actors would benefit from the chaos.

When asked to elaborate, Dr Yasa said that when over 50 per cent of the country remains out of the control of Afghan government, how can one expect transparency in polls. He said that the government has already said that it could not hold polling at 2,700 polling stations while biometric machines are not working.

“So what will happen now? The ballot boxes would be stuffed with bogus votes. Opposition is alleging that election is not being held in their stronghold areas. So everyone knows that the country is going to another fraud election as it does not suit President Ghani,” he observed.

Blaming the National Unity Government for not fulfilling its commitment to carry out electoral reforms, Dr Yasa said that opposition says that Dr Ghani has made arrangements to rig polls.

When asked who was leading the polls, Dr Yasa said that Dr Abdullah Abdullah was leading the race on ground as it had full backing of all minority groups.

“While Abdullah Abdullah is a Pashtun, he has support from smaller ethnic groups like General Abdul Rashid Dostum who is Uzbek, Dr Mohaqiq and Karim Khalili, who are from the Hazaras, while Ahmed Shah Masood’s brother is also contesting. So Dr Abdullah leads the race but Dr Ghani holds the fort as the entire government machinery is helping him,” he added.

Two lower caste children in India beaten to death for 'open defecation' LUCKNOW AGENCIES

Two children from India’s lowest caste were beaten to death by two men after they defecated outside, officials and relatives said on Thursday, in the latest case of communal violence in the country.

Rajesh Chandel, superintendent of police in Shivpuri, a district in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, said the children, identified as 12year-old girl Roshni and her nephew Avinash, a 10-year-old boy, were attacked at around 0630 local time on Wednesday.

Two men, whom Chandel identified as Hakam Singh and Rameshwar Singh, have been arrested, he said.

“The accused are mentally stable and during the interrogation, they have

said they committed this crime,” Chandel said, adding the investigation was continuing.

It was not possible to reach the accused or their representatives for comment.

The two children belonged to what are known officially as “scheduled castes”, but also called “Dalits”, or “untouchables” for their position in India’s ancient caste hierarchy. Discrimination on the basis of caste is illegal but still widespread in India, especially in rural areas where hundreds of millions of people live.

Both Chandel and Avinash’s father, Manoj Balmiki, said the murders followed an earlier verbal altercation between the two families where “casteist slurs” were used by the accused.

“There is a lot of untouchability

issues in our village,” Balmiki, 32 said. “Our children cannot play with

their children.”

Poor sanitation that forces Indians to

defecate outdoors is one of the country’s biggest health issues, and its eradication has been a top priority for the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi launched the Swachh Bharat, or Clean India, mission in 2014, and has promised to make India “open defecation free” (ODF) by Oct 2 this year.

This week Modi was given an award by the Gates Foundation at a ceremony in New York for his role in the scheme.

Swachh Bharat has constructed more than a hundred million toilets for some of the poorest in Indian society, according to official data, but problems in some areas remain.

Anugraha P, the district’s top civil servant, said that Bhaukhedi village, where the two families live, had been declared as ODF in 2018, but that Balmiki’s house did not have a toilet.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

08 COMMENT

A worrying example

Entertaining narcissistic illusions But where is the Kashmir plan?

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MrAn KhAn will be remembered as a politician who talked a great script but couldn’t write one. speaking at the Asia society he lapsed into a comforting rhapsody saying he had never seen anticipation for anything “like my speech tomorrow in the United nations general Assembly.” Once again he reminisced about the feeling he had before winning the World Cup final. imran Khan would be living in a world of his own if he thinks that his recent speeches in the UsA and interactions with world leaders, despite their limited utility, would turn the page on the sufferings of the Kashmiri people or force indian Prime Minister narendra Modi to undo the annexation of the occupied Valley. he needs to be reminded that till thursday, turkish President recep tayyip Erdoğan was the only world leader who had raised the issue of Kashmir in UngA. Mr Khan’s words had simply fallen flat on the Arab rulers of the gulf that he has been personally driving from islamabad airport to PM house. the Modi government wanted to show that it would not yield to pressure in matters related to occupied Kashmir. sooner or later however it will have to end the lockdown and revive the mobile and internet traffic. irrespective of whether it succeeds or not, it already has a post-curfew incentives plan aimed at winning over the Kashmiri youth. it aims at filling up tens of thousands of government jobs in the next few months and large-scale investments by indian and gulf enterprises. the Modi government has also managed to get statements from some of the prominent indian ulema in support of the annexation of Kashmir. it won’t be easy to stamp down the desire for freedom, but a scheme is in place to try it. it is time the government leaders stopped playing to the domestic gallery. the Pti government and its mentors have to spell out a workable plan, not only to keep the issue of iOK burning, but also to provide effective moral and political support to Kashmiris. speeches, informal telephone calls and letters alone won’t be enough. these have to be a art of a realistic strategy.

Afghan polls This poll matters more than usual

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fghAnistAn has the first round of its presidential elections today. this is actually only the first of two rounds, for the Afghan system requires the winner to obtain a simple majority of the votes cast, with the top two candidates going to a second round if no one obtains more than 50 percent in the first round. the very multiplicity of candidates, 36, indicates that no one will get a majority. the poll is likely to be a showdown between President Ashraf ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. the last election, in 2015, was marred by allegations of rigging, and the brokered resolution saw the loser, Abdullah Abdullah, take up the new position of chief executive. Apart from President ghani and Mr Abdullah, two strong candidates are expected to be gulbaddin hikmatyar and Ahmad Wali Massoud. they indicate that the country has still to absorb the effects of the 1980s anti-soviet struggle, for while Mr hikmatyar himself was a mujahedin commander during that war, Mr Wali is a brother of the almost legendary commander whose assassination had come just before the 9/11 attacks took place, which led to the UsA invading. Whereas as Mr hikmatyar may well cut into President ghani’s vote, Mr Massoud might take away some of Mr Abdullah’s vote.

One of the main concerns is about security. the taliban have created much mayhem by attacks against election rallies and threats against participating. this might generate a low turnout, thus creating doubts about the legitimacy of the election. the election is coinciding with the abortive peace deal, but everyone expects the Us-taliban negotiations, called off by Us President Donald trump, will resume, and the next phase, intraAfghan talks, to be handled by the President winning these elections. Because the constitutional future after those talks is murky, these elections may not be for what they ought to be, the presidency of Afghanistan for the next four years.

Pakistan has to tread very carefully under the circumstances. it must not play favourites, for it will have to deal with whoever is elected. it must not get carried away by the calculus of which candidate favours india more or less, as whoever is elected will follow Afghanistan’s national interests. in troubled times for the region, neutrality is best.

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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Security and terrorism clearance for the bureaucrats leaves many holes Syed Fawad ali Shah

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hErE is very strict procedure for recruiting officers in the federal and provincial bureaucracy; we have exams like Css at the centre and PMs at the provincial level. But there is no such system which is in place for further retention of a person in government service or his posting and transfer. the law which normally deals with the subject is the Civil servants Act 1973. Moreover there is no mechanism to check about the actual background activities of a civil servant or his family members.

Due to the prevalent law and order situation, many incidents have occurred which have brought a bad name for our society in general and bureaucracy in particular. One such incident was that of the terrorist attack on a Pakistani naval base in Karachi in september 2011. it was a well planned act led by Owais Jakhrani, who had been sacked from the Pakistan navy for radical religious views. he led an audacious mission to take over a warship and turn its guns on a Us naval vessel in the open seas. it was thwarted, but not before Jakhrani, two officers and an unidentified fourth assailant snuck past a patrol boat in a dinghy and engaged in an intense firefight on or around the warship, the PNS Zulfiqar. four navy officials were killed in the attempt to hijack the Zulfiqar, along with Jakhrani and two accomplices, who were serving sub-lieutenants, according to police reports, and having affiliation with Al-Qaeda.

Officials are divided about how much support the young man in his mid-20s had from inside the navy. they also stress that Jakhrani and his accomplices were near to achieving their aim when they were killed. According to an initial statement from Al-Qaeda, the plan was to use the Zulfiqar to attack a Us navy vessel, meaning potential loss of American lives and a blow to relations between the two nations. A further statement issued by the group identified the target as Uss Supply, a Us naval ship used to refuel warships at sea. the indian navy was also a target, the statement said. it urged followers to “make jihad on the seas one of their priorities,” according to the sitE intelligence group, which mon-

Chris rawley, vice president of the Washitors extremist communications.

Yet the then Defence Minister Khawaja ington DC-based think tank the Center for inAsif told Parliament the attackers could only ternational Maritime security, said the attack have breached security with inside help. three never looked likely to succeed. But underlinserving lieutenant commanders from Karachi ing one of the UsA’s biggest fears, he added: were also arrested in the western city of Quetta, “the fact that maybe there are some collaboallegedly trying to flee to Afghanistan two days rators in the navy is worrying because maybe there are collaborators among others that have after the botched raid, officials said. further arrests were made in Karachi, Pe- purview over nuclear weapons.” the most shawar, and northwestern Pakistan, including alarming aspect of this discussion is that the father of Owais Jakhrani was detained and Jakhrani’s PsP father and his family are still was thoroughly interrogated along with other living in fiA headquarters islamabad. in the sons. As per phone record, his PsP father was recent past, his other son tried to get commisin constant contact with him while he was hav- sion in Pakistan Army but was rejected during medical because of the ing training in the Alfact that he has tattoos of Qaeda terrorist training religious slogans on his camp based in body.

Afghanistan. Moreover the government of There should be a proper the father himself was Pakistan is in constant well known among the mechanism with strong state of negligence while police for his staunch still lacking the will to hanafi anti-UsA beliefs. filters through which all itapprehend extremism and the plot’s mastermind was sub-Lieutenant the bureaucrats must go religious views of senior bureaucrats like the PsP Jakhrani, either 25 or 26 through. While deciding father of Owais Jakhrani years old, the son of a senas the family is already ior police officer in on an officer for an well known for its close Karachi at that time and now serving in the fiA, important slot, clearance ties with Al-Qaeda. Political compromises and officials said. “We found must be sought from all nepotism have embedded literature and material on deep into the bureaucracy his person that no one can intelligence and law and within no time this be allowed to have. his PsP father of a terrorist colleagues reported his enforcement agencies was posted as head of views and he was then Counter terrorism Wing closely watched and monin fiA along with some itored and finally disother key posts where he missed,” one official said. intelligence officials tipped off the navy is having access to all sensitive information days before the attack that a raid was imminent, which can be lethal if shared with any terrorist according to two officials. But Jakhrani, who outfits. the question is whether the government will had an insider’s knowledge of the Karachi base, make laws for checking the actual background did not appear to be closely monitored. imtiaz gul, head of the islamabad-based activities of a civil servant or his family members think tank the Centre for research and security while in service. there should be a proper mechstudies, said senior generals were aware of a anism with strong filters through which all the long-standing weakness in surveillance of mil- bureaucrats must go through. While deciding on itary officials and their families dismissed for an officer for an important slot, clearance must extremism. “they don’t have a tracking system be sought from all intelligence and law enforcefor officers who are dismissed or asked to leave ment agencies. the service (for radical views),” said gul. “that Syed Fawad Ali Shah is a Pakistani makes it very difficult to track if they have Journalist Currently Based in Malaysia. joined extremist groups.”

Jai Shri Ram – a slogan to intimidate How it became a battle cry MuhaMMad Tahir iqbal

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Ai shri rAM’ is primarily a religious uttering used by the hindus to hail the victory of Lord ram, the Prince of Ayodhya; but unluckily it has entered the political life of india carrying a fatal threat to minorities.

People in charged mobs bearing deep puckers on foreheads and bosoms overflowing with hatred for minorities chanting ‘Jai shri ram’ come down hard on the ones who think differently. this thinking spewing hate and vengeance has engendered murder of writers, intelligentsia and minorities, especially the Muslims, in india. the democracy built on the foundations of secularism and tolerance as envisioned by its elders is mutating fast into an intolerant society dominated by the ideals of hindu supremacy. hyper-nationalism has permeated almost every section of society– judiciary, military, media, Parliament, police, politics and academia.

Just now, i am reading a news item that the 11 accused, charged with the ruthless murder of tabrez Ansari, who was killed mercilessly with hands tied behind to a pole, have been released by the police. tabrez was bidden by the mob to chant aloud ‘Jai shri ram’, he complied but was not spared even then. similar fate was meted out to Pehlu Khan, who was rounded up by an angry mob shouting ‘Jai shri ram’, and killed for carrying cattle from a fair in rajasthan. six men were arrested in this case. Just two weeks ago, all accused were acquitted by a court, citing lack of evidence. Over this, former BJP lawmaker gyan Dev Ahuja said that Khan was a “sinner” and he had “no regret over his death”.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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the series of killings and lynching goes on in a briskly deteriorating state of affairs in india. threats of murders and rape on social media are common with little condemnation from the people around.

Let us discover how it started. this simple religious greeting, ‘Jai shri ram’, became a battle cry for the first time in india in 1992 when a frantic gang of people under the patronage of the BJP’s then president, LK Advani, moved towards the site of Babri Masjid with a view to demolish it.

‘Jai shri ram’ as a political slogan of intimidation faded away considerably from the social fabric when the Congress ruled the country. But cinders remained there. When narendra Modi ascended the throne of power in 2014, the dying embers got resuscitated and hate-culture started erupting and infiltrating each stratum of indian life. now the point is if this development is a natural offshoot of some pent-up feelings buried deep down in indian consciousness and now sprouting naturally, or if this has been forcibly injected into veins of indian socio-political culture. i would go for the second version. in 2017, over 700 academics and vice chancellors from 51 states and central universities of india gathered in Delhi University to learn how to bring the “true nationalist narrative” to the main iscourse of india. the event was called the gyan sangam— knowledge summit. its main motivator and speaker was Mohan Bhagwat, the supreme leader of the rashtriya swayamsevak sangh. the topics under discussion, reportedly, were the “cultural onslaught on educational system,” the “colonisation” of intellectuals and the resurgence of nationalism in academia.

Under any murky atmosphere where things are turning into dilapidated forms, media’s role

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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becomes paramount – it acts as a guide and mentor that suggests ways out. But here the vista presents a very gloomy picture. Journalists have become salesmen, selling proudly and gleefully the hate-ideology with as much verve as the ultra-nationalist hindus are showing in the streets of india. the spirit of ‘Jai shri ram’ resonates perceptibly in media houses where anchors bedaubed with hate-ideology fall hard on the dissenting voices that propound advisable and moderate ways.

When it comes to Kashmir, the indian media, while completely toeing the line of the ruling party, presents false, fictitious and distorted pictures; and sadly the public are made to believe them. Days ago, the renowned indian journalist, rana Ayyub, spent four days in Kashmir to report the facts for The Washington Post. “You journalists dance on television that everything is normal here while we are being killed and silenced. Our children are in jail and have been disappeared and you tell the world that all is good, that we are rejoicing”, writes rana while quoting the screams of a shopkeeper. the phantom of ‘Jai shri ram’ will keep lurking in the mind of indian consciousness striking outrageous blow to the secular façade of india until the media is allowed to promote saner and moderate voices. in such egregious circumstances, the prudent and brave postures of the writers and academics like sagarika ghose, rana Ayyub, sadanand Dhume, Arfa Khanum sherwan, Ashok swain, and activists like shehla rashid are beacons of hope that can cure the epidemic of hate if accorded space.

Muhammad Tahir Iqbal can be reached at tahiriqbalstars@gmail.com. He twitters at @TahirIqbal87

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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

Concentrate on your work please

Unabated child abuse in our society Laws exist, but need implementation

abdul raSool Syed

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AsUr, that garnered international attention for recurring child abuse incidents in recent years, has again hit the headlines lately. this time, three minor boys have been criminally assaulted and killed in cold blood. this very incident has again saddened the whole milieu of our country and raised many questions over the performance of law enforcing institutions and the concerted efforts of our society as a whole. it is undoubtedly a matter of great shame for us that we as a nation, have miserably failed to protect our children from these wild beasts who prey on our loved ones with impunity.

What is more shocking is the report released by child rights organization sahil which depicts a very alarming picture of the state of child sex abuse in our country. According to the report released at the Lahore Press Club recently, the data from January to June in 2019 reveals that 729 girls and 575 boys became victims of sexual exploitation. the cases under major categories included 378 of abduction, 139 of rape, 153 of sodomy, 46 of gang rape, 88 of gang sodomy whereas 12 boys and four girls have been murdered after sexual abuse.

According to sahil, in 2018, there were 3,307 such incidents reported to police, 39 cases were not reported and 56 cases were not registered. Around 430 cases were reported by newspapers with incomplete information. in Lahore only, there were 50 incidents reported last year while nine children had been abducted and 12 reported missing from January to June 2019. January to June data gave grim numbers as it included five incidents of rape, seven of sodomy, three of gang rape and five of gang sodomy. the most horrifying disclosure made by sahil is that the most common perpetrator of the child sex abuse was an acquaintance with the victim and the victim’s family. Out of a total of 1,304 cases, 614 cases were such where the abusers had acquaintance with victims or victim’s family. in all, 142 cases were reported in which strangers were involved in abusing children.

Most victims (414) were between 11 and 15

years old, followed by 5 to 10 years old (171 cases), and 16 to 18 years old (117 cases). the youngest age group one to five years old had the least number of cases (75). in 401 cases, the age of victims was not mentioned in newspapers.

Additionally, in total, 203 children have been abused at their own places, 300 at an acquaintance’s place, four in a haveli, 12 in a madrassa, three at their workplace and 162 in open places, including fields, streets and forests.

Punjab had the most cases of sexual abuse (652), followed by sindh (458), federal (90), KP (51), Balochistan (32), AJK (18) and gB (3). this grim and grave situation suggests that pedophilia is increasing at an exponential rate in our society. it is quite disgusting and the moment of a great shame for our society as a whole. this alarming surge of child sex abuse in our society reflects that our children are extremely vulnerable.

Pedophiles easily victimize our loved ones without any fear of penalization. such beasts need absolute cleansing from our society. i am afraid that if they continue to thrive, they would keep jeopardizing the life and honour of our innocent children. therefore, all the stakeholders, parents, children and the society as a whole, should make common cause against these wild animals in the guise of human beings so that we may transform our society into a safe haven for our kiddies.

We should, first of all, understand the gravity of the issue and then devise a strategy to cope with it. WhO defines pedophilia as “the involvement of a child in a sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent or that violates the laws or social taboos of the society”.

Certain myths attached to pedophilia need to be debunked. One is that the pedophiles are mostly strangers to children. it is altogether a misguided opinion; according to research, 47 percent are relatives, 43 percent acquaintances and merely seven percent strangers. hence, it is wrong to admonish kids only to be wary of strangers. they should also be equally careful with familiar ones. the abusers can be anyone; siblings, steparents, grandparents, teachers, neighbours, servants, cousins, uncles, aunts and religious leaders– in short, all with whom a child interacts in his or her social domain. that’s why the parents are supposed to keep an eagle eye on all those people who share proximity with their children. the parents should trust nobody in this matter.

Moreover, it is also a myth that only the girls are victims, boys are also vulnerable. therefore, the homogenous protective measures are required for the protection of both sexes.

Also, it is also a wrong perception that mostly economically disadvantaged children become easy victims. sexual abuse crosses all socio-economic barriers. Comparatively, privileged children are more at risk than the less privileged, as they are surrounded by servants even in the absence of their parents. numerous

cases testify that children belonging to well-todo families were molested by their own servants. how we can put an end to this rampant social evil? A multipronged strategy is required.

On the social front, we should reduce the parent-children communication gap as much as possible to enable our children to express their issues with us with confidence. We should ask our kids to keep us informed and updated about their routine activities; who are their friends; what they do; what are their hobbies etc. for this, we parents should take time out to make our children feel we are with them. We should also provide our children with our exclusive attention, solicitude and counseling. in this way, they would feel a sense of protection and solace and with the passage of time; the parent-children trust deficit would wither away and they would resume confiding in us with no fear of admonition or bullying.

Besides, children should also be sensitized about sex education, if not in detail to the extent that they may distinguish what is a good touch and vice versa, to say the least. for this, both teachers and parents should play their respective roles.

On legal front, we find a lot of legislation but absence of enforcement. the majority of child assaults are registered under the Zina Ordinance 1979. Apart from that, the sindh Children Act 1955 and the Punjab Children Ordinance 1983 also cover some aspects of child sex abuse… interestingly, after the revelation of the child pornography racket, 20 people were arrested pertaining to this biggest ever criminal scam. By the time, child pornography was not criminalized; only sodomy and rape were punishable under the law. Consequently, several other provisions were added to our legislature to further strengthen our child protection framework. the first amendment made to the Pakistan Penal Code in 2016 with regard to child sex abuse criminalized sexual assault against minors, child pornography and trafficking. sexual assault is now punishable up to seven years in prison (previously only rape was the crime) and child pornography (previously not included in law) is punishable by seven years. special legislation is also required as the situation demands. Like the case of Zainab, all cases of child sex violence should be tried in anti-terrorism courts so that they are prosecuted with same vigilance and expedition as that of the cases of terrorism. Additionally, DnA profile of all the citizens should be included in the nADrA database; it will help us detect the culprits easily as it did in case of Zainab.

All the stakeholders should leave no stone unturned to arrest the growth of child abuse in our society. Above all, it is a matter of our beloved children. it is, therefore, incumbent on Prime Minister imran Khan to deal with this grave issue on priority basis. We can tolerate anything in naya Pakistan but the existence of this social pestilence that has jeopardized the honor and life of our innocent children.

ChAirMAn imran Khan led Pakistan tehrik-e-insaaf (Pti) has come into power by securing mandate from majority of the electorate for elimination of corruption, poverty and unemployment .

PM imran Khan has repeatedly reiterated hs determinati0on and commitment to eliminate corruption and not to spare any corrupt element irrespective of the political or social stature. there are many agencies like nAB, fiA who are working to eliminate corruption in all its forms and the superior courts are there to hear the corruption cases and references being duly submitted by the nAB. this is to request PM imran Khan, Pti federal and provincial ministers to concentrate more and more on working for the welfare and well-being of the people at large and let nAB and other national institutions deal with the corrupt elements whosoever they be. they should not waste their energies and time in telling the people again and again as to what former ruling parties and their leaders had done with the national economy as well as other sectors and how they had stashed huge wealth within the country over the years. the PM and the federal ministers should also ensure maximum presence in the parliament and rebut the opposition allegations there and then effectively and aggressively and stating what Pti federal government is doing to set things right in all sectors topped by ailing national economy.

People do not have short memory and they are in fact more well-informed than those treading the corridors of power think. the people know fully well as to who was known firstly as Mr 10 Per Cent and then also as Mr 100 Per Cent , who had been amending the srOs overnight for securing financial and other benefits within no time and lot much more, please. thanks.

M Z RIFAT Lahore

POL products consumption it is good to know that Prime Minister imran Khan while presiding over periodic meeting of the federal cabinet in islamabad tuesday has put down his feet firmly and directed summary sent by OgrA for substantially increasing POL products prices from May 01, 2019 to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for revising it downward to maximum extent. the federal cabinet has thus provided some relief, may be for some days though, by keeping POL products prices at the current level unchanged despite the fact that oil prices in the international market had reached the level of 77 dollars per barrel from 55 dollars per barrel during last couple of weeks or so. it is a bitter fact that the country meets its POL products requirements through 85 per cent imports and only 15 per cent from its domestic production. Demand for POL products consumption keeps increasing almost daily with more and more all types of vehicles coming on roads. there is dire need for formulation of national oil conservation policy to motivate the motorists to ensure minizing POL utilization by keeping their travelling to the essentially required outings only remembering the fact that 85 per cent of local POL requirements are met through imports.

We should keep this fact in mind that less exports and more imports increase the trade deficit and resultantly have negative impact on the national economy. there must be some gadgets available in the market which help in reducing oil consumption and giving more mileage to the motorists. in order to keep financial burden on their pockets on low side without compromising on the mileage they have to do, the motorists may go around and search for such gadgets without waiting for the federal government to formulate much-needed national Oil Conservation Policy which many other countries have for years together, please.

MUHAMMAD MURTAZA Lahore

To those tireless hands this letter is to all the working classes like farmers, teachers, journalists and all those people slogging through the various tough tasks like heavy driving.

Workers are the real assets to the world. Without workers, the world cannot inch its way even a bit. My professional experience in Mumbai is just one good example to prove this.

Back in my native places like tuticorin, tiruchendur, tirunelveli, nagercoil, Marthandam, Kanyakumari in tamil nadu, the people have been toiling away in the open areas like agricultural fields, salt pans, seas, roads.

Away from the hustle and bustle and standing undisturbed by concrete jungle, my places like tiruchendur, Kanyakumari, tirunelveli are the hubs of natural resources, rivers, seas and tall and beautiful trees. recently on a professional trip, i went to Chennai where i got emotionally inspired by the people working hard in open areas.

Our hands are doing everything from learning to earning.

Our hands are beautiful and powerful. i often look at my hands, admiring them and feeling happy. the countries and the world leaders should work together towards achieving coherent solutions to all the problems facing the working community across the world. finally, great knowledge of the intelligentsia and tireless hard work of the workers have all been crucial in keeping the world on the right track.

P SENTHIL SARAvANA DURAI Mumbai

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

UK’s Boris Johnson defends his fraUght Brexit langUage LONDON

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AGENCIES

RITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday rebuffed allegations that he was whipping up social divisions with charged language about his Brexit opponents, saying the only way to calm the simmering tensions was to stop delaying and leave the European Union.

During raucous, ill-tempered parliamentary debates this week, Johnson said postponing the country’s departure would “betray” the people, referred to an opposition law ordering a Brexit delay as the “Surrender Act” and brushed off concerns that his forceful language might endanger legislators as “humbug.”

Opponents said Johnson’s language could incite violence. But he said the country’s social tensions were being caused by Britain’s failure to leave the EU more than three years after voting in a referendum to do so.

“Once you do that, then so much of the heat and the anxiety will come out of the debate,” Johnson said Friday as he visited a hospital — part of unofficial campaigning for an election that looks set to come soon. “Get it done and then we will all be able to move on.”

In Parliament, Johnson was repeatedly reminded that a Labour lawmaker, Jo Cox, was stabbed and shot to death a week before the 2016 Brexit referendum by a far-right attacker shouting “Death to traitors!” Many British lawmakers say they routinely receive death threats now.

Amber Rudd, who served in Johnson’s Conservative Cabinet until she quit three weeks ago, said she was “disappointed and stunned” by Johnson’s dis-

missal of their concerns. She told the Evening Standard newspaper that the incendiary language used by Johnson and his aides “does incite violence.” Johnson said that all threats to politicians were “absolutely appalling,” but defended his use of the term “Surrender Act.” “The use of that kind of metaphor has been going on for hundreds of years,” he said. Johnson argues that he is safeguarding the will of the public against the interests of the political establishment, which wants to remain in the EU. In truth, the British public and its politicians are both bitterly divided over how, or even whether, to leave the 28-nation bloc.

Church of England bishops appealed for calm amid the growing acrimony.

“We should speak to others with respect,” the bishops said in a statement.

“And we should also listen … We should not denigrate, patronize or ignore the honest views of fellow citizens, but seek to respect their opinions, their participation in society, and their votes.”

Johnson’s divisive senior adviser Dominic Cummings also dismissed concerns that politicians’ heated rhetoric was polarizing society, and said the government’s plan to deliver Brexit on Oct. 31, come what may, would succeed.

“We are enjoying this,” said Cummings. “We are going to leave and we are going to win.”

Johnson, a Conservative, took power two months ago with a “do-or-die” promise that Britain will leave the EU on the scheduled date of Oct. 31, with or without a divorce deal cushioning the economic consequences. His foes in Parliament are determined to avoid a no-deal exit, which economists say would disrupt trade with the EU and plunge Britain into recession.

Concerns abound over how the country would adjust to the sudden shock.

Britain’s government watchdog says there is still a “significant amount” of work to do to ensure the country has an adequate supply of medical drugs in case of a no-deal Brexit.

The National Audit Office said additional shipping capacity chartered by the U.K. for sending goods across the English Channel might not be operational until the end of November — one month after the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. Of the more than 12,300 medicines licensed in the U.K., about 7,000 arrive from or via the EU, mostly across the Channel.

Labour legislator Meg Hillier, who chairs a committee overseeing the audit office, called the findings “deeply concerning.”

Alan Boyd of the Academy of Med-

ical Royal Colleges said people with epilepsy were a particular concern in the event of any drug shortages, noting that “one seizure can have a life-changing impact.” Johnson insists he wants to strike a deal, but is demanding significant changes to the withdrawal agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Theresa May. That deal was rejected three times by Britain’s Parliament, prompting May to resign.

Johnson says good progress is being made in talks, which continued Friday with a meeting between U.K. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and EU negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.

The EU, however, says it is still waiting for concrete proposals from Britain on maintaining an open border between the U.K.’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland — the key sticking point to a Brexit deal.

The head of the European Union’s executive Commission said a no-deal Brexit would be a “catastrophe” for the U.K. and Europe — but it would be Britain’s fault. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he and Barnier were doing everything they can to secure an agreement.

“If in the end that doesn’t succeed, the responsibility for this lies on the British side alone,” he told German daily Augsburger Allgemeine.

That view appears to be widely shared. In Germany, a poll published Friday by ZDF public television found that 81% of respondents believed Britain would be mainly to blame for a no-deal Brexit at the end of October, with only 10% pointing the finger at the EU. The telephone poll of 1,325 people had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, Johnson’s political opponents in Parliament have passed a law compelling the government to ask the EU for a delay to the U.K.’s exit if no deal has been struck by late October. Johnson is adamant he won’t do that — but also says he will comply with the law. A former Conservative prime minister, John Major, said he feared the government would use constitutional trickery to get around the legislation by suspending it until after the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline.

On Friday, British International Development Secretary Alok Sharma refused to say whether the Cabinet had discussed such a tactic.

“We are absolutely going to comply with the law, we are working incredibly hard to get a deal and we will be leaving on Oct. 31,” he said.

Egypt leader shrugs off call for fresh protests CAIRO AGENCIES

UN suspends Sri Lanka peacekeepers over new army chief’s appointment COLOMBO AGENCIES

The United Nations has suspended Sri Lankan troops from peacekeeping duties after Colombo ignored repeated warnings and appointed a general accused of war crimes to head its army.

The UN and several Western nations expressed concern over the promotion of Major General Shavendra Silva last month despite the allegations against him.

“In light of this appointment, the UN Department of Peace Operations is therefore suspending future Sri Lankan Army deployments…,” Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq told AFP in New York. “A Sri Lankan Army unit and individual officers currently serving with UN Peacekeeping will thus be repatriated, beginning next month, in accordance with their rotation dates and will not be replaced by Sri Lankan personnel,” Haq said.

In Sri Lanka, the foreign ministry said its secretary, Ravinatha Aryasinha, will meet with the Department of Peace Operations on Friday. Aryasinha is scheduled to “discuss this matter with the Under Secretary General of the

UN Department of Peace Operations,” the ministry said in a statement.

Some 490 Sri Lankan troops are currently deployed for peacekeeping operations in Mali, Lebanon and Sudan. Two Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in a mine attack in Mali this year.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the UN decision, saying it “sends a strong signal to governments that sweeping suspected war crimes under the carpet will not go unnoticed by the world body.”

President Maithripala Sirisena promoted Silva as the new army chief brushing aside international outrage over his appointment.

Silva has been accused by the UN of committing war crimes during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s separatist conflict, which ended in May 2009.

The 55-year-old general has dismissed the allegations against him while praising Sirisena’s “courageous decision” to give him the top job despite intense foreign pressure.

The government has also rejected as “unwarranted and unacceptable” the avalanche of international criticism over Silva’s ascension to the top job.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday dismissed a call for the second weekend of protests as “no reason for concern”, with hundreds already arrested in an intensifying crackdown on a rare show of discontent on the streets.

Last week’s open defiance of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi — triggered by viral videos from exiled Egyptian businessman Mohamed Aly — has surprised observers in a country where the opposition of all stripes has been severely curtailed. Elected president in 2014 after pushing predecessor Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood from power the previous year, Sisi is seen by many as one of the most authoritarian figures in the Middle East.

Construction magnate Aly has called for a “million-man march” to take place Friday and a “people’s revolution” to unseat the uncompromising head of state.

But after he arrived home from the UN General Assembly in New York, Sisi on Friday insisted there was no cause for alarm.

“There are no reasons for concern. Egypt is a strong country thanks to Egyptians,” he told reporters with a smile.

“The case does not deserve all” this attention, Sisi said. “It is an attempt to create an image that is absolutely not real.”

Roadblocks prevented traffic from entering Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday morning, AFP journalists said, although it was still possible to move into the area on foot.

Aly accuses Sisi of building lavish palaces while taxpayers grapple with the impact of austerity under an IMF loan programme totalling $12 billion.

In recent days, security has been visibly stepped up, especially in Tahrir Square — the epicentre of the 2011 popular revolt that top-

pled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

That iconic location was key to last week’s demonstrations, which broke out after a football match with protesters chanting “leave, Sisi!” and accusing him of heading a “military regime”. Alongside beefing up their presence on the streets, the security forces have also detained people they suspect of being key influencers of unrest — journalists, human rights activists and lawyers.

‘WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME’: Human Rights Watch said Friday that nearly 2,000 people had been arrested over the past week, in what could be the biggest crackdown since 2013.

“Lawyers for detainees have posted on

their social media pages several accounts of security forces arbitrarily arresting many people merely for being in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ or possessing critical content on their phones,” the rights group said.

The attorney general’s office said “not more than 1,000 protesters” had been questioned by prosecutors. It said prosecutors had orders to “inspect the social media accounts and pages of those detained.”

Analysts said they expected any further protests to meet a tough response as Sisi seeks to preserve his security credentials.

“Sisi has made it clear he intends to stay in power for quite some time -– and protests

will not change that calculus for him,” said H.A Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

The president “appears… convinced that any protests that go beyond a certain point would be destructive not only to his presidency, but the state more generally,” he told AFP. HRW called on Egypt’s Western allies to suspend their military assistance until the government ceases its “gross violations of international law”.

“World leaders should recognise that providing security and military assistance to abusive forces won’t bring stability to Egypt, and that what’s needed instead is a government that respects the rights and freedoms of the Egyptian people,” said its Middle East and North Africa director, Sarah Leah Whitson.

In August 2013, just over a month after Sisi toppled Morsi, police dispersed two camps full of supporters of the Islamist leader in Cairo, killing about 800 people in clashes, according to official figures.

The government named the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist organisation” later that year, but the crackdown on opposition has extended to secular organisations and human rights activists.

On Thursday, Aly posted a one-minute missive which included extracts from previous videos and footage from riots in 2011 and later, juxtaposed against declarations by Sisi. But while the exiled critic’s videos have gained huge traction — shared millions of times online — they have provoked fervent counter-attacks from the president’s backers, using the hashtags #longliveSisi and #theywantchaos.

For those supporters, Sisi’s six years at the helm — including five as president — have shown him to be a bulwark against the insecurity and political disintegration unleashed by the Arab Spring elsewhere, notably in Libya and Syria.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

bUSineSS 11

Punjab govt shares 'market complaints app' with other provinces ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Punjab government on Friday informed the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) that it has shared its online market complaints app titled 'Qeemat Punjab', meant to get a hands-on picture of price escalation and overpricing matter etc., with other provinces. The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) meeting was held under the chairmanship of the special finance secretary to deliberate upon the prices of essential food and non-food items and to take stock of supply of essential items. The meeting was attended by the representatives from the provincial governments, Islamabad Capital Territory, cabinet division, ministries of industries, commerce, national food security and research, planning development and reform, Federal Board of Revenue, Competition Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and Utility Stores Corporation. The meeting discussed in detail the trend of Consumer Price Index, which is the headline measure of inflation. The urban and rural inflation indexes were also reviewed by the NPMC. It was also informed that the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which monitors the prices of 51 essential items on a weekly basis, recorded an increase of 1.01pc during the week ending on Sept 19th. The committee also discussed the price movements of these items among the provinces and ICT and observed variations in the price level. ICT administration informed that a new 'sasta bazaar' has been established in Chak Shehzad with 170 stalls functioning three days a week.

It also apprised that the administration is establishing seven additional sasta bazaars in union councils to provide essential items at affordable prices. "A sasta bazaar near Metro Cash and Carry with more than 900 stalls will be fully operationalised shortly. Further, the administration is developing a free home delivery app to provide essential items to the customers at their doorsteps at affordable prices." The Sindh government informed that they have developed a Tab for their chief secretary under 'Sindh Performance Management System' for price control functions. Under the said system, all the district officers are required to update the actions taken by them to control the prices in their areas. The KP government said it has passed the directions to all the deputy commissioners and food department field formations to establish sasta bazars at district and tehsil levels.

Cement exports decline 13pc in two months FY20 ISLAMABAD APP

Cement exports from the country during the first two months of the current financial year (FY2019-20) decreased by 13.16pc as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The cement exports from the country were recorded at $42.150 million during July-August 2019-20, as against the export of $ 48.537 million during July-August 2018-19, according to data issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday. In terms of quantity, the export of cement plunged by 11pc, from 985,076 metric tonnes to 1,107,358 metric tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, cement exports fell by 39.27pc during the month of August 2019 when compared to the same month of last year. The cement export in August 2019 was recorded at $16.745 million, as against the export of $27.572 million in August 2018. On a month-on-month basis, the export of cement also decreased by 34.09pc in August 2019 when compared to the exports of $25.405 million in July 2019.

‘TelenoR, SCoM PRoviding 4g SeRviCeS in gB unlawFullY’ ISLAMABAD

T

GHULAM ABBAS

HE military-run Special Communications Organisation (SCO) and private telecom giant Telenor are providing 4G internet services in Gilgit-Baltistan "without obtaining licences through auctions".

This was revealed by GB Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman in a statement after Telenor officially started providing the 4G services in GB. According to the CM, the operation of highspeed internet services in the area without following the auction process has deprived the region of billions of rupees worth revenue.

He said the GB government, keeping in view the growing demand of internet users in the area, had requested the federal government to auction the licences for GB. "Following the request, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to issue licences to cellular networks for launching 3G and 4G spectrum in the mountainous region.

"But the process could not be completed

CM SAYS COMMENCEMENT OF INTERNET SERVICES WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE AUCTION PROCESS HAS DEPRIVED GB OF BILLIONS OF RUPEES WORTH REVENUE since SCO, which has a monopoly over operating communication services in GB and Azad and Jammu Kashmir (AJK), had challenged the move in GB Chief Court (GBCC) and later in Islamabad High Court," he lamented.

Unfortunately, he said, the SCO started providing 3G and 4G services in GB a few months ago without obtaining the required licence, adding that Telenor has now done the same.

"It is feared that other cellular companies may also follow Telenor and SCO, which will further deprive GB of billions of rupees," he stated.

The matter was also discussed in the GB Legislative Assembly on Thursday, where

Deputy Speaker Jafarullah Khan constituted a three-member committee to take up the issue with the federal government.

It is pertinent to mention that despite the pathetic internet service of SCO in the area, the military-run organisation has been objecting the issuance of 3G/4G licences to private companies.

While challenging PTA's move of allowing private companies to provide internet services in GBCC, SCO had contended that issuance of licences to private operators was "unlawful".

"The auction of 3G and 4G spectrum in GB in an attempt by the PTA to restrain the ongoing services being delivered by the petitioner on a trial basis," it had maintained. The court had issued an interim injunction, suspending the operation of the letter issued by the PTA. On Thursday, private mobile service provider Telenor formally launched 4G Internet service in Gilgit-Baltistan. Telenor CEO Irfan Wahab Khan, while addressing a programme at a local hotel in Gilgit, had said the deployment of fibre optic in GB was challenging due to its geographical terrain and extreme weather.

Consumers to pay Rs52bn to DISCOs after hike in electricity prices ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

Electricity consumers would bear a burden of approximately Rs52.7 billion as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has increased power tariff by over Rs0.52 per unit on account of “quarterly adjustments and interim relief to the power distribution companies (DISCOs)”.

NEPRA has issued two decisions of quarterly/biannual adjustments in the matter of DISCOs and interim relief. The first decision pertains to the period from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019. The total impact of this increase is Rs33 billion, which is translated into Rs0.3325 per unit.

The power regulator determined a uniform rate of Rs0.3324/kWh for the allowed amount of quarterly adjustment of Rs33,750 million across each category of consumers of DISCOs, to be recovered in 12 months period, based on projected sales for the FY2017-18, after excluding lifeline consumers.

Since the power to impose surcharges by the federal government has been removed through an amendment in

FBR identifies 104 benami properties NEPRA Act, the federal government, while notifying the allowed uniform rate of Rs0.3324/kWh, shall not adjust the same upwards for any consumer category.

The second decision issued by the power regulator allowed the power distribution companies a provisional increase of Rs19.7 billion. This provisional increase is on the already notified tariff and would be subjected to adjustment as per the final decision of the authority.

The impact of this decision translates into Rs0.19 per unit.

NEPRA, however, keeping in view the fact that the distribution companies under single year tariff regime may require some time to file their tariff petitions in line with the amended act and at the same time being cognizant of the financial con-

straints of the power sector, has decided to allow an increase of Rs14 billion in the already notified tariff strictly on provisional/interim basis, subject to its adjustment once the tariff determinations of the DISCOs under Single Year Tariff Regime is finalised by the authority.

NEPRA has also decided to allow the increase of Rs5.772 billion in the already notified tariff of these distribution companies on interim/provisional basis, subject to its adjustment based on the required information, which is not available at this point in time.

It is pertinent to mention that the NEPRA, on the request of the Ministry of Energy had revised power tariff for DISCOs on account of annual adjustment /indexation of distribution margin.

In pursuance of the prime minister’s directive, the Federal Board of Revenue’s Anti-Benami Zones have started a countrywide exercise to gather information of benami properties from the provincial revenue/development authorities and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration. The senior officers of these authorities were briefed on benami laws along with guidelines for identification and reporting of all such properties, said a statement issued by the FBR on Friday. “The FBR Anti-Benami Directorate is currently investigating 79 beneficial owners of 104 benami properties, out of which 58 are located in Karachi, 18 in Lahore and 28 in Islamabad. Summons have been issued to buyers and sellers of these properties,” it added. Assets worth Rs4 billion, including bank accounts, shares and land, in 15 cases have already been attached. The reference of one out of the above mentioned 15 cases, involving 7,128 kanals of land worth Rs700 million, is pending for adjudication. BUSINESS DESK

Trump considers delisting Chinese firms from US markets: source WASHINGTON AGENCIES

President Donald Trump’s administration is considering the possibility of delisting Chinese companies from US stock exchanges, a source briefed on the matter said on Friday, in what would be a radical escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.

The move would be part of a broader effort to limit US investments into China, the source said, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg that sent shockwaves through financial markets.

Shares of Alibaba Group Holding, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Baidu, Vipshop Holdings, Baozun and IQIYI fell between 2pc to 4pc in afternoon trading. China's yuan currency, traded in off shore markets fell by 0.4pc against the dollar after the news to trade near its weakest against the greenback in about three weeks.

Exact mechanisms for how to delist

the companies were yet to be worked out and any plan is subject to approval by President Donald Trump, who has given the green light to the discussion, Bloomberg reported here citing a person close to the deliberations.

Officials are also examining how the

US could put limits on the Chinese companies included in stock indexes managed

by US firms, although it was not clear how that would be done, the agency cited three sources as saying.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers in June introduced a bill to force Chinese com-

panies listed on American stock exchanges to submit to regulatory oversight, including providing access to audits or face delisting.

Chinese authorities have long been reluctant to allow overseas regulators to inspect local accounting firms - including member firms of the Big Four international accounting networks - citing national security concerns.

As of February, there were 156 Chinese companies listed on the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchanges, according to government data, including at least 11 state-owned firms.

NYSE declined to comment on Friday while Nasdaq, MSCI, S&P and FTSE Russell all did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

PLOY? Trade talks between the United States and China are expected to resume next month after months of tit-for-tat moves by both sides which have weakened global growth and driven rollercoaster moves in markets.

“It’s all very disruptive, it just adds to uncertainty and its a big negative for business investment,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at investment bank Raymond James. He noted, however, that both sides have tended to use aggressive moves in the past as leverage ahead of talks. “You never know if its a ploy to get some leverage,” he said.

Trump on Tuesday delivered a stinging rebuke to Beijing’s trade practices in a speech at the United Nations before a day later stoking hopes that the nearly 15month standoff could be nearing an end.

“They want to make a deal very badly... It could happen sooner than you think,” he told reporters in New York on Wednesday. The reports on Friday knocked around half a percent off the value of the S&P 500 and reduced the value of the largest US exchange-traded fund tracking Chinese stocks, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF, by more than 1.4pc.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

12 bUSineSS MARKET DAILY

Bulls dominate as KSe-100 stages 636-point rally KARACHI: Bulls managed to take control of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) after a slow start to the session on Friday. The indices started the day in the red zone but soon changed their course, helping the index cross the 32,000 mark. Foreign investors offloaded equity worth $2.76 million on Thursday. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the total liquid foreign exchange reserves held by the bank declined by 0.79pc to $15,772.6 million as on September 20, 2019. The reserves previously stood at $15,898.1 million. The KSE-100 Index marked an intraday low of 31,368.81 during initial trading hours. The index then managed to recover its losses and recorded its intraday high of 32,085.73. It closed higher by 636.92 points at 32,070.81. The KMI-30 Index gathered 1,133.84 points to end at 51,040.71, while the KSE All Share Index settled at 23,430.12 after gaining 346.86 points. The sectors that helped the index close in the green zone included banking (+181.96 points), oil and gas exploration (135.51 points) and power generation and distribution (+60.98 points). Among the companies, Habib Bank Limited (HBL 74.22 points), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC 51.44 points) and United Bank Limited (UBL 45.91 points) remain the top contributors to the index. The overall market volumes were recorded at 135.16 million, of which 107.32 million came from the KSE-100 Index. KElectric Limited (KEL +3.12pc), The Bank of Punjab (BOP +6.71pc) and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +2.36pc) remained the top picks of the day. The scripts had exchanged 17.58 million, 14.36 million and 13.13 million shares respectively. Arif Habib Limited (AHL -4.93pc) announced earnings per share of Rs-0.95 for FY19 (Rs8.13 in FY18), Sapphire Textile Mills Limited (SAPT 0.00pc) declared an EPS of Rs127.44 for FY19 along with cash dividend of Rs26, while Sapphire Fibres Limited (SFL 0.00pc) released an EPS of Rs38.56 and declared a cash dividend of Rs8. STAFF REPORT

ogRa proposes up to Rs3.23 per litre cut in Pol prices PETROL LIKELY TO BE SOLD AT RS110.69 PER LITRE FROM OCT 1 ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has proposed a cut in the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs3.23 under the monthly fuel price adjustment mechanism. The authority has recommended that the prices of petrol may be reduced by Rs2.55 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs3.23 per litre. It has also recommended Rs2.55 per litre reduction in the price of light diesel oil (LDO). However, OGRA suggested Rs1.19 per litre hike in the price of kerosene oil. OGRA has forwarded a summary to the Petroleum Division in this regard. If the government accepts the recommendation, the price of petrol would go down from the existing Rs113.24 per litre to Rs110.69, HSD from Rs127.14 per litre to Rs123.91, LDO from Rs91.89 per litre to Rs89.48 per litre, whereas the price of kerosene oil would increase from Rs99.57 to Rs100.76 per litre. The government would take a final decision on OGRA’s recommendation on 29th September (Sunday). The regulatory authority recommended a decrease in petroleum prices by calculating them at 17 per cent general sales tax (GST). The new prices would be applicable from October 1st. STAFF REPORT

uBdl discontinues Johnson & Johnson products in Pakistan United Brands Limited (UBDL) has recently announced to discontinue Johnson & Johnson products from its business portfolio, a private media outlet reported. In a notification sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), UBDL informed that businesses under the Johnson & Johnson brand have been discontinued, which shall result in a monthly loss of approximately Rs70 million. No other reason was mentioned in this regard. It may be noted that in April 2019, the company had decided to discontinue the distribution of Mars, Wrigley's, Haleeb Foods, Unilever, Heinz and IFFCO from its business portfolio. BUSINESS DESK

wB liSTS PaKiSTan aMong 'ToP 20 iMPRoveRS in doing BuSineSS 2020'

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BUSINESS DESK

HE World Bank has listed Pakistan in the list of 'Top-20 improvers in Doing Business 2020'. “Pakistan has emerged among top 20 reformers globally in Ease of Doing Business with six reforms,” said World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu in a tweet on Friday. “We laud the collective action of Federal, Sindh, and Punjab governments for an impressive feat.”

He said the World Bank will release global rankings on ease of doing business on October 24.

Meanwhile, according to a World Bank report, Pakistan improved in six areas measured by ‘Doing Business’ – starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, paying taxes and trading across borders. “This is a reflection of the country's development of an ambitious reform strategy including the establishment of national secretariat and the prime minister's reform steering committee,” it added.

The World Bank's Doing Business 2020 project "provides objective measures of business

‘PAKISTAN MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN SIX AREAS, WHILE CHINA AND INDIA IMPLEMENTED REFORMS IN EIGHT AND FOUR AREAS RESPECTIVELY’ regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level".

In association with the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh, the Board of Investment (BoI) in October 2018 had launched the '100 Days – Sprint-III’ to ‘Doing Business Reforms Plan' aimed at facilitating businesses and improving the investment climate.

The World Bank stated that Pakistan had made the process of starting a business easier by "expanding procedures available through the online one-stop shop".

Additionally, it said that along with improve-

NAB questions PTI worker’s appointment as OGDC director BUSINESS DESK The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has finally launched an inquiry into the appointment of Muhammad Shoaib Baig as Executive Director of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

Baig, who had joined Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) on August 24, 2014, was currently serving as OGDCL’s Chief Human Resource Officer (executive director). Prior to becoming a member of the PTI, he used work for Telenor as its vice present. Meanwhile, NAB was also investigating the appointment of another executive director, Amir Saleem. In total, the OGRA board of directors had hired four executive directors at a monthly salary of Rs1.4 million each.

According to service rules, a candidate for such a post should have at least 26 years of experience, but the executive officers hired by the board lacked the required credentials. This ap-

pointment had sparked controversy while the issue was handed over to NAB. The bureau has sought record and information from various parties in order to ensure a logical and timely conclusion to the investigation. It has sought photocopies of the latest advertisements published for the posts of EDs (Petroserve & HR) along with its approval from the OGDCL board.

Complete list of applications received for the posts, along with a chart showing the candidates’ qualification and experience etc., has also been sought.

OGDCL spokesperson had informed earlier that Shoaib Baig was appointed as executive director through a competitive process on the basis of his qualifications, experience and competencies.

“There is absolutely no question of extending any preferential treatment on the basis of someone’s social or political inclination. Baig was interviewed and evaluated purely as an HR professional,” he had maintained.

Alto keeps Pak Suzuki afloat amid crisis in auto industry BUSINESS DESK Unlike its competitors, Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMCL) has not seen a single non-production day (NDP) during the last three months owing to the healthy sales of its newly-introduced Alto 660CC. "The company has so far not observed any NPDs. We are monitoring the situation and by the end of this month we will review our production and sales outlook of July-September and future prospects of sales in coming months," said PSMCL spokesman Shafiq Ahmed.

The sales of WagonR, however, witnessed a 71.5pc drop during July-August 2019, when compared with the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, Honda Atlas Cars Ltd (HACL) and Indus Motor Corporation (IMC) halted their productions in September.

Honda observed only 11 working days in September, 13 in August and 20 in July.

According to details, Honda has over 3,000 units unsold at its plant and network, coupled with the stoppage of the second shift. The company has also laid off over 1,000 contractual employees in the last three months. The company's sales have fallen by 30pc in 2019 as compared to 2018.

IMC, the automaker behind Toyota cars, observed 15 NPDs in September due to sustained decline in demand. The automaker saw eight NPDs in July and 12 NPDs in August. It too has over 3,000 cars in unsold inventory.

ments in property registration, the process of obtaining a construction permit had also been made easier. The listing said that this was because the Sindh Building and Control Authority (SBCA) and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had "streamlined approval workflows and improved the operational efficiency of their onestop shops". "The launching of online portals for new commercial connections made getting electricity easier, and tariff changes are announced in advance," it stated.

According to the listing, tax compliance had also been made easier through online payment modules for value added tax and for corporate income tax. Additionally, the corporate income tax rate had been lowered.

"Pakistan made trading across borders easier by enhancing the integration of various agencies into an electronic system and by improving coordination of joint physical inspections at the port," it added.

According to 'Top-20 improvers in Doing Business 2020', India had made it easier to do business in four areas while China, also included in the listing, had "implemented reforms" in eight areas.

gold import surges 24.28pc in two months

ISLAMABAD APP

The import of gold into the country increased by 24.28pc during the first two months of the current fiscal year (FY201920) as compared to the corresponding period of last year. Pakistan imported gold worth $3.296 million during July-August 2019-20, as compared to the imports of $2.652 million during July-August 2018-19, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In terms of quantity, gold imports increased by 9.86pc as the country imported 78 kilograms of gold during the period under review compared to the imports of 71 kilograms during the same period last year. Meanwhile, on a year-on-year basis, the gold imports into the country during August 2019 surged by 57.27pc, from $1.231 million in August 2018 to $1.936 million. In terms of quantity, the gold imports increased from 33 kilograms in August 2018 to 46 kilograms in August 2019, showing increase of 39.39pc. On a month-on-month basis, the gold imports in August 2019 increased by 42.35pc when compared to the imports of $1.360 million in July 2019. In terms of quantity, the gold imports increased by 43.75pc in August 2019 when compared to the imports of 32kg gold in July 2019, the data revealed. It is pertinent to mention that the trade deficit during first two months of the current fiscal year dipped by 35.86pc as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The trade deficit during July-August (2019-20) was recorded at $3.924 billion against the deficit of $6.118 million in JulyAugust (2018-19), the data revealed.

CPeC-related bottlenecks being removed on priority: minister ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Planning, Development and Reform Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar has said that the incumbent government has provided new impetus to accelerate the pace and implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

He underlined that the bottlenecks related to CPEC framework were being removed on priority in order to ensure timely completion of projects.

The minister was chairing a meeting to review the development of decisions taken in the 58th Progress Review

Meeting of CPEC projects on Friday.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan and Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan were also present on the occasion.

The minister said that regular meetings on the CPEC portfolio were a manifestation of the government’s commitment towards the execution of the mega initiative.

He stated that the second phase of the CPEC framework would focus on socioeconomic projects. The minister emphasised the need to further improve coordination among relevant stakeholders involved in the implementation of CPEC

projects, noting that completion of CPEC would contribute significantly to sustained development in Pakistan.

During the meeting, various CPEC projects were discussed in detail. The power secretary informed that the Chinese side would provide a synchronised demand-supply study of the CPEC-related energy projects by October 2019. It was decided that the study would be presented in the upcoming Joint Working Group and that it would be a deliverable for the upcoming Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).

NEPRA apprised the meeting that it had issued true-up tariff for Port Qasim

on September 16. The law ministry would move a summary for the establishment of appellate tribunals to resolve tariff issues related to energy projects.

Regarding the Orange Line project, it was informed that civil work for water and drainage facilities would be completed on time.

About Gwadar Eastbay Expressway project, it was apprised that it would be on the agenda of the upcoming ECNEC meeting and that the Chinese side has confirmed additional loans for it.

Regarding the Gwadar International Airport, the Gwadar Development Authority has provided water supply of

0.25MGD, whereas the Civil Aviation Authority would provider alternate supply of electricity till Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) makes arrangements in this regard.

The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) informed that it would start work immediately on providing gas supply to Rashakai Economic Zone. It was informed that electricity supply of required 10MW would be made available

by December 2019.

The meeting also discussd the upcoming joint working group meeting and also took stock of preparations for JCC, to be held in November this year.

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What inspired you to become an Ammipreneur?

It wasn’t so much an inspiration into entrepreneurship as much as it was an inspiration to do something about the lack of pre and postnatal support our country has to offer. There is a real scarcity of informed and qualified people who can actually help a woman through the toughest period of her life and I always wanted to rectify that in some small way of my own.

What are the key characteristics that you believe will give Braxton kicks the competitive edge?

I knew that my biggest challenge would be the lack of acceptance over here. So when I decided to venture into this, I made sure I leave no stone unturned. I hold two separate certifications in pre and postnatal fitness and nutrition, and a phase two certification that I am currently undergoing. I also spent some time with professionals in this field in the US, understanding how they function, what their initial challenges were and how best to ensure a safe, productive and supportive environment for your clients.

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What was your inspiration to set up Braxton kicks?

It was my own experience through pregnancy and childbirth that made me realize what a serious lack of support there is for pregnant and postpartum women over here. Many countries around the world now take pregnancy health and postpartum recovery very seriously and ensure women get the right physical and psychological care they deserve. There are numerous support groups and studios established in the US and UK primarily to create a space for this population.

I began researching and studying on pre/postnatal fitness, health, maternity support legislation, whatever I could find-without the intent of professional pursuit at the time. It was only when I was knee deep into answers that I realized this was something I would absolutely love to pursue. So I quit my job and invested a lot of time and energy into ensuring I learn the best evidence based practices regarding pre and postpartum fitness and nutrition to begin with. I poured over research, went abroad, got myself certified and visited as many professionals in this field as possible-professionals who have set up centers not just for exercise but for all kinds of support with the aim of creating a sense of community amongst this population. I hope to turn Braxton Kicks into that one day.

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in conversAtion with

Anum mAlik

www.scaryammi.com

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What difficulties are you facing while establishing your own business?

I think the market for this is a very niche one and within that niche, many people are not ready to accept that a fitness regimen is actually good for you as opposed to a sedentary one. There is still a rhetoric that involves telling women to rest and recover during pregnancy and postpartum. I sincerely hope to change that. I hope that I can help women understand how important it is to stay active during this time, without a constant looming fear society has instilled in us.

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Are you anxious about having to manage your business, kid and home all together?

Not really. I had a 9 to 5 before this and I just completed my MPhil degree that did keep me away from home a lot-but time with my son was always priority. I’m actually looking forward to better time management now that my work is my own. Also, pursuing something so close to your heart I feel makes you generally a better parent!

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

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Considering the fact that your business is in establishment phase how are you planning to market it?

By talking to more supportive groups such as the lovely scaryammi ☺

Do you feel like these issues of pre and post natal wellness are not often dealt with in our society? How do you plan to change that?

I think we’ve always relied a lot on family support over here and that has defined the norms of our society.

Many women might not feel they need external support because they have elders in their family telling them what to do and what not to do- and I actually think we’re blessed to have such a supportive cultural system. But I also believe simultaneously that we rely on family systems because outside of that, our state does not provide us with enough independent avenues of support. We don’t have proper day care centers so we’re always looking to grandparents, we don’t have proper maternity leave laws so we often rethink our career choices post birth, we’re made to believe since everyone gives birth our experience is not unique. I want women in Pakistan to understand that everyone’s experience is absolutely unique and that there are people out there who understand and sympathize how tough it is to go through childbirth and motherhood. I want to be able to create a safe space for these women where they feel a sense of community support amongst like-minded people, where they can unwind, offload and just feel good about themselves.

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Have you set allotted times for your business and family to help you in time management?

My family has always been my first priority, but as I venture into this I hope to make my clients feel the same way. I will ensure I’m always available for any questions, queries or concerns as the concept of Braxton Kicks stems from support- so I hope to be exactly that.

Joker Director Blames 'Far Left' For Controversy and Outrage

Bella Thorne Female Ghost Rider Rumored For MCU

There has been a lot of headlines as of late surrounding the new Joker movie offering that the film may incite violence, which has sparked all kinds of controversy and outrage.

A lot of the reports have been basically click-bait headlines from the liberal media complaining about the film's violence offering bad things could happen.

Now Joker director Todd Phillips blames the "far left" for all the perceived problems.

“I think it’s because outrage is a commodity, I think it’s something that has been a commodity for a while,” Phillips told The Wrap. “What’s outstanding to me in this discourse in this movie is how easily the far left can sound like the far right when it suits their agenda. It’s really been eye-opening for me.”

As we see, Phillips comments about the far left agenda, and what I find interesting is that, for some reason, the far left is only complaining about a DC movie, and hasn't complained about violence in any of the other movies, such as Marvel's Avengers: Endgame or Infinity War.

A few days ago saw it said that Ghost Rider is wanted by Kevin Feige, which was followed by the news that the Gabriel Luna HULU series has been canceled.

Now a new rumor is offering that Kevin Feige is going to introduce a female Ghost Rider in Doctor Strange 2.

It's further said Bella Thorne is being eyed to play the female Ghost Rider, Alejandra Jones.

The rumor does come from 4Chan so bear that in mind, but 4Chan has previously gotten a few things right including Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars.

Plus, Kevin Feige going with a female Ghost Rider definitely fits with his Phase 4 plans just as I said.

The rumor claims the version of Ghost Rider that Kevin Feige wants to use will debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and that Marvel Studios is going to start casting for the role between November or December, but people are talking about actress Bella Thorne playing the role of Alejandra Jones, the female Ghost Rider.

CMYK

Frank Lloyd Wright's son invented Lincoln Logs.

The famous architect's design for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo inspired John Lloyd Wright to produce the interlocking log beams on a much smaller scale for kids.

About 700 grapes go into one bottle of wine.

That's approximately 2.6 pounds, if you're wondering how much "fruit" you get when you uncork your favorite red.

The Crown Jewels contain the two biggest cut diamonds on Earth. They both came from the Cullinan Diamond, a 3,106-carat gem found in South Africa in 1905. The largest stone, called the Great Star of Africa, is in the Sovereign's Sceptre, while the second largest is mounted in the Imperial State Crown (pictured).

Bard of Blood review: Emraan Hashmi’s Netflix series pales in comparison to Amazon’s Family Man Ironically for a show about espionage that tips its hat to Shakespeare, Bard of Blood is undone by its rotten writing and a glaring lack of intelligence. Unfolding across seven painfully convoluted episodes, Netflix India’s latest has neither wit, wisdom, or value.

And based on expectations alone, it is the streaming service’s most disappointing Indian original series.

Arguing that Bard of Blood is intended for an audience that isn’t accustomed to dense, thought- provoking drama is disrespectful not only to millions of paying Netflix subscribers, but also to an industry that is yearning to be more ambitious. It is so disappointing to see such wonderfully talented actors, each of whom has proven themselves on multiple occasions — Raazi actor Jaideep Ahlawat has shone even in the same genre — be wasted on such drab material. You feel for poor Vineet Kumar Singh, who was so mesmerising in Mukkabaaz, as he struggles with his accent, which is supposed to be Punjabi, but sounds like it took a hard right from Chandigarh, and entered Haryana.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

14 SPORTS

SpurS aNd ChelSea Seek home ComfortS aS top two threateN to pull away LONDON

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AGENCIES

IvERPOOL and Manchester City are again threatening to streak clear in the Premier League title race with their main challengers looking ill-equipped to keep up.

Both teams were irresistible last season, with runners-up Liverpool finishing 25 points ahead of third-placed Chelsea, and they look a class apart again in this campaign. The two front-runners will each expect to pick up another three points this weekend despite being on their travels as Liverpool go to Sheffield United and City visit Everton.

Leicester, Arsenal and West Ham are their closest challengers and early leaders in the fight for the final two Champions League places despite just three wins apiece after six rounds of matches.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, all of whom have struggled badly, are under pressure to get back on track on home soil this weekend.

SWEET 16 FOR LIVERPOOL? City showed no mercy against Watford last weekend, hammering the Hornets 8-0 in a staggering display of dominance that even visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster admitted could have resulted in an even more damaging scoreline.

Yet Pep Guardiola’s men could find themselves eight points behind in the title race come kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday should Liverpool maintain their relentless run. Jurgen Klopp’s side have the chance to win their 16th consecutive Premier League game in the early kickoff on Saturday in Sheffield.

Liverpool have not lost in the league to a side outside the traditional “Big Six” since January 2018.

But Blades boss Chris Wilder is demanding his players are not star-struck by the European champions. “I don’t want the players speaking to their players before, ‘can I swap shirts and any chance of signing this?’ And they won’t,” said Wilder. “I don’t want Liverpool to come here into our backyard and go, ‘Well, thanks very much, that’s the easiest three points we’ve picked

up all season’. If they do win, I want it to be over our dead bodies.”

MUST-WINS FOR STRUGGLING SPURS, CHELSEA: Tottenham fluffed another chance to land a first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino in midweek, with an embarrassing third-round League Cup defeat by fourth-tier Colchester on penalties. Spurs have won just two of their opening eight games in all competitions and four of their past 17 dating back to last season. With Bayern Munich to visit on Tuesday in the Champions League, that record threatens to get even worse unless Pochettino can get a response from his stale-looking side against Southampton on Saturday.

But a relaxed Pochettino said there was a fine line between success and failure, pointing to the disallowed goal at Leicester last week, which stopped them going 2-0 up in a game they ended up losing 2-1. “I become more relaxed in these tough moments because in the end it’s only one result,” he said.

“Rather than losing the game against Leicester, which we deserved to win,

three points more and we’re third and everyone is talking about fantastic season, performance.” Chelsea fared far better in the League Cup as a 7-1 rout of Grimsby handed Frank Lampard his first victory in charge at Stamford Bridge.

In contrast to Spurs, though, Chelsea are at the start of a new era and there were encouraging signs for Lampard in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool.

Defensive issues remain, with the Blues yet to keep a clean sheet in nine games under Lampard, but N’Golo Kante’s return from injury does offer some much-needed protection for the backline. Brighton’s visit to the Bridge on Saturday also starts an enticing run of fixtures for Chelsea to haul themselves back into the top four, with Southampton, Newcastle, Burnley, Watford and Crystal Palace to come.

GOAL-SHY UNITED TURN TO GREENWOOD: United also narrowly

avoided a League Cup shock by beating League One Rochdale on penalties, but the Red Devils’ lack of goalscoring threat was again exposed.

Teenager Mason Greenwood scored the only goal of the night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, who have not found the net more than once in a game since the opening weekend of the season.

A groin injury to Marcus Rashford exacerbates that problem and Anthony Martial is a doubt to face an Arsenal side that have conceded nine goals in their past four league games.

Solskjaer may therefore be forced to hand 17-year-old Greenwood just his second Premier League start.

“He must be a nightmare for defenders having him one-on-one in the box,” said Solskjaer. “He can go both ways, which is for me fantastic and you can just see he has got quality and he will get his share of games.”

Aussie Scott shares Safeway Open first-round lead CANBERRA AGENCIES

Australian Adam Scott rolled in a 54-foot eagle putt on the way to a seven-under-par 65 and a share of the first-round lead Thursday in the US PGA Tour Safeway Open in Napa, California.

Scott, who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, had six birdies and a bogey at Silverado in Napa, California, where he finished the day tied atop the leaderboard with American Andrew Landry.

The duo were one stroke in front of Italy’s 2018 British Open champion Francesco Molinari and American Matthew NeSmith.

Scott teed it up in this early event of the US tour’s 2019-2020 season with his eye on the Presidents Cup match play tournament at Royal Melbourne in December. The 39-year-old Aussie, who took time off after finishing tied for fifth at the Tour Championship in August, goes into the season seeking a first title since 2016, when he won the Honda Classic and the WGC event at Doral.

He had runner-up finishes at Torrey Pines and the Memorial tournament this year, and remains confident he can return to the winner’s circle before too long.

“I just need to keep the intensity up,” Scott

said. “I feel like I’ve had points like this in my career before — most obvious to me was in 2012, where I played great all year and didn’t win. “Eventually, I won a tournament late in the year in Australia just because I kind of kept up the intensity and kept pushing forward. So I kind of feel like I’m in the same place now.”

Scott, playing Silverado for the first time, found it to his liking.

“I actually really enjoy this kind of tighter, smaller style courses,” the former Masters champion said.

“A lot of the holes remind me of a lot of golf in areas of Australia, too, with the big trees. I know they’re oaks here, but there’s some eucalyptus around this area. Looks similar to Australia, so I feel quite comfortable out there.”

In addition to his eagle bomb, Scott rolled in a 32-foot birdie at the 14th.

“I’ve been putting really nicely this whole year,” he said. “I’ve been rolling some long ones in, which is obviously very helpful no matter what they’re for, par or birdie or eagle. But I felt really solid on the greens, so I’m just going to try and keep that going.”

Landry matched the early target set by Scott, seizing his share of the lead with a 20-foot birdie at the eighth — his 17th hole of the day.

Born in war, Damir Dzumhur defied destruction to win tennis titles BEIJING AGENCIES

Damir Dzumhur was an actor as a boy, and the story of how he was born in a war zone and later became an elite tennis player would make a great plot for a film.

The 27-year-old Bosnian recounted his story to AFP at the Zhuhai Championships in China, where he was into the quarter-finals and chasing a fourth ATP title. It was spring 1992, and Bosnian Serb troops had enforced a deadly siege of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo which would drag on for 44 months.

Heavily pregnant Zaneta braved the shelling and sniper fire and negotiated barricades to reach hospital. On May 20, she gave birth to a boy, risking her life to give Dzumhur one.

“On May 21, my uncle came to pick us up from the hospital and on May 22, the hospital was evacuated and then bombed,” Dzumhur said.

“We were lucky that we had someone to pick us up and we had somewhere to go for the first few months.

“I know that for my mother that was the toughest and the worst — but at the same time the best — time of her life. “You have a baby, you just gave birth, but you are in the middle of a war with nowhere to go and you don’t have

your husband with you.”

Many people had fled Sarajevo and Dzumhur’s father Nerfid, who was later to introduce him to tennis, did not meet his son until he was nearly one. “After 11 months, he somehow got back into the city to see me so he was risking his life to see me also,” Dzumhur said.

DESTROYED, BURNT: Sarajevo’s 350,000 residents struggled to get basic necessities and at least 10,000 were killed by sniping and shelling by Serbs.

Dzumhur was too young to remember the full extent of the panic, chaos and death, but it was in the immediate aftermath that he began playing tennis as a small boy under the tutelage of his father. It was a journey that would take him to 23rd in the world rankings last year, although his progress this season has been stilted by injuries.

He began practising at Sarajevo’s Zetra Olympic Hall, which had suffered extensive damage from bombing and

CMYK

been used as a morgue, as well as a place for refugees. It is all a far cry from Florida or Barcelona, the sorts of places where many of the world’s top tennis players grew up learning the game on pristine courts.

“Zetra was still destroyed, windows were blown out and one part was all burnt,” said Dzumhur. As part of its reconstruction, they built an ice hockey rink next to the tennis court. “It was barely warm enough to feel the racquet in your hand,” he laughed.

‘SPECIAL INSIDE’: As a young teenager, Dzumhur got a minor role in the award-winning film “Grbavica”, then soon after landed a leading part in a German movie filmed in Sarajevo.

“The first time I earned money in my life was from the movies,” he said, adding that he would consider returning to acting one day. But that is for the future and the fiercely proud Bosnian said that the circumstances in which he was brought into the world drive him to make a success of his tennis career.

“Knowing where you come from and those days, those years, and knowing it was not easy to go through everything since I was young, it really makes you special inside,” he said.

“In the end, every sacrifice comes with a good end and happy end.”

Spain court takes on Neymar-Barca contract dispute MADRID AGENCIES

A Spanish court will on Friday attempt to untangle a bitter multi-million-euro contract dispute between Brazilian star striker Neymar and his former club Barcelona. Although a court spokesman said the 27-year-old was obliged to show up person, his lawyers have said nothing although Spanish newspapers published videos of him arriving at Barcelona airport on Thursday. His return to the city is far from the triumphant homecoming the Spanish club had hoped for after a summer locked in futile talks with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to bring back the world’s most expensive player. On Friday morning, the two parties will attend a private half-hour session with the judge at a labour court in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, a Barcelona suburb, before the hearing begins at 10:00 am (0800 GMT). The session is open to the public. The dispute began when Neymar made a shock transfer to PSG in 2017, less than a year after signing a new contract with Barca which would have seen him staying there until 2021. Worth 222 million euros ($250 million at the time), the transfer remains the highest sum ever paid for a player.

‘THE TAXMAN WATCHING’: The dispute focuses on the contract renewal bonus that was signed between the player and the club in 2016. Although the full sum of the bonus has never been clear, Neymar received an initial payout and was to have received the rest in stages over the course of his new contract. But when he moved to PSG barely a year later, Barcelona refused to pay. The Spanish club is demanding he return the part of the bonus he already received as well as 8.5 million euros plus interest in compensation for breach of contract. Neymar promptly filed a countersuit demanding payment of the 26 million with interest. According to El Mundo daily, the case is being closely watched by the Spanish tax authorities who are keen to know whether the striker, who was a tax resident in 2017, paid his dues on both the bonus and his transfer to PSG.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

SPORTS 15 PAK VS SRI LANKA

First ODi cancelleD Due tO waterlOggeD FielD KARACHI

t

STAFF REPORT

HE opening ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the National Stadium Karachi has been cancelled because of torrential rain in Karachi.

Due to the continuous rain on Friday, the stadium got filled with water. Initially, it was planned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that despite the rain the match would carry on and if necessary, a few overs can be cut off.

Later, due to excessive water that gathered in the stadium due to downpour, the match couldn’t get a nod from the officials.

Officials told media that water has gathered throughout the field and the boundary has vanished beneath water entirely.

Officials also told media that despite every attempt made by the staff to clear the water, continuous downpour made it impossible to even get the ground ready for a 20-

overs-a-side match.

It is the first instance that an ODI match has been abandoned at the National Stadium due to rain without a ball being bowled.

Sri Lanka’s national cricket squad arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday expressing confidence in security promises by the hosts despite

reports that the team could be targeted by militants.

Ten senior players citing security concerns have opted out of the tour, comprising three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches, beginning on Friday.

But the rest arrived in Karachi late Tuesday and were whisked to

their hotel under heavy security.

The captain of the Twenty20 squad, Dasun Shanaka, said he had no misgivings about returning to Pakistan after they played a Twenty20 international in Lahore in October 2017, their first since the 2009 attack on the team while they were in Lahore. “I have been there before,” Shanaka told reporters just before the team left Colombo, where they were blessed by saffron-robed Buddhist monks.

“I am satisfied with the security arranged for us and I am happy to lead my team to Pakistan. We hope to give a good fight to our very strong hosts.”

ODI skipper Lahiru Thirimanne said he also had no concerns and they had been given assurances of a very high degree of protection in Pakistan, usually reserved for visits by heads of state.

Sri Lanka’s cricket board received the all-clear from the defence ministry last week to go ahead with the tour after establishing that there was no threat.

Unbeaten Spence faces Porter to unify welterweight titles LOS ANGELES AGENCIES

Unbeaten Errol Spence and rival world champion Shawn Porter fight on Saturday in a welterweight boxing title unification bout with the winner looking at a possible 2020 showdown with Manny Pacquaio.

US stars Porter, the World Boxing Council champion, and Spence, the International Boxing Federation champion, meet at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. “The winner of this fight is definitely going to be the best welterweight in the world. There’s no way around it,” Spence said.

“Being a unified champion and stamping my place in the division makes me even hungrier to win.”

The card includes another all-American title showdown between WBC super-middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell and unbeaten exchampion David Benavidez.

The Porter-Spence winner could face an early 2020 bout against World Boxing Association champion Pacquiao, the 40-year-old Filipino icon who stands 62-7 with two drawn and 39 knockouts and, like both US fighters, is promoted by Al Haymon.

“It’s going to be a good fight, a close fight, but I think Spence will win,” Pacquaio predicted.

Spence, a 29-year-old southpaw, is 25-0 with

21 knockouts as her prepares to defend for a fourth time the crown he took from British hometown hero Kell Brook in 2017 at Sheffield, England. “I’m looking for the stoppage. I want to make a statement that I’m clearing out the division,” Spence said. “I want Manny Pacquiao and all of the top names in this division.”

Porter, 31, carries a mark of 30-2 with one drawn into his second defense of the title he took from Danny Garcia last September by unanimous decision. “When I beat Errol Spence, it doesn’t mean he’s going away,” Porter said. “But I’m going to take care of him and go after Manny Pacquiao. That’s the plan.”

Porter lost the IBF crown in 2014 to Brook, the first defeat of his career, and also lost to Keith Thurman in 2016 for the WBA title. But since then he has won four fights in a row, the most recent a split decision over Cuban Yordenis Ugas last March to keep his crown.

“I’m looking to make a statement by being the first person to knock Shawn out,” Spence said. “It’s important to me to get the knockout.

It’s a goal of mine to stop him.” Porter wants to drop Spence from the unbeaten ranks.

“I want to be the guy who beats him and takes his 0,” Porter said. “I’m aggressive and I’m strong and guys can’t handle it. I have the right recipe to get the job done Saturday. I have the

style to challenge him physically and mentally.”

‘AGE IS JUST A NUMBER’: Dirrell, giving up 12 years to his rival at age 34, took the vacant crown in February by beating Turkey’s Avni Yildirim, improving to 33-1-1. His only loss came in his only prior title defense, also for the WBC crown, when he fell to Sweden’s Badou Jack in 2015.

“Age is just a number,” Dirrell said. “You see Manny Pacquiao and fighters like that who went out and beat younger opponents. You have to be determined and still focused on the game.

“Experience is definitely a big key in this fight. I think that he has holes in his game and I’m going to expose it on Saturday night.”

Benavidez, 21-0 with 18 knockouts, was stripped of the super middleweight crown by the WBC after a positive doping test. He stopped J’Leon Love in his ring return last March.

French walking star Diniz loses cool over Doha weather conditions PARIS AGENCIES

French race walker Yohann Diniz on Friday slammed the organisers of the World Athletics Championships in Doha over the way he and his rivals in the 50-kilometre event have been treated compared to the other athletes. The 41year-old Frenchman — who is the world record holder and defending world champion in the event — said at a press conference on the eve of the men and women’s 50km walk the walkers had been taken for “idiots” by the organisers in the Qatari capital. Athletes competing in the stadium will find it air-conditioned to a comfortable 24-25 degrees Celsius. But race walkers will compete on roads in Doha, leading Diniz to claim they were being treated like “guinea pigs” by having to perform in temperatures expected to be around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with the added complication of high levels of humidity. “I am disgusted by the conditions,” the Frenchman said. “I have come here in top form but there are plenty of things which could prevent me from performing at a good level. “All the athletes will start (at 2030GMT) but being outside the stadium they take us for idiots. “I am extremely upset. If we were in the stadium we would have normal conditions, between 24-25 degrees, but outside they have placed us in a furnace, which is just not possible. “They are making us guinea pigs.” Diniz, a three-time European champion, should get a better idea of how athletes perform in the conditions outside the stadium when the women’s marathon is run later on the opening day of the championships on Friday — it starts at midnight local time. “There was a questionnaire asking how we were going to deal with the heat and the humidity and we were able to take a capsule (thermometer) to show how we reacted to the thermoregulation. “But for those events taking place outside the stadium it was not an option… it really annoys me and I am regretting being here. “We are going to start and finish in the equivalent of Dante’s Inferno-type conditions.” Diniz said he would not be walking tactically as there was no point. “Tomorrow it will be a lottery,” he said. “The (lottery) balls will fall one by one and it will be the last one that falls which will win.”

Gay, transgender fans 'welcome' at World Cup, says Qatar DOHA AGENCIES

A top Qatari World Cup official has said that transgender and gay fans would be welcomed to the 2022 tournament but stressed that visitors would have to respect Qatari customs.

Homosexual acts are banned in Qatar but the law around transgender people is unclear and the issue is seldom addressed in public life or by the authorities.

“I would like to assure any fan, of any gender, (sexual) orientation, religion, race to rest assured that Qatar is one of the most safe countries in the world — and they’ll all be welcome here,” said chief executive of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser al-Khater. He was responding to media questions on Wednesday about the position of transgender fans who might want to attend the World Cup but are unclear what legal and human rights protections they will have.

“The safety and security of every sin-

gle fan is of the utmost importance to us,” Khater said at the al-Janoub stadium, adding that he expected “a little over one million fans” to visit Qatar during the tournament. “There’s a lot of training going into security personnel to make sure that things that are culturally different are seen in that frame.”

LGBT issues are sensitive in Qatar, as in the rest of the conservative Gulf region. A website that published a story in 2016 by an anonymous Qatari author about being gay, later went briefly went offline in the emirate.

“Public displays of affection is frowned upon, it’s not part of our culture — but that goes across the board to everybody,” Khater said. Asked about the availability of alcohol during the tournament, he said “Qatar is a conservative country, a modest country. Alcohol is not part of our culture — however, hospitality is.”

‘POSSIBILITY OF ALTERCATIONS’: “Alcohol is obviously available here, but it’s not as readily available as in

some other parts of the world,” he said.

“For the World Cup, we want to make sure it’s accessible for fans that travel from abroad and want to have a drink.

“We’re trying to find designated lo-

cations to have alcohol other than traditional locations.”

Currently, alcohol consumption for non-residents is restricted to bars and restaurants in a few dozen luxury hotels

and a pint of beer typically sells for more than $10. Asked about the risk of fans becoming drunk and disorderly and how security forces would respond, Nasser said that “as long as people are happy, that’s fine”. It is a crime to be drunk in public in Qatar. “As long as they’re not miserable and too upset, we don’t have any issues,” said Khater.

“But we do have plans for that, our security teams have been working very closely with the authorities… in various countries that have teams that traditionally qualify to the World Cup.” Nasser said that while he believed hooliganism was declining worldwide, organisers were aware that Qatar presented a different policing challenge to the last two hosts. “Hooliganism in World Cups has decreased drastically.

We saw Russia, no problems whatsoever.

Brazil there wasn’t hooliganism, per se.

There were other issues that were pertaining to Brazil,” he said. “We are a small country but we have the numbers necessary to keep the World Cup safe.

Saturday, 28 September, 2019

NEWS No mention of Kashmir lockdown in Modi’s UNGA speech NEW YORK AGENCIES

As expected, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided any mention of New Delhi’s crackdown in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, as people protested outside against the lockdown in the region. Modi, in his address in Hindi, told world leaders that India’s “voice against terrorism to alert the world about its evil rings with seriousness and outrage”.

“For the sake of humanity, it is imperative that the world unites against terrorism,” he said, according to The Hindu. “The face of the world is changing, modern technology is bring about sweeping changes in different spheres of life.

In such a situation, a fragmented world is in the interest of no one.”

“Terror is not an issue pertaining to one country, but a challenge faced by the entire world,” he added. “A world that is divided by terror is opposing the principles on which UN was founded.” Outside the UN, people from the Muslim, Sikh and other communities gathered to protest India’s continued lockdown in occupied Kashmir, which was imposed on August 5 ahead of New Delhi’s unilateral move to annex occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Last Saturday, Modi arrived in Houston to attend a rally, titled “Howdy Modi” — a Texan cliché — at which President Donald Trump, too, made an appearance. Pakistanis, Kashmiris and Sikhs living in the United States had converged on Houston to express their indignation with the Indian prime minister over the scrapping of occupied Kashmir’s special status and excesses committed by Delhi’s law enforcement agencies against minorities.

US preSSeS IndIa on KaShmIr rIghtS, SeeKS lower tenSIonS ALICE WELLS SAYS ‘WE HOPE TO SEE RAPID ACTION — THE LIFTING OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE RELEASE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN KASHMIR’ NEW YORK

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AGENCIES

HE United States wants New Delhi to quickly ease restrictions imposed in occupied Kashmir, a senior official said on Thursday while reiterating President Donald Trump’s willingness to mediate to ease tensions between India and Pakistan over the territory.

Trump met separately this week with both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

While Trump has forged a close bond with Modi, joining the Hindu nationalist at a massive rally on Sunday in Houston where the Indian leader boasted of his actions in Kashmir, a senior official said that the United States had concerns over the clampdown in the region.

“We hope to see rapid action — the lifting of the restrictions and the release

of those who have been detained,” Alice Wells, the top State Department official for South Asia, told reporters.

The India-occupied region has been facing a clampdown since Au-

Pak-Afghan border fencing has cut down terrorism, says Gen Bajwa

Pakistan to host next SAARC summit, says Qureshi NEW YORK APP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday said the member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had unanimously decided to hold the next summit level meeting in Islamabad. According to FM Qureshi, Prime Minister Imran Khan would chair the next SAARC summit to be held on mutually convenient dates as proposed by Pakistan. He said all the member states, except India, agreed to hold the next summit level meeting in Pakistan. The decision was taken in a ministerial level meeting of the SAARC countries held here on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, which was also attended by the minister. Qureshi said he proposed the SAARC member countries that the summit level meeting was essential if they really wanted to exploit the region’s true potential in tourism, economy and other sectors, and discuss their disputes. The minister said the last the summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in 2016, which could not be held due to Indian objections.

However, India this time remained silent in that regard, he added. He said the SAARC is a forum where the regional countries could discuss disputes and find out their solutions. The minister said he deliberately arrived at the meeting late to avoid listening to to the India foreign minister in protest against the human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

gust 5, when the Indian government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution, stripping it of its special status. The clampdown has now continued for over 50 days.

MIRANSHAH STAFF REPORT

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Friday that terrorist incidents are gradually reducing due to the solidification and fencing work at the

Pak-Afghan border.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the COAS visited Miranshah and interacted with tribal elders from North and South Waziristan districts. In his address, the army chief said that enduring peace inside Pakistan is linked to

Imran nails it CONtINuEd fROM pAgE 01 “In 1989 soviets retreated; the Americans packed up and left. Here we had indoctrinated them in jihad against foreign occupation and now that th US had taken over, we were supposed to tell them it’s no longer jihad.

“And so the US turned against us and it was a nightmare.

“Taliban were in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda was there; what did Pakistan have to do with it?“When we came to power we decided we would dismantle what was left. I know India keeps alleging that these groups are there.

“I welcome UN observers, see for yourself. “We now have a relationship with Afghanistan, Russia and then we wanted to mend fences with India.

“I have friends in India and I love going to India. So when my party came to power, we reached out to India and (said) let’s resolve differences through trade.

peace in Afghanistan for which Pakistan is playing its role.

“Afghanistan is our brotherly Muslim neighbor and we wish peace in Afghanistan as much for Pakistan,” the army chief was quoted as saying.

The COAS urged tribal elders to continue playing their role in guiding the youth of the area.

Referring to few Improvised Explosive Device incidents in the recent past, the COAS asked them to stay alert and watchful against facilitators and abettors. “It is only with mutual cooperation that we will defeat such terrorists,” he said.

Tribal elders present at the gathering assured the COAS that they will continue supporting security forces in maintaining security of the area. The ISPR said that they requested Gen Bajwa for speedy completion of the ongoing projects, besides suggesting few additional.

In response, the army chief said that gradually all will be completed, bringing peace, stability and prosperity in the area.

“Modi said there were terrorist attacks from Pakistan. We said well we have attacks in Balochistan from your end.

“Unfortunately we didn’t make any head way. Our foreign minister was at the UNGA but they cancelled the meeting. “Meanwhile a 20-year-old Kashmiri boy blew himself up at the Indian convoy. And India blamed us.

“We told him (Modi) if you have an iota of proof send it. They bombed us (instead), and we retaliated.

“Modi’s entire campaign hinged on how he had killed ten trees of ours. He used words like ‘this is just a trailer and the movie has yet to begun.’ Besides Kashmir, PM Imran also spoke at length on climate change, Islamophobia and corruption.

‘CLIMATE CHANGE’: The first issue addressed by Prime Minister Imran was climate change.“First of all I start with climate change. So many leaders spoke about climate change but I feel there is a lack of seriousness (to tackle the issue).

“Perhaps some of the leaders who can do a lot do not realise the seriousness of the situation. There are a lot of ideas

Private schools directed to collect fees as per SC's order LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed private schools to collect tuition fees as per the Supreme Court’s order. In a ruling last week, the top court had ordered private schools to charge the same fees as in Jan 2017. A bench of the LHC summoned a report from the Punjab Education Secretary Capt (r) Muhammad Mahmood and the chief executive officer of the district education authority to submit separate reports on fees being collected by private educational institutions on Oct 14. The bench was hearing a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) against private schools receiving excessive fees. The petitioner pleaded with the bench to restrain schools from collecting exorbitant fees in violation of the SC order.

A day earlier, the LHC had directed the Punjab government to furnish a report showing action it has thus far taken against private schools collecting excessive tuition fees in violation of the Supreme Court order.

Justice Shahid Waheed was hearing a petition filed by a student, Ihtesham Sarwar who took a private school to the court over raising tuition fees excessively. The judge directed the provincial authorities to submit details as to how many private schools had been fined for charging excessive fees. Over the course of the hearing, he took exception to the government imposing a fine of Rs20,000 on a private school, saying it was fined a mere Rs20,000 for collecting double fees.

but they are nothing without funding,” said the premier, who was not reading from a paper. He noted that Pakistan is in the top ten list of countries who are most affected by climate change.

He said the countries contributing to green house gas emissions must be pushed and the UN must take initiative.

MONEY LAUNDERING: Prime Minister Imran, whose speech went beyond the allotted 15 minutes, said the second issue he was speaking about is even more critical — that of illicit financial flows.

“Every year billions of dollars leave the poorer countries and go towards rich countries, siphoned off by the ruling elites of the western world. “This is devastating the developing world. It is impoverishing them. The rich-poor gap is growing because of them.”

He regretted that the seriousness with which money from drugs or terror financing is treated is not accorded to money laundered from poor countries.

“How will we help [our] 200 million people when we are just using all of our money for debt servicing? We

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

CMYK

“The United States is concerned by widespread detentions, including those of politicians and business leaders, and the restrictions on the residents of Jammu and Kashmir,” Wells said.

“We look forward to the Indian government’s resumption of political engagement with local leaders and the scheduling of the promised elections at the earliest opportunity,” she said.

“The world would benefit from reduced tensions and increased dialogue between the two countries [India and Pakistan] and, given these factors, the president is willing to mediate if asked by both parties,” she said.

President Trump has repeatedly offered arbitration to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, despite New Delhi’s repeated rejection of his offers.

On Wednesday, the US president said he encouraged India and Pakistan to work out their differences in separate meetings with their prime ministers this week.

“I said, ‘Fellas, work it out. Just work it out’,” Trump said. He had first offered to mediate during a meeting with Prime Minister Imran in July.

could spend the money lost on our human beings. “We do not have the money to spend millions on lawyers.

We need help from the rich countries; they must show political will.

“How can poor countries spend money on human development?

‘ISLAMOPHOBIA’: Addressing the prevalance of Islamophobia, Prime Minister Imran said it has grown at an alarming pace.

“Islamophobia is creating divisions, hijab is becoming a weapon; a woman can take off clothes but she can’t put on more clothes.

“It started after 9/11 and it started because certain western leaders equated Islam with terrorism.

He questioned the use of the term ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ saying: “There is only one Islam.

“The basis of all religions is compassion and justice which differentiates us from the animal kingdom.

“The Muslim leaders all became moderates and our government coined a phrase ‘enlightened moderation’.