E-Paper PDF 3rd November (KHI)

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03 November, 2019 I 05 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 25.00 I Vol X No 124 I 80 Pages I Karachi Edition

Opp mulling en blOc resignatiOns, lOckdOwn govt says no to pm imran’s resignation, snap polls g

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says govt to move Court against fazl over making statement for pm’s arrest Committee says state institutions are ‘neutral’, will aCt aCCording to Constitution if Chaos ‘spreads’

Maulana Fazl says D-Chowk is not his destination STORIES ON PAGE 02 & 03

nawaz sharif’s platelets drop again: personal physician

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ppp, pml-n leaders oppose Jui-f’s suggestion to marCh towards d-Chowk

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rehbar Committee head says open to negotiations but govt’s attitude is ‘inappropriate’

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STAFF REPORT

he joint opposition’s rehbar Committee, formed to negotiate with the government on matters related to azadi march, on saturday said that recommendations, including en bloc resignations and countrywide shutterdown strike, are currently under consideration. addressing a press conference flanked by other members of the committee, Jamiat ulema-e-islam-fazl (Jui-f) leader akram khan durrani said that they were open to negotiations with the government but the latter’s attitude is not appropriate. besides resignations from the parliament and strike, blocking highways and locking down the whole country at the district level and all other options necessary for any movement are also being considered, said durrani. “we have signed an agreement with dC islamabad and stand by it,” he said, adding that any irresponsible action by “non-democratic forces” would be against the national interest. “all opposition parties are unanimous on this point and oppose it,” he said. speaking on the occasion, pakistan muslim league-nawaz (pml-n) leader ahsan iqbal said that he was shocked to know that prime minister imran khan had waived off the mandatory requirement of passport for the visiting sikh pilgrims from india. “we welcome sikh pilgrims, who are set to visit the country for baba guru nanak’s 550th birth anniversary next week, but how can an indian citizen cross an international border and enter the pakistani territory without the basic document… it means you are changing the status of that territory,” he added. “this government has turned pakistan into a laughing stock with blunders such as this.” sources privy to the discussions held

in the rehbar Committee meeting told pakistan today that ppp and pml-n representatives opposed the suggestion of marching towards dChowk and prolonging the protest. “leaders of the two major opposition parties said that it would not be a wise move to breach the agreement reached with the government,” the sources said, adding that the pml-n and ppp were of the opinion that there’s no need to create anarchy by marching towards d-Chowk. sources said that the Jui-f members expressed their desire to prolong the sitin for some more time, however a final decision in this regard would be reached after consultation with heads of all opposition parties. earlier in the day, the government rejected the opposition’s demand for the resignation of prime minister imran as the azadi march protest in the federal capital entered the second day.

head of government’s negotiating committee, defence minister pervez khattak, said that prime minister imran’s “resignation was out of the question”. the reply by the government comes after Jui-f chief maulana fazlur rehman had demanded the pm’s resignation within two days on friday night. the defence minister further warned the leaders of opposition parties that the government will not show leniency if they backtracked from the earlier agreement reached with the government. thousands of Jui-f workers descended on the capital late on october 31 night after their five-day marathon journey which set off from karachi on october 27. security remains tight in islamabad with the government and diplomatic sector – just a few kilometres from the rally site – sealed off, and roads blocked shipping containers.

Fazl tells army’s spokesman to stay away from politics STORY ON PAGE 02 munir akram takes charge as pakistan’s ambassador to un

Nine children killed in Afghanistan mine blast

STORY ON BACK PAGE

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STORY ON BACK PAGE

CMYK Sunday, 3 November, 2019

02 NEWS

Fazl tells army's spokesman to stay away From politics JUI-F ChIeF says statements maDe by maJ Gen GhaFoor shoUlD have Come From a polItICIan, not army’s spokesman ISLAMABAD

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Staff RepoRt

AMIAT Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has asked the military’s chief spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, not to “involve himself in politics“, hours after the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) called out the former to tell which institutions was he referring to in his speech to the Azadi March protesters on Friday night.

“When we don’t want a clash with institutions why has the DG ISPR tried to push the institution of the army towards a clash with the people?” the JUI-F chief said while talking to media.

“We don’t know on what basis he has issued the statement,” he said after attending a multi-party conference of opposition leaders at his residence late on Friday night.

Rehman said such a statement should have come from a politician instead of the military’s spokesman.

Earlier, speaking to media, the DG ISPR said the JUI-F chief should tell which insti-

tutions was he referring to in his speech to Azadi March protesters in Islamabad.

“Maulana Fazl should take up his reservations with the concerned institutions,” said Maj Gen Ghafoor.

He added that the army was an “impartial” institution.

Referring to the deployment of the troops during the general elections last year, the ISPR DG said that the military fulfilled its “constitutional” responsibility.

Gen Ghafoor said that the Pakistan Army and the nation made immense “sacrifices” for peace and stability in the country and that the opposition should not make such statements that go against the “national interest”.

Addressing a massive gathering at the H9 venue in the federal capital where the Azadi March culminated on Thursday, Maulana Fazl had said it will come down to the voters to decide the next move for the Azadi March.

“This mammoth crowd has the power to arrest the prime minister from his residence,” Fazl warned. “We will not be able to exercise any patience after that point,” he said, calling upon the country’s “institutions” to remain impartial to avoid “conflict”.

Fazl says D-Chowk is not his destination ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that marching towards Islamabad’s DChowk was neither part of his plan nor was his destination, as he repeated his demand of the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan saying that the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government’s writ over Pakistan has ended.

“Participants of Azadi March want to march towards D-Chowk but it is not our destination,” Fazl said while addressing the participants of Azadi March on Saturday night. He said that the opposition is still implementing the agreement signed with the government’s negotiation committee, but the government has breached it by blocking roads.

“On one hand the government is inviting us for dialogue, but on the other hand they are blocking all roads by placing containers across the federal capital,” he said.

Addressing the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Fazl said: “Your writ over Pakistan has ended… Now we will peacefully run this country.”

Commenting on the arrest of JUI-F supporters for hoisting Taliban flags, Fazl said that delegations of Afghan Taliban are officially welcomed in Islamabad by the PTI government therefore criticising presence of a few such flags is baseless and an attempt to malign the Azadi March. “With presidential protocol, the United States engaged with Afghan Taliban in peace talks… and with the same protocol they were welcomed in

Moscow as well. And you ask us why a boy carried their flag in our rally,” he said.

“Where the world has headed to and where you are standing… we will also be right to consider this as an attempt to do a negative propaganda against the march,” he said and warned the Islamabad administration against creating chaos.

“They should be careful before using such tactics, otherwise this rally is enough for your entire Islamabad… these people are enough for your whole government… and people have just begin to arrive here and more will arrive tonight and tomorrow and you should be prepared for them also.”

At least eight activists of the anti-government protest in Islamabad were arrested after authorities said they were waving flags of foreign banned outfits. According to reports, the activists have been moved to an undisclosed location. Some of the JUI-F leaders asked the Islamabad Police to release the arrested activists. They also threatened that no agreement would be followed if the activists were not released within an hour.

“Not just the Indian but the entire international media is covering the Azadi March,” said the firebrand cleric referring to PM Imran’s criticism over his protest’s coverage on Indian channels.

Reacting to the criticism from certain quarters over no participation of women in the march, Maulana Fazl said every society has its own norms and values, and no woman was stopped from participating in the protest.

“Our women are participating in this protest from their homes,” he said. “They are fasting and praying [for our success]… we have women in legislatures.”

PPP's Aitzaz Ahsan says Fazl's statement asking protesters to arrest PM is 'treasonous' Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement inciting people to arrest the prime minister was treasonous.

On Friday, Rehman, who is leading a protest sit-in in Islamabad, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign and threatened that protesters would arrest him if he didn’t tender resignation in two days.

Other major opposition parties such as the PPP and the Pakistan Mus-

lim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have enlisted support in Fazl’s Azadi March as senior leaders of both parties, including Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto, shared the stage with the JUIF chief. Former senator Ahsan, however, claimed that the PPP cannot own an event where the religious class is flaunted for political gain and women aren’t allowed to participate.

“Is it not treasonous to say that a lashkar can go and arrest the prime minister irrespective of who he is?”

Ahsan asked while speaking in a tel-

evision talk show on Saturday. “If this happens, then it’ll lead to civil war and anarchy and a third force will have to step in,” he warned.

The PPP stalwart said that his party would never support the irrational move of inciting people to arrest the prime minister. He also said that opposition’s Rahbar Committee should take up Rehman’s statement that people could arrest the prime minister.

“I’m not speaking in support of the PTI. I’m just giving my opinion,” he added. NewS DeSk

Ex-PM Abbasi shifted to PIMS ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was shifted to PIMS hospital for a checkup on Saturday after his health deteriorated.

PIMS spokesperson Dr Wasim said the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader underwent checkup for hernia, heart, lungs and kidney stones.

The PIMS spokesman informed

CMYK

that his ECG was conducted as well during the checkup and later he was shifted to back to the jail.

A medical board on Monday suggested shifting the former prime minister, who is currently incarcerated in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) scandal, from Adiala jail to a hospital after his health deteriorated.

During Abbasi’s appearance before the accountability court on Monday, the political leader’s counsel submitted a plea praying upon the

court to broadcast the LNG scandal trial on television.

The former premier also moved a petition in the accountability court seeking permission to be treated at Al-Shifa Hospital at his expense.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the senior PML-N leader on July 18 in the LNG case. A reference against Abbasi is yet to be filed, while his remand has been extended several times.

CMYK Sunday, 3 November, 2019

NEWS arrests made after taliban flags spotted in JUI-F’s azadi march A number of Azadi March participants were arrested on Saturday for hoisting Taliban flags during the protest. “The administration of the Azadi March has also distanced itself from the people who hoisted Taliban flags in the protest,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said.

According to defence analysts, hoisting of Taliban flags in the JUI-F’s Azadi March can put a negative impact on the improving image of Pakistan.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has asked Maulana Fazlur Rehman to explain his relations with Baitullah and Hakeemullah Mehsud. He said Pakistan desires for peace in Afghanistan and hoisting Taliban flags in Azadi March are beyond his understanding. NewS DeSk

'Five families' have ruled Pakistan forever, claims Firdous ISLAMABAD app

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday said five families were on container attacking the state of Pakistan to seek rule for their children. In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, she said, “if we think, those five families are on the container who ruled the country forever.”

The families of Mufti Mehmood, Achakzai, Wali Khan, Bhutto and Sharif ruled the country, she added. She said now they were attacking the state of Pakistan for gaining rule for their children.

tezgam tragedy death toll reaches 75 MULTAN iNp

Another injured of Tezgam tragedy succumbed to injuries in Multan’s Nishtar hospital which turned the total of the tragedy 75. The deceased Liaquat Ali had been shifted to the Nishter Hospital where he breathed his last. On the other hand, only 19 bodies of the tragedy could be identified while the DNA samples of 57 bodies have been shifted to Lahore. As many as 16 bodies have been handed to victims’ families up till now while three identified bodies are still in the hospital while 17 patients brought of Shiekh Zayed hospital have been sent home after treatment. The DNA tests of victim families for the identification of the bodies have been continued.

Government says no to pm’s resiGnation, snap polls ISLAMABAD

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EFENCE Minister Pervaiz Khattak, who heads the government delegation negotiating with the joint opposition, on Saturday rejected the demands of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation and snap polls made by the Azadi marchers led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman a day earlier.

Addressing a press conference here alongside other members of the committee, the minister said “resignation was out of the question” and warned the leaders of opposition parties that the government will not show “leniency if they backtracked from the earlier agreement reached with the government”.

He also warned the opposition leaders to stick to the agreement signed with the government. He said: “If opposition resorts to violence, any damage caused will be the sole responsibility of opposition.”

On Friday, the JUI-F chief had asked the PM to resign within two days, hinting at a change in the marchers’ strategy if the premier failed to go home.

He had said the protesters could also arrest the PM. Reacting to the statement, he said: “The gov-

ernment will approach the court against Fazl’s threat of forcibly arresting the premier. It amounts to mutiny and we will be submitting our plea in court on Monday.”

Khattak stressed that there was a signed agreement between the opposition and federal government and it stated that if it is not followed, action will be taken. “They just want to create unrest,” he said. “They will not succeed.” He also commented on the remarks made by Fazl against the state institutions regarding their “impartiality”, saying all the institutions were “neutral”.

“Maulana sahib has criticised the state institutions more rather than the government,” he said.

“For the first time, all the state institutions are neutral. They will act in accordance with the constitution if chaos spreads.”

Criticism on national institutions by JUI-F leaders will not serve any purpose, he added. PTI stalwart Asad Umar, who was also attending the presser, intervened and said, “What can be the most sensitive issue for the army — the foreign policy”.

“They [the PML-N leaders] had invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to their home in a private party but the army didn’t stop them. So I want to table a question for Shehbaz Sharif. Has the army

kashmir lockdown completes 3 months SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, the sufferings of people living in the valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu region continue due to strict military siege imposed by India, media reported.

Normal life remains badly affected on the 90th day, Saturday, in the Valley and parts of Jammu due to unrelenting restrictions under section 144 and gag on the internet and prepaid cellular services. The occupation authorities despite all-out efforts have failed to engineer normalcy in occupied Kashmir as people continue to observe shutdown to show their resentment against India’s recent actions in the territory. Barring a few hours in the morning and

evening, shops and business establishments remain closed most of the time. Public transport is off the roads while students are not attending schools and colleges except those who have to appear in the examinations for 10th and 12th classes.

Meanwhile, at least 3 photojournalists said that they were beaten up by Indian police personnel when they were covering anti-India demonstrations in downtown Srinagar. Several other photo and video journalists, including a woman, said that police personnel chased and verbally abused them. One of the journalists said the police repeatedly asked him why he was taking pictures of the demonstrations. ag e N c i e S

Pakistani train inferno was decades in the making When a passenger train rammed a rickshaw in Pakistan in 2017, killing seven schoolchildren, Imran Khan rolled the tragedy into his campaign to become prime minister, holding up the accident as a hallmark of government incompetence and corruption that only he could fix.

“The railway minister must resign,” he said at the time, insisting that it was the proper response to such a failure in a democracy. “Otherwise, he can influence the investigation.”

But Mr. Khan, now the prime minister, took a very different stance when a train caught fire on Thursday, killing at least 75 people and injuring 43 — one of the worst railway accidents in Pakistan’s history. He stood by his railway minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who, in turn, blamed passengers who had used a prohibited gas stove.

Mr. Khan’s promises to restore transparency and good governance helped catapult him to victory in the August, 2018 general election, but as the country mourns the train-inferno victims, there is a sense of resignation that Pakistan only seems to be getting worse. Its economy is stagnant, its infrastructure is decrepit, and its political class seeks to absolve itself of blame, regardless of who is in power.

The government and Mr. Khan “have not done anything, there have been no improvements in our country,” said Ramzan Mohammed Azeem, a 33year-old passenger who escaped the fire by jumping from the speeding train.

“And I don’t expect the government will take any action after this accident.”

The country’s train safety record has not improved under Mr. Khan, ac-

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cording to figures provided by the Standing Committee on Railways. In the year ended in July, there were 74 accidents, vs. 67 the year before.

Neighboring India, with a vastly larger rail network, reported 73 accidents in 2018.

On Friday morning, the train was still smoldering, and the sunlight peeping through broken windows revealed the charred remains of steel chairs and bunk beds, and pots and pans scattered across the ash-strewn floor.

Inside, a photographer for The New York Times came across the blackened bones of what appeared to be a small child, and another set of bones underneath a bunk bed.

Officials said it appeared that a portable stove had exploded as passengers used it to cook breakfast, the flames quickly sweeping from car to car. The train’s emergency brakes did not appear to work, and it kept barreling along at full speed, fanning the flames, while passengers risked their lives by leaping from the train.

“It is not the fault of Pakistan Railways,” Mr. Ahmed said Thursday of the state-owned company his ministry runs.

“The passengers are responsible for this.”

Portable stoves are forbidden on Pakistani trains, specifically because their gas canisters are prone to such explosions, and Mr. Khan has ordered an investigation. By Friday, some families of the victims, along with television commentators and politicians, demanded to know why the rules had not been enforced and demanded that Mr. Ahmed resign.

“I could smell the cooking gas the night before, and I told an attendant but

nothing was done,” said Mr. Azeem, who suffered severe burns on his hands and legs, and multiple injuries from his jump from the train.

Another passenger who escaped the inferno, Mohammed Asif, shook his head in disbelief.

“Gas cylinders are not allowed,” he said. “The entire system is failing. It cannot and will not get any better.”

When Mr. Ahmed was appointed the railway minister last year, he promised to turn the ministry around, vowing to increase revenue, improve safety, open new lines and halt the endemic corruption and inefficiency that he blamed on previous governments.

A veteran politician, he tried to shake up the ministry, holding lengthy meetings and adopting a tough attitude that many said was barely disguised haughtiness. He lamented that the ministry’s bureaucracy — which lives in palatial, colonial-era bungalows — was out of touch with the needs of ordinary people.

In many ways, Mr. Ahmed mirrored Mr. Khan, promising a flurry of reforms and governance that would take care of who they called “the common man.” But more than 14 months after they took office, Pakistan still suffers the same problems that afflicted previous governments.

Pakistan’s rail service has been plagued by scandal and mismanagement, but it remains a popular mode of transport and vital link connecting the country’s cities and towns. Most of the infrastructure is colonial-era, built under British rule before it was handed over to Pakistan at independence in 1947.

— New York Times

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whiteLieS

refrained them from establishing schools, or hospital or reforming police, or judiciary. Please reveal the details about what the army had refrained them?”

PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood alleged that the JUI-F’s agitation has served Indian interests. It shifted the focus of attention from India-occupied Kashmir to Islamabad, he said.

“Imran Khan has very effectively highlighted the Kashmir cause in the world. The protest has diverted attention from the Kashmir issue,” he said.

When asked about a demand by the opposition to reverse the extension given to the army chief, the government’s negotiating team categorically denied that it was one of the demands by the protesting parties. He further clarified that the army is playing a “completely neutral” role.

PM CHAIRS CORE COMMITTEE MEETING: Earlier, Prime Minister Imran informed the government’s committee that he will not accept any “unconstitutional and undemocratic” demands of the Rehbar Committee with regards to the Azadi March.

He was chairing a meeting of the party’s core committee discussed the prevailing political situation in the country. The meeting also included PTI leaders Asad Umar, Shafqat Mahmood, Shireen Mazari and Faisal Javed Khan.

For feedback, comments, suggestions and, most importantly, tips, contact us at whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk

Apollo

Qeemay walay naan; yes, and he had two the other day. A television anchor swears that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is, in fact, playing fast and loose with his diet. This is the smoking gun, says the pundit, to show that the League chief is fit and fine, as opposed to be teetering on the edge of death as the party claimed.

The truth, as is usually the case with a lot that the commentariat swears by, is far from that. Sharif has been following an austere, healthy diet since much before his current predicament. * * * * * * * * * The JUI-F has thrown a spanner in the works by not throwing a spanner in any of the works. If the ruling party was banking on an unruly crowd that could be demonstrated to be one that merited a response by the armed forces, they were mistaken.

The JUI-F behaved with such discipline that even their antagonist anchors in the media remarked about how they were making sure their stop-over in Lahore wasn’t impeding the functioning of the Lahore BRT. And they were as peaceable in Islamabad. Furthermore, the party showed some resourcefulness on the tech front by bringing solar panels to cook their food and charge their phones etc. In any case, this just might be the calm before the storm. All eyes on Peshawar Morr right now.

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

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137 people fall sick after eating halwa at majlis TANDO ALLAHYAR: At least 137 people were admitted to hospital after consuming poisonous food at a women’s majlis on Friday night in Tando Allahyar’s Amanullah Shah Colony. The victims who included women and children were taken to Civil hospital where doctors revealed that it was a case of food poisoning. Emergency was declared at the hospital but most patients were released after a few hours.

Seven women and two children are in critical condition and have been referred to Lal Bati Hospital in Hyderabad. People present at the majlis said, “Biryani was served too, but the halwa stuck in people’s throats and they started to vomit.” A sample of the dessert was submitted to the police.

SSP Rukhsar Ahmed said the matter will be investigated. AgeNcIes

police arrest suspect in honour killing case HYDERABAD: Candidates appear for entry test at Sindh’s Jomshoro University. Online

Dengue fever claims woman’s life KARACHI: Dengue fever has claimed another life in Karachi at a private hospital, taking the death toll from this mosquitoborne disease to 27 since Jan 01, 2019. A 28-year old woman Midhat Fahad wife of Fahad Hamid, resident of Gulistan e Johar was admitted in a private hospital situated in North Karachi with dengue-related complications. She died during treatment last night. A total 27 people has already died due to dengue viral fever in Sindh’s government and private sector health facilities of the city this year so far. Spokesman PCPD Sindh, while talking to PPI, confirmed the death of a woman in private hospital due to dengue fever last night. PPI

Sisters kill father in Karachi KARACHI: Two sisters along with their alleged paramour killed their father and escaped after committing the crime, police said on Saturday. According to the details, 50-year-old Muhammad Rahim’s tortured body was recovered from the fourth floor of a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) flat building near Old Golimar in Pak Colony police station jurisdiction. Police said that the deceased’s daughters, identified as Zainab and Iqra, along with their paramour Shafique, hailing from Faisalabad, killed their father by hitting him on the head with iron rods besides beating him up after shutting him in the flat’s kitchen. The deceased was an employee of KMC and his daughters had established relations with Shafique through social media. INP

Govt to Develop enetWorKinG SySteM for lanD verification KARACHI

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sTAFF RePORT

HE Sindh government has decided to establish a enetworking among all the land holding departments and agencies so that verification of land record could be made easily without bothering the investors.

This decision was taken in a follow up meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the World Bank delegation led by its vice president EFI Ms Ceyla Pazarbasioglu here at CM House.

The World Bank vice president and her team suggested the provincial government to create more convenience and easiness for investors to obtain NOCs for launching their business. The investors should not go from one department to another for obtaining NOCs. The investors should only apply to investment department for launching a business

for which the Investment department should get clearance from all the relevant departments and agencies to issue NOC. The chief minister said that the delay in issuance of NOCs was due to multiple land holding departments and agencies. Therefore, the chief minister directed Investment department to develop a e-networking system among all the land holding agencies so that the Investment department could write them on its own for NOCs. The chief minister also directed chief secretary to make reforms at sub-registrar level so that registration, transfer and mutation issues of properties could be digitalized and resolved within a day.

The World Bank appreciated the chief minister for his personal interest in developing ease of doing business in Sindh. The portal launched

by Sindh government at SBCA has produced good results but still the provincial government has to ex-

pand its networking further.

The World Bank assured the Sindh government for providing technical assistance in developing networking. The meeting also appreciated Sindh Revenue Board performance in tax collection. It has proved to be most efficient, business friendly tax collecting agencies.

The meeting also appreciated the provincial government’s move to develop an efficient social protection system under PPP manifesto it had announced in general elections.

Under the manifesto women empowerment has been assured by advancing small loans for launching cottage industry, poverty alleviation programmes, food security, health programs etc.

The chief minister thanked the world bank for supporting water sector projects of Sindh, including rehabilitation of Sukkur and Guddu barrages for improvement of rural economy and support for water board reforms programme.

Man admitted to hospital with rabies A man developed rabies encephalitis after being bitten by a dog in Karachi 40 days ago. The patient, 45-year-old Muhammad Saleem Ditta, came to Jinnah hospital’s emergency ward on Saturday complaining of irritability, difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia (irrational fear of water), said Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali. His condition is said to be critical. The man was bitten by a stray dog while trying to protect a child on the street. According to him, he went to several public hospitals in search of the anti-rabies vaccine but it wasn’t available anywhere. News Desk

Woman hit, killed by a train in Quetta A woman was killed after being hit by a train in the Badini area of Quetta. The incident took place on a railway track in the Saryab Road area, police said. Police said the woman’s body was shifted to a hospital for medicolegal formalities. She was identified at the hospital as Gul Bibi. She was a resident of Quetta’s Muslim Ittehad Colony. News Desk

KARACHI Christians visit a cemetery to pay homage to their beloved departed souls on All Souls Day. INP

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KHAIRPUR: Sindh police has arrested a suspect involved in the honour killing of a teenage girl, a media outlet reported.

According to reports, the suspects stormed a house in Kumb town of Khairpur district in February and kidnapped 13-year-old Rimsha Wassan who was later murdered in the name of honour in front of her family.

After reports of this incident circulated in the media, police were forced to arrest the influential Zulfiqar Wassan, who was later sent to jail. In the meantime, the victim’s mother Khursheed Begum recorded a video statement wherein she alleged that she along with other members of her family were being kept in confinement and were being forced to withdraw the murder case.

“The jailed Zulfiqar Wassan is issuing threats from over the phone,” Khursheed Begum said. “His (Zulfiqar Wassan’s) supporters are intimidating us by opening fire at our home,” she added. She called for action against those pressurising her family to withdraw the case against her daughters’ killers. Zulfiqar Wassan is also wanted by the police in several other murder and kidnapping cases. sTAFF RePORT

cyclone Maha getting intense KARACHI: The fourth cyclone in the Arabian Sea, which is at least 940km off Karachi coast, is getting intense, but it poses no threat to the Pakistani seatbelt. According to the meteorological department, the cyclone Maha is heading towards the North West in the next 12 hours while airspeed around the cyclone is at around 90-110 km/hour. Chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that under the effect of the cyclone there is a risk of high tides while the cyclone will move towards the North West from the west in the next two days. It will change its direction from the North East of Indian Gujarat. INP

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

NEWS

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Pakistan calls for regulating ‘killer robots’ UNITED NATIONS

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AKISTAN has called for regulating the introduction of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), known as “killer robots”, which are capable of making their own combat decisions without human intervention, saying such devices would undermine world peace.

“Any weapon system that delegates life and death decisions to machines is by nature unethical and cannot fully comply with IHL (International Humanitarian Law),” Pakistan’s delegate Husham Ahmed told the General Assembly’s First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security matters.

Their introduction, he said, would lower the threshold of armed conflicts

and would affect progress on disarmament and non-proliferation.

“The issue of LAWS does not only have legal, ethical and technical dimensions, but also carries serious implications for regional and global security, ” Husham Ahmed, who is a director in the foreign ministry, said in a debate on Disarmament Measures and International Security.

“Pakistan, therefore, supports the de-

states participating in the related OpenEnded Working Group agree that the internet must be regulated and that there is a need for having common but differentiated responsibilities in making the global network safe and secure.

Additional norms must be developed, he said, adding that the Conference on Disarmament remains an appropriate venue for further multilateral work on this topic.

velopment of an international legally binding instrument stipulating appropriate prohibitions and regulations on LAWS,” he added.

States can address the issue within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons or the United Nations disarmament machinery, including the Conference on Disarmament, said the Pakistani diplomat.

As for cyber warfare, he said most

UK thanks Islamabad Police for assistance during visit of royal couple ISLAMABAD app

Acting High Commissioner, British High Commission Richard Crowder has thanked Islamabad Police Chief Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar over assistance of his force provided on the occasion of the visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In a letter written to IGP Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar, Acting High Commissioner Richard Crowder formally thanked the IGP for the assistance during the recent visit of British royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton to the federal capital.

He said, “Your officers did an ex-

cellent job to minimise disruption around Islamabad, while ensuring the safety and security of the visitors, the hosts, journalists and my team. I am particularly grateful for all you did to enable us to host a welcome reception at the Pakistan Monument. It was a spectacular occasion.

Thank you too for your support over other events in Islamabad. The visit to Islamabad Model College for Girls in the University Colony alongside the Teach for Pakistan Programme demonstrated the importance of girls’ education. The activities with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and WWF at the Margallah Hills centre highlighted the actions being taken

to conserve the national park and educate youth to protect the environment.

I hope that these events leave a lasting legacy for the Islamabad, the city I have called home for the last three years and which is home to the largest UK diplomatic mission in the world. Thank you for your assistance in making these events possible”.

Meanwhile, the IGP said all personnel of Islamabad police accomplished their duties in a professional manner.

He said Islamabad police was amongst the best ranking police and was committed to serve the citizens, dignitaries and guests visiting the city.

Political turmoil negatively impacting Kashmir cause: PTI leaders ISLAMABAD app

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Saturday said that political turmoil in the country would negatively impact Kashmir cause and the opposition was pursuing the agenda of enemies of Pakistan.

Federal Minister Ali Zaidi said Prime Minister Imran Khan has rightly said that no one can blackmail him, adding, PM Imran Khan is a strong man and this tactic will not work out for opposition.

“We inherited a financial disaster and the incumbent government is putting all efforts to bring Pakistan back on track,” he added.

There is malicious agenda behind this Azadi March, the minister said, adding that protests are being held globally against corruption, but here protests are being held in Pakistan to save the corrupt leaders who just wanted to save their looted money.

He said PTI led government is committed to stabilising the economy and taking all possible measures to boost business activities in the country.

Pakistan under the leadership of Imran Khan is heading towards the right direction, he mentioned.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said people of Gilgit-Baltistan are our asset and the prime minister is determined to improve the lifestyle of underprivileged segments of the country.

It is highly appreciable that the prime minister is connected with the people of the country, he said adding, the opposition is using religion as a political tool to influence the nation and manipulate their sentiments.

Leader PTI Sadaqat Ali Abbassi said opposition’s long march is just a tactic to create political turmoil by using religious sentiments of people.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman has no moral grounds to stage any protest

against the government, he said, adding that opposition just wanted NRO for their corrupt leaders.

Abbasi said the government has not created any hurdle and facilitated the protesters in a democratic manner but their demand of resignation is not acceptable.

Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman is pursuing foreign agenda to destabilize Pakistan, he said.

Leader PTI Shaukat Basra also said the timing of long march is very controversial and this protest is staged by the opposition just to save corruption of their leaders and stop the process of accountability.

The incumbent government is handling the current political situation wisely and they have not made any arrest till now, he added.

No one is allowed to break the law. Prime Minister Imran Khan has emerged as an ambassador of people of Kashmir. Pakistan has pursued effective diplomacy in order to highlight the issue of Kashmir, he added.

LAHORE: A policeman inspects the luggage of passenger with a scanner to check for proscribed objects in the wake of a cylinder explosion in the Tezgam Express that killed over 70 people. ONLINE

Security beefed up in AJK ahead of Eid-e-Milad MIRPUR app

In Azad Jammu & Kashmir, including Mirpur district, authorities have restructured and beefed up the security across the liberated territory to maintain complete peace and order during the most sacred Eid Milad un Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) celebrations on November 10 (Sunday), official sources said.

Indication to this effect was given by official sources about intensification of the security arrangements on the eve of the scheduled world-over enthusiastic celebration of scheduled sanctified day of Jashan e Eid MIlad un Nabi (PBUH).

Official sources told APP Saturday that although complete peace and order persists

in AJK including Mirpur district, yet the fool-proof the security has been beefed up in all ten districts of Azad Jammu Kashmir to ensure law and order during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) celebrations.

In the wake of the measures to tighten the security, the checking at all the routes leading to AJK – the exit and entry points including Mangla, Kohala, Azad Pattan, Gujrat-Bhimbher Road and Dhan Galli, has been intensified.

The district police heads of all ten AJK districts have been served with special directives to keep the police contingents alert and vigilant to maintain peace and order during Eid Milad un Nabi (PBUH) processions and other sacred Eid Milaad un Nabi (PBUH) congregations to celebrate this one of the most sanctified days in the Islamic history.

Pakistan believes in peace, says President Alvi LAHORE Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan believes in peace and wants to solve all issues through dialogue.

Addressing a ceremony of International Student Week on Saturday, he said that war is not the solution to any issue; rather, we ought to hammer out the solution of our dis-

putes in an amicable manner.

He said that education plays a pivotal role in the development and prosperity of a country.

The president said that we can attain the goal of advancement by imparting modern and latest education to the youth. He said that global warming is a major challenge being faced by the world and we should take immediate measures to counter it.

Glowing tributes paid to late Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi LONDON app

The speakers including Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Mohammad Nafees Zakaria on Friday evening paid glowing tributes to acclaimed Pakistani Urdu humourist writer late Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi for his an extraordinary contribution to the the literature of the country.

The literary event “ an evening with renowned poet Iftikhar Arif was organized by Pakistan High Commission in collaboration with Urdu Markaz London was attended by a

large number of British-Pakistani community belonging to different walks of life including diplomats, writers, poets, jouranlists and staff of Pakistan High Commission London.

Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, renowned poet Iftikhar Arif, Chairman Urdu Markaz London Dr. Javed Sheikh, Poet Aqeel Danish, Poetess Rehana Ruhi, renowned broadcaster Raza Ali Abidi, poet Javed Saba ,Muneer Ahmed and Faizan Arif spoke on the occasion.

High Commissioner Mohammad Nafees Zakaria in his remarks welcomed renowned poet Iftikhar Arif and other par-

ticipants of the event.

Paying glowing tributes to late Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, the High Commissioner said that government of Pakistan in recognition of his valuable contribution to the Urdu literature conferred him two highest civil awards of Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz.

He said that Pakistan High Commission was actively engaged in promotion of rich Pakistani culture and literature, in order to enhance the soft image of Pakistan in the world and this function was also part of these activities. The High Commissioner also appreciated the role of Dr.Javed Sheikh for promotion of Urdu language in the UK.

CMYK

He also acknowledged famous broadcaster Raza Ali Abidi for his services to Urdu language and mentioned some of his BBC Urdu programmes like Jernali Sarak,Shair Darya and Sab Ras. He also called for promoting rich culture and literature of Pakistan among the new generation especially among the youth living in foreign countries including the UK. He also lauded the contribution of Iftikhar Arif for the promotion of literature in the country.

The High Commissioner on the the occasion, updated the audience on the current worst human rights situation

under 90-day of siege in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Nafees Zakaria on the occasion urged the participants to keep the Kashmiri people in their thoughts and prayers and keep reminding the international community about the ongoing atrocities on defense less Kashmiri people and humanitarian crisis under the draconian laws of India, in the occupied valley.

He said that brutal Indian occupation forces have killed more than 100,000 Kashmiris, while the Indian government catch and kill strategy in occupied Kashmir was continued unabated.

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Delhi’s air pollution masks a class war that noboDy is willing to talk about PrinT

t

DiliP ManDal

HERE is a class angle to the war against pollution in Delhi. And nobody is ready to talk about it. It is being waged every day – in media, judiciary, law enforcement, pollution masks and in AQI data. Both the privileged and the under-privileged contribute to the pollution and suffer from it, but the debate is dominated by the former.

India’s mainstream media kicked off the debate this year by using government data that said 35 per cent of Delhi’s pollution is due to Punjab and Haryana farmers burning their straw stubble (the residue of rice plant called parali in local parlance). People in Delhi finally found the culprit responsible for the poor air quality in their city.

As is common with such identifications, culprits were caught and punished. Seventeen FIRs have been registered in Fatehabad district in Haryana alone as the number of FIRs in connection with stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana runs into hun-

dreds. Haryana Police has formed special teams to identify farmers who pollute the air that residents of Delhi breathe. The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have also come down heavily on the farmers. In 2017, more than 1,000 farmers in Haryana were fined for burning the stubble, with the government saying it was only following the Supreme Court order. Punjab has threatened farmers that they won’t get land on lease to cultivate next year if they are caught burning the stubble.

The mighty state, the Supreme court, and nearly every environmental institutions have been up in arms against farmers reportedly responsible for the one-third of Delhi’s pollution (as per government data). But what about the rest two-third of it?

Why don’t India’s courts and its governments (both central and states) show similar resoluteness in not only identifying but also penalising the culprits responsible for choking the lungs of Delhi’s residents rest of the year? Stubble burning can be blamed for the pollution in early winters. Is air pollution a seasonal problem in Delhi?

Who pollutes Delhi’s air when farmers in Punjab and Haryana are not burning the stubble?

WE KNOW WHO ELSE POLLUTES The privileged gated communities of Delhi can arrange for private water (tankers of underground water), private elec-

tricity (back-up generators) and private security. They know how to exit the state and its inefficiencies. But air pollution is something that affects them, no matter how high their ivory towers go.

That is why they have raised the pitch on the pollution debate, but in a way that absolves them and their own complicity. By entirely blaming the farmers from Punjab and Haryana.

It’s is not that we or the governments do not know the reason for pollution. If the government can tell us the exact share of stubble burning (35 per cent), then it must also know how much pollution Delhi’s residents cause by using their cars and air conditioners.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority has pointed out that vehicles contribute 40 per cent of the emission load in Delhi.

Since all commercial vehicles in Delhi run on CNG, it’s private vehicles running on petrol and diesel, that are the main culprit for polluting Delhi’s air. Imagine the kind of outrage there will be if the government or the court passed an order mandating use of only CNG and LPG for cars on Delhi roads.

And what about firecrackers?

Last year, 50,00,000 kilograms of firecrackers were burst on the day of Diwali in Delhi alone. Since there is a ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi (except on the green ones especially developed by the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), the govern-

ment acts against sellers and those bursting ‘illegal’ firecrackers. Interestingly, eco-friendly firecrackers are not completely green and they also pollute the air. This Diwali, 371 cases were registered with 166 people arrested and 3,500 kg of firecrackers seized, according to the Delhi Police.

But there is a stark difference between how the government acts against patakha and parali. The night of Diwali, the Air Quality Index (AQI) had hit 999, the maximum reading possible in the meter; Twitter was abuzz with the hashtag #CrackersWaliDiwali as people posted videos of themselves bursting firecrackers that are known to release more poisonous gases in the air. Not surprisingly, when media reports came out Wednesday about the rise in demand for pollution masks in Delhi, the blame once again went to the farmers, citing “government agencies”.

FARMERS DON’T BURN STUBBLE FOR FUN Unlike firecrackers, which are burst for entertainment, stubble burning is a necessity. There is a time-limit and urgency in the sowing pattern of crops in Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh.

This pattern changed after the green revolution in the 1960s. Farmers in these regions sow crops three times a year. This pattern makes it a necessity for them to keep the land ready for the next season.

Punjab agriculture secretary Kahan Singh Pannu has explained

Scroll Shoaib Daniyal

On June 23, 2015, Santiago, the capital of Chile was partially shut down in response to smog. The city government closed hundreds of polluting businesses and ordered three lakh cars off the streets.

Today, as most Indian cities face pollution levels that would make Santiago look like paradise, India’s authorities have their heads buried so far in the sand far from restricting pollution, there is a pretence that it does not exist.

For example, an IndiaBangladesh cricket match is scheduled for Sunday in Delhi – a tie for which the Bangladeshi players were seen practising while wearing pollutions masks. Before that, on Thursday, the Union government organised a run to mark “Nation Unity Day” in which even children were made to exercise in the gas chamber of Delhi even as guidelines told people to avoid all outdoor activity.

Even when some sections of the administration do take action, it is far too little given the scale of the problem. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has de-

The author is an adjunct professor, Dept of Mass Communications at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication (MCNUJC), Bhopal. He is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology.

PLANT-BASED MEAT MAY ENJOY THE PERCEPTION OF BEING HEALTHIER THAN REAL MEAT, BUT IT HAS MORE SODIUM AND CALORIES AND CAN CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN

LIKE CHINA, INDIA WILL HAVE TO TAKE DRASTIC STEPS TO FIX POLLUTION Large cities severely restricted the use of cars with caps on number of private vehicles and a wholesale move to public transport. So wide-ranging was the anti-pollution push that the New York Times reported that “some of the actions went from aggressive to extraordinary”.

WRONG END OF THE STICK: To compare this with India, a modest move to institute a bus rapid transit system in Delhi was shut down in 2016 as car owners expressed displeasure with some part of the road being closed off to them. This was in spite of the fact that the smallscale move had actually been a success, with 70% of users moving faster than before and a 32% increase in bus ridership.

Moreover, rather than restricting private vehicles, Indian cities are actually moving towards incentivising them, prioritising the building of car-friendly infrastructure like flyovers and highways while paying little attention to lowpollution mass transit like trains and buses or no-pollution options like bicycles. Much in the same vein, Indian authorities have been unable to penalise polluting industries or provide suitable incentives to famers to stop burning their crop stubble – both major sources of pollution in north India. The great north Indian smog is one of the greatest challenges facing India today. The complete stasis of the Indian state as it faces it is tragically absurd.

of all firecrackers. The government has walked the extra mile and launched eco-friendly firecrackers. But the AQI reading on the night of Diwali and the day after were proof that Delhi’s residents flouted the Supreme Court ban on polluting firecrackers.

So, this is where we stand at the moment: Delhi’s wealthy residents can happily pollute the city’s air in an act of celebration without any consideration for others’ health (or their own), but they want the farmers to stop burning the stubble, which is a necessity for them and doesn’t come with an easy alternative. The state and all its apparatus – the government, the judiciary, the police – will go hard against the farmers while coming up with ineffective alternatives or a way out for people’s celebratory acts.

The way Delhi’s burden of air pollution is shared among societies today is like ancient India’s division of labourers, where some people existed only to consume and others to serve. Today, some hold the privilege to pollute Delhi’s air while others are forced to look for alternatives or face action.

Red meat is not bad for you or climate change

The great north Indian smog is an emergency. Why aren’t politicians taking it seriously? clared a public emergency in Delhi – but in response, all it did was shut down construction activity for five days. In parallel, the Delhi government announced that schools will be shut till Tuesday. From Monday, a scheme to ration the number of cars on Delhi’s roads will also come into force – and will apply for all of 11 days.

PRESSING SNOOZE: Between doing nothing and taking baby steps designed to not antagonise any powerful set of citizens, India’s politicians have simply refused to acknowledge the scale of the problem.

According to the AirVisual World Quality Report 2018, 12 out of 15 of the most polluted cities in the world are situated in just five of India’s states: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana.

LOOK EAST: India’s lethargy in combating this grave pollution crisis stands out even more sharply when compared to China’s remarkable efforts at tackling it. In 2014, China embarked on a nation-wide drive to combat pollution. The target: each city had to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter pollution by at least 10%.

Beijing, the capital had an even steeper target: 25%.

China put in strong policies to help implement this target. New coal plants were banned in polluted regions and if existing coal plants didn’t meet emission standards, they were replaced with natural gas.

this to ThePrint’s Chitleen K. Sethi: “Since there is a very small window of sowing the next Rabi crop (mainly wheat) after paddy harvest, farmers tend to burn the paddy straw in the fields to prepare them for the next crop.”

The government is taking various steps, including providing 50 per cent subsidy on Super Straw Management System (SMS) for combine harvester machines. This means that farmers have to spend money on machines so that Delhi can breathe easily. The farmers are being asked by the governments to pay for clean air to Delhi’s residents. But Delhi’s residents are not sharing this burden. They are only compounding the problem.

DELHIITES BURST FIRECRACKERS TO CELEBRATE Diwali crackers are either about fun or some sort of status symbol for the people in Delhi.

Firecrackers are a novelty in Indian culture, as “modern fireworks were only invented in the 1830s”. The first factory came up in present-day Kolkata sometime in the 19th century. Hence, the bursting of firecrackers cannot be said to be any ancient religious practice. There is no credible argument to defend the practice of bursting firecrackers in a city like Delhi where there’s a lot of hue and cry over pollution from stubble burning every year.

Not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has taken a middle path by not banning the sale and bursting

USA TodAy Will Coggin

Imagine ordering dinner at your favorite restaurant. You know what you want without hesitation: a perfectly marbled 8-ounce steak cooked medium rare. Just before you order, your date tells you they’ve read that cows cause climate change and that meat might be unhealthy. Suddenly, the Caesar salad seems like a better option.

We’ve all been steak-shamed before. Ever since Sen. George McGovern’s 1977 Dietary Goals report declared red meat a health villain, Americans have been chided out of eating red meat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, red meat consumption has fallen more than 24% since 1976. During that time, study after study has attempted to tie red meat to a laundry list of health problems. Until n ow.

SO MANY STUDIES, SO MANY FLAWS Three studies published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine did something too few papers do: Ask whether the previous studies had any meat on their bones. The researchers who wrote the report analyzed 61 past studies consisting of over 4 million participants to see whether red meat affected the risk of developing heart disease and cancer.

All three came to the same conclusion: Decreasing red meat consumption had little to no effect on reducing risk of heart disease, cancer or stroke.

HOW CAN SO MANY STUDIES BE WRONG? Nutritional research often relies on survey-based observational stud-

ies. These track groups of people and the food they eat, or try to tie a person’s past eating habits to a person’s current state of health. The result is something akin to a crime chart from a mob movie with a random red string connecting random suspects trying to figure out “who dunnit.”

Observational studies rely on participants to recall past meals, sometimes as far back as a month. Even when eating habits are tracked in real time using food diaries, issues arise.

Research has shown that participants don’t give honest answers and often pad food diaries with typically “good” foods like vegetables while leaving out things like meat, sweets and alcohol. There’s also the matter of having to accurately report portion sizes and knowing the ingredients of the food eaten in restaurants.

BEEF MAY BE HEALTHIER THAN FAKE MEAT The room for error is huge. A much better form of study would be to lock people in cells for a period of time so that you could precisely control what they ate and did and then measure outcomes. Obviously, there are ethical issues with such a structure, which is why observational studies are more common, if flawed.

Some companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have tried to cash in on the misconception about meat’s healthfulness. According to the market research firm Mintel, 46% of Americans believe that plant-based meat is better for you than real meat. Ironically, the anti-meat messages could be leading people to less healthful options.

Plant-based meat might enjoy the perception of being healthier, but that perception is far from reality. A

lean beef burger has an average of nearly 20% fewer calories and 80% less sodium than the two most popular fake-meat burgers, the Impossible Burger and the Beyond Burger.

Fake meat is also an “ultraprocessed” food, filled with unpronounceable ingredients. The National Institutes of Health released a study in May finding that ultra-processed foods cause weight gain. Unlike observational studies, this research was a controlled, randomized study.

EARTH WILL SURVIVE YOUR MEAT-EATING It’s not just the flawed health claims about red meat that deserve a second look. In recent years, we’ve been told reducing meat consumption is essential to saving the planet.

But despite what critics say, even if everyone in America went vegan overnight, total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the United States would only be reduced 2.6%.

Since the early 1960s, America has shrank GHG emissions from livestock by 11.3% while doubling the production of animal farming.

Meat production is a relatively minor contributor to our overall GHG levels. In other countries, it may have a higher impact. The solution is not lecturing everyone else to go meatfree. Sharing our advancements would prove to be a more likely and efficient way to reduce emissions than cutting out meat or replacing it with an ultra-processed analogue.

Those who enjoy a good steak now have a good retort the next time they’re criticized for their choice: Don’t have a cow.

Will Coggin is the managing director at the Center for Consumer Freedom.

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

ChiNA, US hold ‘CoNSTrUCTive’ CAll oN TrAde MiNi-deAl WATERLOO

S

Agencies

ENIOR Chinese and US officials again sent positive signals on Friday about their efforts to formalize the partial trade bargain announced last month, with President Donald Trump saying he may meet with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the state of Iowa.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Friday spoke by telephone with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a call both sides described as “constructive.”

However, details remain scarce and the positive statements were almost identical to those made last week, even though Trump announced the partial deal on October 11. Trump had planned to sign a deal with China’s leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the now-cancelled summit in Chile this month.

On Friday, Trump told reporters he was “looking (at) a different couple locations” for a meeting with Xi, adding that it “could even be in Iowa.”

The rural state in America’s heartland was the first place Xi ever visited in the United States, when he came to the country in 1985 to study farming technology.

Trump noted that negotiations are “moving along” and “our deal’s going along fine with China” but stressed repeatedly that he didn’t want to give more details until the agreement was finalized.

The office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement that negotiators had “made progress in a variety of areas and are in the process of resolving outstanding issues.” In Beijing, China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides discussed “properly addressing their core concerns and reached consensus on principles” and “discussed arrangements for the next consultations.”

Earlier Friday, top White House eco-

nomic aide Larry Kudlow hailed the steps made in the talks. “The deal is not complete but we’ve made enormous progress,” Kudlow told reporters. He said the discussions are nearly complete on currency, financial services, dealing with removing restrictions on majority foreign ownership of companies in China, and opening markets to US agriculture exports.

Other issues like protecting US intellectual property and stopping forced technology transfer likely will wait until “phase two,” Kudlow said. The upbeat statements reaffirmed Washington’s hopeful message on trade with Beijing after a week in which the two sides exchanged a salvo of confrontational remarks. Wall Street shuddered Thursday after Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials were skeptical of reaching a longterm trade deal with Washington.

Trump three weeks ago hailed a “very substantial phase one” accord with Beijing, which he said would cover key

areas and include a commitment for a massive increase in US farm exports.

After a lengthy boycott, China has resumed some purchases of US agricultural goods but demand may not support the huge increases Trump expects. Hopes for a signing ceremony at the November 1617 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Santiago were sidelined after the event was canceled due to civil unrest.

Earlier in the week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech calling China “truly hostile” to the United States while Beijing accused Washington of “viciously attacking” China.

Meanwhile, in a separate disagreement dating from long before the Trump administration, the World Trade Organization on Thursday authorized China to slap tariffs on $3.6 billion in American exports in a dispute over US anti-dumping practices. The two sides have put tariffs on virtually all of their half trillion dollars in annual two-way goods trade, but last month signaled a truce as Trump held off on some duty rate increases.

The trade war is slowing global growth, economists say, and data shows it is cutting into the US manufacturing sector and chilling business investment.

Palestinian killed, 2 wounded in Israel-Gaza counter strikes GAZA/JERUSALEM Agencies

Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets at Israel and the Israeli military responded with a wave of pre-dawn airstrikes in Gaza killing one man on Saturday, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.

Gaza health officials said the 27-year-old killed was among three men wounded in an airstrike on a militant training camp and that he had died in hospital. It was not immediately clear whether he was a civilian or a gunman.

The Israeli military said that Palestinians fired 10 rockets from Gaza into Israel late on Friday, eight of which were intercepted. Police said one

projectile had hit a house in a town near the border, causing damage but no casualties.

In response, the military said, a series of Israeli strikes targeted sites belonging to Hamas, the Islamist militant group which rules Gaza. None of the armed groups in Gaza claimed responsibility for firing the rockets. The Israeli military said Hamas was ultimately responsible for the attack.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars over the past decade and cross-border tensions are high and such flare-ups are not rare.

Israel pulled its troops and settlers from the narrow coastal strip in 2005 but keeps the enclave under a blockade, citing security concerns. About 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza.

Fracking halted in England over earthquake fears: UK govt LONDON Agencies

The controversial process of “fracking” will be halted in England due to the risks of triggering earthquakes when trying to tap shale gas reserves, the British government announced Saturday.

“After reviewing the… report into recent seismic activity at Preston New Road, it is clear that we cannot rule out future unacceptable impacts on the local community,” Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom said, referring to energy firm Cuadrilla’s site in Lancashire, northwest England. “For this reason, I have concluded that we should put a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect.”

The recent Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) report found that it was not currently possible to ac-

curately predict hydraulic fracturing’s potential for triggering earthquakes, leading Prime Minister Boris Johnson to say he had “very considerable anxieties” about the extraction of shale gas.

The decision comes weeks before Britain goes to the polls in a general election, with the issue expected to be raised during campaigning.

Opposition to shale gas extraction among the British public had risen to 40 percent from 21 percent since 2013, according to the National Audit Office. “Public concern has centred on the risks to the environment and public health, from fracking-induced earthquakes, and the adequacy of the environmental regulations in place,” it said.

Protests broke out as last year as work began on Britain’s first horizontal shale gas well at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site. The project attracted much controversy and was opposed by

local authorities, residents and environmentalists, who launched legal action to block operations.

Cuadrilla’s first attempt at fracking seven years ago was ended after it triggered minor earthquakes, putting their plans on hold while more stringent measures were put in place.

Iran student leader says he regrets 1979 US Embassy attack TEHRAN Agencies

His revolutionary fervour diminished by the years that have also turned his dark brown hair white, one of the Iranian student leaders of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover says he now regrets the seizure of the diplomatic compound and the 444-day hostage crisis that followed.

Speaking to The Associated Press ahead of Monday’s 40th anniversary of the attack, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh acknowledged that the repercussions of the crisis still reverberate as tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s collapsing nuclear deal with world powers.

Asgharzadeh cautioned others against following in his footsteps, despite the takeover becoming enshrined in hard-line mythology. He also disputed a revisionist history now being offered by supporters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard that they directed the attack, insisting all the blame rested with the Islamist students who let the crisis spin out of control. “Like Jesus Christ, I bear all the sins on my

shoulders,” Asgharzadeh said. At the time, what led to the 1979 takeover remained obscure to Americans who for months could only watch in horror as TV newscasts showed Iranian protests at the embassy. Popular anger against the U.S. was rooted in the 1953 CIA-engineered coup that toppled Iran’s elected prime minister and cemented the power of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The shah, dying from cancer, fled Iran in February 1979, paving the way for its Islamic Revolution. But for months, Iran faced widespread unrest ranging from separatist attacks, worker revolts and internal power struggles. Police reported for work

but not for duty, allowing chaos like Marxist students briefly seizing the U.S. Embassy. In this power vacuum, then-President Jimmy Carter allowed the shah to seek medical treatment in New York. That lit the fuse for Nov. 4, 1979, takeover, though at first, the Islamist students argued over which embassy to seize. A student leader named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who later became president in 2005, argued they should seize the Soviet Embassy compound in Tehran as leftists had caused political chaos.

But the students settled on the U.S. Embassy, hoping to pressure Carter to send the shah back to Iran to stand trial on corruption charges.

Asgharzadeh, then a 23-year-old engineering student, remembers friends going to Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to buy a bolt cutter, a popular tool used by criminals, and the salesman saying: “You do not look like thieves! You certainly want to open up the U.S. Embassy door with it!”

“The society was ready for it to happen. Everything happened so fast,” Asgharzadeh said. “We cut off the chains on the embassy’s gate.

Some of us climbed up the walls and we occupied the embassy compound very fast.” Like other former students, Asgharzadeh said the plan had been simply to stage a sit-in. But the situation soon spun out of their control. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the long-exiled Shiite cleric whose return to Iran sparked the revolution, gave his support to the takeover. He would use that popular angler to expand the Islamists’ power.

“We, the students, take responsibility for the first 48 hours of the takeover,” Asgharzadeh said. “Later, it was out of our hands since the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the establishment supported it.” He added: “Our plan was one of the students, unprofessional and temporary.” As time went on, it slowly dawned on the naive students that Americans as a whole wouldn’t join their revolution. While a rescue attempt by the U.S. military would fail and Carter would lose to Ronald Reagan amid the crisis, the U.S. as a whole expressed worry about the hostages by displaying yellow ribbons and counting the days of their captivity.

Thousands protest to maintain pressure on Chile government SANTIAGO: Dressed in black, marching silently and raising one fist, around a thousand women on Friday demanded justice for those killed and injured during the last two weeks of social unrest in Chile. Their march started off a day of demonstrations on a long weekend in the country, expanding later as tens of thousands answered social media calls to match last Friday’s huge protest that attracted more than a million people. Santiago authorities said the protest in the city drew about 20,000 demonstrators, including many young people and families. Isolated clashes broke out after security forces tried to disperse protesters with tear gas and water cannon. “Justice, truth, no to impunity,” chanted the women marchers in front of the presidential palace in central Santiago, as their silent protest burst to life. They held up signs paying tribute to the 20 people killed and more than 1,300 injured during the protests, according to statistics provided by the National Human Rights Institute (INDH). Agencies

Pelosi expects Trump impeachment hearings in November WASHINGTON: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she expected public hearings in the impeachment inquiry of Republican President Donald Trump to begin this month. “I would assume there would be a public hearing in November,” the top House Democrat said in an interview with Bloomberg. Any case that is made to impeach the president, she said, “has to be ironclad.” In the first formal test of support for the impeachment investigation, the Democratic-controlled House on Thursday voted almost entirely along party lines – 232 to 196 – to move the probe forward in Congress. Pelosi launched the inquiry into Trump’s attempt to have Ukraine investigate a domestic political rival in September. The probe focuses on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden, a former U.S. vice president, and his son Hunter. Agencies

Attack on Mali military post kills 53 soldiers BAMAKO: Fifty-three soldiers were killed in a “terrorist attack” on a Mali military post in the northeast of the country, the government said. The assault is one of the deadliest strikes against Mali’s military in recent Islamist militant violence. A civilian was also killed at the outpost in Indelimane, in the Menaka region, close to the border with Niger, the country’s communication minister Yaya Sangare said on Twitter. “The situation is under control. A search and the process of identifying the bodies is continuing,” he added, after giving the latest update on the death toll. Agencies

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

08 COMMENT

The Maulana‘s ultimatum

Maulana’s solo flight Despite opposition parties sharing his objectives

In the wake of Tezgam inferno

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he PPP and the PML-N had made it known before the Azadi March that they would stand by the JUi-F leadership during the March and at the islamabad public meeting. they would however not join any sit-in. By deciding to go for a dharna ignoring other parties’ reservations, the JUi-F chief has taken a leap of faith.

Maulana Fazlur rehman has given two days to Prime Minister imran Khan to resign. Mr Khan has pooh-poohed the demand making it clear that he is no way going to oblige the opposition. What is more, he has made fun of the JUi-F chief and the leaders of the entire opposition, calling them a gang of political orphans, thus adding fuel to the fire. A Prime Minister is expected to reduce political tensions instead of exacerbating them. those who have Mr Khan’s ear need to advise him to avoid provoking the protesters which he is constantly doing, even at the risk of worsening the law and order situation. there are indications that the JUi-F’s marchers might move towards the D-chowk, a venue that the Pti’s marchers led by Mr Khan had occupied for more than three months in 2014. Despite the rowdyism displayed then, the Pti and PAt protestors were not forcibly removed even at the expense of the chinese President’s visit. Against this the JUi-F’s march remained peaceful during a trek of over 1000 km as well as during its three-day stay in islamabad. Any attempt to stop a peaceful rally which has assiduously avoided blocking traffic or acting unlawfully would be considered discriminatory. Among the areas blocked by the administration is Faizabad interchange where tLP workers had stopped all traffic by force for nearly three weeks. A different treatment meted out to peaceful marchers who want to hold a sit-in would create a perception of partiality on the part of those in power. to remain uncontroversial, state institutions and government departments should avoid taking sides on divisive political issues. the DG isPr’s judgmental statement on the Azadi March leading to Maulana Fazlur rehman’s riposte is an example. Many would maintain that the claim that “we support a democratically elected government, not any one party “ may not be historically valid.

Development spending IMF’s direction a wake-up call

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Ne of the Pti’s first measures, after coming to power, was to restrict the ballooning budget deficit, significantly cutting the Public sector Development Programme (PsDP) by rs125 billion. A second cut for rs100 billion was made earlier this year.

A similar cut is now being hinted at to bridge the tax shortfall in order to meet an iMF condition of restricting the primary budget deficit to rs102 billion. the same iMF, whose team is visiting Pakistan for its first quarterly review of the current 3-year programme, after meeting with provincial and federal economic managers, has “stressed upon the full use of the development budget to achieve the development goals”. earlier, the state Bank of Pakistan, in its annual report, stated that GDP growth was linked to development spending and both moved in the same direction, going on to say the former would remain subdued during the next fiscal year. Given the precarious situation on the revenue side, the government is keeping the option of further cuts to the budget on the table but nothing is stopping them from utilizing the funds that have already been allocated. Funds that have been released but not used, highlight the inefficiency of government both at the federal and provincial levels. Pakistan’s growth rate is expected to remain the lowest in the region in the short to medium term at 2.4 percent. the economic slowdown has resulted in joblessness and as inflation continues to persist the effects of unemployment are being amplified, hitting the common man the hardest.

Using approved and allocated development funds is therefore necessary if the government wants to provide the relief to the citizenry that it had promised. Not only will it help stimulate growth in the economy but jobs will also be created. it is a long and tiring road to economic recovery but it will not be automatic; iMF’s recommendation of full utilization of development funds should therefore act as a wake-up call to the government that it needs to do all it can with the resources available to achieve economic betterment.

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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aRif Nizami

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he tezgam inferno near Liquatpur in southern Punjab on thursday morning can be termed as one of the most horrendous tragedy in Pakistan railways’ history. Most of the 73 people, belonging to the tableeghi Jamaat, were roasted alive in the hellfire.

Within minutes of the tragedy, the railways minister sheikh rashid Ahmed in his signature imperious style dismissed it as the fault of a passenger. According to him the passenger was using a gas stove within a compartment to cook breakfast. how the worthy minister without visiting the site or waiting for even a preliminary inquiry report reach this rash conclusion is not known. the enigmatic sheikh has been widely criticized for his insensitive remarks. he has simply brushed aside calls for his resignation in a cursory manner. According to him he has been a federal minister eight times so he isn’t too keen on clinging to his job and will only resign when his conscience demands it. the sheikh quite brazenly claims that under his stewardship the railways have been run in the most efficient manner. the minister, like some of his colleagues, needs a reality check. on his watch there have been at least 100 major and minor train accidents in which scores of lives have been lost and millions of rupees worth of rolling stock has been damaged or destroyed.

But the hapless sheikh refuses to budge even an inch. But why should he? he has the full support of his boss – the prime minister. it is the favourite pass time of the electronic news media to try to hold Khan accountable by showing selective clips of him spewing fire and brimstone while in the opposition. For example on the day of the tezgam tragedy there was hardly a news channel that did not show the Pti (Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf) chief on various news channels demanding the resignation of the railways minister following a train accident back in January 2017.

But this is the nub of the problem. Khan refuses to be judged by his past pronouncements audaciously claiming that taking U-turns is a sign of a good leader. Unfortunately this selfrighteous mindset has permeated from the very top to the bottom. obviously this sanctimonious attitude has adversely impacted governance. ineptitude and a pervasive tendency to work at cross-purposes has become the hallmark of this 15-month old

Pti government. significantly, one fourth of its 60 months tenure has already passed.

Unless there is a drastic reset, this unique style of running the state ship will remain the norm with all its appended consequences. the populace- suffering the major brunt of the government’s flawed policies- can no longer be mollycoddled by the oft-repeated mantra that it is all the fault of effete and corrupt past rulers.

Maulana Fazlur rehman’s Azadi march has reached islamabad, ostensibly its final destination, but in the process the cleric has touched quite a few raw nerves in the government as well as within the opposition. the government surely pressed the panic button when through Pemra (Pakistan electronic Media regulatory Authority) a ham handed attempt was made to gag media anchors. After a strong reaction from media organizations and even from senior members of Khan’s own team the draconian missive was withdrawn. the special assistant on information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan was visibly upset that her cabinet colleagues openly castigated the uncalled for proposed restrictions on the media. the hapless in-charge of the government’s information monolith and its chief spokesperson however did not get much of a sympathetic ear from the prime minister.

Ms Awan dominates the airwaves 24/7, but rarely makes any sense. that is why she was forced to tender an unqualified apology when summoned by the islamabad high court for contempt of court. she had cast uncalled aspirations on the honourable court for granting bail to the ailing PML-N supremo Nawaz sharif.

But the whole episode begs a larger question. if on one hand the government claims that it has left it to the courts to decide Nawaz sharif‘s bail petition on health grounds, then why complain about the outcome? swathes of pro-Pti social media trolls buttressed by the prime minister and his special assistant implicitly castigated the courts, wrongly accusing them of having double standards. the main problem confronting Khan’s dream team is that it is yet to get it’s to get its act together; most ministers behave as if they are still in the opposition. that is why a free for all political discourse dominates the political landscape. For example the sheikh of Lal haveli is a self-styled expert on every subject under the sun from foreign and security policy to civ-mil relations. Just like a bad comedy show host he excels in one-liners, rarely in good taste. though strictly not out of bounds, foreign minster shah Mehmood Qureshi quite often pontificates on domestic political issues. he rarely visits foreign capitals even in this time of an ex-

istential foreign policy and security crisis engulfing the nation. similarly minister of science and technology Fawad chaudhry has yet to reconcile that he is no longer spokesperson of the government. he loves to give his unsolicited opinion on matters that do not concern him anymore.

Unfortunately the prime minister himself has made no attempt to curb the juvenile attitude of his cabinet colleagues. he seems to be quite oblivious or simply unwilling to follow parliamentary norms and traditions.

Khan’s message obstinately remains: “i will not give any Nro nor will i spare the corrupt. they will all be in jail and Riasat e Medina banaoon ga (will make Pakistan like Medina).” in the meanwhile the government is being run by ordinances rather than proper legislation. the parliament has been rendered meaningless as the ruling party refuses to interact with the opposition members and vice versa. the Maulana‘s Azadi March has also exposed the chinks in the opposition’s armour. shahbaz sharif, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, quite unnecessarily threw a spanner in the works by unilaterally making himself absent at the culmination of the Azadi march on thursday evening. his lame excuse for the no show was to mourn these who died in the train inferno the same morning. But neither the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) nor the ANP (Awami National Party) bought it. the Maulana addressing the mammoth rally on Friday did not spare the military establishment either, giving a two days ultimatum to the prime minister to resign. implicitly threatening he said, “if we feel that the institutions are protecting these illegitimate rulers, then after a time limit of two days we should not be stopped from forming an opinion regarding the institutions.” the military‘s spokesman while responding to the JUi-F chief, cryptically stated that the opposition should understand that the Army is supporting a democratically elected government not any one party.

Maulana, in response, has pointed out that the army being the only institution to have responded to his previous statement exposes them and that they should stay out of politics.

Unfortunately in this case the perception has become a reality that the Army is not only supporting a legitimate government it is actually mentoring it. the Pti, it is perceived, has been consistently propped up even before the 2018 general elections were announced.

Nonetheless, it is difficult to support Maulana’s putsch to oust the government through street power.

Both the PPP and the PML-N have thankfully announced that they will not be part of JUi-F‘s sit in.

Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan today. He can be contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com

The unforgettable exhibit How a political statement got amplified

Rabia ahmed

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What is art? rehistoric art during the Neolithic age was a commentary on the life of the time, the progress of man, his achievements and his setbacks. Man was new to his implements and materials but use them he did to depict the life around him, the animals he encountered, as a warning to other hunters, an observation of the terrain. it revealed his flights of fancy, his deepest wishes; it was a reaching for the stars, a lament following war. if the artist observed a tiger stalking a deer, he drew it, he molded stones in the shape of the weight on his heart and made fledgling efforts at portraits of warriors, headmen, and tribesmen. this after all was the politics of the time. in addition those artists made lines and dabbed on paint just for the heck of it too. it carried on. David’s statue in Florence, a symbol of the defense of civil liberties embodied by the republic of Florence, a city-state threatened by rivals and by the

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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all-powerful Medici family; catalano’s statue about the heartache of migration, this is what artists aspire to, to create a spur to thought, to produce the kindling that fires imagination, to present a message encapsulated by skill and imagination. this is the real thing of beauty that is a joy forever. the Karachi Biennale 2019 recently held its annual event at the Frere hall. What is the Karachi Biennale? it is the flagship project undertaken by the Karachi Biennale trust designed to use art as a vehicle to discover, discuss and respond to Karachi. the exhibition this year included a work by the artist Adeela suleman. it consisted of 444 grave markers, each depicting a person murdered by rao Anwar of Karachi, now the former ssP of Malir. As Jibran Nasir pointed out, the murders are not disputed, they are on police record. the ssP was later also indicted for the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a young aspiring model who Anwar claimed was a member of the ttP. Give us a break.

Part of the exhibit at Frere hall was also a video installation with images of Mehsud’s father and the place where he was killed.

Unidentified persons raided this Karachi Biennale 2019 display at the Frere hall. they toppled over each

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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stone representing each grave marker thus destroying Adeela suleman’s exhibit, and sealed off the lower hall. so, who were these people?

Which ‘intel Agency’ were they from with enough power enabling them to arrive in trucks and threaten the staff of Frere hall, disrupt Jibran Nasir’s press conference, throw away the medias’ mikes and prevent them from going on air? the fact that the organisers of the Biennale issued a statement afterwards in which they refused to support suleman and said that her exhibit was against the ethos of the event and would create ‘false divisions’ between art, the public and society suggests that the organisers too perhaps were muzzled by the ‘Agency’. After all each exhibit must have been vetted and given approval before the event.

Were these self-appointed censors expecting pieces of art utterly devoid of commentary on the surroundings in which people live? Did they want or expect just lines and dabs of paint, paintings of voluptuous beauties and monuments in praise of our rulers, statues of figures from our apparently glorious past, or a collage of the achievements of Pakistan? of course, with Malala conspicuously missing, and Abdus salam blacked out. this incident gives rise to many

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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questions, but also whether art should foster political debate in a society. that depends on what the definition of politics is. if it is the expression of the will of the people, their concerns and the issues they face, then suleman’s exhibit is right up that alley. if on the other hand those in power in Pakistan define politics (only to themselves of course) as a vehicle for the power the government holds over the governed, then what followed the destruction of suleman’s exhibit was an even more powerful commentary than the commentary that was destroyed, and its censors failed abysmally in their attempts to hush it up. And what followed is this: human rights supporters stood each stone up again and lay down behind each one, representing the body in each grave.

What a superb response.

We will remember suleman’s exhibit which otherwise we would have appreciated very much but would have forgotten in time, but now this exhibit will remain in our minds. Because it became such a powerful commentary on the times we live in. this is something that is beyond the capacity of ‘intel Agencies’ to understand, that censorship eventually rebounds on the censors. how many people read salman rushdie’s Satanic Verses before it was banned? how many read it afterwards?

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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Kashmir: A simmering cauldron

Subversion within Breeding anarchy, rendering a difficult country ungovernable

Candid Corner Raoof hasaN “On the mountains of truth, you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.”

—Friedrich Nietzsche

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F we think of that one thing which has been ousted from the state of Pakistan, it would be nothing other than the truth. it looks like we have been reduced to a society that takes pride in building tall edifices on the foundations of fabrication and falsehood– and then taking pride in what we have accomplished. consequently, people don’t hesitate to keep changing their oft-avowed positions with time, justifying them unashamedly as if these were heavenly interjections. the multi-party conglomerate that assembled in islamabad on october 31, and announced it would stay there for a few more days, has only one thing in common: lust for power. it is more so now because a process of accountability has been initiated and there appears little prospect that this would be stopped. it is more likely that it may gain further strength with time.

Leading up to the march, there was much confusion. it was not clear whether other political parties, particularly the PML(N) and the PPP, would be participating in the rally and, if yes, how strongly and how potently? in the end, it turned out to be a token presence with some leaders turning up to deliver their caustic comments and moving away. i got input from six different people who all spent time personally at the rally. According to them, bulk of the crowd encompassed the uniform-clad, baton-bearing members of the JUi(F) Militant Wing– Ansar-ul-islam. some others conceded that they had been paid to attend the rally.

More importantly, there were no women to be seen. even female journalists were not allowed to enter the arena to fulfil their professional duties, this in a country where women constitute more than 50 percent of the total population.

Most painful was to see Bilawal Zardari standing behind that vile merchant of religion, Fazlur rehman. he often talks about the liberal

credentials of his party. if that be so, it is a Khan to Asfandyar Wali Khan– all these politishame that he would agree to be part of this cir- cal parties are family circuses which work excus which did not acknowledge the presence of clusively to satiate the whims of their masters. i have often written on the subject previwomen in the society. it is quite obvious that principles did not constitute the basis of this ously that, in its existing form, the prevalent system has run a complete course. it cannot go myopic agenda-driven gathering. so, why did they come there? they may any further as there are far too many contradichave their own reason orreasons for attending tions, far too many ingrained weaknesses. if we the rally, but one common objective was to form think we need democracy in the country, as we a pressure platform to secure reprieve from the should, the system needs a comprehensive recorruption allegations that they or their leaders modelling beginning with making the political may be currently facing. For this bigot, Fazlur parties representative and accountable by ensurrehman, it is his bloated ego that does not let ing that their leaderships are democratically him rest. he is not in the Assembly and there is elected. there is absolutely no concept of little that he can do to woo Prime Minister Khan democracy in a country without first introducto let him sneak into the power echelons as he ing it in the annals of the political parties so that was able to do during the previous regimes. But, their leaderships at all tiers could be elected he cannot do without it either. so, he had to through transparent intra-party elections with every member of the party having an equal right stretch the level of confrontation to the brink. his speech was nothing but a pack of bla- to be elevated to any office that he or she may deem appropriate. tant lies. he accused the there is also a dire government of comproneed to hold the political mising the interests of leaders to account as part the state in the foreign of a comprehensive policy and economic doIt is time for the moral code. they just mains as also in managing other matters government to take a firm can’t take off on a spree of spreading lies and impacting the lives of position and ask the rabid distortions to misthe people. he also lead the public to advowed to use religion as institutions of the state to vance their degenerate an instrument of his politics saying he had the liplay their respective roles personalised agendas.

We also need to adcense to do so vide within the ambit of the dress the weaknesses in multiple provisions in the electoral system. the constitution.

Constitution. The constituency politics is a he warned the instiwreck where social and tutions (read military) statement from the economic power and innot to give an impression of extending supmilitary is a good omen. ducements are used to win votes. it reduces the port to the government This lethal virus must be entire electoral process to as, otherwise, he would First-past-thebe constrained to form culled with full force and apostsham. system should be rean adverse opinion placed with one based on about them. he threatwrit of the state proportionate representaened that the people tion for introducing genwho were present at the uine and representative rally were capable of endemocracy in the country. tering the Prime MinisJust when Pakistan appeared to be stabilising ter’s house to arrest him. he gave the Prime Minister two days to resign. if he did not, he internally and gaining momentum internationally, a hideous merchant of religion has laid his venwould give a call for the next line of action. this is an unmistakable attempt at creating omous fangs bare to dismantle a democraticallyanarchy and an environment to escape the drag- elected government. in this heinous act, he is net of justice. everyone who is not elected to aided and abetted by a select and regressive repthe Assembly questions the fairness of the elec- resentation from some political parties. if this toral process because politics, for these people, kind of politics becomes a norm, no government is not a reflection of the will of the people, but would be able to complete its stipulated tenure. an unchallengeable right to assume the mantle this is an act of subversion from within which of power. they cannot even think of being out would breed anarchy, rendering a difficult country of the assemblies where they always have their virtually ungovernable. it is time for the government to take a firm hands on the levers of cash. the one reason why such characterless in- position and ask the institutions of the state to dividuals are returned to the assemblies is that play their respective roles within the ambit of our political parties are not representative in the constitution. the statement from the milicharacter. instead, we have family fiefdoms, and tary is a good omen. this lethal virus must be the worst few are able to cheat their way to the culled with full force and writ of the state. top through a fraudulent pretence of elections.

Raoof Hasan is a political and security From Bhutto to Benazir to Zardari to Bilawal, from Mufti Mahmud to Fazlur rehman to Asad strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Mahmood, from Nawaz sharif to Maryam Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. He Nawaz, from shahbaz sharif to hamza shah- can be reached at: raoofhasan@hotmail.com; baz, from Bacha Khan to Khan Abdul Wali Twitter: @RaoofHasan

rss-BJP and their offshoots dish out stark lies as historical facts. Gandhi did not care a fig for rss leaders in his life-time. so was the case with Ambedkar also. tragically, the BJP-rss combine is now trying to co-opt Gandhi and pitch him against the congress. What a wonder it is hard to find rsss’ founding father, hedgewar’s mention in the 21 volumes of the writings and speeches of Ambedkar.

Both Gandhi and Ambedkar envisioned india as a modern country with due place for minorities. But, hedgewar thought of hindu raj, _ rule by hindu rashtra. chiplunkar, tilak and their disciple hedgewar abhorred Gandhi ‘a Bania leading the freedom movement’. After tilak’s death, hedgewar left the congress-led freedom struggle and began struggle to regain past glory of Aryawarta. Ambedkar explicitly rejected idea of the hindu rashtra. he stressed, ‘No matter what the hindus say, hinduism is a menace to liberty, equality and fraternity. on that account it is incompatible with democracy. hindu raj must be prevented at any cost.’ V D savarkar’s essay ‘Hindutva’ published in 1925 is rss’s bible, is... he called Muslims’ hissing Yavana snakes’. But, current rss’s chief Bhagwat disowned savarkar to avert ire of foreign journalists he addressed en camera.

An immutable lesson of history is that Kashmiris never reconciled with foreign rule. if they could no longer fight an invader with arms, they pelted stones on invaders (Mughal). the stone throwers were called dilawars, and the Mughal, were addressed as shikas mogle. this Kashmiri-language expression, akin to French C’est dommage (it’s too bad), is spoken when something is lost. the Mughal were Muslim. Yet, the Kashmiri hated them. Shikas mogle affords a peek into the Kashmiri heart and mind. they cursed foreigners, be they be Muslim.

Kashmiris hate cheating and consider Akbar ‘the Great’ an epitome of treachery. Akbar invited Kashmir ruler Yusuf chak (1579 – 1586) for talks. But, treacherously imprisoned and killed him in Bihar state. Be it noted that Akbar had failed to subjugate Kashmir in his earlier two expeditions. After take-over, the Mughal lived in a walled nagri (city), later called Sri nagar. the helpless Kashmir used to throw stones at walled city to express their anguish. the general feeling of hatred, kashmiriat, was akin to what ibn-e-Khuldoon calls asabiya (national cohesion). it ran across all sects (shia-sunni), religions, castes and creed. india cheated sheikh Abdullah and his posterity. indian forces fire pellets (called ‘birdshots’) with pump-action shotguns against unarmed protesters or stone throwers, even women, and children five to eight years’ old. A New York Time report portrays a gruesome picture (“An Epidemic of ‘Dead Eyes’ in Kashmir as India Uses Pellet Guns on Protesters”, New York Times, Aug 28, 2016’) it says the patients have mutilated retinas, severed optic nerves, irises seeping out like puddles of ink’. Doctors call them ‘dead eyes’. A similar report in Washington Post (December 12, 2017) is no less poignant.

Let india realise it can’t stifle Kashmiris’ dissent. to stifle the Kashmiri’s fighting spirit, the Dogra (1846-1947) punished even Kashmiri children who played with fork-slings (ghulail in Urdu) and stones (Muhammad Yousaf saraf, Kashmiris Fight for Freedom, vol 1, p 50). struggle for freedom goes on despite indian forces’ reign of terror (abductions, custodial deaths, rapes, arson, and pellet shelling). ‘the security council should make clear that it opposes Mr Modi’s brutal tightening of india’s control on Kashmir. While Mr Modi may think he can control this volatile conflict on his own, he almost certainly cannot’ (The UN Can’t Ignore Kashmir Anymore, New York Times, oct 2, 2019), AMJED JAAVED Rawalpindi

Campaign against democracy there is a systematic campaign in electronic media by few anchors and selected analysts who blame democracy for ills that afflict this country, thereby negating Quaid’s vision.

Pakistan was created through democratic constitutional struggle waged by politicians with calibre of Quaid-e-Azam and many others who rose up through political process and were not implanted by British raj. it were men like sikandar hayat, a bureaucrat on payroll of hM Government, serving as Member reserve Bank of india, who was implanted by raj to take over Unionist Party in Punjab after untimely death of sir Fazal-i-hussain, a politician in his own right, on 29 June 1936. the British raj excelled in “Divide and rule” through intrigues using paid civil and uniformed bureaucracy as tools. they controlled both hindus and Muslim, through civil bureaucracy run by Dc and commissioners (there is no post of Dc etc in UK), a uniformed security service to quell local population through intrigues and use of brute force such as Jallianwala brutality. it is unfortunate that MAJ vision of a modern democratic welfare was deliberately derailed, the constitution delayed and country became hostage to vested interests.

Quaid succeeded in the words of Wolpert - modify the map of world- creating a nation-state; but within a year of his death his vision was derailed. if Quaid’s democratic Pakistan was allowed to function, Kashmir would have been liberated in 1948 or latest by 1962, there would have been no military action in east Pakistan and this country would not have been engaged in proxy war under Zia. Pakistan would have emerged as an economically powerful state, with its people enjoying fruits of development instead of miseries that they face today.

MALIK TARIq ALI Lahore

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS ISTANBUL

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Agencies

N air strike Saturday by key Damascus ally Russia killed six civilians including a child in the embattled opposition bastion of Idlib in northwestern Syria, a war monitor.

The strike hit the village of Jaballa in the south of the Idlib region, taking the lives of all six from the same family, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria, says it determines who carries out an air strike according to flight patterns, as well as aircraft and ammunition involved. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said it was the bloodiest such Russian air raid in two months since Moscow announced a truce for the surrounding area on August 31. Since then, eight other civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes on dif-

rUSSiAN Air STrike killS Six CiviliANS iN SyriA ferent dates in the region, he said.

Syrian President Bashar alAssad’s forces launched a devastating military campaign against Idlib in April, killing around 1,000 civilians and forcing more than 400,000 people to flee their homes.

TEMPORARY DEAL: Last week’s Sochi agreement between Ankara and Moscow halted a Turkish operation launched against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria on October 9, which left hundreds dead and prompted tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Under the deal, Turkey is to assume control over one 120 kilometres (75 miles) wide section in the centre of the border, while

Syrian government forces are to deploy to the east and west.

Along the whole length of the border, a 10-kilometre deep buffer zone is to be created on the Syrian side which will be jointly patrolled by Russian and Turkish troops. The Kurds spearheaded a US-backed military campaign against the Islamic State group that deprived the jihadists’ of their final sliver of Syrian territory in March this year but Ankara views the Kurdish forces as “terrorists”.

Abandoned by their ally Washington — which early last month pulled its own troops back from the border area, effectively allowing Turkey to attack — the

Kurds turned to Damascus which swiftly deployed its forces, reclaiming swathes of territory it lost as long ago as 2012. President Bashar al-Assad said Thursday the Sochi agreement was “temporary,” and will eventually pave the way for his government to retake Syria’s northeast. UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen on Friday voiced hope over talks in Geneva between the Syrian government, opposition and civil society.

Pedersen said he was “very impressed” that the sides were meeting at all to discuss amending the country’s constitution ahead of possible elections as part of a UN peace plan. Nearly 100 kilometres

(around 60 miles) from the site of the joint patrols in Derbasiyeh, a convoy of five US armoured vehicles was seen patrolling on Thursday in a zone north of the town of Qahtaniyah. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was part of an eastern stretch of the border where US forces are seeking to maintain a presence.

“They want to prevent Russia and the regime from reaching parts of the border that lie east of

the city of Qamishli,” the de facto capital of Syria’s Kurdish minority, Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman said. A spokesman for the US-led coalition said its forces are transiting on routes near the border as Washington “withdraws troops from northern Syria and repositions some troops to the Deir Ezzor region,” near the border with Iraq. Trump last month said a “small number” of US troops would stay to “secure the oil”.

New California fire grows as crews make headway on other blazes LAS VEGAS Agencies

A new wildfire in California grew to nearly 9,000 acres (3,700 hectares) on Friday, sending thousands of people fleeing and further stretching resources in a state struggling with a spate of wildfires this season.

The so-called Maria Fire erupted Thursday evening in Ventura County, 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, and burned out of control through the night, driven by high winds and threatening 2,300 structures.

By Friday afternoon, the windfueled blaze that risked consuming citrus and avocado orchards as well as other crops was zero percent contained. Authorities said 8,000 people were under evacuation orders and at least two structures had been burned.

Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said fire crews had been thwarted by people flying drones in the area.

“Last night and early morning we had individuals flying small drones in the area of the flight operations for the fire suppression,” he told a media briefing. “This creates a very significant hazard for our airborne fire fighting assets and causes them to land and stop firefighting efforts as

long as that aircraft is in the area.”

The Maria Fire erupted as crews continue to battle multiple blazes that have broken out across the state in the last two weeks, prompting massive evacuations and power cuts.

Another fire, the Easy Fire, which broke out Wednesday in Ventura County and came dangerously close to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, was almost fully contained on Friday. “We’re in the middle of a big fight, and we’re about a week into this and the end is not yet in sight,” Ventura County

Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen told reporters Friday afternoon. “It has been an uphill battle ever since.”

Up in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, there was some good news as authorities reported that the Kincade Fire, the largest in the state this season, was 68 percent contained.

The devastating fires that have exploded across the state this season were addressed by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday as she spoke at a rally in Los Angeles to pressure California lawmakers to pass stricter environmental policies.

“Today, in California, we can see the wildfires happening just around the corner, wildfires that are being intensified by the climate crisis,” the 16-year-old Swede said. “But it’s not just here. Everywhere around the world, we can see these horrible environmental impacts that countless people are suffering and dying from.”

The fires prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a statewide emergency this week.

The flames have been fed by bone-dry conditions, especially in the lower part of the state which has not had rainfall for months. An extreme red flag warning issued for the Los Angeles area this week was lifted Thursday but the National Weather Service warned that so-called Santa Ana winds could still wreak havoc through Saturday evening.

In a bid to reduce the risk of wildfires, the state’s largest utility company, Pacific Gas & Electric, has been shutting off power to millions of customers in northern and central California, prompting outrage.

The blazes come as California is still reeling from the aftermath of the most destructive wildfire in state history — the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 86 people last year.

UK PM Johnson backs his deal over no-deal Brexit LONDON Agencies

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put his Brexit withdrawal deal at the centre of his election campaign, rejecting an electoral pact with the Brexit Party that would mean he would have to embrace leaving the European Union without a deal.

Johnson had previously pledged to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal on Oct. 31, before lawmakers voted to force him to seek an extension until Jan. 31. But he has abandoned the threat of a no-deal Brexit in his Conservative Party’s manifesto for the Dec. 12 election, the Times newspaper reported on Saturday. It added that the focus would be on getting his Brexit deal approved. On Friday, Johnson rejected a call

from the Brexit Party to drop the deal he negotiated with the European Union last month in order to form a new electoral pact, saying that he could put his deal through parliament after an election win.

“What we’ve got is a fantastic deal that nobody thought we could get,” Johnson said. “As soon as we get back in the middle of December, we can put that deal through.” Nicky Morgan, the culture minister who is standing down as a lawmaker, said a vote for the Conservatives would be a vote against no deal. “If you vote Conservative at this election, you’re voting to leave with this deal, and no-deal has been effectively been taken off the table,” she told the Times in an interview.

In Britain’s tortuous road since a 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU, businesses and economists have cautioned that leaving the bloc

without a deal to smooth the transition would deliver a big blow to the British economy.

Proponents of a no-deal Brexit say it provides a clean break from EU rules and regulations.

The Conservative manifesto will also not include a commitment to a fiscal rule, the Times reported, relaxing the government’s grip on public finances. The Conservative party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government’s previous fiscal rule pledged to hold the underlying budget deficit below 2% of the country’s economic output in the 2020/21 financial year.

Opinion polls give Johnson a sizeable lead over the main opposition Labour Party, but also suggest that more than 10% of voters back the Brexit Party – enough to split the pro-Brexit vote between some seats and hand victory to Labour.

Trump may face fight over planned move from NYC to Florida Donald Trump a Florida man? Not so fast. Despite a stinging “good riddance” tweet from New York’s governor, the president’s home state may not let him go to Florida without a fight.

Trump’s plan to shift his permanent residence to Palm Beach will likely be heavily scrutinized by New York state officials, who are notorious for auditing wealthy residents seeking to flee to lower-tax states to make sure such moves are real and not just on paper. Those cases can go on for years. “New York says just because you fill out a piece of paper, that doesn’t make you a Floridian,” said Mark Klein, a tax lawyer who

has handled hundreds of tax-residency audits. “People have this misunderstanding that if you go to Florida and fill out an affidavit, you register to vote and you get a driver’s license, that is all it takes.”

Even though it appears Trump has a strong case — he’s only spent a few nights at his Trump Tower penthouse overlooking Fifth Avenue since he became president — tax experts say it’s not a matter of if he will be audited but when. “It’s 100 percent he’ll get audited,” predicted Barry Horowitz, a tax accountant who has handled many change-ofresidency cases. “There’ll be a fight.”

The general rule for avoiding New York taxes is to spend less than 184 days of the year in the state, but that’s just the beginning. Auditors and judges could look at where his business is headquartered (also in Trump Tower), the size of his various homes, where he displays his family photos and his most valuable artwork, even where he gets his teeth cleaned. In announcing his move in a tweet late Thursday, Trump said New York City “will always have a special place in my heart!” But despite paying “millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year,” he complained, he had been “treated very badly by the

political leaders of both the city and state.” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo quickly tweeted: “Good riddance. It’s not like @realDonaldTrump paid taxes here anyway…”

And then New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio chimed in, tweeting, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out” and “Deepest condolences to the good people of Florida.” Trump responded later Friday with a four-part tweet that blasted both Cuomo (“the brother of Fredo”) and de Blasio, saying, “I love New York, but New York can never be great again under the current leadership.” Agencies

Southeast Asian leaders meet under US-China trade war cloud BANGKOK: Southeast Asian countries must stick together in the face of a trade war started by US President Donald Trump, Malaysia’s veteran leader said on Saturday at the start of a regional summit held in the shadow of US-China tensions. But as leaders of the 10 member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Bangkok, there was no sign they had yet finalised a planned trade deal backed by China that could create the world’s biggest free trade area. “We don’t want to go into a trade war. But sometimes when they’re unnice to us, we have to be unnice to them,” Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s outspoken 94-year-old prime minister told a business summit on the sidelines of the main meeting. In an obvious reference to Trump, whose administration began raising tariffs on Chinese imports with the goal of reducing the U.S. trade deficit, Mahathir said “If the person is not there, maybe there will be a change.” A draft final statement for the ASEAN summit seen by Reuters said the leaders would express “deep concern over the rising trade tensions and on-going protectionist and anti-globalization sentiments.” Trade would be the main topic, diplomats said, with little discussion expected on perennial regional problems such as maritime disputes with China over the South China Sea and the plight of Rohingya refugees driven from Myanmar. “We want global economic peace,” said Arin Jira, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, a body set up by member states. Export reliant Southeast Asian states are at the sharp end of the trade war, with growth expected to slow to its lowest in five years this year. They are also worried at increasing Chinese influence in a region whose population of more than 620 million is still less than half of China’s. The United States, an important trade partner, is sending a delegation to the meetings. But the downgrading of its delegation compared to those in previous years and to those of other countries has concerned those who saw Washington as a security counterweight to Beijing. Instead of President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, the United States will be represented by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien. China is sending its premier, Li Keqiang. “This signals that the U.S. is a lesser player in our area,” Kantathi Suphamongkhon, former Thai foreign minister told Reuters. Southeast Asian states had hoped to make progress towards finalising the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – comprising 16 countries that account for a third of global gross domestic product and nearly half the world’s population. But that was unclear after a scheduled news conference was cancelled late on Friday. A major sticking point has been demands from India, which is worried about a potential flood of Chinese imports. “The finalization of the RCEP negotiation has become a key test for ASEAN’s capacity to deliver on its often-cited centrality,” Marty Natalegawa, a former Indonesian foreign minister, told Reuters. Human rights groups said they did not expect the Southeast Asian countries would do much to address problems such as the Rohingya refugees or discuss questions such as the growing authoritarianism in some member states.

“ASEAN will go far. ASEAN will endure,” was the jingle played repeatedly on the conference sound system. “Our neighbourhood becomes a brotherhood,” it said. Agencies

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

PM reaffirMs suPPort for sMart subsidy punjab govt mulls launching ‘Kissan card’ programme to ensure ‘targeted subsidy For small Farmers’ ISLAMABAD

P

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan said the other day that facilitation of small farmers was among the foremost priorities of his government. The prime minister observed this while chairing a meeting that reviewed matters pertaining to agro production, especially the facilitation of small farmers.

Earlier, in a session with a select group of journalists, Engro Fertilizers CFO Imran Ahmed shared that over 50pc of the farmland is owned by less than 10pc of farmers in Pakistan, resulting in landholding being concentrated in the hands of rich landowners.

However, he added, the remaining 90pc of farmers have very small landholdings which highlight the significance of small and subsistence farmers in Pakistan’s agri-sector employment. In this scenario, the subsidy given by the govern-

BANGKOK AGENCIES

Plans to finalise an Asia-wide trade deal at a summit in Bangkok this weekend were uncertain after new demands raised by India in the negotiations to create the world’s largest trading bloc.

Southeast Asian leaders meeting in Thailand hope to make progress on the China-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – which would comprise 16 countries that account for a third of global gross domestic product and nearly half the world’s population.

Talks are expected to continue on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok after a press conference was cancelled on Friday, raising questions whether ministers could reach agreement in their last formal negotiations ahead of a summit on the regional partnership on Monday.

Host Thailand has been pushing for a preliminary deal by the end of the year, keen to push ahead at a time when US-China tensions threaten to slow growth in the region.

A major sticking point has been demands from India, which

'Farmers having up to Five acres oF land will get direct subsidy on Fertilisers through national rural support programme'

ment on urea produced on imported LNG is directly and disproportionately benefitting the large farm owners, whose agricultural income remains untaxed.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Langrial, in a closed-door meeting with the media, disclosed that the government planned to unleash a revolution in the agriculture sector by launching the “Kissan Card”, a step aimed at disbursing “targeted subsidy to small farmers”.

“Farmers having up to five acres of land would get direct subsidy on fertilizers through National Rural Support Programme (NRSP). As many as five million farmers will benefit from this in the next two years,” he informed.

The prime minister also pointed out that the agriculture policy, especially the focus on facilitation of small farmers, was the manifestation of the government’s commitment towards the agriculture sector. He said the provision of facilities to small farmers would not only bolster agriculture yield but would also help alleviate

Trade talks in balance at Southeast Asian leaders summit is worried about a potential flood of Chinese imports.

“It’s a fact India has put new demands which are difficult to meet,” said a person with knowledge about New Delhi’s negotiations.

Indian President Narendra Modi told the Bangkok Post in an interview he is committed to ongoing RCEP negotiations but added “opening the vast Indian market must be matched by openings in some areas where our businesses can also benefit.”

Another person with knowledge of the talks said the Thai commerce minister had cancelled the press briefing in order to continue the marathon negotiations late into Friday night.

TRADE WAR: Any breakthrough on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership would boost confidence in export-reliant Southeast Asia that has been weighed down by US-China trade war, with growth expected to slow to its lowest in five years.

“The finalisation of the RCEP negotiation has become a key test for ASEAN’s capacity to deliver on its often-cited centrality,” Marty Natalegawa, a former Indonesian foreign minister, told Reuters.

BUSINESS 11

poverty.

Currently, the government is bearing Rs38 billion per annum on account of subsidized RLNG to fertilizer plants. Additionally, the government also decided to import 100KT of urea for an approximate amount of Rs6 billion, raising the total cost of these adverse decisions on the national exchequer to Rs44 billion ($275 million). Along with the above, the subsidy to sell imported LNG at cheaper rate annually amounts to Rs21 billion.

According to industry experts, had the efforts been deployed to provide much bigger “smart” subsidies were made earlier, the subsistence farmers would have benefited significantly at a much-reduced cost to the country. Small scale farmers, with less than 5 acres of land can potentially get urea free of cost if this entire amount is targeted to them as a subsidy, they added.

A reduction of even Rs500 per bag in urea price for the small farmers could have been achieved by just spending less

imports from india plunge 39.47pc in first quarter Fy20 ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan's imports from India dropped by 39.47pc during the first quarter of the current financial year (FY19-20), following the dip in trade relations between the two countries since August this year. Overall imports from India were recorded at $220.839 million during July-September FY20 as against the imports of $364.901 million during the same period of FY19, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). On the other hand, Pakistani exports to India during the period under review were recorded at $9.802 million as against $102.458 million last year, showing decreased of 90.43pc.

Based on the trade figures, imports from India witnessed a decline of 71.06pc in September 2019 when compared with the imports of the same month of last year. The imports from India into the country during September 2019 were recorded at $29.453 million as against the imports of $101.803 million in September 2018. On a month-on-month basis, the imports from India declined by 57.72pc during September 2019 when compared to the imports of $69.671 million in August 2019. It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan's merchandise trade deficit plunged by 34.85pc during the first three months of the current fiscal year as compared to the same month of last year. The trade deficit during July-September 2019-20 was recorded at $5.727 billion against the deficit of $8.791 billion during July-September 2018-19. The exports increased from $5.374 billion to $5.522 billion while imports declined by 20.6pc to $11.249 billion in 1QFY20.

than 25pc of the total annual cost of Rs44 billion to run LNG-based plants and import Urea; whereas a similar objective could have been achieved on DAP by just spending 6pc of the total cost. Such a scheme would have benefitted the small farms who need the support in these times of runaway inflation.

Such targeted subsidy would also enable the usage of balanced nutrients in the country. Yields of major crops in Pakistan have remained below peer averages and one of the reasons is the lack of application of balanced nutrients as required by crops for optimum growth.

Experts suggest that farmers can earn billions of rupees through enhanced agriproductivity resulting from the application of balanced nutrition. The targeted subsidy programme introduced by the Punjab government that awarded direct payment to small-scale farmers for P & K fertilizers has led to an increase in the use of these critical soil nutrients by 56pc in the last couple of years.

provinces directed to ensure lowest prices for edible items ISLAMABAD APP Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday directed the provincial governments to ensure the availability of edible items at the lowest possible prices. Chairing a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf's Core Committee, the prime minister instructed the provincial governments to take strict action, through the price control committees, against those involved in overcharging and hoarding. The meeting discussed in detail the prevailing situation of the country and the problems confronting the masses. The PM was informed that the government’s decision to defer the implementation of the axleload policy was widely lauded by the owners of the Banaspati ghee mills who had assured to reduce ghee prices within the next few days. The core committee also reviewed the availability of flour stock in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The prime minister directed the officials to keep an eye on the prices of the flour and its availability.

secp issues rules for rehabilitation of sick industry ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), with the approval of the federal government, has notified the Corporate Restructuring Companies Rules, 2019.

“The enactment of rules provides institutional arrangements and legal processes for the revival and rehabilitation of potentially viable companies,” said a statement issued by the commission. “The rules were notified in terms of Section 15 of the Corporate Restructuring Companies Act, 2016.”

Earlier, the Act was passed by the parliament to provide for the establishment, licencing and regulation of corporate restructuring companies and the manner in which they carry on business. As per the statement, “The new law is perceived as a revolutionary step in acquisition, management, restructuring and resolution of non-performing assets of financial institutions besides restructuring reorganization, revival and liquidation of financially distressed companies and their businesses.

Generally, corporate restructuring happens when a corporate entity is experiencing significant problems and is in financial jeopardy.

The provision of Section 4 of the Act provides that no corporate restructuring company shall be incorporated

or carry on business unless it holds a licence from the commission and register as a public limited company.

The corporate restructuring companies shall be responsible to acquire and to manage and restructure or dispose of distressed companies, their businesses and properties. The restructuring companies shall also support and raise finances for rehabilitation, restructuring, reorganization or liquidation of distressed companies businesses and their properties. The new law will enable the financial institutions to transfer its nonperforming assets to a corporate restructuring company along with all titles, rights, privileges and remedies available and attached to such assets for its proper management.

Globally, the process of corporate restructuring is considered instrumental to eliminate the financial crisis and enhance the corporation performance.

Usually, the corporations facing the financial crunches hire a financial and legal expert for advisory and assistance.

In the modern era, the management of the distressed corporations in order to improve its performance and to focus on its core strategy, dispose of non-performing assets and businesses which do not align with its core strategy.

The Corporate Restructuring Companies Law is seen by many as instrumental in turnaround of the sick industry in Pakistan.

telenor pakistan partners with engro’s enfrashare for infrastructure development ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Enfrashare Pakistan Private Limited, a connectivity infrastructure company, and Telenor Pakistan have entered into a longterm partnership for the development of connectivity infrastructure.

Telenor has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Edotco, another infrastructure company, for its operations in Pakistan.

According to the press release issued

by Enfrashare, the company will help develop connectivity infrastructure and pro-

vide key services to Telenor, thereby upscaling connectivity and enabling the telecom to focus on core business functions. "This partnership aims to enhance Pakistan's critical communication infrastructure network while allowing Telenor to meet its coverage and capacity requirements for rapidly growing data demands," read the statement.

Enfrashare is owned by one of the largest groups in Pakistan – Engro Corporation Limited – and was formed as a digital connectivity firm. At the time of its formation, Engro announced that the company plans to invest Rs7.5 billion in

the telecommunication sector of Pakistan.

While its expertise and investment in connectivity infrastructure allow mobile operators to reduce the cost of access to consumers, Enfrashare aims to engage with all stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem in order to realise a larger goal of digitising Pakistan.

On behalf of Engro, company spokesman Amanul Haque stated, "Engro firmly believes that connectivity is a basic human need and is the conduit that enables social and financial inclusion. This agreement will allow Enfrashare to work with one of the most respected operators

in the country to provide enhanced solutions. Enfrashare envisions enabling broader connectivity and encompasses all necessary components including towers, fibre, energy, and more."

Telenor Pakistan Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer Khurrum Ashfaque said, "We, at Telenor Pakistan, are driven by our vision of empowering Pakistan through enhanced connectivity and believe that telecom technology is a true driver towards bridging the socio-economic divide. We look forward to working with Enfrashare to provide innovative and advanced solutions, including fibre

and energy optimization, which will be instrumental for network enhancement in years to come."

Telenor Pakistan Manager Corporate Communications Saad Warraich told Pakistan Today that Telenor has varied operations in vast areas all over the country, so the fact that the company has entered into partnership with both Edotco and Enfrashare does not have any bearing on its individual projects, and will not be overlapping over each other.

He added that Telenor believes that tower sharing is the right way ahead and progress on that front is also underway.

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

12 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER

fbr to tighten noose around ‘tax-evading sectors’ ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Women browse though designer Faiqa Khan’s collection during an exhibition organised on Saturday.

PRESS RElEASE

KARACHI: The Bahria Town management has inaugurated Bahria Adventure Park. Bahria Town Chariman Malik Riaz Hussain and CEO Ali Riaz were also present on the occasion. PRESS RElEASE

i

AHMAD AHMADANI

N an effort to meet the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is all set to place a system that could electronically monitor the production and supply of sugar, cement, fertiliser and beverages.

Following the grant of licence to the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) to place a 'track & trace system' for electronic surveillance of production and supply of tobacco products, the FBR has now decided to invite applications for placement of

revenue board decides to invite bids For electronic surveillance oF sugar, cement and Fertiliser sectors the same in the sugar, cement, fertiliser and beverages sectors.

Sources said that the IMF had directed the relevant departments to place IT-based solutions for five major tax-evading sectors by the end of the year. "The FBR has been finalising its necessary preparations to initiate the bidding process in this regard."

As per the sources, under the Memorandum of Economic Frame-

pakistan’s airlift secures $12m in series a financing BUSINESS DESK

KARACHI: English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) Head of CSR Attiyah Inaam, along with Karachi Biennale Curator Muhammad Zeeshan, presents a medallion to Arsalan Nasir, winner of the Peak Freans Emerging Artist Award. PRESS RElEASE

Airlift, a Pakistan-based decentralised mass transit system, has secured $12 million in Series A financing. The round was led by First Round Capital, a leading US venture capital firm with notable investments in Uber, Square, Roblox, Looker and Notion.

The round marks one of the largest financings in South Asia this year and the first time that a US-based VC has led a round in Pakistan.

Airlift is spearheading the third wave of ride-sharing, in which higher capacity vehicles are playing an increasing role in enabling urban commute. With this financing, Airlift is looking to invest in technology and operations to scale its vision for a decentralized mass transit system, initially focusing on the developing world.

“In the future, mass transit systems will be dynamic in nature, catering and adapting to the changing needs

ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Advisor to PM Dr Ishrat Hussain, University of Management Technology (UMT) President Ibrahim Hassan Murad, US Consul General in Lahore Miss Catherine, UMT DG Abid HK Shirwani addressing the audience during the International Business Conference and Exhibition (IBCE). PRESS RElEASE

US location, perhaps in the farming state of Iowa, which will be a key battleground state in the 2020 presidential election. “China wants to make the deal very much,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday evening. “I don’t like to talk about deals until they happen, but we’re making a lot of progress.”

US and Chinese negotiators have been racing to finalize a text of a ‘phase one’ agreement for Trump and Xi to sign this month, a process clouded by wrangling over US demands for a timetable of Chinese purchases of US farm products. AGENCIES

Trade deficit falls by 33.5pc in four months FY20 BUSINESS DESK Pakistan's trade deficit decreased significantly by 33.5pc during the first four months of the fiscal year 2019-20, a commerce ministry report revealed on Saturday. Trade deficit fell from $11.7 billion recorded from July-October of FY18-19 to $7.8 billion during the same period this year. The decrease in trade deficit can largely be attributed to a fall in imports, which recorded a decline of 19.3pc. Imports during the period of July-October 2019 amounted to $15.3 billion as opposed to $19 billion during the same period last year. Exports, meanwhile, witnessed a nominal increase of 3.6pc and grew from $7.3 billion to $7.5 billion. During the month of October, trade deficit fell by 32pc and was recorded at $1.97 billion as opposed to last year's $2.9 billion. Exports in October increased by 6pc, rising from $1.9 billion to $2 billion, while imports fell by 17pc and were recorded at $3.9 billion as opposed to last year's $4.8 billion.

Cement sector posts growth for second consecutive month STAFF REPORT

HYDERABAD: Susen Pakistan, an international brand of appealing and stylish handbags, recently launched its fourth store, first in Hyderabad, in a star-studded event.

PRESS RElEASE

of the urban population. Our vision for a decentralized mass transit system is a new concept, one that will fundamentally redefine how people commute in urban centers,” says Usman Gul, Airlift’s co-founder and CEO. Prior to moving to Pakistan, Gul previously worked at DoorDash, the largest food delivery platform in the US. Tony Xu, Founder/CEO at DoorDash, which was valued at $12.6 billion in the last round, was among the first few angel investors to support Airlift.

In August, just five months after launching operations, Airlift closed seed financing of $2.2 million with Indus Valley Capital and the Fatima Gobi Ventures, a JV between one of Pakistan’s leading conglomerates Fatima Group and Gobi Partners, co-leading the round.

In October, only two months later, the company has secured Series A financing, increasing their total capital to $14.1 million and setting a new precedent for startups based in Asia.

us-china trade deal in sight after progress in high-level talks WASHINGTON : The United States and China said they made progress in talks aimed at defusing a nearly 16-month-long trade war that has harmed the global economy, and US officials said a deal could be signed this month. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said late Friday the world’s two largest economies had reached “consensus on principles” during a “serious and constructive” telephone call between their main trade negotiators.

US President Donald Trump said he hoped to sign an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a

KARACHI: EFU General Insurance Ltd Chief Finance Officer Altaf Qamruddin Gokal receives the 14th Consumers Choice Award from IT & Telecom Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. PRESS RElEASE

work Programme (MEFP) agreed with the IMF for the release of $6 billion loan, no amnesty scheme was to be introduced until the end of the programme.

"The finance ministry, in order to meet IMF conditions, has already directed the FBR to issue the licence and implement the system accordingly."

Sources said with the implementation of this system in above-

said sectors, FBR will be able to generate additional revenue of Rs20 billion to Rs30 billion through sales tax. Similarly, with the implementation of the track & trace system, the sale of sugar, cement, fertiliser, beverages and other products without a stamp would be seized and action would be taken against vendors who would try to sell commodities without stamps, they added.

It is pertinent to mention that FBR has devised a mechanism to grant licences for the establishment of track and trace system in different sectors. In this regard, a licencing committee was formed under the Licensing Rules, 2019 to prepare recommendations.

The cement sector reported a 9.19pc increase in despatches in October 2019, as 4.984 million tonnes of cement despatched during the month as compared to 4.564 million tonnes in October 2018.

As per the data compiled by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), the cement despatches increased in September 2019 after negative growth in the first two months of the fiscal while the positive trend continued in October as well.

North zone registered an increase of 15.86pc in local despatches during October with 3.605 million tonnes of despatches as compared to 3.111 million tonnes in October last year. It is interesting to note that the local cement despatches from the northern part of the country alone were higher than the total cement despatches in any of the first two months of this fiscal.

The sour point, however, is that the domestic cement uptake in the southern region remained low in October 2019, despatching just 0.591 million tons, down by an

cement exports jump 16.48pc to 2.804m tonnes during the First Four months oF Fy20 alarming 29.41pc from 0.837 million tonnes in October 2018.

The exports continued with the growth trend, increasing by 27.95pc from 0.616 million tonnes in October 2018 to 0.788 million tonnes in October 2019. The growth in export was exclusively executed from the southern region, which rose by 48.75pc from 0.352 million tonnes in October 2018 to 0.591 million tonnes last month; exports from north grew nominally from 0.264 million tonnes in October last year to 0.265 million tonnes in October 2019.

In the first four months of this fiscal, cement manufacturers despatched 16.117 million tonnes of cement, 4.53pc higher than 15.419 million tonnes despatched during the same period last year.

The local despatches were recorded at 13.312 million tonnes in the said period, 2.3pc higher than 13.011 million tonnes of local despatches in the first four months of FY19.

The mills situated in the northern part of the country despatched 11.451 million tonnes to the domestic market, 11.14pc higher than the domestic despatches of 10.304 million tonnes in the northern region during the corresponding period of last year. The south zone despatched 1.861 million tonnes of cement for domestic market in the July-October 2019 period, 31.27pc less than 2.707 million tonnes despatched during the same period last year.

The exports increased by 16.48pc in the period of July-October 2019 to 2.804 million tonnes from 2.408 million tonnes during the same period last year.

The export from north during the first four months of this fiscal was 0.954 million tonnes, 5.64pc less than 1.011 million tonnes during the same period last year. However, in view of total loss of Indian market, the decline is not that sharp.

It is interesting to note that exports from the southern region al-

most matched the domestic consumption as the region exported 1.851 million tonnes of cement during July-Oct 2019 period. The growth in cement exports from the south was 32.5pc, as it grew from 1.397 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

"It is strange that for the first time two cement producing centres of the country are depicting opposite trends in domestic use of cement. Last fiscal, the domestic uptake was stronger in the south while this year northern zone is in big lead," said the APCMA spokesman.

He said that this growth trend is a sigh of relief but subdued consumption in the south is still a major concern. "Commencement of work on the government housing projects already announced will have a positive impact on the uptake of cement in both the regions and other construction materials too, creating earning opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour," he added.

He also appealed the government to minimise duties and taxes on cement sector in order to increase cement consumption.

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Sunday, 3 November, 2019

The Killing fields came alive

I

The TuBe

T was an intriguing piece of installation art. Titled “Killing fields of Karachi,” at Frere hall Karachi, the project was the creation of Adeela Suleiman - associate professor and head of the Fine Arts Department at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture.

It was spread over more than one medium. One was the ‘installation-y’ bit of the installation art: 444 stone pillars resembling tombstones, most with some flowers adorning them. each of these was meant to represent each victim of former SSP Rao Anwar - who was reported, at times gloatingly - to have been directly or indirectly involved in the killing of 444 individuals in dubious police encounters.

The other medium, contained within this installation, was a short documentary featuring Naqeebullah Mehsud’s father, Muhammad Khan. Naqeebullah, of course, was the aspiring model, whose case, through the strange laws that govern a staying power in the public’s

The tombstones that were part of the installation piece at the Karachi Biennial

The artist: Adeela Sulaiman

imagination, became the final straw that tore through Anwar’s immunity to accountability.

By around noon, while the installation was up for only a couple of hours, several cars pulled up in the hall’s parking lot and subsequently had the piece shut down, with the doors of the gallery literally padlocked.

There can be much conjecture on who these men were, but the rumour mills - and the city’s crime journalists - are clear on who protects Rao Anwar.

Later, the Parks and horticulture Authority’s DG also broke up a presser held by social activist Jibran Nasir at the venue, saying that the premises could not be used for ‘political’ activities.

Other articles and op-eds on the issue have expressed outrage with this act of suppression of art and free speech in so articulate a manner that not much else can be said. One would, however, like to take a different take on the issue: it is my belief that the artist should not have registered her piece at the Karachi Biennale as installation art, but as performance art.

Installation art is defined as “an artistic genre of threedimensional works that often are site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space.”

Performance art, on the other hand, is “an art form that combines visual art with dramatic performance.”

Yes, “Killing fields of Karachi” did not have any actors of performers that do most of the heavy lifting in a performance art piece, but that would have been the genius of such a piece. The performers, so to speak, would be the agents (no pun) who would have reacted to the bait that the installation part of the piece was.

Ms Sulaiman would have been part artist and part chess player. This stage management, so to speak, would have been performance art enough. Though at the moment, Ms Suleiman and the rest of the fine arts community in the city won’t quite be in a state of mind to imagine it as such, but the piece has been a resounding success, if only one were to reclassify it as

performance art. here were the killing fields of Karachi coming over to the venue, peeking inside and putting an end to the protest against them. It got far much more press than its intended, relatively inert, status would have. Yes, the artist might be above things like getting good press, but would certainly not be indifferent to the fact that the sheer hopelessness of the situation travelled all the way from the Pashtun quarters of Sohrab Goth, where Naqeebullah had just started renting a shop to set up his garments business, to the pristine high-art environs of Frere hall. In a manner more evocative than 444 tombstones could have ever hoped to be.

The piece came alive. g

ART-AND-CULTURE

Big Data on Big B: Amitabh Bachchan’s 50-year career in numbers Hindustan times

T

By AmBorish roychoudhury

he film Saat Hindustani, set against the backdrop of the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule and directed by the great Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, released on November 7, 1969. Among the actors who played the seven hindustanis was a lanky young man from Allahabad, Amitabh Bachchan, who was cast as a Muslim poet.

Fifty years on, that man is still acting. he’s also acknowledged as the greatest star of hindi cinema — for his staggering longevity and popularity, massive hits and memorable performances.

Bachchan’s success began with his portrayal of the unsmiling, hottempered Inspector Vijay in Zanjeer (1973). And then he proved there was more to him than incandescent rage. he took to romance and comedy; he became the actor who could do it all. As he grew older, Bachchan gracefully moved into senior citizen roles; his star power ensures that films are written around him. Generations of costars have bowed out, but Bachchan goes on. Through tough patches, he’s risen to shine again.

So, here’s Bachchan’s remarkable film career so far – in some fun and surprising numbers...

The number of double roles bachchan has played: his first was back in

A look at the filmi journey of Amitabh Bachchan — from Saat Hindustani, which released half a century ago this week, past the Angry Young Man to the beloved Paa — in numbers 1973 in Bandhe Haath. And unusually for a Bollywood hero, five of those double roles has him playing father and son.

Quite a deal, getting two Amitabhs for the price of one ticket. The 1983 film, Mahaan, featured him in a triple role, as a father and his two sons. When a frustrated Amjad Khan, the baddie in Mahaan, asks exactly how many of them have the same face, the youngest Bachchan quips: “Paun darjan hujoor!” (A quarter dozen, my lord!) bachchan’s heroines who’ve also played

his moTher: In one of the very rare instances in Bollywood, four actors have played his heroines and his mothers (though in different movies). Waheeda Rehman featured opposite him in Adalat and Kabhi Kabhie in 1975 and 1976, and played his mom two years later in Trishul (1978).

Rakhee Gulzar has done the same in Kabhi Kabhie, Kaala Patthar and Shakti; Sharmila Tagore did it in Faraar and Desh Premee. And then there’s Nutan, who played his neglected wife in Saudagar (1973), and his mother in Insaniyat, about two

decades later in 1994. head spinning yet? Three Bachchan films also feature co-stars who play both his mothers and wives (since he was playing both father and son). Waheeda Rehman in Adalat and Mahaan, Sharmila Tagore in Desh Premee. films where he was called vijay: No points for guessing that Bachchan’s most common screen name has been Vijay. Zanjeer, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Deewaar, Trishul, Kaala Patthar, Shaan, Dostana, even the relatively recent ones like Aankhen, Nishabd and Rann. movies where bachchan played a cop: his first time playing a police officer was his most iconic role. In Zanjeer he played Inspector Vijay Khanna, the brooding cop that established his Angry Young Man persona. his most recent outing as a cop was where he was seen grooving and shaking with his son and daughter-in-law. The film was Bunty Aur Babli, and he was DCP Dashrath Singh.

The maximum number of films he’s done wiTh a direcTor: Amitabh Bachchan’s maximum

collaborations (not counting cameos) have been with the directors Manmohan Desai and hrishikesh Mukherjee. he starred in 8 films with each of them. But there’s another director whose Bachchan tally is just as high. Ram Gopal Verma directed 8 films with Bachchan, their last outing being Sarkar 3.

But with RGV, the flops have come thick and fast so you don’t remember them as much. g (Amitabh Bachchan is arguably the greatest star this subcontinent has ever produced.

Obviously, his fans (all several million of them) feel strongly about his work. While we have taken every measure to ensure objectivity and accuracy in these numbers, some of you may disagree with nuance.

Wasn’t he also a villain in...?

And what about the times he was an anti-hero? We’re going with our definitions, and for the number-crunchers, a note: For the purposes of this feature, we have only considered Bachchan’s roles in full-length feature films, not voice-overs, narrative roles, documentaries or cameos.)

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

14 SPORTS

australia hunt for top spot as pakistan's t20i Crown wobbles SyDney

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Agencies

RI LANKA have been dusted down without much fuss and attention now quickly moves to the visit of Pakistan, a side still ranked No. 1 in T20Is but with their grasp on the top spot becoming more tenuous by the match after a significant slip in form.

If New Zealand take one match off England in their series and Australia win this 3-0, they will take Pakistan's top spot.

Still, at least on paper, the visitors should give Australia a tougher challenge than Sri Lanka, particularly with the bowlers they have at their disposal.

However, it's worth remembering that just a few weeks ago, they were beaten 3-0 by a Sri Lanka side deemed weaker than the one that has just visited.

They produced an efficient display to ease to victory against the Cricket Australia XI in their warm-up match, each of the five bowlers used showing what they can bring to the attack. Trying to stop David Warner will be another task, but he will do well to go through another T20I series without

being dismissed. They could face an attack including three left-arm quicks (who, as Chris Lynn noted after the CA XI match, all bring a different skillset) alongside the left-arm spin of Imad Wasim.

Australia were very impressive against Sri Lanka, but it is difficult to gauge what was really learned from the

exercise, although the chance to build form and confidence should never be discounted. The balance of the side, with Ashton Agar at No. 7, has yet to be tested with a fall of early wickets but Aaron Finch has benefited by having five frontline bowlers.

Ashton Turner had the chance for a slightly longer bat in the chase at the

MCG and gave a glimpse of what makes him such an exciting package for Australia's limited-overs teams. He cleared the boundary with ease and is a master runner between the wickets. His shoulder is still not at 100% but barring further mishaps, he is a lock for the squad in a year's time.

This is the first series for new T20I captain Babar Azam and he has a year presuming he keeps the job, which is never a given for Pakistan cricket - to build the side ahead of the T20 World Cup. He is a wonderful batsman, currently ranked No. 1 in T20Is, and has developed further since his previous visit to Australia two years ago. His last innings in the country was a century in an ODI in Adelaide and it will be important that he sets the tone on this tour.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS: The weather may yet play a key part in this match with rain, and a chance of thunderstorms, forecast for Sunday afternoon. It is the first match of the season at the SCG and while the 22 yards shouldn't be an issue, there will be some interest in the rest of the square after the decision to move domestic cricket away from the ground last month.

Joe Denly out of New Zealand T20Is with ankle injury Wellington Agencies

England batsman Joe Denly has been sidelined after damaging a ligament in his ankle during practice. The 33-year-old picked up the injury on Thursday, prior to the first of the five T20Is against New Zealand, and will play no part in the limited-overs series. The England management has not named a replacement for Denly, who is also in the squad for the series of two Test matches, starting November 21.

Denly arrived in New Zealand after helping England to a share of the Ashes series earlier this year, scoring 94 as a makeshift opening batsman at The Oval. It has been speculated that he would be moved down to No. 3 to enable Test captain Joe Root to bat at his preferred No. 4 spot, but that plan now depends on how he pulls up after treatment and rehabilitation.

England do have other options at the top of the order. Dominic Sibley is uncapped, but also a specialist who was the only one to score more than 1000 runs in the 2019 Championship season. The 24-year old has been compared to Alastair Cook for the manner in which he grinds out his runs.

Outside of keeping his Test place, Denly might have also been hoping to break into England's first XI in T20I cricket. With a view to building for the T20 World Cup next October, they saw the five-match series against New Zealand as a testing ground for new talent, coming to the country having rested "seven players", according to captain Eoin Morgan. With the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Jason

Roy given time off, Denly had the chance to impress the team management but with the injury ruling him out, he has to wait his turn. England won the first match of the series on Friday with another fringe batsman, James Vince, scoring a stroke-filled half-century.

Denly's injury made way for the hard-hitting Lewis Gregory to make his T20I debut, although he wasn't required to bat or bowl. Tom Banton, whose strokeplay is reminiscent of Kevin Pietersen's, is also available as reserve batsman with the T20I squad.

Chatter about my age doesn’t bother me: 16-year-old naseem shah SportS DeSk The media, the critics and even out-andout haters generally have no choice but to zip it when young players are given opportunities. Youngsters not only bring the promise of something new but also the possibility of a rare jackpot that a generational talent could be unearthed.

But then there is something called too young. This is where the newly called up Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah fits the bill.

This 16-year-old’s inclusion in the Test squad for the Australia Test series excited some but also drew murmurs that to pick him for the tour of Australia was akin to feeding him to the lions.

It may be a bother for some but for the boy himself, the kid who’s still a 105 days away from his 17th birthday, it’s nothing “I do not have any pressure from the fact that my age gets discussed so much. I do not think about my age. I only think of performing at the highest level,” he told an assortment of reports at an open media session in Lahore on Saturday.

Instead of letting himself be distracted by outside chatter, Shah says he want to focus harder than ever on his cricket.

“I am grateful to God that I am getting the chance to represent Pakistan at this age.

This time though, I will work harder than usual so I could avail this chance,” he said. Shah, who took nine wickets for Central Punjab in the drawn Quaid-eAzam Trophy clash with Sindh earlier this week, will leave for Australia shortly.

There, some of the world’s best batsmen await him. When asked if he has a specific plan to deal with the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner, he said: “It’s not that just the wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith are important. A bowler has to work hard for all the wickets and every wicket is important for him. [As a bowler] you only focus on bowling well.”

Sri Lanka must prepare better for T20 World Cup: Ratnayake Colombo Agencies

Interim coach Rumesh Ratnayake believes Sri Lanka must have better preparation on fast pitches prior to next year's T20 World Cup in Australia if they are to be competitive in the tournament.

Sri Lanka were beaten out of sight by Australia in the three-match T20I series that concluded on Friday after coming to Australia with high hopes following a series whitewash of the world No.1 team Pakistan last month.

The visitors were badly exposed by Australia's bowlers, scoring just 99, 117 and 142 in the three games, with Kusal Perera the only player to make a half-century. They also struggled to contain the Australian top order who thrived in home conditions with David Warner scoring 217 runs without being dismissed.

Ratnayake suggested Sri Lanka's build-up was inadequate and they need to prepare better for the World Cup next year.

"I thought we gave a good fight," Ratnayake said after the Melbourne loss.

"We learned a lot of lessons from this.

Our preparation wasn't the greatest. I

don't say that as an excuse, but these are lessons that we can learn if we are coming again for a T20 series or any time soon to Australia on a tour. We have to have much more time in preparation in terms of wickets, simulate those sorts of wickets back home and play on those.

"It's just preparation and adaptation.

We will be playing a lot in the subcontinent but at least six weeks prior to [the World Cup] if we don't play a small tournament at least in Sri Lanka pertaining to fast wickets, if we don't simulate on fast wickets we'll be in a situation like this.

But you saw the curve going well towards the end. But more time spent in Australia, you will sort of learn how and what you should be doing as you go on."

The team's random selection throughout the three-match series raised eyebrows. Oshada Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa had been two of the batting success of the Pakistan tour, and were comfortably Sri Lanka's standouts in the warm-up game against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, but both were dropped after the first match in Adelaide despite the bowler's giving up 2 for 233, before being recalled to bat in the lower middle order in the last

game in Melbourne.

Lahiru Kumara had bowled impressively from limited opportunities in Pakistan and then his extra pace caused the PM's XI all sorts of bother in Canberra.

However, he did not play until the last game in Melbourne where he caused Warner and Aaron Finch more trouble than any other bowler. His figures of 1 for 49 were expensive in the end but he could have had Finch out twice and beat Warner with a cracking delivery in the powerplay.

Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who was man of the series in Pakistan, was also left out in Melbourne just three games later, on the biggest ground in Australia, where Adam Zampa has been extremely effective for Australia.

But Ratnayake insisted that Sri Lanka's selections, led by chief selector Ashantha De Mel, had been designed to give as many players opportunities in Australian conditions as possible.

"His thinking and the thinking behind it has been to give as many as possible exposure because of the coming World Cup next year," Ratnayake said. "We had a choice of either playing Lahiru Kumara in this game or not or playing another seasoned campaigner but we thought if we

CMYK

don't give him another chance in this game then we might miss out on that good exposure.

"He bowled okay, he bowled quick, not the best, but that's a learning curve for him, that's a learning pathway for him. The changes were done so that everybody gets a chance in Australia so that the World Cup will be in Australia in the future."

Sri Lanka haven't qualified for the

main draw of the T20 World Cup in Australia next year. They have to play in a pre-tournament round-robin in Geelong against three of the six associate qualifiers, which include Scotland, Oman, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, and Namibia.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been placed in separate pools of four, with the top two teams from each pool progressing to the Super 12s phase.

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

SPORTS 15

pariS

r

Agencies

AFAEL Nadal and Novak Djokovic, fighting it out for the year-end world number one spot, edged closer to a possible Paris Masters final clash as both eased into the last four on Friday.

The 33-year-old Nadal, who can secure the end-of-year top ranking ahead of Djokovic by winning his maiden Bercy title, beat French wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

Nadal is bidding for a record-extending 36th Masters crown and will take on Denis Shapovalov in the last four on Saturday after the Canadian youngster thrashed Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-2.

The Spaniard has reached the semis for the first time at the event since 2013, having withdrawn injured before the quarter-finals on his last appearance in 2017. "I've had a lot of injuries in this tournament (historically)," said Nadal.

"I'm happy to be back in the semi-finals."

Djokovic had earlier crushed seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2 and will next face Grigor Dimitrov, who saw off unseeded Chilean Cristian Garin 6-2, 75. Nadal has now reached 73 Masters semi-finals in total and is two wins away from his 85th ATP title, but only third indoors. Tsonga was rock solid on serve in a first set which did not see a single service game from either player even reach deuce. But second seed Nadal stepped it up in the tie-break, with two incredible winners on the run helping him take a crucial one-set lead.

Tsonga's serve briefly deserted him in the second game of the second set, as successive double faults allowed Nadal to claim the first break of the match and he then sped to victory. Djokovic said he played "one of his best matches of the season" to thrash Tsitsipas.

The 32-year-old dispatched his Greek opponent in only 58 minutes.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion

nadal, djokoviC edge Closer to possible paris final meeting

went into the match with a 2-1 losing record against Tsitsipas, but put the young world number seven in his place with a commanding victory.

"I played one of the best matches of the season," said Djokovic. "I prepared

myself very well for this match.

"I lost to Stefanos about three weeks ago in Shanghai. And obviously I went through the videos and understanding on what I did well, what I didn't do so well, what I can do better."

Djokovic will be usurped by Nadal at the top of the rankings next week, but can ensure the race to be the best player at the end of the year reaches the ATP Tour Finals in London by winning a fifth Paris Masters title.

Four teenagers, a 37-year-old giant, and Imran Khan - meet the new Pakistan pace pack SHAHEEN SHAH AFRIDI: You probably recognise this name reasonably well.

With the state of flux Pakistan cricket is in, Shaheen Shah Afridi is almost like a senior player in the side by now, though he isn't 20 yet. A bout of dengue fever kept him out of the home series against Sri Lanka, but fully recovered now, Shaheen was an fairly automatic selection for the Australia series; the only surprise was he wasn't picked for the T20Is as well. The three Tests he has played have come in New Zealand and South Africa, with 12 wickets at 31.65 possibly a sign of good things to come.

lahore Agencies

Just as teams walk out at Old Trafford with a little more swagger than from a decade ago, opposition batsmen feel just that little bit more confident stepping out of their crease when a Pakistani fast bowler charges in from his extravagant run-up these days. Up and down form and a general lack of effectiveness has seen the fear factor ebb away, and while Manchester United can't not stay at Old Trafford, Pakistan can afford do away with one crop of fast bowlers and usher in another. For the series against Australia this month, that is precisely what new chief selector Misbahul-Haq has done.

While most opponents know Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, both a part of the T20Is, and Test man Mohammad Abbas well, here's a look at the other half-a-dozen fast bowlers we're going to see this month.

NASEEM SHAH: The future of Pakistan fast bowling. The unfortunate man, or boy, set to have unrealistic expectations dumped on slender, 16-year-old shoulders. Selected, arguably too prematurely, in the Test side, the buzz around Naseem Shah almost mirrors the excitement a teenaged Mohammad Amir generated when he burst on to the international scene. Returns of 6 for 59 on debut in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as a 15-year-old had raised the initial expectations, but it's a feat he repeated this week to bookend his budding career thus far.

It will, however, be vital to manage his workload. Pakistan have been profligate with young quicks in the past, and fears about injuries are inevitably evocative of Mohammad Zahid and how he fell by the wayside after an explosive start.

MUHAMMAD MUSA KHAN: Musa Khan, just 19, is an advertiser's dream.

With green eyes and an eye-catching hairstyle, that somehow adds to the aura of express Pakistan fast bowlers, Musa emerged at the PSL this year, routinely clearing 140kph. While accuracy and discipline were concerns then, a return to form of late, particularly in the National T20 Cup, has seen him called up for both the Test and the

T20I squads. With roots in Chitral, never considered fertile ground for cricketing talent, he could well serve as an inspiration to budding cricketers in the northern hinterlands of the country, so often overlooked to its detriment. His height means he has managed to extract bounce even on moribund pitches across Pakistan and, as such, Pakistan feel pitches around Australia are especially suited to his skills.

MOHAMMAD HASNAIN: You'd have to be a fairly keen follower of Pakistan cricket to know much about Mohammad Hasnain. The 19-year-old was picked for international selection right after the PSL, where he bowled the fastest delivery of the tournament at over 150kph. That, as it turned out, wasn't the best thing for him, with the ODIs he played subsequently coming against England and Australia; Pakistan lost all of them. He would be taken along to the World Cup and benched for the entire tournament, likely doing little for his confidence. Each of the three T20Is he has played have also ended in defeats, and he's yet to truly impress at international level.

That he will seems something of a given in Pakistan, though. His pace, height and attitude suggest this is a precocious talent, with the maturity and smarts Pakistan bowlers are known for surely around the corner. Australia, again, will be a difficult tour, but it could also be a breakout one.

MOHAMMAD IRFAN: When he limped off in an ODI against England five overs into his spell in 2016, it seemed like that would be that in international cricket for Mohammad Irfan. It probably would have been if Mickey Arthur had still been in charge, but Misbah sees things differently.

The appeal of selecting Irfan isn't particularly sophisticated, but there is a certain irrefutability behind the logic. He is tall, very tall, and Australian pitches are bouncy. Yes, he might not be the fittest, but he need bowl only four overs. How he goes should be fascinating to watch. Equally intriguing will be to see where Pakistan hide the 37year-old in the field.

IMRAN KHAN: Another player Arthur didn't rate much, but for a man who's only played nine Test matches, Imran Khan always finds himself in contention with Australia on the horizon for Pakistan. This is set to be the third Test series he features in against the opponents, having been a part of both the 2-0 series win in the UAE in 2014 and the 3-0 reversal in Australia in 2016-17.

A front-on action with a steady gather at the crease, Imran might be reliable, but nothing about his recent performances screams "match-winner". More of a workhorse who can hold up one end, Imran may simply be attractive to Pakistan for his hefty domestic experience. Remember, other than him and Abbas, Pakistan's Test squad possesses two 19-year-olds and a 16year-old. Imran, like his (significantly) more gifted and glamorous namesake, could even find himself catapulted to the role of leader in the fast-bowling attack.

CMYK

The defeat ended Tsitsipas' run of three consecutive semi-finals and dealt a blow to his confidence ahead of his maiden appearance at the season-ending championships, which start on November 10. Djokovic holds an 8-1 winning headto-head record against Dimitrov.

"He (Dimitrov) has been one of the best talents we had in the sport in the last decade," said Djokovic, who is bidding to tie Pete Sampras' record of finishing as the year-end number one on six occasions.

"He's been playing some terrific tennis this week... I don't play too bad myself, so it's going to be for sure a good one."

Former world number three Dimitrov last reached the semis at a Masters tournament in Monte Carlo in 2018, but has rediscovered his form in recent weeks after heading into the US Open ranked 78th.

The Bulgarian became the lowestranked player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 2008 at Flushing Meadows, before losing to Daniil Medvedev.

World number 42 Garin, playing in his first Masters quarter-final, served for the second set at 5-4, but the 28-year-old Dimitrov reeled off three straight games to claim an impressive victory.

Shapovalov cruised into the fourth Masters semi-final of his young career by ending Monfils' bid to reach the ATP Finals. Home favourite Monfils was one victory away from pipping Italian Matteo Berrettini to a ticket to London, but was blown away by a brilliant Shapovalov performance.

"He (Berrettini) had better give me a bottle of wine or something," joked world number 28 Shapovalov.

Depleted Bangladesh seek breathing space in Delhi

Delhi Agencies

Amid Delhi's air quality plummeting to hazardous levels, a severely depleted Bangladesh team will run into an Indian side that has hung up caution in trying to adapt to the changing T20 landscape. India will be without their rested captain Virat Kohli, but still have the wealth of experience and a variety of options at their disposal.

However, the same can't be said of Bangladesh who are desperate for some breathing space (both literally and figuratively). No Shakib Al Hasan. No Tamim Iqbal. Mashrafe Mortaza has retired from the shortest format. The promising Mohammad Saifuddin isn't available because of a back injury. They've recalled Arafat Sunny and Al-Amin Hossain - both of whom last featured in a T20I over three years ago.

As Bangladesh prepare for life after Shakib's ban, the onus is on Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman to step up.

This Mustafizur, however, isn't that Mustafizur who had (off)cut through India in 2015.

He has lost some fizz - no pun intended - since then, but his knowl-

edge of Indian conditions, having turned out for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, might come in handy.

In their most-recent T20I, against South Africa, Kohli challenged himself and his team-mates to break out of their comfort zones and although the bat-first experiment didn't quite come off, it highlighted India's new, daring T20 approach. This series presents India another opportunity to test out their allrounders - Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar and newbie Shivam Dube. Yuzvendra Chahal is back in the mix once again and while India have been going big on batting depth in recent times, his wickettaking threat can't be ignored.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS: The after-effects of Diwali have led to a public-health emergency in Delhi, and conditions will continue might continue to be hazy on Sunday as well. The pitch for the last international game - an ODI against Australia - at the Feroz Shah Kotla offered some purchase for the spinners as the match progressed. On the eve of this T20I series opener, Mahmudullah said that the pitch had some covering of grass, but "will be good for batting."

Sunday, 3 November, 2019

NEWS

NAwAz shArif's PlAtelets drOP AgAiN, sAys PersONAl PhysiciAN LAHORe

N

stAff RePoRt

AWAz Sharif’s platelets have dropped again as doctors tried to reduce his steroids dose, the former premier’s personal physician Adnan Khan said on Saturday.

In a tweet, Dr Adnan said, “Former PM Nawaz Sharif remains critical. The treating doctors tried to reduce the Steroids dose being given to him but unfortunately resulted in a drop in platelet count again which has come down to 38*10^3/uL yesterday.”

“Severe existent co-morbidities (IHD, ECVD, DM, HTN, CKD3) has added to the seriousness of the nature of critical illness, where a very delicate balance has to be maintained between coagulation & anti-coagulation to sustain fragile unstable health status,” he added. According to reports, Nawaz’s platelet count has dropped to 38,000 while his blood sugar level has increased from 200 to 375.

Services Hospital Lahore Medical Superintendent Dr Saleem Shahzad Cheema told reporters that doctors made Nawaz walk on Saturday so that it could be determined whether he would be able to travel or not.

Munir Akram takes charge as Pakistan’s ambassador to UN NEW YORK: Munir Akram, an expert at multilateral diplomacy, Friday took over as Pakistan’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations.

Ambassador Akram flew in from Islamabad earlier in the day. He replaces Maleeha Lodhi, who upon the completion of her tenure on Thursday left New York for home. A well-known figure in diplomatic circles, Akram has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN previously as well, holding the office for six years between 2002 and 2008, after serving as the envoy to the world body’s European offices in Geneva for seven years. During his long term at the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Akram occupied almost every important position. He was twice the President of the Security Council in May 2003 and again in May 2004; President of the Economic and Social Council in 2005; Chairman of the Group of 77 and China (developing countries) in 2007, and Facilitator on UN Administrative Reform in 2006. Akram, who joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1967, obtained a Master’s degree in political science and a Bachelors degree in law from the University of Karachi. Besides holding various positions in the foreign ministry, he also served at the Pakistani missions in various world capitals, including Brussels and Tokyo. APP

On the other hand, other doctors assigned to look after him are of the opinion that he is not in good condition so he should remain in the hospital; however, Nawaz Sharif can make a request if he wants to leave the hospital.

Nawaz Sharif will be declared fit after his platelets count increases to more than 150,000, the MS said.

The former premier was rushed to Services Hospital from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore detention centre October 28 after his health condition suddenly deteriorated.

Earlier, he was shifted from Central Jail Kot Lakhpat to NAB Lahore building at Thokar Niaz Beg after the Bureau got his 14-day physical remand on October 11 in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption case investigation. Paperwork for Nawaz’s bail would be completed within the next few days. A six-member medical board, headed by Services Hospital Principal Mahmood Ayaz, on Thursday diagnosed the reason for Nawaz Sharif’s declining health.

“It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system destroys platelets,” a board member said, adding doctors were hopeful that his condition would improve in a few days.

US official report calls for reintegrating Taliban fighters in Afghan society News Desk None of the US-backed reintegration programmes enabled any significant number of ex-combatants to socially and economically rejoin the Afghan society, says an official US report sent to Congress this week.

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which compiled the report, also pointed out that programmes targeting Taliban insurgents did not substantially weaken the insurgency or contribute meaningfully to parallel reconciliation efforts. “If there is ever to be a true, sustainable peace in Afghanistan, reintegration of the Taliban and other combatants will be a necessary component of that process, whether that process begins days or years from now,” warned Inspector General John Sopko.

The SIGAR report, which was released to the public on Friday, also reviews efforts to revive the Afghan peace process, which seeks to end the 18-year-old war.

In September, the Taliban and the Trump administration appeared on the verge of a breakthrough deal.

But Mr Trump abruptly declared the peace talks “dead” after a Taliban attack in Kabul killed an American soldier. He made the announcement

NiNe childreN killed iN AfghANistAN MiNe blAst KABUL: Nine Afghan children were killed on Saturday when a mine exploded as they walked to school, police said, the latest victims in a growing toll of civilian casualties in the war. The blast happened in the northeastern province of Takhar.

Saturday is a school day in Afghanistan.

“This area is under Taliban control and since security forces launched attacks to clear it, the Taliban have planted antipersonnel mines,” Khalil Asir, a spokesman for the provincial police, told Reuters. “Unfortunately, today, one of those mines exploded and killed nine primary school students,” he said. The children, aged nine to 12, included four from what Asir described as a “Taliban family”. A spokesman for the Taliban, who are fighting to oust foreign troops and defeat the U.S.-backed government, was not immediately available for comment.

Civilian casualties have been increasing to record levels this year, despite efforts by the United States and Taliban insurgents to reach a peace deal. A record 4,313 civilians were injured or killed between July and September, a 42 per cent increase from the same period last year, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said last month. The toll included more than 1,000 deaths, the bloodiest period since the mission began collecting figures in 2009. It brought the number of civilian casualties for the first nine months of the year to more than 8,000. Agencies

Over 30 Pakistani migrants found in lorry in france hours before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and senior Taliban leaders was set to arrive at a US presidential resort to sign the deal.

The SIGAR report notes that since October 2018, US and Taliban representatives have been meeting in Doha, Qatar, to find a peaceful end to the Afghan conflict. The Kabul government, however, did not participate in talks as the Taliban does not recognise it.

The reports notes that the topics discussed in Doha included conditions for withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and for preventing terrorists from again using Afghanistan as a platform for planning and launching attacks.

Despite the suspension, both sides appear keen to start the talk process

while the United Nations is calling for direct talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government “as soon as possible,” the report adds. But the SIGAR report warns that “even if intra-Afghan talks produce an agreement, and even if reintegration programs are undertaken, other complications can arise.” Such as, some Taliban fighters may decide they want no part of a peace agreement.

The report also warns that even if a peace agreement covering all insurgents in Afghanistan were reached, “failure to reintegrate former fighters may simply produce an interval between bouts of violence.”

That’s why SIGAR believes that the “reintegration of ex-combatants is going to remain highly relevant if and when we get a peace process.”

NICE: More than 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France, prosecutors said Saturday. They said the driver, who was also from Pakistan, was detained.

The discovery came after 39 people, all believed to be Vietnamese nationals, were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain last month, laying bare again the risks of illegal migrant routes to Europe.

The group of 31 Pakistani migrants was discovered during a routine check on a motorway near the Italian border on Friday, French prosecutors said. The migrants, who included three teenagers, were handed over to the Italian authorities in accordance with immigration procedures. “We will try and establish if we can trace it back to a network and backers as we always do in this type of case,” the prosecutors’ office in the southeastern city of Nice said. Agencies

Turkey blames Kurdish militia after deadly bombing in Syrian town IsTANBUL Agencies

A car bomb killed a dozen people and injured 30 on Saturday in a market of a Syrian border town that Turkish-backed forces seized last month, prompting Ankara to blame the Kurdish YPG militia it had targeted in its incursion.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-Turkey fighters and civilians were among the dead and injured in Tel Abyad. Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency said 13 were killed after a “bomb-laden vehicle” exploded.

Tel Abyad is one of two major border towns that saw the heaviest fighting when Ankara launched the incursion on Oct. 9 against the Syrian Kurdish YPG that drew international condemnation. The YPG had for years been allied to the United States in the fight against Islamic State.

The explosion comes after two weeks of relative calm in northeastern Syria, and

a day after Turkish and Russian troops began joint ground patrols under a deal between the two countries that pushed the YPG from Turkey’s border.

While Moscow has said the YPG have withdrawn to at least 30 km (18 miles) from the border under the deal, Ankara has been skeptical and held out the possibility of new attacks if members of what it sees as a terrorist group remain.

“We condemn this inhuman attack of the bloody PKK/YPG terrorists who attacked the innocent civilians of Tel Abyad who returned to their homes and lands as a result of the Operation Peace Spring,” Turkey’s defense ministry said on Twitter.

Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also pointed the finger at the YPG. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes the YPG, was not immediately available for comment.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), based in Turkey, is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies.

Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist group because of its ties to PKK Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey. Days after President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision on Oct. 6 to pull out U.S. troops from northeastern Syria, Turkey and allied Syrian rebels launched a cross-border offensive and seized control of Tel Abyad and some 120 km (75 miles) of land along the frontier.

Ceasefire deals Ankara struck first with Washington and then with Moscow halted fighting in recent weeks. The UK-based Observatory has said some 300,000 people have been displaced by the offensive and 120 civilians killed. The incursion, which was condemned by scores of countries in the West and the Middle East, left the Turkey-backed rebel Syrian National Army largely in control of Tel Abyad.

Turkey’s defense ministry published photographs of concrete and debris piled on a street in the town. Anadolu said some of those wounded in the blast were being treated in the Turkish city of Sanli-

urfa 55 km to the north. On Wednesday, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had information that the YPG had not

completed its pullout from the border region. He has warned that Turkey reserves the right to resume attacks.

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