E paper pdf (17 06 2017) (lhr)

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Saturday, 17 june, 2017 I 21 ramzan-ul-Mubarak, 1438 I rs 20.00 I Vol VII No 350 I 20 Pages I Lahore Edition

government rejects impeding jit probe g

SeCP deNIeS INvoLveMeNT IN ‘PhoTo LeAK’ ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

he various government organisations accused by the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of impeding their probe have rejected the charges and submitted their response in the Supreme Court.

Attorney General (AG) Ashtar Ausaf Ali on Friday submitted in court the para-wise replies of all the relevant organisations and ministry.

The JIT, in a report to the apex court’s special implementation bench, had accused the Prime Minister house, Securities and exchange Commission of Pakistan (SeCP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Law, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of impeding the investigation, pressuring witnesses and threatening JIT members.

The reply states that serious charges have been brought forward against the relevant government departments.

The Prime Minister (PM) house has rejected charges of pressuring witnesses. It said it appears from an analysis of the JIT report that the highprofile probe team is tapping the PM house’s phones — which would be

an illegal act.

According to the AG’s response, a decision on the JIT’s charges cannot be taken without recording evidence or hearing the point of view of all those involved. It added that this will take time and attention away from the investigation.

The reply suggested that the charges of the JIT can be analysed after the 60-day probe deadline when the JIT has submitted its report to the Supreme Court.

The NAB has said that there was no malafide intention in sending a show-cause notice to its JIT member — Naeem Mangi — as 77 other NAB officers were also sent show-cause notices in light of Supreme Court orders. It stated further that these notices were sent before the JIT was formed.

The FBR has also rejected all charges levelled against it in the JIT report. The JIT first contacted us for providing records on May 8 and then did so on May 25, May 29 and June 8, it was stated. The 40-year-old record that was asked for was sent over as soon as possible, it added further.

The Law Ministry also rejected the accusations of delaying the probe. It said a letter asking for international legal assistance — as instructed by

the JIT — was sent in three days. In such cases there is a need to take the foreign and interior ministries on board in light of the rules of business, which the JIT is well-versed with, it added. The IB — the premier civilian intelligence agency — also rejected hacking any JIT member’s Facebook account, as was alleged in the JIT report.

The investigation into Chaudhry Sugar Mills was closed down in 2013, while the SeCP chairman was appointed after it, said the SeCP. The response also stated that the JIT staff is responsible for the leaking of summons, which is not secret anyway.

SECP DENIES ITS EMPLOYEE WAS INVOLVED IN ‘PHOTO LEAK’ Meanwhile, the Securities and exchange Commission of Pakistan (SeCP) has denied that its employee was involved in ‘photo leak’ controversy.

A spokesman for SeCP said SeCP categorically denies reports in some sections of the media about the involvement of any SeCP employee in leaking any photograph from the proceedings of the Joint Investigations Team (JIT).

SeCP has not received any reference from the JIT against any of SeCP employee nor has the JIT sent any SeCP employee back to SeCP.

SC gives Nehal Hashmi more time to submit reply in video case

sehr-o-iftar timing fiqah-e-hanfia fiqah-e-jafaria sehr 3:17 am

sehr 3:07 am

iftar 7:10 pm

iftar 7:20 pm

STORY ON PAGE 02

Beijing calls for increased military cooperation between China and Pakistan

STORY ON PAGE 03

PPP LEADEr IMTIAz SAfDAr WArrAICH jOINS PTI World Bank approves $223 million for financial services to poor STORY ON PAGE 16

Aamer Sohail explains why he went after Sarfaraz Ahmad

STORY ON PAGE 04

Russia’s military says may have killed IS leader Baghdadi

Pakistan immunisation programmes may keep hitting snags

STORY ON PAGE 08

STORY ON PAGE 04

ArMY WILL CONTINuE TO PErfOrM WITH PEOPLE’S SuPPOrT: GEN QAMAr BAjWA

STORY ON PAGE 02

Bilawal says Nawaz a ‘Monarch’ STORY ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 19

Indian court convicts six over deadly Mumbai blasts

STORY ON PAGE 02

Nawaz Sharif lied to Supreme Court, NA over Qatari prince letter, says Imran Khan STORY ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

SC gIveS NehAl hAShMI More TIMe To SUbMIT rePly IN vIdeo CASe ISLAMABAD

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APP

HE Supreme Court on Friday granted Senator Nehal Hashmi more time to submit a reply over contempt of court case. A three-member special implementation bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, Advocate Hashmat Habib counsel for Nehal Hashmi appeared before the court

Five Indian policemen, two civilians killed in Kashmir clashes At least five Indian police personnel were killed Friday when Kashmiri rebels fighting against Indian rule ambushed a police vehicle in India-held Kashmir (IHK), while two civilians were killed and several others injured in clashes that erupted during a gunbattle between rebels and Indian government forces in the disputed region, officials and witnesses said. Superintendent of Police Pani said rebels sprayed gunfire at the police vehicle in the southern Achabal area. All five officers on board were killed, he said. No other details were immediately available. On Thursday, two police officers were killed in two separate shootings by suspected rebels in Srinagar, the region’s main city, and in the southern Kulgam area.

At the funeral of one of the slain policemen on Friday, hundreds of people chanted slogans calling for Kashmir’s freedom from Indian rule. Earlier Friday, Indian government forces cordoned off Arwani village in the south on a tip that at least two Kashmiri rebels were hiding there, said inspector-general of police Muneer Ahmed Khan. Fighting erupted when the militants began firing in an attempt to break through the siege, Khan said. Villagers said soldiers blasted at least two houses with explosives.

As the fighting raged, thousands of people in the village and neighbouring areas ignored the government security lockdown and marched to Arwani in an attempt to help the trapped rebels escape. They hurled rocks at the troops and chanted slogans against Indian rule. Police said a young man and a teenage boy were killed and at least five others were wounded in the crossfire between the Indian government forces and rebels. However, villagers dismissed the police version, saying the casualties occurred when the occupying forces fired live ammunition, shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse the protesters. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in Kashmir and cellphone service in some areas of southern Kashmir, fearing activists would mobilise anti-India protests in the region. Protests against Indian rule followed by clashes were also reported in other areas of the region.

Several people were reportedly injured. In recent years, Kashmiris, mainly youths, have displayed open solidarity with antiIndia rebels and sought to protect them by engaging troops in street clashes during military operations against the militants.

The anti-India protests and clashes have persisted despite the Indian army chief warning recently that “tough action” would be taken against stone throwers during counterinsurgency operations. NEwS DESk

and said he is yet to obtain a transcript of his client’s speech, so he could know what remarks of his led to contempt proceedings being initiated against him.

To this, Justice Ijazul Ahsan replied that he can find the speech online as it is all over the internet.

However, Hashmi’s counsel said he still does not have a copy of the speech and can only submit a reply once he does. He contended that his client did not commit contempt, as his speech does not mention the JIT and Supreme Court.

In his order, Justice Ejaz observed that for the cause of justice one more chance is being given. He then directed the attorney general to hand over the transcript to Hashmi, which he did instantly.

Later, Hashmi pleaded with the bench to quash the criminal cases registered against him in Karachi, to which Justice Azmat Saeed replied that is was not the court’s concern.

Hearing of the case was adjourned till June 23.

indian court convicts six over deadly mumbai blasts MUMBAI APP

An Indian court on Friday convicted six men over serial bomb blasts in the commercial capital Mumbai more than two decades ago that killed hundreds, the nation’s deadliest attack.

They were found guilty of involvement in a series of coordinated bomb attacks that targeted the Mumbai stock exchange, the headquarters of the state airline and a popular shopping centre in March 1993, killing 257 people and injuring hundreds more.

Some 24 years later, a special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Protection) Act (TADA) court convicted Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari, Mustafa Ahmed Umar Dossa alias Mustafa Majnu, Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan, Taher Mohd. Merchant alias Taher Taklya, Karimulla

Osan Khan alias Karimullah Hussain Habib Shaikh and Riyaz Ahmed Siddiqui under sections of the TADA, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act and the Explosives Act for perpetrating the blasts. It, however, acquitted Abdul Qayum Karim

Shaikh of all charges.

The attacks were believed to have been staged by Mumbai’s underworld.

A specially designated court in Mumbai on Friday convicted the six for a range of offences.

army will continue to perform with people’s support: gen Qamar bajwa

10-Corps Commander visits iftikharabad seCtor along loC ISLAMABAD PRESS RELEASE

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa addressed participants of National Security and War Course at National Defence University Islamabad.

Highlighting internal and exter-

nal challenges to national security, the COAS said that the full spectrum of threat demanded comprehensive national response and army was fully engaged in enabling that response in coordination with other institutions of the state.

The COAS said that terrorism has no religion, sect or ethnicity. Pakistan has fought against this menace indiscriminately and shall root it out through ongoing operation Radd-ulFasaad. He said that terrorism could not be defeated by closing eyes from one’s own responsibilities and resort-

ing to throwing blames outside as being done by few players in the region. He said that Pakistan Army was committed to defence and security of the country and would continue to perform with support of the people of Pakistan. Earlier, on arrival at NDU, the COAS was received by NDU President Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar.

Meanwhile, 10-Corps Commander Lt-Gen Nadeem Raza visited troops deployed along LOC in Iftikharabad Sector. He reviewed the operational preparedness and expressed his satisfaction on operational readiness and vigilance exercised by forward troops. He expressed his concern over continuous ceasefire violations by Indian troops targeting innocent civil population residing close to LOC. While appreciating the indomitable spirit, he lauded the high morale of deployed troops and unflinching resolve of civil population of the area and urged for a befitting response to Indian ceasefire violations.

PM orders no load shedding during India-Pak CT final Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities that no load shedding should be done during ICC Champions Trophy Final between Pakistan and India scheduled to be held on June 18 on Sunday. Orders have been issued from PM Nawaz that mega event final between Pakistan and India should not be disrupted due to load shedding. The Water and Power Ministry has summoned details from power distribution companies regarding the supply, demand and shortfall of electricity. The ministry has also submitted a reply to the PM that the match will not be disrupted due to power outages. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday expressed confidence that there would be no load shedding after November this year. He stated this while addressing a ceremony held here between Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Economic Affairs Division. ONLiNE

PAF cadet leaves for training in US Islamabad: Muhammed Shahrukh Khan, 19, from Lahore, who was accepted into the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy for four years of rigorous academic and military training, departed for the United States. “I’m excited to go, to learn about the world and people and their different backgrounds,” Shahrukh said, who plans to study engineering at the academy. “From a military standpoint, it will be a chance for me to excel. I learned a lot in Pakistan. The US Air Force Academy will teach me new things.”

According to US embassy announcement, Shahrukh was among 12 students nominated by the Pakistani military to compete in the Service Academy Foreign Student programme. Under this programme, partner nations nominate outstanding young men and women for the opportunity to compete for admission to the prestigious US military academies.

Due to the critical military relationship between Pakistan and the US, Pakistan is one of only 12 countries designated by the United States Secretary Defense as a priority appointment country. In February, Shahrukh and the other cadets completed the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) and interview portions of their applications at the US embassy in Islamabad. The CFA is a test of strength, agility, speed and endurance used to predict a candidate’s aptitude for the physical programme at the military academies. In May at the US embassy in Islamabad, Brigadier General Kenneth Ekman congratulated Shahrukh, presented him books about America and gave him advice about his upcoming move to the USAF Academy in Colorado. APP

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa hosted a dinner at Army House for cricket legends Sir Vivian Richards and Ian Chappell the other day. He also thanked them for visiting Pakistan.

PM’s spokesman urges SC to remove uncertainty regarding JIT ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant and Spokesperson Dr Musadik Malik on Friday, terming the attitude of the JIT biased, urged the Supreme Court to remove the uncertainty regarding its attitude.

Addressing a press conference along with the PML-N lawmaker Daniyal Aziz,

he said in such a scenario, the decision of JIT would be doubtful. He alleged that witnesses were being forced to take back their affidavits and threatened with long imprisonments. The spokesperson said since coming into power, conspiracies were being hatched against the PML-N government.

Dr Musadik claimed that an elected prime minister had presented himself for accountability for the first time in the coun-

try’s history and appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) set up by the Supreme Court to probe Panama Papers issue. He said all speculations were proved wrong when the PM appeared before the JIT on Thursday. He said the prime minister appeared before JIT without any security apparatus honouring the dignity of judiciary and state institutions. It would also help strengthen democracy in the country, he

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added. Musadik said the prime minister presented all documents and details to the court and JIT about his family business.

Meanwhile, Daniyal Aziz said the PTI chief was an absconder in many cases and he should face the courts. He said if the prime minister and his sons could appear before the JIT then why Imran Khan was reluctant to appear before the courts. He said Imran Khan was telling a lie and all his

bank statements submitted to the court were contrary to each other. To a question, Dr Musadik said they have great respect for the judiciary and they would continue to appear before it but they would also present their reservations about the JIT. He said the prime minister’s statement after appearing before JIT was comprehensive and that he had presented all documents before the parliament and the court.

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

NEWS

obor, CPeC wIll beNeFIT All: ChINeSe eNvoy ISLAMABAD

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ChINA CAllS To eNhANCe MIlITAry CooPerATIoN wITh PAKISTAN

APP

DVISOR to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Friday, terming Pakistan and China as “Iron Brothers” said the great friendship between the two has stood the tests of time and has moved from strength to strength under successive generations of leaders of both the countries. In the past four years, he added, it is crossed new thresholds and culminated in CPEC. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) set up at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) here, Sartaj said the strategic cooperative partnership must also include enhanced, pragmatic and meaningful cooperation in research, academia and science and technology.

“I believe this study centre will be a promising addition to providing a dynamic platform for scholars of both the countries to jointly pursue research projects on many areas of common interests, further promoting and cementing academic and scholarly exchanges between Pakistan and China,” he said.

Think-tanks and study centres are the nerve-centres of ideas and policy initiative necessary for overall development and growth of countries, Sartaj said, adding they provide vision and guidelines to embark on the journey of

prosperity and progress.

“I am confident that the timely initiative of establishing this centre will provide the policymakers and intelligentsia with the key resources to fully understand contours of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.”

It goes without saying, he said, that China’s rise and economic pre-eminence is creating a new, economically prosperous and vibrant region. “We in the region are fortunate to be at the centre of these dynamic changes. Together we must employ our academic and research resources to promote regional connectivity, trade, cultural, economic and people-to-people linkages, to create sustainable development and prosperity,” he said.

In the context of the far-reaching Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), this study centre would prove to be a milestone

bEIJING: Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and China’s top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng have held a meeting in Beijing. The Chinese leader said that Beijing appreciates Pakistani government and military’s firm support for China in fighting terrorism. He called on both sides to enhance military-to-military cooperation to safeguard the security of countries as well as regional peace and stability. General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said Pakistan intends to increase cooperation between the two militaries and assured to provide security to Chinese workers in Pakistan. ONLiNE for promoting academic exchanges and linking up think-tanks of both countries, he said.

The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong, addressing the inaugural ceremony, said China’s initiative of connecting the regional countries through One Belt, One Road (OBOR) is carrying the spirit of peaceful cooperation that would be beneficial for all the countries in the region due to enhanced connectivity. He said that CPEC is the pilot project of BRI. The China-Pakistan friendship is based on mutual respect, trust, and support, he added. He said the establishment of CPSC is the manifestation of the strong friendly relations between the two countries.

He said the people are interested to know more about China and its rela-

tions with the external world. People wanted to know how China developed and emerged as the second largest economy in the world, he added.

The ambassador, highlighting the reasons behind quick development of China, said the strong leadership of the Communist Party, peaceful development, hardworking nature of the Chinese people, peaceful coexistence, respecting sovereignty of other countries, and its history of never seeking expansion and hegemony enabled to achieve what it did in such a short span of time.

The ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said the CPEC is the stimulus for the establishment of the CPSC. He said the centre would carry out research on China’s culture, education and society.

nawaz sharif lied to supreme Court, na over Qatari prince letter: imran ISLAMABAD AGENCiES

bIlAwAl SAyS NAwAz A ‘MoNArCh’ PESHAWAR AGENCiES

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday said that Nawaz Sharif has staged a new drama every day and likened the premier to a “monarch against whom no one could dare speak”. “It matters not even if Nawaz Sharif denigrates institutions on a daily basis. He had the Supreme Court attacked, but did not appear before it. Yet he stood before Grade 20 officers in the (Panama case) joint investigation team” the PPP chairman said, while addressing party workers in Peshawar.

Bilawal alleged that “Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan both are made by the establishment, and have the same mindset”. Regretting prevailing outages in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said if people protest against it then the government labels them as pilferers.

“Mian Sahib! It’s not the people who are thieves; it’s you and your theft has been identified. “You were not held accountable in 1972, but it is going to be held now,” the PPP chairman added.

He further lamented that provinces were not being given their share under the NFC award. Commenting on situation in KP, Bilawal said the people here bore the brunt (of terrorism) and rendered numerous sacrifices. Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial administration, he said the (KP government) and Imran Khan have been boasting of social justice and a ‘change’ in the province, but that is only limited to Twitter. The PPP chairman said Imran Khan’s claims were propaganda, similar to Premier Sharif’s boasts of development.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Friday claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lied over the Qatari prince’s letter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and National Assembly (NA).

“Had the Qatari letter been true there would have been at least a banking transaction. When Nawaz Sharif addressed the assembly, there was no mention of the Qatari prince – but the name was suddenly mentioned in the Supreme Court,” said

the PTI chief while addressing a press conference to announce the inclusion of former PPP leader Imtiaz Safdar Warraich.

Imran claimed that the prime minister had started from a single factory and later expanded to 30 factories while remaining in power.

“This is corruption,” said the PTI chairman.

“Nawaz Sharif is accused of corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets and tax evasion.”

The PTI chairman reiterated his earlier demand from the premier and said Nawaz must disclose his source

of income from which he bought the London flats.

“The ruling party is making the JIT controversial as they have failed to manage and bribe it,” said Imran.

Khan also said that in case the government would not follow the Supreme Court`s decision in true letter and spirit, he will bring the masses on the streets.

“The Pakistani nation stands with the Supreme Court and the JIT.” The PTI Chairman again reiterated that the Supreme Court should order the prime minister’s resignation until the conclusion of the JIT probe.

PM Nawaz understands ‘puppet show’ very well, says Shah Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah on Friday said that “Mian sahib understands puppet show very well, but the premier at times pretends to be innocent to make a fool out of others”. Speaking to media here, Shah said he wishes for the representative assemblies in the country to complete their term.

“We have seen elected prime ministers being taken to gallows and appearing before the courts twice,” he said, referring to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was executed in Gen Zia regime, and Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, who were summoned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the former PPP regime.

“Had I been in place of Nawaz Sharif, I would not have appeared before the joint investigation team as a prime minister,” the opposition leader said.

About the probe panel’s possible questioning with the premier, Shah said the investigators might have asked him about his statements inside and outside the assembly. The opposition leader said the premier didn’t appear to be speaking truth the way he read out a written speech. “If you haven’t done anything, then why did you give explanations in the National Assembly?” NEwS DESk

rehman Malik vows to give PMl-N tough time with JIT appearance Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Senator Rehman Malik said that he will give a tough time to the ruling party after appearing before Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on June 23.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Rehman Malik said, “I have informed JIT about investigative report against Sharif family and will present this report to JIT on merit”. He said he will be tough with PMLN, which should dispel all doubts and misgivings about his appearance. ONLiNE

Qatari prince says will affirm letter to sC Qatar’s former prime minister Prince Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani has promised to provide all details of his businesses with the Sharif family if members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) visit him in Doha.

He has made it clear that he was ready to meet the team face-to-face. After

coming to know that the JIT members have contacted the Supreme Court registrar for making arrangements for their Qatar visit, The News special reporting team contacted Prince Hamad in Doha.

His close circles told the reporting team that the prince stands by each and every word he had provided to the Supreme

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Court of Pakistan about his businesses with the Sharif family. The close circles said the prince was also ready to prove, through documentary proofs, whatever details he had earlier provided to the SC bench, hearing the Panama Papers case.

Prince Hamad said neither he had any investment in Pakistan nor he was a Pak-

istani national and, therefore, he was not bound to appear before any investigation team in Pakistan. However, he added, he had great respect for laws of all countries of the world, including Pakistan. Nevertheless, he was not bound to follow all laws of Pakistan, he added. The reporting team contacted Prince Hamad twice, and came to know through his very close circles that he was very upset over the way his issue was handled in Pakistan irresponsibly. NEwS DESk

‘Creative medium must to promote culture and heritage’ ISLAMABAD APP

Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Friday said that it was imperative to use the modern and creative medium of films to promote and project culture, heritage, traditions and screen tourism.

She made these remarks in a meeting with the spokesman of the Punjab Government Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan here. They discussed the Films and Broadcasting Policy and the package announced by the Prime Minister for the revival of the film industry.

Marriyum explaining the main contours of the package said that it envisaged the establishment of National Film and Broadcasting Commission, National Film Institute and a Film Academy which would be equipped with the state-of-the-art film production gadgets.

She said that the package also included the launch of Prime Miniser’s Finance Fund for Welfare of the Artists, besides concessions like relaxation in the financial rules and tax exemptions for the film makers. The minister said that the foreign film producers would also be extended maximum possible facilities. She said that Pakistan must be recognized as a peaceful and free from suffocating environment country all over the world. She said that during the past many years a heinous attempt was made to distort the shining and real face of Pakistan through the demon of terrorism. “Our culture was suppressed and regrettable efforts were unleashed to generate negative mindset in the country,” she added.

The minister revealed that a second round of consultations with the artists and people connected with the film industry would be held in Lahore wherein the steps taken by the Prime Minister and the package announced by him would be presented before the stakeholders in

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the film industry. The session, she said, will be presided by the Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif.

04 NEWS Case registered against Dasti for allegedly holding illegal arms MuzAffARgARH ONlINE

A case has been registered against member National Assembly Jamshed Dasti in Chowk Sarwar Shaheed police station for allegedly holding illegal weapons. According to media reports, a case has been registered against him for holding G-3 gun, of which permit has expired, while 15 bullets were also recovered from his possession.

According to police permit of G-3, the gun was issued on December 30, 2014, and it expired on December 29, 2015, however, it has not been renewed as of yet. A case was registered against him on the basis of that.

Last week, Dasti and Meharpur Union Council (UC) Chairman Malik Ajmal were arrested by Punjab police for forcibly opening canal in Muzaffargarh. It is vital to mention here that there are four cases registered against Dasti, and in three cases he has been granted bail.

PPP’s Imtiaz Safdar Warraich joins PTI ISLAMABAD ONlINE

Former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) federal minister Imtiaz Safdar Warraich has formally announced to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a press conference at Bani Gala on Friday. PTI Chairman Imran Khan welcomed the stalwart politician, saying his inclusion will strengthen PTI in Gujranwala division. It is vital to mention here that Warraich’s inclusion is the fourth major jolt to the PPP’s Gujranwala division, home of the party’s central Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira. Earlier, party stalwarts Nazar Muhammad Gondal from Mandi Bahauddin, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul from Gujrat, and Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan from Sialkot have bid adieu to the PPP. Imtiaz Warraich was among the PPP’s senior members and is regarded as a veteran politician and a party stalwart. Moreover, Fawad Chaudhry has also revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) former district nazim from Khanewal Ahmed Yar Haraj will also join PTI on Saturday. Born in Punjab’s Gujranwala district, Warraich is a lawyer by profession who served as the Gujranwala district’s bar association’s general secretary in 1982-1983 and was a member of the local district council from 19831991. He has also served as the director of Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Limited and was a federal minister in former premier Benazir Bhutto’s second government. He was twice elected as MNA in 2002 and 2008 from NA-98, his home constituency in Gujranwala, and was elected as an MPA for the Punjab Assembly in 1993, also from a seat in the same region.

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

HoW Panama LeakS SaGa GnaWeD aT THe HouSe of SHarIf THE FIRST FAMILY HAD WALKED SCOT-FREE MANY TIMES ADVOCATE NASRULLAH SHAH THINKS THE LONGER THE CASE GOES ON, THE MORE PML-N WILL SUFFER BEFORE FROM ITS PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ISLAMABAD ShAh NAwAz MOhAl

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HILE the summoning and appearance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before the six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will go down in the annals of history as the first time a sitting PM appeared before an investigating body to record his statement, the House of Sharif is fighting its toughest battle till date, opine many observers.

The two big questions that loom large are: will the House of Sharif get out of Panama Leaks quandary scot-free or will there be a verdict that’ll both incriminate and taint their politics for all times to come? Pakistan Today decided to recount the previous encounters of Sharif family with judiciary, their comparison with other political families, and how they wriggled their way out before. One thing, however, is certain that Sharif family—despite various runins with legal system of Pakistan—has

largely avoided any serious accountability on more than one occasion.

The infamous Plane Hijacking case, where elder Sharif was given a life sentence while younger Sharif, along with half a dozen other accused, was acquitted when juxtaposed with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s hanging is a clear example how Sharif family was treated way more leniently than its counterparts.

Even the conviction was overturned after almost a decade in 2009, when he went in a revision and was exonerated.

The Asgher Khan case, where allegations of 1990 elections were levelled and funding from different agencies was alleged, once again, witnessed Sharif family not being held accountable for their role in the whole saga.

Similarly, the November 1997 attack on Supreme Court of Pakistan by the goons of ruling party ended nowhere, despite the fact that many workers of PML-N were convicted on 2000, the Sharifs were never made to answer for it before any forum.

According to Advocate Faisal Sid-

diqui, a notable lawyer based in Karachi, the main reason behind the successful strategy of Sharifs is that they don’t balk at the prospect of using direct illegal manipulation of everything related to dispensing justice in Pakistan.

Siddiqui is of the opinion that three points benefit Sharif family the most: use of law as a tactical weapon, being part of permanent ruling elite of the country, and hiring and maintaining topnotch lawyers for litigation. Never before a crisis deepened to such extremes for Sharif family as it has after the SC’s April 20 Panama Leaks verdict.

During the months long hearing, many lacunae and loopholes emerged and remained unanswered along with many uneasy questions, whose answers need thorough investigation and digging up further. Enter the JIT, a sixmember group tasked with probing the 13 questions spelled out by the Apex court, its members hailing from the FIA, SECP, State Bank, ISI, MI, and NAB. “The controversy surrounding JIT seems more by design rather than de-

Academia rejects HEC’s testing service ISLAMABAD APP

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has rejected the constitution of National Testing Council (NTC) by the Higher Education Commission, saying it is established without approval of HEC’s governing body and in violations of universities acts.

The HEC has established the NTC to hold aptitude test for admission of undergraduate programmes July 2017 in the universities, a press release Friday said. Reacting to recent letter written by HEC to all public-private sector universities for seeking confirmation for adoption of its entrance tests, officials of FAPUASA said it was deliberate effort to undermine the autonomy of the universities which were already under crisis during the last four years.

FAPUASA President Dr Kaleem Bareech, General Secretary Dr Shakeel Farooqi, presidents of all chapters Dr Shehzad Ashraf (Islamabad),

Dr Humayun Khan (KP), Dr Fareed (Balochistan), Dr Javed Ahmed (Punjab), Dr Naimatullah Leghari (Sindh) and others said in a statement that HEC has announced testing council in violation of HEC and respective universities act.

As per HEC Ordinance 2002, clause of Article 10 which clearly stated ‘cause to be set up testing bodies or designate any existing body for the purpose”. HEC cannot establish such body and conduct tests by itself.

The actual powers of HEC lies with its 17 members board which deliberated the issue in length. The members of HEC board rejected HEC s’ administration idea to involve itself in conducting tests by declaring it conflict of interest.

Instead of implementing board decision, HEC has involved in conducting tests through establishing new testing body.

This notification is also another deliberate violation committed by HEC administration of Lahore High Court (LHC) judgment on testing issue through Writ Petition

28028/2011.

The court judgment instructed clearly “HEC through proper channel will propose amendment in the ordinance/rules in order to provide a proper regulatory framework for establishing, monitoring and supervising a “national testing service”.

While sharing main recommendations of Task Force on improvement of higher education in Pakistan March 2002, they quoted that universities were the pillars of higher education system.

They must have autonomy from all extraneous influences in order to govern and manage their academic, administrative, and financial functions. In particular, universities must have autonomy to develop their academic programmes; recruit, assess, and develop their faculty; and select, train and educate their students.

It is essential for the management of HEC to restrict its role as per 18th constitutional amendment rather than taking away the autonomy of the universities which has been guaranteed by their respective acts even prior to establishment of HEC in 2002.

Pakistan immunisation programmes may keep hitting snags LAHORE MONEM FAROOQI

Pakistan may continuously experience outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases following problems in the immunization program, leading to low coverage despite the clear array of benefits that stem from nationwide vaccination, a draft report of World Bank remarked.

A draft report being prepared for project implementation of National Immunization Support Project by World Bank, a copy available with Pakistan Today, indicates that the disease outbreaks in Pakistan are the result in significant costs to

individuals and to society. These include costs associated with visits to health care providers, hospitalizations, disability, and premature deaths. Despite a slow decline over the past 10 years, the under-five mortality rate in Pakistan remains high, with more than 400,000 deaths annually in this demographic over the past twenty years. Pakistan is lagging behind other South Asian countries in improving this indicator.

The draft report says to achieve goal of reducing child mortality, Pakistan needed to sustain a reduction in child mortality rates (CMRs) of 4.2 per annum between 2000 and 2015. However, Pak-

istan only could achieve a rate of 1.13 per annum as of 2012. 1 In large part, this gap in CMRs is a function of low immunization coverage in Pakistan. Approximately 43 to 62 percent of children are estimated to be fully vaccinated. And this estimate varies considerably across geographic, social, and cultural boundaries.

Highlighting historical data, the draft point out that three issues of concern with the national immunization coverage.

First, progress in expanding coverage of childhood vaccination countrywide continues to be slow. The latest Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS 2012-13) indicates that less than half of

CMYK

all children are fully immunized in Pakistan. 2 The proportion of fully immunized children aged 12 to 23 months in Pakistan increased by only 19 percent in the 20 years preceding 2012-13.

Second, the follow up for second and third waves of vaccination for children remains inadequate. For example, the BCG vaccine, which is administered at birth, constitutes 85 percent of all vaccines administered in the country. Although more than 75 percent of children in Pakistan received the first dose of DPT, only 65 percent subsequently were inoculated with DPT3. Immunity against measles is especially low in Pakistan. Only about two-

fault, prima facie it seems that they are being hampered from performing their work. Look at what Attorney General told the court on Friday. Clearly, there are rifts between JIT and the government, and this time around, the probe has a no holds barred approach,” said High Court Advocate Nasrullah Shah, adding that the longer the case goes on, the more PML-N will suffer—both in vote bank and reputation.

Interestingly, the lawyers from various bars of the country are all set to launch a full-fledged movement against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after Eid. “The delay in the movement came due to Ramzan but, Inshallah, after Eid, the movement will be launched again. Also, the JIT is bound to file its final report by July 6. Both movement and final report may coincide,” he told Pakistan Today.

Whether the PM gets acquitted or sent home packing, the past year has proved to be a tough one for Sharifs.

The infamous Panama Leaks case has indeed proved to be the Achilles heel for Sharif family.

Govt wants timely completion of Chaman, Torkham border crossing points ISLAMABAD: The government has directed timely completion of the border crossing points at Torkham and Chaman to expedite the trade clearance to Afghanistan. According to an official statement, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired a meeting to review the progress on the development of border crossing complexes at Torkham and Chaman border crossing as a part of the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project. The finance secretary, the Economic Affairs Division secretary, Quartermaster general of the Pakistan Army, Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director, NLC director general, ITTMS project director, and senior officials of the finance ministry, ADB, and Infrastructure Project Development Facility participated in the meeting. The project director updated the meeting regarding the progress of the project. The NLC director general briefed the meeting regarding the technical aspects of the project as the organisation has been assigned to carry out the civil works of the project on the two sites. STAFF REPORT thirds (61 percent) of children have received the first vaccine dose.

Thirdly, the draft points out there are marked and alarming variations in immunization coverage across provinces, districts, and genders. For example, the 2012-13 PDHS shows that the proportion of fully immunized children in Sindh and Balochistan has dropped from 35 percent to 16 percent and from 37 percent to 29 percent since 2006-07, respectively. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab have shown slow but steady progress on the same metrics. Gender variations are also evident in the data. Gender variations also exist: immunization rates among boys is 56 percent – five percentage points higher than for girls, at 51 percent. This trend prevails in provinces.

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

NEWS

ImB acknowledges Pakistan’s progress in polio eradication ISLAMABAD APP

International Monitoring Board (IMB) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has acknowledged the great progress made in Pakistan’s polio situation to date and called for more innovative approaches to end polio in the country.

In a statement, Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, while commenting on the findings of the Independent Monitoring Board, warmly welcomed the IMB assessment and recommendations, saying this was recognition of the turnaround made possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The government is fully committed to this battle against the crippling virus until its complete eradication, the minister said. “There are no magic solutions to achieve this public health milestone for Pakistan and the world, just continued hard work and dedication,” Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq said. In its report titled “Every Last Virus”, the IMB commended the strong performance of the Pakistan polio eradication programme, while noting that it benefits from the exceptional political leadership, skill and commitment on the part of the health minister, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, and the provincial secretaries. The report noted that in reviewing Pakistan, the IMB has gained the strong impression of a high-performing programme, which is backed up by the available data. The programme has had two cases of paralytic polio associated with wild poliovirus in 2017, both of which were outside the endemic reservoirs and subjected to a very aggressive response. Immunity data are the ultimate arbiter of protection, and study results show high levels of protection in every province tested, except for the Quetta block. The IMB also acknowledged that the current scale of environmental sampling in Pakistan is unprecedented. The report noted that there can be no room for complacency about the positive environmental samples recorded. Two years ago, the report suggests, the presence of these samples would have sparked cases of paralytic polio, but not this time around, at least as has been identified so far. While highlighting the progress at all levels across the country, the IMB did voice concern over programme quality in the Quetta Block, which is still well below peak performance and contains the highest number of susceptible children.

PIa announces 25pc discount on domestic flights for eid Pakistan International Airlines has announced a discount of 25 per cent on all domestic flights for Eidul Fitr, tweeted the airline on Friday. The promotional offer is valid from June 27 to June 29.

Special Eid Discount! 25% off on all domestic flights, read the tweet from the national carrier. NEwS DESK

Senate body approves Post office Bill, 2017 ISLAMABAD APP

Senate Standing Committee on Communication Friday unanimously approved The Post Office Act, 1989 (The Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 2017) here at Parliament House. The committee met under the chairmanship of Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai, chairman of the committee. Members of the committee Senators Sajjad Hussain Turi, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Kamil Ali Agha, Agha Shahbaz Khan Durrani and Liaqat Tarakai also attended the meeting.

To facilitate the customer, an amendment in Section 45 Post Office Act, 1998 has been proposed through a Bill thereby removing the barrier of maximum limit of Rs.50 and to issue Postal orders of appropriate denominations as per requirements of the customers.

05

PakISTanI amerICanS aPPreCIaTe Pm’S aPPearanCe Before jIT WASHINgTON

S

APP

EVERAL Pakistanis living in the United States have hailed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for appearing before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), saying that it showed government's respect for the judiciary and supremacy of law.

"This is simply ridiculous. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should rather get praise for his willingness to present himself for scrutiny. He could have refused to appear by using his right to seek immunity from such proceedings," observed Annie Kameron, a student counselor in public schools.

Asad ullah Chaudhry, President of Pakistan American Congress, referring

to various reports coming from Pakistan, expressed surprise over allegations that the government was "obstructing" JIT proceedings. "How we can say that the government is obstructing the investigation when a sitting prime minister is presenting himself for questioning," he asked.

He also questioned those who were saying that as the prime minister appeared before the JIT, he should resign.

Citing the examples in the United States, he said that top government officials are issued subpoenas by lawmakers to appear before committees and explain their position and they do that.

"By doing so, they show their respect for democracy and law and are also praised for presenting themselves for accountability," said Ms. Kameron and added that recently even President

Trump stated that he was ready to appear before parliamentary committees.

Some said that while a property deal made decades ago is being probed, cases of corruption at the provincial level should also be looked into. "Every day, we read reports of corruption and mismanagement at the provincial level, why no one is taking note of that," said a Pakistani American at a restaurant in Virginia, who had come for Iftari with his family. He said he would not like to give his name.

Fitzerald Lewis, an attorney, praised Prime Minister for appearing before the JIT and said that he has set a new precedent which should be hailed and not criticized. "In the United States, top government officials appear before parliamentary committee to respond to allegations

KP Assembly passes supplementary grants of Rs 47.25 billion PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Friday passed all supplementary grants for financial year 2016-17 unanimously and no vote was held on any cut motion.

Supplementary budget of Rs 47.25 billion for the outgoing financial year was presented in the house

by Provincial Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said.

A total of 53 demands for the grants of supplementary budget were presented and adopted by the house one by one. The highest supplementary grant was approved under the head of construction of roads, highways and

bridges, which was Rs 15.949 billion followed by a supplementary grant of Rs 7.202 billion for payment of pensions.

Similarly, a supplementary grant of Rs 6.148 billion for the financial year 2016-17 was approved for expenditure in health sector and grant of Rs 2.922 billion for police.

Though the members have submitted cut motions on all supplementary grants and some of them were moved in the house, but later were withdrawn after getting assurance from the ministers concerned.

The longest debate was witnessed on the supplementary grant for higher education, archives and

libraries. ANP parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak while giving arguments in favour of his cut motion said that previous provincial ANP-PPP coalition government had established 9 universities and several campuses in various parts of the province and asked the PTI government to prove their better performance than their predecessors.

Responding to the points raised by the ANP legislator, Advisor to CM for Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani told the house that when he assumed power, there were only 180 colleges and 20 management sciences colleges in the province but by the next year they will become 300.

PQR enlists over 20,000 degree programmes across Pakistan ISLAMABAD APP

Over 20,000 degree programmes of various universities across Pakistan have been listed, till date, in the Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR).

It is an online database which contains list of approved degree programmes of HEC recognised public and private sector universities including their sub campuses and affiliated as well as constituent colleges, a press release Friday said.

PQR is aimed to provide clearly defined levels of knowledge, skills and competencies to be acquired by every graduate. The register has been linked to various HEC programmes and initiatives including attestation of degrees, local and overseas scholarships, appointment of HEC approved supervisors, award of national re-

search grants, thematic research grants for social sciences, etc.

Though majority of universities have been completing the process proactively, however some universities whose response is slow are being advised to enter their degree programmes in PQR at the earliest so as to streamline above-mentioned processes. HEC started developing a Qualification Framework (PQF) for higher education sector in 2009 and took necessary steps to develop tools for implementing the framework covering all HEC chartered public and private higher education institutions in the country.

PQF is a level-based and outcomes focused mechanism. It sets out the levels on which a qualification can be recognised in Pakistan.

It encompasses a comprehensive list of all quality assured qualifica-

tions in Pakistan. Each accredited qualification has been assigned a level. It consists of Entry Level-1 to Level-8, describing the difficulty of qualifications at each level.

PQF has been structured to help learners to make informed decisions about the qualification required, and will help employers to assess what qualification a candidate has achieved.

It will help in establishing the national standards of qualifications as well as provide a basis for comparison of qualifications at national as well as international levels.

Further, it will help in international recognition of academic qualifications, facilitate trans-national mobility of graduates and learners, in addition to be used as an instrument for qualitative reforms in education system.

against them, but there are others who use their constitutional right to refuse to answer any questions."

"The very fact that Prime Minister Sharif appeared before an inquiry committee and did not opt to seek immunity raises the stature of a country, which is being maligned by its own politicians to gain political mileage and settle personal score," he said.

Rizwan Jaka, a political analyst, observed that as long as JIT is holding the investigation, no one should be allowed to make any comment and interfere in a process initiated by the superior judiciary. " I have seen reports in which a leader of a political party is making comments about what Prime Minister said at the JIT hearing. This should not be allowed, to me, this is obstruction of justice," he added.

Yasin arrested; Gilani, Shabbir under house arrest SRINAgAR ONlINE

Indian Police have arrested the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik, in Srinagar on Friday. According to the KMS, the police took Yasin Malik into custody from the party office in Aabi Guzar area of Srinagar and sent him to Kothi Bagh police station to prevent him from leading anti-India demonstrations. The authorities have also placed Hurriyet leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah and Mukhtar Ahmed under house arrest or in police stations to prevent them from leading the demonstrations. The joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has called for peaceful demonstrations after Friday prayers to protest against the brutalities of Indian troops in Kashmir, particularly in Shopian, where people were subjected to severe torture and vandalism after they celebrated Pakistani team’s win over England.

The demonstrations were also aimed at protesting against the raids of Indian National Investigation Agency on the houses of Hurriyat leaders.

India to use mini drones in occupied kashmir SrInAgAr: In occupied Kashmir, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has issued tenders to procure dozens of Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAVs) to be used for security purposes and tracking the movement of Kashmiris and assessing the size and location of a protesting crowd in the territory. A senior official of the CRPF in an interview in Srinagar said that apart from deploying more personnel along the Yatra route, especially the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the UAVs would be used for security purpose. ONlINE

Pakistan’s largest offshore island declared marine protected area ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan’s largest offshore island ‘Jazira Haft Talar’ better known as Astola has been declared as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) on June 15.

The process to notify Astola as an MPA has been initiated a few years ago under the auspices of Mangroves for the Future Programme—a regional grouping of South and Southeast Asian countries of which Pakistan is currently the co-chair.

Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid had undertaken to spearhead the process of declaration of MPAs in 2016 after attending ‘the Oceans Conference’ in Washington at the invitation of out-

going US secretary of state John Kerry.

Subsequently, this declaration of Astola as an MPA had also been tabled as a national resolution at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii in 2016.

In April 2017, minister Zahid visited Astola along with Pakistan Navy Commander Coast Rear Admiral Abdul Aleem.

He also undertook a strong personal effort in requesting the chief minister and the government of Balochistan to expedite the declaration of Astola as an MPA. This declaration has come about as a result of the concerted efforts led by federal minister Zahid and very active collaboration of the Balochistan

government along with its Forest and Wildlife department.

Additional impetus and support have been provided by the Ministry of Defence, Pakistan Navy, IUCN, WWF-Pakistan and other members of Mangroves for the Future Programme, Pakistan.

The federal minister has expressed his appreciation for all the individuals associated with this landmark declaration, especially the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, and Balochistan Forest & Wildlife Department secretary, Commander Coast, Pakistan Navy, Ministry of Defence and IUCN. He also said efforts are underway to declare the Indus Canyon—located where the Indus delta meets

the continental shelf—and several other sites, including Churna Island and Miani Hor, as MPAs; thus meeting Pakistan’s target of nearly 27,000 km2 well before 2020.

The declaration of MPAs is an international obligation of the federal government under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi Biodiversity (ABD) Target No.11.

Agreed in 2010, the ABDs call for member countries to declare at least 10 per cent of their coastal and marine areas as MPAs, especially the areas of biodiversity significance. Astola Island is located approximately 25 km off the coast of Pasni, Balochistan province.

Spanning 6.7 km2 it is Pakistan’s largest offshore island.

06 LAHORE Pakistani team can win Champions Trophy: Shahbaz Sharif LAHORE AGENCIES

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has commended the performance of Pakistani cricket team in Champions Trophy so far and that it has the full potential to defeat the traditional rival India in the final.

He hoped that the national cricket team will write history by defeating India in the final match. He said that Pakistani team consists of talented young players who are enriched with the passion of success and self-confidence. Pakistani cricket team has made it to the final by defeating tough opponents in England, Sri Lanka and South Africa. He added that their success in the semifinal has boosted the morale of the players and the team will give another gift to the nation by winning the Champions Trophy during the month of Ramzan.

WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

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PML-N gOvT haS LEd PakiSTaN TOwaRdS dEvELOPMENT aNd PROSPERiTy: CM LAHORE

P

STAFF REPORT

UNJAB Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the people cannot be served with hollow sloganeering. Rather, one has to burn the midnight oil to serve the

people. He announced that his life and death rests with the people and he will selflessly continue to serve the people as long as he is alive.

He said that baseless allegations of opponents have no value because the elements conspiring against development and prosperity of the country are indulged in the politics of lies and this

mendacity cannot support their negative politics.

He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N government has put the country on the road to development and prosperity. The conscious people are fully aware of those who have served them and those who put the interests of

the country at stake.

He said that defeated elements are trying to get support through baseless allegations to sustain their residual politics. He said that people through the power of their vote will again reject the elements indulged in negative politics during the general elections of 2018.

Colourful bangles attract women during Eid preparations LAHORE APP

As festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr are approaching, colourful bangles are becoming the most attractive accessory for women to buy besides colourful dresses and footwear for the occasion. An engrossing collection of newly designed bangles has arrived in the market to match with a variety of dresses.

These bangles are available in a wide range of colours as well as made into different materials including glass and metal studded beautifully with stones. Ayesha Sohail, a shopper at Bano Bazaar Anarkali, while talking to APP on Friday, said that Eid is incomplete without colourful bangles and she has come along with her family to buy bangles and mehndi for Eid-ul-Fitr. Another girl Saleha said she has come to buy bangles for her friends as as they are an important accessory for women during Eid.

Offender killed in encounter with police RAJANPUR APP

A notorious offender was killed in an encounter with police in the precincts of Harand police station near tribal area while fleeing after snatching a motorcycle from a person. Circle Tehsil Jampur DSP Asif Rasheed told newsmen that the accused, accompanying his other accomplices had snatched a motorcycle from a person named Saleem Hajjana in Police Station Muhammadpur area of Tehsil Jampur. Jampur circle police started chasing the accused. Police teams from Harand, Muhammadpur Diwan and Dajal police stations also joined and spotted them in area of Harand police station near tribal area where an encounter took place and the accused, later identified as Manzoor Ahmad alias Kulhara Ahmadani, was killed. His two accomplices managed to escape. Police recovered motorcycle and a Kalashnikov. The body of the deceased was sent to THQ hospital Jampur where his postmortem examination was conducted.

LAHORE: A guard secures a gathering for Friday Prayer on the third Juma of the Holy Month of Ramzan. zUBAIR mAHFOOz

Punjab govt spokesman praises PML-N leadership LAHORE AGENCIES

The Government of Punjab Spokesman and Provincial Assembly Member Malik Ahmed Khan has said that the credit for national and international achievements of Pakistan goes to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said it is heartening that the total volume of the national economy has reached 300 billion dollars and is further increasing due to direct foreign investment. The PM has also set an example of respect-

ing the law by appearing before JIT and showing his democratic and law abiding approach, he added.

He expressed these views while talking to different delegations of people at his office today. He said that the PML-N leadership has always given credence to the supremacy of law and that the government has tremendously served the people and put the country on the track of development and prosperity.

The launch of an internationally acclaimed mega project in CPEC is a valid proof that the international community, especially

the Chinese leadership, fully trusts Nawaz Sharif.

He also praised Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his efforts to develop Punjab. He said the CM has been working tirelessly and will be successful in overcoming the energy crisis.

He further said that the Punjab has emerged as a symbol of good governance and public friendly reforms. The delegations thanked the government for its continuous support to the people in different sectors and said that governmental reforms have been facilitating the people.

Rural development a priority of Punjab govt: CM Shahbaz LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the PML-N government is pursuing the policy of composite development of both urban and rural areas so that all the people could equally benefit from the government policies. He said that a mega program of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads under Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Program is going on in full swing to develop the rural areas and to help bring

prosperity for the village-dwellers.

He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-N here today.

He said that the mega project of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads is very important and this scheme of construction and rehabilitation of roads in rural areas is the largest project in the history of the country which has left lasting impacts on the agricultural economy.

“Pakian Sarkan Sokhay Painday” Program has helped to provide latest facilities of roads network for the people living in different villages. It has also

strengthened the agricultural economy through construction of carpeted roads in rural areas Similarly, farmers are also facilitated in taking their agricultural produce to the markets, he added.

The Chief Minister said that “Pakian Sarkan Sokhay Painday” Program has emerged as a game-changer initiative for the rural economy as it has benefitted every segment of the society living there. This program has revolutionized the rural areas by catalysing development & prosperity.

He said that construction and reha-

bilitation of 6, 698 km long roads in rural areas have been completed with an amount of Rs 67 billion. Meanwhile, Rs 17 billion will be spent on construction and rehabilitation of rural roads in the upcoming fiscal year and 1, 400 kilometer long roads will be constructed in different areas.

He said that speedy, qualitative and transparent completion of development projects is the policy of the Punjab government and the high-quality construction of rural roads has been ensured through this policy.

Tight security during 3rd Juma of Ramzan LAHORE APP

Police made tight security arrangements on the third Jumatul Mubarak of Ramzan with 8,000 officials performing duty.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf visited different mosques and imambarghas in the city besides reviewing security arrangements while divisional SPs and circle officers also inspected measures.

Officials of Dolphin and Police Response Unit provided security cover to sensitive mosques.

DIG Haider Ashraf said police were using all available resources to provide security to mosques and imambarghas during Ramazanul Mubarak.

2 arrested for illegal currency exchange LAHORE APP

The FIA Corporate Crime Circle Lahore conducted raids in the city and arrested two persons for running illegal business of currency exchange. In the first raid at Al-Rasheed Centre, Shahalam Market, one Sabit Ali was arrested. According to the FIA spokesman, the team recovered 40, 000 Pakistani currency, cheque books, ledgers, receipts and other documents. In the second raid, conducted in Fazalia Colony area of Ferozepur Road, the FIA team arrested Abdul Subhan and recovered Rs 490, 000 Pakistani currency. The team also recovered cheque books, ledgers and other related items. Cases have been registered against the accused at the concerned police stations.

LAHORE 07

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

ShaLaMaR gaRdENS MighT BE REMOvEd fROM wORLd hERiTagE LiST: whC LAHORE

T

SAMIULLAH RANDHAWA

HE World Heritage Committee (WHC) has released its draft decision regarding construction of Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) near the Shalamar Gardens on which it will finalize its decision through a vote of member states in the upcoming WHC meeting in July this year. This was stated by the representatives of civil society on Friday in a press conference here in Lahore Press Club.

Expressing their grave concern on construction work of OLMT, they said that despite the stay order of Lahore High Court on construction work near heritage sites, Punjab government is continuously violating the court orders. They informed that the decision draft of WCH clearly mentioned that the project poses an irreversible and permanent threat to Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort.

The WHC’s decision draft 2017 further expresses concern that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will likely issue a decision on OLMT before the requested re-

Political stability a must for economic progress, says khawaja Rashid LAHORE APP

PML-N Traders' Wing Punjab Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid said here on Friday that political stability was must for Pakistan to continue economic progress. In a press statement, he said that opposition parties must keep in mind the improving economic condition of Pakistan while doing politics.

He said that it was the duty of every political party to work for the welfare of the common man.

He said that a careful analysis of economic history of the country shows that whenever a political crisis was created in the country, a great deal of economic issues emerged.

Khawar Rashid said that Stock exchange of the country also indicates the impact of political situation. He said, "Pakistan has become a rapidly growing country in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif". This is high time for political leaders and workers to show maturity and work for strengthening the political system, he said. Gone are the days, when politicians do politics for the sake of politics, he added. He suggested the opposition parties prepare themselves for next general election instead of engaging in negative politics.

People express satisfaction over Ramzan bazaars SIALKOT APP

People have expressed satisfaction over Ramzan bazaars providing eatables and other commodities at lower rates during the holy month of Ramazan.

Talking to APP here on Friday, a citizen named Nawaz praised the Punjab government for setting up Ramzan bazaars to provide relief to the people. He said that he purchased fruits, vegetables and other commodities from the bazaar set up at Jinnah Cricket Stadium which were available at lower rates than other markets.

Faisal, a labourer, said that quality eatables at lower rates were available in these bazaars due to strict monitoring of government departments.

A schoolteacher named Ali said that district government was ensuring best arrangements in all six Ramzan bazaars including provision of generators for uninterrupted electricity supply.

active mission has been given a chance to visit the property; the body has requested the government of Pakistan to issue the necessary visas.

Nadeem Umar, while addressing a press conference said that it was clear from the world’s highest authority on heritage protection that Shalamar Gar-

dens and other heritage sites will be irreversibly damaged if this project continues as planned. He said that the expected delisting of Shalamar Gar-

Quality and prices be ensured in open markets: provincial minister LAHORE AGENCIES

A meeting of Cabinet Committee for Ramzan Package was held under chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Malik Nadeem Kamran to review arrangements at Ramzan bazaars, prices, quality and supply of daily-use item, at Civil Secretariat here on Friday.

Addressing the meeting, the provincial minister said that the quality and sale of commodities at fix rates will also be ensured in open market like Ramzan bazaars

so that relief could be provided to masses. He mentioned that the Punjab government has announced Ramzan Package worth more than nine billion rupees for providing relief to people during the holy month. Flour, sugar, pulses, ghee, vegetables and fruits are available at concessionary rates under this package, he added.

He ordered the deputy commissioners to take effective steps for enhancing the availability of subsidised flour at shops and submit a report after survey.

Additional Chief Secretary Shumail Ahmad Khwaja said that

the efforts of deputy commissioners and other officers are praiseworthy for ensuring best arrangements at Ramzan bazaars; however still there is a room for improvement. He directed that special attention be paid to provision of basic facilities and cleanliness in and around Ramzan bazaars.

The secretary food told the meeting that all flour mills in the province are only providing subsidised flour in green bags in market, adding that supply of green bag flour has been increased manifold and at present its availability has reached 90 percent.

LTC launches SMS facility for transport owners LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Lahore Transport Company (LTC) has launched a new Short Message Service (SMS) to facilitate the general public, particularly private transport operators, to renew route permits as well as fitness certificates which have expired. In accordance with the newly launched service, it will intimate the applicant or operator about the newly issued route permit to be received from the respective office.

Similarly through this unique

service, 30 days prior to the expiry of route permit and fitness certificate, the SMS from LTC office will be sent to the applicant or operator to apply for processing their route permits and fitness certificate without any delays for avoiding fines and unnecessary visits to official premises. The system is developed by the IT wing of LTC with the cooperation of route permit section. This service will inculcate awareness among private transport operators to observe relevant public transport laws.

LTC has a mandate to plan, enforce and regulate public transport in

Indian secularism exposed before the world: Rana Tanvir LAHORE APP

Federal Minister for Defence Production and Science & Technology Rana Tanvir Hussain said on Friday that the true face of Indian secularism has been exposed and the world condemns Indian extremism and atrocities.

Addressing the central ceremony of Martyrdom Day (Jor Mela) of Guru Arjun Dev Jee held at Gurudawara Dera Sahib, he said that Muslim and Sikh friendship was getting stronger.

He said that conspiracies by the Indian government to create differences between

Muslims and Sikh would never succeed. He said that Guru Arjun Dev Jee was influenced by inter-faith harmony and spread the message of peace and love among people.

The minister said the PML-N government had not only resolved the issues of minorities but it had also given representation to minorities in the national and provincial parliaments. Speaking on the occasion, Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman M Siddiqul Farooq said the construction work of 100 rooms in Nankana Sahib and 80 rooms in Gurudawara Dera Sahib would soon be started to facilitate Sikh Yatrees.

Lahore for replacing traditional transport culture into a modernised urban transport system. LTC is accomplishing the vision of Punjab government for efficient public service delivery through good governance and it has taken various initiatives for the provision of safe, affordable and economical transport facilities.

Today LTC is imparting free transport facilities to the senior and disabled citizens on air-conditioned CNG buses and concessional transport facilities to the students of public sector educational institutes.

6 die, 37 injured as van falls off bridge in Bahawalpur BAHAWALPUR: At least 6 people were killed while 37 were injured after a passenger bus fell from a bridge in Bahawalpur. According to media reports, a passenger bus carrying more than 40 people was on its way when suddenly near Channi Goth it went out of control and fell from the bridge. Rescue 1122 reached the scene and pulled out the deceased and injured, including women and children trapped inside the bus and shifted them to a nearby local hospital where 3 more persons succumbed to injuries and some were stated to be in critical condition. Police said initial investigation revealed that incident happened due to overspeeding. ONLINE

dens & Lahore Fort will jeopardize future support from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the IMF. Nadeem said that after ratifying the international treaties regarding heritage sites, it was the duty of the government to bind with the agreements which, unfortunately, it is violating. “If we lose our cultural identity, it will never be retrieved”, he added.

Convener of Lahore Conservation Society Maryam Hussain said that if WHC suspends Shalamar Gardens from the list of cultural heritage sites, it will be a great loss for Pakistan. She said that despite knowing the facts, Punjab government is committed to destroying this heritage which will be a matter of great embarrassment for the Pakistan. “Taxpayers’ money is being wasted ruthlessly in OLMT project. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes while the loss in terms of environment is countless”, she lamented.

Vice President of International Council on Monuments and Sites Fauzia Qureshi said that government promised to establish a buffer zone near Shalamar Gardens during the construction work of OLMT which it has failed to do. She said that following Istanbul’s example we could earn great revenue through tourism by preserving these heritage sites.

Architect Dr. Ejaz Anwar while talking to Pakistan Today said that this project had nothing to do with the masses but it was being constructed for the sake of gaining an advantage in elections.

24 cows and buffaloes distributed among deserving women SARGODHA APP

Deputy Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chathha on Friday distributed 24 cows and buffaloes to deserving women of rural areas.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the Punjab government was providing animals to the women belonging to remote areas to enable them to earn livelihood.

He said the Livestock and Dairy Department had launched a great number of schemes for the betterment of people. He appreciated the efforts of the department for starting a mobile bus service in the area for the guidance of farmers. Animals were distributed in the Tehsil Sargodha, Sillanwali, Bhera, Kot Momin, Sahiwal, Shahpur and Bhalwal.

52 power pilferers arrested in dg khan MULTAN: MEPCO checking teams caught 52 power pilferers during its ongoing drive against power pilferage in DG Khan. According to MEPCO sources, a team led by Khan Fahad Leghari raided at Ramay Wala and caught Muhammad Ramzan, Ansar and Amjad while pilfering electricity through direct wires. The teams also raided in other areas of DG Khan and caught power pilferers. Cases have been registered against power pilferers in the concerned police stations. APP

08 FOREIGN NEWS

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

ChRIStIAnS BoRRow hIjABS to ESCApE ISlAMIC StAtE-ContRollEd town In phIlIppInES MARAWI

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AGENCIES

ONDITIONS are worsening in the Islamic State-besieged town of Marawi in the Philippines, as Christians are fleeing the town by disguising themselves with the hijab, reported Daily Mail.

A large part of the population fled the town after Islamic State militants rampaged through, killing and kidnapping Christians. This has been the case since May 23, when fighters from the Philippines locality pledged with the Islamic State and went on a terror spree.

Last week, five police officers and Christian civilians fled across the commercial district, surviving through sniper attacks to reach the governmentcontrolled area on the Western bank.

“We ran the last part,” First Officer Lumna Lidasan, 44, said indicating on a map a stretch of seven city blocks that

leads to Banggolo bridge. “We could see the bridge ahead of us. We had to take cover several times when we saw a sniper.”

The residents of Marawi are undergoing extreme situations and are unable

to ask for relief or rescue. Zia Alonto Adiong, a Filipino politician is currently managing the relief efforts. He said that they received a text message pleading for help. “One family said they had “started to eat their blankets”,” he

told Reuters. But the gravity of the situation became clear when Dr. Gioia Ancheta, the head of the psychosocial therapy team said, “Some of the stories that stuck were Muslims helping protect Christian workers by letting them borrow a hijab.” Among the stories of trauma, and the recounts and recollections of horrific violence, this particular anecdote stood out.

These survivors have recounted numerous stories, and the fact that Christians had to disguise themselves with the hijab in an attempt to survive is a major cause for concern for the Philippines, but also for all countries where Islamic State is present or influential.

Records show that there are around 300-500 people still trapped in the town of Marawi. The military says 290 people have been killed, including 58 soldiers, 206 militants and 26 civilians.

Residents who have fled the shattered city said they had seen least 100 bodies in the rubble and in battle zones.

Russia's military says may have killed IS leader Baghdadi MOSCOW AGENCIES

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday it was checking information that a Russian air strike near the Syrian city of Raqqa may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the militant Islamic State (IS) group, in late May, Russian news agencies reported.

The air strike, targeted a meeting of IS leaders and was carried out on May 28, the agencies cited the ministry as saying.

"According to the information which is now being checked via various channels, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was eliminated by the air strike, was also present at the meeting," RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

About 4,000 more US troops to go to Afghanistan WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Canadian Muslims file complaint for being fired because of 'Islamophobia' TORONTO AGENCIES

Three Muslim workers in Edmonton have launched a human rights complaint against one of Canada’s largest petroleum company for their “wrongful termination” because of “Islamophobia”. Amino Rashid, along-with two former colleagues, claim that they were fired by the Newcart Contracting Ltd on the same days, May 31 and June 3, when they had reported two separate anti-Muslim incidents at Husky Energy’s upgrader in Llyodminster. “I was shocked, because usually in a situation like that you fire the person who was the one who was being the bully,” Rashid said. “You don’t fire the victim. You don’t fire the person who was trying to stand up for themselves.” Speaking to CBC News about the incident, Rashid recalled feeling stunned when a colleague initiated an anti-Hijab tirade directed at her. Referring to her hijab as a “hoodie”, the man said that “if he doesn’t get to wear a hoodie then I’m not allowed to wear it either”.

The York University student said she tried to educate him about her religion, explaining that it was a religious practice to cover one’s head but stopped when she realised he was not interested. “And I told him it’s not a hoodie; it’s a religious head scarf.” “I wanted to just go home and cry,” said Rashid. “For somebody to just be so disrespectful and not even care at all, it’s inhumane.” Despite reporting his behaviour, Rashid claims he continued to harass her, adding that another colleague told her to “take that thing off” as it made people “uncomfortable”, just three days after the incident. The 24-year-old says she was told that both Husky and Newcart did not have a problem with her hijab when she was hired. Hence when the dismissal by Newcart managers came, she was shocked.

Man with knife arrested outside UK parliament LONDON AGENCIES

A man with a knife has been arrested outside the British parliament on Friday, police said, adding that there were no reports of any casualties. “The man ─ aged in his 30s ─ was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife,” London's Scotland Yard police headquarters said in a statement. A Reuters reporter at the scene saw several police vehicles near one of the Westminster parliament's gates which were closed. The reporter said traffic was flowing normally near parliament.

Muslim children bullied, called ‘terrorists’ in US classrooms NEW YORK AGENCIES

There has been a surge in Islamophobia in the United States recently. Even the children are being targeted and called ‘terrorists’ in their schools.

However, this has not resulted in any concrete action by the authorities.

Mic interviewed four school-going Muslim children, who are based in New York, to ask about their experience in the classroom. The participants included 11-year-old Moheeb, 8-year-old Shahrazad, 10-year-old Enan and 11year-old Saif.

The children do not know anything about US President Donald Trump except that he is the president and wants to ban Muslim.

However, this does not bode well for Shahrazad. "I have family in Yemen," Shahrazad said. "[They] can't

come if Donald Trump makes another ban. When I pray, I ask God to help America and Yemen."

Despite their lack of the awareness of the political situation, the children are fed up constant bullying by their classmates and lack of response from schools’ administration.

Moheeb recalled that two of his classmates have called him a ‘terrorist’. He even complained to his principals and teachers but no action was taken.

Now, he prefers ignoring the bullying.

"I feel mad, because I don't think [students and teachers] understand how I feel," Moheeb said. "I sometimes ignore [the bullying]. If I cry about it, they'll do [it] more."

About 42 percent of Muslims families have reportedly faced anti-Muslim bullying, according to a study by Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

To make matters worse, one in every four reported the incident came from teachers or other school officials.

A Trump administration official says the Pentagon will send almost 4,000 additional American forces to Afghanistan, hoping to break a stalemate in a war that has now passed to a third United States (US) commander in chief. The deployment will be the largest of American manpower under Donald Trump's young presidency. The official says the decision by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis could be announced as early as next week. It follows Trump's move to give Mattis the authority to set troop levels and seeks to address assertions by the top US commander in Afghanistan that he doesn't have enough forces to help Afghanistan's army against a resurgent Taliban insurgency. The official wasn't authorised to discuss details of the decision publicly and demanded anonymity.

3 militants killed in military raids in Egypt's Sinai CAIRO AGENCIES

MAIROBI: Pupils dance on the donation ceremony at Beijing MCEDO School in Nairobi, Kenya. Dozens of Chinese firms donated learning materials, sports kits and snacks worth $4,075 to a school located in the Mathare slum. XINHUA

At least three militants were killed during military air raids in Egypt's North Sinai Province bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, the military spokesman said in a statement on Friday.

"The raids killed three dangerous militants, and destroyed two motorbikes used by the terrorist in targeting the security men," Military Spokesman Tamer al-Refaay said.

It added large amounts of explosive devices were seized in the raids. Egypt has been fighting a wave of anti-security attacks following the ouster of the Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Those attacks, which were mainly centered in Sinai while rarely happened in Cairo, have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen. A local affiliate of the Islamic State group in North Sinai province has claimed responsibility of most of the attacks.

British PM May faces criticism over London tower block blaze LONDON AGENCIES

British Prime Minister Theresa May faced mounting criticism on Friday for not meeting the survivors of a deadly London tower block blaze, ratcheting up the pressure as she tries to strike a deal to stay in power after a botched election gamble. May promised to hold a public inquiry into a fire that killed at least 17 people when it engulfed a 24storey social housing block in West London, expressing her sorrow in a televised statement after meeting with the emergency services.

But unlike opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was confronted by a young boy asking "How many children died?", May did not meet with residents, prompting criticism from locals, media

and within her Conservative party.

"She wanted an entirely controlled situation in which she didn't use her hu-

manity," former cabinet minister Michael Portillo told the BBC. "She should have been there with the residents. You have to be prepared to receive people's emotions, and not be so frightened about people," he said.

When asked on Thursday about why she did not meet residents or visit a local community center, May said she wanted to visit the scene of the incident to be briefed by the emergency services.

The Sun newspaper said 65 people are now feared dead or missing in the fire. London police expect the death toll to rise further but said it could take months to search the burned-out building and identify the victims. On Friday, British newspapers heightened their criticism of the government, saying there were a series of unanswered issues including as to whether the cladding used on the building helped the blaze spread.

"Three lethal questions," headlined the right-wing Daily Mail newspaper, which backed May's Conservatives in last week's national election, saying ministers faced disturbing questions over the disaster.

Local government minister Sajid Javid, responsible for housing policy, defended May for not meeting with those affected by the disaster: "What she wanted to do was to speak to the people working on the ground on the recovery operation, the rescue operation to make sure that they've got everything they want and see how she could help," he told Sky news.

After May failed to win an outright majority in a snap election last week, she is battling to strike a deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to support her government.

FOREIGN NEWS 09

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

Mayor Sadiq says too busy to respond to trump’s attacks LONDON: Sadiq Khan – the city's mayor – has said he doesn’t have time to respond to US President Donald Trump's attacks on him on Twitter. In an exclusive interview with Geo.tv, the Mayor of London stated that he is too busy serving the citizens and doesn’t have time to get involved with Trump, suggesting that the latter doesn’t seem to be concentrating on the job he has been elected to do. Khan was attending an interfaith Iftar at the Archbishop’s house hosted

by His Eminence Cardinal Nichols in partnership with the Naz Legacy Foundation. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was also in attendance, alongside leaders of other faiths and students from many schools. President Trump launched a scathing attack on Mayor Sadiq Khan after terror attacks swept through Borough Market and London Bridge on June 3. AGENCIES

Britain, EU to begin Brexit negotiations on Monday: official

AntI-ISlAMIC StAtE fIghtERS AdvAnCE In SyRIA'S RAqA RAQA

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AGENCIES

ACED with an onslaught of weaponised drones, mortar rounds and snipers, USbacked fighters in Syria’s Raqa say the cover of night is a good ally against Islamic State group jihadists.

The Syrian Democratic Forces are battling to oust the extremists from the northern city after breaking into its first neighbourhood last week.

After piercing into and taking the southeastern district of Al-Meshleb, the SDF fighters are now advancing towards the Old City.

In the daylight hours, at an apart-

ment in Al-Meshleb, the Kurdish-led fighters catch some rest or sip tea after a night on the front line at the edge of the city’s historic centre. “We prefer to fight in the dark as we have thermal binoculars and weapons equipped with night vision scopes,” says 20-year-old Kawa, giving his nom de guerre.

“There was fighting last night but not for long. The jihadists withdrew rapidly, faced with our attacks,” says the cleanly shaven SDF fighter.

On the flat’s balcony, he tries to liaise on a walkie-talkie with a fellow fighter at the front, but on the other end his colleague comes under fire. “Islamic State is attacking our positions with mortar fire. I’ll get back to you

when the bombardment stops,” the fighter on the other end of the line says.

In Al-Meshleb, SDF fighters sometimes run into shops and houses to avoid Islamic State weaponised drones. Tolhildan Botan points to one such small unmanned aircraft at the foot of a wall in the district, which he says fellow fighters had shot down.

“This is the kind of drone they use to target gatherings of fighters or military vehicles. Sometimes they even target civilians,” says the SDF fighter, who did not give his age.

Baran Hassake, a fellow fighter, says battling the jihadists is easier at night. “We advance and gain ground faster and they struggle to respond to our attacks,” the 18-year-old says, his

head wrapped in a red scarf embroidered with green flowers. “We know now their tactics,” Hassake says, boasting of knowledge acquired by the SDF, who have recaptured several former Islamic State bastions in Syria.

Empty mortar rounds litter the ground, while the corpses of jihadists at times can be seen in the rubble of destroyed buildings. The US-led coalition backing the SDF has also been intensifying its air strikes at night, SDF commanders and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor say. The United Nations on Wednesday warned of the danger for civilians of “excessive” air strikes on the city, where it says around 160,000 remain.

BRUSSELS: Negotiations on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union will begin between British and EU officials on Monday, the British government said in a statement. "The first round of talks that will see the United Kingdom leave the European Union will start on Monday June 19," the Department for Exiting the European Union ministry said on Friday. The announcement was agreed on Thursday between Brexit minister David Davis and the European Commission's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, the ministry said. Britain voted by 52 percent in favour of leaving the European Union in a referendum last year. Prime Minister Theresa May in March formally notified the EU of its intention to leave, starting a two-year timetable for negotiating the exit. Britain will be the first member state ever to leave the bloc. Negotiations had been expected to begin next week but May's loss of her parliamentary majority in a general election last week raised doubts about the date.

She has since said the timetable will remain unchanged but there is growing pressure on her to moderate the government's approach and favour maintaining close ties with the European single market. AGENCIES

nigerian militants warn northerners' to leave south ABUJA: A coalition of militant groups in Nigeria has issued an ultimatum to northerners to quit the oil-rich region in the country's south, local media reported on Friday. The Niger Delta militant groups issued the "quit notice" following a meeting on Thursday. The militants threatened to attack oil wells owned by northerners in the Niger Delta region before Oct. 1, Nigeria's national day, according to The Guardian. Ostensibly, the ultimatum was in response to a similar notice issued to southerners by some northern youth groups in the country.

Various ethnic groups in Nigeria have recently been stoking the tension that is threatening to tear the most populous African country apart, each one issuing threats to others. For 50 years now, ethnic groups in southeastern Nigeria had been agitating for the Biafra Republic. This agitation snowballed into a three-year civil war in 1967. AGENCIES

KATHMANDU: An elderly woman begs at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal. The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is marked to raise the awareness of abuse, neglect or exploitation of the elders. XINHUA

Six found guilty of involvement in 1993 Mumbai blasts MUMBAI: An Indian court on Friday found six men guilty of involvement in a series of blasts in the city of Mumbai in 1993 that killed 257 people and wounded 800, the latest in scores of convictions related to India’s most deadly bombings.

The special anti-terrorism court said the six had transported weapons and planted bombs, which targeted landmark buildings in the financial hub, including the main stock exchange. A seventh man was acquitted on a lack of evidence.

Investigators had said the bombs were ordered

by India’s most-wanted man, gangster Dawood Ibrahim, to avenge the demolition of the historic Babri mosque in north India by Hindu hardliners in

1992, during a period of religious conflict.

All of the seven men are Muslim and were arrested between 2003 to 2010.

Arguments to decide on the sentences will begin on Monday, said Deepak Salvi, special prosecutor for the Central Bureau of Investigation, India’s federal police, who said he would seek the maximum penalties available for each of the convicted men.

The maximum penalty is death.

“It’s a victory for the CBI, Mumbai police and the people of India who trust in justice,” Salvi told Reuters.

The six convicted men were Abu Salem,

S Sudan urged to act against online incitement JUBA AGENCIES

Experts have called on authorities in South Sudan to develop laws to combat rampant hate speech and online incitement, which they said have caused more violence and ethnic polarization since 2013. Speaking during a workshop on hate speech in Juba on Friday, the experts said rumors, fake news and newly adapted rhetoric of using symbols and images that carry hate messages has fuelled hatred, ethnic divisions and incitement to violence.

Jacob Dut Chol, senior lecturer of political science at the University of Juba, said local politicians and South Sudanese communities living abroad contributed much of the ongoing hatred by posting inflammatory content on so-

cial media sites.

Chol said hate speech has recently shifted from online and offline platforms to symbols being used in public domains, which he warned could even prolong the ongoing violence. "Hate speech is a big and worrying issue in South Sudan. If it's not addressed on time, it will cause a lot of ethnic polarization, disunity and continue perpetuating the violence for a while," Chol said.

Chol said tougher laws against perpetrators of online and offline hate speech and increased awareness would help reverse the current trend.

He called on South Sudanese to draw experience from countries like Rwanda and Kenya, which tackled hate speech and incitement following the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and the post elections violence in Kenya in 2007 through advo-

cating for responsible use of social media, hate speech awareness and counter-messaging and peacebuilding.

"Hate speech can be controlled by tough laws and policies. This therefore calls on the government to urgently come up with legislations. We need to also scale up sensitization against hate speech," Chol said.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of civil society group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said a survey they conducted indicated that four out of five posts or comments on social media in South Sudan carries hate speech or incitement to violence.

He said the trend increased drastically following renewed violence in July 2016, warning that if it continues, South Sudan risks disintegration.

CMYK

Mustafa Dossa, Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan, Taher Merchant, Riyaz Siddiqui and Karimullah Khan.

Lawyers for the men were not immediately reachable.

Legal proceedings against those accused of being involved in the bombings have resulted in more than 100 convictions, most of which are still winding their way through the legal system because of appeals and commutations of sentences.

One suspect in the case, Yakub Memon, was hanged in 2015.

Several people suspected to have been involved in the bombings have yet to be arrested, including Ibrahim. AGENCIES

Aussie PM's ‘off the record’ Trump parody causes controversy CANBERRA: The Australian media has come under fire for leaking footage of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump at the Parliament House Press Gallery Mid-Winter Ball in Canberra. In his parody, Turnbull made fun of some of Trump's oft-repeated statements. "We're winning in the real polls. You know, the online polls. They are so easy to win. I know that. Did you know that? I kind of know that. They are so easy to win. I have this Russian guy," said Turnbull in the leaked audio. The U.S. Embassy in Australia released a statement soon after the footage was aired on Channel Nine on Thursday evening saying they took it "with the good humour that was intended". But senior Labor MP and former deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those who were responsible for filming the speech, then leaking it, were in breach of ethics. The Mid-Winter Ball is an annual charity event attended by the media, and is completely off the record. It is customary for the prime minister and the opposition Leader to deliver satirical speeches during the evening. "I think it will dampen the potential for people to have a laugh at themselves, at everyone. And both Malcolm and (Leader of the Opposition) Bill (Shorten) did that. There are ethics here and I think they have been breached by whoever taped Malcolm's speech. And I don't think it should have happened," Albanese said on Thursday. AGENCIES

10 COMMENT

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

Forget the religious and historical ties Pakistan has no role in Gulf standoff

The tale of two emigrants

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hERE are economic compulsions that require maintenance of good relations with the Gulf countries. the largest number of Pakistani expatriates are employed in the Gulf (3,682,544).

Pakistan also receives the largest amount of remittances from the Gulf (SA $4.52b, uAE $3.47b, Qatar $302m).

Saudi Arabia and the uAE are also two of Pakistan’s major trading partners. on the other hand the Gulf countries too owe a lot to Pakistan. PIA trained uAE’s flagship airline Emirates. In fact the first flight the Emirates took was from Dubai to Karachi in 1985.

Pakistani workers, engineers and doctors have helped build the Gulf as it is today. Pakistani pilots played a vital role in safeguarding the Arab territories in 1967 and 1973 wars. Pakistan’s soldiers help maintain security in Saudi Arabia today. But Pakistan plays no role in reconciliation in the Gulf.

What has created complications is Nawaz Sharif’s personalised diplomacy, particularly vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia.

Saudis brokered a deal for him in 2000 with Musharraf and took him along with 18 members of his family who enjoyed Saudi hospitality till 2007. Personal indebtedness led Nawaz Sharif to join the Saudi military alliance in reckless haste despite its aims and objects being still a mystery. the government allowed former CoAS Raheel Sharif to be a part of the Saudi sectarian venture.

Sharif family had business relations with those in power in Qatar. Nawaz Sharif relies heavily upon the testimony of former Qatari PM hamad bin Jasim in the ongoing corruption investigation. But the Qatari leader has been declared an enemy by the Saudi government which accuses him of conspiring to physically divide Saudi Arabia.

Personalised relations might have benefited Nawaz family but these have turned into a bane for Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister was humiliated at the Arab Islamic Conference addressed by trump. During his recent brief visit to Jeddah he was summarily dismissed by the Saudi King after having been asked, “Whose side are you on?” While Kuwait, turkey and India are playing a role in the Gulf standoff, Pakistan sits idle with its hands tied.

House for lords?

Billionaires in the hallowed Houses

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t times, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s recently released list of Parliamentarian assets reads like a ranked list by Forbes or Fortune magazine of the richest men in some category or other.

Prime Minister’s assets show a decline over past two years, but one needn’t shed a tear over this ‘fall’, as the assets are in billions. his holdings, a mere Rs.166 million in 2011, 261.6 million in 2012, sky-rocketed to Rs.1.82 billion in 2013, it being a sheer coincidence that 2013 was his first year as PM in the third stint. his assets have followed a smooth upward path since 2011, crossing Rs.2 billion in 2014, before dipping to Rs.1.96 billion in 2015 and Rs.1.72 billion in 2016. A Land Cruiser gifted by a nameless admirer also brings up the question of gifts that are hoarded by our leaders, both civilian and military, by purchasing them at a fraction of their price. Car-less Imran Khan’s assets have shown a quantum leap from Rs.22.9 million (2012) to Rs.1.33 billion in 2015, while Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PtI’s Jahangir tareen, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, KP MNAs Khayal Zaman and Sajid hussain turi are also in the super leagues. this vast concentration of wealth takes some of the sheen off the system which is supposed to be for the people, of the people, by the people. It also means shutting out the middleclass from the revered precincts of parliament. the ECP seriously needs to tighten up its monitoring of election expenditures and disqualification of violators. Questions and eyebrows will certainly be raised about the astronomical assets which also contain price-tags that are obviously on the lower side, or the worth of an item is missing, and also on the taxes paid on these assets. Judging from the rags to riches tales of some prominent politicians, public offices are regrettably used to amass personal holdings, making them worshippers of mammon rather than working for the noble cause of the greater good of the greatest number.

Parliament must not be a millionaires club alone.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

arif Taj

C

oNSEQuENt upon the end of the WWI, the interregnum in Russian Poland and the rise of Nazis thereafter in Germany, most of the Jews had to leave that part of Europe in an attempt to escape persecution; incarceration and torture in concentration camps and gallows of the extermination camps. Many of that ilk, once on the run to save lives, happened to be the persons of indomitable impact on the world at large. the lot is known as the emigrant Jews. two of the lot—Albert Einstein and henry Kissinger—are household names now. But there were others too—though less known— whose intellectual prowess was not less impeccable. Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of them, died last Sunday (May 26 this year). Jacob Bronowski died on August 22, 1974. Both the emigrants were men of Jewish Polish heritage—the former was destined to be the emigrant to the uS and the later to the uK. Both scholars par excellence, unorthodox and visionary in their academic pursuits, having age long advocacy in common for intellectual agility and unrestrained freedom of inquiry in their respective domains of knowledge. Zbigniew Brzezinski — a prolific writer and widely acclaimed expert in the fields of global politics, security and foreign policy— authored over two dozens of books, and articles running into hundreds, on the issues of global politics, security, foreign policy and political systems. Jacob Bronowski, primarily mathematician, wrote several books on poetry, art, philosophy and human history exposing that the dichotomy between human arts and sciences is unintelligible, absurd and

meaningless. Both strived for casting knowledge and power in novel, unique and unorthodox moulds in their own way.

For many, the death of Zbigniew Brzezinski, who had served as National Security Advisor to uS President Jimmy Carter, might have been a great loss to the fields of the diplomacy, security and strategy of world politics, but for me the world stands deprived of a political scientist of exceptional vision and acumen. his book ‘the Grand Failure: Birth and Death of Communism in 20th Century’ is a wonderful critique of Marxist ideology and its inherent contradictions. For him, the most fundamental flaw is that Communism is a hierarchical control mechanism, a form of totalitarianism in which political stability is achieved at the expense of economic wellbeing and if economic stability is gained it is always at the expense of political stability, one eroding the other to cause a paradoxical situation in which chasm between the two remains unbridgeable forever. other books like ‘out of Control’, ‘Second Chance’ and Chessboard, though overlapping, are rife with frank, open, honest and pragmatic critique of the uS foreign policy, wars, socio-political doctrines and grand narratives—used to prop up the whole stock of the uS policies— without losing sight of human freedoms and liberties and the morality embedded within. For example, he said, that the uS, immediately after the breakup of Soviet union was in a unique position to help transform Russia into a real democracy. the opportunity was missed as there was no engagement policy for the states falling from Soviet orbit. Similarly, in his view, the uS should have engaged the Arab world and help transform them after the first war with Saddam hussain following peace, order and harmony, as sine qua nons of the engagement policy. It is stated that obama Administration followed Brzezinski’s advice, with a little modification and adjustment, whereby Iran was engaged in nuclear talks, designed to gradually move towards total rapprochement between the two states. the virtue Brzezinski is to be remembered for, and which tells him apart from scholars his age, is that he desired to cast power in the mould of peace, order and harmony—instead of economic exploitation and hegemony —to provide the world an ambience to graduate from autocracy to democracy where individuals freedoms and liberties are respected. Being a realist and pragmatic social scientist, he was cognizant that

realisation of these political ideals in the realm of world politics are always susceptible to miscarriage if no power remains on guard to deal with contingencies. he espoused peace, order and harmony as means of securing engagement ultimately become power if perused diligently.

Brzezinski opposed the uS policy makers’ crusading zeal for mere power. the engagement perspective vouchsafed peace, order and harmony prevents chaos—for being a forward-looking and stable mould, but different from that of the uS conservatives, to cast power, the thing he is widely loathed in the conservative power corridors.

Jacob Bronowski, though a man of somewhat different intellectual framework and outlook, espoused that knowledge is the expression of special human gifts and polarity created between reason (a thinking agency) and emotions (a feeling agency) makes no sense, for they both work in unison as one being—the human agent—and the dichotomy thus created between natural sciences and arts is unnatural and senseless. his enunciations in ‘the Ascent of Man” provides ample evidences where natural sciences, philosophy, history, arts and mathematics appear to be fused into a larger field of inquiry.

Regarding the dichotomy between Rationalists and Emotivists, Bronowski, in the Common Sense of Science, said; “The human history has not been divided into feelers and thinkers and the very dichotomy no longer survives”. he again says; “I grew up to be indifferent to the distinction between literature and science, which in my teens were simply two languages for experience that I learned together”.

Science and art, being expressions of one agency—the humans— could be discerned in the act of imagining. In imagination knowledge is agile and dynamic.

Either the profundity, the two thinkers exhibited in their works, resulted from their Jewish Polish legacy or just was the gift of nature bestowed on them may be disapproved of an insignificant question, but what is approved of is that the world would be more romantic place if knowledge and art, power and human engagement walk in tandem, a la the legacy of the two thinkers.

Arif Taj teaches philosophy and is former staffer of Pakistan today.

Impact of climate change on power utilities Umer bin DawooD

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outh Asia, where temperatures are on the higher side in general, has been experiencing blistering heat waves for some years now. In 2015, the severe heat wave that struck Southern Pakistan had temperatures as high as 49 °C. And this was not an isolated incident. It followed a separate heat wave in neighbouring India that was the since 1979. Bangladesh too is experiencing annual heat waves, with temperatures already peaking at close to 40 °C in April 2017. the same is true for countries such as Australia and the united States where peak temperatures are increasing causing heat strokes, dehydration and hyperthermia among citizens.

Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, author of Pakistan’s climate change policy, in 2013, showed that the number of heat waves in Pakistan had increased from 1980 to 2009 and in 2010, the peak temperature at Mohenjo-Daro, reached 53.5C the 4th highest ever recorded temperature in Asia.

Shahbaz Mehmood, a climate scientist at the Global Change Impact Study Centre in Islamabad says, “due to global warming, probability of extreme events’ occurrence has increased in Pakistan. If we look at the frequency and the trend of the extreme weather events impacting Pakistan then it is easy to find its link with climate change. urban cities such Karachi are more susceptible to heat waves due to “heat island effect” which causes temperatures to be 5-8 °C higher vs. the countryside. Deforestation, miles of asphalt roads and vertical building structures increase heat absorption and limit air circulation.

Compound this with increased vehicular and industrial emissions. And then add the increased

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208

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energy consumption of an unchecked growing tricity demands. Bottom line is that when energy population in poorly planned yet densely popu- demand is the highest, likelihood of power breakdowns is the highest. lated settlements. the heat waves show no signs of abating, in In fact, energy demand and supply are both inextricably linked to climate change. While we fact we can expect longer, more intense and more know that higher temperatures cause a surge in frequent such events in future unless as a society electricity demand, the impact of climate change we can take ownership of this issue and work toon electricity generation, transmission and dis- gether to combat it. Improved energy efficiency and conservation is the tribution systems is also fastest and cheapest way an area of increasing conto meet electricity needs cern, one that has not while saving consumers been duly acknowledged money on their energy or addressed yet. ReWhile we know that higher bills and reducing carbon searchers have linked retemperatures cause a surge emissions thereby conduced water supplies taining the cycle of global arising from drought and in electricity demand, the warming. on an individrising temperatures to impact of climate change on ual level, consumers need nearly a 30% decrease in to make choices for the electricity production for electricity generation, greater collective good nearly 98% of the world’s transmission and such as setting ACs above power plants. the distri26 °C to avoid over-loadbution system is also vuldistribution systems is also ing the system and causnerable. Extreme heat an area of increasing ing blackouts for the waves prevent transformwhole population. on an ers from dissipating heat concern, one that has not administrative level, reefficiently and can shortbeen duly acknowledged or newable sources of eleccircuit them causing tricity generation, black-outs, one reason we addressed yet. particularly wind and see the number of faults solar energy should be and trips go up during added to the generation summers. higher AC mix; materials with coolusage during heat waves heats wires considerably, making them expand. ing properties should be utilised for buildings, When they expand, they sag, and are more likely trees plantation, and creation of green spaces and to short-circuit and knock out power. When other water bodies such as fountains to absorb heat, lines pick up the burden, they too, become over- and maximising prevailing breeze paths should loaded. Extreme temperatures also cause electri- be emphasised. Without collective efforts, comcal equipment to develop cracks from thermal batting climate change is not sustainable. expansion and contraction, damaging the equipUmer bin Dawood is a freelance columnist. ment and making it unable to sustain high elec-

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COMMENT 11

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

Editor’s mail

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

Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

The new Russian offer INDIA is continuing with its atrocities against innocent Kashmiris demanding their birth right of self-determination and also resorting to gross violations of Line of Control (LoC) and killing unarmed civilians through persistent firing.

It is good to note that Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate for resolving prevailing tension between India and Pakistan and Islamabad, which is always keen to live in peace with all countries of the region particularly the neighbours, has quite rightly not wasted time in welcoming the offer. the latest offer of mediation of Russian President Putin is a positive move in the right direction and all peace loving people here, there and everywhere will surely welcome this and pray for the success of the initiative which the Russian President may be taking.

AAMER A NAJMEE Lahore

This puppet show needs to end

A PM, a lawyer and IK walked into a court one day…

Tariq mUshTaq qUreshi

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substantial majority of the judges who sit in the Supreme Court delivered a rather “remarkable” judgment last week: “Imran Khan will have to show the trail of money, utilised for the political party, his property and Shaukat Khanum Memorial hospital”. Sure; it’s required for clean and clear justice, but it’s not national exchequer, it’s not the public’s money. If we talk about the donations, nobody can challenge its utilisation – after all, its proper utilisation gifted the nation an amazingly extraordinary institution for cancer care. Everyone concerned should keep this in mind.

Earlier, perhaps they mistakably had stated that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children are not to be believed or they are telling a lies or in other words they are guilty. But, no one had the courage to say it directly. Alas.

First of all some clarifications are important; As per Sohail Itehad’s statement; Imran Khan’s bungalow is built on top of a hill in Mora Nur that has some 300 kanals, with a great view of Rawal Lake. this was “shamlaat” land and acquired cheaply, as nobody was willing to build anything that high. the ex-Banker Rashid Khan bought the lower 50 kanals at the same price. the property agent, who’s a wellknown figure of Islamabad, stated that Jemima was interested in living there and had her architect flown from England to design and landscape the place. IK has admitted that she paid for it and that he repaid her later after selling his flat in London etc. this was between the husband and wife and was not public money to be investigated or incur disqualification.

It’s a very old technique when desiring to disrupt and sabotage any process or problem, to engage the applicant or the opponent in some doldrums, true or false. the game is being played by Nawaz Sharif through hanif Abbassi, who himself is already involved in “ephedrine” case, which is very serious, but people like Abbassi, loyal to the king than the king himself, always come forward to show their loyalty or perhaps to gain some benefits. he should thank NS and our legal system, which provided him shelter being a pawn of the powerful, and is keeping the matter pending up-till it dies its own death. But, Abbassi forgot that Imran Khan has nothing to explain about the national exchequer, it’s his boss, Nawaz Sharif who can be held accountable

by the nation about his arrangement of funds for the property purchased at London and the off-shore companies, because he has been playing with the national exchequer for the last 27 years.

In addition to the above explanation about IK’s property, all pawns of NS like Abbassi, Danial Aziz, talal Chaudhry, Maryam Aurangzeb, Saad Rafique and all others concerned, politicians or judiciary or management, must read the following few lines for their information and awareness on facts.

A few words for Shaukat Khanum Memorial hospital are essential to be added here; n It’s the only “Cancer hospital” according to the international standards, in Pakistan. n It’s the only hospital in Pakistan where special children are adjusted and provided jobs. n It’s the only hospital providing medical facility free of charge to 80% cancer patients. n It’s the only hospital with the best of the doctors, who give proper care to the patients, and are not allowed separate private practice. n It’s the only hospital with best trained nursing staff. n It’s the only hospital in Pakistan without VIP culture. n It’s the only hospital in Pakistan, maintaining its standards and cleanliness, even after 23 years of service, rather getting better every day. n It’s the only hospital in Pakistan with a structured system. n It’s the only hospital rather only institution, where canteen prices are lower than the outer market. n It’s the only hospital where all medical facility is provided under one roof. Attendants don’t have to rush to the pharmacies to bring the medicines and surgical items, as per doctor’s requirement. n It’s the only hospital in whole of the country where parking is free. n It’s the only institution of Pakistan with a proper structure in every field of the hospital with crystal clear accounting system. this hospital is a wonderful gift from Imran Khan and a blessing for the nation.

No other government including the Nawaz Government could ever construct a hospital of this standard in the country; rather, already working hospitals have gone into shaggy position because of the government policy. Basically destruction of hospitals and its management system started way back in 19911992 when the Nawaz Government, converted all the hospitals into autonomous bodies replacing “Medical Superintendents” with the “Chief Executives” having full controls, financial and other. the demolition started right at that time, a central control was essential.

Now, coming over to the main topic; while involving Imran Khan into this legal zigzag, it appears we will find out some day that the Prime Minister’s lawyers will likely be asking the court to overturn the JIt’s opinion. Perhaps the administration will find a more receptive way than it has to date for the argument that judicial attempts to peer into the chief executive’s transactions are inappropriate.

‘Justice denied anywhere, diminishes justice everywhere’

But it’s worth another look at the astonishing and incredible expression in Nisar’s opinion concluding that Imran’s “true reason” for the Panama papers objection was not protecting the nation’s looted exchequer but making good on a campaign promise borne of anti-Nawaz bias.

Earlier, it was extraordinary for a federal court to tell the Prime Minister directly that he’s lying, though only two judges made this remark, but the public was happy for such bold remarks that too for the strongest personality.

540-page opinion, joined in full by five judges, opens with the finding that Nawaz’s foreign transactions are dripped with bigotry and unfairness intentions, yet they were reluctant to announce unanimous decision and opted an avoiding way by forming a “Joint Investigation team”, perhaps, to avoid the burden of decision against Nawaz Sharif. the three dissenting judges, all nominated by the Chief Justice, seemed stunned not just by the boldness of their colleagues but by what has happened to their court, which was once one of the nation’s most conservative and respected. the world is not made anew every morning, nor are we able to awake without the vivid memory of these statements. We cannot shut our eyes to such evidence when it stares us in the face, for there’s none as blind as they that won’t see.

Every time the PM asked Imran to go to the Parliament or the Supreme Court for his complaints, he was never heard nor allowed to give his point of view. Neither did the speaker start any motion against his complaint except to switch-off his or his party men’s mic. When the matter was brought to the Supreme Court, firstly they tried to avoid but may be against some public pressure, they had to accept it for hearing.

People of Pakistan should feel sorry that the highest forum of justice opted a technical way to avoid any positive step against the corruption of the highest administrative office, marked by an international organisation with proves.

Imran Khan is a man of determination, people of Pakistan have a lot of hope from him, but at the same time, it’s very clear, public doubts the Nawaz Sharif’s motives.

Justification to form JIt for national exchequer misdoings was secondary to its primary purpose and was offered as more of a ‘litigating position’ than as the actual purpose of justice. We again encounter the affront of invidious discrimination, this time layered under the guise of the highest forum of law, unfettered congressionally delegated authority for justice. the present attack of Nawaz League on Imran Khan is no more than naked invidious discrimination against Imran Khan. the Supreme Court surely will shudder at the clear reply of Imran Khan, so long as the order is issued for a trail of funds, for legitimate and bonafide reason, the courts should neither look towards government instructions nor try to avoid the issue and in exercise of that discretionary powers, test it by balancing its justification.

It is the pivotal obligation of the court, that justice be done. the justice most often evades, when the court is divided, that makes a decision controversial. But this time it’s especially important for the nation, in both the cases.

Tariq Mushtaq is a technocrat and an international affairs analyst

toDAy Maryam Nawaz tweeted, “history is being made”.

We cannot agree more with her that history has been made because an accused Prime Minister is appearing before a team of Joint investigation team probing his corruption, and other crimes. It must be noted that he is not voluntary doing so, he had no other choice but to appear before the JIt. I can assure the Prime Minister that nothing will happen, no leaf will stir, and himalayas will not weep. the sky will not fall. Rulers come & go. No one is indispensable. the life goes on. Negative politics must end. We have to put logical closure to the Panama Case. truth must be told. It is all about corruption. Money laundering, tax evasion, theft, concealment of assets and misuse of public office are all serious crimes. the honourable Court has given him the second chance to present the money trail before the J I t and come clean. Let the Judicial process take its course.

JAVAID BASHIR Lahore

The need for third party contracts PAKIStANI drug manufacturer are not allowed third party contracts - a facility which gives India and Bangladesh a clear edge over Pakistan. It is high time that the current legislation which restricts contract manufacturing of medicines to help local manufacturers reach efficient scales and become more competitive.

With third party manufacturing, Pakistan can achieve more industrialisation since a large number of companies will then offer to produce drug on behave of the established brands. this will also open more employment opportunities. third party manufacturing would bring in foreign investment as the international drug manufacturers would prefer to outsource medicine production to Pakistani firms in order to offset their own high production costs. there is an urgent need for reforms in the existing regulatory framework to unlock the potential of “scale” within the local pharmaceutical Manufacturing sector to produce essential drug locally and also give to our manufacturers access to global markets.

FIZA FEROZ Karachi

Solutions to load shedding WhILE analysing in-depth the problem of electricity shortage, some ‘time consuming’ and ‘expensive’ fixes like improving the transmission capacity by 10%, improvement of distribution infrastructure within the cities etc., are suggested by the experts in this field. No doubt these measures may bring relief to the consumers but would still leave them to endure the curse of load-shedding for quite some time to come.

We all remember how General Pervez Musharraf opened the bank coffers for the public which enabled them to get cars, motorcycles and other utility items on easy leasing terms. I suggest that the government must float the policy of banks giving solar panels on lease at affordable terms for homes, offices etc. this will give an immense boom to the industry, create huge job employment opportunities, circulate wealth and reduce the curse of load shedding for all times to come. the national grid may get into buy-back-surplus-electricity agreements with the public. the electricity so saved through the use of solar panels could be diverted towards running the industry full steam thus helping Pakistan to get back on its feet again. however there’s one caveat - there won’t be any massive kickbacks which reportedly surfaced in the past in the case of installation of IPPs and payment of massive circular debt in one go to them and that too without pre-audit.

Maj TALAAT KHURSHID Islamabad

CSS: Language choice BooKS recommended in the CSS syllabus are written by foreign authors and all are in English. how can we get translations of these international books?

Each subject has its own language, special terminology which can be difficult to study in urdu. For instance, if a candidate opts for International Relations and he has done his master’s in that subject, it is illogical to study this subject in urdu. those who give examples of China should understand that their medium of instruction has remained Chinese throughout their history, but the Pakistani education system has produced two classes of students – urdu medium from government institutes and English medium from private institutions.

It will take at least a decade to switch over to urdu.

For now there should be a choice for both classes of students to appear in CSS examinations.

SYED ANWER ALAM Karachi

12 WORLD VIEW

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

Trump says QaTar funDs Terror. Here’s His recorD of Trying To geT iT To funD Him HuffiNgToN PosT

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CLAYTON SwiSHEr

ONALd Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner all repeatedly sought financing for various investments in recent years from leading figures in Qatar, according to sources with direct knowledge of the meetings.

Those previously unreported overtures have taken on new relevance as a diplomatic crisis aggravated by President Trump has left the small Gulf nation blockaded and isolated by its rivals, with tensions in the Middle East reaching historic highs.

President Trump on Friday characterized Qatar as “historically” a “funder of terrorism at a high level,” an accusation that came just an hour after his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appealed for “no further escalation” in the Gulf Cooperation Council squabble, urging dialogue to quickly resolve the crisis, which pits Qatar against Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and Bahrain. Tillerson noted the Qatari emir “made progress in halting financial support and expelling terrorist elements from his country,” comments echoed by the U.S. ambassador to Qatar, dana Smith, who tweeted “Qatar is a strong partner in combating terrorist financing.”

That partnership is not merely rhetorical. Qatar is home to Al-Udeid air base, the regional Central Command headquarters from which American bombers depart on daily missions against ISIS and al Qaeda. Reacting to the GCC dispute, the defense department praised Qatar’s commitment to fighting ISIS as its secretary, James Mattis, expressed his confidence that the turmoil would not interrupt Qatar’s contribution to those efforts.

Given the weave of interests and close cooperation between the U.S. and Qatar, many are seeking ways to interpret Trump’s abrupt turn against Qatar in the dispute. Some think the answer lies not in the realm of policy but in the history of Trump’s business deals with the various actors in the dispute.

The Trump Organization (now under the stewardship of son donald Jr.) is reportedly in talks with Emirati tycoons to receive several billion dollars of investment in addition to owning two golf courses in dubai. The New York Times reports that Trump has previously had as many as eight business entities registered in Jeddah alone.

In 2015, Trump spoke about his admiration for the Saudis and attributed it to his business dealings with them:Therein lies the source of much consternation among Qataris. Several people interviewed for this piece expressed concern that Trump’s bias

against their country might stem from a series of failed business overtures that he (along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner) made seven years ago, which are only now being reported. They did not go as swimmingly as the deals made with the Saudis and Emiratis.

In 2010, as markets were still reeling from the 2008 global economic crisis, Qatar was flush with cash and countless business executives and foreign governments came calling. Some came to get liquidity; others searching for silver linings amidst the global chaos. Trump was in the latter category, then as CEO of the Trump Organization but also as host and star of the hit domestic American reality TV show, “The Apprentice.”

Traveling with his daughter Ivanka, Trump visited doha in 2010 for separate meetings with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) executive board member dr.

Hussain Al-Abdullah and as well as Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani (commonly abbreviated as “HBJ”), who was then serving as foreign minister and prime minister. Neither responded to requests for comment on this article.

At the time, the pair constituted the brain trust of Qatar’s financial and investment sector. QIA is the world’s second largest sovereign wealth fund (presently estimated at having $338 billion in assets under management). Then as now, Sheikh HBJ had renown for being kingmaker of not just political deals but financial ones too. Using his business and political savvy, he has sealed deals ranging from Britain’s Harrods to Germany’s deutsch Bank to America’s Miramax Hollywood studios.

A source close to the 2010 talks with Trump say he made the doha stopover (along with stops in dubai and Abu dhabi) to raise money for a distressed real estate fund he was assembling. Trump opened

the discussion with QIA by bragging about the success of Trump International and the many deals he had personally put together.

Trump had hardly got through his own biography when dr. Al-Abdullah, QIA’s senior executive, interrupted to say words to the effect of: We know who you are and what you have done. Tell us what you can do for us right now.

That single, curt interruption apparently left Trump stunned. He had expected his hosts to be impressed, if not grateful, that a person of Trump’s stature would visit the Qatari capital. Apparently distracted by the lack of decorum, Trump barely continued with his pitch. The meeting abruptly ended, according to one account, with Trump exiting the room visibly angered.

According to another, the meeting ended pleasantly and the decision not to invest in Trump was simply about Trump’s lack of track record in doing real estate funds. The same source also said any coldness to Trump was more a function of dr. Al-Abdullah’s becoming numb to the same repetitive proposals—QIA routinely received such pitches. In the Qataris view, if not Trump’s, all that distinguished his proposal from so many others was his own celebrity status.

A subsequent meeting that day between Trump and Sheikh HBJ ended with pleasantries but with the top Qatari businessman keeping hold of his wallet.

Trump was unable to move any Qatari funds to the Trump Organization, and within months after leaving, observers noted that even Trump himself quit the distressed real estate fund idea, having failed to get a single backer anywhere.

The Trump family interactions with Qatar expanded as Ivanka Trump returned to doha within several months with her husband Jared Kushner, a

wealthy real estate and media investor in his own right. Jared had a new pitch to make, this time on a different real estate deal.

Ironically, some of Jared’s introductions within Qatar were facilitated by a national of the country that is a key player in the present crisis: Saudi Arabia.

Through a personal friendship with Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan’s son Khalid, (who knew Jared and who remained in the U.S. after his father’s legendary tenure as ambassador ended in 2005) Jared gained entry to a younger cadre of successful Qatari businessmen during his trip.

Jared and wife Ivanka overnighted at the doha Four Seasons, and observers with direct knowledge of the visit say the atmosphere between them and their host was perceptibly better, if not warm.

Jared had his own mission in mind to present to his Qatari hosts. He was desperate to secure funds to recapitalize his 666 Fifth Avenue property which, then as now, was severely underwater. But in high-level meetings in doha, neither QIA nor Sheikh HBJ showed interest in Jared’s building. This was the same issue with follow-up meetings between Ivanka and Qatari investors held in New York in 2011. According to The New York Times:The Kushner Companies bought the building in January 2007, closing the deal on Jared Kushner’s birthday and paying the highest price ever for a New York office building.

“This is a great acquisition for our company,” Jared Kushner said at the time.

According to the Kushners, they put $500 million into the purchase.

The luxury high-rise has been plagued by massive debt ever since—insiders say the Kushner family overpaid— which offers one explanation for why they have turned to foreign sources to

For peace in Afghanistan, talk to Pakistan New York Times STEPHEN J HADLEY AND MOEED YUSUF

The Trump administration’s Afghanistan policy review provides an opportunity to confront a central truth: No strategy, even with more troops, will succeed without reducing Pakistan’s support for the Afghan Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani network that is responsible for some of the deadliest attacks against the United States and its partners in Afghanistan.

After more than $30 billion in assistance to Pakistan since 2002, it is understandable that critics of the current United States policy toward Pakistan advocate a more coercive approach: slapping further conditions on assistance, imposing sanctions or listing Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The trouble is that such “sticks” are unlikely to change Pakistan’s behavior, because its existential concerns are tied to broader regional priorities. To get Pakistan to alter its approach in Afghanistan, the United States must understand and address Pakistan’s strategic anxieties.

The Pakistani military, in particular, is moved foremost by their country’s rivalry with India. They have always feared a scenario in which Afghanistan offers India a second base from which to squeeze Pakistan. Leaders in Islamabad also worry that India’s support may embolden their counterparts in Kabul to forcefully challenge the validity of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and reassert Afghan

claims on Pakistani territory.

While most of India’s aid to Afghanistan has been economic, India has stepped up security assistance in recent years, including military equipment, to bolster the Afghan security forces against the Taliban. Other Indian efforts, like financing for Iran’s Chabahar port that allows landlocked Afghanistan to bypass Pakistan, have further stoked Pakistani concerns.

Though many in the United States and India believe Pakistan is being paranoid, the fact remains that Pakistan is convinced it is under threat. The Pakistani security establishment sees the Taliban as a check on Indian activity in Afghanistan and has doubled down on its efforts to counter deepening Afghan-India ties.

Yet Pakistan’s goal is not continued chaos in Afghanistan. Nor does it wish for a Taliban victory, as this would strengthen their militant kin in Pakistan.

What Pakistan wants is a reconciliation process that ushers the Taliban back into the political fold in Afghanistan, without allowing the militants to control the country once again. The Taliban would counterbalance Indian influence in Afghanistan, and an inclusive political settlement would prevent their radical ideology from taking hold or spilling across the border.

United States policies toward Pakistan have long underestimated the centrality of this regional dynamic in defining Pakistani choices. An approach that links efforts to enlist Pakistan’s support in Afghanistan to a strategy aimed at improving IndiaPakistan ties could change this.

Better India-Pakistan relations are necessary to

reduce Pakistan’s apprehensions in Afghanistan.

They also serve other long-term American interests: eliminating terrorist threats from the region, reducing the risk of nuclear war and supporting a greater global role for India.

To achieve this, the United States should facilitate an India-Pakistan dialogue on the full range of economic and political issues, including their mutual concerns in Afghanistan, without trying to stagemanage the results. The United States’ playing this role should be contingent on Pakistan preventing cross-border terrorist attacks in India.

President George W. Bush encouraged such a comprehensive dialogue after a dangerous nuclear standoff in 2002. Within three years, India-Pakistan relations had made unprecedented progress. Terrorist movement from Pakistan across the border dropped dramatically, and India and Pakistan got extremely close to signing a deal on Kashmir. The budding rapprochement was cut short in part by an internal political clash within Pakistan.

The United States must also get serious about a political settlement in Afghanistan that involves all elements of Afghan society, including the Taliban.

An opportunity to start this process has been created by last week’s agreement between President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan to resurrect the stalled Quadrilateral Coordination Group (the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China). The United States should back this effort as a means of getting the Tal-

help bail it out. discussions to buy a stake in 666 Fifth Avenue between Jared and Sheikh HBJ—who left government in 2013 to pursue his own vast business interests—are said by a source with knowledge of the talks to have continued right up until the election of 2016.

But the hunt for capital continued after Jared ended his pursuit of Qatari investors last year. In March 2017, Bloomberg reported that Kushner Companies was close to securing “unusually favorable terms” in talks with the Angbang Insurance Company, despite its ties to the “highest echelons of China’s Communist Party.” On the same day, Trump attacked Qatar as a financier of terrorism, lawyers from his Justice department offered an advisory opinion arguing that as president he could accept payments from foreign governments after all, which would presumably include countries like Qatar and China.

Today, with Trump allying himself and the United States with those blockading their tiny country, Qataris can’t help but wonder: is this all about Trump’s hurt feelings over business deals that didn’t pan out?

For years America preached that the Arab countries should fight corruption and have financial transparency. Yet neither the American public much less most foreign countries dealing with Trump have any true understanding about the nature and volume of Trump family investments abroad whether in Saudi Arabia the UAE or elsewhere.

For example, journalistic exposure of Jared’s family history of investing in illegal West Bank settlements provide Palestinians and the international community insights to his obvious personal conflicts, even if in Trump’s eyes that still makes him a suitable mediator of the Arab-Israeli conflict. So too with Qatar, it is necessary for Trump and his family to declare all their Mideast interests and holdings. This will enable others to form a view as to whether Trump’s recent weighing in on the side of Saudi Arabia and the UAE is a genuine attempt to perform the statesman role, or merely payback for business deals that never happened.

Many Qataris suspect that they know the answer and are distressed by it. Could anyone have imagined that five or ten years ago, when businessmen turned down a New York mogul and reality TV host auditioning for its investment, that they were jeopardizing the security of their country? Not to mention America’s security interests in the Middle East.

Clayton Swisher is an investigative journalist and author of two books on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

iban to the reconciliation table. Other regional consultative forums like the Kabul Process, started by Mr. Ghani recently, will remain useful in keeping a larger set of important countries engaged.

Without reduction in Taliban-led violence in Afghanistan, the Afghan government will be unable to rally its people behind negotiations. So in exchange for getting a say in reconciliation through the Quadrilateral forum, Pakistan must take verifiable steps to curtail the financing and arming of the Taliban, target those Taliban elements that oppose talks, and give those willing to negotiate with the Afghan government the freedom to do so. The United States also should work closely with China to encourage Pakistan. China has committed over $60 billion in investment in Pakistan and risks losing it if the region remains unstable.

Our recent conversations with senior Pakistani officials suggest that a window of opportunity exists.

Pakistani officials recognize that the Trump administration will have little patience with them if it senses their continued double-dealing on Afghanistan. At the same time, they will not move if they see this as ignoring Pakistan’s own security needs.

This new, more strategic approach would give Pakistan the incentives it needs to work with the United States on common priorities across the region. And it does so without eliminating any United States options should Pakistan still fail to see the benefits for its own future.

Stephen J. Hadley, chairman of the United States Institute of Peace, was national security adviser from 2005 to 2009. Moeed Yusuf is the institute’s associate vice president of Asia programs.

LEISURE 13

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Your intensity is on the rise, yet you may feel moody and withdrawn today, filling you with contradictions.

Unfortunately, you're bothered by the same things that wouldn't necessarily concern you on some other day.

Work is stressful these days, but you can't just stay home to avoid the tense dynamics.

Although your heart might not be totally committed to what you're doing, you need to show up in a responsible manner.

You may experience a bit of an emotional letdown today as passionate Mars leaves your sign to float in the warm waters of Cancer. Although you might be afraid that you're going to miss all the action, nothing could be further from the truth.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Although it's not your intention, you could run over someone else's agenda today without even realizing it. It's critical to find a proper outlet for your enterprising nature so you don't take your frustration out on a loved one.

Channel your passion into your work.

Instead of dreaming about receiving recognition from your peers, you're fantasizing about running off to a monastery or at the very least, a remote tropical island.

You relish the lack of performance pressure today.

You are known for taking your commitments very seriously, but it is best not to overdo it today. If your sense of loyalty to a friend stems from guilt, it's wise to keep your motives to yourself. Honesty is an admirable trait, but you really don't need to express everything all at once.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Seeking balance is a never-ending struggle, but this search for harmony triggers a familiar conflict between home and career today. You might be inclined to take on more responsibility at work without sufficient energy to follow through on your ambitions.

Walking away from an emotional confrontation doesn't indicate that you aren't willing to fully experience your feelings. It's just that you believe your involvement won't add anything positive to an already complicated situation.

Simply work through any conflict that arises today by adding a dash of self-deprecating humor. If you can muster up the courage to face your own sense of inadequacy, there's an excellent chance that your natural optimism will return soon enough.

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

baldo

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You're resigned to the fact that you have to put your shoulder to the wheel, but you're willing to do whatever it takes since the stakes are so high. However, you aren't necessarily ready to get started immediately, even if there is already a lot of work waiting for you.

There are such a limited number of options in front of you now that you could feel trapped by your own familiar patterns. Unfortunately, you may have sacrificed your independence for an emotional security that you're not even sure you want.

You might be angry with a friend or lover today, though it's challenging to say anything without making the situation worse.

Although your conflicted emotions are playing out on the relationship stage, this dilemma is really about your inability to express your passion.

cRosswoRd

ACROSS 1 Trinidad's smaller partner island (6) 4 Wind instrument (5) 7 See 17 8 Increase by 100% (6) 9 Water (or gravy) vessel (4) 10 Make sociable — use in ham (anag) (8) 12 Being a regular visitor to a certain place (11) 17,7 Likely to achieve a higher social position (8,6) 19 Test (4) 20 Close-fitting underpants (6) 21 Senior journalist (6) 22 Nottingham's river (5)

woRd sEaRcH

DOwn 1 Imitated in an amusing way (4,3) 2 React in an offended way (7) 3 Racing dog (9) 4 Plant life (to go with fauna) (5) 5 From Perugia? (7) 6 Cricket team? (6) 11 Item worn to counter pickpockets (5,4) 13 Untanned animal skin cut to make whips and ropes (7) 14 Tool for cutting into areas of frozen water (3,4) 15 Alluring beauty (7) 16 Flatfish — trout B (anag) (6) 18 Equip for further use (5)

cHEss ABANdON AddICT AWAIT BAChELOR BALE BARE CARE CLASS COMFORTABLE COMPANy dAISy dEFENd dOzEN dRILL dUPLICITy EFFORTLESS EVERy FABLE FIBER

FRIENd hOPES jOINT NATION QUART RANCh REEd RESULT SAUTE SLATE SPORT SUPER TIEd TIGER TOdAy VANISh VAULT WREN

white tO PLAY AND MAte iN three MOVes 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Today’s soluTions

bRIdGE spEakING IN FloRIda

sUdokU crossword solution sudoku solution

1.Nd5 exd5 2.bxf6 Qxf6 3.Qh7# * chess solution

How to play Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the squares contains all the digits. The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

14

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

ARTS

$1.2 MilliOn Of pangOlin scales seized in Malaysia a

$1.2 million illegal shipment of scales from the critically endangered pangolin have been uncovered in Malaysia, officials said Friday, the second such seizure in a week.

Customs officials at Kuala Lumpur International Airport discovered 16 boxes of the smuggled scales weighing almost 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds).

Last Friday, customs officers seized almost 300 kilograms of scales from the creatures, which are also known as "scaly anteaters".

Both shipments had come from Ghana and been transported by Turkish Airlines.

Pangolins -- docile mammals with a thick armour -- are indigenous to parts of Southeast Asia and Africa.

Their meat is considered a delicacy in China and their scales are

sometimes used in the production of crystal methamphetamine.

Soaring demand for the reclusive creature has seen an estimated one

million pangolins plucked from Asian and African forests over the past decade, sending their numbers to perilous lows.

Elizabeth John, senior communications officer of the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (Traffic), hailed the rapid success of the customs department in making two such busts within a week.

"But there is also a need for intelligence-led cross border investigations to nab the big players who are driving the trade," she told foreign media agencies.

Authorities in neighbouring Indonesia on Wednesday seized hundreds of live pangolins and scales in a haul worth $190,000.

Malaysia last month made its largest haul of such scales, 712 kilograms estimated to be worth more than $2 million. Agencies

Looking for man's origins in a Bulgarian savannah Seven million years ago the sunflower and corn fields in parts of southern Bulgaria were like an African savannah, roamed by gazelles and giraffes.

And perhaps also, amazingly, by the oldest known human ancestor -- which most scientists have hitherto believed came from Africa.

A small team of researchers hopes to find proof of human origins in Bulgaria as they gingerly recover fossils from the clay of a dried-up river bed near the sleepy village of Rupkite in the June sunshine.

It all began in 2002 when the five-year-old grandson of local amateur paleontologist Petar Popdimitrov found what looked like a fossilised tooth with three roots.

"The whole of it was of a blue-greyish colour. It looked very worn out, especially the chewing surface. We thought that it was an animal one," Popdimitrov, 76, told foreign media agencies.

"But my son-in-law, who is a dentist, said in the evening that it might be human."

He might be right, in a way, and the discovery could be nothing short of momentous, potentially proving that humans diverged from apes not in Africa but in the eastern Mediterranean.

In 2007 Popdimitrov showed the tooth to Professor Nikolai Spassov from Bulgaria's National Museum of Natural History and to Denis Geraads from the Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.

Now, 10 years on, a team led by Spassov and Madelaine Boehme from Tuebingen University in

Germany have put forward the theory that the tooth matches a jawbone found near Athens in 1944.

Conducting new studies on the jawbone, discovered by German soldiers digging a bunker in World War II, and on the tooth and the fauna in the area of Bulgaria where they were found, the researchers have come up with a bold and controversial theory.

They posit that both items are from a creature called Graecopithecus, and that it was a hominin -the collective term for humans and our direct line of non-ape ancestors. Graecopithecus, the researchers hypothesise, migrated to Africa only later.

Previously it was assumed that the oldest potential hominin was the Sahelanthropus found in Chad in west Africa in 2001, Spassov said, and thought to be around seven million years old.

"Now we think that it was the Graecopithecus found in Greece and Bulgaria because our two finds are several hundred thousand years older," he said.

The male Graecopithecus weighed around 40 kilos (90 pounds), as much as a female chimpanzee today, with massive and powerful jaws capable of chewing tree bark and chestnuts, Spassov said.

"We can also assume that it walked upright," he added. Spassov's theory however has been widely criticised in scientific circles for lack of proof, prompting him to search for more evidence.

"This opposition stimulates our desire to find something more than a tooth and a broken jaw," he said. "That's why we are here -- to look for whatever part of a skeleton, preferably pelvis, hip, jaw or skull

that will enable us to cement our theory and tell much more about our potential first ancestors."

Chronic lack of funding for scientific research and field trips in Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country, has limited his team's excavations to just eight days this summer.

But they have unearthed hundreds of fossils that will be carefully cleaned and examined and hopefully turn out to be parts of Graecopithecus. Excavations are also expected to start in neighbouring Greece and Macedonia in September.

The tooth meanwhile will take pride of place in Popdimitrov's new private museum in the town of Chirpan, near Rupkite. "I have the feeling that I was in contact with something that had lived millions of years ago," he said. Agencies

Male, female or X? Oregon adds third option to driver's licenses Oregon on Thursday became the first US state to allow residents to identify as neither male nor female on state driver's licenses, a decision that transgender advocates called a victory for civil rights. Under a policy unanimously adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission, residents can choose to have an "X," for non-specified, displayed on their driver's license or identification cards rather than an "M" for male or "F" for female. The policy change was cheered by supporters as a major step in expanding legal recognition and civil rights for people who do not identify as male or female. This includes individuals with both male and female anatomies, people without a gender identity, and those who identify as a different gender than listed on their birth certificate. The state's Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division expects to start offering the option in July. "I very much plan to head to the nearest DMV and ask for that ID to be corrected on July 3rd," said Jamie Shupe, an Army veteran who successfully petitioned for the non-binary gender option. "And then I'll no doubt stand out front of the building, or sit in the car, and cry." Transgender rights have become a flashpoint across the United States after some states, including North Carolina, have tried to restrict transgender people's use of public bathrooms. At the end of May, a federal court ruled that a transgender boy must be allowed to use the boys' bathrooms at his high school in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The decision in Oregon comes a year after a Portland circuit court judge granted a request by Shupe to change gender from female to a third, nongender option. That 2016 ruling prompted state officials to examine how to allow a third option in the state's computer systems and how such a change would interact with the state's gender laws. During public hearings on the change, most comments were in favour, according to a summary by DMV officials. A handful of people questioned the need for the third option and expressed concern that the change would complicate police officers' efforts to identify people. Having the third option on legal documentation can help reduce discrimination and raise awareness of "the spectrum of gender identity," said Diane Goodwin, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon, an advocacy group that campaigned for the "X" option. Nearly one-third of transgender people who showed an ID with a name or gender that did not match their perceived gender reported harassment, discrimination or assault. Agencies

As homelands devastated, Indonesian tribe turns to Islam Indonesian tribesman Muhammad Yusuf believes his conversion from animism to Islam in a government-supported programme will eventually make his life easier. "Thank God, the government now pays attention to us; before our conversion they didn't care," says Yusuf, the Islamic name he has adopted.

Yusuf is a member of the "Orang Rimba" tribe. His small community now gathers around a stilt-mounted wooden hut, while children inside wearing Islamic skullcaps and hijabs enthusiastically recite the Koran. Not far away, other members of the tribe who remain faithful to the old ways stalk through palm oil trees in a desperate hunt for prey in an area that was once lush Sumatran rainforest.

Stick-thin and wearing only loincloths over their weather-beaten skin, they brandish homemade rifles as they search for their next meal.

Yusuf's group converted to Islam, the predominant faith in Indonesia, and gave up their nomadic ways in January in a bid to improve livelihoods that have been devastated by the expansion of palm oil plantations and coal mines into their forest homelands.

Authorities insist the move is positive but critics say it amounts to a last throw of the dice for indigenous groups driven to desperation by the government's failure to properly defend their rights against rapid commercial expansion.

Indonesia is home to an estimated 70 million tribespeople, more than a quarter of the total 255-million population, from the heavily tattooed Dayaks of Borneo island to the Mentawai who are famed for sharpening their teeth as they believe it makes them more beautiful.

But as a nomadic group, the Orang Rimba -- whose name translates as "jungle people" -- are a rarity.

The 200 who recently converted in the Batang Hari district of Jambi province -- a handful of the approximately 3,500 Orang Rimba -- decided to turn to the Muslim faith after being approached by

an Islamic NGO, and the social welfare ministry has helped with the process.

Community leader Yusuf conceded the reason they were converting was because food was increasingly hard to find and they were constantly locked in disputes with companies on whose lands they hunt, rather than due to any deeplyheld beliefs.

The tribesman also said that he and his family -- he has 10 children -- wanted to get national identity cards, which would allow them access to public services including education and healthcare.

Converting to Islam and settling in one

location means they can get the cards.

The decision has meant big changes.

The converts now live in basic wooden huts on stilts and no longer move to a new location every few weeks. They are fully-clothed in items donated by the government and NGOs, having abandoned the simple loincloths and sarongs they wore in the past.

"It's nicer living in a village like this, our lives are better," said Yusuf, whose old Orang Rimba name was Nguyup.

They have not completely abandoned their animistic traditions however -- the tribe believes spirits inhabit the trees and their wavy-bladed daggers -- and view Islam as a religion that overlays their own, ancient beliefs.

Not all of the Orang Rimba are keen to convert however.

Just a couple of hours drive away, a group of about 300 Orang Rimba live under blue, plastic tarpaulins propped up on sticks and subsist by hunting the few animals they can find amid the palm oil trees.

They move on average three times a month in the hunt for new prey, and every time a member of the group passes away, as required under tribal customs.

"According to our tradition, conversion is not allowed," leader of the group Mail, who goes by one name, told foreign media agencies. It is also in part due to superstitious beliefs. "We're afraid if we break our oath, we will be captured by

tigers," Mail added.

Conversion of tribespeople to Islam is not uncommon in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and the government insisted the change would be positive for the Orang Rimba.

Hasbullah Al Banjary, director of indigenous communities at the social affairs ministry, said it was now easier for authorities to provide for the tribespeople as they were not moving around. He said their traditions would not be eroded.

"It’s a creative culture which has local wisdom we need to preserve,� he said.

But indigenous rights defenders insist some tribespeople feel they have no option but to convert.

"I view this as a result of the state failing to protect them," Rukka Sombolinggi, secretary general of leading Indonesia indigenous rights group AMAN, told foreign media agencies.

"They turn to clerics or the church in some areas, because they offer protection."

In recent decades, Indonesia has lost huge areas of rainforest -- the habitat for many indigenous groups -- to make way for plantations for palm oil, pulpwood and rubber, as well as coal mines.

Critics say local governments have prioritised making bumper profits by issuing permits for companies to set up operations rather than protecting tribes, who typically have no formal title to areas where they live. Agencies

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

ARTS

15

Ryan Reynolds says he is addicted to Game of thRones

a

Giant bat-signal lights up city hall with Batman signal LOS ANGELES: A giant Bat-signal lit up the side of City Hall in Los Angeles Thursday night to honour Batman actor Adam West, who played the superhero role in the 1960s television series. He died on Friday at age 88 following a battle with leukemia.

The caped crusader helped protect the fictional Gotham City in a franchise that began as a DC Comics strip before also moving to television and film. When Gotham´s authorities needed Batman´s help, they projected a light beam with his logo into the sky. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and police chief Charlie Beck led Thursday´s tribute. Hundreds of fans thronged the ceremony, many dressed up in costumes from the television series and films. Two replicas of the 1960s-era Batmobile were parked outside the building. Burt Ward, 71, who played Batman´s sidekick Robin on the show, also took part. “I´m here to tell you that my friend Adam would want every single one of you to be incredibly happy and to be joyous,” he told the crowd. The 1966-68 TV series had a low-brow comedy touch that made it far different from the darker “Batman” moves of today. West delivered his often corny lines with deadpan earnestness, entertaining children and adding a touch of satirical humor for adults. The series epitomised the era´s kitsch, with exclamations like “POW!” and “BAM!” written in pop-art script flashing across television screens. The show gave rise to a movie version in 1966, in which West also starred, and fueled a franchise that included merchandise like toy Batmobiles, Batphones, dolls and lunchboxes. AGENCIES

CTOR Ryan Reynolds says he is addicted to Game of Thrones, and would like to replace Irish actors Aiden Gillen or Liam Cunningham in the fantasy series.

The HBO fantasy series, which is filmed in Northern Ireland, has featured a host of Irish talent over the years – including Ciaran Hinds and Jack Gleeson.

In an interview to Irish Sun, Canadian star Reynolds who has Irish roots in Galway, said he hopes his heritage could help him push out Cunningham, who plays Ser Davos Seaworth, or Gillen, who essays Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish.

He said, “It’s no secret, I’m a Game of Thrones nut. I’m an ad-

dict. There’s nothing I won’t do to get my next fix. No boundary of self-respect, I’ll do whatever it is I have to do to have more. Would I want a part? On one hand, I’m a fan so I like my outside perspective into that world but on the other, f*** yeah, how ridiculously insane would that be?”

The Deadpool star is not sure “how or where” he would fit in.

“Are there any new parts?

Maybe I could just take over (one of the Irish roles). There are some amazing Irish actors, and I’m Irish, I’ve got that rugged pallor for maybe Littlefinger or Davos. I could see that. Or maybe I could be a long lost Lannister?”

The seventh season of the fantasy series will debut on July 16 in the US. AGENCIES

Gwyneth Paltrow says she's considering giving up her Hollywood career Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow says she is considering giving up her Hollywood career to focus on her lifestyle company Goop.

“I’m not sure how I’ll feel about acting going forward. I’m doing just a teensy little bit here and there when I have time, but I am loving running my business,” she told Extra.

The 44-year-old, who has two children Apple, 13, and Moses, 11, with her ex-husband Chris Martin, admitted she is, instead, relishing the challenge of building her own company.

“You know, my life has been skewing far more heavily towards my business, and it has to right, now that we have so much going on,” she said. “We’re growing so fast (at my company), and it’s such an exciting time to be doing what I’m doing.” AGENCIES

On second album, Lorde discovers 'Melodrama' of adulthood A sudden global superstar when she was still a teenager, Lorde avoided the traps of early fame. She retreated from public view and led a life of little interest to tabloids.

It turns out that much has been going on for Lorde in the four years since her debut album "Pure Heroine."

Her sophomore album "Melodrama" -- which came out Friday in one of 2017's most anticipated pop music releases -lays bare a 20-year-old Lorde who has discovered the trials of adulthood, with a relationship beginning and ending and, from the sounds of it, a lot of drinking regardless of which direction her love life was headed.

As the album's title indicates, the New Zealander whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor is fully aware that her personal tales can be over the top.

"Hard Feelings Loveless" starts with an easygoing low-tempo beat reminiscent of her breakthrough hit "Royals" before building into a sinister-minded dance track, with Lorde delighting with schadenfreude at the pain she is inflicting on a former lover.

"We're L-O-V-E-L-E-S-S Generation!" she declares, in a refrain that is infectious when set to the rhythm even if it

CMYK

is unlikely to become a broader cultural catchphrase.

"We told you this was melodrama," she sings elsewhere on the album. "How fast the evening passes, cleaning up the champagne glasses."

Lorde, whose home-written track "Royals" became a viral global megahit in 2014, stayed in New Zealand to write much of the album but moved to New York to record it, spending a year and a half living in the metropolis where she managed to stay mostly anonymous.

New York, with its hectic pace and late-night drinking haunts, provides a backdrop to the album. It also helped transition her sound as she worked on "Melodrama" at the home studio of Jack Antonoff, the rocker from the bands fun. and Bleachers.

After two albums, Lorde has demonstrated a favorite song structure -- a lowkey, generally a capella, kickoff before a steady buildup into full-effect choruses.

Yet on "Melodrama," Lorde also branches out more musically. The album's opening track "Green Light" -- a tale of a dying romance juxtaposed with an intensifying night out -- brings on a readily danceable retro disco sound.

She breaks the most ground on "Liability," a piano ballad in which Lorde -- the suave voice of "Royals" and energetic stage performer -- shows a new vulnerability.

Stripping away the tongue-incheek "melodrama" of much of the album, Lorde questions her role in the world as her voice reaches both mellifluous highs and resonant lows with a touch of rasp.

In one of the album's only possible references to the fame she has discovered, Lorde sings: "The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy / 'Til all of the tricks don't work anymore / And then they are bored of me."

On "The Louvre," Lorde and Antonoff open the song with an energetic, unadorned guitar line straight out of 1990s indie rock.

Lorde, who on "Royals" satirised the vain quest for material status symbols, returns to similar imagery on "The Louvre" -- except this time it is more fully lived out, and her focus is again on love.

"We're still the greatest / They'll hang us in the Louvre," she sings in mock praise of a relationship, before quipping: "Down the back, but who cares -- still the Louvre!" AGENCIES

16 BUSINESS

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

kse-100 in freefall INDEX AT 2017 LOWEST, SHEDS 5.4% WEEK-ON-WEEK KARACHI

a

MUZHIRA AMIN

FTeR a volatile performance throughout the week, the benchmark KSe-100 share index shed another 584.17 points to end at 46835.17 points, at the close of market on Friday.

The market fell by 10 per cent in the first week of June, followed by another fall of 5.42 per cent this week.

In the outgoing week, KSe-100 index slumped 2,668 points to close at the lowest level seen in 2017. Today, the market slipped below the two recent lows: 1) Intraday low of 47,099pts posted on 13th June (Relief rally post PM’s JIT Summons’ Panic); 2) Closing low of 46,874pts on April 18 (When Panama verdict date was announced by Supreme Court).

In hindsight, this confirms Profit’s earlier view that the relief rallies witnessed early this week and early last week were indeed dead cat bounces, as

the index has fallen well below those levels and may test 2017’s lowest intraday level of 46,048pts seen on April 19, a day before the Panama verdict was to be announced. Average volumes were up 7 per cent WoW, whereas traded value was down 8 per cent, likely due to bloated activity in right shares.

During the week, pressure emanated from political upheaval and oil hitting a low, while Friday forex reserves were reported at US$20.15 billion – hitting their lowest point in 19 months (Nov’15: US$19.8bn).

On the sector front, oil took a major hit as exploration and production and oil marketing companies shed 10.5 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively; sentiment towards 3 per cent WoW decline in international crude prices was likely amplified by domestic politics and gulf turbulence.

Fertilizer declined 6.3 per cent, cements shed 5 per cent while banking sector’s market capitalization contracted by 3.2 per cent during the week.

“Crude oil prices fell in the international market on Wednesday. The effect of this downwards trend in these prices

Haroon askari appointed acting Md psX KARACHI STAFF REPORT The board of directors (BoD) has appointed Haroon Askari, deputy managing director, as the acting managing director of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) with effect from June 16, 2017, till the formal appointment of the new managing director. Through a notice, the PSX has informed that upon expiry of term of appointment of PSX Managing Director Nadeem Naqvi, the board of directors has appointed Haroon Askari as an acting MD till the next board meeting. Nadeem Naqvi had served as the managing director of the PSX around six years and two months. He was appointed on April 2011. Earlier, he had served as the CEO at AKD Securities Limited, and AKD Investment Management

Limited. During his tenure, three stocks exchanges of the country were merged into one entity known as PSX, while it touched 53,000 points level mark, which was a great achievement. Naqvi also remained key part of the divestment of the PSX, in which 40 per cent PSX shares were sold to Chinese exchanges, i.e. China Financial Futures Exchange Company Limited, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange and two local financial institutions, i.e. Pak China Investment Company Limited and Habib Bank Limited. Haroon Askari has been the general manager of Operations at Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited since December 2005. Askari served as an acting managing director of Karachi Stock Exchange from November 2010 to April 2011. He served as a director at the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Ltd.

did not show up on Thursday, but today’s performance is a consequence of that fall,” Adnan Sami, research analyst at Topline Securities told Profit.

KSe-100 was down by 1.28 per cent.

The market opened at 47,442.73 points after yesterday’s impulsive session, the market experienced a quick fall and came down to end at 46,835.17 on Friday.

Commercial banks, power generation and distribution and technology and communication were the major sectors which contributed in the market’s fall.

Index heavyweights Bank Al-Habib, Habib Bank and United Bank fell down by 2.89 per cent, 2.74 per cent and 1.48 per cent respectively.

The biggest contributor to the index performance was the oil and gas exploration sector; it was indeed pummeled and its two standard-bearers PPL and OGDC crashed by 3.9 per cent and 3.39 per cent respectively.

Alongside oil and exploration companies, oil marketing companies too were down and saw a sharp decline with companies like Shell Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas and PSO going down by 2.99 per cent, 3.25 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

On the flip side, exide Pak, Wyeth Pak Ltd and Murree Brewery witnessed an upwards shift by 2.3 per cent, 0.99 per cent and 1.62 per cent respectively.

According to Topline Securities, the major thing that brought down the market was oil prices, which contributed 126 points to the overall decline. Accompanying them was Habib Bank, which slashed a further 97 points to the downturn of the benchmark KSe-100 index -- both HBL and OGDC part of MSCI’s emerging index. Also, because of the weekend the expectations of the investors were low, which reflected in the market. Total 320 stocks were traded; as many as 103 saw appreciation in their prices while prices of 195 stocks depreciated and those of 22 stocks remained unchanged. The overall trade volume declined to 129 million shares on Thursday, compared to Thursday’s tally of 355 million.

RAWALPINDI: People seen shopping for Eidul Fitr at Moti Bazaar. ONLINE

sanctions causing delay in completion of iran-pakistan gas pipeline THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOCATED RS 25 BILLION IN THE CURRENT FY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAS INFRASTRUCTURE, IP PROJECT IslAmAbAd APP

International sanctions on Iran including limitations on ‘dollar transaction’ are causing delay in execution of the much awaited Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, official sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said on Friday. “As soon as the sanctions are completely lifted, practical work will be started on the project,” they told.

Answering a question, the sources informed that Pakistan had conveyed to Iran that international financial institutions were not ready to finance this project due .

They said there was another issue of the ‘snapback’ clause, under which sanctions could be revived against Iran in case it violates its nuclear deal with the West.

“The transaction of dollars has not been allowed and investors are not willing to finance due to `snapback’ clause which may lead to sanctions again on the project,” they said and added ‘Snapback’ is the provision of re-imposing the sanctions, if Iran was in non-compliance. The sources said Pakistan was ready to complete the gas pipeline within 30 months in its part once the sanctions on Iran got lifted. The government had allocated Rs 25 billion in the current fiscal year for the development of gas infrastructure across the country including the IP project. Sharing details of the project, they said Inter-Governmental Framework Declaration was signed between the two countries on May 24, 2009, while GSPA had reached on June 2009. Subsequently, Pakistan issued sovereign guarantee on May 28, 2010.

Project consultant was appointed on April 11, 2011, while the design, feasibility, route survey and other formalities of the project were completed on September 8, 2012. The 56-inch diameter pipeline will initiate from South Pars gas field Iran and end at Nawabshah covering a distance of around 1,931 kilometer with 1,150 km portion in Iran and 781 km in Pakistan. The implementation is to be done on the basis of a segmented approach, whereby each country will be responsible for construction of pipeline in the respective territory.

Around 750 mmcfd gas flow in the pipeline is projected to help generate around 4,000 MW electricity also, along with creating job opportunities in backward areas of Balochistan and Sindh.

World Bank approves $223 million for financial services to poor IslAmAbAd STAFF REPORT

The World Bank on Friday approved a package of $223 million to help millions of Pakistanis, especially women and poor, to get access to financial services and to improve living conditions in parts of Karachi.

“The two new projects have a strong element of inclusion that is at the heart of the World Bank’s partnership with Pakistan, especially where women, youth and the poor are concerned,’’ said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank’s country director for Pakistan.

“Five per cent of the world’s unbanked population lives in Pakistan. We need to change this to empower people financially, especially women. Karachi contributes about 15 per cent of the country’s economy and the World Bank’s support will improve public spaces, mobility, and safety for its citizens.”

The Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure Project will provide $137 million to help people who do not have bank accounts and cannot get loans, to have access to these and other financial services.

It will upgrade Pakistan’s payment systems to ensure affordable and faster pay-

ment services. The project is designed to implement selected actions of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

“Our goal is to provide transparent and accessible financial services including micro and small loans to individuals and firms, particularly women and women-owned businesses in Pakistan,” said Gabi George Afram, the project’s task team leader.

The project will improve access to financial and banking services for 50 per cent of all adults, half of them women, throughout Pakistan by 2020. It will also boost private sector credits to small and

medium businesses to 15 per cent from 7 per cent in 2015.

The $86 million Karachi Neighbourhood Improvement Project will benefit almost one million residents, business owners and commuters by improving living conditions in the Saddar, Korangi and Malir areas of Karachi.

It will help improve the safety, accessibility, and attractiveness of public spaces in Karachi, such as streets, parks, city squares and pedestrian areas. It will ensure equal access to all including women, youth and the poor.

“This project represents the start of a

long-term partnership between the city of Karachi and the World Bank Group and will help strengthen confidence in the city’s administration among residents,” said Jaafar Friaa. This project will support the setting up of a multi-member Steering Committee that includes the local government, civil society and private sector. It will guide the development of the city by laying out a vision.

Both credits are financed by the International Development Association, the World Bank’s fund for the poor, with a maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of 5 years.

BUSINESS 17

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

adb provides $300M for energy sector reforMs IslAmAbAd

t

AMER SIAL

He Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) Friday approved over $400 million in loans to accelerate Pakistan’s energy sector reform programme.

The $300 million in ADB assistance, the third such loan under the Sustainable energy Sector Reform programme, brings the bank’s total financing to $1 billion since 2014. The AFD will add $111.9 million in co-financing.

ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan, Xiaohong Yang, and economic Affairs Division (eAD) Secretary Tariq Mahmood Pasha signed the agreement.

Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar witnessed the signing ceremony.

The primary objectives of the programme are to improve the reliability, sustainability and affordability of the government’s energy sector in order to support the economic growth.

The reform programme will help in improving the financial viability of the power sector by better managing tariff and subsidies, improving sector performance and opening the market to private participation. This will result in better transparency and accountability of institutions in the power sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Dar congratulated the ADB, eAD and the fi-

ptcl, Ufone merger in final stages, divulge sources KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The merger of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and its cellular arm Ufone, which has so far operated as a separate company, has entered final stages. The company is likely to make a formal announcement in the first week of July, independent sources have confirmed to Profit.

“As a matter of principle, the PTCL does not comment on market rumours,” company’s spokesperson told Profit. The telecom regulator also mentioned there being 'nothing official' about this merger. At least three independent sources have, however, confirmed that the merger process, which is part of the PTCL’s ongoing restructuring, is almost complete and the PTCL is likely to make a formal announcement about it soon after eid.

nance division on successful negotiations leading to the signing of the loan agreement. He expressed appreciation for ADB’s continued support and partnership with Pakistan, including in the energy sector.

The minister reiterated the government’s determination to resolve the issue of energy in Pakistan. He said that additional electricity will be added to the national grid by early 2018 through completion of ongoing projects, which will significantly reduce load shedding.

Yang said, “Pakistan’s ambitious energy reform programme demonstrates the government’s commitment to im-

proving the reliability, sustainability, and affordability of the energy sector.”

“Maintaining the momentum for reform will help ensure that all Pakistanis have access to electricity, while keeping the economy on an inclusive, sustained growth path,” Yang added.

Under the programme, Pakistan has embarked on a substantial reform initiative that would reduce energy subsidies and adjust tariff policy, improve sector performance and open the market to private participation, and increase accountability and transparency.

The reform measures aim to address financial viability and reduce costs to

pso seeks rs60b froM tHe govt to clear 2013 loans

taxpayers. Specific measures include recently agreed legislation that will improve governance through more clearly defined roles for both the government and the energy sector regulator, and reduce debt levels in the energy sector.

“As co-financing partner in the reforms project, the AFD is committed to promoting green energies in Pakistan through investments in low-carbonemission energy generation in line with COP21 Paris agreement approved by the parliament,” said Jacky Amprou, AFD country director for Pakistan.

The ADB is Pakistan’s largest development partner in the energy sector with a focus on investments, reforms to strengthen governance and promote structural transformation, effective implementation of projects and programmes, capacity development, and promotion of regional power and gas trading initiatives.

For the last ten years, the AFD has been promoting green energies in Pakistan through investments in low-carbon-emission energy generation.

The ADB and AFD are committed to supporting the government’s strategy to solve the energy crisis and to fight climate change, including through Vision 2025, Pakistan’s comprehensive plan for economic growth.

The plan aims to increase power generation, provide uninterrupted electricity to all, and improve demand management.

Current export portfolio marred by lack of diversification: APBF KARACHI USMAN HANIF

The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) President Ibrahim Qureshi has stated that a National export Growth Strategy with ownership at the highest level and full commitment from the government is essential to control decline in export in the short term, transforming the export sector structurally in the long-term.

He said that the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2015-18 has already identified the focus products and focus markets, which can help turn around exports in the short term. He said that the current export portfolio is marred by a lack of diversification, as few products are exported by some exporters to limited markets. So, a major enhancement in exports requires wide structural reforms.

He urged the government to take business community on board, who are the real stakeholders, in preparing policies to enhance exports so that fast-widening trade deficit could be reduced, which is a

prerequisite for economic growth. He suggested the relevant government departments join heads with the private sector for finding out a methodology for increasing the exports of the country.

International image building is the need of the hour with the complete overhauling of TDAP, besides formation of new trade specific export promotion agencies having independent budgets and policies. He said that even though energy shortage and law and order kept the economy hostage during the last many years, the government has a clear vision on economic issues that would help resolve their problems at the earliest. He said that a quick turnaround can come from increasing competitiveness of the existing export base and demand-led production of agricultural products, especially high-value agriculture products.

The long-term strategy needs structural reforms of the entire export sector, including high-tech and innovative products, value-added exports commodities and market diversification towards unexplored markets like South

America and Africa. The APBF president urged the government that all stakeholders be taken on board while preparing industry-related policies, and asserted that industrial estates be exempted from load shedding of electricity to meet the local market and export targets, which are presently facing load shedding of 10 hours.

He asked the government to get input from the private sector on policies and encourage public-private partnership to stimulate various government organisations. He also expressed concern over undue interference of the Social Security Department, eOBI and the labour departments, and pointed out that tax refund claims were unduly delayed. Calling for the establishment of more technical institutions, he said existing technical institutions were not competing for the fast growing population of the country. He said if the government fails to respond to private sector’s call, the economy will continue to slide ultimately resulting in the closure of industry and trade.

IslAmAbAd AHMAD AHMADANI

The Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has sought Rs 60 billion from the ministries of finance and power to clears the bank loan that was obtained through Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) in 2013 to end the menace of circular debt.

Documents available with Pakistan Today revealed that the government had obtained a loan from the banks through the PIBs in June 2013 to reduce the burden of PSO. Moreover, the government paid Rs 98 billion to the PSO under the head circular debt after getting Rs 43.80bln loan.

Faced with serious financial constraints ostensibly due to failure in power sector reforms and ill-financial administration by the ministries of water & power and finance, the PSO has asked the ministry of finance to immediately pay Rs 43.80bln to clear the amount of loan obtained in June 2013.

Documents further stated that the PSO’s receivables pending with power sector and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have exceeded Rs 295billion. The PSO to continue the supply operation of petroleum products and furnace oil to the power plants of the country has so far obtained Rs 142billion from the local banks in loans, causing Rs 5 billion and 80 crore loss to national exchequer.

Similarly, up till now, PSO has faced a loss of 7 billion and 50 crores only because of sullying furnace oil to the plants. Likewise, the supply of petroleum products and electricity generation would be badly affected if the ministries of finance and water and power do not release Rs 60 billion to the PSO during June.

It is also learnt that the PSO has paid Rs 38 billion for financing cost of loan which was taken through banks from 2009 till March 2017.

The PSO has to collect Rs 150 billion from state-owned GeNCOs, while Rs 66 bln from HUBCO, Rs 33billion and 20 crores from KePPCO. Furthermore, the PSO’s receivable from PIA are at Rs 15 billion and 30 crores while Rs 12 billion and 20 crores from Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on an account of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Besides, the PSO has to pay Rs 13 billion and 50 crore to country’s refineries, while it has also to clear Rs 65 billion to Kuwait Petroleum, standby letter of credit, Qatar and Port Qasim Authority.

Official sources in finance ministry on condition of anonymity said that finance ministry was once again mulling to obtained Rs 41 billion heavy loans through PIBS to decrease the burden of PSO. However, it will cost heavily on national kitty due to the markup on loans.

Mango exports decline due to damaged crop, high air freight THIS YEAR'S TARGET OF 100,000 TONNES IS UNLIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED IslAmAbAd GHULAM ABBAS

Apart from the falling exports, especially of textile made-ups, which earn 60 per cent of the total foreign exchange of the national economy, the export of horticultural products, are also likely to show a drastic decline this year due to damaged crop, as growers believe and technical hindrances.

According to growers sudden change in weather condition in Sindh and South Punjab following heat waves and hailstorm in the month of April have damaged the crop of mango badly. Besides, a disease known as ‘Powdery Mildew’ in

Punjab has also damaged the crop of mango. The sudden rise in temperature in South Punjab, including Multan by 40 degrees Celsius, in the month of April against the expected temperature between 32 degrees celsius and 34 degrees celsius for the mango crop was a major cause of damage to the crop.

Fruit shedding was started at a time when its size was smaller and needed conducive weather condition. According to the growers, mangoes start falling off trees due to high temperatures and had also developed spots on the skin. The worst of them is a disorder called spongy tissue. It is a ripening disorder, which dries out the mango from inside, leaving a white dry mass. The mango looks perfectly ripe from outside but it is damaged from inside.

Apart from the damages to mango crop in Punjab, hailstorm had also badly damaged the fruit in Hyderabad, Tandu Adam, Tandu Allah Yar and adjoining areas of these districts in Sindh.

Amidst the damaged crop and less production of qualitative mango, the target of 100,000 tonnes exports is unlikely to be achieved this year.

According to Waheed Ahmed, head of All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA), the damages caused to mango by climate change was worst in the history of Pakistan. He believed 5060 per cent of the mango crop was affected in Punjab, whereas some 15-25 per cent crop was damaged in Sindh.

He said that the collective production of mango is also anticipated to decline due to the prolonged winter season, hailstorm and strong winds. Pakistan’s mango production is expected to decline from 1.8 million tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes during this season. However the extent of damage can only be ascertained

by June when crop would be available in the market, he mentioned.

He said unlike rest of mango producing countries, Pakistan was yet to move

forward for taking steps reduce the damages of climatic changes. The climate change has become a challenge for the entire agriculture sector, including horticulture sector and government, can find an appropriate solution by using technology, he added.

Apart from this damage to the crop, the rise in air freight by Pakistan Interna-

tional Airline (PIA) was also hampering export of the perishable item.

Waheed Ahmed said that the PIA has significantly raised the freight charges this year ignoring the fact that the frequent windstorms in Punjab had badly hit the [mango] production. The air freight charges were raised to Rs160 per kilo as compared to the previous rate of Rs140.

18 SPORTS

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

Coetzer, de LAnGe stAr in sCotLAnd’s First win over zimbAbwe

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SPORTS DESK

goose egg, bagel, doughnut, or a duck in cricket. Whatever you want to call it, Scotland had a big fat zero next to their name in the wins column for ODIs against Full Members: no wins, 23 losses since the 1999 World Cup. That dubious record was laid to rest on Thursday.

Scotland didn’t get official ODI credit for laying the smackdown on Sri Lanka in a Champions Trophy warm-up last month, but the hosts came out of that match oozing confidence. It showed against Zimbabwe when Kyle Coetzer responded with a top-class century, like he had done against Sri Lanka, to set up a total of 317 for 6 in an eventual 26-run win on DLS Method.

Both sides grappled through the first four overs in which Scotland added just four runs. Off the penultimate ball of the fourth over, Richard Ngarava pinged Kyle Coetzer on the side of the helmet with a bouncer. Much like a “heel” attempting a vicious maneuver on a “face” character in a wrestling match, the blow appeared to stir up Coetzer to bring out the full gamut of moves in retaliation.

But it was Ngarava’s new-ball partner Tendai Chatara who was at the receiving

pulled out a reverse ramp on Chatara in the 47th over to move to his highest ODI score of 58 before eventually holing out to long-on in the 49th.

Leask, playing his first ODI since August 2016, stuck to old-school slogging at the other end, clearing the front leg to heave both medium pacers over the leg side boundary. He too finished with a career-best unbeaten 59 off 38 balls. Ngarava also had a career day, but in the wrong direction, ending up with 1 for 96 in 10 overs, the second-worst ODI figures by a Zimbabwean.

Zimbabwe’s reply kept the 500-odd home fans mostly silent in the early part of their 318 chase as Hamilton Masakadza hit two monstrous sixes over long-on, one of which resulted in a ball change. But for the first of several times in the chase, Zimbabwe climbed up the top rope and readied themselves for the finishing move only to slip and fall off the turnbuckle.

Con de Lange entered in the 18th over and struck five balls later, the first of what would be a maiden five-for in Scotland colors, when Mire’s top-edged sweep carried to Safyaan Sharif at deep square leg to make it 97 for 3. Another run-out came moments before the umpires took players off for thickening showers as Berrington’s spectacular div-

end of Coetzer’s initial punishment, with a drive over long-on for six sandwiched by three boundaries in a 19-run seventh over. Matthew Cross was not to be left out of the fun at the other end; he pulled Ngarava and played a series of cover drives as part of five boundaries spread across the sixth and eighth overs. Cross struck seven fours in all for 33 off 35 balls before he played on to end a brisk 56-run opening stand.

Coetzer brought up his half-century off 44 deliveries, dropkicking his opposite number Graeme Cremer’s legspin over the rope at long-on for six and then through midwicket for four along the way. At the other end, Zimbabwe connected with a few elbow drops to knock over Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Preston Mommsen cheaply.

But Coetzer was unmoved, bringing up his second ton in three days. It was Coetzer’s fourth ODI ton overall; he finished with 13 fours and two sixes in his 109 off 101 balls before he was caught at deep midwicket off Sean Williams to make it 215 for 5 in the 40th over.

Making 300 is the bare minimum under good conditions at The Grange.

With Coetzer gone, it was left to Craig Wallace and Michael Leask to take the act into overdrive, and they did just that.

After bringing up 50 in 49 balls, Wallace

ing stop at backward point created confusion between Williams and Sikandar Raza, with the latter ultimately short of the relay to Cross.

While de Lange burrowed through Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order at one end, Waller seized on the early evening cross-breeze to launch five sixes.

Scotland’s nerves showed in the 38th over when a four and six off by Waller off Sole was followed by a no-ball, with the ensuing free hit smashed for another four. Fifteen had come off three legal deliveries, with Zimbabwe dragging the equation down to 59 off 33. However, they were eight down and Waller began turning down singles in order to protect the tail.

With 38 needed off the last three overs, De Lange was brought back again only to be hit for another six down the ground by Waller. But three balls later an-

other slog sweep held up in the wind for Sole to claim Waller at deep square leg for 92 off 62, though it was not without controversy as Scotland took a dramatic “heel” turn of their own. Video footage of the catch appeared to show that Sole’s right foot was on the rope when he completed the catch before quickly dragging it back inside play. For Zimbabwe fans, it will bring back bad memories of the disputed catch taken by John Mooney on the boundary to dismiss Williams on 96 in the 2015 World Cup, a match Ireland eventually won by five runs.

Zimbabwe initially protested and Waller stayed at the wicket for nearly a minute before reluctantly walking off. De Lange had five, Zimbabwe were down on the mat for good. Sharif then came back to claim the final wicket to clinch a famous Scotland win.

Anything above 280 will be tough for Pakistan: Dravid SPORTS DESK Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid believes that Virat Kohli should play with the same team in the final against Pakistan on Sunday.

Team India are all set to face their arch-rivals after registering a thumping victory over Bangladesh on Sunday.

Both the teams last played a final in 2007 ICC World T20.

“People might question why are you only getting 4.8 run average in the first 10 but you know that’s how they like to set up their innings with Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan, knowing fully well that they have got the power at the back end of the likes of you know, Hardik Pandya, Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja,” Dravid said.

“So you know they have got some big power that can make up a lot of runs in the end as well, as long as they can

France striker Antoine Griezmann weds in secret PARIS AGENCIES

France striker Antoine Griezmann tied the knot with his long-term partner Erika Choperena in a secret ceremony at a beauty spot in Toledo, Spanish media revealed on Friday. The 26-year-old, who last week extended his Atletico Madrid contract until 2022, met Choperena in San Sebastian when she was studying and he played at Real Sociedad. The pair, who have a oneyear-old daughter, were married Thursday afternoon at the Palacio de Galiana, a celebrated 11th-century edifice in the old Spanish capital.

Several of Griezmann's Atletico teammates attended the ceremony including Juanfran, Koke and fellow Frenchman Kevin Gameiro. In a short video on Griezmann's Instagram account the player is also seen popping a champagne cork at a celebration around a pool. "The celebration of this wedding took the media by surprise," said Spanish daily El Mundo.

keep wickets in hand, they play spin well through the middle as well.

Dravid believes if India will be put in to bat first they will have to score 280-

plus where Jadhav and Pandya would play a huge role in the lower-middle order. “I think if you get Pakistan chasing in the final, anything above 280, you would be happy. Look if we have the batsmen in hand, and they do play the extra batsman, Kedar Jadhav, at 6 and they have Hardik Pandya at 7 and they have shown that he can be pushed up a little bit,” he said.

From Pakistan’s perspective, Dravid feels that senior players like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez will have to play a huge role if Pakistan has to have any chance of dominating against India in the final.

Dravid also expressed his views on Pakistan bowling, “You know they’ve probably learned from the last time they played India, in that they didn’t take wickets and India hurt them really badly in the last seven or eight overs, so they can’t afford to let that happen again.

There are no niggles, says Bumrah SPORTS DESK Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been left out of the upcoming West Indies tour. Bumrah revealed the reason in a recent interview where he said that he was advised to take some time off as part of his workload management. It was not due to fitness issues.

“I am totally fine, they (selectors and team management) have told me to take rest. I am fully fit and there are no niggles. I am not disappointed. I have been doing things that I have been told to do.”

Bumrah has been bowling beautifully in the ongoing Champions Trophy and speaking on it he said that the ball has been reversing which has helped his cause. “Well, it was a good day. The ball in the end was reverse swinging so that also helped. It always feels good when rhythm is going well.

So whenever you are able to contribute to the team’s success, it’s good,” Bumrah said and added, “Dot balls help build pressure so even if you are not getting wickets, somebody from the other end is getting wickets

and the job is done.”

Commenting on his ability to bowl yorkers at will, Bumrah further added, “It is not an easy delivery to bowl. You have to work hard. I always try and emphasize on having specific net sessions on ‘death bowling’. It is similar to length balls –the more you practice, the better you get at it.”

Meanwhile, on rivals Pakistan

CMYK

making it to the finals, Bumrah had a word of caution, “I am not at all surprised to see them (Pakistan) in the final. You never know anything can happen on any day.

On their day, they can beat any side in the world. You can’t be complacent that now we are in finals.

There are no easy games and you have to give them respect.”

Chelsea’s Conte happy despite rumours of rift with hierarchy SPORTS DESK Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly happy at the club despite rumours circulating about his apparent differences with the board. It was widely reported that Conte was frustrated with the lack of investment in the transfer market. Conte had led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his very first season at the helm.

Conte is hence set to lead the team in the UEFA Champions League next season and Chelsea are yet to make a big transfer this season. But, according SkySports, the Italian manager is happy with the Chelsea hierarchy and has no intention to leave the club. He is currently on vacation and will return for the pre-season fixtures that the Premier League champions are set to play.

Under Conte, Chelsea were dominant in the Premier League last season. This was in stark contrast to their performance on the year before when they managed to finish only tenth and were even flirting with the relegation zone at one point. His performance in his first season had led to European media reports emerging of Inter Milan’s attempts at bringing Conte to the club.

The main of bone of contention seemed to be Conte’s unhappiness with the investment Chelsea were ready to make in the transfer market. He also demanded other changes such as being given full control over Chelsea’s youth setup, changes in the coaching staff and a direct line of communication with club owner Roman Abramovich.

SPORTS 19

Saturday, 17 June, 2017

pAKistAn dishes it out in First semis, but FACes even biGGer test in FinAL LAHORE

s

KHAWAJA MANZAR AMIN

TATISTICS can be unsure and treacherously deceive the public, as in the case of the richly embellished figures presented by the Ministry of Finance on the country’s GDP growth and allied economic matters. But the scorecard of the Champions Trophy cricket semi-final between Pakistan and England at Cardiff on Wednesday (and indeed of the second semi-final between India and satellite Bangladesh the following day at the Kia Oval) without a doubt accurately depicts the true picture of what transpired in the encounter, a vise-like grip by the greenshirts on the hapless hosts from the very outset, and never letting go till the very last moment of victory: England 211 all out in 49.5 overs, with no batsman scoring a fifty, Pakistan 215/2 with nearly thirteen overs to spare, and both openers getting half-centuries.

It was indeed a complete reversal of the traditional British bulldog tenacity, with the English at the receiving end and no more of that ‘Rule, Britannia’ stuff!

With a new captain, new men, new tactics and a positive new mindset, Pakistan saw the game through with an almost effortless ease, sailing into their first Champions Trophy final in eight tournaments. The second semi-final was a foretold and drab affair, with the outcome apparent midway through the first innings as the Bangladeshi middle order stumbled and folded well short of seemingly possible 300-plus.

The superior ranked team, indeed played outstandingly on that day: Bangladesh 264/7 and India 265/1 in only 40.1 overs, the nine wicket win proving India’s overwhelming supremacy. Warning

signs for the greenshirts were the in-form Rohit Sharma (123 not out) and arch-nemesis of all bowlers, Virat Kohli (96 not out).

At Cardiff, as the inevitable victory neared, and the yelling, chants and dancing of the passionate Pakistani desi supporters became more strident and gleeful, the wreath of a smile also spread across the face of an entire peoples worn out by cares and woes, warming their hearts. It was so rare thing of late, this decisive triumph, and the wary fans, aware of the team’s flip-flops, kept their victory whoops in check till the winning shot.

It was an amazing success, an incredible result no one would have dared to

forecast before the start of the match.

Some cynical wit maintained that it was actually the aid and abetment of the fabled ‘angels in green’ of the 1965 war fame, and not strictly the greenshirts ’efforts alone, that had achieved the astonishing outcome!

The major credit must of course go to captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, who overcame the trauma of the massive first match defeat to India, almost single handedly extricated his team from certain defeat against Sri Lanka, and marshalled his bowlers and wards like a savvy leader into a close knit unit, even inspiring the normally lax and laidback fielding to previously unimagin-

AAmer sohAiL expLAins why he went AFter sArFArAz AhmAd

Starc, O’Keefe to miss out Bangladesh Tests

SYDNEY AGENCIES

Mitchell Starc will miss Australia’s Test tour of Bangladesh in August due to injury, while left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe has been axed despite bowling Australia to victory with a 12-wicket haul against India in Pune earlier this year. Ashton Agar has been included as the second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon, with Jon Holland overlooked after piling up 50 Sheffield Shield wickets at 20.78 last summer.

Allrounder Hilton Cartwright has been named in the 13-man squad and has the chance to add to the one Test cap he earned during Australia’s home summer, while Usman Khawaja has been included after being overlooked for all four Tests in India. In the absence of Starc, Australia’s pace attack will be made up of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, although a fourth fast bowler is set to be added after Australia A’s tour of South Africa.

“Mitchell was due to go for follow up scans after the Champions Trophy, as

part of his recovery plan,” David Beakley, Australia’s team physio, said.

“These scans have indicated his previous stress fracture has still not fully healed to the extent we would like.

“He will now undertake a period of rest from bowling with the aim to have him return for the one-day series in India in late September as he begins his buildup to the Ashes.”

The omission of O’Keefe is a rapid fall for the left-arm spinner, who claimed 6 for 35 in each innings in Pune in February, and finished the series as Australia’s equal leading wicket-taker despite his impact diminishing as the tour wore on. Then in April, O’Keefe was fined and suspended by New South Wales for what were described as “highly inappropriate comments” at a Cricket NSW function.

“Whilst Steve O’Keefe bowled well in Pune,” national selector Trevor Hohns said, “he did not maintain this level in the remaining matches of the series and we believe the timing is right for Ashton to enter the set-up and test his allrounder ability.

able feats of catching and cutting off boundaries. He led from the front when things were at their worst and hardest.

Now, with ‘victory having a hundred fathers’, many architects of the famous win will crawl out of the woodwork. But it must be clearly stated that it was not due even one iota to the SS (not the dreaded Nazi Schutzstaffel, the Gestapo, but the imposed S-S duo at the Pakistan Cricket Board), but in spite of them, only made possible by individual talent, in some cases recognized at a late age because of absence of an effective domestic cricket infrastructure.

Those in the government who sent

celebratory messages also do not count, since their ‘love’ of sports is such that they cannot spare funds even for the national hockey team’s participation in prestigious tournaments abroad. But they do dearly like to bask in others’ glow when an improbable win is pulled off.

The real credit goes to the unsung heroes such as bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, who was so callously and prematurely kicked out of the Pakistan squad, perhaps because of his humble origins, and the other trainers and specialists, like Grant Flower, the unheralded batting coach.

The one thing to fight off till the final is that scourge of a resounding victory, complacency, which like luxury, should be ‘curs’t by Heaven’s decree’.

Even while batting in the Cardiff semi-final, both Pakistani openers got out to avoidable mishits, which shows that lack of focus and concentration lurk just below the surface. A ten-wicket win would have rubbed it in further for the powerful English side. It has rightly been remarked that ‘one victory exalts, another corrupts, one defeat kills, another brings life’.

The hunger to win and the ‘sense of struggle’ must be consciously inculcated and maintained in the squad. If Pakistan can only get the ‘victory boosts morale, morale brings victory’ cycle in motion, and regains the consistency it sorely lacks, it can again become a formidable force in the cricketing world.

But, regarding the final, though it would really be the much clichéd ‘mouthwatering’ encounter watched by millions, it must be kept in mind, that, all things remaining constant (read the English weather), only one team can win, and for the losing team and country it would turn into a bitter ‘eye-watering’ experience lasting for weeks.

“Ashton has continued to impress us with his form and we believe his bowling is at a level where he deserves to be playing on the highest stage. He will work nicely in tandem with Nathan Lyon and also brings a great all-round package to the team.

“Hilton averages nearly 60 [52.07] runs in first-class cricket and was the second highest run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season with 861 runs. He is a quality player who we believe has a big future for Australia and we are very keen to see him carry on his good form in the sub-continent.”

Although the tour schedule had not been officially announced, Cricket Australia said in releasing the squad details that the team would arrive in Bangladesh on August 18 and play a two-day tour game in Fatullah from August 22. The two Tests are set for August 27 in Dhaka and September 4 in Chittagong.

Australia were supposed to tour Bangladesh in 2015 but after advice from the Federal Government, Cricket Australia announced the tour had been postponed due to security concerns. Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager of team performance, said CA was currently satisfied with the security arrangements for the trip.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Government have provided satisfactory levels of assurance and security for this tour to proceed at this stage, and we’re very grateful to them for this,” Howard said. “We will continue to work with them to finalise plans but also monitor advice from government agencies and our own security advisors about the security risk.

“Our number one priority will always be the safety and security of our players and support staff when travelling to any country. Players selected for this tour will continue to receive regular security status updates prior to travelling.”

CMYK

Former cricketer and chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board Aamer Sohail was recently seen criticising Sarfaraz Ahmad on TV for allegedly refusing to dedicate Pakistan's win against Sri Lanka to Javed Miandad, which came on the cricketing legend's birthday. Once the clip of Sohail's diatribe went viral on TV and social media, there was considerable backlash about his comments. The 'facilitators' statement in particular was widely perceived as an accusation of foul play in the win.

In response to the anger, Sohail decided to 'clarify' his position on a private TV channel, saying: "My comments were made after I heard reports of Sarfaraz's refusal to dedicate his performance against Sri Lanka to Miandad and him saying that Miandad criticises the team too much." "The other thing I said was that the facilitators of the win cannot be named; however, I said nothing about match-fixing or any other foul play — my statement was misunderstood," Sohail said. During a post-match analysis after the Pak-Sri Lanka showdown, Sohail spewed vitriol against Ahmad, saying that the new skipper has "nothing to be smug about; he just became captain."

"If you do something wrong, we will point it out to you; if you do something right, we will tell you that too; and if you do something wrong in an attempt to do something right, we will point that out to you as well," Sohail said, apparently in defence of retired cricketers' frequent commentary on the Pakistan side's recent performances. He added that if the show's host were to ask him who won the match for Sarfaraz, his answer would be: "prayers and God; as I cannot name the facilitators of those prayers." "You [Sarfaraz] have done nothing special, this match was won for you, we all know how things work," Sohail said. If Sarfaraz Ahmad actually made those comments about Miandad could not be verified. SPORTS DESK

KohLi storms to Another odi reCord Virat Kohli has become the fastest man to score 8,000 runs in One-Day International cricket during his side's dominant Champions Trophy semi-final performance over Bangladesh at Edgbaston. In a stellar batting display, India captain Kohli brought up his 8,000th ODI run in his 175th innings, ticking off the milestone when he reached 88.

Kohli's cracking pace ensured he comfortably broke the previous record for the fastest to 8,000 runs of 182 innings, set by South African AB de Villiers against New Zealand in August 2015. But while the Indian cruised past de Villiers' record, he's unlikely to hold the title for too much longer. Kohli has previously held or shared the record for the fastest player to 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 ODI runs, only for the prolific Protea Hashim Amla to surpass him on each occasion. In November 2013, Kohli equalled the great Sir Vivian Richards as the fastest player to 5,000 runs, bringing up the milestone in his 114th career innings. But a little more than a year later, Amla smashed that record by bringing up his 5000th run in just his 101st innings. It was deja vu in October 2015 when Amla brought up his 6,000th career run in his 123rd innings – ironically against India in Mumbai – again comfortably breaking Kohli's mark of 136 innings set 12 months earlier. And just last month, Amla shattered Kohli's record as the fastest to 7,000 runs, reaching the milestone in 11 innings fewer than Kohli. The Proteas star currently has 7186 career runs from 153 innings and has 21 innings to score the 814 runs he needs to reach the 8000 mark ahead of Kohli. Amla currently holds the record for being the fastest player to the 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 run milestones. While Amla's career is moving at a faster rate than Kohli's, the Indian star continues to compile a record that could one day match that of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. The 28-year-old has now scored 27 ODI centuries from 175 ODI innings, an average of one every 6.48 innings, compared to Tendulkar's mighty record of 49 centuries from 452 innings, an average of one every 9.22 innings. SPORTS DESK

SPORTS Saturday, 17 June, 2017

AMIR SOHAIL TIRADE

PCB to ContaCt PEMRa ovER ‘unPatRiotiC’ REMaRks LAHore

P

AGENCIES

AKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan called the strong-worded allegations of Amir Sohail on Sarfraz Ahmed and Pakistani cricket team as “disgraceful unwarranted and vicious remarks by a frustrated former cricketer”.

In the statement - which doesn’t mention Sohail`s name - the PCB chairman also appreciated Team Pakistan for performing brilliantly in the Champions Trophy.

“The PCB and the entire nation whole heartedly supports captain Sarfraz and his team before the most important match faced by Pakistan in over 2 decades,” said PCB Chairman.

Moreover, Khan disclosed that the PCB will lodge a formal protest with

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for allowing such ‘unpatriotic remarks to be aired on tele-

vision’.

Speaking as a guest in a show on a private media channel, former opener

Amir Sohail insinuated that the other teams deliberately threw matches in Pakistan’s favour in the ongoing Champions Trophy.

Sarfaraz needs to be told that he hasn’t done anything special at all as Pakistan was forced to win the games by someone,” he said. “We all know what happens and what not, and I can’t tell you how they have won the games, I can’t name them.”

“Sarfaraz should just play his cricket. We are well aware of everyone’s calibre ,” the former captain added.

Giving his reaction on Sohail`s statement Former Indian Skipper Sourav Ganguly while speaking to India Today called the former opener, ‘stupid’.

“Yeah you must be stupid, ridiculous,” said Ganguly. “Somebody who played for the country and captained should be appreciating the way they [Pakistan team] come to the final.”

Mohammad Amir likely to be fit for final SportS DeSk Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir is likely to be fit for selection for the Champions Trophy final against India on Sunday, after completing an entire training session at The Oval on Friday. A back spasm had ruled Amir out of the semi-final against England on June 14, after he failed a fitness test shortly before the toss.

Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s bowling coach, said Amir was fit but did not comment on whether the bowler would play the final. “Amir bowled today. Amir is fit,” Mahmood said on Friday. “We have not decided about (playing him).”

“When you go to a final, you want your experienced player, you want him to be fully fit and participating on that particular day,” Mahmood said. But (we have told him) if

he has any doubt he should let us know. At the moment he bowled today. He is fine.

Yeah, definitely you would go with Amir, but we don’t mind if Amir can’t play. If he is not fit, then we have to move on.”

In the semi-final, Amir was replaced by Rumman Raees, another leftarm fast bowler who made his ODI debut in the match; he shared the new ball with Junaid Khan and took 2 for 44 in Pakistan’s eightwicket victory.

Mahmood did, however, hint that if Amir was picked on Sunday, it could be at the expense of Raees. “Let us see who is going to play Rumman Raees or Amir.

Doesn’t matter. He [Raees] is a quality bowler as well. And he showed in the semi-finals on a big stage he can do the job for us.”

Pakistan ‘turnaround’ impresses Kohli SportS DeSk India captain Virat Kohli paid tribute to Pakistan’s “magnificent turnaround” after his Champions Trophy title-holders booked a place in the final against their arch-rivals.

Kohli’s men overwhelmed Bangladesh by nine wickets at Edgbaston on Thursday, a day after Pakistan had seen off England by eight wickets in an almost as lopsided semi-final at Cardiff. India launched their title-defence with a 124-run thrashing of Pakistan at Edgbaston 11 days ago. But following what coach Mickey Arthur labelled a “shambolic” display, Pakistan recovered to beat South Africa, the top-ranked team in this eight-nation one-day international tournament. They then held their nerve to seal a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a virtual quarter-final in Cardiff on Monday, before dominating a previously unbeaten England. Asked if he had any thoughts on a final between the Asian giants, Kohli, to a chorus of laughter at a post-match news conference, answered: “No sir.” But Kohli’s respect for the way Pakistan had hauled themselves off the canvas was evident. “I’ve been very impressed,” said Kohli. “The turnaround has been magnificent. Obviously, if you reach the finals you have to play some good cricket, and credit to them (Pakistan), they’ve turned things around for themselves really well.

“They’ve beaten sides that looked really strong against them, but the belief they showed on the field, the way they played together as a team...You know, regardless of who you play in the finals, it’s always going to be challenging because once you start thinking that it’s a big game, then your mindset changes,” the star batsman added. “What we are going to try to do is repeat the similar sort of cricket that we have played so far, knowing the strengths and weaknesses they (Pakistan) have.”

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

CMYK

Hasan ali wants to take Golden Ball award home LONDON: All the talk about Pakistan’s dangerous bowling attack in the Champions Trophy must begin and end with Hasan Ali, whose pace, swing and variation has instilled terror in the opposition. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster finale against India, Hasan said he is ready to unleash his best performance in the match. “I am all set to continue my form and performance in the final against India,” the 23-year-old bowler from Gujranwala said. Hasan, who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with a tally of 10, said it was his dream as well as his goal to be the best bowler in Champions Trophy.

“There is no pressure going into the finale,” he said. AGENCIES