Issuu

CMYK

11 April, 2021 I 27 Shaban, 1442 I Rs 25.00 I Vol XI No 283 I 32 Pages I Karachi Edition

PML-N wiNs Daska byeLectioN with huge MargiN g

NosheeN IftIkhar secures 111,220 votes as per uNoffIcIal results

SIALKOT MIaN aBrar

akIstaN Muslim league-Nawaz (pMlN) candidate Nosheen Iftikhar emerged victorious in much-hyped Na-75 Daska by-poll with a huge margin of over 19,000 votes on saturday, according to unconfirmed and unofficial results of 360 polling stations. as per the unofficial results, Nosheen bagged 111,220 votes while pakistan tehreek-i-Insaf’s (ptI) ali asjad Malhi secured 92,019 votes. soon after the unofficial announcement, pMl-N vice president Maryam Nawaz took to twitter to celebrate the victory and said the people of Daska have won the war of “restoring the sanctity of vote”. “Well done Daska! congratulations to the zealous and brave people of Daska! Well done Nosheen! You have won the "respect the vote" battle once again today,” she wrote in the tweet. other than the pMl-N and the ptI, tehreeki-labbaik pakistan's (tlp) khalil sandhu was also in the run.

the seat had fallen vacant after the demise of pMl-N Mp sahibazada syed Iftikharul hassan shah in august. voting for the by-election began at 8:00 am and continued until 5:00 pm without any pause. after 5:00 pm, only those voters who were inside the polling stations at the time were allowed to cast their votes. to make the conduct of the re-poll transparent, cctv cameras were installed at 47 sensitive polling stations, out of a total 360. the election commission of pakistan (ecp) had decided that the presiding officers will sign the form 45 (final results) inside the polling stations in the presence of polling agents of the respective candidates before they leave the premises, while no political figure will be allowed to meet the ro while receiving the election results. During the day, the ecp issued a show cause notice to pMl-N Mpa Zeeshan rafique for violating the election code of conduct. the district election commissioner also sought an explanation from the Mpa within a day. on the other hand, the district monitoring officer of Na-75 Daska issued show cause notices to pMl-Q leader chaudhry saleem

coroNavirus iN

PakistaN

CONFIRMED CASES:

715,968

LAST UPDATED AT 7:55 AM ON APRIL 10, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

100

5,139

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

627,561 15,329 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

268,284 245,923 KP:

97,318

BALOCHISTAN:

20,178

AJK/GB: ISLAMABAD: 14,260/5,103 64,902

Bariar and special assistant to punjab cM firdous ashiq awan for violating the code of conduct. pMl-Q leader Bariar had on april 9 announced a development package of rs500 million for the constituency and awan had announced the package for the constituency during a press conference. "the announcement of development packages for the constituency is a violation of the code of conduct," the election commission said. the district monitoring officer sought a reply from both within two days. FIRDOUS ACCUSES PML-N OF RIGGING: fridous said that in line with the directions of ecp, the provincial government took all-out steps to ensure free and fair elections. however, despite the all steps taken by the authorities, she said in a press conference, many irregularities were witnessed during the polling. “Goons of pMl-N tried to sabotage the law and order in the area,” she alleged. the spokesperson said the ruling ptI did not contest election against a political worker but “land grabbers and drug peddlers”. “pMlN believes in rigging and they don’t have nerves to accept their defeat.” SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS: In order to ensure fair re-election the provincial election commission had assigned pakistan rangers the task of safe transportation of presiding officers and the polling material to the polling stations and then to the office of the returning officer. such strict measures came in the wake of february 19 Daska by-polls, where different incidents of alleged vote tampering, rigging and clashes were reported. the ruling party and the opposition were at odds as the former was claiming victory whereas the latter alleged massive rigging in the constituency. on thursday, the election commission of pakistan (ecp) declared 47 polling stations, out of a total of 360, as sensitive, directing the authorities to install over 100 surveillance cameras at these points to monitor the onground situation on polling day to make the conduct of the re-election transparent.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Tareen demands fair probe into FIA cases ISLAMABAD Staff rEport

estranged pakistan tehreek-iInsaf (ptI) leader Jahangir tareen on saturday demanded a “free and fair probe” into the cases of money laundering and corporate fraud registered against him by the federal Investigation agency (fIa). tareen was speaking to the reporters outside a district and sessions court in lahore where he had gone in connection with the cases after the expiry of bail granted to him and his son ali tareen. During the hearing, the court extended the bails until april 22. last week, a banking court in lahore had granted oneweek pre-arrest bail to them. the agency had booked

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Imran's govt in Tareen's hands: Abbasi former prime minister and pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (pMl-N) leader shahid khaqan abbasi has said that prime Minister Imran khan's government "is in the hands of Jahangir khan tareen". speaking to media in karachi on saturday, he said that the government is "standing on the basis of only seven votes". "the government was in a weak position since the beginning. Imran khan and usman Buzdar's seats of power are in the hands of Jahangir tareen," he said. "Jahangir tareen's nomination in cases has nothing to do with the sugar [crisis]." abbasi said that several ptI lawmakers had attended a dinner reception hosted by tareen and more than forty government officials were also in attendance. “they expressed a lack of confidence in their own government," he said. NEWS DESK

Pakistan reports 100 Covid-19 deaths for second consecutive day ISLAMABAD Staff rEport

the nation recorded 100 deaths from coronavirus over the past 24 hours for a second consecutive day during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic, the Ministry of National health services (Nhs) said on saturday. the nation had registered 103 deaths on april 5, 102 on april 6, and 105 on april 9, which were the record numbers since December last year. With fresh fatalities, the nationwide death toll reached to 15,329. Meanwhile, the government portal reported 5,139 new infections of the coronavirus after conducting 49,069 tests, receiving back a positivity rate of 10.47 per cent. It was the third day in a row, in which the country reported more than 5,000 cases. the new cases pushed the total caseload to 715,968. some 627,561 patients have so far recovered, whereas the number of active cases reached to 73,078. the country recovery ratio dropped from 95 per cent to 87.7 per cent while the fatality ratio also increased to 2.1 per cent, according to

the two in March in the light of findings of the sugar inquiry commission that had accused several sugar producers — including tareen — of “underreported sales and fraud”. tareen had rejected the “fabricated” charge sheet and denied any wrongdoing. speaking to reporters, tareen said, “conduct an inquiry [into the scam] by all means. But the team probing the charges is not impartial. It is carrying out the investigation on someone’s directions.” “I demand that a fair team be constituted for the investigation which is not mired in controversy and works according to the law, and not on someone’s phone call,” he said without mentioning any names.

more inside

Akram calls for addressing inequality crisis, mobilising financing for recovery from Covid-19 STORY ON BACK PAGE

fraud case registered against pMl-N's Mohsin shahnawaz, 5 others STORY ON PAGE 02 the data. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus patients in sindh has reached to 268,284 while 4,523 people have died in the province so far. the total number of coronavirus patients in punjab is 245,923 and 6,908 people have died due to the virus, while the total number of patients in Balochistan is 20,178 and the death toll is 213. In khyber pakhtunkhwa (kp), the number of coronavirus patients have been recorded at 97,318 with 2,586 deaths while in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 5,103 cases have been reported while 103 people have lost their lives to the disease.

according to the portal, the total number of coronavirus patients in Islamabad is 64,902 and 601 patients have died from the virus so far. NCOC EXTENDS CURBS TILL APRIL 13: Meanwhile, owing to the ongoing third wave, the National command and operation centre (Ncoc) decided to extend restrictions in place till april 13 to stem the spread of the deadly virus. a meeting of the Ncoc was held under the chairmanship of federal Minister for planning asad umar, who also heads the Ncoc, during which the inoculation campaign in ramazan was discussed.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Pakistan, IMF agree to establish asset declaration system STORY ON PAGE 03 in today’s issue

attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

Fraud CaSE rEgiStErEd againSt PML-n'S MohSin Shahnawaz, 5 othErS

NEWS DESK

HE police have registered a case against Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N)'s Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha and five others for alleged fraud and tampering of documents in a property case, according to a

ACCUSED HAD ALLEGEDLY CREATED A FAKE ATTORNEY LETTER ON BEHALF OF A WOMAN LIVING ABROAD TO BUY A PLOT FROM COMPLAINANT news outlet. According to the report, the first information report (FIR) against the accused was registered at Lahore's Islampura Police

Station. As per the FIR, Mohsin Ranjha, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Bashir Khan, Muhammad Arshad, Nabeel Khan, and

Shahbaz Mahmood were booked in the case. The accused had allegedly created a fake attorney letter on behalf of a woman living

abroad to buy a one-acre plot from the complainant. A total sum of Rs11 million was paid to the accused in exchange for the plot, the FIR stated. Responding to the development, Mohsin Ranjha said that a "false and baseless" case has been registered against him and he has nothing to do with the property in question. "Nobody ever contacted me from the respective police station regarding the case. In fact, I learned about this case through the media," Mohsin Ranja said. He further said that he will use his constitutional right to fight the "false case registered against him." Mohsin Ranjha has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from June 2013 to May 2018.

Funeral prayers of slain coal miners offered ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The funerals of bodies of coal miners discovered a day earlier were offered at DHQ hospital in Shangla district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Saturday. The prayers were attended by relatives of the deceased, locals, provincial ministers Shaukat Ali Yousafzai and Arif Ahmad Zai and PML -N KP chapter president Amir Muqam. Later, the bodies were dispatched in ambulances to their villages located across the district. On Friday, the KP police had found a mass grave containing the bodies of 16 coal miners, who had gone missing in Kohat in 2011. The miners had gone missing while on their way to work at a mine. No one had claimed of abducting the miners but militant groups were active in the city, that borders war-torn Afghanistan, at the time. Family members of the victims were able to identify the bodies from the clothes and remains, police official Aleem Khan said. The remains were handed over to the families for burial.

Police register blasphemy case against two nurses in Faisalabad FAISALABAD tLtp

Police have registered a case against two Christian nurses of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Faisalabad on the charge of committing blasphemy. A police officer said that a case under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been registered. He said it was reported that two nurses committed blasphemy on Thursday by removing a sticker in a ward where psychiatric patients were being treated. Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Ali submitted an application to the Civil Lines police claiming that the allegation of blasphemy had been proved by the hospital committee. He said the head nurse had taken the removed sticker into her custody and she apprised him of the issue on Friday. Scores of hospital employees staged a protest demonstration on Friday against the two nurses while alleging that both committed blasphemy by removing a sticker with sacred inscription from a cupboard. Among the protesters were clerics who demanded action against the prime suspect. The hospital administration called police who immediately took the nurses into protective custody so that they could be moved to a safer place. Scores of people tried to get hold of them but police kept them inside the van.

Ensuring justice, rule of law prime objective of PM: Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Owners and employees of restaurants stage a protest for their demands at Faizabad in the federal capital. onLine

Pakistan contributing towards regional peace, stability: CJCSC KAKUL tLtp

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza has said that Pakistan is committed to peace and has contributed towards regional peace and stability. General Nadeem Raza said this on Saturday while addressing a passing-out parade of cadets held at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement. The CJCSC said that the entire nation stands united against terrorism and extremism. He said that the world must recognise Pakistan's consistent peace overtures and take notice of the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). General Nadeem Raza congratulated the passing-out cadets and their parents for the successful completion of training and commission into service. He advised the cadets to keep themselves abreast with the latest challenges. The only way to meet these challenges is through professional prowess and dedication as the nation pins high hopes on the armed forces of Pakistan.

The CJCSC reviewed the parade and gave awards to distinguished cadets. Coveted Sword of Honour was awarded to Academy Senior Under Officer Abdul Samad Khan Khattak, President's Gold Medal to Company Senior Under Officer Waqas Khurshid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal to Company Junior Under Officer Ismail Hizwath Saeed from Maldives and Chief of Army Staff Cane was awarded to Course Under Officer Muhammad Ghazan from 11th Mujahid Course. Commandant Canes were awarded to Company Junior Under Officer Ammar Haider from 62nd Integrated Course, Course Under Officer Ammar Ahmed from 2nd Basic Military Training Course and Course Under Officer Hajira Khan from 17th Lady Cadets Course. The passed out cadets were of 143th PMA Long Course, 62nd Integrated Course, 11th Mujahid Course, 17th Lady Cadets Course and 2nd Basic Military Training Course. Cadets from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Maldives and Nepal were also among the passed out courses. Earlier upon arrival, the chief guest was received by PMA Commandant Major General Omer Ahmed Bokhari.

SSC exams to start from May 25 in Punjab NEWS DESK Punjab on Saturday announced a revised schedule for secondary school certificate (SSC) and higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) annual examinations, following the provincial education ministers' conference. The matriculation exams will begin on May 25, while the annual examination for intermediate will start on July 3. The annual matric examinations in Balochistan had started on April 9. Chairman Balochistan Board said that about 400 examination centres had been set up in the province, while a supervisory staff of 1,200 persons will be deployed for the invigilation of exams. According to the board, 130,000 candidates will appear in the exam. Meanwhile, SSC board exams in Sindh will take place from July 1 to July 15, while intermediate exams will be held from July 28 to August 16. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, matriculation exams in the province will begin on May 21, whereas the examinations for intermediate will start from June 17.

Qureshi to leave for 2-day Germany visit ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD tLtp

Senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz has said that development of any country and the well-being of its people are linked with the provision of justice and the rule of law without any discrimination. In a tweet on Saturday, Shibli Faraz said that this is the central point of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 22-year political struggle. He said that Imran Khan is advancing the agenda of “all are equal in the eyes of the law” with steadfastness and determination.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is scheduled to pay an official visit to Germany from April 11 to 13 to discuss bilateral relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. In a statement, the ministry said Qureshi is visiting the country on the invitation of his German counterpart, Heiko Maas. The visit, it said, is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. Maas had visited Pakistan in March 2019. There, he will have delegation-

level talks with Maas and the “entire gamut” of Pakistan-Germany relations will be reviewed and ways and means to further deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields will be discussed, the statement said. Pakistan and Germany have been collaborating closely on regional matters and at the multilateral fora, the statement added. Berlin is Islamabad’s largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), the statement observed, recalling that Germany is also home to more than 100,000 Pakistan nationals. The two countries are

celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties and planning to

“undertake a number of activities in this context”.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

Pakistan, iMF agree to estabLish asset decLaration systeM ISLAMABAD

SHAHZAD PARACHA

AKISTAN and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to establish an asset declaration system by the end of June. In this regard, the government will establish a robust asset declaration system that is comprehensive in scope such as assets beneficially owned or located abroad filed with a central federal agency. Data in this regard will not only be electronically available to the public but also searchable and effectively verified. According to a report, IMF is undertaking the second review cycle under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) implementation mechanism and will publish the full report, including the findings, analysis, and recommendations for improving the anti-

corruption framework. The government of Pakistan will also complete a review of the institutional framework of anti-corruption institutions by the end of December by taking inputs from reputable international experts and civil society organisations to enhance independence and effectiveness in investigating and prosecuting corruption cases. It has also been agreed to upgrade the capacities of law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and provincial Counter Terrorism Departments (CTD) with assistance from capacity development providers for financial investigations through training. The report states that the Mutual Legal Assistance Act of 2020 also designates NAB as a recipient and requesting authority for international cooperation in the field of anticorruption. NAB is engaging with several

Pakistan embassy in Washington organises virtual Lahore tour

IT member Asim made new FBR chairman ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

WASHINTON

The government has appointed a senior officer of Inland Revenue Service Asim Ahmad as the new chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The notification was issued on Friday after the cabinet approved his appointment as the chairman. Through another notification, the federal government also gave additional charge of the revenue division secretary to him. Sources said that Asim Ahmad is not only the batchmate of Secretary to Prime Minister Azam Khan but also close to Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood. “Waqar met

APP

Pakistan’s embassy in Washington organised on Friday a virtual tour of Lahore showcasing to its American audience the city’s rich history, culture, and cuisine in an effort to exhaust the country’s full tourism potential. In his opening remarks, Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan said the event was the third episode in the mission’s web series introducing Pakistan’s top historical and cultural sites. He said the virtual trip highlighted the gardens, monuments, mosques, shrines, and culinary delights of Lahore. The city’s rich history and culture, the warmth and exemplary hospitality of its people, and its exquisite cuisine make it a must travel destination for all tourists, he added. In his keynote address, Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) Director General Kamran Lashari underscored the city’s significance as the cultural capital of Pakistan. He also touched on its glorious past and how it evolved over the period. A documentary was also screened focusing on the important role played by WCLA in restoring the lost glory of the city’s neglected interior. The documentary also presented a breathtaking bird’seye view of some of the famous landmarks of Lahore — including Minar-e-Pakistan, Greater Iqbal Park, Badshahi Mosque, Hazoori Bagh, The Mall, Lahore Metrobus, Safari Park, Shalimar Bagh, Chauburji, Wazir Khan Mosque, Lawrence Gardens, Lahore Museum, Lahore Fort, and Haveli Barood Khana. Haneen Iqbal, a freelance contributor whose write-up presenting Lahore as among 52 places to visit in 2021 was carried by The New York Times, spoke about her attachment to the place. Iqbal was born in Lahore but never lived there. When she returned to her hometown years later as an adult, it became her favourite destination. She said that visiting Lahore and experiencing the beauty of its culture was a transformative experience for her and her friends. Faizan Ahmad, the author of Lahore by Metro, made a presentation on the sights and sounds of Lahore based on his interactions with people from diverse backgrounds. He said the most striking thing about the people of the city is “their warmth and willingness to welcome everyone with open arms”. A diverse audience attended the event, which was also livestreamed on the official Facebook page of the embassy, a press release issued by the embassy said.

foreign law enforcement authorities to secure memoranda of understanding for information sharing. The IMF will continue to support financial institutions and other reporting institutions in improving their capacities to identify politically exposed persons and apply enhanced due diligence measures. Furthermore, the lending organisation is conducting further outreach and continue enhancing risk-based supervision of financial institutions and other reporting institutions to improve the quality of suspicious transaction reporting, particularly on corruption activities. Besides, IMF is committed with Pakistan to enhancing the effectiveness of the Financial Monitoring Unit, by ensuring its fiscal autonomy and providing sufficient human and financial resources to improve the dissemination of financial intelligence to support corruption investigations.

the newly-posted chairman in his office on Thursday evening,” sources added. As per senior journalist, Kamran Khan, the appointment is the first to be approved by the designated finance minister, Shaukat Tarin. Sources said that around two dozen Inland Revenue Service (IRS), as well as Pakistan Customs officers of grade 22 and 21, are senior to Asim Ahmad, which is why he has been posted under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. IT Member Operations, Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, was also eyed for the post; however, sources said that he was not posted due to his alleged differences with the SAPM on Revenue. The FBR collected net revenue of

Ramazan relief package at USC outlets starts ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Ramazan Relief Package of the federal government to facilitate the people has formally begun at all Utility Store Corporation (USC) outlets across the country. Under the package, Rs7.8 billion have been allocated to provide the people essential commodities at subsidized rates. The Utility Stores Corporation has also arranged mobile stores to facilitate the people of far-flung areas. Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked all parliamentarians to visit Utility Stores in their constituencies to ensure provision of commodities. The Ramazan Relief Package consists of subsidy on 19 essential items, including wheat flour, sugar, ghee, rice, cooking oil, pulses, white gram, dates, tetra pack milk, tea, spices and gram flour. Besides, the USC is offering hefty discounts on more than 1,500 products. Under the relief package, a 20-kilogram bag of wheat flour is available for Rs800, sugar for Rs68 per kg and ghee for Rs170 per kg. Subsidy on black tea is Rs50 per kg, on oil Rs20 per litre, on pulses from Rs15 to Rs30 per kg, on white

gram Rs25 per kg, on dates Rs20 and on rice from Rs10 to 12 per kg. A wheat flour bag weighing 20kg is being sold for Rs800 and sugar is available for Rs68 per kg. The relief package has been implemented nationwide on over 4,800 utility stores. In order to facilitate people and provide essential commodities at their doorsteps, the USC will increase the number of Mobile Utility Stores under the relief package. Since January last year, the government through the USC has been providing subsidy on five staple food items (sugar, wheat flour, ghee, rice and pulses), ensuring food security in the country.

Punjab govt to tighten noose around illegal housing schemes LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Punjab government has issued a notification to form a five-member commission to tighten the noose around illegal housing schemes in Punjab, PakistanToday learnt on Saturday. According to the notification signed by the Punjab governor, the chairman of the commission, who would be a retired judge, will be selected in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP). Other members of the commission would include a town planner, civil engineer, director environment and a legal adviser, all of whom will be required to have 20 years of experience in their respective fields. The main purpose of setting up the commission is to provide protection to residents of housing schemes

and prevent irregularities in housing societies. According to the notification, the powers of housing schemes against the rules have been handed over to the commission. The commission will be empowered to rehabilitate cemeteries in housing societies that violate the rules. Similarly, the commission will direct housing societies to build cemeteries within a five-kilometre radius of their society and the developers who do not have space for hospitals and mosques in residential societies will also have to pay a fine. According to notification, the commission will also direct housing societies from providing playgrounds, parks and green belts in their housing societies and developers who violate the rules will also be able to appear before the conciliation commission The commission’s decisions will also apply to the old anti-regulation housing schemes however, societies

that will be formed after the functioning of the conciliation commission will be the responsibility of the concerned departments. Sources in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) informed this scribe that housing societies in the provincial capital abide by the rules to some extent, but there is complete lawlessness in other cities. “Many housing societies even build boundary walls without approval and start selling plots and houses. The situation is likely to improve to some extent only if the commission keeps a complete check and control in Punjab. However, the implementation of the rules is a big challenge because the people involved in this business are very powerful and related to mafias,” they said. “If the rules are enforced on them, they go to court and continue to violate the rules under the guise of court cases,” they concluded.

Rs3.39 trillion during the July-March period which exceeded the target of Rs3.29tr by more than Rs100bn. This represents a growth of about 10 per cent over the collection of Rs3.08tr during the same period last year. The FBR will have to collect Rs1.301 trillion in three more months till June 30 for reaching the revised target of Rs4.691trn for the current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the FBR board-incouncil meeting acknowledged and appreciated the services of retiring FBR chairman Javed Ghani. Special Assistant to PM on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood and all FBR members attended the meeting and paid tribute to his services. A memento was also presented to him on the occasion.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

DeCliNiNg treND iN sugAr priCes beiNg witNesseD: buzDAr LAHORE TLTP

LAIMING that a declining trend in sugar prices is being witnessed, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the administration to take strict measure for ensuring the provision of sugar at fixed rates. In a statement on Saturday, the chief minister said that there is an abundant stock of sugar in the province. He said that monitoring rooms have been established in his and chief secretary’s offices to monitor the supply of sugar and other essential items at

fixed prices. He said that he will personally inspect the availability and prices of sugar and daily use commodities by visiting Ramazan bazaars. Provincial ministers and secretaries will also submit their reports on daily basis after visiting bazaars, he added. Buzdar asserted that the government will ensure the sale of sugar in the markets at a fixed price. He said that the ex-mill price of sugar is Rs80 per kg whereas the market rate is Rs85 per kg. He further stated that sugar will be available at a subsidised rate of Rs65 per kg in Ramazan bazaars. Under zero-tolerance policy, a crackdown is being successfully carried out

against those who are creating artificial price hike by hoarding sugar. Buzdar vowed that inflation is a challenge but the government is determined to curb it at any cost and no one will be allowed to exploit poor citizens. He further said that increase in the prices of sugar, flour and other commodities will not be tolerated. He said that all-out measures will be taken to prevent the poor from the effects of inflation, adding that initiatives taken by the government to eradicate price hiking are yielding desirable results. The chief minister also announced starting of Ramazan bazaars in Punjab from Saturday. Daily use items and commodities will

be sold at 3-year-old prices in these Ramazan bazaars, he added. Meanwhile, Principal Kinnaird College for Women Dr Rukhsana David called on Sardar Usman Buzdar and discussed matters related to the promotion of education. Various recommendations and suggestions for improving the quality of education came under discussion during the meeting. The chief minister said that Kinnaird College is a part of the educational history of the province. He said that the Punjab government is making all-out efforts for promotion of education in the province and up-gradation of the educational institution is among its top priorities.

Varsity to teach Turkish language course KARACHI AGENCIES

An engineering university is set to introduce a Turkish language learning pro-

gramme for students. The NED University of Engineering and Technology and Turkey’s Maarif Foundation inked an agreement in Karachi in

this regard. The Turkish agency will assist the university in conducting the language course, according to Ahmet Sami Demir, Maarif Foundation’s Karachi coordinator. The two sides will also carry out cultural and educational exchange pro-

grammes. The agreement was signed by Professor Birol Akgun, the president of the Maarif Foundation, and Noman Ahmed, the dean of NED University’s Architecture and Management Sciences Department. Addressing the ceremony, Tolga Ucak, the

Turkish consul general in Karachi, said the venture will further strengthen the historical ties between Pakistan and Turkey. Professor Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, the vice-chancellor of the university, said the Turkish language programme will initially be optional for students but

might be declared mandatory in the future in view of its importance and necessity. Maarif Foundation currently has 27 schools and colleges across Pakistan, catering to over 12,000 students in 10 cities, including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. The number of teaching and non-teaching staff affiliated with these academic institutes is over 1,700.

The promise of setting up a university in every district will be fulfilled. He said that the initial process for setting up 12 universities in Punjab has been completed. He said that schools and colleges have been upgraded throughout the province. More than 27,000 schools are being upgraded. He also paid tribute to the teachers of Kinnaird College for imparting quality education to the women.

Arrest warrants for MNA, others issued for clash in court premises SARGODHA TLTP

A local court on Saturday issued arrest warrants for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Hamid Hameed and 19 others in a case related to a scuffle inside the premises of a court in 2018. Civil Judge Umer Javed issued non-bailable arrest warrants of the PMLN lawmaker from the NA-90 Sargodha-III constituency and 19 others besides ordering the authorities to produce them with handcuffs. The civil judge directed that all accused be produced handcuffed on May 29. The lawmaker and others had been accused of a scuffle in the premises of the court during the 2018 elections. A case had been registered against them in Cantt police station and the accused had been failed to appear before the court despite being sent notices many times.

Clash between tribes leaves 8 dead in Jacobabad JACOBABAD TLTP

LAHORE: A view of closed shops at Mall Road due to smart lockdown in the provincial capital. ZUBAIR MEHFOOZ

Boeing seeks 737 Max grounding over issues with electrical system ISLAMABAD TLTP

Just a few months after Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft were allowed to return to the skies, the company announced a new problem with the ill-fated jets, calling for dozens of planes to be grounded over issues with the electrical system. “Boeing has recommended to 16 customers that they address a potential electrical issue in a specific group of 737 MAX airplanes prior to further operations,” the Chicago-based manufacturer said in a statement. The multinational said it is work-

ing with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the “production issue.” It also said that the problem does not affect the entire fleet, but a specific group of planes. The company has pledged to provide further directions on “appropriate corrective actions.” “The recommendation is being made to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system,” the corporation said. Boeing neither specified which 16 airlines are affected by this alert nor disclosed the number of planes with the problem. The Boeing 737 MAX passenger

airliner made headlines after two nearly new planes crashed within five months. The fatal crashes, which occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia, killed all 346 people on board. The incidents prompted a lengthy safety review and all the jets were grounded worldwide for 20 months, from March 2019 through November of 2020. In November, the FAA cleared Boeing’s 737 MAX to fly, having approved the fixes that the manufacturer made to the malfunctioning safety system, which was blamed for the crashes. Several countries, including China, have not cleared the plane to fly yet. Boeing reportedly had to sustain damages exceeding $20 billion as a result of the tragedies caused by its latest generation, single-aisle workhorse.

At least eight people, including a woman and two children, were shot dead during an armed clash between the tribes of Jalbani and Katohar in Jacobabad on Saturday. According to police, multiple shootings were reported in village Kalu Katohar, in the limits of Punhun Bhatti police station. The cause of the brawl is said to be enmity between the two tribes, the police said. Police reached the site of the shooting and moved the bodies to a local medical facility. Panic prevailed in the area after the incident, while heavy contingents of the police reached the area to control the worsening situation. Earlier on Thursday last, six people were killed and 12 got injured in a violent clash in Shikarpur district of Sindh, in what police described was a dispute arising over a Karo Kari incident. The clash took place among two groups of the Jatoi clan in the limits of the Rustam police station. As tensions flared, the two groups traded fire, leaving six people dead and a dozen injured. The gunfire continued for a long time, causing fear and panic in the area. After a while, police intervened to put an end to the violence. SSP Shikarpur Kamran Nawaz said the situation is now under control and that police have arrived in the area. He said the injured have been shifted to the Lakhi Ghulam Shah, Khanpur and Shikarpur hospitals for treatment.

Hazara women strike back with martial arts QUETTA AGENCIES

Hundreds of Hazara women are learning how to deliver sidekicks and elbow blows as martial arts booms within the community. Hazaras, who are mainly Shi’ite Muslims, have faced violence in recent years in Quetta, living in two separate enclaves cordoned off by checkpoints and security to protect them. “We can’t stop bomb blasts with karate, but with self-defense, I have learnt to feel confident,” 20-year-old Nar-

gis Batool told AFP. “Everyone here knows that I am going to the club. Nobody dares say anything to me while I am out.” Up to 4,000 people are attending regular classes in more than 25 clubs in Balochistan, according to Ishaq Ali, head of the Balochistan Wushu Kung Fu Association, which oversees the sport. The city’s two largest academies, which train around 250 people each, told AFP the majority of their students were young Hazara women. Many of them go on to earn money

from the sport, taking part in frequent competitions. It is still unusual for women to play sport in conservative Balochistan where families often forbid it, but martial arts teacher Fida Hussain Kazmi says exceptions are being made. “In general, women cannot exercise in our society […] but for the sake of self-defense and her family, they are being allowed.” The uptake is also credited to national champions Nargis Hazara and Kulsoom Hazara, who have won medals in

international competitions. Kazmi says he has trained hundreds of women over the years, after learning the sport from a Chinese master in Lahore. The 41-year-old offers two hours of training six days a week for 500 rupees ($3) but gives free classes to women who have lost a relative to militant violence. “The Hazara community is facing many problems […] but with karate, we can begin to feel safe,” said 18-year-old student Syeda Qubra, whose brother was killed in a bomb blast in 2013.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

Pakistan reports 100 Covid-19 deaths for second consecutive day conTinued fRom pAge 01 It was decided that another meeting will be called on Monday, during which ways would be discussed to implement the restriction in letter and spirit. The meeting was informed that a large quantity of coronavirus vaccine would reach Pakistan by midApril. Earlier this week, Asad had announced to start vaccinating the general public after Eidul Fitr. In his conversation with reporters, the minister had said that the next five to six weeks would be “critical” for the third wave of infections. The government had launched the vaccination for the general public in March, starting with older people. It is currently offering free doses to frontline healthcare workers and people over the age of 50, but the drive has thus far been slow. On March 12, Asad had confirmed that the third wave of Covid-19 had started in Pakistan, attributing the rising number of cases to the virus’ UK strain. “Yes, there is no doubt that the third wave has started and basically, the phenomena that’s driving it is the spread of the UK strain,” Umar had said while talking to a private news channel. The country has been undergoing smart lockdowns in all the applicable localities that report an increase in cases with authorities urging citizens to practice all necessary SOP’s including sanitizing one’s hands and wearing mandatory face masks. In his talk, Umar had also noted with concern that the number of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in the country was higher than during the first wave. “Strict enforcement of SOPs [standard operating procedures] can bring down the rising rate of infection,” he had stressed.

EU proposes six-month tariff freeze with United States BERLIN: The European Union has suggested that it and the United States suspend tariffs imposed on billions of dollars of imports for six months, EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis was quoted as telling Germany’s Der Spiegel on Saturday. That would go beyond a four-month suspension agreed last month, and send a signal that Brussels is seeking compromise in a 16-year-old dispute over aircraft subsidies. “We have proposed suspending all mutual tariffs for six months in order to reach a negotiated solution,” Dombrovskis told the news magazine. “This would create a necessary breathing space for industries and workers on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added. agencies

PakIStan hoPES to SECUrE anothEr $1Bn dEBt rElIEf from G20 isLAmABAd

staff RePoRt

AKISTAN will get around $1 billion relief under the third phase (July-December 2021) of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) by G-20 countries, the economic affairs ministry

said on Friday. This includes $785 million worth of pause on principal loan repayments and the remaining on account of interest repayments. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff report has put the relief amount under first two phases at $2.5 billion. This has brought the total temporary

relief to $3.5 billion under three phases. “The debt relief will provide much needed fiscal space for mitigating the socioeconomic impact of Covid-19, and meet urgent health and economic needs of the country,” said Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar The G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors in a joint com-

muniqué have announced a final 6months extension in Debt Service Suspension Initiative from July to December 2021. Bakhtiar has welcomed the announcement. The ministry said that Pakistan would likely get a debt suspension of about $900 million to $1 billion from bilateral creditors under DSSI Phase-III.

PML-N wins Daska byelection with huge margin conTinued fRom pAge 01 Meanwhile, the commission has announced that the presiding officers (POs) will sign Form 45 (final results) inside the polling stations in the presence of polling agents of the respective candidates before they leave the premises, while no political figure will be allowed to meet the returning officer (RO) while receiving the election results. In February, the election process regulator had declared the by-election held February 19 as null and void, suspecting vote fraud, and ordered the government to hold reelection on the seat. In a press statement, the ECP said

it had suspected that the results of 20 polling stations in the constituency had been falsified because it received the results of the constituency with “unnecessary delay”. A short verdict, announced at the request of PML-N candidate Iftikhar, ordered re-election in the constituency because “conducive environment was not available for the candidates and voters and the election had not been conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in a transparent manner.” “On the day of the election, chaos was spread in the entire constituency,” it read. FREE AND FAIR ENVIRONMENT PROVIDED: Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)

Sikandar Sultan Raja on Saturday said a free and fair environment has been proved to hold a transparent election. Talking to a private television, Raja said the commission has established special monitoring cells that would work round the clock to monitor the process and asked people to report any untoward incident directly to the control room. He said the POs have been directed to provide the copies of Form 45 after adding their signatures and send the copies to the concerned RO via WhatsApp. The ballot papers and other polling material will be transported to the RO’s office under the supervision of Rangers and police.

Ireland adds Pakistan, US to tough hotel quarantine regime

BQPS-III first turbine commissioning on fast track KARACHI: K-Electric’s flagship 900 MW power plant, BQPS-III is progressing on fast track basis. Entire power train of first Unit consist of Gas Turbine, Steam Turbine, Generator and Heat Recovery Boiler have arrived and installed at the power utility’s Bin Qasim Power Complex. All relevant civil structural work is completed and associated auxiliaries and piping are progressing swiftly with the target of ensuring that the first unit is ready to be commissioned by peak summer of 2021. The second unit of 450 MW is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The RLNG-based power plant will meet Karachi’s power demand and ensure the city and its industries stay energised. It is being built as per the power utility’s investment plan, approved under the Multi Year Tariff for the control period FY 2017-2023. In addition to bridging the demand for electricity, this plant will also gradually phase out some units of the aging and less efficient BQPS I plant, which have been in service for more than 30 years. The BQPS-III would result in lower import costs for the government, affordable power for consumers and a much smaller carbon footprint as compared to furnace oil power plants. P R e s s R e L e a s e

duBLin agencies

Ireland included Pakistan and the United States in its list of countries where arrivals will be subject to mandatory hotel quarantine, tightening some of Europe’s toughest travel restrictions to try to stop the spread of Covid-19. Ireland, the only one of the European Union’s 27 countries to introduce a hotel quarantine, announced it will also require all arrivals to have booked a Covid-19 test for five days after

landing in addition to one taken in the days before travelling. It followed neighbouring United Kingdom in bringing in the regime for people from countries deemed “high risk” or those without a negative Covid-19 test. However, the UK has so far resisted calls for the inclusion of some European countries. A strict lockdown in Ireland since late December has turned one of the world’s highest incidence rates of Covid-19 into one of Europe’s lowest. Elsewhere in the continent, Norway requires a forced stay in a quar-

antined hotel for at least a week for anyone coming from abroad who does not own property, or can borrow the use of a property, in the country. Canada, Belgium, France, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Curacao, Kenya, Luxembourg, Maldives, Turkey and Ukraine will also be subject to quarantine in Ireland starting April 15, the health ministry said in a statement. Israel, Albania and Saint Lucia were removed, having been added just over a week ago, meaning arrivals from more than 70 countries must quarantine for up to 14 days in a hotel room, or leave after 10 if they test negative for Covid-19. The government initially stopped short of a recommendation by health officials last week to add a number of EU countries where large numbers of Irish nationals live, citing potential legal challenges around the bloc’s freedom of movement rules. Hotel quarantine rules are planned to be in place for only a few months, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said this week. Tourism groups have criticised the government for not providing an exit plan on how they would unwind the measures. “We can see a permanent pathway out of this pandemic but can’t allow variants of concern to set us back on the progress we have made,” Donnelly said in a statement on Friday.

Indonesia's Java hit by magnitude 5.9 quake, seven killed JAKARTA agencies

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Java island on Saturday, killing seven people, severely wounding two and damaging hundreds of buildings in several cities, the country’s disaster mitigation agency BNPB said. The quake, which struck at 2 p.m. (0700 GMT) local time, was felt across East Java, home to 40.7 million people, and nearby provinces, including the resort island of Bali, Indonesian media reported. Ten people were lightly injured, while an unspecified number of people in several villages were moved to evacuation centres as some houses have been destroyed, the BNPB said. More than 300 homes and dozens of other buildings, including schools, hospitals, government offices and places of worship, were damaged, the agency said. The numbers could change as authorities collect more information about the extent of casualties and damage. Images in media showed flattened houses in towns near the southern coast of East Java, the closest area to the epicentre of the quake. A large gorilla statue in an amusement park in the town of Batu lost its head, news website Detik.com reported. The quake struck in the Indian Ocean 91 km (57 miles) off the southern coast of East Java. It had a magnitude of 5.9 at a depth of 96 km, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, which reduced the quake’s magnitude from an initial 6.8. Video shared by social media users showed people running out of a shopping mall in Malang city amid the strong tremor. “I felt the earthquake twice, the first time for two seconds and then it stopped, but then it shook again for five seconds,” Edo Afizal, a receptionist at a hotel in Blitar, told Reuters by phone. Indonesia was struck last week by tropical cyclone Seroja, which triggered landslides and flash floods killing more than 170 people on islands in East Nusa Tenggara province. Straddling the socalled Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes. A magnitude 6.2 quake that struck Sulawesi island in January killed more than 100 people.

Tareen demands fair probe into FIA cases conTinued fRom pAge 01 When asked, Tareen clarified that he was not trying to escape the clutches of the law. “The PTI is my party. It is our party. If we don’t stay within the party, where else will we go,” he questioned. “But right now we want justice.” “New people should be brought in [and] a new team should be constituted. Look at this again, it will not make a difference. You have a lot of time. But do not entrust the responsibility to those that give orders on telephone calls.” He again did not elaborate who was involved in these calls. He claimed that the FIRs registered

against him were drawn up in Islamabad and sent to Lahore on a USB where they were signed. “This should not happen. The investigation should be carried out in a fair and objective manner.” POWER SHOW: On Friday night, some 29 lawmakers of the ruling party had gathered at a dinner meeting held at Tareen’s Lahore residence to express solidarity with him. On Saturday, again, 30 MPs appeared alongside Tareen. Speaking on the occasion, PTI MP Raja Riaz said that the legislators standing alongside Tareen stood in solidarity with him, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan was their “leader and captain”.

“All those lawmakers that have gathered here today have one request to make. PM Imran there are people around you that are targeting Tareen, an extremely valuable asset to the party.” Fake cases have been registered against him, Riaz said. “Don’t think we are trying to blackmail you. We are not blackmailers, we are sympathisers. We want to see the party become strong. We want to see the PTI government and PM Imran be strong and secure.” On Friday, Tareen had briefed the party members over what he had called the ongoing “witch-hunt” against him allegedly by Principal Secretary to Prime

cmYK

Minister Azam Khan. According to the sources, the MPs had assured Tareen of their full support against what they had called the feudal and bureaucratic mindset determined to destroy the gains of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Addressing the participants, Tareen had said he had decided to make another sacrifice for the nation and challenge the autocratic mindset prevailing around the prime minister. He had said that in the next meeting, new faces would appear and the rebellion against the principal secretary would continue to get stronger. QURESHI ADVISES TAREEN TO MEET PM: Meanwhile, Foreign Minister

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said if Tareen has any reservations on the action against his sugar mills, he should meet the premier. Talking to media, Qureshi said, “The PM will listen to his stance carefully. We will listen to everything Tareen says.” Qureshi said that 17 sugar mills have received notices and only one of them belongs to Tareen. He said that Tareen has categorically made two things clear that neither he is establishing a forward bloc in the party, nor he is leaving the PTI. He said there is no threat to the PTI government from Tareen. “Every MNA is loyal to PM, Tareen poses no threat,” he further said.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

06 COMMENT

Can he read?

A gaffe can cause a serious setback

Leaders must be careful what they say

Pak-India backchannel talks

uS intelligence report has warned that India and Pakistan may stumble into a large-scale war. Coming as it does at a time when both countries are still engaged in coping with the economic fallout of the covid-19 pandemic, the report should make both countries realize the horrendous consequences of an allout war. The neighbours need to ensure that nothing is done that can trigger hostilities. Pakistan wants a resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiris. In the short run, it wants a return to the era prior to the abrogation of Article 370. India lays claim to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It also maintains that there are terrorist camps on this side of the LoC which must be dismantled and cross-border infiltration stopped . It is not only the uSA which is alarmed at the possibility of a conflict in South Asia. Pakistan’s Arab allies who have invested in both India and Pakistan, more so in the former than in the latter, are wary of any conflagration in the region. numerous reports have appeared during the last few weeks about attempts by these countries to encourage the ongoing backchannel meetings between Pakistan and India. Several developments indicated that the backchannel talks were beginning to produce results. The process however received a jolt when Prime Minister Imran Khan first agreed to import cotton and sugar from India without consulting the Foreign Office and then suddenly backtracked and said there could be no talks till India restored the autonomous status of Indian-occupied Kashmir. Backchannel talks can better produce results than open parleys in the case of sensitive issues. In Pakistan and India it is a challenge to deal with domestic interests as well as media leaks which can distort the purpose of an open dialogue on such issues. Backchannel talks are hidden from the electronic media which has developed an unquenchable thirst for anything that improves ratings, be it a sensational half-truth or a story in the making that can take an altogether different turn in the light of public reaction. While back channel talks need to continue, the PTI government has to improve the inter-departmental handling of sensitive national issues.

RaBia ahmed

urder and rape are generally surreptitious affairs, and most of us have not actually witnessed either taking place. Yet, some of us can read, and we do, so we know the state of affairs in the world, including in the country we call the Land of the Pure. We know for example that Pakistan is an extremely dangerous place for women. Human rights Watch carried out a study on the subject and found that in this country there is a case of a woman being raped every hour, and gang-raped every two. As for what is most deplorably called an ‘honour’ killing, thousands take place every single year. And unlike other murders these killings are often neither surreptitious nor considered wrong by the segment of society they take place in. So given our PM’s statement saying that the reason for rape is because women dress the way they do, you wonder if our PM can read, and missed discovering those statistics exactly the way he missed knowing about the devaluation of the rupee a couple of years ago, when he said he only found out about it via reports in the media. As for domestic violence, in a survey in 2008 published in the Journal of Political Studies, 70 per-

Ramzan price control What about the rest of the year?

T is going to be a particularly tough ramzan this year for the country as the third wave of the covid-19 pandemic rages on, the temperature heading northwards as are prices of essential commodities. While the government can do little to nothing about the first two issues, it has attempted to provide relief to the masses by offering 10 to 15 percent subsidies on 19 essential commodities during the holy month. However, it seems the full benefit of the rs 7.8 billion package will not reach consumers as the utility Stores Corporation (uSC) has reportedly already hiked the prices of some of the most consumed products during ramzan like cooking oil, lentils and cold drinks, thereby mitigating the government mandated discounts. Thankfully, the reduction in rates of limited stocks of wheat flour, sugar and ghee should still provide some price savings for cash strapped masses, which is welcome. unfortunately, this load off peoples’ budgets will last only for a month, after which it will be back to the crippling high prices that will continue to rise during the remainder of the year. during the PTI’s tenure, a combination of rising input costs and mismanagement of domestic stocks has dealt a crippling blow to the affordability of basic items of sustenance. The IMF’s conditionalities met thus far have resulted in electricity, gas and fuel prices to skyrocket and in order to complete the latest bailout program and keep on procuring the much-needed remaining tranches of the eFF, more conditions will need to be met, some of which will virtually eliminate the government’s role in setting and controlling prices. The wheat and sugar crises that occurred last year and remain unresolved are purely the making of gross incompetence and lack of planning of provincial and federal governments run by the PTI. Both commodities were exported with the government’s permission when there was an impending acute shortage last year. Prices of wheat and sugar understandably surged and sugar continues to sell at over rs100/kg, despite interventions. rather than admitting its own shortcomings, the government has resorted to a witch hunt against so-called ‘mafias’ that hoard commodities. While there is no doubt that such elements exist, it is not the only reason for the high prices. Going by how the government has attempted to address and arrest rising food prices so far, no long term relief should be expected.

A policy borrowed from Homer

Wajeeha Bilal

n our history The Trojan War has somehow motivated the creativity of writers and was celebrated in the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer. It was a legendary war between the early Greeks and the people of Troy in western Anatolia, around the 12th or 13th century BC. In the conventional narrative, Paris, son of the Trojan king, ran off with Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta, whose brother Agamemnon then led an expedition against Troy. The war lasted 10 years, finally ending when the Greeks pretended to withdraw, leaving behind a large wooden horse with an attacking army concealed inside. When the Trojans brought the horse into their city, the hidden Greeks came out at night to destroy Troy and massacre its people. It has been more than three millennia, and not much has changed, the accounts of the Trojan War continue to affect the artists and writers as they maintain their relevance to the present situation of ongoing wars in the world. In many ways, Greek mythology is close to what the empowered have done for centuries. One appealing fact about the crime against humanity is that if war is done over and again, then it must be done differently. Wars are never repeated the same way, but the enemy has a different way of constructing their Trojan horses every time. There is a deadly ignorance to the stories of war, a repetition of destruction and calamity with an endless suffering. A Trojan Horse is some insipid chamber for hiding something within to get past defences or

Arif Nizami Editor Managing Editor

Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Leaders need to mind their own morals, and also what they say, because the public takes note of both. Or perhaps that’s the crux of the matter. Blaming women is as easy said as done and safe to boot since this country can boast of almost no females in its armed forces, therefore such statements will not contravene the respect to the army bill that has just been approved

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com

The Trojan Horse Policy

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

cent of women who participated had experienced domestic violence. According to another Human rights Watch report, ‘70-90% Pakistani women suffered from some kind of domestic violence. About 5,000 women are killed annually from domestic violence in Pakistan, and thousands others maimed or disabled.’ These cases of abuse and death include those who are abused and/or killed because they are viewed as having brought insufficient dowry at marriage, those who are killed or abused for asking for divorce, and those who are victims of acid attacks for any number of reasons…including just because. domestic violence and death are also often associated with child marriage, and forced conversions, where women are forced to leave their religion of birth and forced to marry a Muslim. The worst part is that where domestic violence is concerned ‘Law enforcement authorities do not view it as a crime, and usually refuse to register any cases brought to them.’ If not submitting to the general concept of purdah (which is a distortion of the Quranic concept) were the reason for these overwhelming cases of violence, Pakistan would hardly be at the bottom of the rung where safety for women is concerned, yet it is. Therefore, our Prime Minister’s statement regarding the matter where he placed the blame for this violence squarely at the door of every woman in the country was sickening in the extreme. A leader who cannot recognize the obvious reasons for problems, who blames the wrong half of the country for the distress of the victimised other half is a danger to the entire population. Those given to abusing law and morality recognize this weakness and take advantage of it. A feeble analogy would be in cricket where a

fielder keeps dropping catches every time the ball comes his way. The opposite team recognizes this weakness and makes a point to aim in that less welldefended direction. Perhaps this analogy will be understood but there can be little expectation of it being applied to the current scene, the way religion is rarely applied to anything that occurs after the Prophet (PBuH) and his companions. Will it really make any difference if women in Pakistan cover themselves even more than they do at present? If they kill themselves covered in fabric in the sweltering sun? Or is the real problem the mindset of this society’s men who consider women to be objects to be leered at, owned and treated any way they wish? God forbid that modesty and kindness should ever be expected of boys and men. An article published just this month reported a four percent increase in child abuse cases in 2020. Of these 51 percent of the victims were girls and 49 percent boys. Were these little girls abused because they were not in purdah? And how about the little boys? Where does their fault lie in this case? Words matter. In the long run they pile up and the largest pile carries greater weight. It remains in people’s minds and influences actions and thought. As when Jinnah spoke of everyone being free to visit their temples and mosques, a wish may that has still to be realised but it does occur to us all every time a person is victimized using the blasphemy law, every time a place of worship is destroyed. And who knows, one day it may come into its own. Leaders need to mind their own morals, and also what they say, because the public takes note of both. Or perhaps that’s the crux of the matter. Blaming women is as easy said as done and safe to boot since this country can boast of few females in its armed forces, therefore such statements will not contravene the respect to the army bill that has just been approved.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

some other obstacle. nowadays these are not mere wooden horses but backed-up propaganda that help other countries launch war. In March-April 2003, a joint military force from the uSA and Great Britain invaded Iraq, quickly overtaking the Iraqi military and paramilitary forces. Over time the uSA reduced its presence in Iraq, leaving behind its Trojan Horse with a war zone from north to south, and east to west, as conflicting militant groups, political uprisings and foreign parties competed for power at the cost of the Iraqis. The Trojan Horse effect led to a regional split that also consumed europe with the refugee crisis and recovered conventional biases in the West. The Middle east is more unstable and destroyed than it has ever been in the history. It is in a proxy war of a serious territorial involvement with no agreement in consideration. The Western Trojan claims to withdraw while russia and China declare themselves on the global stage and assert open challenges. The entire world has suffered after a decade and a half of global violence and instability, but it remains a challenge as the Trojan horse propaganda poses a daily threat for everyone. The uSA also took its Trojan horse for the benefit of avenging its people, into Afghanistan in 2001, with a scanty knowledge of a land, often known as the ‘graveyard of empires’. even in their prime the powerful might assume that they have not lost the war but all the three Presidents since 2001 have not been able to keep up to the promised mission. The Trojan horse has postponed a May 2021 deadline for its exit from Afghanistan, warning that an early withdrawal would let the terrorist groups to reunite. Considering the human rights violations and the treatment of minorities in India, especially Muslims, under the rSS-BJP regime, India is using every possible tool of oppression to build their Trojan horse. However, no amount of reprisal has been able to subjugate the Kashmiris. It has been a tale of agony and cruelty unleashed upon this beautiful land and its people with security forces frequently conducting midnight raids and torturing unarmed citizens. These violations have been comprehensively documented by the un human rights machinery as well as international human rights and humanitarian organisations. India’s strategic relations with the uSA have still not helped it to establish the Trojan

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Horse scenario because countries like Pakistan focus on highlighting human rights and the treatment of minorities especially in Kashmir. Priime Minister Imran Khan had also stated that the international pressure had revived his hope that India will be forced to resolve this issue peacefully and in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The uSA in modern times has exhibited the most blatant display of double standard Trojan Horses. The uSA on one hand hastens to sanction China and other countries, while at the same time pivots towards India, completely ignoring the well-documented and internationally acknowledged ethnocide and human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian Government in Kashmir. To further tilt the scales, the uSA has included India in the Quad Group, aimed at containing China. It is further expected that India will be offered a major nATO partnership in the coming weeks, with major technological and defence cooperation implications. Without dissecting the human rights violations, it is safe to say that one rule applies to all. You can’t sanction one and cajole the other. If there ever was a modern-day example of Trojan Horse politics, the uSA’s China policy in violation of human rights, would be one too stark to overlook. Much of this turmoil could be prevented if the uSA, the uK and other Western states pulled back their Trojan horse’s support for the ongoing wars and failed interventions. This accounts for an active participation for peace talks by the west and neighbouring countries. Pakistan has religious and moral ties with the Muslim countries, and it has always provided moral and diplomatic support to the occupied states. un Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently said that he valued Pakistan's part in the active functioning of the global body, naming the country a "fundamental partner of the united nations". The situation may be depressing at the moment, but the world cannot give up hope, as people like us who stand against war and the construction of Trojan horses, continue to resist foreign tyranny. With our thoughts, words and actions we continue to provide moral support and appeal against the terrible hardships of war. Throughout history these wars and their effect seem inevitable and the only way we can avoid their repercussions is through an admittance that they began in error and are an ongoing propaganda. The writer is a published author. Her work includes “The Conscious Ego” and “The Beautiful Present”

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. e-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Power games PAKISTAN has been driven to an economic quagmire by power-hungry politicians collectively. Yet they blame each other for this disaster. Whosoever assumes power blames his/her predecessors for all ills. They never realized that without a stable economy, no country can progress in any sector. They seem to be experts in derogating their opponents and puffing themselves up. A few days ago, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal a senior member of PMLN, taunted the chairman of PPP, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that he was a newborn in politics. The PPP leaders taunted back that Ms. Mariyum Safdar was not a mature politician. These leaders learn no lesson from their mistakes except drumbeating their sincerity for the country while casting doubts on the sincerity of their opponents. The political leaders always raise the slogan of democracy but trample if they don’t get power. The present tug of war for power between the ruling party and PDM; and between PDM and PPP does not auger well for the democracy and the future of Pakistan. Raja Shafaatullah ISlamaBad

Bad precedent

Taking on the mafias Acting deaf and dumb would be an expedient and self-imposed condition

Candid Corner Raoof Hasan “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and, at last, you create what you will.” –George Bernard Shaw

here is much drama that is enacted every evening about politics and its dirty tricks, but there is deafening silence on the real issues that the society is grappling with, albeit with little success to boast about. Loss of substance in dialogue is one of them. Constant murmuring abounds about the promise and resilience of people here, but one sees very little of that by way of practical manifestation. The claim mostly resides in the books of fiction specially authored to lull people to be lost in the grandiose stupor of the make-believe. The malady can be traced back in time to a combination of events and happenings, all leaving a deep impression on the psyche of the people. Instead of the impact diluting with time, it has incensed further in pungency. Unfortunately, it does not appear that things are going to be any different in the foreseeable future. however, further aggravation cannot be discounted. What is most alarming is the fact that people in leadership roles are seen taking positions, and hard ones at that, not by way of any logic and reason, but to serve the cause of their personal interests through individuals they are aligned with. In the process, one sees that crime, and those who have traditionally indulged in this despicable practice, emerge as the beneficiaries in the public eye. There is not as much as a word of criticism of the ravaging loot and plunder these people perpetrated during their stints in power. That is conveniently forgotten if one’s personal interests are in sync with their projections encompassing similar crime sprees in the future. The entire format of conversations and programmes is structured to elevate corruption and downgrade those who have taken on the mafias to rid the country of their menace. With a preponderance of such presentations, people are the ultimate victims of this poison. In addition to individuals, institutions are also subjected to scathing and partisan criticism. This supersedes the constructive and enabling role that they may have played in matters concerning the state. This is also a reflection of conduct which is meant to advance gross personal interests in preference to the national stakes. At times, this criticism is also linked with the stance

these institutions take with regard to the incumbent government: if such a position gels with the self-interest-driven posture of these pontiffs, the institution is applauded. Otherwise, it becomes the target of vicious and lopsided critique. In the present times, the institution of the military fits into this description. Instead of heaping criticism on some individuals who may have been responsible for transgressions in the past, the whole institution is subjected to ridicule on the behest of those whose initial entry, survival and advancement in the annals of politics is owed to their allegiance with the military. This includes the likes of the Bhutto-Zardari and the Sharif clans. Asif Zardari may be biding his time to spring into provocative action like he has done often in the past, Mian Nawaz Sharif is already full of venom and hatred that he is spewing on the institution, thus becoming an instrument in spreading disunity and anarchy in the country. Personal agendas and hyperbole, as also strictly partisan positions, becoming lead constituents of debate, is worrisome. Such engagements cannot result in the development of sustainable narratives and solutions concerning problems that the state may be confronted with. We are in dire need to divorcing our strong and often prejudiced likes and dislikes and learn the art of approaching issues on the basis of a rational discourse encompassing facts and figures so that we could take decisions which would contribute to successfully addressing the challenges of the times. Individual interests suiting a particular community should not dictate the narrative. The dominant contributing factor should be the collective interest that would be of benefit for all segments of the society irrespective of any divisions. Similarly, the culture of heaping scorn on institutions one may have had a difference with, completely unmindful of the positive contribution that any such institution may be making in the service of the country, is no way to promote the interests of the state. In fact, it causes caustic dissonance which may bring harm to the country and the people both. We must learn to stop subjecting institutions to a palpably partisan and vindictive treatment and learn to live with and applaud their role in national security and development. We are passing through challenging times when the country is undergoing transformative changes. The traditional method of letting the elite capture continue operating through mafias and cartels has been challenged which has caused a deep stir. This is because no one before Imran Khan had the conviction and the courage to rid the country of these criminal gangs and their operatives. It is he who has decided that the country is paramount and cannot be rendered subservient to any kind of criminal perpetration.

remaining true to the kind of person that he has always been, he has taken them on even at the cost of increased threat to his government. This is a make-or-break game. There is no midcourse available. There is no stopping midway also. It is either the country or the mafias. The two cannot survive at the same time. Quite obviously, Imran Khan has put his weight on the side of the country and has taken the ultimate risk of ridding it of the evil machinations of these gangs. Instead of siding with this malfeasant coalition of criminals which has exploited the country through decades, one should put one’s weight behind this movement launched to put the state above and beyond the personal agendas of individuals, mafias and cartels. We are fortunate to be witnessing this intense confrontation. Staying silent is no longer an option as that would be construed as being on the side of crime and its perpetrators. In spite of any differences with the government, this is a defining moment to use our written and spoken words to be on the right side of history. And that right side is to strengthen the government’s hands and resolve to deal effectively and conclusively to see the back of these exploitative conglomerates which have been nibbling away at the national potential to rise. This is no ordinary struggle. Very few politicians who are also heads of government would be able to display this magnitude of courage and commitment to take on the elite capture in the way Imran Khan has done. he has not even spared the ones who have been close to him which is a practical manifestation of his commitment to undertake accountability across the board, without any discrimination. This accountability is now underway in earnest. Let us not act either deaf or dumb because that we are not. That would only be an expedient and self-imposed condition which would be to the detriment of the national interests. The ones who take that position would be inflicting injury and harm on the state. It is time to step out and be counted when a new chapter is being scribed, a new epoch is dawning. Instead of demonstrating and practising rank partisanship, we should instil substance and logic in our conversations because only that provides the right material for erecting a sustainable national edifice. This is no time to sit back. This is a time to become a part of this movement. This is a time to be there, right in the front, leading the charge for real change.

Instead of demonstrating and practising rank partisanship, we should instil substance and logic in our conversations because only that provides the right material for erecting a sustainable national edifice. This is no time to sit back. This is a time to become a part of this movement. This is a time to be there, right in the front, leading the charge for real change

The writer is a political and security strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: raoofhasan@hotmail.com. Twitter: @RaoofHasan

SIr, The people of Pakistan endured over 200 years of tyrannical British occupation, suffered racism, abuse and discrimination, with many places within the subcontinent, where it was publicly displayed, that Dogs and Indians not allowed. It was in 1906 when Muslim League was formed in Dacca and a political awakening took place that the Muslims must have a separate platform to air their grievances against exploitation not just by Colonial raj but the upper caste hindus and their mindset which considered all others, children of lesser gods. It was because of this that Bengal’s hindu Dalit leader Jogenranath Mandal openly supported MAJ. Discriminatory laws which made criticism of British Colonial elite a crime created unrest and hundreds of thousands were executed and imprisoned, while the natives willing to collaborate with raj were showered with lands, titles etc. It was on Quaid’s promise that Pakistan would be a modern democratic welfare state, ruled by representatives of the people through free and fair elections and all citizens would enjoy equal rights, that people rallied behind him and we achieved our freedom in 1947. Quaid promised that no citizen of Pakistan, including paid or elected public office holders, was to enjoy any exclusive rights, privileges or exemption from public criticism and scrutiny for any acts of omission or commission where fundamental rights of a citizen are compromised. respect is earned and cannot be gotten through enactment of laws which by their very nature are discriminatory. When state institutions created to serve the people and paid from national exchequer violate their constitutional oath or indulge in commercial ventures, like housing societies etc., which create problems for citizens, or involve breach of trust, they are open to criticism just like other commercial enterprises. The Constitution requires that citizens hold the judiciary and armed forces in esteem for performing their constitutionally assigned roles. malIk taRIq alI lahoRe

Waste management innovations A science exhibition was held in Girls degree college turbat on 20 , march 2021. Our group of eight members took part in it. Our project was about waste management and we proved the way one can convert the waste into wealth through our project. Additionally, people usually think that waste is not useful rather a burden if the method of our project is brought into practice then there can be a huge change. In our project the major resources through which one can handle the waster are cows, worms, chickens and ducks . Mostly , after giving birth to five or six babies cows stop giving milk. Thus people recognized cows as waste similarly, in vegetable markets , the waste vegetables are thrown on grounds even putting them in dustbin is not the perfect way to manage them . According to our project, it's better to collect the waste vegetables and provide them to cows so that they can eat them. Approximately after 8 hours the cows digest the waste and excrete dung furthermore there is present methane gas in the dung in great amounts. Thus, the dung should be put in biodigester where methane gas can be taken out and the solid dung that remains will be eaten by worms .They digest the solid remains and further what worms secrete is called worming cost. Also known as "Black Gold '' which is world's best fertilizer . In addition, the rooted vegetables that cannot be eaten by cows should be stored , after some time some insects naturally take birth in the rooted vegetables which are named as maggots are the best meal for chickens. Chickens eat the maggots with huge interest . They boost up the nutrition of the chickens due to which they confer better and more eggs besides, the shells of the eggs can also be used as filters and fertilizers, at last comes the duck in fish markets the wastes create land and air pollution, hence it is more beneficial to provide the non-vage wastes to the ducks normally, in over all month, a duck gives 8 to 10 eggs but after eating the non-vage they provide 24 eggs. Our project is a key to a big social and economical change , since it only include advantages, through this project one can mange the waste very well and also take profit from it this project has the potential to eliminate land and air pollution, it requires very less expenditure. A part from it , it increases human labour and promote the ecosystem. It is a natural way to produce things in a short time. This project is a golden way for developing countries to grow bigger and better. Gulnaz, mahjaBeen, naGIna, naIla, faRahnaz, ShamSal, IqRa tuRBat

Drink plenty of water DehYDrATION is a typical summer illness which happens when your body doesn't have as much water as it needs. This condition is especially dangerous for young children as well as older adults. Symptoms of dehydration are feeling constant thirst, dizziness, tiredness, dark yellow urine with strong smell, dry lips, eyes and mouth, vomiting. So there are some ways to prevent your body from dehydration. Drink plenty of water is the best way to stay hydrated and you can also take milk, coconut water, fruit juice like apple, orange, watermelon, and vegetables like Cucumber, tomatoes, spinach and lettuce. Avoid or limit drinks with caffeine like coffee, teas and soft drinks. I request you to please publish my letter. SamRa aBId kaRachI

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

IndIa’s new establIshment THIS IS AN EDITED EXCERPT FROM INDIA’S POWER ELITE: CLASS, CASTE AND A CULTURAL REVOLUTION BY SANJAYA BARU

Open Magazine

Sanjaya Baru

he smoothness of the transfer of power in British India and from most Indian kingdoms to the new Indian state enabled the elites of pre-Independence India to continue to enjoy much of the power they had even in the new republic. While the Constitution bestowed new rights on the hitherto repressed and downtrodden, the balance of social, political and economic power remained with the traditional elites—the upper castes, the landed gentry and the emerging business class. The INC became the umbrella party of the business, the peasantry and the middle classes, with the communists and socialists rallying whatever opposition there was to the left of the Congress. A feeble attempt was made to build a right-wing opposition, in the form of the Swatantra Party, but intra-elite differences led to its quiet decline, with G.D. Birla telling his business colleagues, ‘Swatantra politics are not good businessmen’s politics.’ The real alternative to the Congress came from regions and castes that jostled for greater space within the ‘Congress System’—Dravidian mobilization in Tamil Nadu challenged not just the dominance of the Tamil upper castes but of the hindispeaking north-Indian-dominated Congress. In Uttar Pradesh—Nehru’s own home turf and the epicentre of Congress power—the party’s secular decline began with the departure of the Jats, under Charan Singh’s leadership, then the Yadavs, under Mulayam Singh’s, and, finally, the Dalits and Muslims, under Mayawati. Once Brahmins and Kayasthas had also crossed over to the BJP, the Congress was left with Raebareli and Amethi, the Nehru family’s pocket boroughs. The rise of the Communist Party in Bengal, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh had a touch of regionalism, with language and culture playing a big part in mass mobilization. By the 1980s, the decline of the Congress was largely on account of the rise of regional and caste-based political parties. Walking out of the large Congress umbrella, its voters splintered, gathering under many foldable ones. The decline of the Congress in a large number of states also meant that the regional elite shifted their loyalties to regional parties. In Bengal, Marwari businessmen began to get used to Jyoti Basu’s leadership, just as the Brahmins and Chettiars of Tamil Nadu learnt to live with Dravidian leadership. In UP, Dalit leader Mayawati managed to win over Brahmins. Losing its support among a rising regional elite, a shrinking Congress depended increasingly on the support of big business and the Lutyens’ elite. The end of the Congress era was followed by an ‘era of coalitions’ whose caste, class and regional composition varied over the years. After the ‘centralizing’ leaderships of Nehru, Indira and Rajiv, three ‘consensusbased’ leaderships followed with Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. All these political transitions and the shifts in power relations were reasonably smooth. Barring the aberration of the emergency, the democratic process proceeded smoothly even as democratic institutions became weaker. The political power elite corrupted and captured all the institutions of the state—the bureaucracy, the police, the judiciary and the media. Aborted land reforms preserved landlord power, tariff protection and the Licence-Permit-Control Raj sustained monopolies and public expenditure, and subsidies kept the middle class happy. Despite all these shortcomings, the economy performed reasonably well. The average annual rate of growth of national income rose from 3.5 per cent during 1950-80 to 5.5 per cent in 1980-2000 and 7.5 per cent thereafter. A rising economy created wealth that was shared unequally across regions, castes and classes, further empowering the elite. Those still dissatisfied with the pace of change and extent of opportunity emigrated.

BY THE 1980S, THE DECLINE OF THE CONGRESS WAS LARGELY ON ACCOUNT OF THE RISE OF REGIONAL AND CASTE-BASED POLITICAL PARTIES

THE POLICE AND OTHER PARAMILITARY FORCES, THE THE NAMES AMONG THE TOP TWENTY BUSINESS INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES AND THE INTELLIGENCE GROUPS IN THE YEAR 2000 WERE SIGNIFICANTLY APPARATUS HAVE LONG LEARNT TO KNEEL WHEN ASKED DIFFERENT FROM THE TOP TWENTY OF 1980 TO BEND BY THE POLITICAL MASTERS OF THE DAY THE ASSERTION OF HINDUTVA AND THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE NEHRUVIAN ORDER

Through this era of rising economic growth, the Congress failed to remobilize itself and re-emerge as the dominant national party, nor was the left able to enter the space vacated by the Congress. Rather, regional and caste-based parties, on the one hand, and the ‘hindu-hindi’ BJP, on the other, occupied the Congress space. The BJP had the option of becoming a Congress-like umbrella party, seeking allies among regional parties. That was the path Vajpayee chose to take. his defeat in 2004 was taken as proof of failure of such an enterprise. The RSS and the BJP hardliners opted for hindu majoritarianism. Once the BJP secured a majority of its own in Parliament and across several states, it chose to implement its hindutva manifesto. What made this shift possible was the fact that a growing aspirational middle class from an increasingly urbanizing India was ready to accept the BJP’s hindutva agenda in the name of nationalism. The BJP then secured agrarian support, adopting a strategy first tried by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s, of turning the terms of trade between industry and agriculture in the latter’s favour. It then made a distinction between small and medium business and big business, winning both of them over with different policy instruments. With time, [Narendra] Modi has succeeded in ensuring that the power elite that constituted the foundation of Congress power would now bolster BJP’s. The BJP targets every institution that the Congress had managed to bend to do its bidding, now including non-government organizations and the ‘new media’, creating an intrusive state that many view as the thin end of an authoritarian one. If Indira Gandhi sought a ‘committed civil service’, so does Narendra Modi. The police and other paramilitary forces, the investigative agencies and the intelligence apparatus have long learnt to kneel when asked to bend by the political masters of the day. In seeking an accommodative judiciary, the BJP is once again learning from Indira’s emergency precedent. Be it crony capitalists, media barons or the leadership of the armed forces, every member of the power elite accommodates itself to the new power dispensation. If there is a difference between the old ‘Congress System’ and the new BJP system, it lies in the latter’s ideology-driven power politics. The Congress thrived as an all-inclusive party adopting and adapting political platforms with the sole purpose of securing power. It remained committed to pluralism, but its commitment to values such as secularism and socialism was contingent upon their political benefits. The BJP, under Modi, also seeks power and all the perks of power, but it has an overriding commitment to the ideology of hindu majoritarianism. Unveiling the statue of Swami Vivekananda on JNU campus, in November 2020, Modi did say ‘One thing that has done great harm to the democratic system of our country is to give priority to ideology over national interest.’ however, it was not clear if he was only referring to the ideologies of the left and liberal, that the BJP has campaigned against, or if his message was also aimed at his own

party’s bigoted ideologues. even as the BJP tries to build a wider national base with hindutva, it has to contend with the interests of a regional power elite. While a weak left has not been able to mobilize on the basis of class, powerful regional leaders have been able to use caste and language as buffers to ward off the challenge of hindu consolidation. It is in dealing with all these complexities that Modi has used his anti-elitism, attacking ‘Lutyens’ Delhi’, to consolidate the BJP’s hold. For how long, remains to be seen. It will depend critically on how the economy performs over the remainder of his term, for that is what matters to every segment of the people and the power elite. The elite in a multilayered, multidimensional society like India’s would of course not be a homogenous group either in social composition or cultural outlook. Unlike many societies of the West and the east, India is defined by its plurality and diversity. even hinduism is defined by its plurality. Diversity and plurality of experience is inherent to a civilizational nation of continental proportions. however, all societies are hierarchical and power relations are defined by these social, cultural and economic hierarchies. What makes India different, if at all, is the multiplicity of its hierarchies. Caste, class, language, region, ethnicity and even the colour of skin define the hierarchies of power. even Dalits—scheduled castes in the Constitution—now argue on who among them has benefited more from affirmative action. Many, not all, of these hierarchical structures have endured despite significant social, political and economic change within the framework of a democracy. Caste certainly has, even if attitudes and even equations are changing. While class endures despite half a century of democratic socialism, language remains an important marker of power and elitism. The sources and use of power differ between rural and urban India and across different regions of India. Given the diversity of Indian social structure, one can identify a ‘regional’ elite, a ‘national’ elite and a ‘globalized’ elite, each with different caste composition and different cultural practices, social values and even economic capabilities. Thus, it is possible to suggest that the morphology of the power elite outlined here may not fully capture the complexity of the Indian reality. Unlike countries that have experienced social revolutions or military occupation that have in turn had a lasting impact on social relations, upsetting existing hierarchies and creating new ones, India’s ‘gradual revolution’ has ensured that longstanding social hierarchies have endured. New layers of social and cultural practice rest uneasily on old ones. The transition from a colonial and feudal past to a democratic and republican present has not obliterated these old hierarchies. The big business and the big landlords of the pre-Independence period continue to be the wealthy of today, even if new groups have entered their ranks. Within this overall structure of continuity in power relations there has also been some change. Radical social revolutions disrupt, de-

stroy and rebuild. Gradual and consensual change, as we see in India, reshapes and reconfigures. In each epoch a nation’s social, political and economic elite tries to control change, preserving its privilege and power, by promoting a grand idea that it is capable of defining and deploying to ensure its dominance. The British empire was run on that principle. A small minority of aliens operated a vast empire by asserting the hegemony of an idea that the majority came to accept. After securing Independence, the builders of the republic wrote a Constitution that enabled the nation’s power elite to remain in positions of economic privilege, while granting equality of constitutional status to all. The ideas were new and in consonance with the times—democracy, equality, socialism, secularism—but their implementation was such as to preserve existing relations of power and privilege. Over the years, new ideas have been deployed to perpetuate old hierarchies while managing change at the margin. The constitutional derecognition of untouchability and reservations for the scheduled castes and tribes has wrought major social changes, yet it has not altered the basic structure of power and the nature of elitism defined by caste as an institution. Similarly, all manner of welfare schemes and social protection have empowered workers, but the class relations between owners of capital and the owners of labour power endure. The spread of education has empowered new social groups, and yet access to education remains a privilege. Democratic socialism and state-funded development ensured political stability during what has come to be known as the Nehruvian era. When that process ran out of steam, technological change and economic liberalization unleashed pent-up energies in the rural and urban economies, fuelling a new phase of development. The Green Revolution in agriculture, in the 1970s, and trade and industrial policy liberalization, in the 1980s and 1990s, increased incomes and empowered new social classes, providing the social context for the new turn in Indian economic and foreign policy after 1991. The post-Nehruvian paradigm, 1991 to 2014, has also run its course. If the Nehruvian era created and sustained its own power elite, so did the post-Nehruvian era. Across fields of business, culture, media and politics, new caste and social groups rose to social dominance and acquired political power. The names among the top twenty business groups in the year 2000 were significantly different from the top twenty of 1980. Political parties and leaders unheard of in 1980 had become national players by 2000. The big guns of the 1970s media had fallen silent by the end of the century while new brands and banners had come to dominate. It was a period of significant change, yet the basic principles of the republic enshrined in the Constitution had not yet been questioned. That paradigm, too, is beginning to shift. A significant majority no longer swears either by ‘socialism’ or ‘secularism’. Prime Minister Modi’s rise to political dominance is now increasingly viewed as the beginning of a second republic, if not a third. The assertion of hindutva in politics, society and culture and the pursuit of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is said to define a ‘New India’. how deep and enduring this change will be remains to be seen, but it is already reshaping the hierarchy of power and the notion of elites and elitism. Is BJP really turning India into a hindu nation, or is the focus on religion a tactic used by the politically and economically powerful elite to hide their failure in ensuring sustained and equitable economic

growth and development for all? Is the hindutva assertion a moment of awakening of a dormant people, or an attempt to prevent that awakening by an elite intent on retaining political power, even as the poor bear the brunt of poverty, ignorance and disease? All populist ideologies blunt the rough edges of reality. Be it Maoism during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and Xi Jinping Thought today, Islamic radicalism in the highly unequal West Asian feudal kingdoms and in a military-dominated Pakistan, or Trump’s call for a White-dominated America, ideological movements of various kinds—some secular, some religious—appear to be ways in which an old elite seek to retain power, unable to deliver on their promise of development and justice. even if the ideologues of the RSS sincerely believe in hindutva, is the power play of Modi and [Amit] Shah really defined by the ideology of hindu nationalism, or is it merely aimed at securing and retaining power? how then is the BJP’s hindutva any different from Indira Gandhi’s socialism and secularism, whose aim was merely to capture and retain power, reshaping a social reality with the hope of perpetuating not just individual power but the power of the social classes that support the leader? has an old and enduring elite found a new idea to retain hegemony? If wealth and power is all that the power elite seek, ideology becomes nothing more than a veil. Beneath the surface of rising communal consciousness, long-enduring inequalities and inequities remain, and the power elite seek to retain their privileges in the face of the challenge these pose. even as a new cultural nationalism seeks to unite a diverse society, it also has the effect of papering over enduring social and economic divisions. The success of the democratic experiment has been that it has managed to ensure political and social stability despite economic inequality. The elite are often frustrated by the gradual pace of change and those who feel alienated have successfully seceded, either leaving the country or retreating into enclaves that have been created to prevent the dualism of a ‘Bharat and India’ from destabilizing the republic. One must recognize that it is this very gradualism of change that has not just ensured political and social stability, but also the perpetuation of the social and economic foundations on which the elite have constructed their powers and privileges. Many years ago a development administrator familiar with the ground reality of change in a traditional society suggested that those who seek rapid and speedy change do not quite appreciate the fact that Indians are quite amenable to gradual change as long as that change is in a positive direction for their own families and for themselves. Contemporary India may envy China’s high rates of growth and rapid transformation; however, that order of change can destabilize an inherently unequal society seeking to function within a democratic system. Gradualness of change and empowerment has the advantage of not drawing attention to the extremes of inequality and the concentration of wealth and power that rapid growth entails, as it has in so many fastgrowing economies. The power of the Indian elite has endured because, notwithstanding the vulgarity of wealth, the corruption of politics, the prejudices of casteism and communalism and the secession of the successful, a vast majority has come to accept the gradualness of change in their own lives. Their acquiescence in this gradualness contributes to the resilience of the power elite.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

BUSINESS 09

KARACHI corporate corner Telenor empowers 1,100 women with digital skills under WB initiative

GoVT To REDUCE INCoME TAx BRACKETS FBR WORKING TO HARMONISE GST BETWEEN FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL GOVTS BY JUNE ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Telenor Pakistan has trained 1,100 women were trained in digital skills including, solving business problems and upskilling women/girls in utilising digital tools to help scale their businesses as part of the World Bank’s Girls Learn Women Earn (GLWE) initiative. While women make up half of the country’s population, unfortunately the share of girls among out-of-school children is even higher at 53%. Women’s labour participation in the country rests at 29% and only 1% of women engage in entrepreneurship. Out of 1,100 trained females, 770 participated from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand, Swabi and Charsadda. PRESS RElEASE

Coca-Cola and Rizq to share meals during Ramzan

KARACHI: Coca-Cola joins hands with Rizq to share meals with Pakistanis who need them the most. The partnership begins in Ramazan and extends well beyond the holy month aimed to make Pakistan more food secure under the slogan – “Ao ehad karain: Mil kar bhook mitayain.” The pledge is to sponsor a free meal for every Coca-Cola product sold in the market during Ramadan – share a Coke, share a meal. Rizq is Pakistan’s leading food sustainability and social welfare enterprise. The initiative is in line with UN’s SDG number 2 titled ‘Zero Hunger’ which is aiming to end acute hunger by the year 2030. PRESS RElEASE

JBS invests Rs300m in green tech, power & IoT startup ENA

SHAHZAD PARACHA

HE federal government while heeding a recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has decided to reduce income tax brackets from eleven to five in the next fiscal year’s budget (FY22). Presently, there are 11 tax slabs of salaried individuals with a progressive tax rate ranging from 5 per cent to 35pc of income. Individuals with incomes above Rs600,000 are paying 5pc while those who have more than Rs75,000,000 income are paying 35pc tax. On the other hand, there are eight taxable slabs of income with tax rates ranging from 5pc to 35pc for non-salaried persons making an income exceeding Rs400,000. The Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) states that government must change the existing tax rate structure by reducing the number of rates and income tax brackets from eleven to five and decreasing the size of income slabs to simplify the system and increase progressivity whereas the FBR is to reduce tax credits and allowances by 50pc, except for the disabled, senior citizens and recipients of zakat. In addition to this, FBR will also introduce special tax procedures for small taxpayers, aimed at preventing further tax base erosion, facilitating the formalisation of the economy, adopting a long-term strategy to reduce labour informality and bringing additional taxpayers into the Personal Income Tax (PIT) net. Similarly, the IMF has also recommended the FBR to eliminate all zero-rated goods, except on export and capital machinery goods and move them to the standard sales tax rate. Furthermore, FBR will not only remove reduced rates under the 8th Schedule but also eliminate exemptions in the 6th Schedule, excluding a small subset of goods i.e., basic food,

AGENCIES

CCI Pakistan commits to supporting govt’s Clean and Green vision

KARACHI: Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited (CCI Pakistan) has pledged to extend the Prime Minister’s ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ vision by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Climate Change. PRESS RElEASE

medicines, live animals for human consumption, education and health-related goods, and bring all others to the standard rate. The tax department will also replace a specific tax rate for cell phones with the standard rate by removing the 9th Schedule. It may be noted here that the agency is currently in the process of harmonising service sales tax across provincial jurisdictions, with support from the World Bank (WB). The process is expected to be completed by the end of June. According to the agreement, the reform is expected to yield 0.4pc of GDP on an annualised basis. It is pertinent to mention here that the IMF has set FBR’s revenue target at Rs5,963 for the next fiscal year (FY22). Documents state that the Washington based lending organisation has fixed a revenue that is Rs1,272 billion higher than the revised target of the current fiscal year. The government had requested IMF to decrease the tax department’s target from Rs4,963billion to Rs4,691billion during the current fiscal year. The IMF has projected FBR’s revenue at Rs6,941 billion for FY23, Rs7,829 billion for FY24, Rs8,752 billion for FY25 and Rs9,796 for FY26. Similarly, it has projected an overall revenue of Rs8,814 billion during the next fiscal year including Rs7,395 in billion tax revenue, Rs6,666 billion in federal government revenue, Rs5,963 billion in FBR revenue, Rs2,233 direct taxes, Rs365 billion in federal excise duty (FED), Rs2,563 billion in sales tax, Rs802 in customs duty, Rs607 billion in petroleum surcharge, Rs45 billion in gas surcharge, Rs52 billion GIDC and Rs729 billion in provincial revenue. During the July-March period, the tax department collected net revenue of Rs3,394 bn. Officials are optimistic that they will achieve the current year target.

KARACHI: Service Global Footwear Limited (SGFL) has raised Rs2,175 million through a two-day book building which saw a broad based participation from institutional and high net-worth investors. The book building was oversubscribed by 5.8 times with price closing at the Rs53.2 per share. The book building saw a total demand of Rs8,946 million received against the issue size of Rs1,554 million. Arif Habib Limited is the lead manager and book runner for this IPO. The IPO proceeds will be invested by the Company in Service Long March Tyres Ltd. PRESS RElEASE

IMC installs largest rooftop solar PV unit in Toyota AsiaPacific region

KARACHI: IMC becomes Pakistan’s first company to install one of the largest rooftop mounted solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant and biggest Solar PV plant in the automobile industry in Pakistan. It is also the first such unit in the Toyota Asia-Pacific region. The new plant was inaugurated by the company’s Chairman, Mohamed Ali R. Habib, Vice Chairman Shinji Yanagi and CEO Ali Jamali. PRESS RElEASE

Western Union, Faysal Bank expand realtime payouts in Pakistan

China fines Alibaba record $2.75bn for anti-monopoly violations SHANGHAI/HONG KONG

KARACHI: Jaffer Business Systems (JBS) has acquired significant share of ENA (Energy N Automation), a Green Tech, Power and IoT startup by investing 300 million rupees. The investment agreement was signed between JBS and ENA in an online ceremony, while adhering to Government’s COVID-19 SOPs. PRESS RElEASE

Service Global Footwear Limited raises Rs2,175m

China slapped a record 18 billion yuan ($2.75 billion) fine on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Saturday, after an anti-monopoly probe found the e-commerce giant had abused its dominant market position for several years. The fine, about 4% of Alibaba’s 2019 domestic revenues, comes amid a crackdown on technology conglomerates and indicates China’s antitrust enforcement on internet platforms has entered a new era after years of laissez-faire approach. The Alibaba business empire has come under intense scrutiny in China since billionaire founder Jack Ma’s stinging public criticism of the country’s regulatory system in October. A month later, authorities scuttled a planned $37 billion IPO by Ant Group, Alibaba’s internet finance arm, which was set to be the world’s biggest ever. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced its antitrust probe into the company in December. While the fine brings Alibaba a step closer to resolving its antitrust woes, Ant still needs to agree to a regulatory-driven revamp that is expected to sharply cut its valuations and rein in some of its freewheeling businesses. “This penalty will be viewed as a closure to the anti-monopoly case for now by the market. It’s indeed the highest profile anti-monopoly case in China,” said Hong Hao, head of research BOCOM International in Hong Kong. “The market has been anticipating some

sort of penalty for some time … but people need to pay attention to the measures beyond the anti-monopoly investigation.” The SAMR said it had determined that Alibaba, which is listed in New York and Hong Kong, had been “abusing market dominance” since 2015 by preventing its merchants from using other online e-commerce platforms. The practice, which the SAMR has previously spelt out as illegal, violates China’s antimonopoly law by hindering the free circulation of goods and infringing on the business interests of merchants, the regulator added. Besides imposing the fine, which ranks among the highest ever antitrust penalties globally, the regulator ordered Alibaba to make “thorough rectifications” to strengthen internal compliance and protect consumer rights. Alibaba said in a statement that it accepts the penalty and “will ensure its compliance with determination”. The company will hold a conference call on Monday to discuss the penalty. “We will tackle it openly and work through it together,” CEO Daniel Zhang said in a memo to staff seen by Reuters. “Let’s improve ourselves and start again together as one.” The fine is more than double the $975 million paid in China by Qualcomm, the world’s biggest supplier of mobile phone chips, in 2015 for anticompetitive practices. “There has been weakness in China’s big tech stocks and I think this fine will be seen as a benchmark for any other penalties which could be applied to the other companies,” said Louis Tse, managing director at Wealthy Securities in Hong Kong.

KARACHI: Western Union is collaborating with Faysal Bank to enhance real-time bank account payout network in Pakistan. Receivers of international money transfers benefit via a far-reaching bank network in Pakistan, with Faysal Bank processing transfers to more than 35 banks. PRESS RElEASE

SSGC mobile app lucky draw winner presented motorbike

KARACHI: Jawad Tahir of Karachi, the winner of the motorcycle, the first prize of the lucky draw, was handed over the keys of the bike by SSGC MS Imran Maniar during the launch of the 24/7 SSGC Mega Service Centre in North Nazimabad. ‘SSGC Customer Connect’ Mobile Application offers diverse gas bill related services to the customers. PRESS RElEASE

TCL opens Pakistan second opensflagship its second store flagship in Karachi store in Karachi

Nestlé for Healthier Kids announces drawing contest winners on World Health Day

K-Electric Senior Management addressed the media about KE’s readiness ahead of summer 2021, and presented an update on the power projects underway. PR

KARACHI: Nestlé Pakistan organised a drawing contest for children between 10 to 14 years, to engage their creative capacities, resulting in more than 1,000 entries from across Pakistan under the Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) programme. The winners were announced on the occasion of World Health Day and the winning entries will be proudly published on the Nestlé Pakistan’s website. The competition consisted of drawing themes: 'I’m active, I exercise’; ‘I eat healthy’; and 'I love water’. The young contestants shared stellar masterpieces of original and creative artwork demonstrating deep understanding of the themes. N4HK would like to congratulate the winners, who will be awarded a certificate of recognition for their participation. PRESS RElEASE

CMYK

KARACHI: TCL has opened its second flagship store in Karachi. The newly launched flagship store is located Plot # 138, Block 2, PECHS, Main Tariq Road, Karachi. TCL stores aim to provide a hassle-free shopping experience to its consumers as they venture out to buy new electronics. To celebrate the grand opening, TCL brand is offering exclusive discounts, offers and gifts with every purchase. PRESS RElEASE

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

10 foREIgn nEwS

KARACHI

IndIA'S dAIly CovId-19 CASeS rISe To reCord for fIfTh TIMe ThIS week NEW DELHI

AGENCIES

NDIA’S daily coronavirus cases on Saturday rose by a record for the fifth time this week and deaths surged to the highest in more than five months, with hospitals and crematoriums overflowing in parts of the country. New cases in the world’s second-most populous country have totalled the most of anywhere in the world over the last two weeks. India’s overall tally of 13.21 million is the third-highest globally, just shy of Brazil and below the worst affected country, the United States. The second surge in infections, which has spread much more rapidly than the first one that peaked in September, has forced many states to impose fresh curbs but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to impose a national lockdown given the high economic costs. Authorities in Maharashtra, the Indian state with the highest cases, have ordered a weekend lockdown that will end early on Monday. Mega cities such as Mumbai, the country’s financial centre and Maharashtra’s capital, and the national capital of New Delhi have also imposed nightly curfews

until the end of April. India reported 145,384 new Covid-19 cases and 794 deaths, the Health Ministry reported. Despite that, Prime Minister Modi again addressed an election rally crowded with thousands of people, many without masks, in the eastern state of West Bengal. The government has blamed the resurgence mainly on crowding and a reluctance

Saudi Arabia executes three soldiers sentenced for 'high treason' RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed three soldiers who were sentenced for “high treason” and “cooperating with the enemy”, a statement from the kingdom’s defence ministry said. It said that the three had been sentenced to death by a specialist court after a fair trial. The ministry did not name the alleged “enemy” but the executions were carried out in the southern province bordering Yemen where Saudi Arabia has been at war for more than six years against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Saudi Arabia has come under increasing global scrutiny over its human rights record since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year at the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate and the detention of women’s rights activists. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called on Riyadh to stop the use of the death penalty, citing allegations of torture and unfair trials. AGENCIES

Ten Myanmar policemen killed in attack by ethnic armies opposed to junta: report YANGON: An alliance of ethnic armies in Myanmar that has opposed the junta’s crackdown on anti-coup protests attacked a police station in the east on Saturday and at least 10 policemen were killed, domestic media said. The police station at Naungmon in Shan state was attacked early in the morning by fighters from an alliance that includes the Arakan Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, media reported. Shan News said at least 10 policemen were killed, while the ShwePheeMyay news outlet put the death toll at 14. A spokesman for the junta did not return calls asking for comment. More than 600 people have been killed by the military in the crackdown on protests against the Feb. 1 coup, according to a monitoring group. As violence has escalated, about a dozen armed groups have condemned the junta as illegitimate and vowed to stand with the protesters. Civilian lawmakers, most of whom are in hiding after their ouster, have announced plans to form a “national unity government” - with key roles for ethnic leaders - and are holding online talks about joint resistance to the military junta. AGENCIES

Thousands protest in Belgrade, demand government action to stop pollution BELGRADE: Several thousand people blocked traffic in front of the Serbian parliament on Saturday in a protest against lack of government action to prevent water, land and air pollution by industries such as the mining sector. Protesters, who came to Belgrade from all over Serbia, held banners reading “Cut corruption and crime not forests,” and “Young people are leaving because they cannot breathe”. In recent years Serbia has started selling its mining resources to foreign companies, despite opposition by local residents who had warned that increased ore exploration could cause greater pollution. The former Yuoslav republic, which in the 1990s went through a decade of wars and economic crisis, has lacked resources to tackle pollution. As it seeks to join the European Union, Serbia will need billions of euros of investment to meet the bloc’s environmental standards. AleksandarJovanovic, one of the protest leaders, told the crowd that investors were all welcome in the country, but added, “But you cannot poison our children.” “None of the people who have power care about anything else but money. AGENCIES

to wear masks as businesses across the country have reopened since February, only to be partially shut again to control the current surge. “Mass gatherings for elections and religious events have accelerated Covid, for which all of us are responsible to some extent,” Sonia Gandhi, the chief of the main opposition Congress party, said in a statement.

In Mumbai, hundreds of poor migrant workers crammed onto trains this week to flee, potentially risking a wider outbreak in smaller towns and villages. The railways department called it a usual rush this time of year for people to harvest crops back home and celebrate festivals. VACCINE SHORTAGE: Many states have complained of a vaccine shortage though immunisations are currently restricted to only about 400 million of India’s 1.35 billion people. The health minister said on Thursday the government had more than 43 million doses in stock or in the pipeline, which may be enough for only about 10 days going by the immunisation trend. India, the world’s biggest maker of vaccines, has so far administered 97.5 million doses, using the AstraZeneca shot and another developed at home by Bharat Biotech. Arvinder Singh Soin, a surgeon and leading liver transplant specialist, is one of many top Indian medical authorities that have criticized the government for its slow approach to approving other vaccines by insisting on the need for local trials for shots formulated abroad. “We need to immediately facilitate the approval of the next lot of vaccines,” Soin

said on Twitter. “Insistence on bridging trials data not relevant anymore given the situation. Millions have had these all over the world.” The country breached the 100,000 mark for the first time on Monday. Only the United States has reported more cases in a day since the pandemic began over a year ago. India’s total deaths have now swelled to 168,436, health ministry data showed, though it has one of the lowest fatality rates, partly attributed to its relatively younger population. Still, crematoriums have been overwhelmed in some Indian cities. In Surat in the western state of Gujarat, officials were seeking additional crematorium workers to handle the overflow. It has dropped a plan to rope in teachers after online criticism. In the northern city of Lucknow, distraught relatives had to wait for hours to perform the last rites of their family members in the area’s only electric crematorium, said its officer-in-charge Mohammad Wasimuddin. In Hinduism, the religion for the majority of Indians, cremation is the traditional method for dealing with the physical body after death.

United Arab Emirates announces its first female astronaut ABU DHABI AGENCIES

The United Arab Emirates named the next two astronauts in its space program on Saturday, including the country’s first female astronaut. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who also serves as the autocratically ruled country’s prime minister and vice president, named the two astronauts on Twitter. He identified Noura al-Matroushi as the UAE’s first female astronaut. The announcement gave no biographical information about her or her male counterpart, Mohammed al-Mulla. The two had been selected among more than 4,000 applicants in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula that’s also home to Abu Dhabi. The two will undergo training at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 2019, Hazzaa al-Mansoori became the UAE’s first astronaut in space, spending an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station. The Emirates has had other recent successes in its space program. This February, the UAE put its Amal, or Hope, satellite in orbit around Mars, a first

for the Arab world. In 2024, the country hopes to put an unmanned spacecraft on the moon.

The UAE also has set the ambitious goal of building a human colony on Mars by 2117.

Western Australia braces for 'worst case scenario' as cyclone Seroja nears MELBOURNE AGENCIES

Authorities in Western Australia were urging residents of its Mid West coast to find safe shelter or leave on Saturday as cyclone Seroja barrelled towards a coastal region that is usually too far south to fall in the path of cyclones. Residents in Western Australia’s Mid West and Gascoyne regions are being urged to finalise their emergency plans, as the cyclone is expected to inten-

sify to a category three overnight, battering a region where buildings are not made to withstand cyclonic winds. “This is a very serious situation. The potential for widespread devastation is high,” state Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “We hope that we can get through these next few days without loss of life and without serious property damage. We need to work on the basis of worst case scenario,” she said, adding that cyclonic winds had not been seen in the area for decades. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology forecasts de-

structive winds with gusts to 150 km per hour (93 miles per hour), and heavy rains that could cause significant damage to coastal communities as the cyclone moves across the coast and further inland. The most likely area to experience destructive wind gusts is on the coast between Geraldton, 200 km north of Perth, and Denham, 500 km north of Perth. This area is much further south of Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export hub, which withstands several cyclones a season and where houses are built to stronger standards.

China's graft watchdog rebukes 'mukbang' binge-eating, drinking videos SHANGHAI AGENCIES

China’s corruption watchdog has called on online video-sharing platforms to take action against “mukbang” shows, in which people livestream themselves eating - or drinking - excessively, saying such content encourages food waste. Mukbang videos originated in South Korea and are increasingly popular in China, but they have faced sharp criticism from state media and regulatory crackdowns - especially since President Xi Jinping launched a campaign to curb food wastage

last year. The country’s graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said video-hosting platforms should strengthen their supervision, stop and remove inappropriate broadcasts and block the accounts of offenders. Punishments for people uploading such content should also be toughened, the commission said in an article posted on its website on Saturday, noting that binge drinking videos have become more popular following a clampdown on heavy eating streams. “Behaviour such as ‘heavy drinking videos’ not

only damages the physical health of the presenters and causes food waste, but also promotes an ugly mentality and seriously harms the healthy ecology of the industry,” it said. The watchdog said some people uploading mukbang videos were earning as much as 3,000 yuan ($458) in pledges by fans. China cracked down on “inappropriate” content on the video-sharing website Kuaishou in 2018, suspending the account of one user known as Hebei Pangzai, who regularly shared videos of himself drinking copious amounts of beer to his 400,000 followers. He now shares videos on Twitter.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

SPORTS 11

KARACHI

Pakistan beat south africa by four wickets in first t20i JOHANNESBURG

Agencies

OHAMMAD Rizwan took inspiration from teammate Fakhar Zaman and steered Pakistan to their highest winning run chase as they beat South Africa by four wickets in the first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. Rizwan made an unbeaten 74 as Pakistan chased down a target of 189 with one ball to spare. Their previous highest T20 chase was 188 against Australia in Harare in 2018. Rizwan said the pitch was tricky at the start of the chase but he and captain Babar Azam got the side off to a quick start before Babar was out with the total on 41 in the fifth over. He was then joined by Fakhar, who scored an astonishing 193 not out in the second one-day international on the same ground six days earlier. Fakhar made 27 off 19 balls before he was caught on the boundary off left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who took two for 29. But Rizwan said he modelled his innings on the way Fakhar played in the one-day game. "Fakhar's innings was on my mind today, the way he played on this surface," said Rizwan. "I was taking my time knowing I could score later on." With a succession of power hitters in the side, Rizwan said he got a message from his team's dug-out that he must keep batting until the end.

Rizwan, who scored only 42 runs in three innings in Pakistan's 2-1 one-day series win, was back in the form which earned him man of the series awards in both Test and T20 series against South Africa in Pakistan earlier in the year. He hit nine fours and two sixes. The match swung in the last four overs of the two innings. South Africa could score only 29 in their last four overs, while Pakistan thrashed 52 off the last 3.5 overs. South Africa captain Heinrich Klaasen rued the poor finish to his side's innings. The slide started when he was caught at short leg off Hasan Ali off the second ball of the 17th over after he had raced to 50 off 28 balls. "We were ten to 15 runs short," said Klaasen. South Africa went into the match with a second-string team. Five players were missing because of Indian Premier League commitments and Klaasen was a stand-in captain after Temba Bavuma was one of three players to miss out because of injuries. Opening batsman Aiden Markram, who made 51, was a late inclusion after regular T20 opener Reeza Hendricks took paternity leave and South Africa's team had three new caps and only four players with more than ten appearances. The inexperience showed in the closing overs as bowlers missed their lengths. Beuran Hendricks picked up three wickets but was hit for 4,6,4 off successive full tosses in the 18th over, which cost 16 runs. Two catches went down in a frantic last over before Pakistan scored the winning run off an overthrow.

Dallas double sees 10-man Leeds shock Man City MANCHESTER Agencies

Manchester City suffered just a fourth Premier League defeat of the season as 10-man Leeds United shocked the runaway leaders thanks to Stuart Dallas's double in a 2-1 win at the Etihad on Saturday. Dallas opened the scoring three minutes before half-time, but hope of a famous win for Marcelo Bielsa's men seemed to have disappeared when captain Liam Cooper was shown a straight red card in first-half stoppage time. The visitors withstood a City bombardment until Ferran Torres equalised 14 minutes from time. But Leeds still summoned the energy to pose a threat on the counter-attack and gained their reward when Dallas slotted below Ederson. Bielsa's first win in five meetings against Pep Guardiola propels Leeds up to ninth in their first season back in the English top flight for 16 years. "The value of the victory increases because it was achieved in a game where we were dominated and demanded character, effort and personality," said Bielsa, who Guardiola has hailed as one of the major influences on his glorious coaching career.

"From the adversity and effort of the players it was emotional for me. It was a rebellious team. They weren't resigned to lose." Guardiola paid for heavily rotating his side with Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, second leg, against Borussia Dortmund clearly his priority. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Ruben Dias,

who were among the stars left on the bench with City holding a slender 2-1 lead to take to Germany in midweek. "We did not control it. We did not create enough for the forwards," said Guardiola, who surprisingly did not introduce De Bruyne as a substitute. "We arrived in the final third and after that we could not create much. At the end (the Leeds goal) can hap-

Badosa stuns top seed Barty, Jabeur beats Gauﬀ in Charleston quarter-finals CHARLESTON Agencies

World No 1 Ashleigh Barty crashed out of the Charleston WTA quarter-finals on Friday, beaten in straight sets by 71stranked Spaniard Paula Badosa. Badosa fired seven aces – three more than Barty – and saved 12 of 14 break points she faced on the way to a 64, 6-3 victory. It’s the biggest win of Badosa’s career, the Spaniard having notched her first top-20 victory when she beat fifthseeded Belinda Bencic in the 2nd round. “I’m still a little bit shocked,” Badosa admitted, adding that when Barty’s final forehand reeled out of court “I was, like, ‘What just happened?’ “But I’m quite happy with my match, the way that I managed my nerves. It was quite important because

sometimes these matches are tough to close.” Serving for the opening set, Badosa was down 0-40 but won five straight points on the way to sealing it with an overhead winner. They traded breaks in the first two games of the second set, Badosa gaining the advantage again with a break for 4-3 as she won the final four games of the match. In the semi-finals Badosa will face Russian Veronika Kudermetova, who defeated American Sloane Stephens in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Badosa, a former French Open junior champion, is the lowest-ranked player to beat Barty since September 2019. Barty had made her first overseas appearance since the WTA’s pandemic shutdown last year with a run to the title in Miami last week – where she was the

defending champion thanks to her 2019 triumph after the tournament was cancelled in 2020. World No.38 Kudermetova has not dropped a set in four matches this week, and more than tripled Stephens’ total of winners in the one hour and 33 minute match. “I really like to play on the clay because I think I have a lot of time to do what I want,” Kudermetova said. “It’s the first time I beat a player who’s won a Grand Slam and I think that’s really important for me. I tried to play aggressive and not give her time, and I think that was the key for this match.” In other matches, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur defeated American Coco Gauff 62, 7-6 (7/2) to book a semi-final meeting with Danka Kovinic of Montenegro, a 67 (2/7), 7-5, 6-1 winner over Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.

pen because they have a team where the transitions are fantastic." City still enjoy a 14-point lead at the top of the Premier League and need just 11 points from their remaining six matches to guarantee a third title in four years. But Manchester United could close the gap to eight points should the Red Devils win their two games in hand, the first of which is away to Tottenham on Sunday. A two-minute silence was held before kick-off in honour of Prince Philip, who died aged 99 on Friday. STERLING OUT OF FAVOUR: Raheem Sterling's presence in what was largely a second string side is a reflection of how the England international has fallen down the pecking order in the past few weeks. Sterling did not even get on as a substitute in the first leg against Dortmund and did little to further his case for selection in midweek by slicing a great chance wide from Fernandinho's cut-back. Leeds had wasted a number of promising attacks with their final ball, but found the finishing touch when Patrick Bamford teed up Dallas to strike low in off the inside the post. The visitors' joy was short-lived. Just four minutes later they were a man down. Cooper played the ball first before crash-

ing into Gabriel Jesus, but referee Andre Marriner upgraded a yellow card shown to the Leeds' captain to a red after reviewing the incident on the pitch-side screen. City were camped inside the Leeds half for almost the entire second-half, but were largely reduced to long-range efforts as Illan Meslier saved from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho and Joao Cancelo. Torres finally made City's dominance pay with a first-time finish after Fernandinho picked out Silva inside the area. Yet, Leeds still went in search of a winner. Raphinha outpaced Fernandinho, but was denied by a brilliant tackle by Brazilian compatriot Ederson. Moments later, Leeds got their reward as Dallas galloped clear down the middle of a vacant City defence to slot home. Earlier, Adama Traore grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Wolves beat Fulham 10 at Craven Cottage to send the Londoners closer to relegation. In added time, Traore ran down the right before firing home to secure his side's first victory since mid-February. Wolves striker Willian Jose had earlier been denied his first goal for the club when his header in first-half injury time was ruled out for an offside by Daniel Podence following a VAR review.

Zalatoris, Harman climb Masters leaderboard as big names falter AUGUSTA Agencies

Will Zalatoris and Brian Harman tamed their nerves and Augusta National in the first two rounds of the Masters to claim a share of second place heading into the weekend as better-known players were sent packing. Zalatoris, who birdied his final three holes to sit tied with Harman at six-under par and one shot back of leader Justin Rose, showed confidence beyond his 24 years in his first Masters appearance. “I wanted to be here my entire life,” he told reporters. “Some people shy away from that, but I’m excited to be here. I’ve wanted to be here forever. “There’s no reason to feel intimidated now. I made it to here. And obviously the job is not done by any means, but I think standing on the first tee and hearing your name called, that’s something that every kid dreams of.”

Fellow American Harman, who carded backto-back rounds of 69, said he did not think he would be playing in the Masters just three weeks ago and called being in contention at the halfway point “icing on the cake.” “I had some nerves this morning for sure,” said the 34-year-old Harman, who is competing in his third Masters and vying to win his first major title. “Whenever you look up on the leaderboard and you see your name up there pretty high at Augusta, it’s hard not to get nervous. “I was nervous. But it was nice to settle down with a good birdie on two, and I struck it well all day today.” Unlike Zalatoris and Harman, many of the sport’s brightest stars did not strike it well. World number one and defending champion Dustin Johnson, four time major champion Brooks Koepka and world number 12 Rory McIlroy were among those who missed the cut.

Sunday, 11 April, 2021

Prayer Timings

NEWS

AKrAM cAlls fOr AddressIng InequAlITy crIsIs, MObIlIsIng fInAncIng fOr recOvery frOM cOvId-19 NEW YORK

agencies

AKISTAN Ambassador to UN Munir Akram has called on the global community to address the crisis of inequality and mobilise financing for recovery from Covid-19 pandemic. “We have to address the crisis of inequality because we cannot build back better if we continue on this path of inequality,” Akram, who also heads UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), told journalists on Friday at a virtual press conference ahead of the body’s high-level meeting on financing for development, which falls on Monday. Speaking of the pandemic’s severe impact on people across the world, he said, “We have seen the inequality between countries and between people within countries. The poor people, both in the rich and the poorest countries, have suffered the most.” “And this is a vivid illustration of the nature of our international system and national structures, where there is no equity,” Akram said, noting that 100 million people have been pushed into poverty during this crisis. “At the same time, the richest people have added $337 billion to their wealth,”

he said. “There are so many, so many illustrations from this crisis of the inequality in structures. And I think if we are going to build back better as the secretary general has said, we must address not only the climate crisis.” Turning to recovery from the pandemic, Akram said, “We need to mobilise

the financing for recovery from the Covid19 pandemic.” The ambassador said that the Economic and Social Council’s Financing For Development forum will meet on Monday in a high-level segment meeting with the heads of state and heads of government as well as ministers, noting, “It is my hope

that we will come out with some positive developments at this session.” “I have been pleased by the fact that there is an agreement at the G20 level for the creation of 650 billion dollars in new SDRs [Special Drawing Rights],” he said. In the meantime, the ECOSOC president reiterated the UN’s stance of opposing vaccine nationalism, “both in the production, as well as in the distribution of the vaccines.” He called for efforts to “fully finance the COVAX and the Acumen accelerator.” “There is still a gap of about 16 billion dollars, as I understand it in financing the COVAX facility, which was meant to buy vaccines and distribute deals to at least 20 per cent of the priority populations in all countries,” he said. “And this is far behind schedule,” noted Akram. The ambassador warned that the vaccine inequality “is now becoming more and more visible.” “This vaccine inequality will translate into inequality in the impact of the pandemic, both economic and social,” he said. “We need to have quick action on the response to the pandemic, and then to contain the virus equitably and globally,” he added.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:19

12:05

4:38

5:43

6:27

7:50

PM commends KTH revamp, modernisation ISLAMABAD TLTP

Prime Minister Imran Khan has commended the revamp and modernisation of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) in Peshawar. In a tweet on Saturday, the prime minister said, “Khyber Teaching Hospital has been totally revamped and modernised after a lot of efforts.” “It is easy to build a new state-of-theart hospital; but very difficult to fix our existing government hospitals,” the prime minister maintained. He also appreciated and congratulated the Khyber Teaching Hospital’s board and management for their efforts. Earlier this week, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government decided to upgrade thirty-two district headquarters hospitals in the province. According to details, twenty-five hospitals in the settled districts while seven in the tribal districts will be revamped to international standards in next two years.

Pakistan condemns desecration of mosque in IOK FO SAYS PAKISTAN WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT KASHMIRI PEOPLE IN THEIR JUST AND LEGITIMATE STRUGGLE FOR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION ISLAMABAD inP

LAHORE: Senior citizens z arrive for coronavirus vaccination at Expo Centre in the provincial capital. OnLine

Pakistan has strongly condemned indiscriminate firing of heavy weapons and grenades on a mosque in Shopian, IndianOccupied Kashmir (IOK) on Friday, a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. The Foreign Office spokesman said desecration and damage caused to the mosque during a so-called cordon and search operation and repeated incidence of extra-judicial killings in various places in IOK are manifestations of the unabated state terrorism, to which Kashmiris are subjected in the occupied territory. This inhuman conduct of Indian forces, he said, is reflective of their moral bankruptcy as well as the prevalent culture of impunity in IOK. Targeting the faith and cultural identity of the people of the occupied territory is in clear violation of basic human norms and fundamental precepts of international law, he added. History is witness that the use of brutal and indiscriminate force against the Kashmiris and targeting of their religious places have not succeeded in breaking their will. Such attempts will not succeed in the future as well, the spokesman maintained. He said the government and people of Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiri people in their just and legitimate struggle for right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Indian troops shoot dead four in fresh election bloodshed NEW DELHI agencies

Five people were killed in fresh election bloodshed in the Indian state of West Bengal on Saturday, including four shot dead by paramilitary troops “in self-defence”, officials said. West Bengal in eastern India has seen thousands killed in decades of political violence, and the current state election campaign has triggered deadly clashes between rival parties. The latest incident in the northern district of Coochbehar 700 kilometres north of

Kolkata saw a crowd of around 400 people surround troops guarding a polling station. “Paramilitary troops opened fire in selfdefence after being challenged by over 400 people,” a senior Election Commission official said. “They also formed a ring around the troops and tried to snatch rifles […] Four people were killed in the shooting.” Addressing an election rally in Siliguri, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “and her goons provoked the paramilitary forces to open fire”. Elsewhere in the state a man was shot

dead on Saturday in clashes between supporters of Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), police said. “The victim was a BJP supporter,” local party chief Dilip Ghosh told AFP. “Three people who were injured in the clash were admitted to a local health facility.” Winning power in the state of 90 million people when results are announced on May 2 would be a major victory for Modi. Banerjee, one of Modi’s most prominent critics, has accused the BJP of attempting to import divisive sectarian politics into the state, which has a large Muslim minority.

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