E-Paper PDF 9th November (KHI)

CMYK

Saturday, 9 November, 2019 I 11 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 17.00 I Vol X No 130 I 16 Pages I Karachi Edition

ImrAn green lIghts nAwAz’s depArture g

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staff report

close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the government had allowed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment, as the latter’s family moved a written request to the Interior Ministry to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

According to Naeemul Haque, Prime Minister Imran had seen Nawaz’s medical reports, which showed that the former prime minister was “very ill”.

“It is the right of every Pakistani to have themselves treated as they see fit,” he said, adding that the government has no reservations over Nawaz seeking treatment abroad.

Naeem said that it was up to the courts to decide how much time will be given to Nawaz to seek medical treatment.

“The court will decide as to how many times Nawaz can go abroad,” he said. “It is also up to the court to decide on how long Nawaz can stay abroad for medical treatment.”

According to details, the officials at the Interior Ministry are waiting for the formal orders to remove the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo’s name from the ECL. They added that the former premier will be allowed to travel abroad within the next 48 hours.

Officials also said that the three-time prime minister’s name will not be removed till the orders come from the government.

It is also expected that the government may consult with NAB on the issue.

Earlier in the day, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had approached the Interior Ministry for the removal of his elder

brother’s name from the ECL. Nawaz who was discharged from the Services Hospital two days ago, was taken to his residence, Jati Umra on Wednesday, 16 days after he was hospitalised in critical condition.

Nawaz’s name was placed on the no-fly list on the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Meanwhile, Nawaz’s personal physician Adnan Khan tweeted Friday that the former premier was “critically unwell”.

“The unexplained cause and uncertain diagnosis complicates the overall clinical scenario requiring advanced investigations and specialised care,” he added.

MARYAM WANTS TO GO WITH FATHER: His daughter Maryam Nawaz, seen by many as his political heir, told reporters that “since the matter concerns my father’s life, he should be flown wherever treatment of his disease is possible”.

Maryam, who is also a vice president of the PML-N, regretted the circumstances requiring her to stay in Pakistan if her father travels abroad for a medical check-up.

“It would be very difficult if I am unable to accompany my father abroad for medical treatment,” Maryam said, adding that “Mian sahib should certainly go if his health requires it.”

Following an appearance before an accountability court regarding the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case, Maryam said that her uncle Shehbaz Sharif had been managing the issue of taking the former premier abroad.

“I obviously can’t travel immediately because the court has my passport,” she said, referring to the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) directive for her to surrender her passport in order to secure her release on bail in the CSM case.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

No-trust motion filed against NA deputy speaker STORY ON BACK PAGE

Talks fruitless if Azadi marchers adamant on resignation, says PM Imran STORY ON PAGE 02

IMF approves $450m installment after first review STORY ON PAGE 11

Grand opening of Kartarpur Corridor today STORY ON BACK PAGE

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PM’s AIde sAys IMrAn MAde deCIsIon AfTer seeInG MedICAl rePorTs of AIlInG forMer PreMIer

MAryAM sAys she wAnTs To ACCoMPAny fATher, buT CAn’T do so IMMedIATely beCAuse of seIzure of PAssPorT by lhC shehbAz sAys APPoInTMenT booKed AT london's hArley sTreeT ClInIC, ex-PM MIGhT Go To us If needed

CMYK Saturday, 9 November, 2019

02 NEWS nawaz granted one-time exemption in csm case LAHORE STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Friday granted a one-time exemption from personal appearance to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case. Accountability Court Judge Ameer Muhammad Khan conducted the proceedings, wherein Maryam Nawaz appeared and his cousin Yousaf Abbas was also produced on expiry of his judicial remand. At the outset of the proceedings, the defence counsel, on behalf of Nawaz Sharif, submitted an application for a one-time exemption from personal appearance. To which, the National Accountability

Bureau (NAB) prosecutor opposed the application, saying that Nawaz Sharif should appear before the court as he was at home and not in the hospital. He mentioned that his medical certificate was also not attached to the application. However, the defence counsel submitted that Nawaz Sharif was being treated at home and it was the reason that he did not appear before the court. He further argued that the accused could be exempted from personal appearance till the filing of the reference. He submitted that the matter was still being investigated and no trial proceedings had started yet. At this stage, Maryam Nawaz submitted that it was difficult for her to appear in the court while leaving behind his ailing father, but she complied with the court orders. Subsequently, the court adjourned further proceedings till Nov 22, and sought arguments from the parties on the exemption issue while giving Nawaz Sharif one-time exemption from personal appearance. It is pertinent to mention here that a Lahore High Court division bench had granted bail to Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in the case.

Govt to crack down on smoke-emitting vehicles

Talks fruiTless if azadi marchers adamanT on resignaTion: imran iSLAmABAd

STAFF REPORT

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RIME Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that there was no need for negotiations with the Azadi March protesters if his resignation was their only demand.

The prime minister held separate meetings with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and the government’s talks committee regarding the Azadi March. Elahi apprised the prime minister of the developments in his talks with Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamFazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He sought advice from the prime minister on how to proceed further in his negotiations with Fazl.

The government’s negotiating team separately informed Prime Minister Imran about

the demands of the joint opposition’s Rehbar Committee.

“There’s a lot of talk going on about my resignation,” said the prime minister. “If that is the only demand of the opposition, then there is no need for negotiations,” he said. Sources claimed that Elahi will take an important message of the prime minister to the JUI-F chief in their meeting on Friday evening. Elahi will meet members of the Rehbar Committee as well before he sits down with the JUI-F chief.

On Thursday, the government’s offer to form a judicial or parliamentary commission to probe into allegations of rigging in the 2018 general elections was conveyed by Elahi to the JUI-F chief. However, according to the sources, Fazl did not budge and, instead,

said that if the premier doesn’t resign, fresh elections will be called in three months. He said that the government can decide between the two options.

Sources further said that JUI-F has completed preparations for other options and will wait for the government’s reply till Sunday after which they will start acting on the next strategy. According to the sources, the next strategy is the closure of major highways across Pakistan. He added that the option of resigning from all provincial and federal seats will be looked at in the next stage. The government has started preparing for the opposition’s next strategy and is preparing its plan on the basis of security intelligence, the sources added.

Nawaz’s departure COntinuEd fROm pAgE 01

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Punjab government has decided to launch a massive crackdown against smoke emitting vehicles, old technology brick kilns and factories using tyre scrap for burning.

The decision was made on Friday in the maiden meeting of Chief Minister Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) on SMOG Control Monitoring Committee presided over by the Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht attended by Environmental Minister Muhammad Rizwan, Education Minister Murad Raas, and of-

ficial concern of the different departments. Hashim Jawan Bakht instructed the Excise and Taxation department to launch crackdown against smoke emitting vehicles while agriculture department should ensure the culmination of crops leftovers in the fields, Urban Unit will monitor the brick kilns and industries emitting hazardous smoke, besides improving the capacity building of the environment department.

He asked the excise department to end the life time token collection to take action against the misfit vehicles. He also asked the workshops to issue fitness certificates with mainte-

nance and issue special sticker to enforce and ensure it.

The finance minister instructed the Safe City Authority to identify the vehicles plying without fitness stickers and no vehicle will be allow to come on road without fitness certificates and stickers.

Punjab Environment Minister Muhammad Rizwan stressed the need of round the year action and monitoring and reforms on environmental issues. He said the environment department should legislate separate laws for every segment and take action without any exemption against the smoke emitting vehicles.

Govt bans mobile phones, social media in educational institutions

Responding to a question about the former premier’s health, Maryam said that he was doing “better”. She said that all treatments available in Pakistan, including steroids, platelet enhancing medicines and drips, had been used but they were not working.

“On a daily basis, his platelet count is dropping,” she said, adding that despite exhausting all available treatment options in Pakistan, they have still not been able to diagnose the cause of the fall in Nawaz’s platelet levels. She said that a Services Hospital board consisting of government doctors and Nawaz’s private medical board had recommended that the former premier should go to a specialized center, where a diagnosis can be made regarding why his platelets fell suddenly.

She said that the doctors had added that all available options for treatment had been availed in Pakistan. “Every possible effort to save [Nawaz’s] life should be taken. If he has to go abroad, then he should certainly

Federal govt served notice in Tezgam train tragedy iSLAmABAd STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued a notice to the federal government over the Tezgam train fire incident in which 75 people died. A single-judge bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard a petition seeking the removal of Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed and an independent inquiry for the October 31 tragedy.

Referring to Ahmed’s claim that the fire was a result of passengers attempting to cook food using a cylinder in the moving train, the petition sought “hearing of both parties”.

“Moreover a man who believes unilateral view is not righteous within the definition of Article 62(I) (1) of the 1973 Constitution,” stated the petition, adding that the railways

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Punjab government on Friday banned the use of mobile phones and social media by students on school and college campuses.

As per an official notification issued by Director Public Instruction Punjab Zulfikar Ali Bhatti, the ban has been placed to protect youngsters from the ‘menace of drugs’.

The notification gave directions to the concerned District Education Authorities and mentioned the age of children on whom the ban had been placed as under 16 years.

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go.” The PML-N vice-president was asked about whether she would participate in the JUI-F Azadi March sit-in, in response to which she said: “Politics will go on all [my] life but you can’t get your parents back.” “I lost my mother one year ago, right now my full attention is on Mian sahib.

“I don’t leave him with servants and nurses. I am with him 24/7.” The PML-N leader also dismissed comments regarding a deal being reached, saying that people who are saying such things, should be ashamed. Maryam added that she had appeared before the court with great difficulty today. The court adjourned proceedings in the CSM case till Nov 22.

APPOINTMENT BOOKED IN LONDON: According to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, the family has booked an appointment for the former premier at London’s Harley Street Clinic where the latter’s wife had also been treated. He said that currently there were no plans of taking him to the United States but the option would be considered if the doctors advise so.

minister had lost “legal, religious, ethical and constitutional” justification to remain in office after believing in one side view – that of the train officials – and officiating a response without the completion of the inquiry.

“Improvements always come with the realization of shortcomings and strong commitment to overcome these but the unilateral stance of railway minister before the inquiry result has made it impossible to fix the liability of Tezgam inferno incident on the railway officials,” reads the petition.

He stressed that no ‘meaningful’ reforms could take place in such a situation.

“The promise to pay compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased and injured would remain a political commitment as there are many examples where promises are yet to be honored,” the petition read.

CMYK Saturday, 9 November, 2019

is en masse resignaTion sTill an oPTion for oPP? T iSLAmABAd MIAN ABRAR

HE threat of en masse resignation from the parliament, once considered as a lethal weapon in the hands of the opposition, has almost lost its efficacy as it has never proven to be effective in the past.

Previously, the opposition parties used this tactic to pressurise the government to submit to their demands but not once did it achieve the desired results as collective resignation from the parliament could never create a political or constitutional crisis. Disputes were always settled amicably between the government and opposition after the process was prolonged by the government through verification of collective resignations by the speaker.

This idea was first introduced by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the past when its members of National Assembly (NA), Senate and Sindh Assembly had submitted collective resignations and presented 19 demands for the reversal of their decision. The then government had formed a Grievances

Redressal Committee (GDC) to cool down the political temperature and finally the lawmakers took their resignations back.

Likewise, Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) had submitted collective resignations during the last tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In a bid to prolong the process, the then NA speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, had asked all the lawmakers of PTI to meet him individually for the verification of their resignations. Except for Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, who was member of PTI at that time, not even a single resignation was accepted by the speaker. Hashmi, on the floor of the House, had forced the speaker to accept his resignation. Moreover, when this strategy failed to achieve any re-

shc grants bail to Pml-n senator kamran michael in naB case KARACHi

sults, the remaining PTI lawmakers had rejoined the parliament after almost three months.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), which is currently leading the Azadi March in the federal capital, has also been hinting at this strategy to put pressure on the incumbent government. The protesters expect that the government would accept their demands because it would be an arduous task to conduct by-polls in dozens of constituencies at the same time. However, JUI-F has so far failed to convince Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PML-N, two of the largest political parties on the opposition benches, on this option but discussion is still underway. The lawmakers of JUI-F, in a gesture to show unity and loyalty to party chief,

LHC restores PMDC admission regulations LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator and former ports and shipping minister Kamran Michael in a misuse of authority case. Michael, a PML-N stalwart, is accused of illegally allotting three commercial and residential apartment plots in prime locations of KPT Cooperative Housing Society (Mai Kolachi area) in Karachi to his favourites, and receiving huge sums in return. On July 9, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the SHC that investigation against the former ports minister and his accomplices in the misuse of authority case had been completed and a reference had been sent to Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal for approval. To this, the court bench – which was hearing the bail plea of Michael in the said case – had adjourned hearing until August 22. Previously, the court had suspended interim bails of Michael and coaccused. An inquiry was ordered against Michael in January 2018 for alleged misuse of his authority. The anti-corruption watchdog had arrested him on February 8. Following the arrest, the bureau had said that the “former federal minister abused his authority by influencing the officials to carry out his illegal orders of making allotments in 2013,” adding that the trio of plots are worth Rs1.05 billion.

have already submitted their resignations to Fazl.

Apparently, opposition parties have now realized that quitting the parliament is not a right decision at the moment. However, these parties are preparing to give a tough time to the government in political and legislative matters both inside and outside the parliament. Though Fazl is persistent on getting Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation, other opposition leaders have expressed their disinterest in joining JUI-F’s sit-in.

In light of the current developments and the historical facts, the opposition parties are not likely to tender their resignations as proposed by the JUI-F. Political analysts believe that while the opposition would discourage Fazl from exercising this option, they would ask him to use it as a mere threat.

However, some recent developments would make one wonder whether the threat is working. The likely departure of former premier Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds implies behind-the-scenes political maneuvering and if this is true, former president Asif Ali Zardari might also benefit from the same model.

APP

Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Friday restored medical colleges admission regulations 2019 framed by the (now-defunct) Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) and allowed to proceed with the admission process.

“The 2018 regulations are restored to their original amended form.

Consequently, the competent authority can proceed with the admission process as per the 2018 regulations,” the bench held.The bench comprising Justice Ayesha A Malik and Justice Jawad Hassan passed the orders while allowing intra court appeal filed by the PMDC against the judgement of a single bench which set aside

the 2019 regulations and ruled that the PMDC had not been vested with any power under its ordinance 2019 to amend the protected MBBS and BDS (admission, house job and internship) regulations, 2018, on petitions filed by several dual national Pakistanis.

In its 9-page verdict, the bench held that the council had powers to amend the 2018 regulations. “Section 49 of PMDC Ordinance 2019 grants special permission to the new council to alter, repeal or modify the existing regulations,” it added.

The court further ruled that the respondent-students were not entitled to any foreign seat quota under the 2018 Regulations as they were admittedly students who had studied for their O

Level and A-Levels in Pakistan and for the purposes of their Secondary School Education and 12thgrade examination, they did not reside abroad.

The bench noted that the respondents’ contention that the amendments came as surprise to them was total without basis as the amendments were publicized in June 2019 whereas the petitioners filed the petitions in September after getting their MDCAT result.Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed respondents to submit a reply on petitions against the dissolution of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the formation of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) till November 18.

Weary Islamabad residents endure another round of protests iSLAmABAd AGENCIES

Patience is wearing thin among some residents of the Pakistani capital enduring another round of anti-government protests, with tens of thousands of opposition supporters showing no sign of giving up despite the onset of winter rain.

Huge crowds descended on Islamabad from various parts of the country a week ago, denouncing the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan as illegitimate and calling for him to step down.

It is the first concerted challenge that the cricket star-turned-politician has faced since he won a general election last year promising to end corruption and create jobs for the

poor. Khan has dismissed the calls to resign and his government, which the opposition says won power after a fraudulent election with the support of the military, has denounced the protests as a threat to democracy.

The military denies favoring any party saying it supports the constitution. The protesters are occupying a large open area alongside one of Islamabad’s main roads, the latest in a succession of drawn-out sit-ins over recent years, including one Khan himself led against the previous government.

“This is the third sit-in since 2014 in Islamabad – it has to stop if this country wants to progress,” said office worker Ghazanfar Ali, 47.

The capital’s sole public transport system, which runs by the

protest site, has been suspended and Ali said he had to spend twice as much getting to work.

Student Zeeshan Azeem, 17, said the internet had been down at his home all week, which he blamed on government attempts to disrupt the protesters’ communications.

“We’re forced to travel a considerable distance from the protest site to use the internet,” said Azeem, clutching his books as he headed home from school.

“When we complain to the service provider, they said they have down-graded the service on the government’s instructions.”

The government has not confirmed any such order but it is a regular tactic in Pakistan, and staff at providers have said they had been

told to suspend services in some areas. The protests are being led by one of the country’s main conservative religious parties, with the support of the two main parties. The huge crowd is almost exclusively made up of bearded men, waving flags and chanting slogans.

They have set up a tent city with plastic sheets, and cook and rest when their leaders are not giving speeches. The mood has been cheerful and there has been no significant trouble.

The biggest problem has been the onset of cold rain.

Khan said on Twitter this week he had directed city authorities to assess what help could be provided for the protesters. Opposition leaders declined the offer.

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NEWS

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Bilawal vows to continue protests until Pm’s resignation Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Friday that protests against the government will continue until Prime Minister Imran Khan offers his resignation.“You [Imran Khan] want to remain in power at any cost, you have a lust for power but the people will no longer tolerate you…you have become a liability and shall meet the same fate as dictators,” Bilawal said during his address to party workers in Muzaffarabad.The PPP chairman who is leading anti-government protests across the country, called on the prime minister to resign, saying that his government had made the lives of the people miserable by imposing heavy taxes and raising the price of essential commodities.He termed the 2018 election as rigged and demanded that free and fair elections be held to rid the country of its current crisis.Bilawal said that the prime minister was following “dictatorial and fascist” policies which were undermining democracy and leading the country towards political instability.He said he was holding rallies across Pakistan to expose the “selected and incompetent” government. “We will hold PPP’s foundation day rally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on November 30,” he announced. NEWS DESK

fazl says he doesn’t accept ‘fake’ parliament ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that he does not accept the “fake” parliament let alone any legislation passed by it. “No legislation has taken place since the formation of this parliament… their president promulgates 10 to 15 ordinances in one go and then these ordinances are hurried through the House,” he said. “Let me assure you one thing, resolutions of a fake assembly like this and its legislations have no legal value. These are forced laws and the nation would never accept executive orders of the controversial prime minister,” he added. Conveying the message of ‘unity’ and ‘harmony’ to all state institutions, Fazl, in his address to the protesters, said they were expected to support all opposition parties in uprooting this “incompetent and illegitimate government”. He thanked and lauded Pakhunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai for accompanying him on the container. Commenting on the ongoing negotiations with the government, he said, “We have conveyed the message to the government’s team to visit us when you have [Prime Minister Imran Khan’s] resignation with you”. He lauded the sacrifices of armed forces for restoring peace in the country. “But, without our efforts and sacrifices you would not have achieved these successes,” he said. “We did not give these sacrifices so that these evil rulers are imposed on us… If we cannot allow people to raise arms against Pakistan in the name of Islam then we also cannot allow Imran Khan to come into power through rigging,” the JUI-F chief said. INP

firdous urges fazl to uphold democratic norms Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has urged Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to uphold democratic and constitutional norms. In a series of tweets on Friday, the special assistant said making hue and cry over alleged election rigging after one year is nothing but to hoodwink the masses and weaken the democratic system. Awan wondered if the elections were rigged then why did Fazl contest the presidential election and his son, Asad Rehman, took oath as a member of the National Assembly? She said dialogue is part of the democratic process of which Fazl has been a firm supporter. The SAPM questioned as to why the JUI-F chief wants to keep the windows of his mind shut by declaring the talks meaningless. She further asked him to shun intransigence and have mercy on his workers facing severe weather conditions. NEWS DESK

04 KARACHI

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

WEATHER UPDATES saturday

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HIV claims one more life in Ratodero RATODERO PPI HIV claimed one more life of a child here on Friday. The victim was identified as Abdul Hafeez, son of Dhani Bux Jalbani, aged 5. He was a resident of a nearby village Mir Muhammad Jalbani.

Meanwhile, according to the official statistics shared on Friday by the Provincial Program Manager, Sindh AIDS Control Program (SACP), Dr Sikandar

Memon, two more new cases were detected on Friday at the Screening Camp established at Taluka Headquarter Hospital (THQ), Ratodero, since 25th April, 2019, out of 20 people among the general population who arrived for testing. So far 36,904 men, women and children have been screened out of which 1160 have been found HIV positive of them 235 are adults (61 males and 174 females) and 925 are children (570 males and 355 females).

229 more dengue fever cases emerge in city KARACHI PPI At least 229 more dengue fever cases were detected in Karachi city during the last 24-hours, taking the reported cases’ toll to 10,289 since the 1st January 2019.

Spokesman Prevention and Control Program for Dengue (PCPD) Sindh, while talking to PPI, informed that as many as 247 new dengue fever cases emerged across the Sindh province in a day, out of the 229 were detected in

Karachi and 18 in other districts.

A total of 32 people had been died due to dengue fever in government and private sector health facilities of the city this year so far.

In November, a total of 1,445 dengue positive cases surfaced across the province out of these cases 1,313 were confirmed from Karachi and 132 from other districts.

In 2019, a total of 10,999 dengue cases were reported in Sindh province so far out of which, 10,289 happened in Karachi and 710 in other districts.

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Govt to provide support to industries, commercial centres in Karachi KARACHI

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S TA F F R E P O RT

HE Sindh government apart from providing support to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to beef up its firefighting system is also ready to work with industrial zones and commercial centres in the city to enhance their safety systems so as to tackle any fire or similar disaster.

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah stated this while speaking as the chief guest at the 9th Fire Safety & Security Convention-2019, jointly organized by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) and the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP).

He said that the fire safety

measures should be fully up to the mark at industrial zones, commercial centres, and multi-storied buildings as people in large number were present at any given time at these places in the city whose safety should be duly ensured in case of a fire incident.

He also said that keeping in view large number of high-rise buildings in Karachi, the Sindh government had purchased a snorkel of international standards for the KMC so as to beef up its firefighting capabilities. He said that similar more snorkels and other firefighting equipment for the KMC and other municipal agencies in rest of the province would also be purchased. He said that it was the responsibility of the government and its relevant agencies that fire safety measures should be

adopted in industrial zones, commercial centres, and high-rise buildings, but at times, slackness was observed by the government authorities in fulfilling such obligations.

He further said that Sindh government had been doing its best to upgrade, repair, and improve civic and municipal infrastructure in the city including the provision of the road network, water supply, and sewerage system. The provincial minister said that assistance of the World Bank was being sought in upgrading the civic infrastructure of the city.

He said that the garbage disposal campaign launched by the Sindh government for Karachi was not just for one month as it would continue until complete resolution of this issue.

Minister wants transparency in allocating flats to workers KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Sindh Minister for Information and Labor Saeed Ghani has said that transparency must be ensured in allocating flats and homes to the workers and labourers of the province.

The minister said that the Worker Welfare Board should utilize all the resources for the allotment of 4242 flats and houses constructed across the province for workers and labourer and it should also ensure transparency in the whole process. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of Worker Welfare Board in his office on Friday.

Ghani said that a policy should be formulated to ensure immediate assistance to the workers and labourers in relation to marriage grant, scholarships and death grant. Addressing the meeting, the minister said that the condition of all the secondary and primary schools running under the Workers Welfare Board should be refurbished immediately.

He said that a policy should also be formulated regarding the promotion of the teachers of those schools that should not only ensure their timely promotion but also solve all their problems in a timely manner. During

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the meeting, Ghani was given a detailed briefing on houses, colonies and flats leased across the province under the Worker Welfare Board. The provincial minister was told that the flats that were provided to the affectees of floods as immediate relief in Labor Colony Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirbad in 2010 had not been vacated as yet. However, the flats provided as an immediate relief in other labour colonies across the province had been evacuated, the minister was informed.

At the meeting, the provincial minister was informed that 512 homes in Kotri, 1024 in Sukkur, 192 in Nooriabad, 512 in Shaheed Benazirbad, 96 in Larkana, 100 in Ranipur, 74 in Jacobabad, in total 4242 homes were completely ready for allotment. He was informed that a work order had been issued for the construction of 1500 flats in Kotri while working on three other Labor Colonies was underway. On the occasion, Minister for Labor Saeed Ghani said that the requests received from the workers and labourers regarding 4242 ready flats and houses should be processed immediately in a transparent manner and following that the process of allotment is completed without any further delay.

School activity highlights importance of healthy lifestyle

Custom officials seize smuggled betel nuts worth millions

KARACHI: Meiji, GBM Pakistan organized a school activity at ACELP Institute of Child Development today on Friday 8th of November 2019. This CSR activity by Global Brands Marketing Pvt ltd-Meiji Big was aimed at increasing the awareness to support special children and help them in learning the importance of healthy nutritious food and lifestyle. The programme consisted of a theatre play and a magic show followed by the distribution of goodie bags and souvenir by the company GBM. The play which was the main highlight of the event conveyed its message through interesting mascots that encouraged children to adopt healthy eating habits and avoid junk food and add physical activity as the part of their daily routine.

CEO of the company Mr. Uzair Saboor said: “Through this activity, we get the opportunity to spread the message of love to these special kids, who need our support to survive in the society and promote the awareness to support these care centres." Ms. Sadaf Meghani, Brand Manager of Meiji Big, mentioned that they are doing such activities in schools of Khin Lahore and having a plan to do it in all schools in pan Pakistan as well to convey the message about the importance of healthy nutritious food and lifestyle by adding physical activities as the part of their routine”. PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI: An anti-smuggling unit and Kharadar police recovered a huge amount of smuggled betel nuts worth millions of rupees from Karachi’s Jodia Bazar. According to details, Karachi’s customs intelligence received information on Nov 1 regarding the presence of smuggled areca (betel nut) at Jodia Bazar for its further transportation and disposal into the local market. After receiving the tip, Customs Intelligence and Investigation (CII) Director General Zahid Khokhar directed his team to conduct a raid and eliminate further transportation and distribution of smuggled betel nuts in the city. The raid was led by an anti-smuggling team that seized the smuggled delivery. The officials said the recovered betel nuts were brought to Kharadar without conducting any weighment.

After carrying out the weighment, the betel nuts were found to be 25,993 kilograms which were showed on paper as 16,093 by the Customs and ASO while the other 9,900 kilograms were sold in the open market for Rs5 million. Later, the money was distributed among the Customs and ASO officials. INP

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

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KP govT says EdwardEs South Waziristan traders protest after pine nut heist CollEgE To rETain ChrisTian idEnTiTy WANA

HAMID KHAN WAZIR

EdWardES CoLLEgE’S prinCipaL WiLL aLWayS BE appointEd from ChriStian Community PESHAWAR

T

STAFF REPORT

HE Khyber Pakhtunkhawa government on Friday took a U-turn on its earlier decision to nationalise the Edwardes College after strong protests by the Christian community across the country. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mehmood Khan at the Governor’s House.

A consensus was developed in the meeting — attended by KP Governor Farman Shah, MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani and Dr Shoaib Suddal —

that Edwardes College’s property will not be transferred to anyone in the name of nationalisation.

They said the college should remain in the hands of the Christian community and their identity should not be disturbed at any level. The principal of the college would always be appointed from the Christian community, the meeting decided.

Defending the move to put the college under the government control, Shah said the purpose was to retain the glory and historic identity of Edwardes College. The Peshawar High Court’s decision that the Church lacked legal authority over the insti-

tute came under intense criticism from the religious and civil society members of the Christian community.

In a press conference, National Council of Churches-Pakistan President Rt Rev Bishop Dr Azad Marshall had also demanded the return of the Edwardes College to the church.

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

Traders and business community leaders in South Waziristan on Friday called a shutter-down strike over the deteriorating law and order situation in the wake of the theft of 23 Pine nut (Chilghoza) sacks worth over Rs12 million in broad daylight. The protesters voiced concerns over the increasing incidents of robberies, abduction for ransom and killings.

They demanded the government to ensure the recovery of the stolen pine nuts and provide protection to traders and businessmen in the district otherwise they threatened they would hold district-wide demonstrations

and block the Wana bypass road. Wana City Police SHO Uman Wazir assured protesters that he would do “everything in his abilities” to recover the stolen items till Saturday. The protesters, on this guarantee, agreed to call off the protest till Saturday and said that they would close down shops and markets if due action was not taken in the given time.

Twenty three sacks of pine nuts were stolen by unidentified persons in Wana on Thursday as armed suspects broke into a warehouse and held workers and security hostage at gunpoint.

The pine nuts were estimated to be worth over Rs12.5 million, according to traders. The warehouse

owner told police that around 10 unidentified men overpowered two guards at gunpoint and took away 23 sacks of Chilgoza with them in a vehicle.

According to eyewitnesses, robbers carried the sacks of chilgoza on a double cabin car. They also took away mobiles and cash.

A First Information Report [FIR] has been filed against unknown persons and the police have started investigation.

Incidents such as this are indicative of the deteriorating security situation in the district. In a separate incident on September 11 unidentified persons in Wana kidnapped a senior doctor — Dr Noor Hanan.

Buzdar underlines need of dialogue for resolving political differences LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Friday said political differences are always settled through dialogues.

Referring to JamiatUlema-e-Islam-Fazal’s (JUIF) Azadi March, Usman Buzdar said everyone has right for a peaceful protest, but it should not disturb routine life and create problems for the citizens.”Pakistan’s image has been affected due to Azadi March”, he continued. Highlighting the impor-

tance of dialogues for the solution of every conflict, he underlined the need for a peaceful environment for the stability of Pakistan.

Buzdar said Prime Minister is striving hard to put the country’s economy back on track and transform country into an economic giant.

Yesterday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had agreed to form a judicial commission on allegations of rigging by opposition parties in the general elections 2018.

According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan

has offered to hold an investigation into alleged election rigging.

The proposal was presented to the JUI-F chief MaulanaFazal-ur-Rehman through Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. The federal government has invited the opposition to prepare terms of reference (TORs) with National Assembly Speaker AsadQaiser. The government has also agreed in making the parliamentary committee functional for 2018 election rigging probe, the sources said.

UN urged to end IOK curfew ISLAMABAD INP ISLAMABAD: Participants of Azadi March drink kahwah at H-9 Ground, Peshawar Morr, in the federal capital. ONLINE

Lack of political will stumbling block in way of anti-torture legislation: Babar ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Former senator Farhatullah Babar has said that lack of political will is responsible for failure to enact anti torture legislation to end endemic torture in police stations, lock ups and military run internment centres.

Speaking at the HRCP national consultation on implementation of UN Convention against torture here in Islamabad on Friday, Farhatullah Babar said that Pakistan signed CAT in 2008, ratified it in 2010 which made it obligatory to make domestic legislation but the same had not yet been done despite unanimous adoption of a private member Bill in March 2015 that was endorsed by the Ministry of Interior and all political parties and provinces.He said that the incumbent government had promised to immediately bring in anti torture legislation but failed and every time the matter is raised in the human rights committees of senate and national assembly the standard response of the government is that the draft bill is under consideration and will be presented before the cabinet at its next meeting. That next meeting has not yet come.

The PPP leader said that it appeared that the stumbling block were the security agencies that did not want to be

held accountable for torture and custodial death under their watch.He referred to the brief submitted by the human rights ministry on December 12, 2018 which stated the clause in the Bill relating to armed forces had been deleted.

He said that Article 19 of the Bill passed by the Senate which the human rights ministry wishes to delete reads: "A state of war, threat of war, public emergency, internal political instability or an order of a superior authority or officer shall not constitute a defence against the commission of offences under this act".Farhatullah Babar asked as to why a clause in the Bill endorsed by the Human Rights Ministry in 2015 was being opposed by the same Ministry now in 2019.The former Senator said that recognized places of detention under criminal laws are prisons, judicial and police lock ups but a new opaque detention centres called internment centres had been set up run by the military. While there were laws, howsoever, ineffective and poorly implemented, against torture at the legally recognized centres of detention the internment centres were beyond oversight and had become like Guantanamo By like prisons of Pakistan. He said that the KP government recently promulgated to set up such

centres not only in the erstwhile tribal areas but throughout the province.

The move has since been challenged in the SC and it fixed for hearing on Wednesday next week, he added.

Farhatullah Babar said that any legislation should also cover other forms of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (CIDT) along with torture as required under the CAT. He also called for independent and impartial oversight of internment centres.

The scope of the anti torture legislation should not only be limited to police but should also cover any 'public official'.The national consultation was also addressed by Senator Sherry Rehman and I. A Rehman. Senator Sherry Rehman dilated upon her anti torture Bill recently submitted to Senate secretariat. Mr I A Rehman talked about the role of civil society in advancing progressive legislation.

Later, the HRCP also decided to form a working group of concerned citizens to carry forward the conversation on anti torture legislation in the country. The proposed Working Group will critically examine the proposed legislation being brought by the government and lobby with the members with Parliament and cross section of civil society to enact the anti torture legislation.

Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the wife of Hurriyet leader Yasin Malik, on Friday said that United Nations should play its part to bring an end to the cruel curfew and lockdown that has exacerbated the plight of the Kashmiris.

She condemned Indian atrocities in held Kashmir and urged the UN to resolve the long-standing issue in accordance with UN resolutions.

It is unfortunate that the United States is still closing its eyes and not making serious efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute, she regretted. She called upon Pakistan leadership to continue its political and diplomatic initiatives to the highest level and respond to the deceit of the Indian occupation with full strength and determination.

The minorities in Pakistan have complete religious freedom but unfortunately, Indian minorities are living in an environment of fear, she noted.

Kashmiris are determined that they would get their right to self-determination, by all means, she mentioned. She warned

that the Indian government’s move to change Muslim town’s name should not be accepted

by Kashmiris.

“These name changes are just a gimmick, nothing else, to get votes,” she said, adding that name-changing had long been a popular tactic among local Indian politicians.

Mullick said the international community knew that Indian policies in Held Kashmir are based on Hindutava and ethnic cleansing. Hindustan wants demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir, she said adding, Pakistan should continue building pressure on India by using all available diplomatic channels.

Talking about the Kartarpur corridor, she appreciated Pakistani leadership that the Kartarpur initiative will promote a soft image of Pakistan in front of the world.

Pakistan has expressed a mature approach but India is violating international laws and human rights in Held Kashmir, she added. Hurriyet leader said the policies of present Indian government in the leadership of extremist Narendra Modi are leading India towards destruction and isolation in front of the world.

A dua was held on the 36th death anniversary of former senator and renowned industrialist Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, the father of Ashraf Group of Industries Chairman Zaka Ashraf. The ceremony was attended by notables from Punjab and Sindh.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

How Trump is inTimidaTing impeacHmenT wiTnesses WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT PART OF TRUMP’S BASE IS 'DEPLORABLE.' NO BREACH OF ETHICS, CRIME OR ACT OF MORAL DEPRAVITY WILL SHAKE THEIR BLIND SUPPORT

Usa today

i

MIchael J Stern

have the unfortunate distinction of recognizing witness intimidation when I see it. During my years as a state and federal prosecutor, I watched solid cases dissolve as witnesses were intimidated into refusing to testify about horrible crimes.

In every instance of fearful silence, the threat came from the perpetrator of the crime or someone closely connected to him. In my wildest nightmare, it never would have occurred to me that the man in charge of American law enforcement would be the source of intimidation in an investigation by federal authorities. Enter the stuff that nightmares are made of …

President Donald Trump.

Both in and out of the White House, Trump has a long history of using threats and intimidation to silence his critics, expand his financial empire and keep himself out of prison.

TRUMP INTIMIDATION TACTICS: Porn actress Stormy Daniels said in 2018 on "60 Minutes" that seven years earlier, a man in a parking lot approached her

and warned: “Leave Trump alone. Forget the story,” referring to Daniels’ efforts to sell a story of her affair with Trump.

Looking at Daniels’ daughter, she said, the man followed with: “That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom.”

In the run-up to the 2016 election, a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He threatened to sue every one of them. The idea of being dragged through years of litigation by a celebrity billionaire is scary and goes a long way to secure silence.

Trump’s intimidation tactics did not stop at the White House door. With Trump at the center of simultaneous impeachment and criminal investigations, any semblance of restraint has snapped beneath the sobering reality that Trump could lose both his presidency and his freedom.

After a whistleblower complaint detailed how Trump bartered U.S. financial aid to Ukraine in exchange for manufactured dirt on potential presidential rival Joe Biden, Trump suggested that the whistleblower’s source was a traitor who should be executed. And this week, Trump threatened the release of damaging information against Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the decorated combat veteran who provided congressional testimony establishing a quid pro quo in the Ukraine call that led to the impeach-

ment inquiry into Trump.

A catalog of other threats against Trump’s personal and political enemies has already been publicly aired. It’s longer than the Beatles’ hit list.

That Trump has revealed himself to be the thug we feared him to be should not come as a surprise. The surprise is that he’s able to openly employ tactics that would get any other politician shamed out of office before the close of the day’s news cycle.

In order to understand the vaccine that protects Trump from accountability, we have to accept what Hillary Clinton knew all along. There is a part of Trump’s base that is “deplorable.” No breach of ethics, crime or act of moral depravity will shake their blind support.

I could craft an analogy using the words “cult,” “Jim Jones” and “Kool-Aid,” but it has been said before.

At some point, liberal America, of which I consider myself a part, must accept the uncomfortable truth that many of our fellow Americans dislike people who don’t look like them, pray like them and think like them. Trump understands that harsh reality. It was his immigration policy — I’ll keep those people who are not like you away from you — that was his slingshot to the presidency.

In a Monmouth University Poll released this week, 62% of Trump supporters said there was nothing he could

do to lose their support. Nothing. This has allowed those Trump supporters to come out from the shadows and publicly express the bigotry they had to contain before the most powerful man in the world said it was OK. Trump recognizes this and maintains their loyalty through an IV drip of “killers and rapists,” “very fine people” and foreign “infestation.” In exchange, Trump has a personal army of followers who will attack those who are critical of him. Just ask the Democratic politicians who received pipe bombs last year from megaTrump supporter Cesar Sayoc.

THREAT TO IMPEACHMENT WITNESSES: This spring, Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen testified in a House hearing that Trump uses “code,” like a mob boss, when he orders people to do things of questionable ethical or legal propriety.

Trump’s code language is understood by his closest followers, and it is what sends shivers down the spines of witnesses cooperating in the impeachment probe. Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, told House investigators she felt threatened when Trump referred to her as “bad news” in a publicly released summary of the Ukraine call. Yovanovitch also testified that she worried her job and pension were at risk by not toeing the Trump line.

The danger in threats posed by

Trump and his base is that witnesses called to testify will not be candid because they fear repercussions, or will not appear at all. And witnesses who have not tripped the public radar have little reason to voluntarily come forward and go through the agony that comes with having the president of the United States publicly trash them to his 67 million Twitter followers, some of whom may target them for revenge. Attorneys for the Ukraine whistleblower have already received death threats against the whistleblower and themselves. It is the whistleblower’s complaint that will likely lead to Trump’s impeachment.

Since far less has led Trump’s rabid supporters to violence, it’s understandable why the whistleblower does not want his or her identity disclosed.

Yet Trump repeatedly attacks the media for protecting the whistleblower’s identity. Republican politicians like Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Rand Paul, who have called for a public outing of the whistleblower’s identity despite the danger he or she faces, are complicit in Trump’s intimidation efforts.

The primordial soup from which Trump, his die-hard supporters and the current GOP have evolved makes it impossible to distinguish parasite from host.

Whatever historical dissection will reveal in years to come, the biggest loser of the Trump era will be our search for the truth.

Michael J. Stern, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, was a federal prosecutor for 25 years in Detroit and Los Angeles.

Will patriotism-high India see the film ‘Panipat’? Do face masks actually reduce THE AFGHAN EMBASSY HAS ALREADY WRITTEN TO THE NARENDRA MODI GOVERNMENT FEARING MISREPRESENTATION OF ABDALI IN THE FILM

Print Kaveree BaMZaI

The last time he was here, the Yamuna ran red for seven days. This time he has come with one lakh soldiers.”

That’s a line from Ashutosh Gowariker’s upcoming Hindi movie Panipat, the lodestar battle that Home Minister Amit Shah loves to slide into his conversations.

But as battles go, the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 is an odd choice for a newly patriotic, flag-waving, cheerleading Indian film industry. After all, the most significant and popular memory of the battle between the forces of the Afghan warlord Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas is that it was a military debacle. It drove the Marathas out of the north for a decade. (Not that you would get the sentiment if you saw the trailer of the Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon-starrer film.)

So, why would a new India, supposedly still suffering from and still avenging the psychic wounds of hundreds of years of foreign rule, want to revisit the Panipat battle through Ashutosh Gowariker’s ninth film?

Do Indians in 2019 really want to see the brave Marathas, led by the Peshwa’s cousin Sadashiv Rao Bhau, being brutally destroyed by Abdali, who invaded India nine times between 1747 and 1769?

It’s not a simple memory of victory and loss. This was a decisive battle that changed history, humiliated the Hindu Marathas even as they were on a winning spree, and signalled a shift in power, the fallout of which reverberated for centuries. The battle, as Amit Shah said, “paved the way for foreigners to enter India”. At a BJP meeting in January this year, he said the Lok Sabha elections this year were like the battle of Panipat, and they just could not afford to lose it. The key lies in the geopolitics of the time.

The Marathas were virtually ruling Delhi by the middle of the 18th century. The much-weakened 16th Mughal emperor, famously blind

Shah Alam II, had been installed by Sadashiv Rao Bhau after deposing Shah Jahan III. The British East India Company was hovering around Delhi, and in 1764 would defeat Shah Alam II in the Battle of Buxar, a blow from which the crumbling Mughal empire would never recover.

But as the Panipat trailer hints, and the tagline emphasises (“The Great Betrayal”), instead of battling the growing power of the British, the Mughals considered the Marathas their real enemy. The movie appears to be based on Marathi historian T.S. Shejwalkar’s work, Panipat 1761, where he argued that the Marathas sacrificed themselves to save the Mughals, who were busy surrendering to the British.

The trailer shows an emperor, clearly Shah Alam II, convinced that no one would dare go against the Marathas. Until a Mughal courtier says: “Ek hai, Jahapanah”. It also shows another Muslim ruler handing over his guns to Abdali. “Ham Maratha ka safaya kar denge. (We will remove all evidence of Marathas from here),” to which the Muslim ally, either from the Rohillas or Awadh, says: “Phir hamari bandookein aapki (Then our guns are yours)”.

THE MUSLIM ‘INVADER’: Abdali fits the Alauddin Khilji mould of “otherness” – tall, imposing, and dismissive of Hindu martial prowess. The two manifest the stock Muslim “invader” tropes that dominate the 21stcentury Hindu psyche. As one of the Panipat posters on Abdali says: “Death strikes where his shadow falls.”

“Why are you throwing your life away for such a small piece of land,” Abdali asks Sadashiv in the trailer, and he answers even more dramatically (or at least as dramatically as Arjun Kapoor’s acting will allow him): “I am ready to die for even a single grain of dust of my motherland.”

Despite Sadashiv’s best intentions, as historian Audrey Trushcke puts it: “The battle was a bloodbath. A standard number given is that 40,000 or 50,000 Marathas were slaughtered.

As a Bollywood film in 2019, I would expect to see a strong Muslim vs Hindu storyline and glorification of the Marathas.” Which would mean the demonisation of Abdali. No wonder the Afghan embassy has already writ-

ten to the Narendra Modi government fearing misrepresentation of Abdali in the film.

Abdali was the first king of Afghanistan, founder of the Durrani dynasty, but not their greatest ambassador to India. As popular historian Archana Goradia Gupta points out to ThePrint, even now in Punjab, which Abdali looted so thoroughly, a saying goes: “Khanda peenda lahe da, baki Ahmad Shahe da (only what we’ve eaten and drunk is ours, the rest belongs to Ahmad Shah Abdali).”

FACT AND FICTION: For Reliance Entertainment, the distributors of the film, “all the three main cast are looking exciting in their roles”. “The story is patriotic. So, I expect it to do well.

In India, traditionally costume dramas do well and in this case, the story is established,” Reliance Entertainment CEO Shibasish Sarkar told ThePrint.

Indeed, unlike Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat (2018) and Gowariker’s own Jodhaa Akbar (2008) – which were part-myth, partreal – there is no ambiguity about anyone’s existence here. Gowariker has been earlier criticised by many Hindutva advocates for greenwashing Mughal history and introducing distortions in the portrayal of Akbar. It was finally the Supreme Court that intervened as the fact-checker for Jodhaa Akbar.

Panipat has been produced by Ashutosh Gowariker Private Limited and a new company started by London-based pharma professional Rohit Shelatkar, Vision World. Shelatkar has been quoted as saying: “The hardships Marathas faced reaching Panipat and fighting the battle with the mighty Afghans 1,000 miles away from their homes in Pune just to protect our motherland from the invaders is something our youth can learn from. There’s a lot to take from Panipat — bravery, might, loyalty, discipline, and patriotism.” And chest-thumping patriotism is an evergreen winner – in cinema, in deodorant ads or TV channel debates.

Especially when it is invoked against the foreigner in history.

The subtext in these polarised times is simple: when it came to the crunch, it was the Hindu Marathas who defended India, not the Muslim Mughals.

your exposure to air pollution?

SIMPLE PAPER DUST MASKS ARE LARGELY USELESS. YOU NEED SOMETHING MORE EFFECTIVE

Conversation Sverre vedal

Research has shown that exposure to air pollution, be it brief or over the long term, can have negative impacts on the lungs and hearts, and potentially the brain as well (Brook 2009). It is estimated that outdoor air pollution causes 3 million excess deaths worldwide each year (The Lancet 2015). In response, a number of cities have introduced policies aimed at reducing urban air pollution, including congestion charging in London, bike sharing in Paris, and an environmental police force in Beijing.

However, because time is required to implement policies intended to improve air quality and for them to actually have an effect, a growing number of pedestrians and bicyclists are choosing to wear masks or other devices that claim to reduce the risks. Options range from simple paper dust masks to those that supply clean air and prevent exposure to even the worst air pollution, like that found in dangerous work settings. Masks that are appropriate for outdoor use lie somewhere between these two extremes.

Air pollution is made up of particles and gases. Gases include ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and a large group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds. While gases can have harmful effects, research indicates that we should be most concerned about the negative health impacts of fine particles – those under 2.5 microns in size.

So are facemasks effective in reducing or preventing air pollution exposure? Their ability to limit exposure depends on the type of pollutant, the mask itself and how it’s used. Masks are assigned a protection factor, which is the percentage of a pollutant that the mask does not remove. A protection factor of 10 means that all but 10% of the pollutant is filtered out by the mask, assuming that the mask fits tightly on the face.

Simple paper dust masks are largely useless when it comes to lessening air pollution exposure. However, some inexpensive HEPA filter masks can be effective in limiting exposure to fine particles, particularly those known as N95 respirators because they

have a protection factor of 5 and thus can filter out all but 5% of particles. Effectiveness is reduced for particles smaller than 0.3 microns – bacteria are larger, but viruses and many fine particles in motor-vehicle emissions are smaller. While N95 masks do not remove harmful gases from the air, they can be combined with features such as activated charcoal that also reduce exposure to gases.

These masks are more expensive and care should be taken to identify which gases they filter and how effectively.

There have only been a limited number of studies on the ability of facemasks to prevent or lessen negative health effects caused by exposure to air pollution, and their conclusions should be interpreted cautiously. In two of the three experimental studies, all from China, when wearing an N95 facemask while walking in the centre of Beijing, blood pressure was lower than when not wearing a facemask in both healthy study participants (Langrish 2009) and in participants with heart disease (Langrish 2012). In the participants with heart disease, blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart was seen to be better when wearing the N95 facemask. In the third study, from Shanghai, healthy participants also had lower blood pressure when wearing an N95 facemask (Shi 2017). These studies suggest that wearing a particle-filtering mask can reduce the short-term exposure effects on the heart and blood vessels of exposure to urban air pollution.

The main reason that these findings should be interpreted cautiously is that participants were aware that they were breathing filtered air. While this sounds obvious, this awareness – rather any pollution reduction – could have produced the results observed. Studies to address questions as to whether the facemasks also lessened effects on the lungs and whether the effects of long-term exposure could also be prevented have not been done.

Moreover, while our exposure to air pollution is typically greater outdoors, we spend the vast majority of our time indoors, where we’re also exposed to air pollutants, including gases and fine particles. Since facemasks are seldom worn indoors, use of indoor air cleaners that have particle- and gas-filtering capabilities would still be needed to more fully provide protection from pollutants in our air.

Sverre Vedal is a professor of University of Washington.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

Iran DownS UnIDentIfIeD Drone near GUlf coaSt: rePortS DUBAI

I

whistleblower’s ID irrelevant to impeachment, says Ivanka

Agencies

RAN shot down an unidentified drone near the port of Bandar-e Mahshahr on the Gulf Coast on Friday, Iranian media reported, four and a half months after the downing of a US drone nearly triggered airstrikes.

The Iranian army downed the unmanned aircraft over Khuzestan province before dawn using a Mersad surface-to-air missile, said the Tasnim news agency, which is close to Iran’s ultra-conservatives.

Citing provincial governor Gholamreza Shariati, it reported that the army had located the wreckage of the drone in a marshy area and opened an inquiry into the incident.

It later said the drone could have been an Iranian model downed during nighttime exercises to test missile systems.

The accidental crash of an Iranian drone in the same province on October 23 prompted newspaper reports that an unidentified foreign aircraft had been

RABAT Agencies

shot down. The conservative Fars news agency later revealed that the drone was Iranian and had been forced to make an emergency landing.

The incidents come amid soaring tensions between Tehran and Washington since United States President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned a landmark 2015 nuclear deal last year and reimposed crippling sanctions.

Trump in June authorised a military strike after Iran shot down a US drone,

only to call off the retaliation at the last moment.

Washington insists the aircraft was in international airspace, but Iran says it was over its territorial waters.

The crisis deepened with the September 14 attacks on Saudi energy giant Aramco’s Abqaiq processing plant and Khurais oilfield which halved the kingdom’s crude output.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, but the US says

the attacks involved cruise missiles from Iran and amounted to “an act of war”.

Washington has responded with a military build-up in the Gulf and has launched an operation with its allies to protect navigation in Gulf waters.

Since May, the US has increased its 70,000-strong presence in the Middle East by 14,000 personnel, according to Pentagon figures, most of them deployed to the Gulf region.

China hands Japanese politician life in prison in drug case BEIJING Agencies

In Berlin, Pompeo says allied democracies must work together BERLIN Agencies

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is stressing the need for allied democracies to work together, saying that the Trump administration’s stances on NATO spending, Iran, Chinese technology and a new RussianGerman pipeline are meant to defend hard-won freedoms. Speaking in Berlin Friday during a visit marking the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Pompeo said that, 30 years later, authoritarianism is once again rising. Citing Russia’s actions in Ukraine and China’s crackdown on dissidents, he says “we must recognize that free nations are in a competition of values with unfree nations.” He says that’s why the U.S. has opposed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, raised pressure on Iran, warned of Chinese 5G network developments and urged NATO countries to increase spending. He says: “If we don’t lead, who will?”

A court in southern China sentenced an elderly former Japanese politician to life in prison Friday for smuggling drugs in shoes packed inside a suitcase he was trying to take to his home country.

A man from Mali was sentenced to death with a twoyear reprieve and a Guinean received a life sentence for packing and delivering the suitcase, according to the Guangzhou City First Intermediate Court.

Takuma Sakuragi, 76, pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal, said his Guangzhou-based lawyer, Chen Weixiong, who argued there was insufficient evidence to prove Sakuragi was knowingly carrying the drugs.

According to Chen, a Nigerian acquaintance asked Sakuragi to bring what appeared to be a suitcase full of women’s platform shoes with him back to Japan. The acquaintance claimed the suitcase was intended for his wife, who works as a designer in Tokyo, Chen said, but in fact, methamphetamine had been hidden in the heels of the shoes.

Sakuragi is a former city assemblyman from Aichi in central Japan. Chinese law exempts people over 75 from the death penalty, which is often imposed for drugrelated offences.

He was detained in 2013 when about 3.3 kilograms (more than 6 pounds) of methamphetamine was found in his luggage, the court said. Sakuragi planned to go to Shanghai for a connecting flight back to Japan, it said.

The other two men sentenced were identified by their Chinese names — Ali, a citizen of Mali, and Moxi from Guinea. Death sentences with two-year reprieves are almost always commuted to life in prison.

The court said Ali and Moxi were responsible for packing and delivering the suitcase, and that police

Ivanka Trump on Friday echoed her father’s view that the House impeachment investigation is an attempt to overturn the 2016 election. But, in an interview with The Associated Press, she parted ways with President Donald Trump by calling the identity of the impeachment whistleblower “not particularly relevant.” The Republican president and some of his allies have been pressing the news media to publicize the whistleblower’s name, but Ivanka Trump said the person’s motives were more important.

And she declined to speculate on what they may have been. “The whistleblower shouldn’t be a substantive part of the conversation,” she told the AP, saying the person “did not have firsthand information.”

She added that, “to me, it’s not particularly relevant aside from what the motivation behind all of this was.” In a wide-ranging, 25minute interview, Ivanka Trump also addressed her family’s criticism of Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter, whether she wants four more years in the White House and the possible future sale of her family’s landmark Washington hotel, which she helped develop and referred to as “my baby.” She said she shares her father’s oft-repeated view that the impeachment investigation is about “overturning the results of the 2016 election.”

UK election boosts hopes of pro-independence Scottish party LONDON Agencies

seized 18.15 grams of methamphetamine at their residence. Chen said Ali was spotted on a surveillance camera packing the suitcase, while Moxi’s fingerprints were found inside the bag.

Japanese media reported the verdict in Sakuragi’s case was delayed while authorities tracked down others who were involved. Sakuragi’s health has declined, and prior to the sentencing he had been hopeful he would be found innocent, Chen said.

The Scottish National Party is officially launching its campaign for Britain’s Dec. 12 election — a vote it hopes will put Scotland a step closer to independence. The party currently holds 35 of Scotland’s 59 seats in the House of Commons seats and hopes discontent about Brexit will boost that number. In Britain’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership, Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain. That appears to have boosted support for independence, which Scottish voters rejected in a 2014 plebiscite. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said Friday that “Scotland’s vote to remain in the EU has been ignored.” She said a vote for the SNP “is a vote to escape Brexit.”

India ramps up security ahead of verdict on contested religious site MUMBAI Agencies

India has increased security a week before the Supreme Court rules on a disputed religious site that has been fiercely contested by majority Hindus and Muslims for decades, police and home ministry officials said on Friday.

More than 5,000 paramilitary force members and police have been deployed in the northern town of Ayodhya, where an ancient mosque was razed in 1992 by hardline Hindus who believe the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram, a physical incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.

The destruction of the mosque triggered religious riots in which about 2,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed across the country and led to a series of court battles with various groups staking claim to the site.

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its decision on who should control

the site late next week and thousands of Hindu monks and devotees have been arriving in Ayodhya for the judgment.

At the same time, various government agencies are making their preparations to thwart any violence.

“Each and every security officer is committed to prevent minor skirmishes or large-scale riots after the court delivers its verdict,” said a senior home ministry official in New Delhi, “State governments have identified several schools to set up temporary jails if the need arises,” said the official, who declined to be identified.

Hindu groups say a temple existed on the site before the mosque was built in 1528 by a Muslim ruler.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party has long campaigned on a promise to support the construction of a Hindu temple on the site of the razed mosque.

Ayodhya is in densely populated

Uttar Pradesh state, home to more than 5% of India’s 200 million Muslims.

Provincial police chief Om Prakash Singh told Reuters that precautionary measures were in place and social media platforms were being monitored to track inflammatory posts ahead of the verdict.

“We will not tolerate Hindus or Muslims publicly displaying their reaction to the court verdict,” Singh said.

Muslim clerics in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra called for peace meetings with Hindu leaders in communally sensitive areas ahead of Friday prayers.

Navaid Hamid, president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the top forum for Islamic organizations, said thousands of Muslim religious leaders had vowed to maintain peace and harmony after the court verdict. “The land can belong to Hindus or Muslims, but there will be no repeat of the 1992 communal violence,” said Hamid.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

08 COMMENT PTI and the system Flexibility is the essence of democracy

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He government pretended that it was trying to reach a deal with the azadi March organisers supported by the opposition who have been protesting in Islamabad for the last nine days. a negotiating committee nominated by the PM and a two-member conciliation committee comprising the government’s PMl-Q allies failed to end the impasse on account of the PTI leadership’s inflexible stance. What has complicated matters further is the campaign by the PTI’s advisers who continued to heap insults on the JUI-F chief and the opposition parties even when their negotiating teams were trying to reach a settlement. This has led Maulana Fazlur rehman to give the PTI government two choices, the PM’s resignation or fresh elections within three months. after Sunday the opposition’s rahbar Committee will announce a new strategy reportedly aimed at closing all major highways across Pakistan as a first step.

The PTI leadership has similarly failed to evolve a modus vivendi with the opposition parties inside Parliament. Instead of going for legislation through consensus building, it has decided to make laws by steamrollering the opposition. In a travesty of democracy, on Thursday the ruling party passed 11 bills in the National assembly that included nine presidential ordinances within 30 minutes. Parliamentary norms require a debate on each of the bills to seek the opposition’s inputs and to remove any possible shortcomings after discussion from multiple angles. None of the bills had an urgency requiring immediate passage. Using the National assembly as a rubber stamp deprives the system of a mechanism to rectify itself. Making the parliamentary opposition redundant could force it to take recourse to the streets to make its voice heard. Turning democracy into a system of formal gestures devoid of substance amounts to depriving the system of legitimacy in the eyes of the people. after two elected governments completing their tenure one had hoped that the third one too would exhaust its mandated lifespan, handing over power in an orderly way to the next elected administration. The continuous disrespect for democratic norms on the part of the PTI creates doubts about an orderly transfer of power after the specified time limit.

FATF future IMF mission also not unhappy about revenue

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ederal economic affairs Minister Hammad azhar has described a Financial action Task Force (FaTF) future which does not bode well for the country, and which indicates that the PTI government has failed to deliver on its economic promises. While testifying to the National assembly Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday, he said that the asia-Pacific Group had decided on a new Mutual evaluation report, which would keep Pakistan on the FaTF grey list. The aPG would put Pakistan on its own action Plan, which Mr azhar described as easier to implement. The FaTF President, Xiangmin liu, wants Pakistan to ‘do more’ to implement anti-terror financing measures. FaTF’s 27point action Plan will be assessed in October 2020, but if the aPG has its way, there will be a new action plan then, which will take one to three years, if its recommendations are not implemented. That would keep Pakistan on the grey list until 2023, which effectively means for the next four years, or this government’s remaining tenure.

That would mean that the PTI government would end up failing to achieve one of its most important economic goals, getting Pakistan off the FaTF grey list, where it has been since april 2018. The other goal, that of an agreement with the IMF was something that it had initially resisted, but had finally opted for, with much criticism that the country had wasted much valuable time because of that resistance. Coinciding with Mr azhar’s testimony was the visit by an IMF team to review Pakistan’s performance under the deal. While it indicated that another tranche would be allowed under the threeyear package, bringing the total disbursed to $1.44 billion, it also was asked by Pakistan to delink FaTF from the package. One of the IMF conditionalities that Pakistan indeed do more, and get off the FaTF grey list.

It appears that Pakistan is to be squeezed by financial means into doing Western bidding on terrorism, through the mechanism of financing. It would be appropriate for Pakistan at this point to evaluate whether these are merely great powers throwing their weight around, and whether militant outfits serve any useful national purpose. If defying the world and getting blacklisted by the FaTF is the price, then it had better be worth it.

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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Iqbal’s dreams for an ideal homeland MuhaMMad Sohail ahMed

Remembering Iqbal on his 142nd birth anniversary

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T was in 1938 that allama Iqbal died on 21 its divine glories will fall on his feet. during his april 1939 after dreaming of Pakistan and epoch, Iqbal found that most of the nations had forhanding it over to the founding father gotten the real spirit of Islam. They lacked self-esMuhammad ali Jinnah and his companions. teem, self-respect, true faith and all actions based He was born in Sialkot in 1877 and settled in on a strong faith in allah without assistance from anyone which he termed as lahore. He is called Iqbal khudi. In his book Zarb-elahori by the Persians as Kaleem, (Marg-e-Khudi), most of his poetry is in he categorically mentions Persian. Mr Ghulam Qadir the western nations, the Fasih was his contempoeastern and arab world as rary and friend, and his son well as India to be in a state Zafar Iqbal was an admirer He says in one of his of failed humanity plagued of Iqbal. He used to visit poems that a thinking poet with miseries and pathetic allama Iqbal where other of affairs owing to the young boys of his age used is like an eye of the Nation, state absence of khudi. Here to benefit from the thinkers’ Iqbal seems to have felt forum at allama Iqbal’s whenever there is any pain for the entire humanity. residence near Macleod problem in any part of the In his message, he reroad. He was very conminds us that the problem cerned about future genbody, the eyes start to with worshipping idols is erations and their training for follow-up of his vision exhibit the pain in the form that one starts to bow in front of everyone and falls and mission. It was necesof tears. Similarly, the poet from the divine status of sary to interact with them spiritual esteem thereby and train them to take feels the pain of the losing his khudi. He comover their responsibilities. pared the true Muslim, an What was the mesNation.

This anniversary is embodiment of self-recogsage of allama Muhamnised eminence with an mad Iqbal? The first thing particularly reminding us ocean that contains every was to make them powerthat the pain of Allama drop of blood, which in itful. For making them is an incredible ocean. strong, he recommended would have been extremely self another important modern education for the message to youth in Bal-eyoung generation. He got excruciating if he would Jibreel he advised the Mushis son admitted in Cenhave been alive today to lim youth to avoid comfort tral Model School lahore. or luxuries as ‘Nations earn In his verses addressed to see the state of Kashmiri no glories high if youth’s his son {to Javed} in zest for challenges ceases’.

Zarb-e-Kaleem he says: Muslims allama Iqbal identiIf you are strong in fied and explained to the your Faith of one and Muslims of the Indian only one allah Subcontinent that the You don’t fear anyMuslims had a unique thing may it be the westidentity that could not be ern education Iqbal was a strong believer in one allah. He be- compared with the West as “The way of arab lieved that strong faith leads to the development of Prophet be the way that suits thy nation- best”. In strong character. a strong Self (khudi) evolves with his poem, The Muslim Nation (Baang-e-Dara) he strong belief. This forms the basis of true glory for states that the Western nations are based on ethnic one in this world and the hereafter. a successful identities in a state where ‘The strength of Musperson must have full trust in allah, where he lims lies in the brotherhood of religion Serene’. should bow and supplicate. rest of the world and He also mentions that the uniting force for Mus-

lims is their belief and religion. It is this solid bond that unites people with diverse backgrounds. during a recent interview, at a book festival an individual attacked the Two-Nation concept given by allama Iqbal and recommended that Pakistan could only progress if it sheds the two-nation concept. If for the sake of discussion, we say goodbye to the two-nation concept, then the country can’t exist anymore, as mentioned in the above-stated poem. In another poem, allama Iqbal says that a secular ethnic nation-state is a false idol and Muslims have been led astray in an unprecedented manner due to the modern age scholars presenting ‘fiery wines never sipped before’. a famous scholar of the Subcontinent abul Hasan Nadwi stated to one of the cognisances of allama Iqbal that when he read the poetry of Iqbal, he felt that his reading rekindled the spirit of Islam.

One of allama Iqbal’s contemporaries wrote a book on the history of Islam. Initially, it was in the form of the periodical. later it was published and the preface of the book was written by the famous poet. In the preface, he states that to create akhlaqe-hasna among the Muslims common Muslims must know the events related to their elders so that they can learn from their conduct. The state of awakening of a Nation can be judged from their people’s interest in the history of their elders. Iqbal writes that from the observation it can be seen that there is a visible awakening among the masses and they carefully listen to the historic material. In the end, he wishes that every Muslim house must read the book. Therefore, it can be concluded that we must educate and update our children and the young generation about Islamic history to prepare good citizens with a high level of personal conduct. allama Iqbal was a great poet. He was a great thinker and a great deal more. a man of high moral fibre, a person sensitive to the problems of Muslims. He says in one of his poems that a thinking poet is like an eye of the Nation, whenever there is any problem in any part of the body, the eyes start to exhibit the pain in the form of tears. Similarly, the poet feels the pain of the Nation. This anniversary is particularly reminding us that the pain of allama would have been extremely excruciating if he would have been alive today to see the state of Kashmiri Muslims.

Muhammad Sohail Ahmed is a freelance writer and Retired commodore of Pakistan Navy, he can be reached at msoha ilyz@gmail.com

Welcome to Punjab: the birthplace of Guru Nanak Chaudhry MohaMMad Sarwar

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OTHING is more satisfying than to be remembered as a peacemaker in the world. But peace with honour and integrity must be prioritised when dealing with an unruly neighbour. lately, Prime Minister Imran Khan has emerged as a peacemaker in the South asian region. His vision and efforts for a peaceful and prosperous South asia have been acknowledged by world leaders. The future generations of Sikhs will thank God on their knees that once Imran Khan held the PM office. History will remember him as a statesman who opened a corridor of peace to the country that is ruled by a war-obsessed leader.

That said, 12 November 2019 marks the 550th birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak dev Ji, the revered saint, poet, philosopher and founder of Sikhism who believed in the oneness of allah and spent his life preaching the noble values of love, peace, equality, humility, simplicity and global brotherhood. Born to a Hindu family and deeply influenced by Muslim thought, Guru Nanak has left a tremendous impact on the socio-religious and intellectual milieu of the Subcontinent.

Today, as many as 27 million of his followers live around the world including our brethren in Pakistan.

He was born in Nankana Sahib near lahore and spent the later part of his life at Kartarpur in the Narowal district where his remains are buried and also kept in a Samadhi. These two religious sites are the most sacred to the Sikhs all over the World. Gurdwara Janam asthan and Gurdwara Kartarpur to Sikhs are what Makkah and Madina Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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respect the views of the majority.

This philosophy of peaceful coexistence, pluralism and diversity is lieved and preached. Its relevance common in teachings of almost all to, and need for, the contemporary Sufi traditions and a touchstone in the civilised societies of the world. and world is even greater than before. this is what I can we are strivvividly reing to member, the achieve in very first Pakistan. On thing my this historic m o t h e r On this historic day, one day, one lives taught me as in the hope a child was lives in the hope that the that the kind that in a gesture by Momin’s life kind gesture by Pakistan Pakistan will faith was the first step, acwill ease tensions between ease tensions between knowledgIndia and Pakistan and India and ing your Pakistan and faith was the much needed peace will much needed second. But peace will rethe most imreturn to the region with turn to the reportant step Kashmiris finally getting gion with she used to Kashmiris fitell me was their right to selfnally getting using energy that faith determination materialised their right to self-determigives you to soon! I also hope that nation matemake the rialised world a betKartarpur will be soon! I also ter place. that later, during remembered as a corridor hope Kartarpur my social will be reand political of peace between two membered as life in the brothers. Baba Guru Nanak a corridor of U n i t e d beKingdom, I Dev Ji too, would have not peace tween two realised, the brothers. real test of wished otherwise!

Baba Guru faith is Nanak dev whether it is Ji too, would s t r o n g have not enough to wished othtolerate erwise! other faiths.

While the majority should not imChaudhry Mohammad Sarwar pose its religious views on the minority, the minority should also is Governor Punjab, Pakistan.

A step towards mutual tolerance are to Muslims! Keeping the significance of reverence in mind, our government decided to restore, renovate and enlarge the buildings of these sacred sites on one hand and ease access of the pilgrims to the sites on the other, despite heightened tensions between India and Pakistan followed by Indian unconstitutional aggression and grave human rights violations in Kashmir. as the Kartarpur Sahib corridor opens, we have worked day and night on timely restoration and expansion of the Gurdwara ahead of the celebrations of 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak dev Ji. as a token of goodwill and a major relief to the pilgrims from India, Prime Minister Imran Khan has waived the conditions of passport and advance registration for the visitors.

The pilgrims will also not be charged any fee on the inauguration day and Baba Guru Nanak dev Ji’s birthday. Punjab is all set to welcome its guests from across the border with open arms and no malice in the heart. religious harmony, freedom and protection of minority’s rights are very close to my heart and a most important cornerstone of the PTI’s policies. I have no hesitation in acknowledging that I have been a deeply religious man since childhood who believes that religion must be used for global peace and harmony. It should not be used for bigotry, persecution and hatred. I believe that God’s will should be expressed by men through their actions towards other men for humanity is above all religious affiliations.

This is what Baba Guru Nanak and other Sufi mystics and saints be-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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

Commendable initiative to save water

Listen to the Lebanese people The old sectarian basis of representation must go

washington watch dr JaMeS J Zogby

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N 2012, I wrote an article about lebanon that still rings true today. It ended with a quote from one of my favourite pieces written by Kahlil Gibran “You Have Your lebanon, I Have My lebanon.”

I am including below some of my July 2012 article, followed by a few comments on current developments: “With neighbouring Syria imploding, tensions with Iran mounting, and Israel ever threatening, Lebanon appears to be on the brink of conflict. But then that has been the story of Lebanon for decades now. This remarkably beautiful country filled with extraordinary people has long been a victim of its history, its own leaders, and the machinations of outsiders. This may be Lebanon’s past and present, but if we listen to the Lebanese people, it need not be the country’s future.

“It was the French who created Lebanon and its patchwork quilt, sect-driven system of governance, designing it to serve France’s imperial interests. During the past 80 years, operating within this imposed framework, Lebanon’s sectarian elites have jockeyed for advantage, seeking the support of external “partners” to buttress their position. Only too obliging, these foreign “partners” all too often had their own interests to promote or scores to settle. As a result, Lebanon was time and again transformed into a battlefield where sects clashed and regional power struggles were fought.

“And so, it is today.

“Two generations ago, Lebanon was an East-West Cold War battleground. Today it is an arena in which the conflict between the West and its allies versus Iran and its surrogates plays out – with fragile Lebanon hanging in the balance, and its security, stability and prosperity at risk.

“Some may shrug dismissively and say “this is Lebanon” or point to the country’s warlords and armed gangs and say “they bring it on themselves.” But this recurring precarious state of affairs need not be Lebanon’s fate. If we listen to Lebanon’s people, it is possible to imagine a very different country, based on a common identity and sense of purpose.

“If polling has taught me anything, it is that people almost always know more than the politicians who lead them. In this regard, Lebanon’s people have a great deal to say – and deserve to be heard.

“There are, to be sure, issues that divide the Lebanese. For example, two recent polls found Lebanese holding discordant views with regard to Syria and Iran… In all cases, these attitudes of various Lebanese groups, while reflecting the positions of their leaders, only tell part of the story of what Lebanese really think. On most issues, however, there is a strong domestic consensus– and it would be wise for leaders in Lebanon, and the rest of us, to pay attention and focus on the issues and policies that could bring most Lebanese together, not those that divide them.

“There are many places where Lebanese find common ground. They agree on the country’s sorry state of affairs, the political priorities that must be addressed, the importance of national identity, unity and fundamental political reforms that should be enacted.

“When, for example, we ask Lebanese whether they are better off or worse off than they were five years ago, all agree they are worse off. Similarly, when we ask them if the country is currently on the right track or the wrong track, all groups agree that Lebanon is on the wrong track. And when we ask Lebanese to identify their top political concerns, once again there is a remarkable convergence in attitudes. All Lebanese, across the board, rank “expanding employment opportunities” as their number one concern, followed by “ending corruption and nepotism,” “political reform,” and “protecting personal freedoms and civil rights...”

“What is also striking is that when we ask Lebanese for their principle source of identity, they do not name their religion or sect, nor do they say their family or “being Arab.” Instead, people in all groups say that it is “being Lebanese...”

“When we ask Lebanese whether they prefer to maintain the sect-based apportionment system of the past or replace it with a “one man/one vote” political structure, there is broad agreement that it is time to implement the latter. They all agree that national unity is a must for the country. And they reject the notion that any one group should dominate over the others.

“Almost a century ago, Lebanon’s internationally renowned poet, Kahlil Gibran, wrote a marvellous piece, “You have your Lebanon, I have my Lebanon,” in which he contrasted the country’s self-centred, plundering, bickering elites with the common folk who are Lebanon’s heart and soul. Gibran was right then, and his observations hold true today. Lebanon’s leaders and those who care about the future of the country ought to take note – listen to Lebanon’s people, and help pull the country back from the brink, before it’s too late.”

That was what I wrote seven years ago.

For the past two weeks, the two lebanons have been at a dramatic stand-off as sustained mass demonstrations have called for an end to old regime. They no longer want feudal dynasties governing and looting the country, nor

do they want to be held hostage to an armed militia that uses threats to protect its position in this dysfunctional system. Their simple, yet eloquent, slogan has been “all of them, means all of them.”

The protests have been pan-sectarian, creative (a human chain of demonstrators holding hands connecting lebanese from the north to the south – over 120 miles), and massive (at one point there were one and one-half million demonstrators in the streets– over one-third of lebanon’s population).

Why were they demonstrating? Our most recent polling shows lebanese public opinion fed up and unified– with a greater consensus than seven years ago. Today, across the board, lebanese are even more dissatisfied with the state of their economy and more pessimistic about the country’s future. like seven years ago, they overwhelmingly say “creating employment opportunities” is their number one priority, but they have little confidence that their governing institutions can deliver. There is also a growing concern about Iran’s involvement in their country. all segments of lebanese society retain a deep animus toward Israel, recalling its long occupation of the south and its repeated brutal bombardments. and they are deeply concerned about their country’s inability to cope with the economic and social strains resulting from the presence of over one million Syrian refugees.

Given the depth and intensity of their dissatisfaction and frustration, no one should have been surprised when the protests began– not even lebanon’s decayed and corrupt political elite. If they had been listening to the people, they would have known that their time was up.

In response to sustained protests, the government finally resigned, despite Hezbollah’s threats. But significant challenges remain if the aspirations of the protesters are to be fulfilled. To replace one sectarian/dynastic cabinet with another will not bring change.

Neither will new elections based on the same sect-apportioned system. lebanon needs a real democratic transformation– that’s what the people want. One place to start would be to implement a provision from the old 1926 constitution which called for the creation of a one-man, one vote non-sectarian lower house of parliament, while reserving sect representation for an upper house with limited powers. This might give the country an elected government that puts lebanon and all of its people first.

This kind of change will not come quickly. and the old elites will not easily surrender their privileges. For lebanon’s protesters to get to where they want to be, they will need to organise a strong representative leadership, sustain their energy, design new tactics to protect the momentum of their movement, and put forth a comprehensive programme for change. It will not be easy, but from what I’ve seen over the past few weeks, I’d listen to the lebanese people and I wouldn’t bet against them coming out on top. For the sake of lebanon’s future, I hope they do.

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

aS a car owner, I get my car washed once a week from my local service station. every time I go there, I think to myself: “What an astounding amount of water is being wasted just in washing a car”. a single service station washes at least ten cars in a day. More than 100 litres of water is used on a single car being washed. Just imagine the gallons and gallons of water being wasted by every single station in washing just 10 cars a day. That is thousands of litres of water needlessly going “down the drain”. I recently read up in your newspaper about Byco and the United Nations partnering to address this problem by installing water purification plants at Byco’s retail outlets. The recycling and filtration plant collects the water wasted from the car wash and recycles it for re-use.

For a change, I have found some very good news as this is an excellent initiative taken up by both organisations and I think other organisations should adopt this strategy in order to play their part in dealing with the water crisis in our country. This could make a huge difference if implemented all across the country.

Syed Ovais Akhtar Karachi

NAB and victimisation IT is unfortunate that our politicians tend to have short memories and a myopic vision focused on self-interest. Our political parties don’t stick to their promises and only speak sense while not in power. For example, the chairman of PPP late Benazir Bhutto and the head of PMl-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif, while out of power during the rule of a dictator, signed the charter of democracy. Through the Cod both parties agreed to follow democratic principles, do away with witch hunt and victimisation, and make every effort to keep the non-democratic forces away from politics of Pakistan.

Unfortunately, the fate of Cod was not different of promises made by our politicians when not in power. Though Benazir could not live long to see the PPP in power, party after assuming power in 2008 tabled a bill in the parliament to replace the draconian NaB law introduced by a dictator.

While most politicians agreed that NaB was misused to coerce and victimise politicians and bureaucrats alike, Mian Nawaz Sharif, the head of PMl-N did not lend support to this bill only to become a victim of it later. despite promises to run the country in true sense of democracy devoid of victimisation, both parties failed to live up to their words leaving no opportunity to go after their opponent using the NaB laws. Unfortunate, both are suffering due to the cases filed by them against each other during their stints at power from 2008 to 2018. They lost a golden opportunity to do away with the NaB law and put in place laws that are sane, humane, and fair. alas, both parties today are crying foul and claim they are being victimised. little do they realise that this is an outcome of actions of their own. I hope and pray that rulers of today realise this bitter truth and work toward making laws that rid the country of the vicious trap victimisation and revenge we find ourselves in today.

RAJA ShAFAATuLLAh Islamabad

Digitising life alTHOUGH Pakistan is still lagging behind in using technology and digitisation but now Pakistan is also moving forward. I am a student doing graduation in Islamabad but basically from Gujrat. Spending five days a week Islamabad and going hometown over the weekends requires extreme commuting especially through motorbike. Fuel refilling specially on GT road, and handling cash accordingly has always been a hassle for me since there are no aTM machines or card swiping facilities at most of the fuel stations, and where they are available, at times those aTMs are out of cash. recently, I went to a PSO filling station and it was quite disturbing when I came to know that I could pick cash from hostel while leaving for Gujrat however I managed by asking one of my friend who came to me with cash at late hours but it took almost 2 hours to me come out of the situation. during this annoying time, one of the employees on fuel pump came to me and said, sir why don’t you use a prepaid card digiCash so you will not be in trouble like this. First, I thought that how it is possible in Pakistan for fuel refilling that I never heard before. But it was really a good to know especially after that incidence. It has made my life much easier. PSO has done a great job by introducing digiCash along with a mobile phone application to manage my fuel consumption easily. This is such a relief.

But I would suggest that Not only other fuel stations, but all public sector companies should also introduce such facilities for people that bring convenience. Such digital advancements offer endless possibilities but lack of awareness can be a hurdle and government should come up with a better strategy to help people understand the importance of digitised life.

ShERAN AhMED Islamabad

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Judge FiNes trump $2m For misusiNg ChAritY FouNdAtioN NEW YORK

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Agencies

judge has ordered US President Donald Trump to pay $2 million to an array of charities as a fine for misusing his own charitable foundation to further his political and business interests. New York state Judge Saliann Scarpulla on Thursday imposed the penalty after the president admitted to a series of abuses outlined in a lawsuit brought against him last year by the New York attorney general’s office.

Among other things, Trump acknowledged in a legal filing that he allowed his presidential campaign staff to coordinate with the Trump Foundation in holding a fundraiser for veterans during the run-up to the 2016 Iowa caucuses. The event was designed “to further Mr Trump’s political campaign”, Scarpulla said. In a defiant statement issued on Thursday evening, though, Trump suggested he was neither sorry nor in the wrong.

“I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give major money to charity (19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State,” he wrote. He assailed a series of Democratic attorneys general of New York who were involved with the suit, saying they should have spent their time investigating the Clinton Foundation. “It has been 4 years of politically motivated harassment,” Trump said.

Trump’s foundation will be dissolved and its $1.7 million in remaining funds will be given to other nonprofits, under agreements reached by Trump’s lawyers and the attorney general’s office. As part of those agreements, made public on Thursday, the two sides left it up to the judge to decide what penalty Trump should pay.

The settlement was an about-face for Trump. He had tweeted, “I won’t settle this case!” when it was filed in June 2018.

Trump’s fine and the charity’s funds will be split evenly among eight organisations, including Citymeals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Attorney General Letitia James welcomed the resolution of the case as a “major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain”. “No one is above the law — not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not even the President of the United States,” said James, a Democrat.

The president admitted, among other things, to arranging for the charity to pay $10,000 for a 6-foot portrait of him. He also agreed to pay back $11,525 in foundation funds that he spent on sports memorabilia and champagne at a charity gala.

Trump also accepted restrictions on his involvement in other charitable organisations. His three eldest children, who were members of the foundation’s board, must undergo mandatory training on the duties

of those who run charities. Charities are barred from getting involved in political campaigns, but in weighing the Iowa fundraiser, Scarpulla gave Trump credit for making good on his pledge to give $2.8 million that his charity raised to veterans’ organisations. Instead of fining him that amount, as the attorney general’s office wanted, the judge trimmed it to $2 million and rejected a demand for punitive damages and interest.

The Trump Foundation said it was pleased by those decisions, claiming that the judge “recognised that every penny ever raised by the Trump Foundation has gone to help those most in need”. Trump Foundation lawyer Alan Futerfas said the nonprofit has distributed approximately $19 million over the past decade, including $8.25 million of the president’s own money, to hundreds of charitable organisations. At the time of the Iowa fundraiser, Trump was feuding with thenFox News anchor Megyn Kelly and refusing to participate in the network’s final Republican presidential primary debate before the Iowa caucuses. Instead, he held a rally at the same time as the debate at which he called on people to donate to veterans’ charities. The foundation acted as a pass-through for those contributions.

James said the evidence of banned coordination between campaign officials and the foundation included emails exchanged with then-Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

In one email, a Trump company vice president asked Lewandowski for guidance on precisely how to distribute the money raised.

Trump also admitted in the agreements to directing that $100,000 in foundation money be used to settle legal claims over an 80-foot flagpole he had built at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, instead of paying the expense out of his own pocket.

In addition, the foundation paid $158,000 to resolve a lawsuit over a prize for a hole-in-one contest at a Trumpowned golf course, and $5,000 for ads promoting Trump’s hotels in the programs for charitable events. Trump admitted these transactions were also improper.

As part of the settlement, Donald Trump Jr reimbursed the Trump Foundation for the cost of the portrait.

Residents of Mexican town struggle with fear after massacre LA MORA Agencies

After holding funerals for and burying some of the nine American women and children slain in a cartel ambush, residents of this town of about 300 are left to come to grips with the fear the attacks inspired among the tightly knit community. “I do not feel safe here, and I won’t, because the truth is we aren’t safe here as a community,” David Langford said between tears addressing mourners at the funeral for his wife, Dawna Ray Langford, Thursday in La Mora, whose residents consider themselves Mormon but are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While the sibling community of Colonia Le Baron has been peaceful since the 2009 murder of one of its members and subsequent installation of a security base, La Mora lacks such a presence — at least until Monday’s killings prompted state and federal forces to deploy to protect those who came to mourn. How long they stay could be crucial to its future. “We here in the mountains, we have no access to

authorities, or very, very little,” David Langford said. The burials Thursday took place as Mexican soldiers stood guard, a reminder of the dangers they face living amid a drug cartel turf war.

The first funeral was for a mother and two sons who were laid to rest in hand-hewn pine coffins in a single grave dug out of the rocky soil. Clad in shirt sleeves, suits or modest dresses, about 500 mourners embraced in grief under white tents. Some wept, and some sang hymns. Members of the extended community — many of whom, like the victims, are dual U.S-Mexican citizens — had built the coffins themselves and used shovels to dig the shared grave in La Mora’s small cemetery.Mourners filed past to view the bodies and pay their final respects to Dawna Ray Langford, 43, and her sons Trevor, 11, and Rogan, 2. They were laid to rest together, just as they died together Monday when attackers fired a hail of bullets at their SUV on a dirt road leading to another settlement, Colonia LeBaron. Six children and three women in all were killed in the attack on the convoy of three SUVs. In a raw, tearful service, relatives re-

counted valiant efforts to try to rescue their loved ones after the ambush, and how some of the children walked miles out of the mountains to the town, situated about 70 miles (110 kilometres) south of the Arizona border. There was no talk of revenge in the deeply religious community, only justice.“God will take care of the wicked,” Jay Ray, Dawna’s father, said in a eulogy.

David Langford called his wife a hero for telling her children to duck as their vehicle came under fire. “I find it hard to forgive,” he said. “I usually am a very forgiving guy, but this kind of atrocity has no place in a civilized community.” “My children were brutally, brutally murdered,” he said, “and my beloved wife.” Of the survivors, he said, son Cody had had a plate installed in his jaw, which was being wired shut for six weeks. Dawna’s younger sister Amber Ray, 34, eulogized her as a devoted mother to her 13 children and homemaker who loved a good laugh and baked the best birthday cakes around. “There isn’t anything in life that a cup of coffee couldn’t make better,” Amber said Dawna was fond of saying.

The three coffins, two of them

CMYK

child-size, were placed into the beds of pickup trucks, and family members rode with them to the grave, hundreds of mourners following on foot.Later in the day, a memorial was held for Rhonita Miller and four of her children, all of whom also were murdered on the road between La Mora and Chihuahua state.

In a grassy backyard before hundreds of attendees, she was eulogized as an “innocent spirit, beautiful heart” and a woman whose laugh “could light up a room.” Son Howard Jr. loved basketball and recently was delighted to make his first three-pointer; daughter Kristal was “the apple of her daddy’s eye;” twins Titus and Tiana, born March 13, were remembered as “two perfect angels in the first precious moments of their lives.” Their bodies were to be taken later across the road where they died for burial in Colonia Le Baron. The two communities, whose residents are related, drew together in a show of grief.

Patrols of Mexican army troops passed by regularly on the hamlet’s only paved road. Gunmen from the Juarez drug cartel had apparently set up the ambush as part of a turf war with the Sinaloa cartel, and the U.S. families drove into it. Mexican officials said the attackers may have mistaken the group’s large SUVs for those of a rival gang.But Julian LeBaron, whose brother Benjamin, an anti-crime activist, was killed by cartel gunmen in 2009, disputed that.

“They had to have known that it was women and children,” he said. He said the eight children who survived reported that one mother got out of her SUV and raised her hands and was gunned down anyway. To many, the bloodshed seemed to demonstrate once more that the government has lost control over vast areas of Mexico to drug traffickers. And it called into question President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” security strategy of trying to solve underlying social problems instead of battling drug cartels with military force. “Now this place is going to become a ghost town,” said Steven Langford, a former La Mora mayor whose sister Christina Langford was among the women killed.

“A lot of people are going to leave.”

Former NYC mAYor BloomBerg prepAriNg presideNtiAl ruN: us mediA NEW YORK Agencies

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is preparing to enter the crowded race to become the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election, US media reported Thursday. The 77-year-old is expected to file paperwork in at least one state this week declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times.

Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn’t run, but has been toying for weeks with the idea of seeking the White House after all, according to an advisor, who was quoted as saying he had yet to make a final decision. The billionaire has, though, sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the necessary signatures required to register for that state’s primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said. Alabama is not one of the earlier primaries but it has one of the earliest deadlines.

The move is the first clear sign that Bloomberg, long touted as a possible US presidential candidate, is getting ready to battle it out to take on President Donald Trump. “We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated –- but Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well-positioned to do that,” Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement. “Based on his record of accomplishment, leadership and his ability to bring people together to drive change, Mike would be able to take the fight to Trump and win,” Wolfson added, according to Bloomberg News. Bloomberg, the co-founder, and CEO of the media company that shares his name is one of the richest people in the United States. His huge personal wealth would likely shake up the contest at a time when frontrunner Joe Biden’s fundraising is sagging.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

buSiNeSS 11

IMF aPProvES $450M INStaLLMENt aFtEr FIrSt rEvIEw

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

Paramount Distributors, one of the oldest firms in Pakistan, has trusted ExD to bring automation in their processes making them the first company to implement SAP Business One from Pharma distribution sector. PrESS rElEASE

PSX gains 219 points ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Friday noted bullish trend as KSE 100 index closed at 35,978.16 points as compared to 35,758.52 points on the last working day with the positive change of 219.64 points (0.61 %). A total of 210,573,470 shares were traded compared to the trade of 265,966,053 shares during the previous day, whereas the value of shares traded during the day stood at Rs 6.552 billion compared to Rs 8.026 billion during last trading day.

Total 370 companies’ transacted shares in the Stock Market today, out of which 206 recorded gain and 144 sustained losses whereas the share price of 20 companies remained unchanged. The three top traded companies were World Call Telecom with a volume of 21,461,500 shares and price per share of Rs 1.69, Hum Network with a volume of 11,123,500 and price per share of Rs 3.05 and K-Electric Ltd with a volume of 10,087,500 and price per share of Rs 4.00. Bata (Pak) recorded the maximum increase of Rs 82.31 per share, closing at Rs 1728.69 while Service Industries Ltd XD was runner up with the increase of Rs 43.28 per share, closing at Rs 908.96. Philip Morris Pakistan recorded maximum decrease of Rs 121.83 per share, closing at Rs 2329.17 whereas Colgate Palm decreases Rs 99.40 per share closing at Rs 1888.60.

ECC asks PC to go ahead with NPPMCL privatization ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has given go-ahead to the Privatization Commission (PC) to fast-track the privatization of National Power Parks Management Company (NPPMCL) while the issues related to review and adjustment of risk allocation under the Power Purchase Agreement would be considered again in the next ECC meeting for a final decision. The instructions were passed during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet held on Friday at the Q Block with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair. In the meeting, the ECC noted that change in the percentage of gas supply to these plants managed by the National Power Parks Management Company would not affect the privatization of the company as the capacity payments of both the plants were ensured under the PPA. Therefore, the ECC decided that Privatization Commission should go ahead with its transaction. The ECC further observed that the reallocation of gas to other sectors could be considered in the next meeting wherein a detailed proposal in this regard would be presented by the Privatization Commission.

P

GHUlAM ABBAS

AKISTAN and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement on the first review under the Extended Fund Facility on Friday, according to which Islamabad will receive another instalment of US$450 million by the end of this year.

“All performance criteria for end-September were met with comfortable margins and progress continues towards meeting all structural benchmarks,” a statement issued by theIMF said, adding that based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report which, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

With the conclusion of the first quarterly review, Pakistan expects release of second tranche of about $453 million by next month. The visiting IMF mission which was led by Mission Chief Ernesto Ramirez Rigo held a brief meeting with government economic team led by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, on conclusion of the review.

According to officials, the IMF team will be leaving the country after the concluding meeting.

The next review, according to the officials, will take place early in 2020.

As per the statement issued by IMF on Friday, the government’s policies have started to bear fruit, helping to reverse the buildup of vulnerabilities and restore economic stability. The external and fiscal deficits are narrowing, inflation is expected to decline, and growth, although slow, remains positive.

Sustaining sound policies and advancing structural reforms remain key priorities to enhance resilience and pave the way for stronger and sustainable growth.

According to the statement, an IMF mission led by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo visited Islamabad from October 28 to November 8, 2019 to conduct discussions on the first review under the

INT’L LENDER SAYS PAKISTAN COMFORTABLY MEETS PERFORMANCE CRITERIA FOR END-SEPTEMBER EEF. At the end of the visit, Mr. Ramirez Rigo made the following statement: “The Pakistani authorities and IMF staff have reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the first review under the EFF. The agreement is subject to approval by IMF management and the Executive Board of Directors. Completion of the review will enable disbursement of SDR 328 million (or around US$ 450 million) and will help unlock significant funding from bilateral and multilateral partners.”

“Despite a difficult environment, program implementation has been good, and all performance criteria for end-September were met with comfortable margins. Work continues towards completing the remaining structural benchmarks for end-September. Significant progress has been made in improving the AML/CFT framework, although additional work is needed before March 2020. International partners remain committed to supporting the authorities’ reform efforts, providing the necessary financing assurances.”

“On the macroeconomic front, signs that economic stability is gradually taking hold are steadily emerging. The external position is strengthening, underpinned by an orderly transition to a flexible, market-determined exchange rate by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and a higher-than-expected increase in SBP’s net international reserves. Budgetary revenue collections are growing on the back of efforts on tax administration and policy changes, and despite the ongoing compression in import-related taxes.

Inflation pressures are expected to recede soon, reflecting an appropriate monetary stance. Importantly, measures to strengthen the social safety net are being implemented, and development spending is been prioritized.

“The near-term macroeconomic outlook is broadly unchanged from the time of the program approval, with gradually strengthening activity and average inflation expected to decelerate to 11.8 percent in FY2020. However, domestic and international risks remain, and structural economic challenges persist.

“Discussions focused on policies to support Pakistan achieve strong and balanced growth.

Fiscal prudence needs to be maintained to reduce fiscal vulnerabilities, including by carefully executing the FY 20 budget, implementing the new Public Finance Management legislation, and continuing to broaden the tax base by removing preferential tax treatments and exemptions, while protecting critical social and development spending. Advancing the strategy for electricity sector reforms, agreed with international partners, is important to put the sector on a sound footing, and remove recurrent arrears and accumulation of debt. Further efforts to strengthen SOE governance and operations, advance anti-corruption reform, and improve the business environment are key to mobilize investment and support growth and job creation. The authorities recognize that decisive implementation of these policies is indispensable for entrenching macroeconomic stability and restoring robust and balanced growth.”

“The IMF team is grateful to the Pakistani authorities for open and constructive discussions and their hospitality.”

According to insiders, unlike the expectation that IMF could be unhappy over performance of the economic team in Pakistan during the first three months of the program, especially related to missing targets of revenue collection, cutting losses in energy sector and reducing the debt, the visiting mission was quite satisfied with the performance of the government.

According to officials, during the last meetings, the IMF Mission Chief acknowledged the efforts made by the economic team in meeting high targets. The mission, officials claim, praised government for introducing far reaching economic reforms in a challenging environment.

Trade markets vital for curbing smuggling in frontier: PM ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday directed the authorities concerned to finalize the proposal for establishing trade markets in the frontier regions of Khyber Pakkhtunkhwa and Balochistan to provide employment opportunities to the people as an alternative to the smuggling.

Chairing a meeting to discuss the proposal of the trade markets held here, the prime minister appreciated the idea and called for its early finalization to ensure timely execution of the project.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, special assistants to prime minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Yousuf Baig Mirza, and secretaries of the relevant divisions attended the meeting.

The prime minister was briefed

in detail about the steps being taken

to curb the smuggling in the frontier regions particularly the western parts and the proposal to establish the trade markets in those areas as an income source for the people in place of the smuggling.

In his remarks, the prime minister told the meeting that being a scourge to the national economy, smuggling did not only damage the national resources and income but also the industrial sector.

He said it was the government’s priority to curb the smuggling but at the same time it was also alive to the economic problems being faced by the people of the frontier regions particularly the youth.

He said the proposal to establish the trade markets in such areas was a laudable that would accelerate the economic activities besides providing employment to the youth.

Govt urged to withdraw Rs1.82 per unit power tariff hike ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to withdraw the Rs.1.82 per unit power tariff hike approved by NEPRA few days ago as it would put additional burden of Rs.24 billion on the electricity consumers, further enhance the cost of doing business and bring more inflation to the common man leading to slowdown in business activities.

In a joint statement issued here on Friday, President ICCI Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, Senior Vice President Tahir Abbasi and Vice President Saif ur Rahman Khan said that manufacturing cost in Pakistan was already quite high on account of exorbitant energy price and in these circumstances, any further hike in power tariff would have harmful consequences on the growth of business and

economic activities.

Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that business sector was already facing great challenges due to depreciation of rupee, hike in SBP interest rate, surge in prices of electricity, gas and POL products.

Therefore, in such tough business environment, increasing electricity price would not be beneficial for the economy.

He said that the decision would also affect exports by making them more uncompetitive in the international market and urged that government should withdraw this hike to save the private sector and economy from further troubles.

The ICCI President said that Pakistan’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation was the main cause of high cost of doing business. He said that Pakistan has great potential to generate cheap electricity through hydro, solar and other renewable energy sources and urged that it was high time for the government

to make transition from conventional and to renewable energy sources for generating cheap electricity. He said that government should reduce duties and taxes on renewable energy related equipment to make this source of energy easily accessible for people.

Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that energy generated through fossil fuels was polluting the environment as well while government was spending billions of dollars on oil import. He said that renewable energy was environment-friendly and cost-effective, therefore, government should pay priority attention to this important source of energy.

He was of the view that transition from conventional to renewable energy would enable the country to avoid repeated hikes in power tariffs and provide cheap energy to businesses that would give boost to business activities and pave way for quick revival of the economy.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

12 buSiNeSS

CPFta-II IMPLEMENtatIoN to SPur SINo-Pak traDE: razak ISLAMABAD

Govt to subsidise essential items NEWS DESK Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday announced that the government will provide Rs6 billion to the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to bring down the prices of essential commodities. “The amount will substantially bring down the prices of flour, edible oil, sugar, rice and pulses,” she said in a tweet. Dr Firdous said that the decision was taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan during a meeting he held to discuss ways to provide relief to the people and bring down prices of essential commodities.

This was reportedly the third consecutive meeting chaired by the premier on the issue in the last three days. Earlier this week, PM Imran had asked USC officials to devise a relief package for selling five essential food items on discount. According to reports, the five products will be available at 4,000 USC outlets across the country. In addition to this, the prime minister has also called for establishing a ‘Special Cell’ in the Ministry of National Food Security; the cell will be responsible for assessing demand and supply of essential items.

IMC accelerates Million tree Drive

S

APP

PECIAL Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood, said ok Friday that bilateral trade would see significant enhancement after the execution of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement-II (CPFTA-II) by December 1.

He said that after the implementation of the CPFTA–II, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including Business-to-Business relations, would enhance rapidly in the days to come.

Addressing a press conference on his return from a visit to China at the Commerce Ministry's conference room, Abdul Razak Dawood said that China International Import Expo (CIIE) Shanghai provided good opportunity to Pakistani exporters to showcase their products in the second largest import market of China.

He said that during his visit, he attended the inauguration ceremony of China International Import Expo (CIIE) Shanghai, inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Razak said that he held meetings with Suzhou Water Purification Equipment Company, which has been working with Nestle and Pepsi and was one of renowned

Water Desalination Plants manufacturers, Anhui Easy Business Digital Technology Company that provides E-Government, E-ports and digitalization services to Chinese Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of China Customs, Northern Heavy Industries Group, the largest equipment supplier to Cement, Steel and Mining.

He said that that around 63 countries had registered for the ex-

hibition and over 3,000 businesses from more than 150 countries, attended the China International Import Expo.

This year’s expo included two key categories, country pavilions and business stalls. Around 35 exporters from Pakistan displayed their products in the Expo, he added.

Razak said he also spoke at the Informal World Trade Organization

(WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting, hosted by China in Shanghai.

The Adviser highlighted the importance of strengthening a rulesbased Multilateral Trading System under the WTO by safeguarding its fundamental principles of non-discrimination, consensus-based decisions and Special and Differential Treatment in all negotiations for developing countries like Pakistan.

He expressed concern over the recent developments in global trade relations which may put the multilateral system at risk. He informed the 35 participants of the meeting pointed out that any reform of WTO must not alienate developing countries but should make it easier for them to pursue their sustainable development objectives and gain an equitable share in the technological and industrial expansion across the globe.

He called for an immediate resolution to the deadlock on the WTO’s appellate body and emphasized the need for a functioning Dispute Settlement Mechanism for the system, particularly for developing countries.

He underscored the importance of Agriculture and Fisheries sectors for Pakistan and re-assured members of Pakistan’s participation in these negotiations with a view to safeguarding the interests of their farmers and small-scale fishermen.

Trump says has not agreed to roll back tariffs on China

KARACHI

WASHINGTON

PrESS rElEASE

AGENCIES

Indus Motor Company accelerates the million tree plantation drive. Over 150 employees from Indus Motor Company and Thal Boshoku Pakistan carried out the tree plantation activity on Nov 7, 2019 in front of Thal Boshuko, which is spread over 5 acres, situated in Port Qasim. The activity is a part of IMC’s ‘Million Tree Drive’ in which they have so far planted more than 300,000 trees. In his remarks on the company’s on-going tree plantation drive, the CEO of IMC, Ali Asghar Jamali said, “The Million Tree Drive represents IMC’s commitment to support the government's Clean and Green Pakistan Movement. We strive to bring down CO2 emissions from factories to zero as part of Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. In pursuance of this, we have pledged to plant one million trees across Pakistan.”

As an active signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), IMC has underscored its contribution towards achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). The IMC’s 'Million Tree Plantation' project is also moving forward with the long-term aim of protecting the land against erosion, turning the country's barren landscape into forests, enhancing rainfall prospects and helping mitigate the effects of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity of the country.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he has not agreed to rollbacks of U.S. tariffs sought by China, sparking fresh doubts about when the world’s two largest economies may end a 16month trade war that has slowed global growth.

Officials from both countries on Thursday had said China and the United States have agreed to roll back tariffs on each others’ goods in a “phase one” trade deal. But the idea of tariff rollbacks met with stiff opposition within the Trump administration, Reuters reported later on Thursday.

Those divisions were on full display on Friday, when Trump - who has repeatedly described himself as “Tariff Man” - told reporters at the White House that he had not agreed to reduce tariffs already put in place.

“China would like to get somewhat of a rollback, not a complete rollback, ‘cause they know I won’t do it,” Trump said. “I haven’t agreed to anything.”

He said China wanted to make a deal more than he did, adding that the U.S. tariffs were generating “billions of dollars” for U.S. coffers. “I’m very happy right now. We’re taking in billions of

dollars,” he said.

U.S. stocks dipped after Trump’s comments, and the dollar fell against the yen.

Trump also said the trade deal with China, if completed, would be signed in the United States.

“Assuming we’d get it... it could be Iowa or farm country or some place like that. It will be in our country,” he said.

The farm state of Iowa has been hammered by the tariff war, and has hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in the past.

Experts inside and outside the U.S. government warn the “phase one” trade pact could still fall apart. U.S. officials said a lot of work remained to be done when Trump announced the outlines of an interim deal last month, and Beijing has since pushed back on U.S. demands for big agricultural purchases, among other issues.

Trump has used tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese goods as his primary weapon in the protracted trade war. The prospect of lifting them, even in phases, has drawn fierce opposition from advisers in and outside of the White House who remain wary of giving up a key aspect of U.S. leverage.

China in May scuttled a previous trade deal that U.S. officials said was 90% completed.

If an interim deal is finished and signed, it is widely expected to include a U.S. pledge to scrap tariffs scheduled for Dec. 15 on about $156 billion worth of Chinese imports, including cell phones, laptop computers and toys.

But China was also seeking cancellation of other U.S. tariffs put in place since January 2018.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng on Thursday said both countries must simultaneously cancel some tariffs on each other’s goods to reach the phase one pact.

Culture change is the cutting edge of mental health benefits at work NEW YORK AGENCIES

When Hartmut Braune comes to work in security communications at SAP, he never knows what emergency will land in his inbox.

It is a challenging job, compounded by the fact that Braune also coordinates the company’s global Lighthouse Core Team, which provides peer assistance to struggling employees, as well as a shoulder to cry on.

“It’s the difficult part, but sometimes tears help clear the situation,” said Braune, who is based in Germany.

Many companies offer employee assistance programs, mindfulness apps or inoffice counseling. But experts say a culture shift toward openness, from the C-suite on down, is most effective. That translates to peer counseling, colleagues sharing their experiences and open dialogue.

Companies take a myriad of approaches to this challenge. At SAP, considered a thought leader on employee

mental health, the company calls its system the Employee Care Cycle. That starts with prevention and destigmatization, said Paul Torsten, SAP’s director digital health & well-being.

Indeed, Braune coached one woman who returned to work at SAP after a mental health leave, but had not been open with her manager and colleagues about why she took time off.

“People have a tendency to hide what was happening – they feel shame,” Braune said.

Braune walked the woman through some tiny steps she could take, and eventually, she met with her manager. A week later, when Braune saw the woman, she was smiling.

Overall, depression causes an average of 40 days of absenteeism per sufferer at SAP, Torsten said. Serious cases might involve short- or long-term disability. But if a person returns to work and the same stress factors exist, they will just get sick again.

One key offering for employees is a two-day immersive mindfulness program,

so popular it has a waiting list of 9,000.

The company also shares video testimonials on its internal website from colleagues who have overcome challenges.

In addition, SAP encourages workers to do frequent self-assessments, and managers assess the organization itself.

At Microsoft, individuals at all levels share their own mental health experiences, in person, on social media and via podcasts.

“We didn’t ask, but it has happened that many of our leaders stepped up and started telling their stories, their personal struggles or ones they’ve witnessed,” said Sonja Kellen, senior director of global health and wellness at Microsoft. “And it has naturally become pervasive in the culture.”

One employee who shared her story was 25-year-old program manager Beth Anne Katz, who detailed her battles with depression on YouTube videos and a company website.

“Being open about my suffering was the hardest thing I’ve done, but I am not afraid of who I am anymore. Depression isn’t something to be ashamed of,” Katz

tells her colleagues.

Last May, Microsoft hosted several movie screenings about anxiety and suicide, followed by conversations with the people who volunteered their stories. A counselor stood by.

“It’s been gratifying to see the sheer volume of people to speak up,” said Kellen.

Cost savings are not the key driver, even though mental healthcare is a top spend, Kellen added, noting that mental health breaks are one of the top reasons people go on leave at Microsoft, beyond parental leave.

AN APP FOR THAT: Of course, there are apps for helping culture change. Technology is particularly good at crunching data from employee self-assessments to help companies figure out what services they need.

London-based Unmind, for example, provides a workplace mental health platform, used by companies in 47 countries, including British Airways and Live Nation. Employers get data, such as how many people are stressed

or feel ill because of stress, and information on how managers can help them be less stressed. Workers can access targeted educational material.

Many companies also turn to webbased mindfulness apps, one of which is Raw Mind Coach, and app-based therapy delivery like Talkspace.

These are helpful to those without access to in-person counseling.

Consultants help companies develop a tailored strategy, such as Mind Share Partners, a non-profit consultancy, which recently published a report on mental health at work in partnership with SAP. “We’re not a benefits provider. We see our trainings as what’s needed to reduce stigma,” said Kelly Greenwood, Mind Share Partner’s founder and CEO. Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, a workplace mental health consultant, preaches the following message to companies, urging them to take action on mental health: “The health of employees is correlated positively to business outcome. It would be foolish to leave that to chance.”

Some factS about Kartarpur corridor

AADIl RASul AND HuDA

AlIHA CH

Baby sea otters can't swim.

Their moms will wrap them in pieces of kelp while they hunt until the buoyant pups learn how to paddle around on their own. A raft of otters will also hold hands while they sleep so they don't drift apart!

HON GOveRNOR PuNJAB CH. MuHAMMAD SARWAR AND CeO AMANAT HuSSAIN

2. The foundation stone was laid in Gurdaspur on 26 November, 2018 and marks the initiation of Kartarpur Corridor. Further, on 28 November 2018 in Pakistan, the foundation stone was laid down. No doubt, Kartarpur Sahib has a rich history of nearly 500 years.

HADIYYA & SeHRISH AMIR

3. The 4.10 km approx long Highway connects Dera Baba Nanak from Gurdaspur-Amritsar Highway to the International border.

CONDIS lAuNCH

4. 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara by using the corridor every day. On special occasions, around 10,000 additional pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Gurudwara.

Famous Spanish Hypermarket CONDIS opened its first ever store in the heart of Lahore.

There's a world record for the most world record titles. It belongs to Brooklyn, New York resident Ashrita Furman, who's held more than 600 Guinness World Records in his lifetime, ranging from heaviest shoes walked in (323 pounds) to most baseballs held in a baseball glove (26).

5. Persons of not only Indian nationals but also the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) holding OCI cards will also be allowed to use the Kartarpur Corridor facility.

6. Devotees coming from India to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara have to pay a service fee of USD 20 (about 1420 rupees) which is decided by Pakistan government.

7. A maximum of Rs 11,000 Indian currency and baggage of 7 kg is allowed to the devotees to carry to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara. And devotees are not allowed to go beyond the Gurudwara.

It is estimated that around 18 lakh Sikh devotees would visit Kartarpur Sahib every year, then Pakistan government will get approx 259 crore revenue.

ANIlA NAz AMNA WAHAAJ

1. Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is located on the bank of river Ravi (Rabi) in Pakistan.

ANNY SHOAIB

8. It is a visa-free travel but devotees have to show a valid passport.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

ANNIe

AReeBA

HIRA KHAN

The Oscars used to give out an award to child performers.

The award show discontinued the Academy Juvenile Award in 1960 after famous names like Shirley Temple and Judy Garland nabbed the honor. Also no longer on the ballot? Best Dance Direction and Best Title Writing.

Eternals Offers First Look At Angelina Jolie In Costume With Leaked Images As Eternals continues filming near Spain, leaked images offer a look at Angelina in costume as her character Thena.

The images also feature a look at Gemma Chan as Sersi and Brian Henry as Phastos.

As seen in the concept art below, the costumes being used for Eternals are pretty much as what is depicted in the concept art.

Recent news for Eternals includes that the cast and crew suffered a recent bomb scare, as a bomb was unearthed near the set thought to have been left over when the Nazis occupied the island back in WWII. The scare is reported to have caused a bit of panic, but after the bomb was removed, everything is reported to be fine.

While no plot details have been made available, the flick could be in part adapting the 2006 Neil Gaiman series from Marvel Comics that is described as: You are thousands of years old.

You have amazing powers. You have watched civilizations rise and fall-- so why does no one remember any of this?

The cast also said they could take out both the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Mark Ruffalo's Hulk Idea Is Dumb More bad news for the Hulk as the character appears to be going from goofy to goofier as Mark Ruffalo offers his rather dumb idea about what direction the character should take in future Marvel movies.

As seen in The Avengers: Endgame, the character became some sort of slapstick comedic version more akin to Shrek than the incredible version fans of the comics and earlier movies favor and are used to, which I wrote was the worst part about Endgame, especially seeing how the Big Guy sat out of Infinity War. Instead of having a Hulk vs Thanos rematch, which was at one point planned, we got a dabber. Now things look to get even worse - if you can believe it - as Mark Ruffalo says his big idea for the Hulk next is to mentor younger superheroes.

“I’d like to see him hang out with some of the new folks, you know?” he said “Maybe be like a guru to some of the younger ones.”

Hulk a guru? Guess what? Kevin Feige agrees.

It's noted that Mark Ruffalo was sitting next to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige at the time, with Feige chiming in, “That’s a good idea.”

CMYK

9. Pilgrims can register online on prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in and can choose any day for travel. Pilgrims will be informed through SMS and email about the confirmation of registration 3 to 4 days in advance of the date of travel. An Electronic Travel Authorization will also be generated which the pilgrims have to carry along with their passport when they arrive at the Passenger Terminal Building.

10. In 1999, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed to build the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the first time when he travelled by bus to Lahore.

Vikram on son Dhruv’s launch: ‘Adithya Varma is the best launch pad for him’ Dhruv Vikram, son of senior actor Vikram, is making his acting debut via Adithya Varma, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy.

Vikram, who is busy promoting the film with Dhruv, feels his son couldn’t have got a better launch pad.

Talking to reporters in Kerala earlier this week as part of Adithya Varma promotions, Vikram said Adithya Varma is the best launch pad for his son.

“I strongly feel Adithya Varma is the best launch pad for Dhruv. It’s the perfect film for him to start his career. I really liked Arjun Reddy and as a character it’s quite challenging as it goes through many phases. It was producer Mukesh Mehta who felt Dhruv would be perfect for the remake,” Vikram said.

Directed by Girisayya, Adithya Varma is gearing up for release on November 21. It marks the Tamil debut of Banita Sandhu and also features Priya Anand in a crucial role.

The film had its audio launch last month. At the event, Dhruv thanked his father for going the extra mile to launch him in the film.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

14 SPORTS

Familiar Foe Sterling the prime threat to liverpool'S title charge LONDON

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AGENCIES

ANCHESTER City and Liverpool’s ascension to the two top dogs in the Premier League has seen every meeting in recent seasons met with increasing animosity, ahead of Sunday’s latest battle for supremacy.

No player bears the brunt of that bad blood more than Raheem Sterling on his return to Anfield.

Sterling shot to fame as a teenager in the 2013/14 season as a rollercoaster ride took Liverpool agonisingly close to ending their long wait to win a league title.

Two years later, he left in acrimonious circumstances with Liverpool going backwards on the field and disputes over his contract off it.

Four-and-a-half years on, there is no doubt who got the better end of the £50 million deal that took him to City. Sterling has flourished under Pep Guardiola, becoming a vital part of City’s two titlewinning campaigns in the last two seasons, while Liverpool’s wait for a league crown has now stretched to 30 years.

The England international is one of many tales of what might have been for

Liverpool over the past three decades, but is also symbolic of how times have changed at Anfield.

Sterling left just three months before Jurgen Klopp arrived to revitalise the Reds after a season in which they finished sixth, 17 points behind City.

Liverpool have still yet to finish above the English champions in Klopp’s four seasons in charge, but the gap was down to a single point as City edged a titanic title race last season.

‘ALL tHE cREdit’ fOR StERLing: And it is Liverpool who will start Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with an early six-point lead over City in the title race. Sterling cannot be faulted for a sloppier start to the season by Guardiola’s men after two near-perfect campaigns.

For club and country, Sterling has already scored 18 goals in 20 appearances, including his first against Liverpool as City won the Community Shield in August. “All the credit is for him,” said Guardiola after Sterling’s recent Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta.

“His physicality is incredible. He’s strong the day after the game, he could play another game. He can play on both sides, is fast, defensively help us a lot, so is an extraordinary player.”

Sterling’s input at both ends of the field will be key if City are to somehow halt Liverpool’s momentum and inflict a first league defeat at Anfield for the hosts since April 2017.

City’s defence has been decimated by a long-term injury to Aymeric Laporte, while goalkeeper Ederson is a doubt.

Attack is likely to be the best form of defence for the visitors, but Sterling will also be forced to keep an eye on one of Liverpool’s most potent attacking outlets in right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“He’s crucial for us, you need this type of player, a game-changing player, and he is probably the one player who can change everything for us,” said City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on Sterling’s influence.

“Just now it’s about consistency but he has shown in the last 12 to 18 months that he is able to be that consistent. He is among the five best attacking players in the world, definitely.”

Sterling has won five major trophies and plenty more plaudits since moving to Manchester but is yet to score or win in a City shirt at Anfield.

End that drought and City will be well back in the hunt to inflict more title pain on his former employers.

PSG hail Navas as bitter rivals Marseille and Lyon clash

In-form Dortmund look to pile misery on embattled Bayern MUNICH AGENCIES

Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre says his side have “nothing to lose” as they look to inflict more woe on crisis-hit Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Niko Kovac was sacked last Sunday as Bayern coach after a 5-1 drubbing at Eintracht Frankfurt, with Hansi Flick taking over as interim boss for two games.

The former Germany assistant coach oversaw a 2-0 midweek win over Olympiakos which sealed a Champions League last-16 place with two matches to spare. But Bayern sit fourth in the Bundesliga, one point behind second-placed Dortmund and four adrift of leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Dortmund beat Bayern 2-0 at Signal Iduna Park in the German Super Cup in August, but Dortmund have unfinished business in Munich after suffering a 5-0 thrashing in April before their rivals went on to pip them to the title by two points. “In the last five years, it has been hard to win there,” said Favre. “But, we have nothing to lose. We respect Bayern — we don’t fear them.”

Bayern have lost two of their last four league games and laboured against Olympiakos until Robert Lewandowski continued his incredible run of having scored in every Bundesliga and Champions League match this season, before Ivan Perisic netted late on. Their 18 points from the opening ten matches is Bayern’s lowest tally since the

2010/2011 season — when Dortmund finished as champions.

Favre’s men mounted a stunning fightback from two goals down to beat Inter Milan 3-2 on Tuesday in the Champions League and claim a third straight win.

Bayern have won six and lost four of the last 10 meetings against Dortmund, whose sporting director Michael Zorc says he wants them to “play like blokes” after being repeatedly muscled off the ball in April.

BAyERn’S diStRActiOnS: Bayern have off-field distractions in their hunt for a new head coach, having turned down former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. But Zorc warned Dortmund against expecting the Bavarian giants to be off their game.

“We shouldn’t think that anything will be given away or that we’ll have it easy,” he said. Flick said: “We’re playing at home and it’s a chance to lay down a new marker.”

Thomas Mueller sees the showdown as the “most important game of the year”.

A second consecutive defeat would leave Bayern seven points adrift if Gladbach beat Werder Bremen on Sunday.

With Niklas Suele and Lucas Hernandez injured and Jerome Boateng suspended, Flick could field a makeshift back four of Javi Martinez, normally a midfielder, and regular left-back David Alaba at the heart of the defence, with winger Alphonso Davies and Benjamin Pavard as full-backs.

Dortmund hope England winger Jadon Sancho, who suffered a thigh injury against Inter, and captain Marco Reus, who has an ankle knock, will be fit.

pARiS: If Paris Saint-Germain have been held back in recent years by their lack of a truly top-class goalkeeper, Keylor Navas showed just why they were so keen to bring him to the French capital with his midweek performance in the Champions League. The Costa Rican joined PSG in September from Real Madrid as Alphonse Areola moved in the other direction, and on Wednesday his late penalty save helped secure a 1-0 win over Club Brugge that clinched his side’s place in the last 16. The last line of defence for Real as they won three successive Champions Leagues between 2016 and 2018, Navas is yet to concede a goal in Europe since arriving in Paris. Indeed, the 32-yearold has let in only five goals in 12 matches for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

“He is an extraordinary goalkeeper.

He won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid in a competition where goalkeeper is such an important position. They can change the outcome of a game,” remarked midfielder Marco Verratti after Wednesday’s game, in which Mauro Icardi scored the winner. AGENCIES

Third Sarsabz National Tent Pegging Championship from November 11 LAHORE: Fatima Fertilizer in partnership with the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan announced that they are all set to host the third Sarsabz National Tent Pegging Championship 2019 in Lahore to take place at the Polo and Tent Pegging ground of the Headquarters of Sutlej Rangers(Punjab) in Lahore.

TheChampionship willcommencewith a special opening ceremony on Monday, November 11, 2019 followed by a series of competitions and special entertainment activities which will continuetill Friday, November 15, 2019. Over 1200 ridersand 300 teams from around the Country are likely to thrill the audienceduring this five-day gut wrenching event. Tent pegging is a traditional sport of equestrian discipline and has been played in Pakistan since many decades. The sport is internationally played in a lot of countries around the World, but is most popular within the commonwealth countries. PRESS RELEASE

CMYK

Ex-UEFA chief Platini taking action to recoup back pay, legal fees NYON AGENCIES

Former UEFA president Michel Platini is taking action to obtain substantial amounts of back pay as well as a bonus and legal fees, he told AFP on Friday.

According to sources close to Platini, whose four-year suspension from football ended in October, the former France international is seeking to recoup around 7.2 million euros ($7.9 million), including 5.5 million euros in back pay.

Platini did not confirm the amounts. “Through my lawyer, I am asking for the contractual elements to be applied,” Platini said.

A triple Ballon d’Or winner, Platini was expected to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 but fell spectacularly from grace a few months earlier.

The 64-year-old was suspended by world football’s governing body in 2015 over a controversial payment of two mil-

lion Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2 million) that he received from Blatter.

The payment, made in 2011 when Blatter was seeking re-election as president, was related to work carried out by Platini between 1999 and 2002.

Platini has always insisted he did nothing wrong.

His suspension ended on October 6 and he has said he now hopes to find a new role in football.

The former Juventus star said the bonus that he wanted repaid was linked to the organisation of Euro 2016.

Platini’s Swiss lawyer Vincent Solari confirmed that legal proceedings had begun.

“We have claimed the remaining amount of the back pay which we believe is owed according to the contract.”

Blatter was subsequently suspended for six years after presiding over world football 18 years from 1998 to 2015.

Morata's rich vein of form rewarded with Spain return MADRID AGENCIES

Alvaro Morata returned to the Spain squad on Friday after scoring six goals in six games for Atletico Madrid. Spain have already qualified for Euro 2020 ahead of their final two group matches at home to Malta on November 15 and Romania on November 18.

Coach Robert Moreno has rewarded Morata for his rich vein of form after the striker was left out for games against Norway and Sweden last month.

Moreno also called up Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Dani Olmo for the first time while Borussia Dortmund forward Paco Alcacer came back in after previously being omitted due to injury.

Jordi Alba aggravated a hamstring strain against Slavia Prague on Tuesday, meaning Sergio Busquets is the only Barcelona player in the squad. Real Madrid are only slightly better represented with two

in Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal. Spain sit top of Group F, five points ahead of Sweden, after winning six and drawing two of their eight matches so far.

SpAin SquAd: Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United/ENG), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea/ENG), Pau Lopez (Roma/ITA) Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Raul Albiol, Pau Torres (Villarreal), Juan Bernat (PSG/FRA), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Jose Gaya (Valencia) Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City/ENG), Saul (Atletico Madrid), Fabian Ruiz (Napoli/ITA), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich/GER), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal) Forwards: Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Mikel Oyazarzabal (Real Sociedad), Paco Alcacer (Borussia Dortmund), Dani Olmo (Dynamo Zagreb/CRO), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid).

Saturday, 09 Novemer, 2019

SPORTS 15

US captain WoodS chooSeS WoodS to play in preSidentS cUp MELBOURNE AGENCIES

t

iger Woods will be a playing captain when he leads the United States against an international team in the Presidents Cup match play golf showdown at royal Melbourne in December.

Woods, who claimed his 15th major title at the Masters in April and won his 82nd US PgA Tour title at the Zozo Championship in Japan two weeks ago, named himself among four captain’s picks for the 12-man team on Thursday, along with US Open champion gary Woodland, former Masters champion Patrick reed and world number 14 Tony Finau.

“As captain, i’m going to choose Tiger Woods as the last player on the team,” Woods said. “He’s made … nine Cups and he’s played in Australia twice in the Presidents Cup, so this will be his third appearance as a player. And i find it interesting talking in the third person.”

Woods will be the first playing captain in the Presidents Cup since American Hale irwin in the inaugural edition in 1994. The US superstar admitted in a conference call to announce his captain’s selections that piloting the team — choosing pairings and plotting strategy — and playing would be “a lot of work.”

But the decision had been widely expected since his victory at the Zozo Championship — his first outing since arthroscopic surgery two months ago to address knee trouble that had slowed him since his triumph at Augusta National. As Woods himself said after his victory in Japan: “As a player, i got the captain’s attention.”

Woods said he would rely on help from assistant captains Steve Stricker, Fred Couples and Zach Johnson to keep the United States on track. “it’s going to be difficult but i always knew i had three amazing assistants,” Woods said. “Two guys who have

won Presidents Cup and Zach, who will be a future captain. “Three great minds to help me when i’m playing.

“With the new rules, i just have to play one match prior to the singles,” he added. “Two matches minimum. it could be more. it’s about me understanding the guys, and understanding the golf course as well.”

Woods said his assistants had offered plenty of advice on whether to choose himself to play. “Freddie was pretty ardent,” Woods said. “‘You’re on the team, quit being stupid.’ “At the time, i haven’t even swung a club,” Woods said. “i got back to him after Japan.”

The Presidents Cup, a match play event modelled on the ryder Cup that pits a non-european international team against the Americans, will be held December 12-15 at royal Melbourne. That’s where the international team notched their only victory — against 10 defeats and one draw — in 1998. in 2011 at royal Melbourne the Ameri-

cans won with Woods securing the winning point.

The United States will be heavy favorites, with 11 of the 12 players ranked among the top 16 in the world.

Australian Adam Scott at 17th in the world is the international team’s highest-ranked player. Nevertheless, Woods said he wouldn’t be taking anything for granted.

“When we start out on Thursday it’s zero-zero,” he said. “it doesn’t matter what the world ranking is, you’ve got to go out and beat the other guys.”

The eight Americans who played their way onto the team via points are Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau.

– Koepka question mark – World number one Koepka had stem cell treatment on his left knee after the US PgA Tour’s Tour Championship and pulled out of the CJ Cup in South Korea three weeks ago after he aggravated the injury when he slipped on a cart path. if Koepka is unable to play, Woods can choose any player to replace him but offered no details Thursday as to who a replacement might be. Woods will be playing in his ninth Presidents Cup, and his first since 2013.

He is one of just five players to have ever posted a perfect 5-0 record in a single event. Only Phil Mickelson — who is missing his first Presidents Cup since the event was started in 1994 — has won more Presidents Cup matches.

Woods’s appearance comes two years after he served as an assistant to US captain Steve Stricker at Liberty National in New Jersey.

At the time, Woods was still recovering from back surgery and said that shortly before the event he wasn’t sure he’d be able to fulfill his role as an assistant because he didn’t know if he could tolerate riding in a golf cart.

But he returned to the PgA Tour in 2018, winning the season-ending Tour Championship that year before ending his major title drought at Augusta National in April.

Scandal-hit Placido Domingo withdraws from Tokyo Olympic event TOKYO AGENCIES

Scandal-hit opera star Placido Domingo, who is facing multiple sexual harassment accusations, announced Friday he would withdraw from a cultural event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, citing the project’s “complexity”. in a statement released by the 2020 organisers, Domingo made no mention of the allegations, which he denies.

“After thoughtful consideration, i have made the decision not to participate in the Kabuki-Opera event due to the complexity of the project,” he said.

He saluted the performance planned for April 2020 as “a wonderful cultural initiative” that would “unite the two cultures on the same stage, in perfect harmony with the Olympic spirit”.

The organisers said the decision was made by Domingo “after thoughtful con-

sideration” and “mutual consultation”.

Domingo has already withdrawn from all future performances at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and stepped down as general director of the Los Angeles Opera, effectively ending his US career.

The famed singer has been accused by 20 women of forcibly kissing, grabbing or fondling them in incidents dating back to at least the 1980s. reports have painted a portrait of a man who acted with impunity, shielded by his power as one of opera’s foremost stars.

Domingo, who has been a conductor and director of some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, and debuted at the Met at age 27, has called the allegations against him “deeply troubling and, as presented, inaccurate”.

He has argued that “all my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual”.

So far, Domingo’s career has been

less affected by the scandal in europe than in the United States.

He has performed in Austria and

Hungary since the allegations were published and expressed his joy last month over a concert in Moscow.

Finch's 52 powers Australia to thumping 10-wicket win over Pakistan PERTH AGENCIES

Australia routed Pakistan by 10 wickets with 49 balls to spare to win the third Twenty20 international in Perth on Friday and clinch the series 2-0. After restricting the visitors to 106 for eight, explosive openers Aaron Finch (52) and David Warner (48) put Pakistan to the sword without loss. Australia won the second match in Canberra by seven wickets with the first game in Sydney abandoned due to rain. With the series on the line in Perth, Australian skipper Aaron Finch sent Pakistan into bat after winning the toss, believing there was enough in the wicket for his bowlers to cause problems. His instinct proved right with Ahmed’s breezy 45 the only innings of note, with Kane richardson snaring three wickets.

Skipper Babar Azam had been the standout for his team this series, hitting two consecutive 50s. But he fell early on a fast, bouncy pitch at Perth Arena, out lbw to Mitchell Starc for six. The Australian quick then smashed the stumps of Mohammad rizwan next ball with a searing inswinger, leaving Pakistan in trouble at 15 for two. Opener imamul Haq, brought into the team for the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, didn’t fare much better. He hit two boundaries in his 14 before mis-hitting a pull shot off Sean Abbott, playing his first international since 2014, for Ben McDermott to take an easy catch. Haris Sohail again failed, mistiming a shot out off-spinner Ashton Agar to leave the visitors struggling at 59 for four at the halfway mark.

Debutant Khushdil Shah lasted 11 balls for his eight runs before holing out to Starc off richardson, with imad Wasim also falling cheaply. When the aggressive Ahmed — who also scored a quickfire 62 in Canberra — finally went looking for a boundary off richardson, it was left to the tailenders to at least ensure their team made it into three figures.

Malan, Morgan blast England to overwhelming win over New Zealand LONDON AGENCIES

A whirlwind century by Dawid Malan in a record-breaking stand with eoin Morgan saw england crush New Zealand in the fourth Twenty20 by 76 runs in Napier on Friday to level the series with one game remaining.

Malan was unbeaten on 103 at the close of the england innings with Morgan out in the final over for 91 as england posted an imposing 241 for three and then rolled New Zealand for 165 with 19 balls remaining.

The overwhelming victory set up a winner-takes-all finale in the fifth and final game in Auckland on Sunday.

Malan’s 48-ball century was the fastest T20 hundred by an englishman, his 182-run stand with Morgan is the highest by an england pair and the 241 total is an england record.

Morgan’s 21-ball 50 is also an

england record.

“The message is always the same, play aggressively and back yourself,” Malan said. “it’s not very often you have days like that when every time you have a hack at one it lands safe or goes for six. it’s as good as it gets.”

Between them, the two left-handers hit 13 sixes and 16 fours with Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult the only New Zealand bowlers to escape with a run rate below 10 an over.

New Zealand started their run chase at a fast clip reaching 54 in the fifth over when Martin guptill was dismissed for 27 and wickets fell regularly after that.

Only Tim Southee (39) and Colin Munro (30) offered any further resistance while Matt Parkinson took four for 47 for england and Chris Jordan finished with two for 24.

Malan is only the second england player to score a T20 century after Alex Hales, who needed 60

balls to reach his hundred.

He advanced from 61 to 89 in a brutal attack in an ish Sodhi over when he belted three sixes, two fours and a two, and reached his maiden century pulling Boult over the square-leg boundary for another six. it was a much-need confidence booster for england who won the first match in the series and were then well outplayed in the next two.

After losing the toss, england then lost early wickets with Santner removing Jonny Bairstow for eight and Tom Banton for 31 to have the impressive figures of two for five from his first two overs.

But that changed dramatically as Morgan and Malan took charge and blasted 20 off Santner’s next over.

Of the New Zealand bowlers, Blair Tickner finished with none for 50 off his four overs, while Sodhi had none for 49 off three overs and Southee bowled his full complement to finish with one for 47.

Saturday, 9 November, 2019

NEWS

Iran 5.9 magnitude earthquake kills at least 5, injures 300 TEHRAN: A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck northwestern Iran early Friday, killing at least five people and injuring over 300 others, officials said. The temblor struck Tark county in Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan province at 2:17 a.m., Iran’s seismological center said. The area is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) northwest of Iran’s capital, Tehran. Over 40 aftershocks rattled the rural region nestled in the Alborz Mountains, and residents rushed out of their homes in fear. The quake injured at least 312 people, state television reported, though only 13 needed to be hospitalized. It described many of the injuries happening when people fled in panic. The head of Iran’s emergency medical services, Pirhossein Koulivand, gave the casualty figures to state television. There were no immediate video or images broadcast from the area. Rescuers have been dispatched to the region, officials said. State TV reported the earthquake destroyed 30 homes at its epicenter. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage. Iran is on major seismic faults and experiences one earthquake a day on average. In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people. AGENCIES

Rockets land near Iraqi base hosting US forces, no casualties: Iraqi military BAGHDAD: A barrage of 17 rockets landed near a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq on Friday but caused no injuries or major material damage, an Iraqi military statement said. A security source said the rockets landed near the Qayyara military base. The statement and the source did not say who was believed to have launched the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. AGENCIES

Strikes on Syrian medical facilities appear deliberate: UN BERLIN: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday NATO must grow and change or risk becoming obsolete, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said the alliance was dying. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected Macron’s comments, in an interview with British weekly The Economist, as “drastic” and Pompeo said on Thursday the alliance was perhaps one of the most important “in all recorded history”. But he acknowledged the need for NATO to evolve in a question-and-answer session after delivering a speech in Berlin on Friday, one day before the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Seventy years on ... it (NATO) needs to grow and change,” he replied. “It needs to confront the realities of today and the challenges of today.” “If nations believe that they can get the security benefit without providing NATO the resources that it needs, if they don’t live up to their commitments, there is a risk that NATO could become ineffective or obsolete,” he said. NATO was founded in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union and is preparing for a summit in London on Dec. 4. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wants to project an image of unity when Chinese military might is growing and Russia is accused of trying to undermine Western democracies through cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns and covert operations. AGENCIES

No-TrusT moTIoN fIled agaINsT Na depuTy speaker KHAWAJA ASIF SAYS OPP PARTIES WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO APPROACH SC OVER LEGALITY OF THURSDAY’S LEGISLATION IF HOUSE FAILED TO PROVIDE JUSTICE

DEFENCE MINISTER PERVEZ KHATTAK SAYS OPP SHOULD CONVINCE JUI-F’S FAZL TO COME TO TABLE FOR TALKS

ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

hE Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday submitted a noconfidence motion against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on Friday for “violating the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 2007” for facilitating passage of government bills without any debate the other day.

The no-trust vote submitted by PML-N lawmakers Khawaja Asif, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha and Muhammad Sajjad stated that the deputy speaker had lost the trust of the house after the action.

“We moved Resolution under Article 53(7)(c) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan against Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan for violating the rules of business of the house,” read the resolution.

A total of 15 bills, including 13 presidential ordinances, were tabled by the government on Thursday. The bills passed during the session had included the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Ordinance 2019, the Superior Courts (Court Dress and Mode of Address) Order (Repeal) Ordinance 2019, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, Medical Bill 2019 and Pakistan Medical Commission Ordinance 2019.

Asif, one of the movers of the resolution, also warned that the opposition parties would knock on the Supreme Court’s door for a legal interpretation of the constitution to decide

whether the government’s move to pass almost a dozen bills without holding a debate was in accordance with the law.

As the NA session resumed on Friday, Asif criticised the government’s “total disregard” of the opposition’s reservations on proposed laws, saying: “A person, who comes to power through free and fair elections, […] would never sit on this seat and do what was done here yesterday.

This house is ashamed.” he cautioned that “democracy would be ruined” if the government kept this attitude. The PML-N leader also criticised members of the ruling party and said: “It is because of this naivety that Niazi sahib has to listen to taunts”. he further said that the hasty passage of bills by the assembly was not a “good omen”. “Our federation cannot survive without democracy,”

JUI-F’S ASAD MAHMOOD AND PTI’S ALI GANDAPUR DARE EACH OTHER TO RESIGN FROM NA AND CONTEST FRESH ELECTION said Asif. “Democracy is the only relation that has kept this federation intact.” he urged National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to “become an advocate for democracy and the supremacy of the house” instead of one party. he also demanded the PTI to account for the funds it allegedly received from other countries.

“These thieves have been caught today […]

They took money from Indians. There is proof [that] money was taken through offshore companies,” he declared amid protests of the members of the treasury benches. The case is pending at the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Earlier, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak had accused the opposition of “not obeying the law”, as he went on to defend the bills, saying promulgation of ordinances was allowed in the constitution.

“They (opposition parties) talk about democracy [but] they are not even ready to listen,” Khattak said, adding that opposition parties should convince Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to “come to the table” in order to resolve his grievances. he said the people of Pakistan rejected the opposition parties in general elections and that they should accept voters’ verdict.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GilgitBaltistan Ali Amin Gandapur said he is ready to vacate his seat to contest by-election against JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. he also urged Maulana Fazlur Rehman to end his sit-in and contest in “by-election to prove his popularity”.

In his response, JUI-F leader Assad Mahmood said he was ready to tender his resignation if Ali Amin Gandapur resigned from the assembly.

Grand opening of Kartarpur Corridor today ISLAMABAD APP

For the first time in 70 years, Indian Sikhs will be able to make pilgrimage to their holy site of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib which had virtually been inaccessible for them due to the hostile relations between Pakistan and India.

On Saturday, the first batch of 10,000 pilgrims is set to perform their rituals in the compound of the Gurdwara on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who envisioned the construction of Kartarpur Corridor a year ago, will inaugurate the much-anticipated overland passage linking the Dera Baba Nana shrine in northwest India’s Gurdaspur with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

Dubbed as ‘Zero Point’, the

corridor includes a bridge stretching for one-kilometer over the Ravi River, flowing between the two countries. Pakistan has announced to allow the visit of 5,000 pilgrims to the shrine every day with additional numbers on special occasions, subject to capacity expansion of facilities. As a special gesture, the government also waived off requirement of passport and 10-day advance intimation for whole year, a move which has not been warmly welcomed by India.

The stunning white-coloured edifice of Gurdwara Baba Nanak stands tall as a symbol of peace and harmony, despite the discordant relationship between the two neighboring countries. The inauguration on November 9 coincides with the birth anniversary of the country’s national poet and philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who in his poem ‘Nanak’, pays homage to the

Sikh spiritual leader.

Iqbal in his verses ‘Phir akhir uthi sada Tauheed ki Punjab se – Hind ko ik Mard-e-Kaamil ne jagaya khwaab se’, means that ‘The voice of belief in oneness of God rose from Punjab as a man with perfect attributes, awakened India from a deep slumber’. The package of facilities has been set in place for pilgrims including a nine-marque village for accommodation.

Regular visitors will be given a one-day pass and would be able to return the same day.

A Langar Khana inside the complex has a capacity to house around 2,500 pilgrims who will arrive after biometric registration at counters, set up by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The Government of Pakistan had acquired around 800-acre land and handed IT over to the Gurdwara management; out of which, over 42

acres were allocated for construction of the Gurdwara complex and 62-acre land for the agricultural purposes to meet needs of the Langar Khana. The Gurdwara is to be built in record time of 10 months and boasts a high construction quality with white marble and imported tiles. Visitors will also be able to experience Sikh culture and history at the museum set up in the vicinity.

In addition, a 12-bed hospital has been established for health emergencies. Around 250 cameras will have around-the-clock vigil for foolproof security and effective monitoring of the complex, while 1,500 staffers are assigned for facilitation of pilgrims. Money exchange outlets and souvenir shops have also been set up.

As a monument of love, peace, and affinity, Gurdwara Baba Guru Nanak awaits its followers to visit Guru Nanak’s eternal abode.

PTI govt covering up ‘most dangerous’ polio virus outbreak: report PM’S FORMER FOCAL PERSON BABAR ATTA CALLS THE GUARDIAN’S REPORT ‘BASELESS’ NEWS DESK The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government has been accused of covering up an outbreak of the most dangerous type of poliovirus, which resulted in the paralysis of 12 children in Diamer and Islamabad.

According to a report in The Guardian, an official of the polio eradication programme in Pakistan claimed that “a dozen children have been infected with the P2 strain of polio”.

It added that the coordinator

of the national emergency operation centre of the programme “Dr Malik Safi, confirmed the P2 outbreak, but would not give any further comment”. The Guardian report goes on to say that Babar bin Atta, the former focal person to the prime minister on polio eradication, ordered the cover-up from the government and international donor organisations.

In a series of tweets on Thursday and Friday, Atta has dubbed The Guardian report “baseless” and said he is writing to the publication to correct the record and

issue an apology. “The Guardian has completely mixed cVDPVs with Wild P2 strain. They should have contacted me for a version, I would’ve educated them,” Atta said in a tweet. cVDPV, or the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, is a mutated form of the poliovirus that spreads in under-immunised areas after the vaccine virus is excreted and ends up in the environment, according to the WhO. For cases of paralysis to occur, the mutated virus needs to have been circulating in vulnerable populations for at least 12 months. The WhO and Global Polio Eradication Initiative list gaps in routine and supplementary immunisation campaigns as the main causes be-

hind the spread of cVDPV. Zafar Mirza, the state minister of health, has also said there has been “absolutely no cover-up.” he said the outbreak referred to a Sabin-Like Type 2 Derived virus outbreak and the government has the situation under control.

“The Pakistan polio programme has detected transmission of Sabin-Like Type 2 Derived (SLT2D) poliovirus through its disease surveillance system. The virus has caused seven cases of paralysis in recent months, mainly in the northern parts of the country.

“Outbreaks of polio occur where a large number of children are under-immunised,” reads an official statement on Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme’s

website. It also adds that similar outbreaks have been reported in the Philippines, China, Indonesia,

Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and countries in Africa due to gaps in immunisation coverage.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

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